Christmas Music

Should We Have Married Priests?

This article is a very straight forward explication of the need for celibacy and the celibate priesthood.  A very good article to give to people who still struggle with the seriousness of our sexual scandal in the church. Reading this will bring some practical understanding.  
The ongoing purification process that lies ahead for all of us will require a certain trust in the Holy Priesthood.  Don't let misconception and misunderstanding blur your vision of Jesus in the priest who has given his life to serve you.   
Peace of heart and mind to all. ~Margaret of Souls for Jesus

When Catholics discover that I am a married priest the vast majority of them say, “That’s fantastic! I hope the Church changes to allow our priests to marry. That would solve this problem of pedophile priests!”

As one of the few married former Anglican priests who has been ordained as a Catholic priest I can address the matter from personal experience. Furthermore, I served as a celibate Anglican priest for seven years before marrying, so I also have experience of that way of life.

This hot topic should be cooled down with a bit of common sense. Firstly, it should be plain to everyone that marriage does not solve the problem of pedophile priests. Marriage doesn’t cure pedophilia. The fact is, most child abuse is committed by married men. 

Furthermore, most of the sex abuse by priests was against young men.  Do people seriously think that marriage would cure a man who is attracted to teenaged boys? Are they suggesting that homosexual pedophiles would be cured if they just found a good woman? I don’t think so.

Neither will marriage purge the priesthood of other sexual scandal. Plenty of married Protestant clergy still manage to tumble out of the pulpit onto the wrong pillow. Being married doesn’t mean a person is free from lust and temptation.

On the other hand, being celibate doesn’t mean a person is constantly panting for sex. There are plenty of people in all walks of life, of both genders and all ages who are sexually inactive for many different reasons. That doesn’t make them all insatiable sex hounds or sad and desperately lonely souls. Many single people successfully integrate their sexuality into their singleness.

Then there is the realistic question of financial support. When a Catholic enthuses to me about having married priests I usually ask, “Are you willing to put an extra twenty bucks in the collection plate every week to make this happen?” It’s amazing how quickly the subject changes!

Speaking of the married priest’s family, has no one else seen the most obvious problem? If a young priest is married and he and his young wife are fertile they would be expected to live within the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. Yes, it is still Catholic policy that artificial means of contraception are forbidden. 

The Catholic priest and his wife would be expected to live within that teaching. Do the parishioners who are so gung-ho about married priests really want to support the priest’s children? Would they want to re-build the rectory to house them? Pay their health insurance, deductibles and orthodontics? Would they be willing to cough up to send the priest’s kids through Catholic school and college? What if the priest had six, seven, eight, ten or twelve kids? It’s not really cheaper by the dozen.

On the other hand, where a husband and wife both love and serve the Lord in his church the example of a totally committed couple and family can be a terrific blessing for the Church. Parishes where the priest is in a healthy and strong marriage can show the way for all the families in the Church. 

I’m the first to admit that there are benefits to be gained from having married priests, and I’m aware of real problems with celibacy for priests. My celibate colleagues are sometimes isolated and lonely, but then, I know married people who are isolated and lonely. Many celibate priests are workaholics and starved for real relationships and affection. Ditto many married men.

However marriage for priests is a pipe dream panacea. It will solve a few problems but it will create many more: What happens to clergy widows? Who picks up the pieces when a clergy marriage breaks down? Will a priest be able to date? If his marriage breaks down and is annulled will he be able to re-marry? 

The powers at the Vatican could change the rule. It’s unlikely they’ll allow priests to marry, but they might adopt the Eastern Orthodox discipline in which priests may not marry, but married men may be ordained, or they might decide to allow older married men to be ordained.

In the meantime, the discipline of celibacy for our priests reminds everyone that sexuality is something which we all need to control in order to be happy—married people and single people alike.

The celibate priest, brother or sister reminds us that sex and marriage are given to lead us on to something better than sex: true and lasting Love. That’s why we insist that marriage and the celibacy vow are for life: because lifetime love gives us a taste of the eternal. The celibate reminds all of us that whatever our state in life we are called to integrate and control our sexuality in a healthy way, and that this virtue is called chastity.

For this reason alone chastity should be a valued virtue—because it is a self-discipline that reminds us that while true love is tender, for it to last it also has to be tough.

by: Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Feast of the Holy Family

As today is the Feast of the Holy Family and I reflect on my thoughts about "What has happened to us." I see the drug culture as having played a major roll in the ability of the human person to flip there soul from God to evil. I fell asleep watching the CNN report on the sixties. My generation went from the story of Christmas as the bible tells it to no Christmas at all. Santa Clause and all the material goods you can devour. From "O Holy night to Jingle bell rock." In all honestly were did it get us? How is the family doing?? I think we are getting better, I think this year has been a rude awakening for many. 

We left the natural law which has guided us for thousands of years and spun around so far that our own children need drugs, alcohol and all the material possessions they can acquire in order to feel safe. We are now buying guns at a rate never expected. We are butchering babies and every member of this tax paying society is paying for this. We are not daring to have children for what seem to be legitimate reasons. We need a perfect life first, a life that is not meant for us to have here on earth. Our President is a dictator run a muck and our Congress is over paid and in need of complete house cleaning. 

These are just some of the reasons Jesus is asking for comfort, prayer and fellowship among women who really have the God given Faith to change the world along with Him and His Holy Family. God does not want to wipe out our nation or our world. He is not calling us part way back to His love and our created purpose, He is calling us all the way back. I believe in this year of mercy we can do great things through Him who strengthens us. Small things with great Love as Mother Teresa's life expressed to the world many times.

Jesus asks at the dawn of a new year, 'can you pray with Me and watch with Me for just one hour'??

Margaret of Souls for Jesus

The Infant Teaches Us The One Thing

In looking at the infant Jesus in the manger, we must stop and think deeply about the reality of an infant God. If the Divine and Omnipotent God could become so helpless and dependent, are we not obliged to accept ourselves as we are and let ourselves be loved by God? God loves us each of us to the point of human "madness" and we must let Him love us as we are, not as we hope to become. We must consent to be nothing and to do nothing, but love and be loved. We must let God have the joy of loving us.

Now, if we love God, we will keep His Commandments out of love, because we would never purposely offend someone we love, but most importantly we will give Him our life. We will live for Him, not for ourselves. We will speak to Him throughout the day as we would to our dearest friend. How do we know we have committed to let Him live His life in us? The answer is simple but not easy. It is in how we spend our time each day in seeking His Glory and the salvation of souls as our first and our ongoing purpose and desire. It is Grace, and we must constantly ask for this share in Divine Life! ~Adapted from Fr. Jacques Philippe in "Time for God"

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Our Lady of America Newsletter, December 24, 2015
Christmas Eve

Litigation Update: Because of your prayers and the grace of God, We Won!

As most of you who have followed this devotion in recent years know, there has been long and protracted litigation surrounding copyrights and trademarks of devotionals to Our Lady of America. A former nun, Patricia Fuller, claimed that she controlled the devotion through her ownership of copyrights and trademarks. We, the Plaintiffs, argued the visionary Sr. Mary Ephrem had placed these same devotional materials into the public domain for free use by anyone. While this was the central issue, the litigation grew exponentially when the Defendants counter sued the Plaintiffs accusing us of all sorts of illegal and immoral behavior.

In 2014 there was a trial in the United States District Court where the jury found that the devotionals were indeed in the public domain and that we had not engaged in any of the illegal and immoral behavior of which we were accused. The jury also found that the defendants had extensively defamed us by the civil publication of these accusations and thus awarded us substantial damages.

Shortly after the trial the Defendants entered an appeal in the United States 7th Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the entirety of the jury’s verdict.

This past Friday, December 18, 2015 that court entered its Final Judgement on the appeal.

THANK GOD! WE WON! ALL BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WE WON!

The Appeals Court upheld the entirety of the jury’s findings. The only item the Appeals Court did not uphold was the District Judge’s injunction against future defamation by the Defendants . The Appeals court found it too broad, rendering it unconstitutional under the First Amendment and returned it to the District Judge with instructions for revision.

The devotional materials central to the devotion to Our Lady of America are in the public domain andfree for use by anyone! While there is some chance that the Defendants will appeal to the United States Supreme Court, there is little chance that court will accept it on appeal in light of the following quote from the Final Judgement.

“The conduct of the litigation in the district court by the lawyer representing Fuller and Hartman showed, as the district judge explained in granting the request for attorney’s fees, a serious and studied disregard for the orderly processes of justice. That disregard has persisted on appeal. Many of the grounds on which Fuller and Hartman seek reversal were waived, are frivolous, or are incomplete, with the important exception of the permanent injunction entered by the district judge, to which we devote the balance of this opinion.” (page 7)

Our Lady has given us the victory!

To all of the prayer warriors that have prayed for this victory – you are the WE in WE WON! This victory would not have been possible without your petitions to the Lord and our Blessed Virgin Mother! Your prayers, sacrifice, and intercessions made the difference. This was not a partial victory. This is a complete victory for Our Lady of America.

It really is a mystery how Our Lady through Her intercession can bring perfection out of our actions of good intent but imperfect human acts. Throughout this litigation we did our best, but it was Our Lady through the intercession of your prayers that delivered the perfect outcome.

It is just like Our Lady of America, the Immaculate Virgin to bring us perfection in all that She does. Starting with Her Immaculate Conception and then Her Fiat, She brought to us He who is that Perfect Gift. Jesus Christ Our Savior has come!

Please offer a prayer of Thanksgiving over the next few days.

From my family to yours - accept our deep appreciation for your aid and support in this work. Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a Holy New Year, I remain Yours in Christ,Al Langsenkamp

P.S. You are certainly asking: Where to from here with the devotion? Pray that Our Lady guide us.

*By Thy Holy & Immaculate Conception, Oh Mary, deliver us from evil!*

*Bloggers and webmasters please link to this story and site!*

Please spread the word by forwarding this email to family and friends and encourage them to sign-up for their own copy of this free newsletter by clicking here.

B.V.M. Our Lady of America
C/O Langsenkamp Family Apostolate
9100 Purdue Rd #400
Indianapolis, IN 46268-1180

B.V.M. Our Lady of America is a not-for-profit activity of the BVM
Foundation, Inc. Batesville, IN 47006
BVM Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation.

www.OurLadyofAmerica.org

Where Are the Children?

What has happened to our children???  

As I anticipate this Birthday of Christ I can't help but think of my own family. I have 5 sons, yes a quiver of sons, a gift from the Lord, Psalm 127.

Truth be told the most memorable emotion I have from giving birth to my first son and the ensuing years of mothering four more is love. Not how much I loved him and them but how much they loved me. The love of my first born son woke up a whole new piece of my heart. The relationship of mother and child is beyond the beyond. It was a continual shock for me to not only love this little being but to find that he returned much more love to me. Motherhood is such a privilege, if you take decent care of a child they adore you. Feed me, change my diapers now and then and you can do no wrong. Women who care for their own children have the best look at the love of God as this innocent being reflects that love all day and night. Yes they can be fussy and demanding but how simple the cure for their demands. Babies, like God, have a desire to be loved first and foremost from their mothers. 

The love that I felt from my first son, the way he loved me in return for so little is something I now equate with Gods love. I didn't know God then but I met him in Billy. That was 36 years ago. 

It was a difficult decision for me not to work after the birth of our son. The job was expecting me back and of course we needed the money. My husband said we will make it work and so we did. One of the best decisions we ever made. We learned to enjoy the simplest things in life. 

As the family grew and Billy grew up the world changed dramatically. Feminism and the equal rights movement took hold and women no matter how they acted could do no wrong. I was too busy caring for and raising my family to realize how different the world, I sent the boys into, was from the one my husband and I had grown up in. 

The world wants to tell you that it is normal to despise the morals and values you were raised with but it is not normal it is pitiable. For those members of our society who are under 40 years of age it is almost impossible to see through the deplorable moral mess we are in. As they entered college the Catholic moral influence flew out the window to be replaced with women laced in birth control and no boundaries. Drugs, alcohol and women can't compare with a mother who raised her sons not even drinking coffee.

I believe the greatest difficulty that comes between Mother and child is when their conscience echoes the voice and example of mother. Run run run as fast as you can but you can not run away from your God given conscience or the influence of God fearing parents. When you loose site of the love of your mother because our culture is drowning in lies it is a constant struggle between God and evil.  

Our Bishop, Peter Labashi has asked for the Christ child to be front and center of the Churches in his diocese so as to bring back the true meaning of Christmas. It is the birthday of Christ, he is already with us. I for one love the focus to be on a child, not only is the Christ child missing in our world but children, babies! Young families who go over the two child allotment are seen as being irresponsible.

My own mother who is ninety years old and has spent a better part of her later years watching Oprah Winfrey and other very progressive women on television made what was a shocking statement. We were having lunch, she looked right at me and said, "Margie, were are the children? Oprah Winfrey is a wonderful woman she does so much for the poor and gives away so much of her wealth. She is the roll model for the young women the generation who are now not marrying, not having children. Oprah never married, she never had children."  She also pointed out several of the other prominent women of our times. Women she idolized but had come to understand the powerful yet defeating influence they have had on our society.

Women have to work very hard to live against the natural God given desire to bring life into the world. Our bodies are set up both emotionally and physically to nurture and bring life into this world so starved for love.

God himself is purifying our world and will turn all of this around. We must stand strong and together behind our Pope and Clergy who are preaching and teaching the truth. We must admonish those who refer to the culture of relativism. Every family is struggling right along with you. Keep watch and pray, for the Savior of our world is with us.

Margaret of Souls for JESUS

THE BRIDEGROOM IS HERE - GO OUT TO WELCOME HIM

Dr, Anthony Lilles is a favorite of mine as well as one of our Lady's favorites. The Holy Mother actually directed me to his book "Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden." It is a wonderful modern day guide to Union with Jesus. Through the purification process. His writings are beautiful, romantic and very understandable. I could not resist posting this commentary of his from Spiritual direction.com.

I also find Fr. Bartunek very informative and a profitable read. I hope you
enjoy them as well.

Hearing the Call of the Bridegroom

Dec 21, 2015 02:35 am | Anthony Lilles

What does the call of the Divine Bridegroom sound like?
Dr. Anthony Lilles shares his insights with us on these last few days of Advent.

How Can I Grow in Virtue? (Part II of II)

Dec 21, 2015 02:30 am | Fr. Bartunek

How much should we pray?
Find out as Father John Bartunek concludes his two-part series on how to grow in virtue.

What was Mary Thinking the Week Before She Gave Birth to Jesus?

I was listening to a wonderful homily and asked Jesus why He is asking me to write since the Priests do such a good job, "I am looking for a woman's point of view."
A friend from years ago sent me this blog.  Perfect.  I will now put out a request for women's point of view or encouraging experience from women who got life wrong and then found forgiveness and a way to make things right. Below are experiences of expectation.

Historically, in the Latin calendar, December 18 was the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, however the feast is not in the current calendar. To learn more about the history of the feast, I encourage you to visit the Catholic Encyclopedia on New Advent here.

Trying to understand what the Blessed Virgin Mary was feeling one week before giving birth to Jesus is difficult since nothing about her thoughts has been revealed to us in the Sacred Scriptures. At this point, it’s purely speculative at best. We know what St. Luke tells us in Chapter 2 of his Gospel, however, we don’t know much more than this revelation.

Was it difficult on Mary to be away from her family and her mother during this time? Even though the birth of Jesus was miraculous, as was his conception, what was Mary feeling? Did she know what was to occur? Was she ready for it? Did she think she would be a good mother?

As tradition has shown us, the Blessed Virgin Mary completely put her trust in God, just as she had done nine months prior at the Annunciation. Mary is the great sign of perfect faith and joy for us, but especially during the Third Week of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), which we celebrated in the Latin Church this past Sunday.

We may not know exactly what Mary was feeling one week before the birth of Christ, but based on the 12 quotes below from mothers sharing what they were feeling one week prior to having their child, I would imagine Mary’s experience may not have differed much from some of these –

• My daughter was actually born 3 weeks early, so I finishing my last week at work.  I do remember nesting really bad. Everything needed to be ready. I was a cleaning fool. I remember feeling anxious, nervous, excited and scared. I wanted nothing more than to be the perfect mom. I think that is why she came early, God’s sense of humor, I was the mom she needed. – Kristi

• My first child was nine days post estimated due date, so with this in mind…I wasn’t anxious, nor fidgety, but very at peace, feeling good about being ready for the birth. We had a plan, we had things packed…I somehow knew, everything would be perfect, just because it was in God’s hands…prayer was my constant companion. There was a joy in waiting, knowing that it was just time, and this sense of treasuring every moment leading up to the big day. – Maggie

• My last week of pregnancy was Christmas week and I was overdue. I loved being pregnant but was now more than ready to meet this little person God was entrusting me with. I was anxious and excited, what a wonderment pregnancy is! We didn’t know the gender of our baby so there was that added anticipation. We went to Midnight Mass that year, 10 days past my due date. I remember feeling so connected to Mary that night.  – Kristin

• The week before my first child was born I was so anxious to see my baby’s face and hold the baby in my arms and learn if “Little K” was Kathleen or Kevin. At the same time, even though I had been reading and rereading a couple of books about babies, I felt as if I was not prepared for such an awesome responsibility. I placed my trust in The Lord and prayed to be a good mother and do His Will with His awesome blessing. – Helen

• As the birth of my first child was approaching I was filled with a potpourri of emotions.  The anticipation of finally seeing his little face and learning about his personality filled most of my thoughts.  Mixed in that joy was some apprehension about being responsible for another human being. I wondered if I would be a good mother. – Kay

• Just before having my son, I remember an overwhelming feeling of joy and entrustment. I couldn’t wait to hold my baby boy, but knew that once he was born, I would have to share him. Others would hold him, would smile at him, and yes, could hurt him. I couldn’t keep him in the safety of my arms forever. Today, he is four and this is still my heart’s desire: to simply hold, love, teach, and protect him. I know each day he grows he will be more independent. – Allie

• My due date was May 22 and as that day came closer I was nervous, scared, and excited but never had that “done” feeling other moms talk about. Well-meaning friends and relatives were becoming increasing frustrated as each day came and went without a baby. The truth is I was not at all upset. I cherished every hour that I was allowed to assist God in this most precious creation. – Kim

• One week before giving birth to my first born I was feeling anxiousness, excitement, and I was uncomfortable because it felt like his feet were lodged in my ribs, but the anticipation of pushing this gift from God, this little miracle out of my body was and still is the most overwhelming sense of happiness I’ve ever experienced. – Sydne

• The week leading up to giving birth to my first child was a roller coaster of emotion. Fear, excitement, anxiety, anticipation, all wrapped up in the blessing that would soon arrive. Physically I was exhausted and I worried if my body could handle the natural childbirth I had opted for. So many questions ran through my mind…would I be a good mother? Would my baby be healthy? When that day came, there are no words to describe the experience of giving birth and feeling your newborn laid on your chest for the first time. It is truly a miracle and gift from God! – Kasandra

• I was working full-time for an optometrist and on the go and on my feet most of days. Nothing really set in until my last workday, which happened to be 3 days before I had our son. I didn’t experience much honestly until I wasn’t working. I think once I finally relaxed from being on the go, my body decided it was time for a baby. – Christine

• The anticipation was overwhelming as I waited for the birth of my first son. He would be 5 1/2 weeks early and a 72-hour labor. As a new Mom, the timing initially was scary but God provided me with a sense of peace knowing we would both be healthy. It was an exciting time but also a sense of nervousness, hoping and praying I was ready to take on this new role of Mommy that God was entrusting me with…pure excitement and joy! – Karyn

• The final week leading up to the birth of my first child was filled with much anticipation, joy, excitement and exhaustion. It was also a time fear of the unknown. Fear about being ready to welcome a child into this world…It required so much trust in the Lord and placing it in His hands…The meaning of love had changed drastically after carrying a baby within my womb for 9 months. I was blessed to be given the gift of life. – Lindsey

Motherhood is so important. Thanks to the women above for hearing the call to be Mommies. If you are Mom and would like to share your experience of what you were feeling one week before giving birth, please do so in the comment box below. We would love to hear them.

Taken from: http://tomperna.org/

Mercy

 "Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained." ~ John 20:23

I can't think of anything more important in this life than our preparation for eternal life.Without the Holy Priesthood so dedicated to the continued work and presence of Jesus on this earth we would be lost. My suggestion is that at Christmas time and always we send encouraging words and grateful thanks to our priests. This is the year of Mercy as well as the year of consecrated life. Lets make it extra special by sending words and gifts of praise to our local clergy and religious. 

Margaret of Souls for Jesus

Christmas Novena begins December 16th

Christmas Novena Prayers

Opening Prayer

O Lord, Word of God, You, whose glory is complete, came to us in perfect humility as a child in the womb. Your love for us and humility is unsurpassed and brings us to our knees in prayer and worship.
Your incarnation forever changed the world.
All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Day 1 – Joy

O Lord, infant Jesus, fill us with Joy! The birth of any child is a cause for joy and so much more is the birth of You our Savior. We pray in union with Mary, Your mother, for a greater joy this Christmas.

Day 2 – Humility

O Lord, infant Jesus, grant us great humility! You gave us the model of perfect humility in your incarnation, life and death. We pray for a greater Humility this Christmas.

Day 3 – Faith

O Lord, infant Jesus, give us the gift of Faith! You, Lord, deserve our complete faith. We pray for deeper and more perfect faith in you this Christmas.

Day 4 – Hope

O Lord, infant Jesus, bring us the Hope that saves! Your birth to the Virgin Mary brought a Hope to the world that continues to sustain us. We pray for a saving Hope this Christmas.

Day 5 – Love

O Lord, infant Jesus, inspire in us Your selfless love! You humbled yourself to become like us in all things but sin, and even humbled yourself to die on a cross. We pray that you will help us to love as You love this Christmas.

Day 6 – Peace

O Lord, infant Jesus, give us Your peace! You are the Prince of Peace and the ultimate fulfillment of your incarnation brings us to you in heaven where peace will come to perfection. We pray for peace this Christmas.

Day 7 – Forgiveness

O Lord, infant Jesus, move us to forgive others as you forgive us! Your Divine Mercy is unending! We pray for Your Divine Mercy on us and that we may participate in Your mercy by forgiving others this Christmas.

Day 8 – Holiness

O Lord, infant Jesus, inspire us to be repulsed by sin! You, Lord, are holy but we are not. We pray that you will make us holy and keep us from temptation this Christmas.

Day 9 – Life Eternal

O Lord, infant Jesus, bring us to live eternal with You! Jesus, your nativity was not without purpose. Your purpose was to bring us to You. We pray that you will bring us to Life Eternal with you this Christmas.

Closing Prayers

We pray also for these intentions… (State your intentions here)
May Your Holy Will be done in my life and with these intentions.
We pray that the work of salvation that Your first coming began will reach fulfillment in each of us.
All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and forever shall be, world without end.
Amen.

Find the Original Here: http://www.praymorenovenas.com/christmas-novena/#ixzz3u80ClFTn

Christmas Novena

The Christmas Novena is coming up on the 16th .. watch for it here and let's pray together. 

 

Year is a reminder to put mercy before judgment, Pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Dec. 8, 2015 -- On a cloudy, damp morning, Pope Francis' voice echoed in the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica: "Open the gates of justice." With five strong thrusts, the pope pushed open the Holy Door, a symbol of God's justice, which he said will always be exercised "in the light of his mercy."

The rite of the opening of the Holy Door was preceded by a Mass with 70,000 pilgrims packed in St. Peter's Square Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the beginning of the extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy.

As the sun broke through the clouds, heralding the start of the jubilee year, the pope bowed his head and remained still for several minutes in silent prayer.

Amid a crowd of dignitaries and pilgrims, a familiar face was also present at the historic event: retired Pope Benedict XVI, who followed Pope Francis through the Holy Door into St. Peter's Basilica.

During his homily, Pope Francis emphasized the "simple, yet highly symbolic" act of opening the Holy Door, which "highlights the primacy of grace;" the same grace that made Mary "worthy of becoming the mother of Christ."

"The fullness of grace can transform the human heart and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history," he said.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception, he continued, serves as a reminder of the grandeur of God's love in allowing Mary to "avert the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this world."

---

"This is the love of God which precedes, anticipates and saves," he said. "Were sin the only thing that mattered, we would be the most desperate of creatures. But the promised triumph of Christ's love enfolds everything in the Father's mercy."

The Year of Mercy, the pope stressed, is a gift of grace that allows Christians to experience the joy of encountering the transforming power of grace and rediscovering God's infinite mercy toward sinners.

"How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy," he said.

"We have to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God's judgment will always be in the light of his mercy. In passing through the Holy Door, then, may we feel that we ourselves are part of this mystery of love."

Fifty years ago, he said, the church celebrated the "opening of another door," with the Second Vatican Council urging the church to come out from self-enclosure and "set out once again with enthusiasm on her missionary journey." The council closed Dec. 8, 1965.

Pope Francis, the first pope to be ordained to the priesthood after the council, said the council documents "testify to a great advance in faith," but the council's importance lies particularly in calling the Catholic Church to return to the spirit of the early Christians by undertaking "a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces. Wherever there are people, the church is called to reach out to them and to bring the joy of the Gospel. After these decades, we again take up this missionary drive with the same power and enthusiasm."

Shortly after the Mass, as thousands of people waited in St. Peter's Square for a chance to walk through the Holy Door, Pope Francis led the midday Angelus prayer.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception has a special connection to the start of the Year of Mercy, he said, because "it reminds us that everything in our lives is a gift, everything is mercy."

Like Mary, the pope continued, Christians are called to "become bearers of Christ" and to "let ourselves be embraced by the mercy of God who waits for us and forgives everything. Nothing is sweeter than his mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be caressed by God. The Lord is so good and he forgives everything."

A video to accompany this story can be found at https://youtu.be/H02Nhu_PHeE

Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

"Am I not her who am your Mother, is there anything
else that you should need?"

These words spoke to my heart many years ago when I first realized that in order to be a Catholic woman in this culture of feminism and death, I was too different to get along with those around me, most especially members of my family. In order to follow the path traced out for me by God, I had to join those who call Mary the Holy Mother of God their mother. I read the above words that were spoken to Juan Diego and took them to heart for myself. I am sure that was over 20 years ago. I have never felt the loneliness for a mother again. I also vividly remember hearing the words from the Hail Holy Queen, "Mother of Mercy."  Yes she is the loving, "Mother of Mercy," our life our sweetness and our hope."

When I muse on the Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe I think about Juan Diego the poor peasant chosen to carry such a Holy and world changing message. When you feel like you can't carry the message of Jesus to the people around you think of this little man who wanted to run in the other direction, even tried. His story is very heart warming and full of love.

It never ceases to amaze me what God puts up with from His children. Years later when I embarked on a deeper purification with a new spiritual director Jesus asked me to become more like His Mother. It takes years and vigilance as I tend not to be so nice. I feel very much the love of My spiritual Mother Mary in spite of my shortcomings. I would however be dead in the water if not for a priest of pure spirit to hear my confessions. Mother doesn't take any nonsense, I have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God and now I need absolution and to start all over.

Let us pray to our Mother and ask to be more like her, to be pure in heart.

My love and prayers to all who embark on this journey,
Margaret of Souls for Jesus

The Immaculate Conception and Mercy

As we approach the year of Mercy starting on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception it is important to keep the focus on the request of Jesus. He is asking for Lay women to be espoused to Purity.  He is asking for prayer, penance and loving truth to be given to all who are in need of it.  If you look around at the world this mission seems not only daunting but impossible.  "Nothing is impossible for God." 

My prayer today before I began the Liturgy of the hours, Morning Prayer was to ask the Mother of God to inspire me as to how to approach the subject of Purification and the year of Mercy.

Today's readings make many references to Zion our Mighty Citadel, our saving Lord its walls and its defense; throw open the gates, for our God is here among us, Psalm 118 Song of Joy for Salvation. 

Our Pope is reinforcing an age old truth. Our God is here among us, to save us from the fires of Hell. All through the readings we are reminded of our need for God and His never ending love for us. His Mercy endures forever. 

As a Catholic woman who has been drawn by Jesus to His truth. The need to bring back PURITY to our world so hurting and distorted by decades of lies and half truths is absolute. I urge all sisters in the name of Christ and God's plan to Purify the world, to pray and sacrifice for this most necessary cause. 

We must first ask for the gift of Purity. Purify our intentions, our will, "Make my heart, like unto thine." When you are willing to let go of all that is stored up inside, the guilt, shame and pain that is keeping you from Jesus you will be much more apt to find the confessional a place of peace, healing and holiness. If you really want to please the Son of God ask His Mother to help you with this purification. This is difficult to admit but I have gone to confession almost once a week for over four years now. 

The doors are open, Jesus is waiting behind the black suit and the white collar to hear you, and to heal you. Jesus is acting in that priest to draw your soul to His. There is no greater love, as He has laid down His life for you.  

The two women Jesus has asked to be our Patron Saints are St. Mary Magdalene and St. Joan of Arc. Mary who stayed with him through his death and resurrection. 

St. Joan of Arc who understands the battle being waged against all women and children of our times, in spite of those around us who are not really interested in pleasing our Savior we need to fight the battle anyway.  We must look at the bloodied face of Jesus and say, I do, and I will.

         I do, to the invitation to become a Daughter of Zion, Bride of His church. I will, do your will, not mine or that of the world around me. 

Be the light in this World

A message to Emily from Jesus for all of us who attempt to present Christ to the world.

"In a dark room, a flame will always shine brightest. In a fully lit room, there will be no shadows. Be the light in this world."
I have read and reread this message, as Jesus seems to be telling us something more. I believe the more is about the purity of Christ. The shadows would be the imperfection of the message. We may all find it difficult to live the pure truth of Christ every minute of every day but we must be, WILLING, to try so as to be able to be HIS light to others.

1 John: 5&6
This is the message we have heard from Him and declared to you: God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all.

Deuteronomy 30:14
No the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey It.

When we are purely willing to live His Truth we will find that the Truth is already in us. When you advise people as to the direction they should take towards God you know that they will realize you are speaking Truth.
We follow the Truth of Christ through the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

The Sisterhood of Women

Very early one morning 7 or 8 years ago I was awakened by the Holy Mother of God.  She asked me to go to a particular side of my house and take a picture. It was barely light but I took the shot anyway.  I went back to the guest room on that side of the house and as I got into bed she said, "Abortion has destroyed the sisterhood of women."

Abortion and birth control  changed everything for women as it relates to the exclusive and sacred right of women to give birth. Previous to this the womb was sacred. Conception was the beginning of an eternal journey for a woman and her child. The bond of love was considered natural.  It went without saying that the child and mother would need some tender loving care from more experienced members of the family and close friends.  Even in the worst of circumstances child bearing brought with it a sense of joy for the Mother but also a rejoicing in her community.  Not so after Roe V Wade. Suddenly and over night it became the last an least important roll of a woman. Yes we have continued to give birth and love our children. Unfortunately the idea of helping each other was greatly diminished as we were now able to choose life or death for our own child. If a woman had a miscarriage or lost a child you are supposed to be able to deal with it, after all there are more important things in life to value and enjoy. 

This will never be true, the umbilical cord is eternal.  Mother and child share an unbreakable bond of love forever. So how do we care for each other when the life of a child is returned to Jesus before the Mother returns to him? It is not the same way Grandma and her sisters took care of each other. If you allow your self to think back on stories of past generations you should be able to understand the meaning and importance of  "The Sisterhood of Women." 

The picture I took that morning is the background for this blog. When you love Jesus with a pure heart He brings you back to the true meaning of life. The best and most beautiful way to spend your time on earth preparing for the eternal wedding feast. 

The following is another message to Emily from Jesus.  It is about the subject of motherhood.  It was given this past Sunday November 15, 2015 just after Holy Mass.  

"Emily,

You must know that dying is a gift, a merciful gift intended as a passage into the kingdom of heaven. So many blame Me or blame themselves for the passing of their loved ones, but what they do not realize is that each life begins and ends when I Will it. There are some who are taken differently than the life that I had planned for them, but that doesn't mean that I abandon them. When it comes to children who die during the first moments of life inside of their mother, I am in control. You must know that if I take a child too soon for your standards, it is in fact a gift. The suffering that a parent might feel to lose a child is far less than the suffering that the child will face in the future. The bigger picture drives My Will. A parents biggest goal in life is to lead their children to Me, to heaven. Know that if I take a child, you have done your job. Your pain is only temporary, and the reunion in heaven will be the most beautiful thing you have ever witnessed. Just as I will reunite with my child in great joy, you will reunite with your child with great joy. I have not abandoned you, and I never will. I have My Hands on all of my children and will always take care of them.

Jesus"

Thank you Jesus for loving us so much!

 

Joy of Penance - Janet Klasson ~ November 15, 2015

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want, but what you want.” (Matthew 26:39)

I have read that the cross is the inheritance of Christians, the great treasure he has left us in his Last Will. Yet, being human as he was, when faced with our own Gethsemane, we most often echo his words that this cup of suffering might pass us by. Sometimes, the Lord answers our prayer and removes our trial. But there are times, as with Jesus, when the Father asks us to enter into his will, to trust him on this, that there are bigger things at play than we know about. It is at these times that we are asked to embrace suffering as a gift, as a measure and promise of our “sonship”.
St. Catherine of Genoa, in her “Treatise on Purgatory” has given us much food for thought on the issue of suffering. While what she is referring to in her Treatise is the suffering we endure after death in order to be purified of “the rust and stain of sins”, I believe it may be applied as well to the sufferings we are asked to endure here on earth. In Chapter XVI she has this to say about the souls in Purgatory:

“For if his goodness did not temper justice with mercy (satisfying it with the precious blood of Jesus Christ), one sin alone would deserve a thousand hells. They suffer their pains so willingly that they would not lighten them in the least, knowing how justly they have been deserved. They resist the will of God no more than if they had already entered upon eternal life. […] They see all things, not in themselves nor by themselves, but as they are in God, on whom they are more intent than on their sufferings. For the least vision they can have of God overbalances all woes and all joys that can be conceived.”

So often I have resisted suffering, prayed ceaselessly to have this cup pass me by, without in the least desiring that God’s will be done. I did not fully realize that what God was offering me was a gift, the mitigation of a portion of my suffering after death, or the accomplishment of a great good for another.
Instead of being intent on my sufferings, I need to see all things as they are in God, who only desires our ultimate good, which culminates in total union with him. He wants none of the delays that sinfulness throws up as roadblocks to perfect union. In accepting the suffering that he wills for is, we are saying, “Lord, neither do I want to delay our eternal union. Do with me as you will.
A lifetime of penance seems a small thing to offer in light of St. Catherine’s statement that one sin alone would deserve a thousand hells. It is God’s mercy alone that makes our small efforts bear fruit so far out of proportion to the effort involved.
In the book Spirit of Penance, Path to God, author Van Zeller makes this statement

“Few things are so uselessly squandered as the riches of pain. Leave the Passion (of Christ) out of account, and suffering is not a good but an evil; take the Passion as the foundation and principle of Christian penance, and suffering is of infinite worth.”

It is always good to ponder the sufferings of Christ and our own call to penance, to come back often to these familiar words of Christ in the Garden and ponder them deeply: “Not what I want, but what you want.”
May the Lord grant us all the grace to remain in his Holy Will now and forever.

Our Lady of America Newsletter, November 15, 2015

Feast of Saint Albert the Great - Ten Years Ago Today!
 Please know of my deep appreciation and gratitude for your prayers and support. Especially for those who have participated in our Novena requests and have gone before the Blessed Sacrament seeking the Mercy of Our Lord and the graces promised through this devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Your prayers have certainly sustained this movement and our hope in the promises of Our Lady of America, The Immaculate Virgin.

Please remember our U.S. Bishops this week as they gather in Baltimore Maryland for their annual conference. I expect this devotion will be a topic of discussion for many of the bishops, although probably not on the official agenda. Please pray that Our Lady reveals to the hearts of our bishops the gift that is this devotion. Ten years ago today Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke (then Archbishop of St. Louis, MO) blessed this statue of Our Lady of America that was first publicly displayed just two days earlier at the 2006 U.S.C.C.B conference in Baltimore. (See story)

Pray for the bishops as they meet this week! May the Holy Spirit Guide them and Our Lady of America intercede for them.

By Thy Holy & Immaculate Conception, Oh Mary, deliver us from evil!

Please spread the word by forwarding this email to family and friends and encourage them to sign-up for their own copy of this free newsletter by clicking here.

B.V.M. Our Lady of America
C/O Langsenkamp Family Apostolate
9100 Purdue Rd #400
Indianapolis, IN 46268-1180

B.V.M. Our Lady of America is a not-for-profit activity of the BVM Foundation, Inc. Batesville, IN 47006
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www.OurLadyofAmerica.org

St. Mary Magdalene

Obviously setting up this blog and writing about the patron Saints has taken a long time. I have pondered many times on how to present St. Mary Magdalene. I can't seem to get past my own sinfulness in order to present St. Mary properly. Then came the moment on my way to confession for the countless number of times, "I do not require perfection, just that you love." Words from Jesus. At that moment I understood myself once again as a sinner in need of forgiveness and at the same time knowing I could not live apart from Him even in my sinfulness.

That is what Women Espousing Purity is all about, not that we are pure but that he is pure. He is asking for our love, how ever it is possible for each one to show that love.

St. Mary had the reputation of a bad girl, the black sheep of the family. She died at the age of 72 in the loving care of angels. Her love for Jesus went beyond the fear of the opinion of others. Beyond the threat of death at the foot of the cross. She was the first to meet Him after the resurrection. For me that is huge, not his Mother, not John or Peter but Mary of Magdalene. Ponder that.

The words of St. Therese the Little Flower strengthen my heart as well.

I suggest, that as a repentant sinner, you look over the many pictures on line of St. Mary Magdalene and choose a few favorites,  pictures that revive your senses of love, hope and forgiveness.

1 John 4:16 ~ "...... God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God in him."

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 The sense of unworthiness  can be overwhelming but we must get beyond that in all humility.  I am finding humility very difficult. I'm a spoiled sinner and I like being spoiled.

A Sign of Hope

If our society is going to come out of the sexual suicide dive we are currently in,
we need a social climate change we can believe in. The place to start is on the campuses.

College, once an oasis for intellectual development, has become an incubator of sexual hook-ups. What can we do to shelter our youth (and they are youth) from an increasingly crass climate, the slimy wetlands they are exposed to? Barring a massive shutdown of cable television and lewd advertising, are there practical acts that can have consequences for the college experience our students will have?
At their peak of sexual development, away from home, and surrounded by plenty of the-other-gender, college students could not be more vulnerable. Since campuses now host 60 percent girls to 40 percent boys, the boys are the ones who benefit in the hooking up derby. They are coming to college to learn new things, but why conflate so much learning in a short period.

Peter Wood and Michael Toscano examined the social life of Bowdoin College students. Their findings show that about 75 percent of the students were hooking up. The exact definition was left to the discretion of students who answered the question, but there is little doubt about their understanding of the sexual nature of their dating.

No long ago we interviewed a group of seniors from a nearby Catholic college. One rather jaded student remarked, "They (the dorm counselors) are more concerned if I smoke in my room and how much beer I bring into my room than how many women I've brought in." He noted with a smile that he benefited from the relaxed sexual climate.

Free thinkers who read Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" may think virginity is just a "social construct," as a Dartmouth student recently said in an interview in the college newspaper. She arrived at this conclusion after announcing she had "lost her virginity." Students are sometimes taught that marriage is just another social construct. That is, that an idea or a notion has no true and stable reality, but rather is an invention, something that a social group has made up. (Welcome to today's higher education!)
The current social climate around sexuality is not the result of simple experimentation; no, it took a combination of feminist advocacy, the gay rights revolution, modern technology, and liberated college campuses to create fertile soil for a sexual license.

If our society is going to come out of the sexual suicide dive we are currently in, we need a social climate change we can believe in. The place to start is on the campuses. Policies make a difference.

First, colleges and universities should eliminate mixed-sex dorms. That seems like a no brainer. American campuses have gone from "in loco parentis" with strict, but sensible hours when students had to be in their residences to now, when there are few or no regulated hours. This seems a casual policy which serves students little. Colleges can reinstitute dorm and housing closing hours, which would likely give the reluctant sexual adventurer an excuse to end a date.

Single-sex dorms are in the interest of many who would be reluctant to address the topic. John Garvey president of Catholic University took a bold stand to start eliminating co-ed dorms. This year the campus restricted freshman dorms to single-sex living. What is keeping other campuses from following suit and ending mixed-sex dorms?

Still on the dorm scene, one practice has inconvenienced many students. The boyfriend, or girlfriend moves in with his or her partner. This is, of course, of grave annoyance to roommates whose privacy is compromised and who did not choose this extra person to be living in their room. In these cases the aggrieved party should be encouraged to confront the issue and, if not corrected, report this arrangement to campus authorities.

Second, counselors on college campuses would likely find their work lightened and hearts broken less frequently with less sexually permissive policies. Possibly the number of rapes and assaults would reduce with policy reforms. Colleges can support their policy changes by publishing statistics after they are implemented. Colleges in the past have been reluctant to give a true picture of real assault cases fearing bad publicity.

Student services on campuses are all-too-often complicit in promoting casual sexuality. Most campuses freely provide birth control pills and devices. Ending this policy would help the sexual climate improve.

Since colleges set the standards for high schools, both academically and socially, there will be a filter down effect on high school behaviors with these new college standards. After all, most parents are as concerned about the moral and social climate at school as they are about academic standards. But colleges have to hear about our concerns. Letters and forums are necessary to make parents' fears known.

Third, colleges are supposed to be teaching institutions, where wisdom is available. American's young are in dire need of sexual wisdom. On-campus forums on sex, drugs, alcohol and dating are time well spent. New students need to be informed about the toxic combination of sex and drugs. Parents like to think they have prepared their teens for college, especially about alcohol and sex, but the learning curve is quite steep.

Taking bold initiative always takes courage and group support, especially in matters of human sexuality. Parents need their religious counselors to step up to the plate. We can ask our priests and ministers to speak more forcefully on chastity and the consequences of pre-marital sexual activity. They have heard the stories and witnessed the pain. They are only too aware of the lives ruined by promiscuous sexuality. It's time parents to find their voice. It's time to lean on colleges and churches to lend a hand in this campaign.

Our youth are worthy of a sexual climate change.

Kevin and Marilyn Ryan, editors of "Why I'm Still a Catholic," worship at St. Lawrence Church in Brookline, Mass.

Our Gift to You!

Please feel free to copy and print our bookmark so you can have everything at your fingertips!

Just right click and select save to your computer. Open it in any paint program and print it out. If your printer doesn't do double sided, you can cut them out and tape them together after they're printed.

Easy peasy :) 

You might want to get the stiffer card stock for this and of course, you can even laminate it if you like :) 
Blessings! 

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