In this e-weekly:
- Abortion Forgiveness and Healing website (Catholic Website of the week-by the laptop computer)
- The Mystical Life of Guardian Angels, Revealed by the Saints (Diocesan News and BEYOND)
- Pope Francis: Respect and Listen to your Guardian Angel (Helpful Hints for Life)
- Abortion Forgiveness and Healing website (Catholic Website of the week-by the laptop computer)
- The Mystical Life of Guardian Angels, Revealed by the Saints (Diocesan News and BEYOND)
- Pope Francis: Respect and Listen to your Guardian Angel (Helpful Hints for Life)
Catholic Good News
Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
Statues
“You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth
below or in the waters beneath the earth;
you shall not bow down before them or worship them.” Exodus 20:4-5
Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
Statues
“You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth
below or in the waters beneath the earth;
you shall not bow down before them or worship them.” Exodus 20:4-5
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The above quote of the Sacred Scriptures is sometimes misunderstood to accuse Roman Catholics of idol worshiping when our Christian brothers and sisters come into a Catholic church and see statues on the walls and on the altars.
But we must remember that God Himself commanded Moses to make graven cherubim to be placed above the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-20). God does not contradict Himself. The cherubim represented God and help to make Him present to the people of Israel and are not gods themselves like other religions believed in the time of Moses. So statues remind us and make visible those faithful followers of Jesus who intercede for us and show us how to live during ordinary and difficult times.
Further, we have statues in our city parks and along our highways. We have pictures of our loved ones in our homes and places of work. These are not idols nor do we worship them. They keep near to our hearts and our minds those who love us and whom we love. Do you have statues in your parish or home of those in heaven who love you and long to help you?
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. This coming Sunday is the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100624.cfm
P.S.S. Readings with meditations and questions with reflections are at the end of this e-mail.
The above quote of the Sacred Scriptures is sometimes misunderstood to accuse Roman Catholics of idol worshiping when our Christian brothers and sisters come into a Catholic church and see statues on the walls and on the altars.
But we must remember that God Himself commanded Moses to make graven cherubim to be placed above the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-20). God does not contradict Himself. The cherubim represented God and help to make Him present to the people of Israel and are not gods themselves like other religions believed in the time of Moses. So statues remind us and make visible those faithful followers of Jesus who intercede for us and show us how to live during ordinary and difficult times.
Further, we have statues in our city parks and along our highways. We have pictures of our loved ones in our homes and places of work. These are not idols nor do we worship them. They keep near to our hearts and our minds those who love us and whom we love. Do you have statues in your parish or home of those in heaven who love you and long to help you?
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. This coming Sunday is the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100624.cfm
P.S.S. Readings with meditations and questions with reflections are at the end of this e-mail.
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The above quote of the Sacred Scriptures is sometimes misunderstood to accuse Roman Catholics of idol worshiping when our Christian brothers and sisters come into a Catholic church and see statues on the walls and on the altars.
But we must remember that God Himself commanded Moses to make graven cherubim to be placed above the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-20). God does not contradict Himself. The cherubim represented God and help to make Him present to the people of Israel and are not gods themselves like other religions believed in the time of Moses. So statues remind us and make visible those faithful followers of Jesus who intercede for us and show us how to live during ordinary and difficult times.
Further, we have statues in our city parks and along our highways. We have pictures of our loved ones in our homes and places of work. These are not idols nor do we worship them. They keep near to our hearts and our minds those who love us and whom we love. Do you have statues in your parish or home of those in heaven who love you and long to help you?
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. This coming Sunday is the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100624.cfm
P.S.S. Readings with meditations and questions with reflections are at the end of this e-mail.
The above quote of the Sacred Scriptures is sometimes misunderstood to accuse Roman Catholics of idol worshiping when our Christian brothers and sisters come into a Catholic church and see statues on the walls and on the altars.
But we must remember that God Himself commanded Moses to make graven cherubim to be placed above the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-20). God does not contradict Himself. The cherubim represented God and help to make Him present to the people of Israel and are not gods themselves like other religions believed in the time of Moses. So statues remind us and make visible those faithful followers of Jesus who intercede for us and show us how to live during ordinary and difficult times.
Further, we have statues in our city parks and along our highways. We have pictures of our loved ones in our homes and places of work. These are not idols nor do we worship them. They keep near to our hearts and our minds those who love us and whom we love. Do you have statues in your parish or home of those in heaven who love you and long to help you?
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. This coming Sunday is the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100624.cfm
P.S.S. Readings with meditations and questions with reflections are at the end of this e-mail.
575. As children of God, how may we strengthen our trust in Him?
(Catechism of the Catholic Church-2734-2741, 2756)
a) unite our prayer with Jesus
b) this trust is tested when we think we are not heard
c) receive the Holy Spirit who transform our heart
d) all of the above
576. Is it possible to pray always?
(CCC 2742-2745, 2757)
a) No, we cannot stay awake 24/7
b) No, we get distracted from time to time
c) Yes, for the time of the Christian is the time of the risen Christ who remains with us always
d) Yes, because I can pray in the past and pray in the future for all the times I missed before
577. What is the prayer of the Hour of Jesus?
(CCC 2604, 2746-2751, 2758)
a) the first 60 minutes of Jesus’ existence
b) the priestly prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper
c) Jesus’ time on the Cross
d) Jesus’ prayer of picking of the 12 Apostles
(Answers below)
(Catechism of the Catholic Church-2734-2741, 2756)
a) unite our prayer with Jesus
b) this trust is tested when we think we are not heard
c) receive the Holy Spirit who transform our heart
d) all of the above
576. Is it possible to pray always?
(CCC 2742-2745, 2757)
a) No, we cannot stay awake 24/7
b) No, we get distracted from time to time
c) Yes, for the time of the Christian is the time of the risen Christ who remains with us always
d) Yes, because I can pray in the past and pray in the future for all the times I missed before
577. What is the prayer of the Hour of Jesus?
(CCC 2604, 2746-2751, 2758)
a) the first 60 minutes of Jesus’ existence
b) the priestly prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper
c) Jesus’ time on the Cross
d) Jesus’ prayer of picking of the 12 Apostles
(Answers below)
statue (from Latin statuere; “to set up”)
- a likeness of a holy person that leads one to honor and/or imitate them to the glory of God
[A likeness of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, or one of the saints, or a symbolic form of an angel, sculptured, carved, or cast in a solid material, and venerated by the faithful. Its purpose is to recall the person whom the statue represents in order to inspire greater piety. Christians do not worship statues as idols.]
- a likeness of a holy person that leads one to honor and/or imitate them to the glory of God
[A likeness of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, or one of the saints, or a symbolic form of an angel, sculptured, carved, or cast in a solid material, and venerated by the faithful. Its purpose is to recall the person whom the statue represents in order to inspire greater piety. Christians do not worship statues as idols.]
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis says God has given everybody a Guardian Angel to accompany us and offer advice and protection, an Angel to whom we should listen with meekness and respect. He was speaking during his homily at Mass on Friday (2nd October) celebrated in the Santa Marta Residence.
Taking his cue from Friday’s feast of the Guardian Angels, the Pope’s homily reflected on this divine presence in our lives, describing the Angel as God’s ambassador who accompanies each one of us. He noted how the proof of this was illustrated when God chased Adam out of Paradise: He didn’t leave Adam on his own or say to him: “fend for yourself as best as you can.” The Pope stressed that every person has been given a Guardian Angel by God who stays by our side.
God's Ambassador by our side
“He is always with us! And this is a reality. It’s like having God’s ambassador with us. And the Lord advises us: ‘Respect his presence!’ And when we, for example, commit a sin and believe that we’re on our own: No, he is there. Show respect for his presence. Listen to his voice because he gives us advice. When we hear that inspiration: ‘But do this … this is better … we should not do that.’ Listen! Do not go against him.”
Pope Francis explained how the Guardian Angel always protects us, especially from evil. Sometimes, he noted, “we believe that we can hide so many things,” “bad things” that in the end will always come to light. The Angel, he continued, is there to advise us and “cover for us” just a friend would do. “A friend who we don’t see but we hear.” “A friend who one day will be with us in the everlasting joy of Heaven.”
Respect him and listen to him
“All he asks is that we listen to him and respect him. That’s all: respect and listening (to him). And this respect and listening to this companion on our journey is called meekness. The Christian must be meek when it comes to the Holy Spirit. Meekness towards the Holy Spirit begins with this yielding to the advice given by this companion on our journey.”
The Pope went on to explain that in order to be meek, we need to become small like children and our Guardian Angel is a companion who teaches us this humility and just like children we should listen to him.
“May we ask the Lord for the grace of this meekness, to listen to the voice of this companion, to this ambassador from God who accompanies us in His name and may we be supported by his help. (We must) always journey forward. And in this Mass where we praise the Lord, let us remember how good our Lord is, who straight after we lost His friendship, did not leave us alone, did not abandon us.”
“By keeping the memorials of the saints - first of all the holy Mother of God, then the apostles, the martyrs, and other saints - on fixed days of the liturgical year, the Church on earth shows that she is united with the liturgy of heaven. She gives glory to Christ for having accomplished his salvation in his glorified members; their example encourages her on her way to the Father.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1195
Taking his cue from Friday’s feast of the Guardian Angels, the Pope’s homily reflected on this divine presence in our lives, describing the Angel as God’s ambassador who accompanies each one of us. He noted how the proof of this was illustrated when God chased Adam out of Paradise: He didn’t leave Adam on his own or say to him: “fend for yourself as best as you can.” The Pope stressed that every person has been given a Guardian Angel by God who stays by our side.
God's Ambassador by our side
“He is always with us! And this is a reality. It’s like having God’s ambassador with us. And the Lord advises us: ‘Respect his presence!’ And when we, for example, commit a sin and believe that we’re on our own: No, he is there. Show respect for his presence. Listen to his voice because he gives us advice. When we hear that inspiration: ‘But do this … this is better … we should not do that.’ Listen! Do not go against him.”
Pope Francis explained how the Guardian Angel always protects us, especially from evil. Sometimes, he noted, “we believe that we can hide so many things,” “bad things” that in the end will always come to light. The Angel, he continued, is there to advise us and “cover for us” just a friend would do. “A friend who we don’t see but we hear.” “A friend who one day will be with us in the everlasting joy of Heaven.”
Respect him and listen to him
“All he asks is that we listen to him and respect him. That’s all: respect and listening (to him). And this respect and listening to this companion on our journey is called meekness. The Christian must be meek when it comes to the Holy Spirit. Meekness towards the Holy Spirit begins with this yielding to the advice given by this companion on our journey.”
The Pope went on to explain that in order to be meek, we need to become small like children and our Guardian Angel is a companion who teaches us this humility and just like children we should listen to him.
“May we ask the Lord for the grace of this meekness, to listen to the voice of this companion, to this ambassador from God who accompanies us in His name and may we be supported by his help. (We must) always journey forward. And in this Mass where we praise the Lord, let us remember how good our Lord is, who straight after we lost His friendship, did not leave us alone, did not abandon us.”
“By keeping the memorials of the saints - first of all the holy Mother of God, then the apostles, the martyrs, and other saints - on fixed days of the liturgical year, the Church on earth shows that she is united with the liturgy of heaven. She gives glory to Christ for having accomplished his salvation in his glorified members; their example encourages her on her way to the Father.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1195
Forgiveness and Healing After Abortion
www.abortionfacts.com/forgiveness-after-abortion
www.silentnomoreawareness.org/search/index.aspx
www.abortionfacts.com/forgiveness-after-abortion
www.silentnomoreawareness.org/search/index.aspx
This page offers a variety of resources for forgiveness and healing but also allows the user to enter his or her zip code to find after-care programs in their area.
From the website:
Have you personally experienced abortion or had your child aborted? It is a difficult issue to deal with. Your feelings associated with the abortion(s) deserve attention. Our hope is to connect you with the resources that can help you understand your feelings and behavior related to your experience.
All the resources we recommend have two things in common; one, they will have a powerful positive impact on your life and second, all the people involved care deeply about you, many share your experience and have dedicated their lives to helping you.
Best Parish Practices
USE RECYCLED AND/OR RECYCLABLE TABLE SERVICE AT PARISH FUNCTIONS
The last 3 Popes have been asking us to be more conscience of the world God created and in which we live and to do what we can to keep it the place God created it to be. Any parish efforts in Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse is encouraged to be attempted. Concretely, using washable table service (plates, silverware, cups, etc.) can go a long way, especially with Parish Gatherings and fundraisers. If this is not practical, please consider using paper products instead of styrofoam or plastic, since paper biodegrades and the others do not, if you will not be able to recycle.
BENEFITS:
Recycling is the first options, but if it is not a go, then try to do something. Paper may also actually be cheaper than the others at certain times of buying. If recycling, plastic is the one to go with.
HOW:
Bring this request to your Pastor and/or Pastoral Council and ask if they will see what is doable. If able, offer to be the one who does the recycling. We cannot do all, but we can all do something.