In this e-weekly:
-Rituals and Explanations for Catholic Families, Especially Children (Catholic Website of the Week)
- Simple Prayers That Can Be Prayed Throughout the Day (Helpful Hints for Life)
-FIRST COMMANDMENT - QandA on First Commandment near end of e-mail
-Rituals and Explanations for Catholic Families, Especially Children (Catholic Website of the Week)
- Simple Prayers That Can Be Prayed Throughout the Day (Helpful Hints for Life)
-FIRST COMMANDMENT - QandA on First Commandment near end of e-mail
The Blessed Virgin Mary appearing to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France in 1858
Catholic Good News
Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
Our Lady of Lourdes
"A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."
(Revelation 12:1)
Receiving the Gospel, Serving God and Neighbor
Our Lady of Lourdes
"A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,
with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars."
(Revelation 12:1)
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
On February 11, 1858, 14-year-old Bernadette was gathering firewood for her mother when she was drawn by a noise to the Grotto of Massabielle, a small cave-like structure. There she saw a beautiful young woman holding a rosary. Bernadette prayed the rosary after which the woman smiled and disappeared.
After 17 more appearances over the next five months, Bernadette learned that the woman was the Blessed Virgin Mary and that she desired to have processions and a chapel built for the benefit of many. When she asked her name by the request of the local clergy for some proof of the authenticity of the message, the woman said, "I am the Immaculate Conception." A name total unknown to Bernadette, but one that had been declare of Blessed Mary, four years early by Pope Pius IX in Rome, Italy.
During one of the apparitions, Our Lady asked Bernadette to drink water from a nearby stream. Unable to see it, Bernadette scratched at the ground and water immediately started flowing. She also put some on her face which was mud at first, and she was first thought crazy by those that gathered, but to this day, thousands, come to this stream daily, with many cures being reported.
On the second apparition of Feb. 18, 1858, Our Lady said to Bernadette, "I do not promise to make you happy in this life but in the next." Indeed, she had a sad life with many trials, but trusting the beautiful Lady and God who sent her, St. Bernadette is not only with them now and assisting us from heaven, but she has also brought the world the miraculous healing waters of Lourdes as well as devotion to Her who gives us Jesus!
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. Look under Catholic Websites of the Week for more information on Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernadette.
P.S.S. This coming Sunday is 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Times. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090824.cfm
P.S.S.S. Readings with questions for self or family reflection found at the end of e-weekly.
On February 11, 1858, 14-year-old Bernadette was gathering firewood for her mother when she was drawn by a noise to the Grotto of Massabielle, a small cave-like structure. There she saw a beautiful young woman holding a rosary. Bernadette prayed the rosary after which the woman smiled and disappeared.
After 17 more appearances over the next five months, Bernadette learned that the woman was the Blessed Virgin Mary and that she desired to have processions and a chapel built for the benefit of many. When she asked her name by the request of the local clergy for some proof of the authenticity of the message, the woman said, "I am the Immaculate Conception." A name total unknown to Bernadette, but one that had been declare of Blessed Mary, four years early by Pope Pius IX in Rome, Italy.
During one of the apparitions, Our Lady asked Bernadette to drink water from a nearby stream. Unable to see it, Bernadette scratched at the ground and water immediately started flowing. She also put some on her face which was mud at first, and she was first thought crazy by those that gathered, but to this day, thousands, come to this stream daily, with many cures being reported.
On the second apparition of Feb. 18, 1858, Our Lady said to Bernadette, "I do not promise to make you happy in this life but in the next." Indeed, she had a sad life with many trials, but trusting the beautiful Lady and God who sent her, St. Bernadette is not only with them now and assisting us from heaven, but she has also brought the world the miraculous healing waters of Lourdes as well as devotion to Her who gives us Jesus!
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. Look under Catholic Websites of the Week for more information on Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernadette.
P.S.S. This coming Sunday is 23rd Sunday of Ordinary Times. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090824.cfm
P.S.S.S. Readings with questions for self or family reflection found at the end of e-weekly.
565. Who can educate us in prayer? (Catechism of the Catholic Church-CCC 2685-2690, 2694-2695)
a) the stars in the sky
b) our family
c) I am the only one who can teach myself
d) none of the above
566. What places are conducive to prayer? (CCC 2691, 2696 )
a) church
b) home
c) anywhere, but choosing a place is not a matter of indifference
d) all of the above
CHAPTER THREE: The Life of Prayer
567. What times are more suitable for prayer? (CCC 2697-2698, 2720)
a) prayer before and after meals
b) Sunday Eucharist
c) morning and evening prayers
d) all of the above
ANSWERS BELOW
a) the stars in the sky
b) our family
c) I am the only one who can teach myself
d) none of the above
566. What places are conducive to prayer? (CCC 2691, 2696 )
a) church
b) home
c) anywhere, but choosing a place is not a matter of indifference
d) all of the above
CHAPTER THREE: The Life of Prayer
567. What times are more suitable for prayer? (CCC 2697-2698, 2720)
a) prayer before and after meals
b) Sunday Eucharist
c) morning and evening prayers
d) all of the above
ANSWERS BELOW
Catholic Terms
devotion
(Latin de- "to" + votum "vow, promise" = devovere "to vow, to promise"; devotus "vowed")
- the disposition of will to do promptly what concerns the worship and service of God
[Although devotion is primarily a disposition or attitude of the will, acts of the will that proceed from such disposition are also expressions of devotion. Essential to devotion is readiness to do whatever gives honor to God, whether in public or private prayer (worship) or in doing the will of God (service). A person who is thus disposed is said to be devoted. His devotedness is ultimately rooted in a great love for God, which in spiritual theology is often called devotion.]
grotto
(from Italian grotta, grotto; Latin crypta "cavern, crypt")
- a small cave or cavern often associate with miraculous appearances
[Appearances such as at Lourdes, France, and at Manresa, Spain.]
pilgrimage
(Latin per "through" + agr-, ager "land" = "through the land"; peregrinus "foreign, abroad")
- a journey to a sacred place for love of God or someone He has given us
[Its purpose may be simply to venerate a certain saint or ask some spiritual favor; beg for a physical cure or perform an act of penance; express thanks or fulfill a promise. From the earliest days pilgrimages were made to the Holy Land, and later on to Rome, where Peter and Paul and so many Christians were martyred. From the eighth century the practice began of imposing a pilgrimage in place of public penance. As a result, during the Middle Ages pilgrimages were organized on a grand scale and became the object of special Church legislation. In modern times, besides Rome and the Holy Land, famous shrines such as Lourdes, Fátima, and Guadalupe draw thousands of pilgrims each year from the Catholic world.]
devotion
(Latin de- "to" + votum "vow, promise" = devovere "to vow, to promise"; devotus "vowed")
- the disposition of will to do promptly what concerns the worship and service of God
[Although devotion is primarily a disposition or attitude of the will, acts of the will that proceed from such disposition are also expressions of devotion. Essential to devotion is readiness to do whatever gives honor to God, whether in public or private prayer (worship) or in doing the will of God (service). A person who is thus disposed is said to be devoted. His devotedness is ultimately rooted in a great love for God, which in spiritual theology is often called devotion.]
grotto
(from Italian grotta, grotto; Latin crypta "cavern, crypt")
- a small cave or cavern often associate with miraculous appearances
[Appearances such as at Lourdes, France, and at Manresa, Spain.]
pilgrimage
(Latin per "through" + agr-, ager "land" = "through the land"; peregrinus "foreign, abroad")
- a journey to a sacred place for love of God or someone He has given us
[Its purpose may be simply to venerate a certain saint or ask some spiritual favor; beg for a physical cure or perform an act of penance; express thanks or fulfill a promise. From the earliest days pilgrimages were made to the Holy Land, and later on to Rome, where Peter and Paul and so many Christians were martyred. From the eighth century the practice began of imposing a pilgrimage in place of public penance. As a result, during the Middle Ages pilgrimages were organized on a grand scale and became the object of special Church legislation. In modern times, besides Rome and the Holy Land, famous shrines such as Lourdes, Fátima, and Guadalupe draw thousands of pilgrims each year from the Catholic world.]
"Helpful Hints of Life"
Simple Prayers That Can Help You Through the Day
(Can be prayed after breakfast for example.)
An Act of Faith-O my God I believe all You have said because You are the infallible truth.
An Act of Hope - O my God I hope for all You have promised because You are faithful.
An Act of Love - O my God I love You above all things because You are good.
"All the signs in the liturgical celebrations are related to Christ: as are sacred images of the holy Mother of God and of the saints as well. They truly signify Christ, who is glorified in them. They make manifest the "cloud of witnesses" who continue to participate in the salvation of the world and to whom we are united, above all in sacramental celebrations. Through their icons, it is man "in the image of God," finally transfigured "into his likeness," who is revealed to our faith. So too are the angels, who also are recapitulated in Christ:
Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets."
-Catechism of the Catholic Church #1161
Simple Prayers That Can Help You Through the Day
(Can be prayed after breakfast for example.)
An Act of Faith-O my God I believe all You have said because You are the infallible truth.
An Act of Hope - O my God I hope for all You have promised because You are faithful.
An Act of Love - O my God I love You above all things because You are good.
"All the signs in the liturgical celebrations are related to Christ: as are sacred images of the holy Mother of God and of the saints as well. They truly signify Christ, who is glorified in them. They make manifest the "cloud of witnesses" who continue to participate in the salvation of the world and to whom we are united, above all in sacramental celebrations. Through their icons, it is man "in the image of God," finally transfigured "into his likeness," who is revealed to our faith. So too are the angels, who also are recapitulated in Christ:
Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets."
-Catechism of the Catholic Church #1161
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