Wednesday, January 30, 2008

thorns?



USCCB - (NAB) - January 30, 2008:

"Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it
and it produced no grain."


As we prepare to enter into the Season of Lent...it is a good time to look around us and note any 'thorns' that may be trying to 'choke' God's Word from our lives. The thing with 'thorns' though, is that they don't always appear sinister...if they did, then it would be easy enough to stay away from. But regardless of appearances...what is the fruit? If it is not bearing fruit...let's chop it off.

Women's Conference

Hi, all,
The Boston Women's Conference is scheduled for Friday, April 18th, starting at 5PM at Boston College. The Keynote speakers this year are Kimberly Hahn, Patti Mansfield, and Stacy McGovern. I've heard both Kimberly Hahn; Patti Mansfield speak; they are fabulous! You can read more info about these women; get more info on the conference at BBCCspeakers2008.pdf

Anne


I got the above from my homeschooling group and I really, really want to attend. Anyone else thinking of going?

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Parish Bulletin

Dear Parishioners,
We begin our season of Lent this Wednesday. Lent is starting early
this year. To give a simple explanation as to why Easter is celebrated
on a different date each year, the first Sunday after the first
full moon of spring is Easter Sunday. With the first full moon of
spring being on March 21st this year, Easter is then on March 23rd,
the first Sunday after the full moon. It is one of the earliest Easter
that is celebrated.

Lent is a season for repentance. It is a time of spiritual house cleaning. This is a time to look at our relationship with Jesus. What do we need to do to grow deeper in our relationship with Him? For some it may be addressing a sinful behavior and for others it may be engaging in activities that help us to grow. I would suggest that you spend some time in quiet prayer and ask Jesus what it might be that He is asking of you to do. Lent is a season for us to seriously care for our spiritual relationship. May what we do see us rise on Easter to a new level of relationship with Jesus.

This Lent we will hold a parish mission from Sunday, March 2nd to Tuesday, March 4th. Our guest will be internationally known speaker, Ralph Martin. Ralph is the host of the TV program, “The Choices We Face.” You can see this program on his web site: www.renewalministries.net. It is also on EWTN on Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. Ralph has traveled the world preaching a call to holiness and personal relationship with Jesus. He has written many books, the latest, “The Fulfillment of All Desire”, which is a guidebook for the journey to God based on the wisdom of the saints. He is currently Director of Graduate Programs in the evangelization at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Please plan to attend the mission if you are able, for we are blessed to have Ralph be with us.

The Scripture is the Word of God. For many Catholics, we are weak in the reading and understanding Scripture. St. Jerome said that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. The Bible is a necessity in growing in our relationship with Jesus. Very simply, Scripture is Jesus speaking to us. There is a program called Scripture from Scratch. It presents contemporary Catholic biblical scholarship in a clear, easy to follow and welcoming manner. It is a program both for those with little or no knowledge of the Bible and for those who have some experience with it. This program will be on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the hall. It will be an eight week course. We will begin on Tuesday, February 12th.

Just a reminder, that LIFT will be here on Monday, February 4th at 7 p.m. It is a young adult group that offers praise and worship with teaching. You are encouraged to come and experience this form of prayer.
For you snowbirds who are reading this on the web, we have added wooden borders to the back wall.
It is something simple and everyone loves it (taking the positive outlook).
May Jesus continue to shepherd you in all of your needs.
God love you,
Fr. Ron

Events Schedule

Renewal Ministries - Events Schedule:

"March 2-4 Parish Lenten Mission at St. Joseph Church
Wakefield, MA

Ralph Martin

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts (PDF file)

YouTube - I Will Sing



Lord You seem so far away. A million miles or more it feels today.
And though I haven't lost my faith, I must confess right now that it's hard for me to pray.
But I don't know what to say and I don't know where to start.
But as you give the grace with all that's in my heart.

I will sing.
I will praise even in my darkest time through the sorrow and the pain.
I will sing. I will praise.
Lift my hands to honor You because Your word is true. I will sing.

Lord is hard for me to see all the thought and plan You have for me.
But I will put my trust in You. Lord will meet Your guide to set me free.
But I don't know what to say and I don't know where to start.
But as you give the grace with all that's in my heart.

I will sing.
I will praise even in my darkest time through the sorrow and the pain.
I will sing. I will praise.
Lift my hands to honor You because Your word is true. I will sing. (2 times)

Sacrifice of Joy!

USCCB - (NAB) - January 29, 2008:

"Then David, girt with a linen apron,
came dancing before the LORD with abandon,
as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD
with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn."


Praise You Lord, I love You Jesus! You lead me by the hand and bring me to fullness of JOY! You alone know exactly WHAT I need and WHEN. You are the great Provider! May I be able to 'dance' before you with ABANDON! Where You lead, I shall follow! I will not look to my left, or to my right...but only into Your eyes will I gaze.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Psalms 133

Psalms 133. The Holy Bible: King James Version.:
"The Psalms
133

The Blessings of Brotherly Unity
A Song of degrees of David.


1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity!


2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head,
that ran down upon the beard,
even Aaron's beard:
that went down to the skirts of his garments;


3 as the dew of Hermon,
and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:
for there the LORD commanded the blessing,
even life for evermore."

Come, Holy Spirit

Devotion - Prayers - Come, Holy Spirit:

"Come, Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Divine Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, Grant, that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen."

Unity Prayer

Catholic Online - Prayers:

"Eternal Father,
we praise you for sending your Son
to be one of us and to save us.
Look upon your people with mercy,
for we are divided in so many ways,
and give us the Spirit of Jesus to make us one in love.

We ask this gift, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen."

no divisions?

Reading II
1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree in what you say,
and that there be no divisions among you,
but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters,
by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you.
I mean that each of you is saying,
“I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,”
or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
and not with the wisdom of human eloquence,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning.


At first reading this passage, you might think that Jesus is speaking to the different 'denominations' out there. But then at closer look, we see this same 'division' within our very own Catholic Church. Sad, sad, sad. Can't even imagine what it must look like from the outside. There is so much fear, you can see it everywhere.

Today, let us pray for unity within our own church before we can reach out to others.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Nuno Alvares Pereira

Nuno Alvares Pereira

O God, who called blessed Nonius to lay down the weapons of this world and follow Christ under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, grant through the intercession of this former member of our order that we too may deny ourselves and cling to you with all our hearts. Through the same Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

YouTube - Here I Am Lord

Here I am Lord

USCCB - (NAB) - January 20, 2008

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10

R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Reading II
1 Cor 1:1-3

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.


God puts out the call, it is up to us to listen, discern and obey! I will be at the Carmelite meeting today to do His will...whatever that may be, and for how ever long that is...I'll be listening and obeying. Thanks for the prayers everyone.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Carmel's call

The Carmelite Web Site - O.Carm.

Please pray for me as I discern if it is God's will that I return to my Lay Carmelite community.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 13, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 13, 2008:

"After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”"


Lord, I pray that these be the words that I strive to hear...not those of the world saying how great I am, but Your Own Words declaring me your own.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 12, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 12, 2008:
Reading 1
1 Jn 5:14-21

"If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly.
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray.
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly."


Prayer for Today: May all our Venial sins and those of our loved ones be erased from Your Sight...and may we be convicted to approach You in the Sacrament of Confession with our Mortal Sins...so that we may have life.

Friday, January 11, 2008

prayer request

"I would love prayers to keep my fear and anxiety at bay. for a safe and healthy surgery. that the baby is in good health and nurses well. that my dh's health remains well, and that the grandparents are healthy before they come to watch the kids. they have been sick for months with a sinus infection thing.


we are scheduled for jan. 24th, in the morning.


thank you, so much for putting out the prayer request. i'll be offering up the pain as much as i can.


lovemel"

Jesus Is Life : A Catholic Reflection

Jesus Is Life : A Catholic Reflection:
"When God gave us life, He didn't give us an elixir, a potion, a pill, guaranteed health, a fountain of youth, or an unlimited supply of money to provide life. Instead, He gave us Jesus. God sent Jesus the Life into the world, and 'this Life became visible' (1 Jn 1:2)."

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 9, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 9, 2008:

"There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love."

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 8, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 8, 2008:

"God sent his only-begotten Son into the world
so that we might have life through him."

Monday, January 7, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 7, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 7, 2008:

"He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.
His fame spread to all of Syria,
and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases
and racked with pain,
those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics,
and he cured them.
And great crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea,
and from beyond the Jordan followed him."


Prayer for Today: Heal us O, Lord!

Sunday, January 6, 2008

DON MOEN ( video )

USCCB - (NAB) - January 6, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 6, 2008:
"Is 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
."

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Thy Word (video)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):
"Psalm 118 (119): 145-152

I call on you with all my heart – answer me, Lord. I will obey your laws.
I call on you, save me so that I can keep your decrees.

At dawn I cry to you, I put all my hope in your word.
In the night I keep watch, pondering your sayings.

In your mercy, Lord, hear my voice; in your justice, give me life.
My persecutors come to do me harm: they are far from your law.

But you, Lord, are near to me, and you are trustworthy in all your precepts.
From the beginning I have known your decrees, how you have made them to last for ever."

USCCB - (NAB) - January 5, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 5, 2008:

"Children, let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth."


Prayer for Today: Oh Lord, may we be doers of Your Word and not merely hearers. May Your Word sink in deeply into our hearts and take root there and then bloom back out of us to others in our lives.

Friday, January 4, 2008

prayer

Holy Cross Family Ministries:

"The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
Lord Jesus, we are mindful of your presence in our lives and in our world. We pray that we will always come to you when we are in need of your guidance and inspiration, especially in those moments when we need to make an important decision. May you give us the grace to be open to hear your words during these times. We ask this in your name. Amen."

Prayers for the AMROL P2 Team

AMROL P2 Team SparkTeam

Please keep all the members of this group in your prayers as we journey together towards health and fitness. You are welcome to join us there also

to God ASAP

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"When anything happens, go to God right away. If your faith is wavering, if you are having any kind of doubts, do not struggle with those on your own. That is when the enemy comes in and we start going down. If we are struggling with discouragement and we find “my hope is fading” do not toy with it. Do not even pray about it yourself. Take it to God, “Help. I need help.” If fear is coming in and love is growing cold go to God right away. As long as you are with the Lord, you and Jesus can work anything out together. That will always be a protection for all of us from the enemy."

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
"Concluding Prayer

Almighty God, a new light in the sky
heralded the coming of salvation and our redemption.
May that salvation dawn in our hearts and renew them daily.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen."

USCCB - (NAB) - January 4, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 4, 2008:

"Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil."


Prayer for Today: Lord help us to ackowledge sin and the ways of the evil one in our own lives and surroundings, so that we can in turn hand it to You and have it be destroyed.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

prayer request

I need more prayers for my dad please. First for his physical health, that he gets some relief...he is having a hard time breathing (especially at night) due to all the fluids in his body. Then for his emotional state...he does not do illness well. Also please say a prayer for all the doctors, nurses and staff caring for him...and for the rest of us who just want to see him at peace.

Hallelujah to the lamb (video)

The Lamb

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"In the Book of Revelation we read that the Lamb who was slain is on the throne and yet the Lamb who was slain lives within us. He lives within us in power because we need that kind of power to allow ourselve to be slain as He was. He is also the Shepherd in the Book of Revelation who leads His people to those life-giving waters . As we lay down our lives, as we become the lamb, this Shepherd of ours shepherds his people to life-giving waters again. He gives them that new life again. This is the new heavens and the new earth. We are working together all the time. We always are calling upon the name of the Lord. We are always in union with the eternal High Priest and the Lamb who was slain."

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):

"Have mercy on me, God, have mercy. My soul flies to you for refuge.
I will hide in the shelter of your wings until the time of ambush is past.
I will cry to God the Most High, to the God who cares for me."

USCCB - (NAB) - January 3, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 3, 2008:

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."


Prayer for Today: Let us place all our sins, fears, anxieties, and worries at the foot of the Cross today. He wants to take all of that away and give us a new life in exchange. What a deal...let's not miss out on it.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

two kingdoms

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"There are the two kingdoms. St. Ignatius teaches about them in detail. Jesus said it in a different way, 'You either are with me or you are not.' That is not what the world says. The world talks about gray areas, and compromise, all the time. But that is not the message of Jesus. 'You are with Me all the way or you are not.' We start out by saying to the Lord, 'Can I have one foot in both kingdoms? I kind of want to hang onto this, but yet I want to hang onto you?' Have you ever had that? 'I don't want to let go of the Lord, but I still have my attachments.'

He gave me a little demonstration one time in imagery. We were walking along, Jesus and I, hand in hand and I Had my little attachments here in my other hand. Jesus said, 'Give me your other hand.” In order to give him my other hand, I had to make a choice to let go. When I did and gave Him my other hand, we were face to face. Try that sometime. That is what He wants, that face to face relationship. He wants both hands. There is something in us that is like an octopus. We let go of one and we grab onto something else. Desert spirituality will start showing us what we are doing there."

Universalis: Office of Readings

Universalis: Office of Readings:
sermon by St Gregory Nazianzen
Two bodies, but a single spirit (about St. Basil)

"We seemed to be two bodies with a single spirit. Though we cannot believe those who claim that everything is contained in everything, yet you must believe that in our case each of us was in the other and with the other.

Our single object and ambition was virtue, and a life of hope in the blessings that are to come; we wanted to withdraw from this world before we departed from it. With this end in view we ordered our lives and all our actions. We followed the guidance of God’s law and spurred each other on to virtue. If it is not too boastful to say, we found in each other a standard and rule for discerning right from wrong.

Different men have different names, which they owe to their parents or to themselves, that is, to their own pursuits and achievements. But our great pursuit, the great name we wanted, was to be Christians, to be called Christians."


Oh Lord, send like minded people into lives so that we can be strengthened in our faith.

USCCB - (NAB) - January 2, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 2, 2008: "Reading 1
1 Jn 2:22-28

Beloved:
Who is the liar?
Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.
Anyone who denies the Son does not have the Father,
but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well."


Prayer for Today: Lord give us the faith and strength needed to never deny You...neither in word, nor deed. May our lives be about Truth!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

poverty of spirit

Intercessors Of The Lamb:

"Humility is very important, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” We have four vows: poverty, chastity, obedience and zeal for the salvation of souls, which is victim love. For a long time I used to think that the vow and the spirit of obedience was number one. We have grown to see that it is the spirit of poverty that is first. Our Lady is Lady Poverty. When I am empty and divested of me, myself and I, that little unholy trinity – when I am poor – I am automatically detached from my own will. Obedience is never going to be a problem when we are detached, when we are poor in spirit as Mary was. Then, we will always do whatever, whatever, whatever. There is no attachment."

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Universalis: Morning Prayer (Lauds):

"God, it was by means of blessed Mary, virgin and mother, that you gave the human race the gift of eternal salvation.
Grant that we may feel the effects of her intercession for us,
for it is through her that we have received your Son, the source of life."

USCCB - (NAB) - January 1, 2008

USCCB - (NAB) - January 1, 2008:
"Nm 6:22-27

The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.”"


Prayer for Today: Lord bless all who gather here that each in turn may be a blessing to others.