The Annunciation

Today the Catholic Church turns her eyes to Nazareth, to a young Virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph of the House of David...

It was this Virgin who, over 2,000 years ago, gave her "Fiat" to the Almighty God. Through this "Yes," the Word was made Flesh in her womb...

Let us ponder and meditate on this awesome moment in our history!

Contemplate the great love God has for us! It was only a few days ago we were reflecting on the words of Sacred Scripture: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (Jn 3:16-17)

In the Annunciation, we see how God fulfills this Scripture with the Fiat of Mary: He sent a messenger, the Archangel Gabriel to Our Lady in Nazareth. God doesn't force her to accept His plan. Instead, like a respectful suitor, God asks her for her participation. Mary could have said "no." But she tells the angel Gabriel, "Ecce ancilla Domini: Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum."---"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." (Lk 1:38)

So it is, that when God created Adam and Eve, they willingly sinned against Him. Through their act of disobedience, they brought sin and death into the world, condemning mankind and darkening our existence. In the Incarnation, Mary surrenders to the Almighty God. Through her act of obedience to His Divine Will, she brings forth Salvation into the world...

Thank you, Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, Mother of us all!

At Mass, I found myself getting emotional after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. I prayed, "2,000 years ago, You came into flesh in the womb of Mary, and here I am, Lord, receiving You in the flesh into my mouth and into my heart! HERE I AM, Lord, let all be done in my life according to Your word!"

Hope you have a wonderful Feast day!!!

Feast Day of St. Joseph

HAPPY FEAST DAY!

Today the Catholic Church celebrates Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary and Foster-father of Jesus Christ.

In Scripture, St. Joseph utters no words. He's a man of silence. But in his silence, God is able to penetrate his heart, giving him the strength and confidence to carry out God's plan. We can also see in Scripture that St. Joseph is a very concerned and wise man. He's humble and faithful to God and His precepts. Joseph's humility and obedience make him susceptible to God's will and doing exactly what God bids. He is a role model for us all.

In the Catholic tradition, (with Scripture backing us up,) we believe that we can ask the Saints to intercede for us to the Almighty God. St. Joseph has proven throughout the ages to be a very powerful intercessor. St. Teresa of Avila once said of St. Joseph: "I am astonished at the great favours which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succour us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succours us in them all..."

AS he was the guardian and protector of Jesus on earth, St. Joseph is now considered the protector of our Holy Mother Church on earth. Please pray for the Roman Pontiff and our Holy Catholic Church this day through St. Joseph's intercession:

We come to you, O blessed Joseph, in our distress. We humbly beg that, mindful of the affection which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and of the fatherly love with which you cherished the child Jesus, you will lovingly watch over the heritage which Jesus Christ purchased with His blood, and by your powerful intercession help us in our urgent need. Prudent guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; drive far from us, most loving father, all error and corrupting sin. From your place in heaven, most powerful protector, graciously come to our aid in this conflict with the powers of darkness, and as of old you delivered the Child Jesus from danger of death, so now defend the holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Extend to each one of us your continual protection, that, led on by your example, and borne up by your strength, we may be able to live and die in holiness and obtain the promises of Jesus Christ. Amen.

AS he is also a powerful intercessor in things almost despaired of, remember to pray for his help with any difficulties you may be having:

O glorious St. Joseph, thou who hast power to render possible even things which are considered impossible, come to our aid in our present trouble and distress. Take this important and difficult affair under thy particular protection, that it may end happily. (Name your request.) O dear St. Joseph, all our confidence is in thee. let it not be said that we would invoke thee in vain; and since thou art so powerful with Jesus and Mary. show that thy goodness equals thy power. Amen, St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord and Savior, pray for us to the Almighty God.

Amen.

Happy St. Paddy's DAY!!!

Today I remember the Saint in whom I am named after.
I never understood why my father named me after St. Patrick. It was a surprise to my mother! She told me that she and my dad had decided to name me "Veronica" after the Saint who gave comfort to Jesus during His Way of the Cross....but when my mother was in recovery after delivery, my father walked in telling the doctor my name would be "Patricia."

What gave my father that inspiration? I've never really known. My mom didn't argue, and accepted it.

St. Patrick is a remarkable person. Sure, there is a lot of folklore surrounding him. But it's only because his life was so adventurous! Kidnapped in his youth by pirates and forced into slave labor, he finally escaped years later and traveled to England. It was there he became a priest. He was sent to Ireland, and conquered the land for Jesus Christ!

So, drink a toast of green beer to good St. Patrick this day with friends!

Some interesting facts I read today

Taken from a medical website:

People with bipolar disorder may need help to get help.

Often people with bipolar disorder do not realize how impaired they are, or they blame their problems on some cause other than mental illness.

A person with bipolar disorder may need strong encouragement from family and friends to seek treatment. Family physicians can play an important role in providing referral to a mental health professional.

Sometimes a family member or friend may need to take the person with bipolar disorder for proper mental health evaluation and treatment.

A person who is in the midst of a severe episode may need to be hospitalized for his or her own protection and for much-needed treatment. There may be times when the person must be hospitalized against his or her wishes.

Ongoing encouragement and support are needed after a person obtains treatment, because it may take a while to find the best treatment plan for each individual.

In some cases, individuals with bipolar disorder may agree, when the disorder is under good control, to a preferred course of action in the event of a future manic or depressive relapse.

Like other serious illnesses, bipolar disorder is also hard on spouses, family members, friends, and employers.

Family members of someone with bipolar disorder often have to cope with the person’s serious behavioral problems, such as wild spending sprees during mania or extreme withdrawal from others during depression, and the lasting consequences of these behaviors.

Many people with bipolar disorder benefit from joining support groups such as those sponsored by the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association (NDMDA), the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), and the National Mental Health Association (NMHA). Families and friends can also benefit from support groups offered by these organizations.

I ask all of you reading this, to please take a moment to pray for people who suffer from this debilitating disease...

...also say a prayer for those who love them...

DO NOT HATE, APPRECIATE!

Matthew 5: 20 - 26
20	For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21	"You have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.'
22	But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire.
23	So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24	leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25	Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison;
26	truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.

Today's Gospel is self-explanatory.  If  you have grudges, if you have not forgiven, if you keep hurting, betraying, abandoning, alienating...

...gossiping, breaking down, de-moralizing, lying to, cheating on, using as a door-mat...

...taking for granted, hating, abusing, intimidating, laughing at, ignoring, spitting on, cursing, insulting...

---your neighbor, then...

You are breaking the 5th commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill!"

You cannot be going up to the Altar and receiving Holy Communion until you sincerely reconcile with your neighbor....

You will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

words to ponder, 

words to live by!

As they say on phatmass, 

"Don't hate, appreciate!"