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Variety #193 – Fr. Thomas Ward ( 18min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fr. Thomas Ward of St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Binghamton, NY, expounds on the sacred truth of the Dignity of the Human Person. This Truth is under attack on all sides by the one who is the “Father of lies” and “Murderer from the beginning.” Father Ward explains how tolerance of lies and sin ultimately leads to the destruction of human life, and the loss of souls.

He then exhorts us to respond with uncompromising truth, generous kindness, and universal charity, all of which must animate the merciful work of the Pro-Life movement.

This sermon was given for the Annual Pro-Life Prayer Service organized by the Broome County Right to Life Committee.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Ave Maria Meditations

“It grieves me, my God, that I should be so wicked and that I am able to do so little in Your service. I well know that it is my own fault that You have not granted me the favours which You gave to those who went before me…. I grieve over my life, Lord, when I compare it with theirs; and I cannot say this without weeping. When I meditate, my God, upon the glory which You have prepared for those who persevere in doing Your will, and when I think how many trials and pains it cost Your Son to gain it for us, and how little we have deserved it, and how bound we are not to be ungrateful for this wondrous love which has taught us love at such a cost to itself, my soul becomes greatly afflicted.

How is it possible, Lord, that (more…)

Conferences #128 – Mike Cutone on Catholic Leadership ( 04min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Master Sargent Mike Cutone gives his conference on Catholic Leadership going through the acronym L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. as he has outlined in his book Catholics Lead the Way. In this segment he is on “L” for “Lead by Example”. Just as Jesus lead by example by carrying his Cross so we must not ask anything of our subordinates that we are unwilling to do.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Ave Maria Meditations

40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to (more…)

Ave Maria Meditations

The universal call to holiness 

All Sacred Scripture is a calling to holiness, to the fullness of charity, but Jesus makes it quite explicit in the Gospel: You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  And Christ is not addressing his words to the Apostles or to just a few of his followers, but to everyone. Saint Matthew makes the point at the conclusion of these discourses that the crowds were astonished at his teaching.  Jesus does not demand sanctity of an exclusive coterie of disciples who accompany him everywhere, but of all who approach him: the multitudes, among whom were mothers of families, laborers, and skilled craftsmen who would stop to hear him after work, children, tax-collectors, beggars and cripples … The Lord calls people to follow him without distinction of state, race or condition.  

Christ speaks to us, to each one in particular, to our neighbors, coworkers or friends in the office or in the Faculty and to those who pass us and each other in the street: Be perfect … he says, and grants us the means and the appropriate graces that will make perfection possible. This is not just advice from the master, but an imperative command. All in the Church, whether they belong to the Hierarchy or are cared for by it, are called to holiness, according to the Apostle’s saying: ‘For this is the will of God, your sanctification’ (l Thes 4:3).   (more…)

Ave Maria Meditations

Today is the Feast of the Patron of the Third Order of St. Francis, St. Louis the King.  He lived his faith with conviction and publicly.  Here is a meditation on this topic  from a modern Franciscan who is presently the Archbishop of Denver and soon to be the Archbishop of Philadelphia:

“Speak in the light”

Cardinal Henri de Lubac: once wrote that “It is not true … that man cannot organize the world without God. What is true is that, without God, [man] can ultimately only organize it against man. Exclusive humanism is inhuman humanism … ”

Living within the truth means (more…)

Please join in the prayer effort during these 40 days: September 22nd-October 31st.  For more information see www.40daysforlife.com

A Chilean saint, Fr. Alberto Hurtado (d. 1952), often repeated the saying of the famous French priest, Lacordaire, in speaking of the pathway to holiness: “It is proper for the noblest hearts to discover the most urgent need of their epoch and to consecrate themselves to it.” Saints always have their feet on the ground and their minds on God or at least trying to discern the Will of God for the transformation of their societies. In this perspective there is little doubt that many of those who strive for holiness today will consecrate themselves to the most urgent need of our epoch: namely, putting an end to the wholesale slaughter of the innocents by modern day Herods and Pharaohs. It is to this end that this little book is written. This manual is meant to shake people up and call them to the battle to save lives and souls. The day is far gone and the need has grown increasingly urgent.

Modern American society and, by extension, the rest of the world that is influenced by American politics and culture, is be­ systematically dismantled before our very eyes by a spiritual e of evil that is not recognized as such. If the devil were to appear to the children of this age as he truly is, in all his ugli­ness and horror, he would be roundly rejected. So, of course he doesn’t appear as he truly is. This clever being, it is said, “disguises himself as an angel of light”(2 Cor 11:14)3 and has found count­less illusory costumes in which to conduct his evil, all the while maintaining an appearance of political correctness and accept­ability in polite society. Real Christians don’t fall for his deceit, though. We have eyes to see the truth because we are followers of the Truth, and it’s time to “consecrate” ourselves to the Truth in a new and bold way.  (more…)

Face of Pro-Life #78 – ( 29min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fra Isaac Haas, FI outlines his experience in the battle for marriage while he worked with National Organization for Marriage (NOM) before he became a friar. He covers the reason for NOM being created, how it counters the very well funded machine that is advocating for the radical changes in the definition of marriage which has far ranging consequences in regard to religious freedom and the ill effects on family and children.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

FI News #59 – First ever Eucharistic Procession around the Indiana University campus ( 04min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

The FIs worked with  St Paul the Apostle parish, and the Student Life Team of the Newman Center in Bloomington, IN to conduct the first Eucharistic Procession around the Indiana University campus, ever. Watch this historic event.

Ave Maria!

Face of Pro-Life #72 – Progress on the Ave Maria Home ( 30min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Corinn Dahm and Lisa Martin discuss the blossoming effort to raise funds for the Ave Maria Home for pregnant mothers in the Norwich Diocese. These homes will be affiliated with and patterned after the very successful Good Counsel Homes started by Chris Bell and Fr. Benedict Groeschel in NY City.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

FI News #58 – FIs leading the faithful in procession around a Bloomington abortion clinic ( 03min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

On Oct 22 the Franciscans of the Immaculate conducted a procession around the abortion clinic at Bloomington, IN where the main campus of the University of Indiana is located, 40,000 students in residence. It was a peaceful and prayerful event to honor Our Lady and remember the unborn. The large crowd of the faithful went around the abortion clinic seven times.

Ave Maria!