ST. LOUIS–MARIE GRIGNION DE MONTFORT

1673 – 1716
Feast:April 28

PRAYER TO JESUS:  O most loving Jesus, deign to let me pour forth my gratitude before Thee, for the grace Thou hast bestowed upon me in giving me to Thy holy Mother through the devotion of Holy Bondage, that she may be my advocate in the presence of Thy majesty and my support in my extreme misery.

Alas, O Lord! I am so wretched that without this dear Mother I should be certainly lost. Yes, Mary is necessary for me at Thy side and everywhere that she may appease Thy just wrath, because I have so often offended Thee; that she may save me from the eternal punishment of Thy justice, which I deserve; that she may contemplate Thee, speak to Thee, pray to Thee, approach Thee and please Thee; that she may help me to save my soul and the souls of others; in short, Mary is necessary for me that I may always do Thy holy will and seek Thy greater glory in all things.

Ah, would that I could proclaim throughout the whole world the mercy that Thou hast shown to me ! Would that everyone might know I should be already damned, were it not for Mary! Would that I might offer worthy thanksgiving for so great a blessing! Mary is in me. Oh, what a treasure! Oh, what a consolation! And shall I not be entirely hers? Oh, what ingratitude!

My dear Savior, send me death rather than such a calamity, for I would rather die than live without belonging entirely to Mary. With St. John the Evangelist at the foot of the Cross, I have taken her a thousand times for my own and as many times have given myself to her; but if I have not yet done it as Thou, dear Jesus, dost wish, I now renew this offering as Thou dost desire me to renew it. And if Thou seest in my soul or my body anything that does not belong to this august princess, I pray Thee to take it and cast it far from me, for whatever in me does not belong to Mary is unworthy of Thee.

O Holy Spirit, grant me all these graces. Plant in my soul the Tree of true Life, which is Mary; cultivate it and tend it so that it may grow and blossom and bring forth the fruit of life in abundance. O Holy Spirit, give me great devotion to Mary, Thy faithful spouse; give me great confidence in her maternal heart and an abiding refuge in her mercy, so that by her Thou mayest truly form in me Jesus Christ, great and mighty, unto the fullness of His perfect age. Amen.

THE PRACTICES OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION (from a letter to the Friends of the Cross)

Christian holiness consists in this: Resolving to become a saint: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine;”2. Self-denial: “Let him renounce himself;”3. Suffering: “Let him take up his cross;”4. Acting: “Let him follow me.”

A. If anyone wants to follow me

If anyone,” says our Lord, to point out the small number of chosen ones willing to conform themselves to Christ crucified by carrying their cross. Their number is so small that we would be dumbfounded if we knew it.

It is so small that there is scarcely one in ten thousand, as has been revealed to several saints, including St. Simon Stylites (as is related by Abbot Nilus), St. Basil, St. Ephrem and others. It is so small that, should it please God to gather them together, he would have to call them one by one as he did of old through his prophet, “You will be gathered one by one;” one from this country, one from that province.

“If anyone wants,” if anyone has a genuine desire, a determination, not prompted by nature, habit, self-love, self-interest, or human respect, but by the all-conquering grace of the Holy Spirit, which is not given to everyone. “It is not given to all men to know this mystery.”

In fact, only a few people have the knowledge of how to live out the mystery of the Cross in daily life. For a man to climb Mount Calvary and allow himself to be nailed to the cross with Christ in the midst of his own people, he must be courageous, heroic, resolute; one who is close to God, and treats with indifference the world and the devil, his own body and his own desires; one who is determined to leave all things, to undertake all things, and to suffer all things for Christ.

You must realise, my dear Friends of the Cross, that should there be anyone among you without this determination, he is only walking on one foot, flying with one wing. He is not worthy to be one of your company, since he is not worthy to be called a Friend of the Cross, which we must, like Jesus, love “with a generous mind and a willing heart.”

It only needs one half-hearted member to spoil the whole group, like a mangy sheep. If such a one has entered your fold through the evil door of the world, then in the name of Christ crucified drive him out as you would a wolf from the flock.

“If anyone wants to be a follower of mine.” If anyone wants to follow me who so humbled and emptied myself that I became a worm rather than a man; who came into the world only to embrace the Cross, to set it in my heart, to love it from my youth, to long for it all the days of my life, to carry it joyfully, preferring it to all the joys and delights that heaven and earth could offer, and not being content till I had died in its divine embrace.

B. Let him renounce himself

If anyone, therefore, wants to follow me thus abased and crucified, he must glory, as I did, only in the poverty, humiliations and sufferings of my Cross. “Let him renounce himself.”

Excluded, then, from the company of the Friends of the Cross are those who take pride in their sufferings; the worldly-wise, the intellectuals and the skeptics who are attached to their own ideas and puffed up with their own talents. Away from you those endless talkers who make a great show but produce nothing but vanity. Away from you those so- called devout Catholics who in their pride display the self-sufficiency of proud Lucifer wherever they go, saying, “I am not like the rest of men;” who cannot endure being blamed without making some excuse, being attacked without answering back, being humbled without exalting themselves.

Be careful not to admit into your society those delicate and sensitive people who are afraid of the slightest pin- prick, who cry out and complain at the least pain, who know nothing of the hair- shirt, the discipline or other instruments of penance, and who mingle, with their fashionable devotions, a most refined fastidiousness and a most studied lack of mortification.

C. Let him take up his cross

“Let him take up his cross,” the one that is his. Let that man (or woman) so rare “far beyond the price of pearls,” take up his cross joyfully, embrace it lovingly, and carry it courageously on his shoulders, his own cross, and not that of another – his own cross which I, in my wisdom, designed for him in every detail of number, measure and weight; his own cross which I have fashioned with my own hands and with great exactness as regards its four dimensions of length, breadth, thickness and depth; his own cross, which out of love for him I have carved from a piece of the one I bore to Calvary; his own cross, which is the greatest gift I can bestow upon my chosen ones on earth; his own cross, whose thickness is made up of the loss of one’s possessions, humiliations, contempt, sufferings, illnesses and spiritual trials, which come to him daily till his death in accordance with my providence; his own cross, whose length consists of a certain period of days or months enduring slander, or lying on a sick-bed, or being forced to beg, or suffering from temptations, dryness, desolation, and other interior trials; his own cross, whose breadth is made up of the most harsh and bitter circumstances brought about by relatives, friends, servants; his own cross, whose depth is made up of the hidden trials I shall inflict on him without his being able to find any comfort from other people, for they also, under my guidance, will turn away from him and join with me in making him suffer.

“Let him take up,” that is, let him carry his cross and not drag it, or shake it off, or lighten it, or hide it. Instead, let him lift it on high and carry it without impatience or annoyance, without intentional complaint or grumbling, without hesitation or concealment, without shame or human respect.

“Let him take it up” and set it on his brow, saying with St. Paul, “The only thing I can boast about is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Let him carry it on his shoulders like our Lord, that it may become the source of his victories and the sceptre of his power: “Dominion is laid upon his shoulders.”

Let him set it in his heart, where it may, like the burning bush of Moses, burn day and night with the pure love of God without being consumed!

“The cross”: let him carry it, for nothing is so necessary, so beneficial, so agreeable, or so glorious as to suffer something for Jesus Christ.

The post The Saint of Totus Tuus first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #131110t ( 08min) Play – As goes the love of Mary so goes the Church, goes the World.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: 2ma 7:1-2, 9-14
Resp: psa 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
2nd: 2th 2:16-3:5
Gsp: luk 20:27-38

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post Nov 10 – Homily – Fr Tito: Mary, The Church and The World first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Graces, worked a great missionary miracle at Guadalupe and left a miraculous image as a remembrance and sacramental that to this day brings many to Christ.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Readings: 0

1st: Zec 2:14-17
Resp: Jdt 13:18-19
Gsp: Lk 1:39-47

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/10155909184713560

The post Dec 12 – Homily – Fr Alan: Miracle of Guadalupe, Star of Evangelization first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In the homily on the Gospel for today (Tuesday 7th Week of Easter, May 15), Fr Matthias explains that one of the reasons Jesus is not known as He should be is that His Mother is not sufficiently known. Knowledge of the Mother by necessity leads to knowledge of the Son.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 7th Week of Easter – Wkdy

Readings: 
1st: Act 20:17-27
Resp: Ps 68:10-11, 20-21
Gsp: Jn 17:1-11

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1815

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/10156336027078560

For Audio go to https://airmaria.com?p=65638

By the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate http://marymediatrix.com

To Subscribe to this channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=franciscanfriars

To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/

The post Know Mary to Know Jesus – May 15 – Homily – Fr Matthias first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In the homily for the Solemnity of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe (Franciscan priest, martyr, patron of the FI – Aug 14), Fr. Matthias explains that we must seek refuge in Mary because of our inherent weakness, which the world attempts to exploit to take us away from Christ; St. Maximilian understood this, and in the Immaculate was inseparable from Christ.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Maximilian Kolbe – Feast

Readings: 
1st: Wis 3:1-9
Resp: Ps 116:10-17
2nd: 1 John 3:13-18
Gsp: John 15:12-17

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=697

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/286311098839361

For Audio go to https://airmaria.com?p=66888

By the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate http://marymediatrix.com

To Subscribe to this channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=franciscanfriars

To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/

The post St. Maximilian in the Immaculate, Inseparable from Christ – Aug 14 – Homily – Fr Matthias first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Msgr. Calkins and Fr. Elias answer questions from the audience at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts on Oct. 7, 2017, at the Fatima Centennial conference entitled “The Promise and Our Part in the Plan.” With Fr. Alan as MC, the morning Q & A came after the first two talks:

“Consecration: The Heart of the Message” by Fr. Elias Mary Mills, FI

“The Role of St. Joseph in the Church since 1917” by Msgr. Arthur B. Calkins

“The Promise and Our Part in the Plan” was the second livestream event of the two-part 2017 Fatima Centennial program entitled “Between the Warning & the Promise: Living the Fatima Message,” organized by the FI to offer the faithful a theological review and pastoral interpretation of the Fatima Message.

Ave Maria!

To learn more about the meaning of the Fatima message, visit LivingFatima.com.

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/720767941623610

To Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=franciscanfriars

To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/

The post Msgr. Calkins, Fr. Elias – Q&A Session 1, Fatima Centennial Conference – October 7, 2017 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

All four speakers answer questions from the audience at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts on Oct. 7, 2017, at the Fatima Centennial conference entitled “The Promise and Our Part in the Plan.” With Fr. Alan as MC, the afternoon Q & A came after the last two talks:

“Practical Evangelization with Our Lady of Fatima” by Steve Dawson

“The Rosary: The Invincible Weapon” by Fr. Bill Casey

“The Promise and Our Part in the Plan” was the second livestream event of the two-part 2017 Fatima Centennial program entitled “Between the Warning & the Promise: Living the Fatima Message,” organized by the FI to offer the faithful a theological review and pastoral interpretation of the Fatima Message.

For the full playlist of videos from the “Between the Warning & the Promise,” the two-part 2017 Fatima Centennial program of live stream events focused on helping the faithful live the Fatima message, please visit LivingFatima.com .

Ave Maria!

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/2832236340127417

To Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=franciscanfriars

To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/

The post Fr. Casey, Steve Dawson, Msgr. Calkins, Fr. Elias – Q&A Session 2, Fatima Centennial Conference – October 7, 2017 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

On the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal (Nov 27), Fr. Alan explains in the homily the value and meaning of the “Miraculous Medal,” worn by every Friar, Sister, and Third Order Franciscan of the Immaculate, and member and Missionaries of the Immaculate Mediatrix association of the lay faithful.

St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal – short dramatization of the apparition mentioned in the homily. This version, re-rendered in higher definition, is more beautiful than the originally published version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhrgEksDsb8).

Ave Maria!

Mass: Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal – Feast

Readings: 

1st: Rev 12:11, 5-6, 14-17
Resp: Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17
Gsp: John 2:1-11

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1229

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/327851194471472

For Audio go to https://airmaria.com?p=68296

By the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate http://marymediatrix.com

To Subscribe to this channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=franciscanfriars

To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/

The post Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal – Nov 27 – Homily – Fr Alan first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In the homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Jan 01), Fr. Alan explains some of the Catholic belief about the divine maternity: the Son of God regards Mary as His Mother. She is the “full of grace,” chosen from before the time began, to be the one through whom God would unite Himself to humanity. Just as her humble fidelity recommended her to God in the fullness of time, to choose her as His Mother, so her humble fidelity is the condition by which Peace was once and will again be granted to us.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Solemnity
Readings: 
1st: Num 6:22-27
Resp: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
2nd: Gal 4:4-7
Gsp: Lk 2:16-21

Sources consulted:

January 1 – Mary, the Holy Mother of God – Solemnity, introduction to the Divine Office: https://divineoffice.org/about-0101-mary-mother-of-god/

Pope Francis homily for January 1, 2014: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140101_omelia-giornata-mondiale-pace.html

“Mary: Mother of God” by Edward Sri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpph7nwpZN8

“Mary Is the Mother of God” by Charles Decelles: https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Story/TabId/2672/ArtMID/13567/ArticleID/6199/Theotokos.aspx

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1009

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/381798079298259

For Audio go to https://airmaria.com?p=69695

By the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate http://marymediatrix.com

To Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=franciscanfriars

To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/

The post Mother of God, Bless Us with Peace in 2019 – Jan 01 – Homily – Fr Alan first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In the homily on Feb 20  (Wednesday 6th Week of Ordinary Time), Fr. Maximilian relates the Gospel account of Jesus’ giving sight to the blind man to Our Lord’s desire to give us spiritual sight. Like the blind man, we have to approach Jesus and ask. Our Lady will assist us in this pursuit of holiness.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wednesday 6th Week of Ordinary Time – Wkdy

Readings: 
1st: Gen 8:6-13, 20-22
Resp: Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Gsp: Mk 8:22-26

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1391&r=1391

Please like and share this video on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/260121618248777
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/pVDCO8WBF1M

To Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=franciscanfriars

To contribute to Franciscanfriars and AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/contribute/

The post Seek Holiness in Jesus through Mary – Feb 20 – Homily – Fr Maximilian W first appeared on AirMaria.com.