NOVEMBER 2023 MEDITATION
To pray for loved ones who have died is important and is tradition for members of the Catholic Church. On November 2nd the Church celebrates All Souls Day. November is also the month the Catholic Church designates to remember the dead and to pray for them in a special way. All those who have gone before us are honored by the Church. The Church teaches of the Communion of Saints and about the promise of eternal life for those who believe and follow Jesus. The importance of prayer for all who have died is a practice of the Church. When a loved one dies, we do not know the state of their soul. It is this not knowing that brings us to pray for the repose of their soul. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030-1031 states, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned….” Purgatory is a gift of love from God. The souls in Purgatory will receive Heaven, it is a matter of time. Our prayers for the dead are very important. Catholics believe this to be true, so much so, that at every Mass we pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Short prayers such as, “Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, “help to bring comfort to the families of the deceased. Families have Masses said for the deceased, Gregorian Masses are also requested by the family and friends of those who have died. Our prayers for the dead are an act of love. We pray and we grieve them, and miss our loved ones who are no longer with us, yet prayers and Masses keep their memory alive in our hearts. As Catholic Christians, we believe in the hope of everlasting life, and believe that when it is our time to die that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven. We also believe Father God will be with us in Heaven. Revelation 21:1-4 “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; [4] he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” May November be a special time of prayer and remembrance for our loved ones. “As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say, a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
OCTOBER 2023 MEDITATION
Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the most Holy Rosary.” Pope Pius IX
The Church dedicates the month of October to the Most Holy Rosary. The rosary is a beautiful form of prayer. Although to some, its prayers may appear to be repetitive, it is so much more than repetition. The rosary is our prayer of love to Our Lady and most importantly, a prayer of love and thanksgiving to Jesus. The mysteries of the rosary focus on the life of Jesus. In our hand, we hold the rosary, the instrument that unites us with the Angels and Saints in Heaven. The rosary holds four mysteries, the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful and the Glorious. The Joyful Mysteries tell the story of how God sent St. Gabriel, the Archangel, to tell Mary she had been chosen to be the Mother of God. This is known as the Annunciation. Her “yes” begins the rest of the mystery and tells the story of Jesus as an infant and as a child. When we place our focus on the mysteries, we enter into the heart of Mary. We join with her in contemplating our love for Jesus. We also grow closer to Mary as we picture ourselves in the scene of the mystery. Each Our Father prayed is like a love song to Father God. Each Hail Mary said, is a reminder to us that the Lord is with us as He is with Mary. The Luminous Mysteries tell the story of Jesus’ baptism and enlighten us on our own baptism. From Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding at Cana, turning water into wine; to Jesus spreading the good news about the Kingdom; to Peter, James and John witnessing the Divinity of Jesus on Mount Tabor, to the Passover where Jesus shares bread with his apostles saying, “This is my body given for you….” Then shares the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you,” all of these events are in the Luminous mysteries. The Luminous mysteries are about the ministry of Jesus and about the many miracles He performed. The Sorrowful Mysteries, tell of the many wounds Jesus suffered for us. Each wound Jesus endured are a reminder of our sins, and the pain sins cause Jesus. The mysteries are called Sorrowful, for indeed they are. As we pray each sorrowful mystery, we place ourselves with Jesus. In our love for Him, we see what He endured causing us deep sorrow. The Glorious Mysteries take us to the Resurrection of Jesus, and to His Ascension into Heaven. We experience the power of the Holy Spirit and feel great hope in the promise of the Kingdom. Our hope becomes strengthened when we contemplate Mary being assumed into Heaven. Each touch of our fingers on every bead, and every prayer of the rosary takes us closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our prayers of the rosary are not repetitive but are our loving response to Jesus, when He asks Peter, “Do you love me.” Yes, Lord, we love you, with each prayer of the rosary, we love you more and more.
“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ of defense and salvation.” -Saint Padre Pio
SEPTEMBER 2023 MEDITATION
Psalm 34:7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Throughout the bible, are stories about God’s Holy Angels. They are best known as messengers, protectors and guardians. The holy angels act on behalf of God to bring Him glory. It is not surprising to learn that Angels are honored in the Catholic Church on September 29th on the Feast Day of the Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. The holy angels are honored again on October 2nd with the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Guardian angels are also recognized and given special devotion every week on Tuesdays. Such is the importance of their role that the Church honors them with Feast Days and Devotions.
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Hebrews 1:14 This scripture indicates that God created angels to help His people. In our world today, there are many beautiful stories about angels helping people when they are in danger. These angel testimonies are given by people who experienced their heavenly help; even to the point where the angel saved their life. Psalms 91:11-12 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. The Guardian angels have a mission. They are constantly at work to help us. Their mission is to get us to heaven. Jesus said in Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Angels are Superior to humans, yet they serve God and are assigned to us as Guardian angels. St. Thomas Aquinas, a Doctor of the Church, confirms the angel’s superiority in his work Angelic Beings; when he wrote, “For him, in the Order of Nature, angels are higher than men.”
Even though many artists depict angels as cute, they are powerful spirits that are obedient to God. Their force and power described in the book of Revelation is eye opening. After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or sea or against any tree (Revelation 7:1). Imagine the amount of strength they possess if they can hold back the four winds throughout the entire earth and there are only four of them.
At Mass the angels are remembered right before the Priest consecrates the Host, he and the Congregation all say the important song of the angels. Just like in the Book of Revelation 4:8 when the angels give honor and glory to God as they sing… “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, who was and who is and who is to come.” At Mass we pray, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of hosts, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the Highest, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. All eyes are on the altar, giving God reverence for the great sacrifice of love, where He gave up His only Son, so that we may have eternal life.
Although, the Holy angels are not visible to most of us, they are present in our world. In scripture, they were busy doing God’s work and were busy communicating God’s message to people. Theologians say, we are surrounded by the holy angels. The Angel of the Lord is mentioned throughout the bible. He too, was bringing God’s message to the chosen people of God. This September 29th and October 2nd please take time to honor the angels. There are many beautiful prayers and Novenas asking for their intercession.
The angels are servants of God and play an important role in God’s work. Remember their importance and try to read Scripture verses on angels. The gospel of Matthew describes the light of honor the angels give to God, Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
NOVEMBER 2023 MEDITATION
To pray for loved ones who have died is important and is tradition for members of the Catholic Church. On November 2nd the Church celebrates All Souls Day. November is also the month the Catholic Church designates to remember the dead and to pray for them in a special way. All those who have gone before us are honored by the Church. The Church teaches of the Communion of Saints and about the promise of eternal life for those who believe and follow Jesus. The importance of prayer for all who have died is a practice of the Church. When a loved one dies, we do not know the state of their soul. It is this not knowing that brings us to pray for the repose of their soul. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030-1031 states, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned….” Purgatory is a gift of love from God. The souls in Purgatory will receive Heaven, it is a matter of time. Our prayers for the dead are very important. Catholics believe this to be true, so much so, that at every Mass we pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Short prayers such as, “Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, “help to bring comfort to the families of the deceased. Families have Masses said for the deceased, Gregorian Masses are also requested by the family and friends of those who have died. Our prayers for the dead are an act of love. We pray and we grieve them, and miss our loved ones who are no longer with us, yet prayers and Masses keep their memory alive in our hearts. As Catholic Christians, we believe in the hope of everlasting life, and believe that when it is our time to die that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven. We also believe Father God will be with us in Heaven. Revelation 21:1-4 “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; [4] he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” May November be a special time of prayer and remembrance for our loved ones. “As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say, a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
OCTOBER 2023 MEDITATION
Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the most Holy Rosary.” Pope Pius IX
The Church dedicates the month of October to the Most Holy Rosary. The rosary is a beautiful form of prayer. Although to some, its prayers may appear to be repetitive, it is so much more than repetition. The rosary is our prayer of love to Our Lady and most importantly, a prayer of love and thanksgiving to Jesus. The mysteries of the rosary focus on the life of Jesus. In our hand, we hold the rosary, the instrument that unites us with the Angels and Saints in Heaven. The rosary holds four mysteries, the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful and the Glorious. The Joyful Mysteries tell the story of how God sent St. Gabriel, the Archangel, to tell Mary she had been chosen to be the Mother of God. This is known as the Annunciation. Her “yes” begins the rest of the mystery and tells the story of Jesus as an infant and as a child. When we place our focus on the mysteries, we enter into the heart of Mary. We join with her in contemplating our love for Jesus. We also grow closer to Mary as we picture ourselves in the scene of the mystery. Each Our Father prayed is like a love song to Father God. Each Hail Mary said, is a reminder to us that the Lord is with us as He is with Mary. The Luminous Mysteries tell the story of Jesus’ baptism and enlighten us on our own baptism. From Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding at Cana, turning water into wine; to Jesus spreading the good news about the Kingdom; to Peter, James and John witnessing the Divinity of Jesus on Mount Tabor, to the Passover where Jesus shares bread with his apostles saying, “This is my body given for you….” Then shares the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you,” all of these events are in the Luminous mysteries. The Luminous mysteries are about the ministry of Jesus and about the many miracles He performed. The Sorrowful Mysteries, tell of the many wounds Jesus suffered for us. Each wound Jesus endured are a reminder of our sins, and the pain sins cause Jesus. The mysteries are called Sorrowful, for indeed they are. As we pray each sorrowful mystery, we place ourselves with Jesus. In our love for Him, we see what He endured causing us deep sorrow. The Glorious Mysteries take us to the Resurrection of Jesus, and to His Ascension into Heaven. We experience the power of the Holy Spirit and feel great hope in the promise of the Kingdom. Our hope becomes strengthened when we contemplate Mary being assumed into Heaven. Each touch of our fingers on every bead, and every prayer of the rosary takes us closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our prayers of the rosary are not repetitive but are our loving response to Jesus, when He asks Peter, “Do you love me.” Yes, Lord, we love you, with each prayer of the rosary, we love you more and more.
“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ of defense and salvation.” -Saint Padre Pio
SEPTEMBER 2023 MEDITATION
Psalm 34:7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Throughout the bible, are stories about God’s Holy Angels. They are best known as messengers, protectors and guardians. The holy angels act on behalf of God to bring Him glory. It is not surprising to learn that Angels are honored in the Catholic Church on September 29th on the Feast Day of the Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. The holy angels are honored again on October 2nd with the Feast of the Guardian Angels. Guardian angels are also recognized and given special devotion every week on Tuesdays. Such is the importance of their role that the Church honors them with Feast Days and Devotions.
Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Hebrews 1:14 This scripture indicates that God created angels to help His people. In our world today, there are many beautiful stories about angels helping people when they are in danger. These angel testimonies are given by people who experienced their heavenly help; even to the point where the angel saved their life. Psalms 91:11-12 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. The Guardian angels have a mission. They are constantly at work to help us. Their mission is to get us to heaven. Jesus said in Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Angels are Superior to humans, yet they serve God and are assigned to us as Guardian angels. St. Thomas Aquinas, a Doctor of the Church, confirms the angel’s superiority in his work Angelic Beings; when he wrote, “For him, in the Order of Nature, angels are higher than men.”
Even though many artists depict angels as cute, they are powerful spirits that are obedient to God. Their force and power described in the book of Revelation is eye opening. After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or sea or against any tree (Revelation 7:1). Imagine the amount of strength they possess if they can hold back the four winds throughout the entire earth and there are only four of them.
At Mass the angels are remembered right before the Priest consecrates the Host, he and the Congregation all say the important song of the angels. Just like in the Book of Revelation 4:8 when the angels give honor and glory to God as they sing… “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, who was and who is and who is to come.” At Mass we pray, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of hosts, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the Highest, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. All eyes are on the altar, giving God reverence for the great sacrifice of love, where He gave up His only Son, so that we may have eternal life.
Although, the Holy angels are not visible to most of us, they are present in our world. In scripture, they were busy doing God’s work and were busy communicating God’s message to people. Theologians say, we are surrounded by the holy angels. The Angel of the Lord is mentioned throughout the bible. He too, was bringing God’s message to the chosen people of God. This September 29th and October 2nd please take time to honor the angels. There are many beautiful prayers and Novenas asking for their intercession.
NOVEMBER 2023 MEDITATION
To pray for loved ones who have died is important and is tradition for members of the Catholic Church. On November 2nd the Church celebrates All Souls Day. November is also the month the Catholic Church designates to remember the dead and to pray for them in a special way. All those who have gone before us are honored by the Church. The Church teaches of the Communion of Saints and about the promise of eternal life for those who believe and follow Jesus. The importance of prayer for all who have died is a practice of the Church. When a loved one dies, we do not know the state of their soul. It is this not knowing that brings us to pray for the repose of their soul. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030-1031 states, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned….” Purgatory is a gift of love from God. The souls in Purgatory will receive Heaven, it is a matter of time. Our prayers for the dead are very important. Catholics believe this to be true, so much so, that at every Mass we pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Short prayers such as, “Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, “help to bring comfort to the families of the deceased. Families have Masses said for the deceased, Gregorian Masses are also requested by the family and friends of those who have died. Our prayers for the dead are an act of love. We pray and we grieve them, and miss our loved ones who are no longer with us, yet prayers and Masses keep their memory alive in our hearts. As Catholic Christians, we believe in the hope of everlasting life, and believe that when it is our time to die that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven. We also believe Father God will be with us in Heaven. Revelation 21:1-4 “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; [4] he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” May November be a special time of prayer and remembrance for our loved ones. “As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say, a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
OCTOBER 2023 MEDITATION
Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the most Holy Rosary.” Pope Pius IX
The Church dedicates the month of October to the Most Holy Rosary. The rosary is a beautiful form of prayer. Although to some, its prayers may appear to be repetitive, it is so much more than repetition. The rosary is our prayer of love to Our Lady and most importantly, a prayer of love and thanksgiving to Jesus. The mysteries of the rosary focus on the life of Jesus. In our hand, we hold the rosary, the instrument that unites us with the Angels and Saints in Heaven. The rosary holds four mysteries, the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful and the Glorious. The Joyful Mysteries tell the story of how God sent St. Gabriel, the Archangel, to tell Mary she had been chosen to be the Mother of God. This is known as the Annunciation. Her “yes” begins the rest of the mystery and tells the story of Jesus as an infant and as a child. When we place our focus on the mysteries, we enter into the heart of Mary. We join with her in contemplating our love for Jesus. We also grow closer to Mary as we picture ourselves in the scene of the mystery. Each Our Father prayed is like a love song to Father God. Each Hail Mary said, is a reminder to us that the Lord is with us as He is with Mary. The Luminous Mysteries tell the story of Jesus’ baptism and enlighten us on our own baptism. From Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding at Cana, turning water into wine; to Jesus spreading the good news about the Kingdom; to Peter, James and John witnessing the Divinity of Jesus on Mount Tabor, to the Passover where Jesus shares bread with his apostles saying, “This is my body given for you….” Then shares the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you,” all of these events are in the Luminous mysteries. The Luminous mysteries are about the ministry of Jesus and about the many miracles He performed. The Sorrowful Mysteries, tell of the many wounds Jesus suffered for us. Each wound Jesus endured are a reminder of our sins, and the pain sins cause Jesus. The mysteries are called Sorrowful, for indeed they are. As we pray each sorrowful mystery, we place ourselves with Jesus. In our love for Him, we see what He endured causing us deep sorrow. The Glorious Mysteries take us to the Resurrection of Jesus, and to His Ascension into Heaven. We experience the power of the Holy Spirit and feel great hope in the promise of the Kingdom. Our hope becomes strengthened when we contemplate Mary being assumed into Heaven. Each touch of our fingers on every bead, and every prayer of the rosary takes us closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our prayers of the rosary are not repetitive but are our loving response to Jesus, when He asks Peter, “Do you love me.” Yes, Lord, we love you, with each prayer of the rosary, we love you more and more.
“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ of defense and salvation.” -Saint Padre Pio
NOVEMBER 2023 MEDITATION
To pray for loved ones who have died is important and is tradition for members of the Catholic Church. On November 2nd the Church celebrates All Souls Day. November is also the month the Catholic Church designates to remember the dead and to pray for them in a special way. All those who have gone before us are honored by the Church. The Church teaches of the Communion of Saints and about the promise of eternal life for those who believe and follow Jesus. The importance of prayer for all who have died is a practice of the Church. When a loved one dies, we do not know the state of their soul. It is this not knowing that brings us to pray for the repose of their soul. The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030-1031 states, “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death, they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned….” Purgatory is a gift of love from God. The souls in Purgatory will receive Heaven, it is a matter of time. Our prayers for the dead are very important. Catholics believe this to be true, so much so, that at every Mass we pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Short prayers such as, “Eternal rest, grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them, “help to bring comfort to the families of the deceased. Families have Masses said for the deceased, Gregorian Masses are also requested by the family and friends of those who have died. Our prayers for the dead are an act of love. We pray and we grieve them, and miss our loved ones who are no longer with us, yet prayers and Masses keep their memory alive in our hearts. As Catholic Christians, we believe in the hope of everlasting life, and believe that when it is our time to die that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven. We also believe Father God will be with us in Heaven. Revelation 21:1-4 “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; [4] he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” May November be a special time of prayer and remembrance for our loved ones. “As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say, a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen
OCTOBER 2023 MEDITATION
Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the most Holy Rosary.” Pope Pius IX
The Church dedicates the month of October to the Most Holy Rosary. The rosary is a beautiful form of prayer. Although to some, its prayers may appear to be repetitive, it is so much more than repetition. The rosary is our prayer of love to Our Lady and most importantly, a prayer of love and thanksgiving to Jesus. The mysteries of the rosary focus on the life of Jesus. In our hand, we hold the rosary, the instrument that unites us with the Angels and Saints in Heaven. The rosary holds four mysteries, the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful and the Glorious. The Joyful Mysteries tell the story of how God sent St. Gabriel, the Archangel, to tell Mary she had been chosen to be the Mother of God. This is known as the Annunciation. Her “yes” begins the rest of the mystery and tells the story of Jesus as an infant and as a child. When we place our focus on the mysteries, we enter into the heart of Mary. We join with her in contemplating our love for Jesus. We also grow closer to Mary as we picture ourselves in the scene of the mystery. Each Our Father prayed is like a love song to Father God. Each Hail Mary said, is a reminder to us that the Lord is with us as He is with Mary. The Luminous Mysteries tell the story of Jesus’ baptism and enlighten us on our own baptism. From Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding at Cana, turning water into wine; to Jesus spreading the good news about the Kingdom; to Peter, James and John witnessing the Divinity of Jesus on Mount Tabor, to the Passover where Jesus shares bread with his apostles saying, “This is my body given for you….” Then shares the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you,” all of these events are in the Luminous mysteries. The Luminous mysteries are about the ministry of Jesus and about the many miracles He performed. The Sorrowful Mysteries, tell of the many wounds Jesus suffered for us. Each wound Jesus endured are a reminder of our sins, and the pain sins cause Jesus. The mysteries are called Sorrowful, for indeed they are. As we pray each sorrowful mystery, we place ourselves with Jesus. In our love for Him, we see what He endured causing us deep sorrow. The Glorious Mysteries take us to the Resurrection of Jesus, and to His Ascension into Heaven. We experience the power of the Holy Spirit and feel great hope in the promise of the Kingdom. Our hope becomes strengthened when we contemplate Mary being assumed into Heaven. Each touch of our fingers on every bead, and every prayer of the rosary takes us closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our prayers of the rosary are not repetitive but are our loving response to Jesus, when He asks Peter, “Do you love me.” Yes, Lord, we love you, with each prayer of the rosary, we love you more and more.
Psalm 34:7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
The angels are servants of God and play an important role in God’s work. Remember their importance and try to read Scripture verses on angels. The gospel of Matthew describes the light of honor the angels give to God, Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.
AUGUST 2023 MEDITATION
The Feast Day of the Queenship of Mary was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954. This Feast Day in 2023 will be celebrated by the Catholic Church on August 22. Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam states that “Mary’s divine maternity is the main principle on which Mary’s queenship rests.” In a Vatican II document called the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Genitum, it states that “Mary is exalted above all angels, and men to place a second only to her Son, as the most holy Mother of God who was involved in the mysteries of Christ….” Mary served Jesus. She was there to support Him. As the Queen Mother to Jesus Christ the King, she also served as an advocate for the people. Yet, with this title of Queen, Mary has always been the handmaid of the Lord. She is that special servant that magnifies the Lord. Her title of Queen does not take away from Jesus. Instead, she points us toward her son. Mary, thrice blessed by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is full of grace and yet she continues to hold a mother’s heart. In Fatima, our lady told Lucia, “My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.” The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a perfect heart of virtue and love. She is and has always been an advocate for all her children. She intercedes for us. She is loved and honored in the Catholic Church for her “yes” to God. Mary is a perfect example of virtue. St. Therese of the Child Jesus said of Mary, “She is more mother than queen.” She is such a spiritual mother to us, that she continues to be seen on earth by visionaries and seers. She comes lovingly asking us to change our ways. She reminds us to pray and reminds us to follow the way of Christ. She even cries for us. St. Alphonsus Liguori, said, “So Mary is a Queen. And, for our consolation, we ought to remember that she is a most tender and kind Queen, eager to help us in our miseries. So much so that the Church wants us to call her in this prayer Queen of Mercy. Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy.” For those who have been graced to see her, all speak of her indescribable beauty. The many statues and paintings of Mary are limited when it comes to portraying her beauty. She is called Queen of Angels because as the Little Daughter of the Divine Will, Luisa Picarreta wrote in the Book of Heaven, “We can call our Lady Queen of the Angels, because she was more favored by God than all the Angels, and she can and really does do more for our souls than the heavenly spirits could ever do.” We honor Mary with the ultimate gift of love. We honor her because she gave Jesus life. Every time we pray a rosary or recite the Hail Mary, we honor her through prayer when we say, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Yes, Catholics celebrate the Queenship of Mary on August 22nd, but she continues to fill hearts as the Mother of God and as our Mother. St. Father Pio loved Blessed Mother, and would say, “Give yourself up into the arms of your heavenly Mother. She will take good care of your soul.” Although, she is more recognized as mother, in recognizing her as Queen, we honor her with the words of the Salve Regina, Hail Holy Queen enthroned above O Maria. Hail Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria. Triumph, all ye Cherubim; Sing with us ye Seraphim, Heaven and Earth resound the hymn: Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.
JULY 2023 MEDITATION
