Shepherds of Christ  
       Daily Writing        
 

May 31, 2008

June 1st Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 1 Period I.

The Novena Rosary Mysteries  
for June 1st are Joyful.

        

 

Rita is doing the

Retreat in Florida

June 2nd - 5th

with an afternoon session at 1:00pm

 and the 6:20pm prayers every day.

 

Please help us with the Priestly Mailing.

Funds are needed.

 

Rita's brother, Jr. Joe

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

May 30 - 44 years a priest.

 

                    Homily from Fr. Joe
 

Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 1, 2005
 

INTRODUCTION: In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke tells us about the growth and development of the early Church. Last week we heard about the institution of the diaconate. Seven men were chosen to care for the needs of the poor so that the Apostles could devote their time to teaching and preaching and prayer. Eventually, the first deacons did more than simply care for the poor. We have all heard of St. Stephen, the first martyr, who was put to death because he was such a convincing preacher. Today we hear about another one of the original deacons, Philip. He too became a powerful healer and preacher and brought many people to faith in Christ and baptized them into the community. Baptizing continues to be part of the ministry of a deacon.
 

HOMILY In today’s gospel Jesus is talking with his Apostles at the Last Supper. He was trying to prepare them, as best he could, for the shock and trauma they would go through when he would be arrested and crucified. In last Sunday’s gospel, we heard him tell them he was going to go to get a place ready for them in his Father’s home and then he would come back to take them with him so that they would be together always. Now he tells them that even though he is leaving them for a time, he would not leave them orphans. First of all, he would give them another Paraclete, a Greek word which is hard to translate. It means basically someone who will support you, stand up for you or stand by your side to help you. Thus it is translated as “Advocate,” “Comforter,” “Intercessor,” “Helper,” “Mediator.” Of course Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit. Yet, the Holy Spirit would not replace Jesus. Rather the Holy Spirit would help us to know that Jesus has not really left us at all. For Jesus tells us, “I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me…”

Jesus assures us the reason he will remain with us and the reason he is giving us the Holy Spirit is because of love. From the beginning he has loved us and he asks only for our love in return. In our gospel today he gives us a criterion to keep us from thinking love is just a matter of having warm, fuzzy feelings toward him. The test of true love for Jesus is to do his will, just as he has always done the will of the Father. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” He says it twice in today’s short gospel. In other words, love is measured more by what we do than by what we feel! It’s not that feelings are bad. Having warm, loving feelings toward God or toward others is wonderful. But love has to go beyond just feelings or it’s just superficial. Anyone who’s married knows that!

In his love, Jesus gives us another “Helper,” Paraclete to be with us. And he himself remains with us too. We meet him in prayer, in gathering with other believers in his name, in the Scriptures, in helping others and in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. This weekend we have five of our children making their first Communion. This is a significant moment for them. And the reason it is significant is because it is a beginning, hopefully, the beginning of a deeper and deeper relationship with our Lord.

I have a story I would like to share with you to help connect the Eucharist with Christ’s continuing presence. Seven years ago I was called to Hospice to be with one of our parishioners who was dying. I took off in my car and as I pulled onto Spring Grove Avenue from Crawford someone, driving illegally, ran through the red light. I think their car was going 40 or 50 miles an hour. Their car hit my car right in the driver’s side door. My car ended up turned around on the other side of the street and it was totaled. But I was not hurt. Before I left church to go to Hospice, I got a host from the tabernacle so I could take Communion to our parishioner. That host was in a small container in my left pocket between me and that speeding car. You can call it luck or providence. I believe in providence and I believe many of the things we call coincidences are simply incidences of God choosing to act anonymously. I believe God was literally my rock and my fortress that day acting as a wall of protection between me and a car coming at me 40 or 50 miles an hour. The Eucharist is Jesus, the Son of God, who remains with us and helps us on our way until we can be with him forever. May you always remain united with him and know his care and his love. Amen.
 

 

  

A PLEDGE FROM AN APOSTLE OF THE SACRED HEART

Messenger:

          I am but a little speck on this earth,
                 but with His might He can use me
                 to spread the devotion to His
                 Most Sacred Heart.

          Oh dear and precious Heart of Jesus
                 I give myself as completely as
                 possible to Thee so you will use
                 me to spread the devotion to the
                 ends of the earth for Your most
                 precious Heart.

          I am Rita your precious soul.

          Use me to help to spread this burning
                 devotion to the souls of this earth.

          I am yours, take me, use me as you
                 will.

          I surrender myself to you.

          It is your might behind me, your power
                 that sends me. I am an Apostle of
                 the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I give
                 myself as completely as possible to
                 Thee.             

          Sacred Heart of Jesus I place my
                 trust in Thee.

          Father hear us please. We beg through
                the  intercession of Father Carter
                and Our Lady of Clearwater that 
                prayer chapters are started all over
                the world and the Priestly Newsletter
                gets there immediately with the
                Prayer Manual.

  
 

June 1, 2000 -  MONTH of the SACRED HEART

A Burning Heart I give you

    SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

(to be used on June 2, 2000)

(PRAY ON RED IMAGE ROSARY IF AVAILABLE)

  

Agony in the garden

Jesus: 

  1. I loved you so much I gave Myself for you.

  2. You do not fully comprehend how real I am.

  3. You wander a barren desert.

  4. You make this world your God.

  5. This is My Mission to help bring about the Reign of My Heart.

  6. Look at My red rosary, think of the drops of red Blood I shed in the garden for you.

  7. Blood coming from My pores.

  8. Blood mixed with water.

  9. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

  10. I give you such dignity - you do not comprehend.

  

 

Scourging at the Pillar

Jesus:

  1.  I was whipped for your sins of hatred and disharmony, the stubborn ways you act that come from deep in your heart.

  2. Look at My red rosary, think of My Precious Blood I shed for you.

  3. My Heart is an endless furnace of love.

  4. The men were full of hatred in their hearts, they whipped Me and I loved them so much.

  5. I love the souls today that laugh at Me and make fun of Jesus, fun of My Name, that raise themselves indignantly over Me.

  6. They whip Me today, the way they treat Me.

  7. They tear My Flesh.

  8. My Heart beats for My beloved ones.

  9. I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

  10. Look at the picture of My Heart on Blue Book II - It is a furnace of endless love.

  

  

Crowning with Thorns

Jesus:

  1. In this month of the Sacred Heart spend time reading My personal love letters to you in My Blue Books.

  2. Hear Me whisper My gentle words of love.

  3. See My red Blood pour down My cheeks from the thorns. Look at the red rosary, think how much I love you. Carry it with you. Look at My picture, think of My deep love. Let My Sacred Heart remind you of My burning love.

  4. Look at My Mother's picture on the building. God loves you so much, He gave you this gift of Mary on the building. Are you grateful?

  5. See My pierced head.

  6. See the Blood on My cheek.

  7. See the Consecrated Host in the Mass.

  8. See My Blood poured out for you.

  9. Gaze upon the Exposed Eucharist.

  10. I am there, I remain with you in such love.

  

  

Carrying of the Cross

Jesus:

  1. A heavy cross I carried on My back.

  2. Why do you think you should not suffer?

  3. My Blood was red, My Heart is a symbol of My great love.

  4. My walk to Calvary was painful.

  5. I paid the price for the sins of today.

  6. Do you have to go with the world? Quit watching the filthy movies and the dirt on television.

  7. It hurts My Heart to see you won't take a stand for Me.

  8. Don't visit places where people are sinning. It hurts My Heart that you do that.

  9. My Heart bleeds when you say yes when you mean no, and no when you mean yes. Don't confuse matters, that is from Satan. Tell the truth.

  10. I called you to be an Apostle of My Sacred Heart. Will you serve Me?

  

  

Crucifixion

Jesus:

  1. My dear soul, I love you to say to Me when receiving the Eucharist, "I scarce can breathe when You come into Me."

  2. My dear soul, I do love you so, so much, see My red Blood shed for you.

  3. My dear soul, see My bleeding hands and feet.

  4. My dear soul, look at the crucifix.

  5. My dear soul, the most important thing you do everyday is going to Mass and receiving Me.

  6. My dear soul, tell others of the gift of Myself in the Eucharist.

  7. My dear soul, do you like favors, ice cream, candy? My dear soul, I give you Myself, I am the Son of God.

  8. My dear soul, during this month of the Sacred Heart, pray this rosary, look at My red rosary, think of My drops of Blood. Oh My soul, it is Blood I shed for you.

  9.  

  10. Unite to the Mass at every moment. Feel united as a body.
  11. My dear soul, My Mass is a gift I give to you. Love your priests, pray for them, the Church and the world. Oh My dear soul, the more you do for Me the more you will unite to Me. I am the Chief Shepherd of the Flock, I give My prayers to you. I will give the greatest graces to anyone who says My prayers and promotes My prayers. Churches that have prayer chapters, even small, will experience the greatest grace. They will turn into little cities of light, run by Me to give honor to Me and devotion to My Eucharistic Heart. I will bless abundantly all churches which have prayer chapters. In this month of June, the month of My Sacred Heart, I implore you to spread My prayer chapters. This is My plan to help enormously to renew the Church and the world.

    I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Chief Shepherd of the Flock. My Heart is on fire for love of you, I loved you to My death on the cross. What did I think of on the cross? I thought of you. I knew you by name, I gave Myself as a sacrifice for you. Oh I love you, I am the Sacred Heart, I love you so much. My Heart is a burning furnace of love.

end of June 1, 2000 rosary

 

 

 

 

        

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