Posts made in March, 2017

Boycotting and Catholicism

Posted by popemichael on Mar 8, 2017 in Videos | 0 comments

We have made three videos on boycotting

Boycotting

Protesting and Star Trek

Our Secret Weapon

Catholic Action

Posted by popemichael on Mar 7, 2017 in Catholic Action | 0 comments

Dear friends,

Today is the feast day of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Let us go to today’s Gospel a moment:

“You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14) Have we even lit our candle or are we darkness? And recall this is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which is addressed to all. And let us return to the Gospel and the next verse:

“Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.”

To put our light under a bushel is a fire hazard, an eternal fire hazard. No our duty is clear. We must find where the Church is, and then proclaim this publicly to all.

Saint Thomas Aquinas says: “In cases of necessity where faith is in danger, every one is bound to proclaim his faith to others, either to give good example and encouragement to the rest of the faithful, or to check the attacks of unbelievers.” Today is a case of extreme necessity, when we must all join our voices together to proclaim the Faith. We need to encourage each other in the Faith, because it is easy to become discouraged today when we see evil advancing at such a pace. Remember that evil triumphs, when good men do nothing or the wrong thing. We overcome evil by doing good. “Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.” (Romans 12:21)

Saint John Chrysostom says: “He who is content with saving himself and neglects the salvation of others cannot secure his own salvation.”

And so let us focus on becoming good our own selves this Lent so that we can join together and proclaim the good news of salvation together later this year.

+Michael pp

God Is Calling You

Posted by popemichael on Mar 7, 2017 in Catholic Action, Vocation | 0 comments

“Prayer is good with fasting…” (Tobias 12:8)

We are reading a section from the book Degrees of the Spiritual Life on the types of sinners and how to convert them:

“How must we act towards these unhappy beings who are plunged in sin? How are we to cast out Satan, who has taken up his permanent abode in their hearts? The Gospel tells us that the Apostles, to whom our Lord had given the power to cast out devils, found one day that they were baffled by one of these wicked spirits, who resisted all their exorcisms. Jesus Himself was obliged to intervene before Satan would give up his prey. The Apostles in astonishment then asked the Saviour, etc. Why could not we cast him out?” “This kind,” replied the Divine Master, can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting” (Mark ix. 27). ¹ Prayer and mortification-such, in fact, are the often indispensable and only means of procuring the conversion of inveterate sinners; any price, however great, must be paid to obtain from God those more than ordinary graces necessary to touch these hardened hearts.”

We have a longer excerpt on the computer and will send you a copy, if you ask. “Ask and receive that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)

And let us return to Degrees of the Spiritual Life a moment: “After prayer and penance-Bona est oratio cum jeiunio (Prayer is good when it is joined with fasting, Tob. xii. 8)-which touch the heart of God and obtain His all-powerful help, one of the most efficacious supernatural methods is the apostolic training of devoted fellow labourers, who may be better able to approach the sinner and work at his conversion than the ministers of God themselves.” We believe you are called to be one of these fellow laborers with Us.

Let is a time of prayer, fasting and spiritual spring cleaning. In this Ember Week in Lent, each one of us needs to ask the question:

What sacrifice is God asking me to make, that I am refusing Him?

We are asking Our own self this question as well. God is asking each one of us to do more than we are doing. This is why He has brought us together. God has a plan and both of us are a key part of that plan. Our salvation depends on fulfilling our part of that plan. Let us not fly from God’s will as Jonas did. Read this short book of the Bible, as there are some key points made there.

As Vicar of Christ, We await your answer to God’s call.

Oremus,

+Michael pp

Ember Week of Lent 2017