5/23/2021 The Seven Gifts of the Holy GhostPart One: Gift of Fear of the LordThe Gifts of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) are given to us from God and they come esp. during the ceremony of Confirmation. I was able to have one of our children confirmed this year. The ceremony was wonderful and the Bishop was very great. He gave a very long "sermon" before the confirmation! Each child at confirmation also receives a new name at confirmation. So, there are seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, I thought it would be nice to offer information of the seven gifts. The gifts are: Gift of Fear of the Lord, Gift of Piety, Gift of Knowledge, Gift of Fortitude, Gift of Understanding, and Gift of Wisdom. Each gift has a special grace so to speak with it. Each gift helps us reach heaven better. So, in this installment - I want to talk about the Gift of Fear of the Lord. Some of this is from what I teach at the Catholic Doula Program: •In Bishop Farrell’s Blog, he talks about the Gift of Fear as being a way to “rejoice” with God. It is not “fearing God” in the sense that God is mean or an angry God. See link: http://bishopkevinfarrell.org/2013/03/the-gift-of-fear-of-the-lord •Instead the “Gift of Fear” asks us to trust in Him more and also gives us the graces to avoid offending him. Father Hardon notes, "The fear of the Lord is not servile but filial." In other words, it is not a fear of punishment, but a desire not to offend God. Hope is the virtue that goes with this Gift of Fear. Christ is also the vine: •The Bible states that “He who finds wisdom is great indeed, but not greater than he who fears the LORD. Fear of the LORD surpasses all else. Its possessor is beyond compare.” (Sir 25:10-11) and “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”(Ps 111:10). "The crown of the elderly, wide experience; their glory, the fear of the Lord.“ (Sir 25:6) •"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.“ John 15: 1-6 Why is the Gift of Fear of the Lord important? First of all, we don't want to lose our friendship with God - that is committing a mortal sin. When we commit a mortal sin, we are no longer friends with God. Wow! I think a lot of you probably don't think of this. So, we must aim at not committing a mortal sin and be like St. Dominic Savio "Death but not sin". Second, Though we do not want to be "fearful of God" per se - we should be afraid to offend him. One way to stop offending God or things that might help is avoiding "occasions of sin." Well, someone might now days may not understand - what does that mean? An occasion of sin, could be like a bad movie or even some "good movies" these days. There are sometimes impurity or bad things that the movie producers like to sneak into a movie - so that is why it would be better not to watch something then to have "occasion of sin." Third, we should also "love God" more with this Gift of Fear of the Lord. Bishop Farrell told us to "rejoice" in God. We should bring that "joy" of God's love to others. So, this is part of the gift's "blessings" on our soul to bring the gift of joy and God's love to our family and people we deal with everyday. Ok, so I hope this helps you understand this little gift a little better. I will be adding to the series as I have time - I may do a different thought in my next blog - but anyway, hope you enjoy this post! 5/22/2021 Our Lady of Mt. CarmelThe Call to Carmel Part A...by Rose HillThis is a first in a series about Carmelites and the vocation of being a Tertiary of Our Lady... When I was a little girl probably around age thirteen - I had wanted to be a Carmelite Nun and live a life like that. Of course, at the time, I didn't know much about nuns or convents. Later on, we started attending Latin Mass at a Carmelite Convent! So, I was able to "go to the turn" to ask for prayers and such! I even wrote to the sisters for awhile. One of my best friends "Chrissy" wanted to be a nun as well. However, our desires of youth did not quite come to pass. For myself, I didn't end up a religious nun - even despite going on a retreat where the priest suggested talking to my parish priest about a religious vocation. This retreat I took around age 26. I did go visit 2 of orders of nuns as well as go up to Canada on a special pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage, I went to St. Anne De Beaupre' Shrine and I felt that she was saying to me, "You will be a teacher!" That pilgrimage left a great impression upon my soul. However, I decided my vocation was not to be a nun after the Sisters at another convent thought I did not have such a vocation. I accepted this as God's will. So, I prayed to God to find a "soul mate" someone that could help me reach heaven or at least that is one of the ideals of Marriage and to have children to give to God. I finally found someone when I was around 35 years old. I know that was quite a few years to wait to find a "soul mate." We have been married for 13 years, so I think that is showing that we are a good match - I still consider my husband my "soulmate". We also have children! Many marriages don't even last this long - Deo Gratias we are still together. So, the question you may ask - did I become a teacher? "Yes and no". I didn't become a teacher in a regular school so to speak. I did take some teacher education in college; however, God blessed my husband and I with children and we decided to "home school" them - so I became their teacher. (Also, hubby helps!) During my college years, I also decided to take an online doula course. That is how I became a doula and childbirth educator! So, I have ended up being a teacher of sorts to mothers and parents! Anyway, I feel like I need to go back to the subject now of Carmelites. So, what is a Tertiary in an order of religious? This means one is a Third Order member - someone "secular" living in the world, but can offer themselves in a spiritual way united with this particular order. So, there are Third Order members for the following - at least this is from my research: *Third Order Dominicans *Third Order Franciscans *Third Order Carmelites *Oblates of St. Benedict (same as Third order) *Third order of Servites I also was wanting to join a more Traditional Catholic Third order - not a secular version (or Novus Ordo) just because I probably would end up not being able to conform to everything in a Novus ordo version. (Not that they don't have merit - I am sure if you are a Third order member of a N.O. you will gain alot of merit as well!) So, I did some research and found about that the SSPX has also their own third order. I thought about joining the "regular" SSPX third order. However, I did deeper research and found out they have other third orders: *Franciscan SSPX Third Order (based in California - with ties to monks in France) *Dominican SSPX Third Order (Fr. Albert a Dominican priest is head of this one) *Carmelite SSPX Third order - originally my research took me to a website in Australia! There is also I believe a third order associated with FSSP - but I don't know that much about it. So, why join a third order to begin with? First of all, to get to heaven! I feel that the ideals of a third order would help a particular person gain the graces needed to get to heaven! Second, to practice one's Faith better with more fervor and practice virtues better. Things like humility, patience, and more... Third, one also must feel called the particular spirituality of the "order" that you are choosing. For instance Franciscans have a definite distinct mission. I feel called to the Carmelites - however, I want to show various spirituality below. This is information below about Franciscan: Along with the entire Franciscan family, the spirituality of the secular Franciscan is intensely Christocentric and focused on Jesus, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, who became one of us in the Incarnation. Franciscan spirituality is primarily focused on Christ’s Incarnation, His Passion, and His Presence in the Eucharist. For secular Franciscans, Jesus is the inspiration and center of our life with God and with people. He is the way to the Father, and the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us. (OFS Rule, Article 4).(1 reference below). Dominican spirituality - has 4 pillars: Dominican lives are rooted in the four Dominican charisms: Prayer, Study, Community, and Service - all for the sake of Veritas (the truth of God’s mercy and love). (Reference 2 below) Carmelite Spirituality: Carmelite spirituality is meant to be experienced and not just studied. In fact, I find it the hardest to describe - but if you are familiar at all with St. Therese's writings - she said "My vocation is love." That in a nutshell is the spirituality of a Carmelite - To meditate, To give God our Love, To "pray without ceasing" is what St. Teresa of Avila says. Meditation is the core of the Carmelite spirituality; and praying the Little Office of Mary (for Third order members). The spirituality of a Carmelite is a spirituality of contemplation and seeking God above everything! St. John of the Cross writes about the Carmelite Spirituality: What is this union with God that is so fundamental to St. John of the Cross's spirituality? It is a complete dying to the old fallen self and living anew in perfect docility to God and His movements in the soul. St. John said in The Living Flame of Love, "Let it be known that what the soul calls death is all that goes to make up the old self . . . In this new life that the soul lives when it has arrived at the perfect union with God here being discussed, all the inclinations and activity of the [soul] . . . become divine. Since . . . the soul's operations are in God through its union with him, it lives the life of God." The soul in union is perfectly docile to grace, and so the soul is moved by God alone and not by its own desires or thinking. He explains, "For the soul, like a true daughter of God, is moved in all things by the Spirit of God." The will of the soul is lost in the will of God and the two become one by grace. (Reference 3 below). So, this is the call to Carmel - the longing and desired to set one's heart on fire with the love of God! In next series - we will explore the steps to becoming a Third Order Carmelite member! References: 1. https://secularfranciscansusa.org/franciscan-spirituality/ 2. https://www.aquinas.edu/resources/student-resources/campus-ministry/dominican-spirituality 3. http://www.carmelitemonks.org/CarmeliteSpirituality.php 5/1/2021 Our Lady Queen of MayThe many titles of Mary....I love May crowning of Mary - we give her honor this month. Some chapels will crown her on May 1st or 2nd while others mid-May or even the very last day of May. In the traditional calendar (Latin Mass), we celebrate the Crowing of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven on May 31st. So, where did these traditions come from? Well, probably mostly from tradition that goes way back. So, we don't really know the origin of this devotion. However, an event more in our times that took place in the "Americas" in Wisconsin shows us that Mary is ever watching over us - here's a tidbit from another blog in italics: The act of crowning is rooted in the view of Mary as the Queen of Heaven. The event is of particular significance as it relates to the Champion Shrine history because, when Our Lady appeared to the young Belgian immigrant woman, Adele Brise, in 1859, she identified herself as the “Queen of Heaven.” (Blog: https://walktomary.com/event/may-crowning/ By the way this is the only Marian apparition approved of in the United States so if you would like to read more about it - please go to this website: championshrine.org/the-story/ Indulgences: Pope Pius VII in 1815 granted a partial indulgence for participating in either a public or private devotion honoring Mary during the month of May; Pope Pius IX made the indulgence plenary in 1859. Also, from same source: May probably seemed most appropriate because the liturgical calendars, former and present, mark several feast days honoring our Blessed Mother: Our Lady, Queen of Apostles (the Saturday following the Ascension); Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament (May 13); Our Lady of Fatima (May 13); Mary, Help of Christians (May 24); Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces (May 31); and the Visitation (May 31) or Crowning of Mary in Latin Traditional Rite (May 31st). Source: https://catholicstraightanswers.com/what-are-the-origins-of-the-may-crowning/ Now, onto the many titles of Mary! I use to have a book about Mary and her various titles and shrines or stories related to the titles. I don't think the book survived my recent moves. Oh, well, Mary is honored under a lot of titles. I found a list - so here it is below (by the way a lot longer than the Litany of Loreto)! The items in red will have a link to go to more information! Enjoy this list: Ark of the Covenant https://www.marian.org/news/Mary-the-New-Ark-of-the-Covenant-7783 Cause of Our Joy https://www.amazon.com/Cause-Our-Joy-Walking-Lady/dp/1621641732 Comforter of the Afflicted http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/sorrows6.htm Co-Redemptrix https://fatima.org/news-views/catholic-apologetics-106/ Destroyer of Heresy https://immaculate.one/may-the-month-of-mary-may-8-mary-detroyer-of-all-heresies Gate of Heaven https://www.amazon.com/Gate-Heaven-Catherine-Goddard-Clarke/dp/B000K05CM6 Joy of the Just Health of the Sick https://www.themarianroom.com/mary-health-of-the-sick-remember-us/ Help of Christians Holy Mary Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins House of Gold http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/house-gold.htm The Immaculate Heart https://www.anewimmaculata.org/ Mirror of Justice Mother of the Poor Morning Star https://www.cardinaljohnhenrynewman.com/mary-the-morning-star-cardinal-newman/ Mother Inviolate Mother Most Admirable Mother Most Amiable Mother Most Chaste Mother Most Pure Mother of Christ Mother of Divine Grace Mother of Good Counsel https://americaneedsfatima.org/Our-Blessed-Mother/the-story-of-the-miraculous-fresco-of-our-lady-of-good-counsel.html Mother of Orphans Mother of Our Creator Mother of Our Redeemer Mother of Perpetual Help https://shrineofholyinnocents.org/shrine-of-our-lady-of-perpetual-help Mother of Sorrows https://dolorans.org/ Mother of the Son Mother Thrice Admirable https://www.schoenstatt.org/en/services/about-schoenstatt/the-shrine/mta/ Mother Undefiled http://salvemariaregina.info/Reference/rm51web.pdf Mystical Rose https://www.themystica.com/rosa-mystica/ Our Lady de Gray Our Lady de la Breche Our Lady della Croce Our Lady de la Treille Our Lady of Confidence https://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/a005rp.htm Our Lady of Akita https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/our-lady-of-akita.html Our Lady of Abundance Our Lady of Acheropita Our Lady of Africa Our Lady of Aix-la-Chapelle Our Lady of Alba Royale Our Lady of Alexandria Our Lady of All Help Our Lady of Almudena Our Lady of Amiens Our Lady of Angels Our Lady of Angels Toulouse Our Lady of Apareceda Our Lady of Apparitions Our Lady of Arabida Our Lady of Ardents Our Lady of Ardilliers Our Lady of Argenteuil Our Lady of Arras Our Lady of Atocha Our Lady of Banneux Our Lady of Bavaria Our Lady of Beaumont Our Lady of Beauraing Our Lady of Belle Fontaine Our Lady of Benoite-Vaux Our Lady of Bessiere Our Lady of Betharam Our Lady of Bethlehem Our Lady of Bolougne Our Lady of Bonaria Our Lady of Bonport Our Lady of Bourbourg Our Lady of Bows Our Lady of Bruges Our Lady of Buglose Our Lady of Buch Our Lady of Calais Our Lady of Calevourt Our Lady of Cambray Our Lady of Cambron Our Lady of Campitelli Our Lady of Cana Our Lady of Caravaggio Our Lady of Carquere Our Lady of Castelbruedo Our Lady of Charity Our Lady of Chartres Our Lady of Chatillion Our Lady of Chievres Our Lady Of Citeaux Our Lady of Clairvaux Our Lady of Clemency Our Lady of Clermont Our Lady of Clery Our Lady of Clos-Evrard Our Lady of Compassion Our Lady of Conquest Our Lady of Consolation Our Lady of Constantinople Our Lady of Copacabana Our Lady of Coutances Our Lady of Covadonga Our Lady of Craganor Our Lady of Czestochowa Our Lady D'Iron Our Lady of Damietta Our Lady of Deliverance Our Lady of Didinia Our Lady of Dijon Our Lady of Divine Providence Our Lady of Dordrecht Our Lady of Edessa Our Lady of Egypt Our Lady of Einsiendeln Our Lady of Emminont Our Lady of Esquernes Our Lady of Exile Our Lady of Faith Our Lady of Fatima Our Lady of Fire Our Lady of Flines Our Lady of Foi Our Lady of Fourviere Our Lady of Foy Our Lady of France Our Lady of Genazzano Our Lady of Genesta Our Lady of Gifts Our Lady of Good Counsel Our Lady of Good Deliverance Our Lady of Good Haven Our Lady of Good Health Our Lady of Good Help Our Lady of Good News Our Lady of Good Remedies Our Lady of Good Success (or Happy Event of the Purification 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Our Lady of Milan Our Lady of Miracles Our Lady of Miracles Brescia Our Lady of Miracles Paris Our Lady of Miracles Rome Our Lady of Molanus Our Lady of Molene Our Lady of Mondevi Our Lady of Moreneta Our Lady of Mount Carmel Our Lady of Monte-Senario Our Lady of Montserrat Our Lady of Montevergine Our Lady of Moustier Our Lady of Moyen Point Our Lady of Myan Our Lady of Nanteuil Our Lady of Naples Our Lady of Narni Our Lady of Naval Our Lady of Nazareth Our Lady of New Our Lady of Oegnies Our Lady of Oropa Our Lady of Oviedo Our Lady of Paris Our Lady of Peace Our Lady of Pellevoisin Our Lady of Perpetual Help Our Lady of Pignerol Our Lady of Pompeii Our Lady of Pontmain Our Lady of Pontoise Our Lady of Port Louis Our Lady of Power Our Lady of Premontre Our Lady of Prompt Succor Our Lady of Abundance or Prosperity Our Lady of Pucha Our Lady of Puig Our Lady of Puy Our Lady of Quito Our Lady of Ransom Our Lady of Ratisbon Our Lady of Rennes Our Lady of Rheims Our Lady of Rocamadour Our Lady of Rocks Our Lady of Rossano Our Lady of Rouen Our Lady of Safety Our Lady of Saideneida Our Lady of Saint Acheul Our Lady of St Fort Chartres Our Lady of Saint John Our Lady of Savigny Our Lady of Sasopoli Our Lady of Saussaie Our Lady of Schiedam Our Lady of Schier Our Lady of Scutari Our Lady of Seez Our Lady of Sichem Our Lady of Sion Our Lady of Smelcem Our Lady of Sorrows Our Lady of Soissons Our Lady of Speech Our Lady of Spire Our Lady of Succor (Prompt Succor) Our Lady of Tables Our Lady of Talan Our Lady of Tears Our Lady of Tears, Spoleto Our Lady of Terouenne Our Lady of the Armed Forces Our Lady of the Assumption Our Lady of the Bells Our Lady of the Bush Our Lady of the Candles Our Lady of the Cloister Our Lady of the Conception Our Lady of the Conception, Flanders Our Lady of the Divine Shepherd Our Lady of the Don Our Lady of the Doves Our Lady of the Empress Our Lady of the Fields Our Lady of the Flowering Thorn Our Lady of the Forest Our Lady of the Forests Our Lady of the Founders Our Lady of the Fountain Our Lady of the Fountain, Constantinople Our Lady of the Grotto Lamego Our Lady of the Hermits Our Lady of the Hill Our Lady of the Holy Chapel Our Lady of the Holy Cross Our Lady of the Jesuit College Our Lady of the Lily Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Our Lady of the Mountains Our Lady of the Palm Our Lady of the Pillar Our Lady of the Place Our Lady of the Pond Our Lady of the Portuguese Our Lady of the Rock Our Lady of the Rosary Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Our Lady of the Silver Foot Our Lady of the Slain Our Lady of the Snows Our Lady of the Star Our Lady of the Star, Portugal Our Lady of the Taper Our Lady of the Thorn Our Lady of the Tower Our Lady of the Underground Our Lady of the Valley Our Lady of the Vault Our Lady of the Vine Our Lady of the Way Our Lady of the Woods Our Lady of Tongres Our Lady of Tortosa Our Lady of Trapani Our Lady of Treves Our Lady of Trut Our Lady of Valvenere Our Lady of Vaussivieres Our Lady of Verdun Our Lady of Victories Our Lady of Victory Our Lady of Victory, Spain Our Lady of Victory, Senlis Our Lady of Victory, Tourney Our Lady of Victory, Valois Our Lady of Virtues Our Lady of Vivonne Our Lady of Vladimir Our Lady of Walsingham Our Lady of Zapopan Our Lady of Zell Our Lady the Helper Our Lady Refuge of Sinners Our Lady, Star of the Sea http://stmary-unionville.org/nameorigin.php Our Lady Queen of Peace Tabernacle of the Lord Temple of the Most Holy Trinity Treasure House of God's Graces Queen of Angels Queen of Heaven Queen of Patriarchs Queen of Prophets Queen of Apostles Queen of Martyrs Queen of Confessors Queen of Virgins Queen of All Saints Queen Conceived Without Original Sin Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Queen of Peace Refuge of Sinners Seat of Wisdom Singular Vessel of Devotion Spiritual Vessel Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit Star of the Sea (Garden flowers of Mary): https://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/H020rpMaryGarden_Galitzin.htm Tower of David Tower of Ivory Vessel of Honor Virgen de la Antigua Virgin of the Battles Virgin of the Kings Virgin Most Prudent Virgin Most Venerable Virgin Most Renowned Virgin Most Powerful Virgin Most Merciful Virgin Most Faithful |
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September 2021
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