Santo Subito...

John Paul the Great

2nd April 

April's Virtue...

To find out April's Virtue and Patron,

click on the Preaching and Prayer button

on the main banner on top,

the options will appear...

click on the  Virtue button...

and all will be made clear!

ATHEISM...

Pope Benedict XVI dedicates his audience to

St. Alphonsus...

The words of Pope Benedict can be found below...

"Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I would like to present to you the figure of a holy doctor of the Church to whom we are very indebted, since he was an outstanding moral theologian and a teacher of the spiritual life for everyone, above all for simple people. He is the author of the words and music of one of the most popular Christmas songs in Italy, "Tu scendi dalle stelle" [You come down from the stars], and of many other things.

Alphonsus Maria Liguori was born in 1696 of a noble and rich Neapolitan family. Gifted with remarkable intellectual qualities, at just 16 he received a degree in civil and canon law. He was the most brilliant lawyer of the bar in Naples: For eight years he won every cause he defended. However, his soul thirsted for God and desired perfection and the Lord led him to understand that he was calling him to another vocation. In fact, in 1723, indignant about the corruption and injustice that plagued his environment, he left his profession -- and with it wealth and success -- and decided to become a priest, despite his father's opposition.

He had excellent teachers, who introduced him to the study of sacred Scripture, history of the Church and mysticism. He acquired a vast theological culture that he brought to fruition when, after a few years, he began his work as a writer. He was ordained a priest in 1726 and for his ministry, joined the diocesan Congregation of the Apostolic Missions.

Alphonsus began evangelization and catechesis among the most humble strata of Neapolitan society, to whom he loved to preach and whom he instructed on the basic truths of the faith. Not a few of these persons whom he addressed, poor and modest, very often were dedicated to vices and carried out criminal activity. With patience he taught them to pray, encouraging them to improve their way of living. Alphonsus obtained great results: In the poorest quarters of the city, there were increasing groups of persons who gathered in the evening in private homes and shops, to pray and meditate on the Word of God, under the guidance of some catechists formed by Alphonsus and other priests, who regularly visited these groups of faithful. When, by desire of the archbishop of Naples, these meetings were held in the chapels of the city, they took the name "evening chapels." They were a real and proper source of moral education, of social healing, of reciprocal help among the poor: thefts, duels and prostitution virtually disappeared.

Even though the social and religious context of St. Alphonsus' time was very different from ours, these "evening chapels" are a model of missionary action in which we can be inspired today as well, for a "new evangelization," particularly among the poorest, and to build a more just, fraternal and solidary human coexistence. Entrusted to priests is a task of spiritual ministry, while well-formed laymen can be effective Christian leaders, genuine evangelical leaven in the heart of society.

After having thought of leaving to evangelize the pagan peoples, Alphonsus, at the age of 35, came into contact with peasants and shepherds of the interior regions of the Kingdom of Naples and, stricken by their religious ignorance and their state of abandonment, he decided to leave the capital and dedicate himself to these people, who were poor spiritually and materially. In 1732 he founded the religious Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, which he placed under the protection of Bishop Thomas Falcoia, and of which he himself became superior. These religious, guided by Alphonsus, were genuine itinerant missionaries who reached the most remote villages, exhorting to conversion and to perseverance in the Christian life, above all through prayer. Still today, the Redemptorists spread over so many countries of the world with new forms of apostolate, continue this mission of evangelization. I think of them with gratitude, exhorting them to always be faithful following the example of their holy founder.

Esteemed for his goodness and pastoral zeal, in 1762 Alphonsus was appointed bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti, a ministry that he left in 1775 by the concession of Pope Pius VI because of the illnesses afflicting him. In 1787 that same Pontiff, hearing the news of his death that came after many sufferings, exclaimed: "He was a saint!" And he was not mistaken: Alphonsus was canonized in 1839, and in 1871 he was declared a doctor of the Church.

This title was bestowed on him for many reasons. First of all, because he proposed a rich teaching of moral theology, which adequately expresses Catholic doctrine, to the point that Pope Pius XII proclaimed him "patron of all confessors and moral theologians." Widespread at his time was a very rigorous interpretation of moral life, also because of the Jansenist mentality that, instead of nourishing trust and hope in God's mercy, fomented fear and presented God's face as frowning and severe, very far from that revealed to us by Jesus.

Above all in his principal work, titled "Moral Theology," St. Alphonsus proposes a balanced and convincing synthesis between the demands of God's law, sculpted in our hearts, revealed fully by Christ and interpreted authoritatively by the Church, and the dynamics of man's conscience and his liberty, which precisely by adherence to truth and goodness allow for the maturation and fulfillment of the person. To pastors of souls and to confessors, Alphonsus recommended faithfulness to Catholic moral doctrine, accompanied by a comprehensive and gentle attitude so that penitents could feel accompanied, supported and encouraged in their journey of faith and Christian life.
St. Alphonsus never tired of repeating that priests are a visible sign of the infinite mercy of God, who forgives and illumines the mind and heart of the sinner so that he will convert and change his life. In our time, in which there are clear signs of the loss of the moral conscience and -- it must be acknowledged -- of a certain lack of appreciation of the sacrament of confession, the teaching of St. Alphonsus is again of great timeliness.
Together with the works of theology, St. Alphonsus composed many other writings, designed for the religious formation of the people. The style is simple and pleasing. Read and translated into numerous languages, the works of St. Alphonsus have contributed to mold popular spirituality of the last two centuries. Some of them are texts to be read with great profit again today, such as "The Eternal Maxims," "The Glories of Mary," "The Practice of Loving Jesus Christ" -- this last one a work that represents the synthesis of his thought and his masterpiece.

He insisted a lot on the need for prayer, which enables one to open to Divine Grace to carry out daily the will of God and to obtain one's sanctification. In regard to prayer, he wrote: "God does not deny to anyone the grace of prayer, with which one obtains the help to overcome every concupiscence and every temptation. And I say, and repeat and will always repeat, for my entire life, that the whole of our salvation rests on prayer." From which stems his famous axiom: "He who prays is saved" (From the great means of prayer and related booklets. Opere ascetiche II, Rome 1962, p. 171).

There comes to mind, in this connection, the exhortation of my predecessor, the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II: "Christian communities must become genuine 'schools' of prayer. Therefore, education in prayer should become in some way a key-point of all pastoral planning" (Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte, 33, 34).
Outstanding among the forms of prayer fervently recommended by St. Alphonsus is the visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament or, as we would say today, adoration -- brief or prolonged, personal or in community -- of the Eucharist. "Certainly," wrote Alphonsus, "among all the devotions this one of adoration of the sacramental Jesus is the first after the sacraments, the dearest to God and the most useful to us. O, what a beautiful delight to be before an altar with faith and to present to him our needs, as a friend does to another friend with whom one has full confidence!" (Visits to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Most Holy for each day of the month. Introduction).

Alphonsus' spirituality is in fact eminently Christological, centered on Christ and his Gospel. Meditation on the mystery of the incarnation and the passion of the Lord were often the object of his preaching: In these events, in fact, redemption is offered "copiously" to all men. And precisely because it is Christological, Alphonsus' piety is also exquisitely Marian. Most devoted to Mary, he illustrated her role in the history of salvation: partner of the Redemption and Mediatrix of grace, Mother, Advocate and Queen. Moreover, St. Alphonsus affirmed that devotion to Mary will be of great comfort at the moment of our death. He was convinced that meditation on our eternal destiny, on our call to participate for ever in God's blessedness, as well as on the tragic possibility of damnation, contributes to live with serenity and commitment, and to face the reality of death always preserving full trust in God's goodness.

St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori is an example of a zealous pastor who won souls preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments, combined with a way of acting marked by gentle and meek goodness, which was born from his intense relationship with God, who is infinite Goodness. He had a realistically optimistic vision of the resources of goods that the Lord gives to every man and gave importance to the affections and sentiments of the heart, in addition to the mind, to be able to love God and one's neighbor.

In conclusion, I would like to remind that our saint, similar to St. Francis de Sales -- of whom I spoke a few weeks ago -- insists on saying that holiness is accessible to every Christian: "The religious as religious, the lay person as lay person, the priest as priest, the married as married, the merchant as merchant, the soldier as soldier, and so on speaking of every other state" (Practice of Loving Jesus Christ, Opere ascetiche I, Rome 1933, p. 79). I thank the Lord who, with his Providence, raises saints and doctors in different times and places who, speaking the same language, invite us to grow in faith and to live with love and joy our being Christians in the simple actions of every day, to walk on the path of holiness, on the path to God and to true joy. Thank you."

200 years since the birth of...

St. John Neumann: A Biography

March 28 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of St. John Neumann C.Ss.R.,

the founder of the diocesan school system in the United States.

John Nepomucene Neumann was born in Prachatice, Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) on March 28, 1811. He was an exceptional

student, and a quick study with languages — he was fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, English, German, and his native Bohemian.

Due to a surplus of priests in his native country, Neumann could not be ordained to the priesthood after he completed his studies in 1835.

He had always dreamed of being a missionary in the United States, so he sailed for America hoping to find a warm welcome.

Neumann was ordained for the Diocese of New York and began his ministry among the isolated communities of German Catholics

around Buffalo, NY.

Redemptorist

He found the life of a diocesan priest lonely, especially as a missionary in the hinterlands of his diocese. To satisfy his need

for community, Neumann joined the Redemptorists in 1842. He spent time in Pittsburgh learning more about their way of life,

and took his vows in Baltimore, becoming the first Redemptorist to profess vows in the New World. In 1848, he was appointed

the leader of all the Redemptorists in the United States. In 1852, after serving as pastor of several Redemptorist parishes in

Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Neumann was named the fourth bishop of Philadelphia.

Bishop

As bishop, Neumann established close to 90 parishes and founded the nation’s parochial school system. He also welcomed

several new orders of religious women into his diocese to serve in the schools, including the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Neumann was also a spiritual father to the Sisters of St. Francis of Glen Riddle and the Oblate Sisters of Providence.

He is also known for spreading the Forty Hours Eucharistic devotion.

Saint

On January 5, 1860, Neumann collapsed and died on a street in Philadelphia at the age of 48.

At his request, he was buried in the basement crypt in St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia.

Pope Paul VI beatified Neumann in 1963 during the Second Vatican Council, and he was declared a saint in 1977.

Neumann is considered a patron saint of immigrants and sick children.

His relics are located under the altar of the Shrine of St. John Neumann at St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia.

http://www.redemptorists.net/neumann/

Sunday of Lent - 3

The Woman at the Well...

The Annunciation...

El Greco's Annunciation

"St Luke, narrating the dialogue of the Annunciation, refers to the sublime words pronounced by the angel, ‘The Lord is with you’ (Lk 1:28). This phrase becomes the specific reason from which the Blessed Virgin Mary is invited to joy. It represents the start of the new Presence of God and is the reason why Gabriel greeted Mary saying to her: ‘Rejoice Mary’ (Lk 1:28). With this greeting and with this happy annunciation, in its truest sense, the Gospel is initiated. The angel’s first word is ‘joy’: the new joy that comes from God, from his irrecoverable gift for us and through us and amongst us. Or better yet, this joy comes from ‘Emanuel – God is with us’ and He invites us to participate in divine communion with Him.

In Mary and with Mary, God tells every one of us today, one more time and for ever: ‘It is good that you exist. I will fill you with every Grace’. This is the certain sign, His Son is amongst us." Congregatio Pro Clericis

We wish our parish, the parishioners and the community, in Liverpool a very Happy Feast!

The Parish in Bishop Eton has the Annunciation as its Patronal Feast.

A Book worth looking out for...

Forthcoming Title Info: Autumn 2011 

Living in the Gap

Religious Life and the Call to Communion

Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R.

We yearn for communion with one another because of God’s yearning for communion with us. Fr. Billy reminds us that communion, according to Pope John Paul II’s Novo Millennio Ineunte, lies at the very heart of the Christian message.

Contemplating the other. Living in unity. Accepting each other as “gift.” Sharing each other’s burdens. Although such right relationship is meant to be practiced by everyone, the “spirituality of communion” has special significance for religious, since they are called to be “experts” in its daily practice. Fr. Billy points to the striking benefits and authentic renewal that embracing a spirituality of communion can bring to the life of men and women religious and their communities. He offers companionship and concrete strategies for helping to help narrow the “gap” between the vision of what we desire to become and the reality of who we are.

Each chapter opens with an epigram about religious life and closes with a series of reflection questions.

"Many members of religious institutes will recognize themselves in the reflection of Father Billy, who offers a clear-eyed view of our struggles over the last four or five decades. The author avoids useless polemic; preferring, instead, to situate religious life among the other vocations in the Church and indicates how religious can live their unique vocation in a spirit of communion … The book is an excellent tool for the initial and ongoing formation of religious women and men, as well as a reliable voice for all those who want to understand better how this religious life is to be lived today."

Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.

Secretary, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

About the Author

Father Billy, a Redemptorist of the Baltimore Province, taught for more than twenty years at the Alphonsian Academy of Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University, reaching the rank of full (ordinary) professor.  He is now scholar-in residence and holder of the John Cardinal Krol Chair of Moral Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Semnary in Overbrook, Pennsylvania. Father Billy is the author of numerous theological and spiritual books.

Feast Day of St. Joseph...19th March

A Parents' Prayer to St. Joseph

O glorious St. Joseph,

to you God committed the care 
of His only begotten Son
amid the many dangers of this world.
We come to you 
and ask you to take under your special protection
the children God has given us. 
Through holy baptism
they became children of God
and members of His holy Church.
We consecrate them to you today,
that through this consecration
they may become your foster children.
Guard them,
guide their steps in life,
form their hearts 
after the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

St. Joseph,
who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent
when the child Jesus was lost,
protect our dear children for time and eternity.
May you be their father and counsellor.
Let them, like Jesus,
grow in age as well as in wisdom and grace
before God and men.
Preserve them from the corruption of his world,
and give us the grace one day to be united
with them in Heaven forever.

Amen.

Prayer to St Joseph for Protection

Gracious St. Joseph,

protect me and my family from all evil

as you did the Holy Family.

Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ,

ever fervent in imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady,

your sinless spouse,

and always faithful in devotion to you.

Amen.

Have a wonderful feast day!