Rosary Reflection - No Longer Relevant or Needed in Our Time?

	There is confusion among some Catholics these days – no doubt planted by the Evil One, who fears the Blessed Mother and the power of her Rosary. Some would have us believe that recitation of the Rosary is an antiquated devotion no longer relevant or needed in current times. Nothing could be further from the truth as can be seen by the Blessed Mother’s promise to St. Dominic and Blessed Alan de Roche and as she herself re-emphasized to the children at Fatima: - Whoever shall faithfully serve me  by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive powerful graces.  - I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
	- The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies
	- It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
	- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
	- Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
	- Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
	- Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.
	- I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
	- The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
	- You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
	- All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
	- I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
	- All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
	- Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

Source for the 15 Promises: (http://www.theholyrosary.org/rosarybenefits)

On The Feast Day of St. Louis Bertrand

[I originally shared this post three years ago. St. Louis Bertrand is the Patron Saint of our Lay Dominican Chapter.]

St. Louis Bertrand, O.P. (1526-1581)

            His early years – On January 1, 1526, one hundred and seven years after the death of St. Vincent Ferrer, another Dominican saint was born in Valencia – St. Louis Bertrand.  He was actually baptized in the same Church and font in which St. Vincent had been baptized. Louis’s father, John, was related to and had an ardent devotion to Saint Vincent. He passed that devotion to his son – one which Louis treasured throughout his life.

            Louis has been described as “a fretful child and nothing seemed to comfort him except the sight of the holy images in the churches”. (Wilberforce 15)  However, at an early age, he dedicated himself to the service of God and his studies. He learned to read and recite the Office of Our Lady before he was eight years old. As he grew older, he seldom spoke “unless the conversation turned upon spiritual matters”. (Wilberforce 17)

            His entry into the Dominican Order – Louis was certain he would save his soul as a Dominican, but his father objected to his joining the Order, believing he was better suited for the Carthusians. His father acquiesced only after Louis told him he would rather die than leave the Order.  He made his Dominican profession on August 27, 1545.

            Prayer and fasting for Louis, as it must be for all Dominicans, was an essential part of his life.  He devoted two hours every morning and two hours every evening to mental prayer.  After dinner he spent a half hour with the Blessed Mother.  He especially loved the Eucharist and often remained prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament for extended periods of time.  He “languished with weakness whenever he was prevented from celebrating the holy sacrifice.” (Wilberforce 91)

            When not actually praying in these ways, Louis was always conscious of the Divine Presence.  He frequently meditated on our Lord’s Passion. The crucifix was his constant companion. In it our Saint insisted “you will find whatever you need”. (Wilberforce 73)

            He also loved the Rosary, constantly reciting its mysteries.  He taught it to his converts and depended on the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary for the success of his preaching. “Many miraculous favors,” we are told, “were granted to those who devoutly used rosaries that had been blessed” by Louis. (Wilberforce 173)

            Novice Master – At the age of twenty-six and after having only been a priest for four years, Louis was appointed Master of Novices, serving with distinction in that capacity at six different times in his life and for a total of thirty years. He frequently referred to St. Vincent’s Treatise on the Spiritual Life, challenging his novices to see “which one of us shall be the imitator of this great man, whose equal is not to be found in this world”. (Pradel 184)

It's "Worth Revisiting" Wednesday - Yes Mildred. You Are Both Rich and Poor!

It is time to thank Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan for inviting an ever-expanding group of Catholic bloggers to re-post their favorite articles on It’s "Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays.

Do yourself a favor: Go there now (and every Wednesday) and let these authors bless and challenge you in your Faith journey.

Be sure to visit Allison at  Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb during the rest of the week.  

Here is my contribution this week:

Some Thoughts On Luke's Gospel - Yes Mildred, You Are Both Rich And Poor!

(Originally posted on February 28, 2013)

We need a reality check!

By any objective measure, most of us living in the U.S. are rich – materially rich beyond the experiences of the majority of the rest of the people who inhabit this planet. The median household income in this country, we are told, is just over $50,000.  Yet, we in America never seem to be satisfied with all that we do have and never tire of wanting more. Almost everything has become a “necessity”.  

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Luke's Gospel about the rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31) challenges us to be more realistic in our own self assessment. Despite our protestations and real hardships, we who live here in this nation are rich in a material sense.

In another sense, too many of us in this rich country are still very poor – poor in spirit. We do not treasure and appreciate our loving Lord who nourishes us with His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity and Who remains physically here among us, waiting to be visited and consoled and, in return, to love and heal.

So let us ask ourselves some vital questions.

Where are the physical Lazarus’ in our midst – those in need of our material assistance, love, and support? How are we treating them – like the rich man in today’s Gospel, or as our Lord has commanded us to do?

Where are the spiritually needy among us – those who don’t know our Lord or who rarely think of Him and what are we doing to alleviate this form of poverty? How are we treating Jesus – the poorest among us – neglected, abandoned and unloved?

The answers to these questions will dictate where we will spend eternity.

Eucharistic Reflection – You Envelope Me In Your Love

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

My Eucharistic Jesus, I love You more now that I hide myself so that You may appear... now that I conceal myself so that You may reign... now that I am nothing so that You maybe everything.

I love You more, much more, adorable Jesus... now that I have died to earth's vanities... now that, with Your grace, I have moved away from worldly things... now that I have renounced being something that was not trash... now that I have stood in the shade so that others could shine!

I love You more now that I keep my soul clean.., now that I am voluntarily poor... now that I obey and crucify myself to please You.

Is it not true, my Jesus, that all of this is the fruit of solitude, and that at the foot of Your Sacrament one enjoys an intimacy that is unknown to the world because of its purity? Here, let me say it very near to You, Jesus of my life! Caresses and tenderness flow night and day in the midst of pain and tears.... Here my sighs burn You and Your glances scorch me.... Here I hand You my pain and You envelope me in Your love.

My October 6 Appearance on Elizabeth Reardon's Radio Program "An Engaging Faith"

I am honored to be the guest of Elizabeth Reardon on her radio show “An Engaging Faith” this Tuesday, October 6, 2015 from 4 to 5 PM EST.

Please pray for us and consider listening on Breadbox Media.

We will be talking about my Faith Journey, Eucharistic Adoration, Lay Dominicans, Prison Ministry and my books. God willing it will be an interesting conversation.

If the time is not convenient, go back to Breadbox Media later and listen to a podcast of the show.

May God use us to touch hearts and stir souls.

Monday Musings - Of Demons, Swine, Unwelcoming Hearts and the Eucharist

What do demons, swine and an unwelcoming town have to do with the Eucharist?

The Gospel read at Mass one day during my recent silent retreat was from Mathew (8:28-34) – a passage many of us have read or heard numerous times. Although the Eucharist is never mentioned, on this particular day the Apostle’s words drew me to that Mysterious Gift. Let me explain.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

As you will recall, Jesus crossed over from Galilee into the mostly Gentile area of the Gadarenes. He and His disciples approached a field where a large herd of swine were feeding. There Jesus encountered two demon possessed men who made travel on this particular road impossible.

The demons within these men immediately recognized Jesus as the Son of God. It had to be excruciatingly painful for these evil spirits to remain in His Presence. They begged Jesus to send them into the nearby herd of swine.

“Out with you!” Jesus commanded. They entered the swine and the entire herd ran down the bluff and into the sea where they drowned.

At this sight, the swine’s caretakers (herdsmen), not knowing who Jesus was or understanding what they had just witnessed, fled the area and informed their fellow townspeople what they had seen. Matthew tells us that everyone in the town later came back to meet Jesus.

They came. They saw Jesus. But did they actually meet Him?

Someone You Need To Meet - Father Capodanno

A Priest you must meet. He gave his earthly life for the souls he treasured and sought to save.
Read this short article on his life. Then take a look at this short video from Real Life TV: