St. John's Adoration Chapel

St. John's Adoration Chapel
"Do Not Fear: I am with you. From here I will cast light Be sorry for sin."

Monday, August 31, 2015

September 1, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

 Tuesday, September 1
FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE SOULS IN PURGATORY
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
1 Thes 5: 1-11
Ps 27: 1-4, 13=14
Lk 4: 31-37

MONTHLY INTENTION: For parents and educators: "It is the role of parents to create in the bosom of the family that atmosphere enlivened by love and devotion towards God and men which favors the well-rounded education of their children in a person and social sense" (Gravissimum Educationis, 3--Vatican 2 on Christian education).

From Father Tom: Is it even possible to do this in today's family conditions, marked by widespread uncertainty about the need for marriage, by marriages breaking up with shocking frequency, and by the media adding its powerful voice to an already corrupt situation?

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Zefirina Baldi FSP (1947)--Sr. Cecilia Campagna FSP (1963)--Sr. M. Rita Simaz PD (1980)--Sr. M. Luigina Salva FSP (1992)--Sr. M. Daniela Vezzulli FSP (1997)--SR. M. Adalgisa Tavella PD (2003)--Ninfa Visconti HFI (2009)--Sr. Agostinha Boff FSP (2020)--Sr. M. Ancila Belesso PD (2014)

Sunday, August 30, 2015

August 31, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 31
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
1 Thes 4: 13-18
Ps 96: 1-5, 11-13
Lk 4: 16-30

Love for the Virgin is shown especially by imitating her: in her strong faith, in her firm hope, in her ardent charity, her constant prudence, her perfect righteousness, her fortitude in all trials, her temperance in everything 9BM p. 408).

From Father Tom: Always, however, recalling that she began life free of the weakness of Original Sin. Who knows what you and I could do if we had a similar blessing.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Guglielmo Stracciato HFI (1986)--Sr. Melania Lovato FSP (2002)--Sr. Concetta Anzalone SGBP (2005)--Sr. Gisueppina Cipolia FSP (2011)

Saturday, August 29, 2015

August 30, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, August 30
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Dt 4: 1-8
Ps 15: 2-5
Jas 1: 17-27
Mk 7: 1-23

After the closing of the Vatican Council there will be a complete and clear picture of the updating and of the pathway pointed out: "Go, preach, gide and sanctify all people" (SP  Nov 1965).

From Father Tom: And so thought the Council Fathers, but Satan had followed all the deliberations carefully and, as soon as everything ended...he began!

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Teresita Herrero PD (1949)--Sr. M. Eufronsina Nicolo' PD (1971)--Fr. Mirco Cerato SSP (1997)--Cosimo Pendinellio HFI (2005)--Bro Francesco Chessa SSP (2007)--Vittorio Santini HFI (2008)--Helen Mosebarger (1996)--Sr. Bartolomea Machado FSP (2014)

Friday, August 28, 2015

August 29, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, August 29
THE PASSION OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST 
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
1 Thes 4: 9-11
Ps 98: 1-9
Mk 6: 17-29

The whole of the Gospel moves in the world of work. Work is a duty for everyone, even for the rich--this is shown by the parable of the talents (SP Jan 1954).

From Father Tom: Not a very consoling thought for so many in our time whose concentration over the years is on Retirement!

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Tomasina Morelli PD (1989)--Sr. Bianca Giordano FSP (2000)--Fr. Stefano Cane SSP (2000)--Sr. M. Antonietta Marazza FSP (2001)--Bro Manuel Regueiro SSP (2004)--Sr. Luiza Sonego FSP (2011)--Richard Halcomb (2011)

Thursday, August 27, 2015

August 28, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, August 28
ST AUGUSTINE, BISHOP, DOCTOR 
OF THE CHURCH
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
1 Thes 4: 1-8
Ps 97: 1-10
Mt 25: 1-13

Health is a great gift of God. It is up to us to preserve it intelligently and to use for our sanctification, our study, our apostolate, souls (SP Feb/Mar 1954)

From Father Tom: The thought here is the same as the previous one: Give to God and to our apostolate everything we have and are.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Consilia Fusaro PD (1955)--Raimondo Martinet HFI (2005)--Fr. Emilio Cordero SSP (2010)--Goffreda Ferri HFI (2010)--Fr. Mario Agostinelli IGS (2011)--Sr. M. Pasqua Rebellati FSP (2012)--M. Lusimar da Penha SJBP (2013)

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

August 27, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, August 27
ST MONICA
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
1 Thes 3: 7-13
Ps 90: 3-5, 12-17
Mt 24: 42-51

Wasting one's mind is an abuse of the great means the Lord gave us to honor Him (APD 1963, 144).

From Father Tom: This was a favorite theme of the Founder who saw even reading about sporting events as waste. What would he say about so much mental confusion as is available today--powered by media he never knew--can only be guessed.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Giulia Salzotto PD (1979)--Fr. Pasquale Spadone IJP (1992)--Fr. Francisco Bianco SSP (2004)--Sr. Maria Stella Lipparoni SGBP (2010)--Sr. Maria Alba Matagawa FSP (2010)--Sr. M. Samuela D'Addario PD (2011)--Sr. M. Ernesta Panaro FSP (2012)

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

August 26, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, August 26
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
1 Thes 2: 9-13
Ps 139: 7-12
Mt 23: 27-32

Humility restrains our excessive desire for esteem, praise, and laud. It also moderates excessive, false self-esteem (SP Feb/Mar 1954)

From Father Tom: Humility also involves total silence. "I don't want to claim any credit, but on one occasion..." If you are not interested in praise...why say anything?

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Beatrice Almici FSP (2000)--Carmela La Rocca HFI (2008)--Sr. Immacolatina Bianco FSP (2008)

Monday, August 24, 2015

August 25, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, August 25
ST LOUIS IX OF FRANCE, ST JOSEPH
CALASANZ, PRIEST
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
1 Thes 2: 1-8
Ps 139: 1-6
Mt 23: 23-26

Life sometimes requires heroic suffering, but every moment of the day prepares a sequence of little mortification. To always show a serene countenance requires heroic. Among all the Saints, Mary was the most ready and serene in her inner self (BM 378).

From Father Tom: How silent are you as you suffer? How silent am I? (Not very, to be honest: pray for me to correct that defect in the time remaining.)

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Gracia Oliva PD (1961)--Sr. M. Grazia Bicego SGBP (1983)--Sr. M. Feliciana Oberto (PD (1987)--Sr. M. Roberta Bambadoro FSP (2006)--Sr. Gilde Micheletti FSP (2009)--Filippo romano HFI (2010)--Fr. Stefano Bacchitta IJP (2011)--Mons. Domenico Crusco IGS (2013)

Sunday, August 23, 2015

August 24, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 24
ST BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE
Rv 21: 9-14
Ps 145: 10-18
Jn 1: 45-51

We carry out a noble and important work when we pray and suffer society and for the salvation of the world (BM 300-391).

From Father Tom: And we do this when we are faithful to our Institute commitment and prayer life. This is the great advantage of vows: we may forget how and when we made them, but they continue to influence our lives for good.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Cleric Livio Razzini SSP (1934)--Sr. M. Giovanna Salsi FSP (1944)--Bro. Bruno Tognon SSP (1989)-Sr. Alberta Eudizi FSP (1993)--Sr. M. Giulia Toschi FSP (1999)--Sr. M. Agnese Carozzo FSP (2003)--Sr. M. Imelda Cattapan PD (2009)--Sr. Maria Rosa Ballini FSP (2010)--Teofila Burnieika (1977)--Filippo Romano ISF (2010)

Saturday, August 22, 2015

August 23, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, August 23
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jos 24: 1-2, 15-18
Ps 34: 2-3, 16-21
Eph 5: 21-32
Jn 6: 60-69

In the cult of the Eucharist we learn humility. The incarnate Son of God hides the splendor of His heavenly glory under the humble appearances of the sacred species (BM 432-433).

From Father Tom: And we realize regretfully--we tend to take this humility for granted. How frequently and carelessly the Eucharist is celebrated and received! At least let us not be guilty of this ignorance and indifference!

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Firmina Furnari PD (1954)--Sr. M. Spirtina Marzullo PD (1987)--Sr. M.Carola Toniutti FSP (1995)--Fr. Bruno Gialletti SSP (1997)--Sr. M. Fausta Pasini FSP (2006)--Sr. M. Matelda Zuin PD (2009)--Fr. Valeriano Mario Giachino SSP (2011)--Sr M. Letizia Ellena FSP (2011)--Sr. M. Ancilla Campara FSP (2013)

Friday, August 21, 2015

August 22, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, August 22
THE QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Ru 2: 1-11; 13-17
Ps 128: 1-5
Mt 23: 1-12

The Madonna is great because she loved the Lord more than anything else, and worked for Him as she gave everything for souls. In her are  joined the two great loves: God and souls, holiness and apostolate (FSP 31, -. 154)

From Father Tom: Actually, without the love of souls and some sort of action for them, the "love" of God is suspect. The final words of Jesus leave no doubt: "go out to all the world and bring the Gospel to everyone."

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Anania Gilardi FSP (1987)--Sr. Renata Innocenza Bertolusso FSP (2010)

Thursday, August 20, 2015

August 21, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, August 21
ST PIUS X, POPE
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Ru 1: 1-6, 14-22
Ps 146: 5-10
Mt 22: 34-40

A healthy joy is special advantage for our spirit and our control (SP Jul-Aug-Sep 1952).

From Father Tom: And not only in July, August, and September.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Angiolina Moscardo FSP (1962)--Sr. M. Dionisia Bertero PD (1978)--Bro Bernardo Aguilar SSP (1994)--Sr. Beniamina Pattaro FSP (1995)--Sr. Ausilia Aimasso FSP (2009)--Fr. Carmelo Panebianco SSP (2010)--Fr. Eliseo Mariano Sgarbossa (2011)--Sr. M. Alfonsa Gemelli FSP (2012)--Sr. Timotea M. Perez FSP (2013)--Fr. Michele Vomera IGS (2013)

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

August 20, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, August 20
ST BERNARD, ABBOT, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Jgs 11: 29-39
Ps 40: 5010
Mt 22: 1-4

On August 20, 1914, while we were inaugurating our first little House under the auspices of St. Bernard, we received in the evening news of the death of the saintly Pontiff (Pius X) and we felt inspired to place under the protection of this great and humble Pope the work we intended to do (SP Mar 1951).

From Father Tom: And where is the reference to this Pope in our prayer life? Interesting thought.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Msgr. Nicola Riezzo IJP (1998)--Giuseppe Gori SSP (2006)--Fr. Lorenzo Viberti SSP (2006)--Fr. Joao Guido Dos Santos SSP (2008)--Epeginia Jamais (1976)--Joseph Russell (1992)--Paola Russo I SF (2012)--Fr. Antonio Fernandez Perez SSP (2013)--Monica Iturra Alviles IMSA (2014)

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

August 18, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, August 19
ST JOHN EUDES, PRIEST
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Jgs 9: 6-15
Ps 21: 2-7
Mt 20: 1-16

Those who wish to acquire a good character work on themselves to dominate their thoughts, sentiments, speech and general behavior (SP Sep-Oct 1953)

From Father Tom: Always distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary and not getting disheartened if it seems impossible to get control. St. Francis de Sales, author of "The Devout Life," a spiritual classic, took 20 years to gain control of his bad temper.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Nevio Picco SSP (1998)--Sr. M. Pia Di Dio FSP (2003)--Vermigliana Rossini HFI (2003)--Sr. Angela Costanatin SGBP (2008)--Liva Cieri HFI (2008)--Sr. M. Liliana Ventresca FSP (2010)--Pius Lentini IAM (2011)--Fr. Biagio Russo IGS (2014).

Monday, August 17, 2015

August 18, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

This should have been switched with yesterday's I apologize for the confusion. 

Tuesday, August 18
ORDINARY TIME
Jgs 2: 11-19
Ps 106: 34-44
Mt 19: 16-22

Mary's life at Nazareth was one of close union with her Son. These two very holy persons were united in outlook and, together, they sought at every moment the glory of God and the salvation of all people (BM p. 379, p 280).

From Father Tom: We are not (perhaps) "very holy" but that does not mean that we omit prayers of world significance, for example, for the dying unprepared.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Elena Bertella IAM (1990)--Sr. M. Amalia Bernardini FSP (2003)--Bro James Mann SSP (2010)--Claudina Spallacci HFI (2010)--Mary Grace Boyar (1982)

Sunday, August 16, 2015

August 17, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 17
ORDINARY TIME
Jgs 6: 11-24
Ps 85: 9-14
Mt 19: 23-30

Youth is the foundation of one's entire life. The person, who as a young person has loved work, has practiced delicacy of conscience, study, apostolate and poverty, will be a good Religious (FSP 5. p. 276).

From Father Tom: I think this applies to all of us. Happy are we because we have been chosen also for this good background.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Cleric Gesualdo Angelia SSP (1938)--Sr. M. Francesca Franchini FSP (1974)--Sr. M. Providenza Giordano PD(1985)--Raimondo Manca HFI (1991)--Bro Corrado Siccardi SSP (2003)--Cresecianna Aguilera Quiroz IAM (2004)--Fr. Gabriele Todaro SSP (2010)--Lucio Albano (2971)--Susan Helen Wallace FSP (2013)

Saturday, August 15, 2015

August 16, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, August 16
TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Prv 9: 1-6
Ps 34: 2-7
Eph 5: 15-20
Jn 6: 51-58

The salvation of souls is promoted because Jesus Christ draws to Himself hearts that are well-disposed and shares His very life (BM 435).

From Father Tom: True. But we must not leave the Master to do the whole work: our part is to have a "well-disposed" attitude.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Flora Oyama FSP (1971)--Sr. Eufemia Morando FSP (1983)--Bro Bernardino Boschetti SSP (1995)--Fr. Joseph Chircop SSP (1999)--Sr. M. Felicita Barbaduomo PD (2001)--Margarita Antonia Solis HFI (2002)--Fr. Pacifico Butani IJP (2004)--Sr. M. Filippina Brisindi PD(2009)--Sr. M. Giuseppina Di Miceli FSP (2010)--Fr. Secondo Gesualso Mottura SSP (2014).

Friday, August 14, 2015

August 15, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, August 15
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Rv 11: 19; 12: 1-10
Ps 45: 10-16
1 Cor 15: 20-27
Lk 1: 39-56

Mary is the marvel of creation, a marvel of grace on earth and of glory i n Heaven (Prediche alle Suore Pastorelle, IX p. 62)

From Father Tom: The old saying says: "De Maria, nunquam satis,"-- you can never go too far in honoring Mary."

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Bro Salvatore Porcaro SSP (1982)--Sr. M. Joseph Coraddu FSP (1985)--Fr. Remo De Angelis IJP (1999)--M. Zulmira M. Pereira IAM (1999)--Annamaria Desssi HFI (2002)--Pedro Lopez (2008).

Thursday, August 13, 2015

August 14, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday August 14
ST MAXIMILLIAN KOLBE, PRIEST, MARTYR
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Jos 24: 1-13
Ps 136: 1-3, 16-24
Mt 19: 3-12

Love between spouses must be full of reverence and solicitude. They should see themselves as a  twosome on the way to eternity, supporting each other in difficult and dangerous steps (BM p 491).

From Father Tom: The theory of marriage could not be clearer. The reality frequently falls short. And yet there is great scope for real holiness if the couple takes time out to pray and --just as important--to enjoy each other's company. This second aspect cannot afford to be neglected.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Salvatore Alessandria SSP (1966)-Sr. Elvira Pusceddu FSP (1979)--Sr. Marcella Voerzio FSP (1980)--Sr. M. Palma Salzani FSP (1983)--Fr. Antonio Diaferia SSP (1990)--Bro Giancarlo Cavazza SSP (1992)--Sr. M. Rosangela Isano Natusko FSP (1992)--Sr. Mary Joseph Shirai FSP (2000)--Fr. Pio Bracchi SSP (2001)--Bro Rosario Scarnato SSP (2009)--Sr. M. Claudia Parco FSP (2010)--Fr. Virgilio Tito da Silva Ribeiro SSP (2011)

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

August 13, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione And With Father Alberione

Thursday August 13
ST PONTIAN, POPE, AND HIPPOLYTUS, PRIEST,
MARTYRS 
Jos 3: 7-17
Ps 114: 1-6
Mt 18: 21-19: 1

True social virtues cannot exist if there are no true individual virtues. True religious virtues must precede the apostolate (FSP 56,p. 223).

From Father Tom: Meaning that we must be as virtuous as we recommend others to be? Makes sense. Otherwise we are common-or-garden(variety?) hypocrites. Not a pleasant thought

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Luigi Cocco SSP (1961)--Sr. M. Rosario Zapata FSP (1970)--Luigi Madeddu HFI (1990)--S.r Timotea Ferraretto FSP (1998)--Francesco Scotti Gabrielelite (1999)--Fr. Domenico Maggi IJP (2001)--Sr. Rosaria Romanisio FSP (2003)--Sr. Ignzaia Balia FSP (2003)--Sr. M. Cuneguna Marietta PD (2007)--Bro Cipriano Caneva SSP (2009)

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

August 12, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday August 12
ST JANE FRANCES de CHANTAL, RELIGIOUS 
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Dt 34: 1-12
Ps 66: 1-8, 16-17
Mt 18: 15-20

Civil society conforms to the will of God who made humans sociable, and its goal is a well-run earth fruit of common effort (BM 173).

From Father Tom: Like a wasp, the sting is in the tail of this description...common effort can indeed make life truly worth living...if we can ensure it.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Paolina Bellia PD (1962)--Sr. Mary Brigida Canchela FSP (1992)--Sr. M. Speranza Allegri FSP (1998)--Sr. M. Marcellina Cardoz FSP (2006)--Sr. Emanuela Iacovelli FSP (2007)--Bro Amos Schibuola SSP (2009)--Andy Veig (1960)--Sr. M. Colomba Gernandiso FSP (2013)

Monday, August 10, 2015

August 11, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday August 11
ST CLARE, VIRGIN
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Dt 31: 1-8
(Ps) Dt 32: 3-12
Mt 18: 1-5, 10-14

Self-mastery is obtained when we master our hearts. We are in peace if our heart is righteous, good and attuned to God's rule (BM p. 98).

From Father Tom: That seems self-evident. And how do we reach this stage? Largely by turning frequently to God--Who is always beside us, ready for a quiet chat--and asking Him to correct what may be a little out of line.

Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Bro. Giovanni Marengo SSP (1974)--Ines Besana IAM (1975)--Fr. Ivo Micheletti IJP (1989)--Rosanna Gil de Valencia HFI (2001)--Anotnietta Giorgio IAM (2004)--Sr. M. Kamabile D'Addario FSP (2009)--Rober McGready (1990)--Paolo Soverna ISGA (2014)

Sunday, August 9, 2015

August 10, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday August 10
ST LAWRENCE, DEACON, MARTYR
2 Cor 9: 6-10
Ps 112: 1-9
Jn 12: 24-26

Dedication is the generous gift of a good heart which gives itself, gives everything it is and has (BM 101).

From Father Tom: And understandably, this sort of dedication is not all that common--we need to be divinely reckless and that's is rather uncommon.

Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Raimondo Falappi HFI (1981)--Fr. Jose' Torres SSP (1995)--Sr. M. Lucia Ricci PD (2001)--Carminda Cerqueira Goncalves IAM(2005)--Sr. Domitilla Ovi FSP (2008)--Rosalie Bellavista HFI (2009)

Characteristics of Prayer





Characteristics of Prayer



"Leaving prayer aside, the whole spiritual edifice collapses and a pile of ruins remains, a fine castle but a dilapidated one" (UPS II, 12).  The inescapable necessity of prayer must urge us on to find out what are its principal characteristics, so as to live it authentically and not fall short in this essential commitment in the life of everyone, and in particular in the life of every consecrated person.


Many characteristics are obvious, but the Word of God suggests the essentials without which prayer can hardly exist. St. Luke speaks about the disciples gathered in the Cenacle while awaiting the coming of the Spirit. He says that "together they devoted themselves to constant prayer. There were some women in their company and Mary, the Mother of Jesus" (Acts 1,14). They devoted themselves to constant prayer and they were together. These are two essential characteristics if our prayer is to be successful: "unanimity" and "perseverance."

UNANIMITY: Prayer is unanimous when all those praying are in agreement on asking essential things - in fact the same things. Can we in the Institute achieve that sort of unanimity?

I think so.

We must first of all pray for greater holiness - what good is our consecration if it does not lead in that direction?

Next we must pray for more vocations and for the energy to look for them. What good is our consecration if our numbers are going down? Our holiness in the Institute is a community holiness, a family holiness, not something individual only. It is also individual but increases when more people are brought in to make their contribution of prayer and sacrifice. Our prayer benefits them, their prayer benefits us.

Next we should pray for all Pauline Family members. For this purpose the monthly calendar with the names of our deceased is very useful. Useful also is information on what is happening in other parts of the Family and what are the directives of the Superior General - these have been published regularly for several years.

Next we have the common intentions, mostly for the sick, published each month. Sickness is a great unifier and we seem to have no shortage of it, so we pray for each other, those listed and those I either don't know about or who have asked not to be listed. In this same connection come prayers for your own family members.

The power of our prayer in this sense does not lie in our being physically together (rather rare in our case) but in being in agreement on the principal things to ask for. It does not lie so much in repeating the same formulae (these are important because they are compendium of spiritual experiences, but we have to make them ours) but in the fact of agreeing to make the same request.

"Again, I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatever, it shall be granted to you by my father in heaven. Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am in their midst"(Mt. 18: 19-20).

Unanimity is far deeper than uniformity. Uniformity means saying the same things together, giving the same responses, reciting the same prayers. On the other hand, unanimity requires that deep, heartfelt union, which causes the request made by one member of the Institute to become everybody's request. And what one member of the Institute suffers becomes the common suffering. The Institute thus becomes (or can become) "one heart and one soul" in prayer.

If the Institute practices only uniformity in prayer it: runs the risk of becoming fossilized as the members live largely by rote. In fact we cannot limit ourselves to reciting the basic prayers but should vary them by perhaps omitting some but pondering on what might be the deeper meaning of others. The prayers are the scaffolding setting us off from all other groups in the Church but we have to build our own personal "castle" within that scaffolding! This is an excellent and practical meditation and we should continue as long as the Master inspires us. Each of us has personal graces and we are entitled to his assistance when we ask how better could we understand the Institute and the Pauline Family and how better - perhaps - could we serve both.

PERSEVERANCE: Perhaps we can best understand the real meaning of the perseverance the Master invites us to have, if we say what perseverance is NOT. It is not a pagan perseverance, the multiplication of words for fear that God will not hear, that He is distracted or is ignoring us. Such a perseverance, ironically, is founded on lack of trust in God and so misses the essential condition for entering into God's plans: faith (cf Mt. 6,7).

It is not the perseverance of the priests of Baal who spent the morning leaping about the altar calling down fire from their God on the victim being offered (1 Kings, 18,25). They were calling on a non-existent God and this is a risk we, too, can run when we invoke a "vending-machine" God or a very distant one. The God of Jesus is completely different. He is a merciful Father, continually bent over human beings and over their sufferings and needs and continually ready to forgive.

It is not even the perseverance of the inhabitants of the city of Bethulia who, besieged by the Syrians, were starving to death. Their perseverance set certain limits on God and Judith rebuked them, saying: "It is not for you to make the Lord, our God, give surety for His plans ... we wait for the salvation that comes from Him"(Judith 8, 12-17).

In a word, perseverance is a trust-filled waiting on God’s intervention, on His freeing or consoling intervention, and so: * It resembles Elijah’s perseverance on Mt. Horeb. He does not whine to obtain rain (though there had been a three-year drought), but awaits with faith until the Lord manifests his will (1 Kings 18: 41-46).

* It is above all the sublime and inimitable perseverance of Jesus who, in the Garden of Gethsemane repeated "the selfsame words" (Mt.26,44), so that these words would effectively enter his life and make him capable not just of "doing" the will of God, but of "becoming" and "being" the will of God.

~Concord July 2015

Saturday, August 8, 2015

August 9, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and with Father Alberione

Sunday August 9
NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
1 Kgs 19: 4-8
Ps 34: 2-9
Eph 4: 30-5: 2
Jn 6: 41-51

A person who has faith sees in everything and in every event the Divine will concerning him or her (BM p. 180).

From Father Tom: Well, yes, but we have to take our own responsibility and not blame God (f)or our foolishness!

Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Sr. M. Tecla Bassi (1983)--Sr. M. Ester Meleri FSP (2001)--Sr. Leus Abuda FSP (2007)--Sr. Camilla de Simoni FSP (2007)--Sr Marta Gbrielli SGBP (2010)--Sr. Ilidia M. Dal Pozzo FSP (2014)--Giovanna CAmpanaro IMSA (2014)

Friday, August 7, 2015

August 8, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday August 8
ST DOMINIC, PRIEST
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Dt 6: 4-13
Ps 18: 2-4, 47-51
Mt 17: 14-20

Mary's closeness to Jesus procured for her a continuous increase of love, joy and virtue. The nights and days, the meals and work, prayer and silence and holy conversations were daily occasions for every greater light and improvement following the example of Jesus (BM 379-380)

From Father Tom: We still have the example of the guidance of Jesus and our Angel Guardian...so let's begin (or continue) to live as He did.

Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Francesca Useli Bacchitta IAM (1976)--Sr. M. Antonina Barone PD (1983)--Fr. Roberto Della Valle SSP (1992)--Fr. Roberto Caso IJP (1998)--Sr. M. Teredia Nakashima FSP (2000)--Bro Daniele Mantovani SSP (2001)--Adolfo GArcia HFI (2004)--Ileano Pianella HFI (2006)--Angela Moleri Lamera HFI (2010)--Sr. M. Saveria Sara Schena FSP (2012)--Josefina Hernandez Becerra ISF (2012)--Sr. Elena Porru FSP (2014)

Thursday, August 6, 2015

August 7, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday August 7
FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE SACRED HEART
ST. SIXTUS II, POPE, AND COMPANIONS, 
MARTYRS;
ST CAJETAN, PRIEST
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Dt 4: 32-40
Ps 77: 12-21
Mt 16: 24-28

Our calling does not mean a desire to live quietly and without effort. It is a desire to believe better, to hope strongly and to love ever more (Calendario Paoline, Aug 4, 1937)

From Father Tom: It is, however, very possible to live like that in modern religious life. And so I uphold family life well-lived as a more challenging vocation.

Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Sr. M. Silvana Zappellini FSP (1978)--illar Mancenido IAM (1990)--Fr. Stanislaus Crovella SSP (1999)-- Fr. Miguel Fernandez SSP (2001)--Sr. Bernardetta Olivieri SGBP (2002)--Sr. M. Attilia Messina FSP (2003)--Sr. Lorencina Smiderle FSP (2004)--Marta Matticchio HFI (2009)--Fr. Jose' Joao Crisostomo Pereira SSP (2011)--Antonino MIcco ISF (2011)--Sr. Franca Bartolini SJBP (2012)--Sr. M. Laura Ossoli FSP (2013)

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

August 6, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday August 6
FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE ANGEL GUARDIANS
THE TRANSIFIGURATION OF THE LORD
Dn 7: 9-14
Ps 97: 1-9
2 Pt 1: 16-19
Mk 9: 2-10

The more a soul is holy and close to God, the greater consolation and inner peace he/she enjoys (RSP 217).

From Father Tom: Undoubtedly. But we must be realistic and admit that we can be very agitated at the human level in some very difficult circumstances, while yet keeping close to God in the depths of our soul.

Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Sr. M. Domenica Noguchi FSP (1973)--Fr. Gerardo Franza SSP (1976)--Msgr. Antonio Tedde IJP (1982)--Lucia Guberti IAM (1984)--Bro Second Demarie SSP (1986)--Sr. M. Nunzia Gacetta PD (19932)--Sr. M. Magdalena Gonzalez FSP (1997)--Fr. Antonio Perazzo SSP (1999)--Giuseppe Berti HFI (2005)--Bro MIchele Colletti SSP (2007)--Fr. Hipolito Aberion SSP (2009)--Fr. J. Carl Vogel (2008)--Ray Murray (1980)

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

August 5, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday August 5
FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH--ST JOSEPH
THE DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF 
SAINT MARY MAJOR
Nm 13: 1-12, 25-14: 1, 26-35
Ps 106
Mt 15: 21-28

Pope Pius XII said that there is need, especially today, for a multitude of holy lay people who become aware of the attraction of a life hidden with Christ in God and yet dedicated to make Him known, loved and served (Meditazioni per consacratesecolari p. 186)

From Father Tom: "hidden with Christ in God"--a favorite phrase of the Pontiff. I often heard him repeating it at our annual Sunday trips to Castel Gandolfo during my Novitiate.


Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Sr. M. Angiolina Mercanti PD (1975)--Sr. M. Biagina Priolo PD (1980)--Sr. M. Pelagia Di Nuzzo PD (1998)--Fr. Francesco Curina IJP (2001)--Sr. M. Fernanda Rabottini PD (2003)--Sr. M. Meiamina Muzzi PD (2005)--Palma Fai (2009)

Monday, August 3, 2015

August 4, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday August 4
FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY
ST JOHN VIANNEY, PRIEST
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Nm 12: 1-13
Ps 51: 1-13
Mt 14: 22-36

In every place we can enlighten people with our words, edify them with good example, and obtain graces and blessings for them with our prayers (BM p 166)

From Father Tom: As long as they don't discover what we are doing!


Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Fr. Vittorio Bonelli SSP (1948)--Sr. M. Lucina Sarmiento FSP (1995)--Sr. M. Andreina Nota FSP (2001)--Beatrice Indorato IAM (2000)--Fr. Giacomo Gastone SSP (2003)--Sr. M. Gesualda Serra PD (2004)--Sr. M. Veritas Colletti FSP (2006)--Vittorina Dondi IAM (2011)--Marey T. Hickey (1991)--Fernanda Dallari IMSA (2013)--Sr. M. Juanita Quiroz PD (2014).

Sunday, August 2, 2015

August 3, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday August 3
FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH--
ST PAUL 
ORDINARY WEEKDAY
Nm 11: 4-15
Ps 81: 12-17
Mt 14: 13-21

Mary's work at Nazareth was not something to attract popular admiration, but the angels in heaven admired how assiduous it was, done with perfect love for God and with all the courtesy and diligence of one who knows how to serve God in everything (BM p. 379).

From Father Tom: An example we can all follow--if we want to. But there can also be the desire to not only to do things in a hidden way but discreetly to attract attention to our "hiddenness...Ah, poor human nature..!


Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Sr. M. Stella Zappaorto FSP (1944)--John Netto (1959)--Sr. M. Liliana Akaghi FSP (2013)--Sr. M. Timotea Bovetti PD (2013)--Sr. M. Grazia Gulino PD (2014)

Saturday, August 1, 2015

August 2, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday August 2
FIRST SUNDAY OF THEMONTH--
THE DIVINE MASTER, WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ex 16: 2-15
Ps 78: 3-25
Eph 4: 17-24
Jn 6: 24-35

The Council has specified, clarified and deepened the teaching of the Church and its pastoral activity in all its forms and environments, mobilizing all the forces she has at her disposal to save and sanctify people by bringing grace and action in the modern world (SP Dec 1965)

From Father Tom: That was  the intent and to some extent the hopes of the Council were realized, but the practices of nineteen hundred years could not be so quickly reversed and there will be confusion in the ranks for a long time to come.

Please Pray for Our Deceased:  Sr. Rosaria Toschi SGBP (1999)--Sr. M. Agnes Kurihara FSP (2008)--isabella Fais HFI (2008)--Sr. M. James Tharappei PD (2010)--Sr. M. Tersia Gastaldo PD (2010)--Mary Veig (1972)--Sr. Ubalda Gasari FSP (2012)