August 31, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, August 31
OF THE DAY
1 Cor 2: 10-16
Lk 4: 31-37

You have to go to the world as the heavenly Father sent his Son into the world and know how to deal with it and how to live in it without contracting its spirit (AAP 1960, 606).

The Founder is speaking to Sisters, Priests and Brothers, but the message is good for us too. Without recourse to the teaching of the Church we will gradually begin to think like everyone else.

August 30, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 30
OF THE DAY
1 Cor 2: 1-5
Lk 4: 16-30

To the degree that you are faithful to piety, you will be hardworking and effective in your apostolate (FSP, 443)

This perhaps strikes us as obvious--almost banal. But the temptation in the SSP today is to give first place to the activity and then--if there is time--pray about it. That is a fatal mistake which we in the Institute must not make.

Thought: In normal, day to day family life, it can be difficult to remember to pray. We get caught up in our duties, our activities, maybe home schooling and in our recreations...and even in our good works. We can forget the Lord in all the busy-ness of our day, but nothing will be successful without Him. Lord Jesus, please help us to stay in touch with you all the day long, through formal prayers, spontaneous prayer and ejaculations so that all we do will be oriented toward fulfilling Your will and be pleasing to You.

August 29, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

August 29
22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Sir 3: 17-29
Heb 12: 18-24
Lk 14: 1: 7-14

The Pauline Family has just one spirituality: to live the Gospel completely, to live in the Divine Master who i Way, Truth and Life, to live in him as his disciple, St. Paul, understood him (VMC 45).

Challenging program, but also the secret of our success. Concentrate on OUR prayer, OUR practices, OUR goals. The Church has many beautiful prayers and devotions. those are for other good people Ours are for us.

August 28, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, August 28
ST. AUGUSTINE, Bishop, Doctor
1 Cor 1: 26-31
Mt. 25: 14-30

In Paradise all of us together will form "the Pauline Family", which will never grow less because of death or other motive. And so let's try to live now as we live then: loving each other with the love of Christ.

Already we have a good percentage of Institute members in eternity, all of them more than prepared to be there. We should pray FOR them, but also TO them. Who better understands our problems?

Why God Matters

WHY GOD MATTERS

How many times have we heard someone say: “Why does God matter? He’s so distant, so unapproachable. How can I be sure He’s present in my daily life? After all, I can’t see Him. I can’t hear Him. I can’t touch Him. Why should I care about Someone I’m not sure cares about me?”

Why God Matters gives examples from the authors’ own lives and experiences of just how present God is—and of how much He matters to each and every one of us. Through the examples they share, they help us to recognize His presence in our own lives, if only we know what to look for—if we only have the eyes and the desire to see.

The book is broken into an introduction, fourteen short chapters and an epilogue. Deacon Steve and Karina divide the fourteen chapters evenly between them, although they co-write the introduction and epilogue. This format does not adversely affect the effectiveness of the book, but enhances it—allowing for both the male and female perspective. The style is enjoyable and easy to read and the content uplifting and thought-provoking. At the end of the book, the authors provide suggestions for future reading, including a few websites and some simple, but beautiful prayers.

Each chapter introduces a theme, such as the Reluctant Convert, covered in Chapter one by Deacon Steve, or Karina’s “Love in a Pot of Rice” covered in chapter two. The chapters themselves are divided into sections. First an appropriate example is given to illustrate the presence of God in the author’s life. This example is followed by a Life Lesson, which is a mini-meditation of sorts, an applicable Bible verse and paragraph from the Catholic catechism of the Catholic Church. All these tie in together beautifully to reinforce theme discussed and to foster further self-examination and thought.

I found Why God Matters to be an informative, enjoyable and helpful aid to my spiritual growth. Each chapter made me think; many made me smile, and when I finished reading I realized I’d received a valuable gift…the gift see God’s hand in everything I experience. I highly recommend Why God Matters. It is one of those books that you’ll find difficult to put down and is definitely worth reading more than once.

Excerpt from Chapter 2:
http://tribute-books.com/whygodmatters/share_your_story.html

Karina Fabian Blog:
http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/

Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Book Amazon buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982256531?ie=UTF8&tag=tributebooks-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0982256531

August 27, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, August 27
ST. MONICA
1 Cor. 1: 17-25
Mt. 25: 1-13

Our apostolate is to make Christians who will know, love and serve Jesus and be perfect Christians in their state in life. (VMC 1038)

Another 1960 statement of the Founder. And what is our apostolate? It is first of all to make ourselves Christians who now, love and serve Jesus. Not, therefore, people who have "vows". Vows, yes, but first of all the exam of conscience and the constant effort to improve. Doing this well we improve also those we contact.

August 26, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, August 26
OF THE DAY
1 Cor 1:1-9
Mt 24: 42-51

We shouldn't think that people don't appreciate spiritual publications. They do and they understand them better than we might think (VMC 1037).

That was 1960 when people still believed in God and in the Church and when society was very calm and unified. Today it is possible that people understand spiritual publications...But don't mention the Commandments!

August 25, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, August 25
OF THE DAY
St. Louis of France
Joseph Calasanz
2 Thess 3: 6-10, 16-18
Mt 23: 27-32

Many nations are poor because they do not know Jesus Christ and new generations are being born into this situation (VMC 1033)

Say this in public today and you invite ridicule or the accusation of ignoring the real problems of society. But these problems can be totally resolved only by applying the full teaching of Christ and basically his final message: "Love one another."

August 24, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, August 24
ST BARTHOLOMEW, Apostle
Rev 21: 9-14
John 1: 45-51

Bring the spirit of Jesus, Way, Truth and Life to your surroundings. Don't be contaminated by a worldly spirit but have and give the spirit of Jesus Christ (VMC 1030).

That seems to say it all. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the paganism all around us--even among our Catholic friends. The Apostles had the same problem, except they had to die for their faith. Let us at least live for it!

August 23, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 23
OF THE DAY
St. Rose of Lima
2 Thess 1: 1-5, 11-12
Mt 23: 13-22

You are salt, you are light, you are the city on the mountain...This is the thought of our Divine Master (VMC 1028).

Perhaps you sometimes feel that you are very far from this standard. But...just look around: your friends' kid in jail or dead from a traffic-accident; marriages breaking up before your eyes; neighbors who don't go to Church anymore...surely you are MUCH better than that?

Reflection: There is always someone better, and perhaps someone worse that we ourselves. We can never know for sure. Only God knows the whys and the wherefores. What we do know is that we are meant to be a light unto others; that we may indeed be the "only Gospel" some will ever read. It is a great responsibility and one that can only be carried out with the help of the Divine Master. Jesus, Master, Way, Truth and Life, have mercy on us. Be our strength, our shield and our salvation. Never let us lead anyone away from you.

August 22, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, August 22
21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Is 66: 18-21
Heb 12: 5-13
Lk 13: 22-30

"Why were we created? It is a basic Catechism question almost never asked and so people lose sight of reality (VM 1025).

And so any form of CCD is worthwhile, but unfortunately it has to assume the very basics which are often not known. God bless the members doing their best in the CCD classes.

Prayer: May God bless all those who teach CCD, RCIA, and otherwise strive to bring others to know, love and serve God.

August 22, 2010 With George D. Powers

Knowledge, ability and experience are of little avail in reaching high success if courtesy is lacking. Courtesy is the one passport that will be accepted without question in every land, in every office, in every home, in every heart in the world. For nothing commends itself so well as kindness; and courtesy is kindness."

~ George D. Powers

August 21, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, August 21
ST. PIUS X, Pope
Ez 43: 1-7
Mt 23: 1-12

What we have to give is not only well-produced articles but above all such articles accompanied by the wisdom and the grace of God (VMC 1020).

And this is precisely what we Priests, Brothers and Sisters may forget. The number of people REACHED is no guide to the number of people INFLUENCED FOR GOOD. No prayer, no progress.

August 20, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, August 20
ST. BERNARD, Abbot, Doctor of the Church
* FOUNDATION DAY OF THE PAULINE FAMILY
Ez 37: 1-14
Mt 22: 34-40

The bread of the soul is the Word of God. "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (VMC 1017)

It would take a brave spirit to say this out loud today and yet the real "starving millions" are those (including Catholics) who have stopped going to church or have left it altogether.

August 12, 2010 With St. Jane Frances de Chantal

Photo by Harry Buschman

Meditation of the Day from the Magnificat:

" It consoles me to hear that contradictions do not upset you, knowing that they must come in this life....It is full of them and to encounter them is good fortune for us, provided we improve the occasion as God means us to do. Be very generous and keep your mind above all that is not God and very humble and submissive to His divine guidance. Take no heed of anything but Him and commit yourself unceasingly into the hands of His loving-kindness and His divine good pleasure.

God's way usually is to make things from which he wishes to draw His glory succeed amidst the most painful difficulties. You should look upon contradictions in the step you are undertaking as a certain proof that His divine Majesty wills you to be His true and perfect servant. But for this, great must be your determination, that the spirit of humility, sweetness, making you supremely grateful to God for the favor He has done you. Then will you taste the sweetness of teh good you possess and become a true daughter of our Blessed Father." St. Jane Frances de Chantal

August 19, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, August 19
OF THE DAY
St. John Eudes, priest
Ez 36: 23-28
Mt 22: 1-14

Let's resolve to lose no occasion to offer the charity of a good word, our work in the Pauline Family, good example, prayer, etc (VMC 1009).

Let US do the same: WHERE we are in the Pauline Family is not important. HOW we are is.

August 18, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, August 18
OF THE DAY
Ez 34: 1-11
Mt 20: 1-16

Sometimes we are tempted to do better...but in "doing better" we lose the essential (VMV 108).

Interesting! This is the Founder writing in 1960--still very relevant, isn't he? You CAN'T do better than be faithful to the prayers and spirit of the Institute!

August 17, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, August 17
OF THE DAY
Ez 28: 1-10
Mt 19: 23-30

How much effort still remains to be made for our mission, for our vocation, for the will of God for us! (VMC 1007)

Whatever the Founder was talking about in 1954 when he said this, the point is well taken also today. It is not that we make no effort for the Lord, but rather that it is not concentrated on the Institute: its prayers, its rules, its goals. "I offer myself to this Institute with all my heart." ("to THIS Institute", not to the popular devotions, the latest revelation, the latest Movement; to THIS man or woman in marriage, not the one we just met).

August 16, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 16
OF THE DAY
St. Stephen of Hungary
Ez 24: 15-23
Mt 19: 16-22

The apostolate has to produce the maximum for the glory of God and for the salvation of souls (VMC)

By "apostolate" we mean our daily activity plus prayer. To produce the maxim we begin with morning prayer (better just one or 2 than rattling them off like a machine), we pray at odd moments during the day, we do our BRIEF exam on ONE fault, we work hard.

August 15, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, August 15
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Rev 11: 19, 12: 1-10
1 Cor 15: 20-27
Lk 1: 39-56

Blessed is the entrance of Mary into heaven. The Most Holy Trinity moves to meet her: daughter of the Father, mother of the Son, spouse of the Holy Spirit (FSP 43).

What about your entrance--and mine? it will be less glorious, but we will be perfectly happy which is all we want. The issue therefore, is, how long will our entrance be delayed... because we have not taken seriously the words of Profession: "I offer myself to this Institute with all my heart."

August 14, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, August 14
MAXIMILIAN MARY KOLBE, Priest, Martyr
Ez 18: 1-10; 13: 30-32
Mt 19: 13-15

Apostolate must follow a certain order:
* the apostolate of prayer
* the apostolate of example
* the apostolate of action

Interesting, that second line. Sometimes we feel we can say or do anything as long as nobody knows about it. Bad mistake! What we say and do in private eventually we will say and do in public.

August 13, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

I'm sorry I am a little late with this thought. Time got away from me yesterday.


Friday, August 13
OF THE DAY
St. Pontian, Pope, Martyr
St. Hippolytus, priest, martyr
Ez 16: 1-15, 60-63
Mt 19: 3-12

What does "apostolate" mean? It means our action aimed at giving God glory and people on earth peace. (VMC 1002).


This is pretty much the motto of our Pauline prayer and activity. It sounds great but how difficult in practice: prayer, yes, but not enough action'; action, yes, but not well oriented and not founded on prayer. But let's do SOMETHING...and leave the rest to God!

August 12, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, August 12
OF THE DAY
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious
Ez 12: 1-12
Mt 18: 21-19: 1

Jesus was a carpenter but much before that He was the Redeemer and the more He worked, the more He redeemed. Work is apostolic and redemptive because He has touched it with the touch of God and made it an apostolic instrument (VMC 1008).

A very important thought for all of us. Leaving work to pray may be a good idea, but sometimes not so good. Work IS prayer and redemptive if we leave prayer for it.

August 11, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, August 11
ST. CLARE, Virgin
Ez 9: 1-7; 10; 18-22
Mt 18: 15-20

The priest teaches, communicates, sanctifies, but woman prolongs this divine influence within the domestic walls (DA 66).

This is the Founder writing long before he began the feminine branches of the Pauline Family and especially when he founded the Daughters of St. Paul, very externally active Sisters--even more than their married cousins who lived mostly in the home.

August 10, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, August 10
ST. LAWRENCE, Deacon and Martyr
2 Cor 9: 6-10
Jn 12: 24-26

Grace is spiritual energy which we obtain through prayer and the Sacraments. If we did not have these means we would know about religion, but would have no desire to practice it (VMC 125)

Interesting thought. We take our prayer and interest in spirituality for granted but always "without Me you can do nothing" applies.

August 9, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 9
ST. TERESA BENEDICT OF THE CROSS
--Edith Stein, virgin, martyr
Hos 2: 16:17, 21-22
Mt 25: 1-13

The Bible tells us no less than 400 times to pray (VMC).

Indeed. But...we mustn't forget to act. To quote the Founder again: "The person who acts makes mistakes; the one who doesn't act has a whole lifetime of mistakes."

August 8, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, August 8
19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Wis 18: 6-9
Heb 11: 1-19
Lk 12: 32-48

We must appreciate women in their spiritual strength: vivid faith, firm hope, divine charity, service of God whatever the cost. Such a woman is priceless.

Very true and I hope I have always lived up to this standard. Yet in this time and place the Institute needs more MEN, no matter how defective.

Prayer: Please, Jesus, Divine Master, send not only more people to Your Holy Family Institute, but especially more couples and men so that we may accomplish the work you desire us to do. Amen.

August 7, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, August 7
OF THE DAY
SS Sixtus II, Pope and Comps., Martyrs
St. Cajetan, priest
First Saturday of the month--Mary, Queen of Apostles
Hab 1: 12-24
Mt 17: 14-20

If we want to do good, we should approach the evil people! They need us, the good don't. The doctor who wants to treat only the healthy...what sort of doctor is he? (VMC 1325)

The source for this interesting remark is a Retreat given to the FSP in the States! And they did! How does the Founder's remark affect us?

August 6, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, August 6
TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
First Friday of the month--the Sacred Heart
Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14
Lk 9: 28-36

Woman does not reason about her ideal but has an intuition of it and loves it with all her being, tending to it with all her strength (DA 55)

Yes, as long as she has the RIGHT ideal. What are YOUR ideals?

August 5, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, August 5
DEDICATION OF ST. MARY MAJOR BASILICA, Rome
First Thursday of the month--the Guardian Angel
Jer 3: 31-34
Mt 16: 13-23

Do we understand the Pauline mission? It must reach out to everyone. It is the mission of Jesus Christ: "Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15)

Yes, this is the mission, but with the usual reservations: a)PRAY about what you preach and b) PRACTICE what you preach. How are we doing on these two points?

August 4, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, August 4
ST. JOHN MARY VIANNEY, Priest
First Wednesday of the month--St. Joseph
Jer 31: 1-7
Mt. 15: 21-28

The woman of today must form the men of today and help him in his needs making use of today's methods (DA 38).

This seems to be addressed to the FSP--how would members of the Institute help people "making use of today's methods?" In a general sense, of course, as we have explained: viz. as members whose power depends on their union with God.

August 3, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, August 3
OF THE DAY
First Tuesday of the Month--the Souls in Purgatory
Jer 1-22
Mt 14, 22-36

Women have a mission to accomplish, a family to guide, a society to build up, the Church to serve and console. You must be apostles. (DA 9)

Yes, and even more than men because women are still the major influence on the early years of all of us. The problem today is the breakup of the family and the lessening of this essential influence.

August 2, 2010 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, August 2
OF THE DAY
SS Eusebius of Vercelli (Bishop), St. Peter Julia Eymard, priest
First Monday of the month--St. Paul
Jer. 28, 1-17
Mt. 14: 22-36

Woman possesses a wealth of valuable energies which, if well guided, they can work wonders which a man would be incapable of accomplishing. (DA 53)

Our Institute began with women and is continuing with them--God bless them! Yet we need men also--couples--to give the correct Institute identity.