October 31, 2010 With Nathan C. Schaeffer

"At the close of life, the question will not be how much have you got, but how much have you given. Not how much have you won, but how much have you done. Not how much have you saved, but how much have you sacrificed. Not how much were you honored, but how much have you served."

~Nathan C Schaeffer

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

Sunday, October 31
SOLEMNITY OF JESUS CHRIST DIVINE MASTER
Mass and Office in Ceremonies of the HFI

OR
Wis 11: 22-12:2
2 Thes 1: 11-2:2
Lk 19: 1-10



The simple and direct soul has just one thought: will what I am thinking/saying/doing please God or not. (VMC 804)


No comment. Just an exam to see how simply and direct we are.

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

Saturday, October 30
OF THE DAY
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY on Saturday
Phil 1: 18-26
Lk 14: 1, 7-11

The Eucharistic apostolate is necessary for all the Disciples of the Divine Master. It is the fountain and root of all their activities (APD 1957, 330).

The Eucharist is necessary for ALL Paulines and in fact for ALL Catholics. The lack of respect for the Eucharist is typical of our times and a host of problems flow from it. Let's try to console the Master waiting in the Tabernacle for us day and night.

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

Friday, October 29
OF THE DAY
Phil 1: 1-11
Lk 14: 1-6

Christ lives in me. The soul is transformed into Christ and Christ lives in the soul. This is not something exceptional. It is the commitment of a consecrated person assuring immediate entrance into heaven after death (AAP 1960, 722)

In our case, however, we need a PAULINE "color" to our transformation and this may be the difficult part.

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

Thursday, October 28
SIMON and JUDE, Apostles
Eph 2 19-22
Lk 6: 12-16

By conforming your piety to the devotion to Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life you obtain an increase of grace and make progress in the spiritual life (AAP 1960).

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Live the Way You Pray

LIVE THE WAY YOU PRAY

From: CONCORD (November, 2010) Published by the HOLY FAMILY INSTITUE

9531 Akron Canfield Rd. Canfield OH 44406

http://www.vocations-holyfamily.com/

http://www.holyfamily/ Institute.net

http://www.hficoncord.com/

www.live365com/stations/305819 (radio)

I knelt to pray when day was done,

And prayed: "Oh, Lord, bless everyone;

Lift from each saddened heart the pain

And let the sick be well again."

And then I awoke another day

And carelessly went on my way.

The whole day long I did not try

To wipe a tear from any eye:

I did not try to share the load

Of any brother on the road:

I did not even go to see

The sick man just next door to me.

Yet once again when day was done,

I prayed: "Oh, Lord, bless everyone."

But as I prayed, into my ear

There came a voice that whispered clear,

"Pause, hypocrite, before you pray;

Whom have you tried to bless today?

"God's sweetest blessings always go

By hands that serve him here below."

And then I hid my face and cried,

"Forgive me, God, for I have lied;

Let me but live another day,

And I will live the way I pray."

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

Wednesday, October 27
OF THE DAY
Eph 6: 1-9
Lk 13: 22-30

We are still too much attached to ourselves and our personal interests. Our work is to know God, love God and serve God. When we do this we have light, strength and virtue (VMC 748).

And HOW do we do this? By controlling our minds, being faithful to our daily duties and being faithful to our Institute commitments. Simple? Not really. it's the work of a lifetime--so let's get started!

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

Tuesday, October 26
OF THE DAY
Eph 5: 21-33
Lk 13: 18-21

Think of grafting yourself to Christ the Master. Graft to Christ your head, your heart, your mind, your activities, all your day (FSP 262).

First begin to address Christ as "Jesus Master", then check your THOUGHTS--could he He identify with them? Check your WORDS and ACTIONS--did He join in them (he lives in you but identifies only with the good parts of your life)? You can "graft" yourself to Him more than you think!

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

Monday, October 25
OF THE DAY
Eph 4: 32-5: 8
Lk 13: 10-17

We have the grace of possessing the devotion to Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life and to this devotion we conform all our activity, our spiritual work, our study and our apostolate (FSP 91).

How to do this? A) Address the Lord as "Jesus MASTER" (You easily get used to this addition.). B) Stop when you can to say: "Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life, have mercy on me/us/them etc. C) Pray the Chaplet as often as possible. These 3 practices will give another "tone" to your day.

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

Sunday, October 24
30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Sir 35: 15-17, 20-22
2 Tm 4: 6-8, 16-18
Lk 18: 19: 9-14
* WORLD YOUTH DAY
* WORLD MISSION SUNDAY

Be concerned about the billions who live without the light of the Gospel and pray that it may reach them through the work of the missions (AA65).

True. But in our day the people living "without the light of the Gospel" are likely to be next door and feeling fine without it! These are far worse cases than the traditional "pagans" and are much more difficult to convert.

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

Saturday, October 23
OF THE DAY
St. John of Capistrano, priest
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
Eph 4: 7-16
Lk 13: 1-9

Live at a supernatural level.

We have to keep in mind that we are working for souls, for God, for Paradise. If we forget this, then there is no reason for the consecrated life or for a Church Institution. (FSP 94).

Or we can make the mistake of thinking only of the consecrated life itself and its advantages for us without worrying about souls--or maybe even about God! Sounds impossible but...just check your motivation!

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

Friday, October 22
BLESSED TIMOTHY GIACCARDO (1948)
* First Pauline priest
* Mass and Office in "Ceremonies of the Holy Family Institute".

In 1910 we made consecration to Mary in the seminary. Timothy Giaccardo had special graces on that occasion and an all-embracing fervor which went with him all his life and which in part communicated to the Sister Disciples (APD 1959)

We will never have Jesus fully in our life if we have not his Mother first of all. "Per Maria ad Jesum"--to Jesus through Mary.

NOTE: The readings "OF THE DAY" are:
Eph 4: 1-6
Lk 12: 54-59

October 21, 2010 With Blessed James Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, October 21,
OF THE DAY
Eph 3: 14-21
Lk 12: 49-53

As from the Lord a heart that seeks vocations, a missionary heart, a heart conformed to the heart of the Divine Master, Jesus (AA 65).

Vocations? Note that the Founder is mentioning the subject. I am not. I made a promise and I intend to keep it! See?

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

Wednesday, October 20
OF THE DAY
Eph 3: 2-12
Lk 12: 39-48

How many times do you think of humanity walking on the face of the earth but...to where? Like a great river humanity streams over the waterfall into eternity. And then?

Our SAVE THE DYING ASSOCIATION is our answer to this question. How many members have you signed on?

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

Tuesday, October 19
OF THE DAY
SS John de Brebeuf and Issac Jogues, priests, Martyrs
St. Paul of the Cross, priest
Eph 2: 12-22
Lk 12: 35-38

Recruit vocations with wisdom. A Religious that is capable, faithful, pious, educated is worth three of others. And those who lack the spirit obstruct the work (APD 1957, 196).

True then, true, now, if we substitute "HFI member" for Religious. And that's all I can allow myself to say in keeping with my promise not to "push" for more vocations!

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

Monday, October 18
ST. LUKE, EVANGELIST
2 Tm 4: 10-17
Lk 10: 1-9

What a mistake it is to abandon the reading of the Bible, especially the Gospel, giving preference to other books! What an impression it makes to go into a convent, ask for a copy of the Gospel and be told there isn't one! And yet there is no shortage of spiritual reading...(VMC 720).

Talking of spiritual books, the Founder said that he had seem some which it would be an act of charity to burn! I hope he likes what we read and especially we should read over the Statute at the Monthly Recollection.

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

Sunday, October 17, 2010
29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ex 17: 8-13
2 Tm 3: 14-22
Lk 18: 1-8

If you read the things that God caused to write, you will think like God. If you read all the latest news you will begin to think like people who know only the latest news. To which group do you belong? (VMC 726).

Perhaps the answer is: "We belong to the group of people who think like God, but also view the latest news in His terms. We are not Carthusians--we are Paulines."

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

Saturday, October 16
OF THE DAY
St. Hedwig, Virgin
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
Eph 1: 15-23
Lk 12: 8-12

The heart is a precious thing: don't put it in jeopardy, don't allow it to be at the mercy of every heart beat, every event (FSP, 425).

Most of us have probably gone beyond the stage of rapid heart beats in the romantic sense, but that leaves hardened hearts which can develop quite stealthily and do immense damage while we are correcting other less serious defects.

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

Friday, October 15
ST. TERESA OF JESUS, Virgin , Doctor
Eph 1: 11-14
Lk 12: 1-7

Accustom the aspirants to deny themselves. The religious life is renouncement and also is patience and love for Jesus (APD 1957).

Seems to have been said to the Sister Disciples many years ago. Still very relevant: first denial and control of our minds, then of speech and action. The Founder certainly led the way on all these points--I had a ring-side seat to observe them!

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

Thursday, October 14, 2010
OF THE DAY
Eph 1: 1-10
Lk 11: 47-54

And if we don't read the whole Bible we will deserve a rebuke when we appear before God (VMC 721).

Hmmm...Let's get started!

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

Wednesday, October 13
OF THE DAY
Gal 5: 18-25
Lk 11: 42-46

Let the vocations be formed well: united, devoted to the Institute as to their family and taking an interest in the works of the Congregation (APD, 197).

These words were spoke to Sister Disciples. How do they apply to us (I've condensed quite a bit)? The size of our Institute allows us to know almost everyone--our "family, and --come to think of it--there are also "works" among ourselves: Displays, Retreats, etc. Very Good!

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

Tuesday, October 12
OF THE DAY
Gal 5: 1-6
Lk 11: 37-41

The Holy Spirit has poured Himself into Sacred Scripture and into the writings of the Saints. Let us go to this source of clear spiritual guidance, the source of all good (VMC 714).

No comment--just practice!

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

Monday, October 11
OF THE DAY
Gal 4: 22-31, 5: 1
Lk 11: 29-32

One who has accustomed himself to reflect, becomes master of his words and actions and so avoids anything that does not give glory to God (FSP 41, 273).

We have touched on this point many times. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to correct our defects if we do not first correct our thinking. So our exam will always ask whether we have controlled our thoughts, especially when they were negative.

October 10, 2010 With Anonymous

This image is not mine. I found it on the Real Writer's Site on Multiply. (7-13-10). It can be found here: http://realwriters.multiply.com/photos/album/33/Real_Writers_Challenge_32

Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem o nit, and make it worth six thousand dollars. That's genius.

Rockefeller could sigh his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions. That's capital.

Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it, and make it worth dollars. That's money.

A craftsman can take material that's worth only five dollars and make an article worth fifty dollars. That's skill.

An artist can take a fifty cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth a thousand dollars. That's art.

But God--and only God--can take a life, sinful and without joy, wash it in the Blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to humanity. That's salvation!

~Anonymous

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

Sunday, October 10
28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
2 Kgs 5: 14-17
2 Tm 2: 8-13
Lk 17: 11-19

Adorn your soul with religious virtues, starting fro Postulancy and Novitiate. Practicing the virtues prepares you for Profession (pp lll, p110).

Very sound advice which I hope all of us have long since put into practice. the foundation of spirituality is the virtue or good habit of the soul. We confirm and increase the value of the virtue by a vow or special promise to do what we should do anyway. You might compare it to being in good health normally, but not in splendid health with exercise.

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

Saturday, October 9
OF THE DAY
St. Denis, Bishop, martyr & companions
St. John Leonardi, priest
B.V.M. on Saturday
Gal 3: 22-29
Lk 11: 27-28

Sometimes in life everything appears like a dark night. Take the rosary and recite it well. Before you finish you will feel more enlightened, consoled and encouraged (MCS 316).

The Founder was devoted tot he Rosary and said he felt incapable of giving even a short talk without having said at lease some decades. Let us say several decades today--even if we have no talk to give!

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

Friday, October 8
OF THE DAY
Gal 3: 7-14
Lk 11: 15-26

Let's not limit ourselves just to devotion to the Master, but through him, attain to glorifying, thanking and supplicating the most Holy Trinity (VMC 704).

The Holy Trinity is closer to us than we might think. "In the name of the Father..." begins most of our prayers. "Glory be to the Father..." occurs so often we hardly notice it. And as we reflected some months ago, the Trinity is very much part of the whole of Creation.

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

Thursday, October 7
OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
First Thursday of the Month--the Guardian Angels
Acts 1: 12-14 or Gal 3: 1-5
Lk 26-38 or Lk 11: 5-13

Jesus wants to have holiness in your individual life, generosity and competence in your apostolate (PPIII, p. 111).

The two conditions go together, but first we must possess the Lord. Then and only then can we feel that our activity--hopefully generous and competent--will really bring His influence into the lives of others.

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

Wednesday, October 6
OF THE DAY
St. Bruno, Priest
Bl. Marie Rose Durocher, virgin
First Wednesday of the Month--St. Joseph
Gal 2: 1-2, 7-14
Lk 11: 1-4

Apostolate is the flower of true charity toward, God and toward souls. It is the fruit of an intense interior life. (VMC 10)

PERSONAL PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Divine Master You taught us to pray. Help us to pray properly that we may deepen our spiritual life with You and be open to Your will in our lives and act upon it.

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

Tuesday, October 5
OF THE DAY
First Tuesday of the Month--the Souls in Purgatory
Gal 1: 1-13-24
Lk 10: 38-42

Women need to develop not sentiment, but strength. Not poetic ecstasies, vague dream, generous desires not linked to the reality of life (DA 2420).

I am not sure who the founder had in mind when he said this. Whatever about his time, today's women are very practical and we have a good number of them in the HFI. Now, if we could get their husbands...

October 4, 2010 With St. Francis of Assisi

Pertinent information regarding this image: Author : CARLO CRIVELLI
Date :1471-72
Technique :Wood, 183 x 59,5 cm (each)
Type :religious
Form :painting
Location :Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels

I got the image here. http://www.lib-art.com/artgallery/14562-italian-antiphonary-italian-miniaturist.html

"When we speak the Name of Mary, heaven becomes more beautiful and earth rejoices.

The demons are terrified and vanish like dust in the wind. ~St. Francis of Assisi

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

Monday, October 4
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, Religious
First Monday of the Month--St. Paul
Gal 6: 14-18
Mt 11: 25-30

Those in formation must be guided to the spirit of their vocation, not only in the consecrated life, but a specific form of consecrated life. (FSP 264)

In the religious life that is relatively easy--each Congregation has a specific charism. So have we but we look (and possibly) feel, quite unchanged and it takes a constant effort to remain truly "Pauline".

October 3, 2010 With Blessed Father Albrione and With Father Tom

Sunday, October 3
17th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Sunday of the Month--the Divine Master, Way, Truth and Life
Heb 1: 2-3, 2:2-4
2 Tm 1: 6-8, 13-14
Lk 17: 5-10

What is formation? It is the fusing of souls together to produce uniform thoughts and sentiments, making them conform to the life of the Pauline Family (AAP 482).

Interesting definition. I understand it to mean that we retain or different lives and lifestyles but are united in common goals and common ways to reach them. How am I doing in that context? How are you doing?

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

Saturday, October 2
THE GUARDIAN ANGELS
First Saturday of the month--Mary, Queen of Apostles
Ex 23: 20-23
Mt 18: 1-5, 10

Every person who comes to the consecrated life must aim at sanctification. If he does not come for this, he is not called (AAP 1957).

True. I remember an incident from my own life. The Pauline Father who contacted me about joining the SSP remarked: "You're a bit old..I am not sure they will accept you as a priest-candidate." And I replied: "Father, it doesn't matter. Whatever they say." And I meant it. My goal was commitment. It still is.

October 1, 2010 With St. Therese of Lisieux

We must not be discouraged by our faults, for children fall frequently. (C 28)

~Sermon in a Sentence (Selected and Arranged by John P. McClernon)