December 31, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, December 31
7TH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
St. Sylvester 1, Pope
1 Jn 2: 3-11
Lk 2: 22-35

Father Tom: And so we have made it through another year! (At least you did: I am not sure where I’ll be when December comes around!) Many good things happened in 2011 and for this I thank you. And if I have done anything wrong or offended anyone, I ask pardon. May 2012 bring all of you many blessings.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Agostina Messa PD (1972)—Sr. M. Ignazia Biello PD (1988)—Fr. Giacomo Perrino IJP (1990)—Fr. Giuseppe Di Matteo IJP (1995)-- Fr. Giuseppe Quarta IJP (1997)—Sr. Giovanna Coccato SGBP (2006)—Sr. M. Domenica San Martino FSP (2007)—SR. Alfonsa Ritta FSP (2007)—Sr. M. Giuseppina Pratillo PD (2007)—Elsie Bujol Ducote (1996)

December 30, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

HAPPY FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY!


Friday, December 30
THE HOLY FAMILY
Special Feast of the Holy Family Institute
Gen 15: 1-6, 21:-3
Heb 11: 8, 1-12, 17-19
Lk 2: 22-40

At the North Pole people complain of the cold (or would if there were many there!) At the Equator, people complain of the heat. Let’s be of patient disposition wherever we are and especially in the family. Things are always secondary. The spirit of sacrifice and charity are what count.

Father Tom: Well, nobody could dispute this statement but…how well did I live it all through 2011?

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Gustavo Montanari IJP (1987)—Sr. M. Caritas Escareno FSP (1991)—Fr. Antonio Vertuccio IJP (1994)—Fr. Stanislao Cendron SSP (2002)—Fr. Ermenegildo Dalla Cort SSP (2005)—Fr. Primo Guatta IJP (2005)—Sr. Mary Paul Ladesma PD (2006)—Rosaria Lo Polito IAM (2008)

December 29, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, December 29
5th DAY IN THE CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
St. Thomas Beckett, Bishop, Martyr
1 Jn 2: 3-11
Lk 2: 22-35

Fidelity to one’s family duties is how we judge someone’s goodness (BM p. 160).

Father Tom: Well, yes, but…also no. We have all met the good people who are indeed “faithful to family duties” but are anything but sweet to deal with otherwise. Some households are well-organized, spick and span…but dare anyone disturb the order! Virtue is really DIFFICULT, isn’t it?

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Maurilia Colangelo FSP (1946)—Fr. Pietro Delcampo SSP (1989)—Sr. Anselmina Cerri FSP (1994)—Sr. Panacea Mocci FSP (1998)

December 28, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, December 28
THE HOLY INNOCENTS, Martyrs
1 Jn 1: 1-4
Jn 20: 2-8

Faith in God—even to the point of making a “pact” with Him in the presence of Mary and St. Paul (VMC 788).

Father Tom: That is what our faith-filled Founder did and he left us the formula in the “Secret of Success”. I don’t know whether we, poor banished children of Eve, feel holy enough to do the same, but perhaps, I am speaking for myself and YOU might be the new “Alberione”! Good for you—and may there be many more like you!

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Bro. Giuseppe Caravina SSP (1970)—Maria Balint HFI (1986)—Sr. Cherubina Cordero FSP (1991)—Fr. Luigi Zanoni SSP (1995)—Fr. Remo Santi SSP (1996)—Sr. Luigina Borrano FSP (2002)—Fr. Giuseppe Amato IJP (2004)—Ramona Allen HFI (2008)

December 27, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, December 27
ST JOHN , APOSTLE, Evangelist
1 Jn 1: 1-4

Jn 20: 2-8

Be happy in your apostolate (for us that means all day long!). Peopl must be convinced that we are people with a new outlook on life which gives us a continual support in spite of every trial (VMC 786)

Father Tom: And, above all, we must not get disheartened when in fact we fall off from this high standard. Falling is not the important thing; rising is.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Rosa Lubino FSP (1945)—Fr. Giovanni Castoldi SSP (1961)—Sr. Tecla Tocchetto FSP (1965)—Sr. Secondina Pellerino FSP (1984)—Adelia Tommasini HFI (1992)—Antonio Melotto HFI (1993)—Fr. Alessandro Audino IJP (1995)—Fr. Giuseppe Volpini IJP (1999)—Mercedes Miguel Pereyra HFI (2006)

December 26, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, December 26
STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR
Acts 6: 8-10, 12 – 7: 54-60

Mt 10: 17-60

An upright life, sincerely good, inspired by deep faith and love, is a continuous light fro the whole environment where we live (BM p 166)

Father Tom: Well, yes…but with some reservations. Such a life requires good faith in those with whom the upright person lives and that cannot be taken for granted…indeed, he or she can just as easily be a continuous irritation to others! What a world!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Agnese Manera FSP (1982)—Bro Giovanni Manfredi SSP (1987)—Fr. Pietro Occelli SSP (1994)—sr. M. Cesira Ferero PD (1996)—Fr. Paolo Ruggeri SSP (2003)—Mario Vattovani HFI (2003)—Sr. M. Goretti Marianna PD (2004)—Sr. Lornzina Pangrazi SGBP (2005)—Lena Piampiano (1991)

Advent Has Passed!

I got this image from the internet, but will gladly give credit.

December 25 - The Nativity of Our Lord



The Advent has passed. The EVENT has arrived. And we gather again to honor a young couple in a faraway town called "Bethlehem" and to congratulate them on their beautiful Infant.


That Infant has stolen our hearts and the hearts of millions for 16 centuries. And what a steal it has been! Ask the man in the street to name the greatest Christian Feast and in nine cases out often he will reply: "Oh, that's easy: Christmas."


No it isn't! It's EASTER! But that's the amazing power of the infant.


The early Christians knew all about the birth of Jesus and the shepherds and the angels ... BUT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT DECEMBER 25! They were concentrated on the Man who died on a cross but ROSE AGAIN and was seen by hundreds. And the apostles went out to preach this magnificent story ... and died to witness their faith ... and the Good News spread from land to land...


... until the year 354. In that year the Church, responding to a special Roman feast - the feast of the Rising Sun on December 21 - instituted the Feast of the Rising Son on December 25 - nine months after the Annunciation on March 25.


It didn 't appear that this new Feast would change much ... But look what happened! May 2012 give us the gift of living like the Risen Lord and loving like the Infant.


~ December 2011 Concord

December 25, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, December 25
THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
***Vigil, Midnight and Dawn Masses***
Glory to God…and the peace of God’s love to people on earth.” The message of the angels is for us a program of life and apostolate (SP Jan. 1949).

Father Tom: It is also a very difficult and exacting program. How difficult it is to work for the glory of God and not for our own glory! How difficult it is to preserve peace among those people we know, in the family and in our workplace! Dear Infant, give us some of your love and tranquility!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Carla M. Vobio FSP (1970)—Bro Elia Orsini SSP (1981)—SR. Angela De Rubertis FSP (1989)—Mario Zanini Gabrielite (1990)—Fr. Vito Raimondo IJP (1999)—Fr. Augustine Ampattukuzhy SSP (2005)


May each and every person have a happy and Holy Christmas and may the Christ Child bring you peace and joy today and always.

December 24, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, December 24
ADVENT WEEKDAY
2 Sam 7: 1-5, 8-12- 14, 16

Lk 1: 67-79

Mary is the Queen of Apostles because her apostolate is the greatest and most complete: to give Jesus to the world (BM 370).

Father Tom: Exactly, and so our apostolate is also more complete the more we involve Mary in everything we do during the day: frequent invocations, the Rosary when and if possible, even singing Marian hymns (here I go again!).


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Martina Albano PD (1986)—Sr. Assunta Rommeo SGBP (2001)—Fr. Rocco Fortunato IJP (2001)—Pietro Celli HFI (2007)—Francis C. Bombardier (1985)—William Knefler (1982)

December 23, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, December 23
ADVENT WEEKDAY
St. John of Kanty, priest
Mal 3: 1-4, 23-24

Lk 1: 57-66

God is with us to show us His ways, to communicate to us His grace, to assure us of the Divine reward (SP, April ’49).

Father Tom: The word “grace” is a little abstract and I prefer “gracious presence”. The Lord Himself lives in our life and we “grow in grace” when we leave aside our interests and substitute His. This is usually a sacrifice but…how worthwhile!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Rosa Gerlotto FSP (1936)—Sr. M. Alicia Hierro Ruiz FSP (1970)—Sr. Lucidia Cardona FSP (1991)—Sr. M Lucinia Stella PD (2003)—Sr. M. Luisa Macellari PD (2004)—Maria Salaris HFI (2007)

December 22, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, December 22
ADVENT WEEKDAY
1 Sam 1: 24-28

Lk 1: 46-55

Are we always ready and prepared to receive the Son of God Who comes down from heaven? How do we make our Communions? Is our preparation truly worthy? (RSP p. 318).

Father Tom: Very relevant questions in a day and age when – literally – millions are anything but prepared for Communion (including the public sinners who insist on receiving as a gesture of disrespect for the Church). Let you and me at least console the Lord for these outrages.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Ausilia Baggio PD (1951)—Sr. M. Gesualda Rocchi FSP (1969)—Sr. Anna Mocci FSP (1987)—Fr. Luigi Lenta (1997)—Sr. Rufina Facchiano FSP (2000)— Sr. Paola Mannai SGBP (2001)—Lorenzo FSP (2008)—Sr. M. Arcangela Hashiguchi PD (2009)

December 21, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, December 21
ADVENT WEEKDAY
St. peter Canisius, priest, doctor
Ct 2: 8-14

Lk 1: 39-45

The daily accomplishment of our duties is a continuous hymn that we raise to the Most Holy Trinity (RSP p. 397).

Father Tom: Very poetic, isn’t it? Or perhaps you like to sing as you work (I do some of that myself.)? Seriously, there is a reason for singing: our reward will be great if we remain faithful to our commitment, no matter how unmusical it is!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Bonaria De Sabbata FSP (1973)—Sr. Irma Antinozzi FSP (1999)—Fr. Angelo Dalmonte IJP (1999)—Fr. Ezio Acciai IJP (2000)—Bro Jorge Chaparro SSP (2003)—Sr. M. Adelia Gasparini PD (2004)—Sr. M. Santina Pettinati FSP (2005)—Leni Perotto IAM (2009)—Mike Ducote (2001)

December 20, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, December 20
ADVENT WEEKDAY
Is 7: 10-14

Lk 1: 26-38

Is there in us a desire for the word of God? Do we listen to it with fervor? Ist here in us a humble heart, thirsting for truth? (RSP p. 35)

Father Tom: This question might be3 asked also about our relationship to HFI materials which are, in their humble way, also “the word of God.” Why purchase all those books by various writers when we have the Gospel, the Imitation of Christ, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Devout Life, plus the extracts from the book Fraternal Charity?


My own note: We might also add the writings of the Doctors of the Church, such as St. Francis DeSales, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Anthony of Padua and St. John of the Cross to name a few, along with the Church Fathers, to that list—along with the writings of Blessed James Alberione.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Lucilla Di Bianca PD (1985)—Mario Ferrara HFI (1997)—Sr. Angela Festari FSP (2000) John Yuska (2001)—Adam Zink (no year)

December 19, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, December 19
ADVENT WEEKDAY
Judges 13: 2-7, 24-25

Lk 1: 5-25

We lose the essence of the consecrated life if we don not try really hard to be charitable in thought, word and deed (VMC 764).

Father Tom: And of course, when we treat others charitably, we treat ourselves charitably! The Lord considers done to Him what we do to and for others – and He repays with compound interest!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Giacinta Gomes FSP (1966)—Fr. Carmine Salerni SSP (1981)—Sr. Giuseppina Albesiano FSP (1983)—Fr. Girolamo Casolari SSP (1990)- Fr. Pascual Leviste SSP (2000)—Sr. M. Antonietta Mineo PD (2003)

Behold, I Am the Handmaid of the Lord

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.



December 18 - 4th Sunday of Advent


The First Reading introduces an important element in the Christmas story: the great king David, a very human but yet a very worthy individual. He wants to give the Ark of the Covenant a worthy dwelling but God tells him that what He has in mind is something much greater: not a house of cedar or of some even more precious material but a dynasty - and what a dynasty it will be! "Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me ..." In fact the Messiah is of the House of David and his rule will not cease till the end of the world.


The Responsorial Psalm, as we expect responds to the Reading with a song of joy and, once again, the great David 's special place in God's plan is underlined.


St. Paul speaks to the Romans in the Second Reading. This Letter of St. Paul, unlike others dashed of in haste, in anguish and sometimes in anger, has been carefully formulated and sets out the great Reality which sustains all of our lives: Christ was born, Christ has died, Christ has risen and now the magnificent plan of God is beginning to unfold for the benefit of humanity. He speaks about the "mystery" kept secret for thousands of years but now revealed and needing to be preached to all those who have not heard the wonderful news.


The alleluia introduces us to the Quiet Lady of Christmas and her sublimely perfect response at the Annunciation to the stunning message the Lord gives her: you will become the Mother of my Son! She was just fourteen or fifteen at the time and we would expect her to get very excited and agitated. None of that. Born without stain of sin, free from every personal sin, she is "the highest honor of our race" and "our tainted nature's solitary boast."


Actually, there are three annunciations: one is to Joseph: "Fear not to take Mary as your wife . . ." One is to Mary. The third one to Elizabeth: " From Judah shall come forth one who shall rule Israel."


Finally, the familiar Gospel. Too familiar as it happens. We miss the tremendous drama of this meeting between heaven and earth which, like all God's plans, unfolded in silence and secrecy. There were no witnesses, no reporters, no cameras, no journalists ready to rush off to their editors, to their TV studios, to their readers and listeners hungry for the latest tit-bit of news - preferably bad. And even if they had been there they would not have understood the depth of meaning in that brief dialog,repairing abundantly for the first dialog between a woman and an angel, albeit a fallen one: Eve and Satan. "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."


~ December 2011 Concord

December 18, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, December 18
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
2 Sam 7: 1-16

Rom 16: 25-27

Lk 1: 26-38

May all move toward the Crib, like the shepherds and the Magi in search of Jesus (SP Jan 1949)

Father Tom: Unfortunately, the main movement in the Church—and in society—seems to be in the opposite direction: for those who remain in. And of course, there are the millions who have left, in any sense of the words.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Angelioletta Miyazaki PD (2006)—Fr. Giuseppe Cinaglia SSP (2008)—Sr. M. Epifania Bassi FSP (2009)

December 17, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, December 17
ADVENT WEEKDAY
Gen 49: 2, 8-10

Mt 1: 1-17

Mary by her holiness made the main contribution to the mystical body of Christ. Her fullness of grace overflowed into all souls (Maria, Regina, 37-39).

Father Tom: Yes, she made the major contribution, but all of us have something to give. If sin corrupts the individual and sometimes millions more, why would not my efforts and yours to live well not have an effect on all others? Or course they do! And this is a helpful thought in times of trial.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Matilde Gastaldi FSP (2000)—Giuseppina Miscali IAM (2005)—Demetrina Schirra IAM (2005)—Howard Nephew (1959)—Johny Preston (1983)—Jonh Banahan (no year)

Teach Me, Mother Mary...

I got this image from the internet. It is not mine, but I will gladly give credit.



“Oh Mary, teach me to offer all my prayers, works, and sufferings of each day in union with your Immaculate Heart to Jesus for the salvation of the world.”

~ Mary Day by Day p. 181

December 16, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, December 16
ADVENT WEEKDAY
Is 56: 1-3, 6-8

Jn 7: 5-33

Jesus is the supreme exemplar of every perfection and sanctity (SP 1963).

Father Tom: True. But this was by no means perfectly clear to those He met. Indeed, many considered Him a danger to peace and were not impressed by others who said He was a wonderful person. Is it possible that we, also, are misjudging our friends and neighbors who may be hidden Saints? !


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Luigi Iannelli IJP (1980)—Luisa Dotti IAM (1995)—Fr. Giacomo Baricalia SSP (1996)—Fr. Luigi Sbravati IJP (1996)—Sr. Clementina Laudanno FSP (2003)—Sr. M. Teodolinda Longo PD (2005)—Fr. Giovanni Piazza SSP (2006)—Anna Maria Zoccheddu HFI (2008)

December 15, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, December 15
ADVENT WEEKDAY
Is 54: 1-10

Lk 7: 24-30

Getting rid of our ego is a lifelong task. It hides itself under, under the religious habit and under the Sister’s veil (VMC 753).

Father Tom: Indeed—even in an age when both habits and veil are not as numerous as they used to be. But egotism can hide anywhere and the problem is to find it and eliminate it.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: José Lomiel HFI (1993)—Sr. M. Lorenza Pinna PD (2006)—Sr. M. Bruna Rantucci FSP (2007)

December 14, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, December 14
ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, priest, doctor
Is 45: 6-8, 18, 21-25

Lk 7: 19-23

There is to be mutual good example: in prayer life, in observance of the Rule and in shared listening and talking (SP 1951).

Father Tom: The reference is to community life, but it is applicable to the “groups” that have formed here and there among us. Has our contribution been always positive and polite?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Margherita Binello FSP ( 1976)—Sr. M. Renata Giaccardi PD (1993)—Msgr Enea Selis IJP (1999)—Sr. Bianca Tommaselli FSP (2006)—Fr. Lino Grossi IJP (2006)—Dalma Arena De Mattar HFI (2006)—Charlotte Ducote HFI (2007)—Rev. Henry Barry—Mary Avitabile (2006)—Anthony Menella (no date).

December 13, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, December 13
ST. LUCY, Virgin and Martyr
Zep 3: 1-2, 9-13

Mt 21: 28-32

There is no sanctity if you don’t renounce your own will. Your own preferences (FSP 41).

Father Tom: True. And perhaps especially our preferences for certain people or aversion to them. This is a point not always considered in the context of self-denial. We have to be “all things to all people: and you know how hard THAT is!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Domenica Laus FSP (1933)—Sr. M. Albina Pepino PD (1957)—Sr. M. Graziella Justo PD (1978)—Sr. M. Elia Ferrero PD (1987)—Dr. Janina Casimira Kakol FSP (1989)—Fr. Ignazio Maritano SSP (1996)—Sr. M. Teresa Fusar-Poli FSP (1997)—Fr. Francesca Occhiogrosso IJP IJP (1997)—Bro Bruno Bonamigo SSP (2001)—Scotty Avitabile (2006)

December 12, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, December 12
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Zec 2: 14-17

Lk 1: 26-38

If the examination of conscience is not part of an Institute’s life, then that Institute is a superficial entity (FSP 31).

Father Tom: He means “part of the Rule”. But having the exam on paper is not enough either. The members must make it!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Callista De Michelis PD (1998)—Sr. M. Romana Battistella FSP (1996)—Sr. M. Dolores Bonfe’ FSP (1999)—Sr. M. Leonia Nota FSP (1999)—Teresa De Maria IAM (2006)—Ella Schenziner (no year)

I Thank Thee by Jane Crewdson (1860)

Photo by Adam Louis

I Thank Thee



O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
with every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
the bitter and the sweet.


I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
for all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
and all Thy grace denied.


I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
and for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
and for the present cross.


I thank Thee for both wings of love
which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
me, trembling, to Thy breast.


I bless Thee for the glad increase,
and forthe waning joy;
and for this strange, this settled peace
which nothing can destroy.


--Jane Crewdson (1860)

I Am Not Fit To...

"I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals."



December 11 - 3rd . Sunday of Advent


The First Reading will be familiar to us if we know our St. Luke. When the Master had been out "on the missions" in Palestine for some time, St. Luke in Ch 4 tells how he returned to Nazareth, went into the local synagogue and was asked to read from Scripture. Significantly, he unrolled the scroll to find the words in this Reading, i.e. he did not simply continue where the previous reader had left off. Why? Because they described his whole, divine approach to his mission on earth.


The Responsorial Psalm will also be familiar if we know the Magnificat - the song of the young maiden of Nazareth and her superabundant joy as she began to appreciate just what had happened to her. Now we are approaching the realization in Bethlehem of that great moment.


St. Paul in the Second Reading has two messages for the Thessalonians: 1) be on your guard, continue to work hard and don't bother with idle talk others who are working diligently, and b) you have received a wonderful gift and in general you appreciate it so "be happy," rejoice, because the Lord is coming soon! ( St. Paul, of course, and the early Christians generally, got it wrong: the Lord is coming, definitely, but who knows when?) However when he comes it will be a great day for those who have waited patiently for him. And that message is still very true.


In the Gospel we are introduced to John the Baptist, first cousin of the Lord and truly a worthy "advance man" or forerunner, to use the correct word. Sometimes these people forget their brief and surely John might have been tempted to do just that because he both looked and spoke like the Messiah the people were expecting. But this Sunday we read how he was challenged and asked to give an account of himself and give an account he very definitely did! Resisting very open efforts to make him king, he replied clearly to each question and in the end gave a really beautiful self- definition: the voice that cries in the wilderness. At St.Augustine remarks, John was the "voice" but Jesus was the Word. The Word needs a voice to share it but the voice is not the Word and John, to his credit said so clearly. If only people today - politicians especially - would follow this example!


~ December 2011 Concord

The Immaculate Conception

I found this image on the internet. It is not mine, but I will give credit to the artist if he or she comes forward.


December 8 - The Immaculate Conception



We have had this Feast twice already and have reflected on the connection between the sin of Eve and the special divine blessing conferred on Our Lady. She was preserved from all "Original sin" from the first instant of her conception and was thus conceived in that state of justice and holiness which is the effect of divine friendship and, as a result, was withdrawn from the influence of Satan and subjection to the law of concupiscence. However, like all human beings, she is redeemed by the merits of her Son, not freeing her from the stain of sin but preventing her from contracting it.


These concepts are included in the First Reading describing the sin of Adam and Eve followed by the Responsorial Psalm, not something sorrowful but filled with joy that this sin has resulted not in disaster but in a further display of God's goodness: instead of (as we might be tempted to do) wiping out our First Parents He confirms them in their original vocation and then - through the mediation of Our Blessed Lady - Himself pays for their sin and ours!


No wonder that Paul in the Second Reading bursts into an exuberant hymn of gratitude for this unspeakable gift which we can appreciate only with difficulty.


The Gospel tells a well-known story highlighting the sublime perfection and maturity of the great Lady who made all this possible.


Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


~December 2011 Concord

Prepare the Way...

"In the desert, prepare the way of the of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland, a highway for our God!"



It's Sunday!


December 4, 2011 Second Sunday of Advent


The word "Advent" (from the Latin "ad - venire" = coming towards) gives us the characteristic of the next four Sundays: they are a preparation for an "Event " (from the Latin "ex-venire" or "coming out" or "emerging" or "happening") and we are well aware of what the "Happening" is: the coming of the Lord, a) at his birth in Bethlehem, b) into each of our lives at Baptism, c) for all humanity at the end of the world. These are the main "comings" but in a single day, each of us has countless "Advents " of our concerned God Who never leaves us to fend for ourselves, Who never leaves his flock untended. For the fervent Christian, every day is Christmas Day!


The First Reading from the great Prophet, Isaiah, was originally a word of comfort for King Hezekiah who was told that the King of Babylonia would come and take all his possessions and many of his people but that God would not abandon him. The message for us is substantially the same - we will lose our possessions at death if not before, but we will never lose the care of God for us. Never lose it? Yes, but on condition that we are always ready, are always waiting for His coming. The Voice crying in the desert will echo until the end of time. Originally the references to preparing the way referred to the need to make some sort of road in the wilderness to enable the king's chariot to pass. But the profound meaning is that we get to work in the wilderness of our souls to smooth out the many rough areas.


The beautiful Responsorial Psalm combines the two attitudes: "1 will hear what the Lord God has to say" ... I will be waiting . . . and "The Lord will make us prosper."


St. Peter in the Second Reading paints a rather frightening picture: very soon now the earth will be consumed with fire and the sky will vanish with a roar. Actually he got his dates wrong - we don't know when this will happen - but he is right on in his general message: for each of us the "end of the world" is the moment of our death and that has to be prepared by "living lives without spot or stains." This is the real "Advent" for which we can never be sufficiently be prepared.


In the Gospel we meet the imposing figure of John the Baptist.He appears out of nowhere (probably from a desert monastery in which a group of Jews called "Essenes" lived a life of strict observance) and calls the people to repentance but also to understand who he is. He is not the Messiah the whole nation is expecting, and who is a Figure of such greatness that (John says): " I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals," but rather a Voice calling to prepare for the Messiah's coming.


~ December 2011 Concord

December 11, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, December 11
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Is 61: 1-2, 10-11

Th 5: 16-24

Jn 1: 6-28

It is always important that we know that we are poor creatures and sinners and we need to feel poor if we want the riches of God (APD 234/37).

Father Tom: It may be important to feel poor , but it is not easy…so many illusions! We feel rich in virtue…and then a slight temptation shows us just how impoverished we are!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Celeste Ghislandi FSP (1960)—Sr. M. Romana Rotta FSP (1960)—Sr. M. Giacinta Ferrero PD (1986)—Sr M. Cecilia Madrigal FSP (1992)—Giuseppe Capella HFI (1995)—Sr. Vittornia M. Guarda FSP (2009)

December 10, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, December 10
ADVENT WEEKDAY
Sir 48: 1-4, 9-11

Mt 17: 10-13

The Beatitudes do not take up more than half a page in St. Matthew’s Gospel, but what a significant half-page that is! (VMC 713)

Father Tom: And how hard it is to practice even one of them! Don’t you agree?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Michelino Gagna SSP (1961)—Msgr Angelo Campagna IJP (1990)—Sr. Antonietta Sandri FSP (1993)—Sr. M. Luisa Perlini PD (2000)—Sr. Rosaria Scaini SGBP (2001)—Maria Bacca IAM (2004)—Sr. M. Marcella Luucrezi FSP (2005)—Sr. Angelina Fabbris FSP (2008)—Mark Papa (2006)

December 9, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, December 9
ADVENT WEEKDAY
St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
Is 48: 17-19

Mt 11: 16-19

The visit gives the tone to our day. In it we listen to the Lord, give Him what He asks and receive the gifts He has prepared for us (SP 20 Aug. 1937).

Father Tom: How true! How many ideas get straightened out in this important hour! How many inspirations either then or later? Make every effort to spend this hour with the Master as often as you can.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Graziana Santini FSP (1963)—Sr. M. Rosa Cacciatore FSP (1981)—Domenica Nardis HFI (2005)—Sr. Josefina Glassman FSP (2006)—Sr. M. Agostina Pellachin FSP (2007)—Sr. M. Ntalia Bonifaccio FSP (2007)—Sr. Onise Theresa Sassi FSP (2008)—Helen Chevraux HFI (2008)

December 8, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, December 8
IMMACUALTE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Gen 3: 9-20

Eph 1: 3-11

Lk 1: 26-28

Mary was the only one to have a special understanding of Jesus ad so no on emore than her is more powerful to unite us to Christ (VMC 629).

Father Tom: And she was—and remains—a mother with feminine intuition and awareness of our deepest needs. The True Consecration is a traditional Pauline practice and invariably brings abundant blessing.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Aracoeli Venturi PD (1983)—Fr. Vincenzo De luise SSP (1999)—Gorizia D’Amicantonio IAM (1991)—Claudia Supino HFI (1999)—Fr. Silvino Ceccomancini IJP (2006)—Antonio Lopez (2004)

December 7, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, December 7
ST. AMBROSE, Bishop and Doctor
First Wednesday of the Month—St. Joseph
Is 40: 25-31

Mt 11: 28-30

Our piety must not be sterile or done solely to get it done and finding it burdensome. It must make us truly feel our need for God and lead us to a high sanctity (RSP p 46).

Father Tom: Well, yes, but also no. What I mean is that the main thing is to be faithful to practices of piety at any cost even if we find them burdensome. After all, if the practices were very attractive…what merit would there be in being faithful to them?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Maria Verdone FSP (1971)—Sr. M. Ifigenia Licansi PD (1983)—Pasqualina La Rizza HFI (2004)

December 6, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, December 6
ADVENT WEEKDAY
St. Nicholas, Bishop
First Tuesday of the Month—The Holy Souls in Purgatory
Is 40: 1-11

Mt 18: 12-14

Coordinating the contemplative and the active life is the secret of progress: the whole day is dedicated to increasing union with God and sharing the Good News (FSP 45)

Father Tom: And of these two, the first (as you well know) is the most effective. Sharing the Good News is generally not our “thing”—we have limited use of media or no use whatsoever—but we can always supply the essential item: more of God and less of us. Let’s do it!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Anna Merla FSP (1946)—Fr. Tito Armani SSP (1980)—Sr. M. Massimiliana Concas PD (1998)—Sr. M. Stefana Servetti PD (2003)—Nicletta Di Carlo (IAM (2009)

December 5, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, December 5
ADVENT WEEKDAY
First Monday of the Month—St. Paul
Is 35: 1-10

Lk 5: 17-26

True Pauline consecrated life implies ongoing and intense activity for one’s sanctification plus apostolate. It is a life of toil and demands ongoing sacrifice, but it produces on-going redemption (CP 1959).

Father Tom: That seems to say it all and perhaps HFI people more than most can live the two-fold activities. The secret is to live them, day in, day out until we have no more life left! Sounds easy..but have we tried it?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Luigi Bogliaccino SSP (1967)—Sr. Edvige Soldano FSP (1983)—Fr. Cirillo Tomatis SSP (1988)—Sr. Maria Mattarei FSP (2000)—Fr. Giuseppe Pasquali SSP (2002)—Madeline Piatt (2002)

December 4, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, December 4
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
First Sunday of the Month—the Divine Master, Way, Truth and Life
Is 40: 1-11

2 Pt 3: 8-14

Mk 1: 1-8

Only if we live what we say or write will it have an influence on others (VMC 984).

Father Tom: The divine Master spent 30 years living what He preached in 2 or 3. And in the short terms He failed and failed publicly. But not in the long term. This is our example and our encouragement when nothing seems to be happening.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Bro Giuseppe Solero SSP (1974)—Sr. Ignazia Armani SGBP (1993)—Bro Silvano M. De Blasio SSP (1994)—Br Dominic Lakra SSP (2008)

December 3, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, December 3
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, Priest
First Saturday of the Month—Mary, Queen of Apostles
Is 30: 19-21, 23-26

Mt 9: 35- 10: 1-8

Seeing ourselves so lacking in everything, we commit to the use of every means for the glory of God, for every good, and fro peace among peoples.

Father Tom: When are we “lacking in everything”? When we have not the latest technical gadgets? No. Technical gadgets will, perhaps impress people, but only God can get results!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Renata Vicini IAM (1971)—Fr. Antonio Gratilli SSP (1993)—Sr. Alexandrina Crivelli FSP (2005)—Sr. M. Domenica Fujiwara PD (2005)—Aurelio Facchni HFI (2006)—Sr. M. Gloria Honau FSP (2007)—Sr. M. Chiarina Pastorino PD (2009)—Mary Byehn (1990)—Richard Cooper—Pearl Kranske (no years)—Vera Haas (2010)

December 2, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, December 2
ADVENT WEEKDAY
First Friday of the Month—The Sacred Heart
Is 29: 17-24

Mt 9: 27-31

During Advent in preparation for Christmas we must acknowledge ourselves as ignorant, defective, inclined to evil and sin and so requiring penance.

Father Tom: Only during Advent? Surely the recognition of our sinful and defective condition is a requirement of every day—indeed, every HOUR or when we stop to make a brief exam of conscience!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Tarcisia Valentini SGBP (2005)—Fr. Salvatore Caruana SSP (2008)—Alpiano Valdes (2937)—Mike Ducote (2007)—Anthoony Menella (2010)

December 1, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

I found this image on the internet. It is not mine, but I will gladly give credit if the photographer comes forward.


Thursday, December 1
ADVENT WEEKDAY
First Thursday of the Month—Our Guardian Angel
Is 26: 1-6

Mt 7: 21, 24-27

MONTHLY INTENTION
That, well aware of our insufficiency and unworthiness, we may realize the need to draw near the font of life in all humility and trust and be nourished with Your Word, Father and with the Body of Christ, invoking life, love and mercy for all men and women.

Father Tom: The last petition in our 9-Point Offertory Prayer is the most important. Without this “drawing near” we can at best impress people, not convert them. Much room for illusion on this point.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Christine Rimmele FSP (1991)—Sr. M. Raffaella Bernardini FSP (1992)—Fr. Emilio Mammana SSP (1996)—Fr. Ivo March IJP (2001)—Ray Hopponen (no year)—Frank Mahoney (no date).

November 30, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, November 30
ST ANDREW, APOSTLE
Rom 9: 1-18

Mt 4: 18-22

For the apostolate we need very prayerful members because much divinhe grace is needed, but also members who know what they wish to do, what they wish to accomplish. (VMC 990)

Father Tom: An important final thought for November: have ANY idea of the sort of people we would like to have as members and where are such people likely to be found?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Basilia Bianco FSP (1988)—Bro Bernardo Gugole SSP (1995)—Maria Dotti IAM (1996)—Fr. Carlo Staurenghi IJP (1988)—Bro Miguel Alraro SSP (1996)—SR. Elvira Benedetti FSP (2003)—Sr. Michael Sisko FSP

November 29, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, November 29
OF THE DAY
Is 11: 1-10

Lk 10: 21-24

1954: Dedication of the Queen of Apostles Basilica, Rome

If our apostolate is to be a sharing in the preaching of Jesus it must have the same dispositions that he had and first of all a right intention.

Father Tom: A “right intention”? To do everything solely for God? That happens especially when you do well something you don’t like doing.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Basilia Bianco FSP (1988)—Bro Bernardo Gugole SSP (1995)—Maria Dotti IAM (1996)—Sr. M. Marcella Catani FSP (2000)—Sr. M. Caterina Marcazzan FSP (2001)—Bro Luciano Melchioro SSP (2004)—Sr. M. Timte Higashiseto FSP (2008)—Bro Fernando Tommaselli SSP (2008)—Sr. M. Bronislawa Suchora PD (2008)—Sr. M. Angiolina Caramori FSP (2009)

Puss In Boots Review

November 28, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, November 28
OF THE DAY
Is 2: 1-5

Mt 8: 5-11

Patience is the result of much virtue and if we don’t have it it’s not easy to concserve a sense of peace and union with God plus making progress spiritually and in our apostolate (VMC).

Father Tom: We Very hard to have patience in our modern age when everything—spurred on by the media—is rush, rush, rush. Let’s take advantage of this Advent to slow down and let God tell us what we need to k now.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Cormariae Brugiolo PD (1995)—Sr. M. Valeria Bonucchi FSP (1998)—Fr. Dario Ansaloni IJP (1999)—Attilio Pauluzzi HFI (2005)

November 27, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, November 27
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Is 63: 16-64: 7

1 Cor 1: 3-9
Mk 13: 33-37

When there are no saints, people don’t know how to live Christianity because they read the Gospel more clearly in a saintly human life than in a book (VMC 975)

Father Tom: We begin another year—if it were our last, what life changes would we make?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Bro. Batolomeo Borgna SSP (1973)—Sr. M. Raffaella Montanari PD ( 1974)—Fr. Maggiorino Povero SSP (1981)—Sr. M. Cristina Panarello PD (1988)—Salvatore Orru HFI (1988)—Sr. M. José Garcia SGBP (1997)—Sr. Annunziatina Del Biaco FSP (2000)—Liborio Bartolotta HFI (2000)—Renato Lattanzio HFI (2000)—Fr. Givoanni attista Manfredi SSP (2004)—Bro Augustine Kalpakcherry SSP (2005)—Bro Paolo Zantedeschi SSP (2006)—Roberto Converse (1998)

In the Emergency at 3a.m....

In the emergency,at 3 a.m. What happens next...?



Nov. 27 - First Sunday of Advent


Well, we have reached the beginning of another Church Year - at least you have, can't speak for me though I was ok when I wrote!


The theme of this Sunday is " Vigilant Waiting," The two words don't always go together. We can be vigilant - "awake" or "alert" - but without expecting anything or anyone in particular, but when we say "vigilant waiting" this Sunday, we are in fact expecting Someone - not just "anyone" but a very special Person: the great Messiah or redeemer.


The Firsl Reading is an anguished cry for help on behalf of the Israelite people. It is attributed to Isaiah who lived about 750 years before Christ came on earth. However the Reading today is by another prophet who assumed Isaiah's mantle in a period much closer to the birth of Our Lord. Precisely because their sacred books told them that their liberation was at hand - though they misunderstood what "liberation" meant and saw it in terms of freedom from foreign powers - the cries of the people increased in volume and this Reading expresses their plight very dramatically.


The Responsorial Psalm is clearly a 'response" or confirmation of what has been said in the First Reading . Our own needs are just as great today but all too often we are not conscious of our moral poverty not to say helplessness.


The Second Reading - not surprisingly - has again the theme of waiting but perhaps even more impressive is the frequent repetition of the name of Jesus Christ. Paul does not know when the Lord will be "revealed" to his Corinthian converts - some of his most fickle - but he knows that when this take place as, presumably an individual conversion, all the pieces will fall into place and the Corinthians will have "grace" - the gracious presence of the Lord - and "peace," a reply to the endless questions all of us raise going through life and which the Corinthians must have felt even more keenly because of the new and remarkable ideas Paul had preached to them.


The Gospel repeats the familiar theme: wait, stay awake. It is particularly relevant in our time. Over all the Church there is a cloud of either indifference or undue and unjustified optimism. The old-time thumpers of pulpits who made us quake in our pews are just a memory. And yet the moral situation today needs more pulpit-thumpers than ever. Catholics who fail to observe the Church's law in their marriages. Catholics who go to Confession - if at all - only every few years. Catholics whose girls are making them grandparents long before the normal time. Catholics on drugs. And the list could continue. Awake and sober? Hardly. Ready to meet the Master? Scarcely. And these are the unfortunate people who are rushed to the Emergency at 3 a.m. where they will indeed be well- treated for their physical ills but... is anybody thinking of their immortal souls? Unfortunately no, not even in Catholic hospitals where for the most part there is no Chaplain and the personnel may not even consider the spiritual needs of their patient. It is a very serious question needing much prayer on our part.


~ November 2011 Concord

November 26, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, November 26
BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE, priest
Mass & Office in “ceremonies of the HFI

OR

Dn 7: 15-27
Lk 21: 34-36

All the Pauline Congregations were born of the Tabernacle and all have the same spirit: to live of Jesus Christ and to serve the Church (Abundantes No 34).

Father Tom: And which part of the spirit is the most important? We all know the answer: “to live of Jesus Christ.” And the next question always is: and how am I doing that? (Don’t worry about how “we” are doing it or how “they” are doint it!- could be a cop out!)


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Bro. Alfonso Bau SSP (1973)—Maria Arena IAM (1997)—Antonio Marchi HFI (1995)—Rosa Angelico IAM (2002)—Betty Rice IAM (2004)—Giuseppina Ferrara IAM (2008)—Gertrude Graff (1996).

November 25, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, November 25
OF THE DAY
St. Catherine of Alexandria, virgin, martyr
Dn 7: 2-14
Lk 21: 29-33

At the end of our lives will we be able to say: I have done everything for the souls entrusted to me? I spent my time, my talents, my health, my intelligence and even my free time for them (VMC 974).

Father Tom: This is a question of major importance. It does not mean that we have been “out there” visibly working for them, but that we have wasted no time on trivialities eve in the course of our daily duties. Quite an exam to make!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Crescentina Miatello PD (1974)—Sr. M. Benigna Bonfiglio PD (1994)—Rita Costamagna HFI (1999)—Sr.M Celina Bucello PD (2004)—Sr. Santina M. Aguiar Ferreira FSP (2005)—Sr. Elisabetta Tiberii FSP (2005)

November 24, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, November 24
ANDREW DUN-LAC, Priest & Comps., Martyrs
Dn 6: 12-28
Lk 21: 20-28

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We can even fill the world with good paper carrying good words—even the words of the Bible…but if our work lacks the power of God…what good it it?

Father Tom: This seems very obvious, but it is amazing how it is ignored in practice even by—or perhaps especially by – Paulines. So much good work in many different fields…but no time for prayer, seen as beside the point. How stupid can we be?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Tercisia Genovesi PD (1936)—Sr. Carla Torchi FSP (1995)—Sr. M. Maurizia Masseria PD (2003)—Sr. Giovanna Biselli FSP (2006)—Eleanor M. McParland (1990)

November 23, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, November 23
OF THE DAY
St. Clement, Pope and Martyr
St. Columban, Abbot
Bl Miguel Pro, Martyr
Dn 5: 1-28
Lk 21: 12-19

By faith we see in all those we meet, souls to whom we owe a debt of truth, of edification and of prayer. By faith we see in others people like us all journeying toward the same eternity and we feel we want to help them (VMC 972).

Father Tom: It is all too easy to see others as simply “people” of no special importance who are doing nothing in particular and have no particular reason for existence. What a serious mistake! I must stop seeing people like that—and so must you!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Giuseppe Rongoni IJP (1985)—Emilia Monaldi HFI (2005)—Fr. Rosario Esposito SSP (2007)

November 22, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, November 22
ST. CECILIA, Virgin and Martyr
Dn 2: 31-45
Lk 21: 5-11

Sometimes we have a secret fear of getting too involved in good works—perhaps we should be more moderate? This sounds like right thinking, but is actually foolishness (VMC 958).

Father Tom: First, of course, the duties of our state which—in the case of a large family—may rule out all other activities. However, this situation is the exception so almost all of us could do more, sometimes MUCH more. Why not do it? The sacrifice is limited, the eternal reward unlimited.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Teresa Rabllo FSP (1980)—Getulio Rosaverde HFI (1984)—Sr. Emanuela Ferrari SGBP (1993)—Sr. M. Cecily Nirappel PD (2003)—Sr. Santina Bettega SGBP (2008)—Concetta Milazzo HFI (2008)

November 21, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, November 21
PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Dn 1: 1-6, 8-20
Lk 21: 1-4

It is Mary who gives us Jesus and forms Jesus in us (VMC 618)).

Father Tom: This is especially true when we say the Sorrowful Mysteries. The horrors of His Passion! How small our sufferings appear in comparison! How exemplary in His forgiveness! And Mary lived all that sorrow and pain with her Son and accepted to become our spiritual Mother!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Teresa Rabllo FSP (1980)—Getulio Rosaverde HFI (1984)—Sr. Emanuela Ferrari SGBP (1993)—Sr. M. Cecily Nirappel PD (2003)—Sr. Santina Bettega SGBP (2008)—Concetta Milazzo HFI (2008)—Adam Burnieika (1937)—Angelo Mangiere (1964)—Joseph Ricciutti (2005)—Sharon McPeck (2009)

What is Keeping Us From Union with Christ?

What is keeping us from union with Christ?



Nov. 20 - Christ, King of the Universe


As we remember, there are two judgments, the first immediately after death which we believe will be not so much Christ judging us but rather a self-judgment. In the light of Christ we will see ourselves as we are and every day we pray that this solemn moment will find us friends of the Master.


Then there is the General Judgment. As we go through life we note so many injustices going apparently unpunished while so many good people suffer grievously (typical in our time were the tornadoes of last Spring and Summer which killed innocent people and destroyed their homes and livelihood). Our Divine Master, infinitely just, will assemble all humanity in some way we cannot even imagine because of the enormous numbers, and will explain the workings of his grace and his love in all our lives down to the smallest detail.


That is the general theme of today's liturgy. However, the Opening Prayer is in praise of God now, not as He may or may not be in the future.


The First Reading is largely positive: the Lord as Good Shepherd, not Bad Judge. Yet the tone is not entirely positive and the note of judgment appears again in the final lines. The blunt fact is that God is good but so must we be. There is no free lunch. The side of the Judge we find ourselves on is OUR choice and we will not be able to blame Him.


The beautiful 23rd. Psalm gives us our Responsorial.


The words of St. Paul in the Second Reading may seem pretty obvious to us but they were anything but obvious to the men and women of Corinth who heard or read them for the first time. If Christianity seems perfectly logical to us today it was not so to the Corinthians: Paul was asking them to believe that a mysterious Jew (already a problem because they were pagans)had lived, made a tremendous impression, had been put to death and then had risen from the dead and was their main hope of a Life after life! WHAT?? Is the man out of his mind?


What is the criterion set by Jesus in the Gospel for success in life? There is only one: love. "As you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me." There are different levels of meaning here. The Lord establishes a close link between "the least" and his "brethren," or disciples. So the current tendency to write off the clergy just because some of them have been unworthy, is quite dangerous. But that is not everything. Jesus has also in mind "the least" i.e. children toward whom he showed a special tenderness and he certainly has in mind the poor and deprived that are "always with us." It would be too easy to say that if we are "good to the poor" we have done all that the Lord requires. We must also be good to ourselves, i.e. live in such a way as to be judged favorably. There are many levels in this Gospel and, as we end the Church Year, 2011, it would be a good idea to see how we stand vis a vis each of them.


~ November 2011 Concord

November 20, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, November 20
OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST THE KING
Ez 34: 11-17
1 Cor 15: 20-28
Mt 25: 31-46

How can a soul filled with the love of God keep it all for her/himself? When the bowl is filled with water, but more water is poured into it, of necessity, it overflows…(VMC 953).

Father Tom: This seems pretty obvious. The only problem is to get the bowl filled up, though even that is not enough because sometimes very “full” souls are too shy or nervous to share their fullness. So we need ALL talents to be really active apostles!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr Bartolomea Vivian FSP (1984)—Fr. Felice Bonicco SSP (1985)—Fr. Alberto Desiati IJP (1991)—Sr .M. Aparecide Ziglio FSP (2005)—Fr. Sergio Bruno IJP (2006)—Sr. Bernardetta Aprea FSP (2009)

November 19, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, November 19
OF THE DAY
Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday
1 Mc 6: 1-13
Lk 20: 27-40

There is more need of people who pray than there is need of orators. The person who will raise up society will not e necessarily learned, but s/he will be holy (VMC 951).

Father Tom: That seems to say it all and we people who are sometimes filled with a sense of doing nothing for souls should remember that – as the Founder would say—the results depend more on your knees than your tongue or pen.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: SrVincenza Vassena FSP (1967)—Sr. M. Giuseppiina Coren FSP (1997)—Sr. Cecilia Leonardi FSP (2000) – Seraphin Castillo Beltran HFI (2000)—Sr. M. Amabile Girlanda PD (2002)—Paulinno Albano (2984)—Marilyn Fortuna (1972)—Andrew L. Boado (year?)

November 18, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, November 18
DEDICATION OF THE BASILICAS OF SS PETER AND PAUL
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
1 Mc 4: 36-37, 52-59
Lk 19: 45-48

Sometimes we believe we should try to make other people holy before we start to work on our own holiness… that is a ruination. The basis of the apostolate is the holiness of our soul (VMC 950)

Father Tom: Hmmm…would this apply to me? God help me if it does.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Paolina De Luca PD (1965)—Sr. M. Claudia Gioda PD (1985)—Fr. Sergio Gallera SSP (1998)—Francesco Ugenti HFI (1998)—Natalia Loera (2008)

Guilt and Cynicism

Homily by Fr. Jim Korda, courtesy of Fr. Jeffrey Mickler

November 17, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, November 17
ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY, Religious
1 Mc 2: 15-29
Lk 19: 41-44

You are the ones giving a voice to the Gospel so you will always have a mission. Your mission can fail only if the Gospel can fail—which is impossible (VMC 949).

Very true. WE will always have a mission. But the Founder says nothing about US failing the Gospel and failing the mission! That’s the REAL problem—and always will be.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Felice Stevezzoli SSP (1990)—Sr. M. Antonia Tommasiello PD (1995)—Sr. M. Fidelis Suaybaguio FSP (1999)—Sr. Angiolina Giacca (Giacaz) FSP (2005)—Sr. M. Concetta Messina PD (2008)—Fr. Giuseppe Soro SSP (2009)—Fr. Peter Lenehan (1991)

November 16, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, November 16
OF THE DAY
St. Margaret of Scotland
St. Gertrude, virgin
2 Mc 7: 1, 20-31
Lk 19: 11-28

Every part of the human body has its reason for existence and, when things go well, it acts in harmony with the others. So also we (in the Pauline Family) are not there by accident. Each of us has an indispensible role which others cannot fill (VMC 948).

This applies both as regards our Institute itself and as regards the wider Pauline family. We have to feel love and respect for all Paulines!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Metilde Betocchi PD (1956)—Sr.Bice Riva FSP (1988)—Fr Giuseppe Fossato SSP (1991)— Sr. M. Tomotea Garcia FSP (1995)—Sr. M. Emilia Molaschi (1996)—Fr. José Carlos Feliciano SSP (1996)—Vincenzo Afeltra IJP (1997)—Francesco Badellino HFI (2005)—Chuck Foughty (2005)

November 14-15, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

I don't know if I'll be able to get to my computer tomorrow, so I'm posting both Monday and Tuesday's thoughts today.

God bless...

Tuesday, November 15
OF THE DAY
ST ALBERT THE GREAT, Bishop and Doctor
2 Mc 6: 18-31
Lk 19: 1-10

In our apostolate we should always feel ourselves close to the Pope so as to repeat what he teaches and repeat it with the means the Lord has given us and which were mentioned by Vatican Council 2; the media (VMC 941).

It does not seem a very ambitious or enterprising program: just repeating what the Pope says. But the plain fact is that today, when what the Pope says is being consistently opposed, our role is more relevant than ever.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Tecla Tomiko FSP (2005)—Sr. Romilde Barbati FSP (2008)


******* *******
Monday, November 14
OF THE DAY
1 Mc 1: 10-64
Lk 18: 35-43

The person who is deeply faithful to the Catholic Church is always wiser than someone seeking a personal and independent way of thinking and so living by illusions and building on sand (VMC 937).

This was true when the Founder wrote it in 1960 and how much more true today! Of course the Church is in far greater trouble now then she was then, but only her ministers have failed, her discipline and teaching have not failed.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Nazarena Ricciardi PD (1945)—Fr. Generoso Cresci IJP (1997)—Sr. Antonia Cerri FSP (2000)—José Nieto Rodriguez HFI (2005)—Sr. M. Franca Fanelli PD (2007)—Juan Menda Albornoz HFI (2007)—Sr. Jacyra M. Izabel da Silva SBP (2009)

We All Have Talents...

We all have talents... how do we use them?



Nov. 13 - XXXIII Sunday in Ordinary Time


Our first question today must be: what is a wife - worthy or otherwise - doing in this Sunday's liturgy which is otherwise about rendering an account of stewardship? Actually she has a relevant place because of her talent in careful and industrious administration and that is the general theme of the Readings and Gospel.


The Entrance Antiphon brings back sweet memories for the dwindling number who remember the delightful Gregorian Chant music for this particular wording - I myself among them. Of course the message is also beautiful.


The Opening Prayer has the same theme: God will help us be faithful and to be faithful to Him is all we ask - virtue is its own reward.


We have already referred to the First Reading with its unusual heroine who, however, fits in well with the rest of the liturgy: she is a wonderful administrator, admirable under all respects. And, we have to recall, such a good lady can be found even in our own time - were our moms not like that?


The Responsorial Psalm, as usual, repeats and enlarges on the theme of the First Reading - "wife" is found again although here in a different context. St. Paul, in the Second Reading is still dealing with the imminent coming of the Lord and how his Thessalonian converts should be ready for it. St. Paul got it wrong, of course, but only in terms of WHEN. In terms of HOW - how to prepare for it - he was right on. The coming of the Lord is always unexpected, death is always sudden even for someone who has been ill for a long time. But the mere fear of death is not a good motive for a good life. We have to live it well for the love of God and in appreciation of the many talents He has given us and of the truly and totally undeserved reward He has promised us. My emphasis added


The Gospel shows two admirable servants who did just that: They used the gifts their master had given them and were able to point proudly to a fine return on their investment. Nevertheless we must have some sympathy also for the third servant - at least he buries the money in the ground and (as we have seen in previous IT'S SUNDAY! features), the ground was actually the "bank" of those times - perhaps more reliable than many banks today. So he did not lose materially but in a sense he did because his main thought was the feared harshness of the master rather than the excitement of serving him. People can be like that today: God is too severe, the Church is too strict, to lead a good life is to difficult . . . and so many who could otherwise be admirable Catholics have given up and left the Church for some other Christian group or left all religion completely. Let us pray for them - any of us might have been in their situation if the Lord had not come to our assistance.



~ November 2011 Concord

November 13, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, November 13
XXXIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Prv 31: 10-31
1 Th. 5: 1-6
Mt 25: 14-30

What are the rights of the Church? They are:
** to preach Christian Doctrine in every nation, even in pagan nations;
** to define freely her dogmas and with freedom of speech to use the means available to spread them;
** to combat with vigilance all errors, no matter what their source. (VMC 924).

Your duty and mine is to support these rights in faith and in practice, first living the Church’s teaching and then—as far as we can, spreading it.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Virginia Cantarutti FSP (1934)—Msgr. Giovanni Rizzo IJP (1980)—Sr. Gennarina Dalla Nora FSP (1983)

November 12, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, November 12
ST JOSAPHAT, Bishop, Martyr
Wi 18: 4-16
Lk 18: 1-8

Our motto: “In Christo et in Ecclesia” (= in Christ and in the Church) is very relevant. Our work is to teach what the Church teaches, no more and no less, avoiding disputes, varying views and opinions (VMC 922)

Doesn’t sound like a very enterprising program, but if all the great controversial figures of history—now in eternity—were to return to earth, would they stir up the same trouble which has caused so much harm?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Innocenza Morando PD (1941)—Sr. M. Zita Lombardo PD (2001)—Fr. Aldo Galliano SSP (2003)—Sr. M. Carmela Biolchini FSP (2004)

What is Devotion to the Sacred Heart?

This is from the Children's Homily Series at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Front Royal, VA. (Videographer is Vince Luckey) I think we can all learn a lot from it. :o) God bless...

November 11, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, November 11
ST MARTIN OF TOURS, Bishop
Wi 13: 1-9
Lk 17: 26-37

Paradise is a joyful love in each of us and so we have to cultivate this love on earth and possess it as we enter eternity. (VMC 916)

However, it is not a feeling but an incessant effort to live as God wants. Once in Paradise, the effort, so to speak, disappears and the joyful love remains.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Luca Rocca SSP (1963)—Fr. Arcadio Huerta sSP (1970)—Sr. M. Grazia Ozenda FSP (1980)—Fr. Quinto Cesanelli SSP (1986)—Bro Gian Pietro Scagliioni SSP (2006)—Leonardo Messina HFI (2007)—Cl. Marcos Aurelio Gomes SSP (2008)—Edward Tulley (2002)

November 10, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, November 10
ST. LEO THE GREAT, Pope and Doctor
Wi 7: 22-8: 1
Lk 17: 20-25

Let’s think of eternity. We are all the time thinking of life on earth which has definite limits. Let’s think of eternity which has NO limits!

No only thinking of life on earth but all too often working exclusively for life on earth! This is a notable victory for Satan. What could be more logical than to concentrate on what is right before our noses? But if all those billions now in eternity could speak to us, what a different message they would give!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Nunziatina Miceli PD (1979)—Pierfrancesco Bussetti HFI (1985)—Sr. M. Ludovica Pilotti PD (1988)—Olivia Herrera HFI (1995)—Sr. Costanza Gandolofo FSP (1998)—Sr. M. Cordis Drudi PD (2008)—Faustino O. Villanueva (1983)—Martha Miller, HFI (2002)

November 9, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, November 9
DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA
Ez 47: 1-2, 8-9
1 Cor 3: 9-11, 16-17
Jn 2: 13-22

Cooperate with the Church by prayer for the Pope and priests and for vocations, through the example of your good life and through personal action (BM p. 172).

Father Tom: Which of these is the most important? All of them are, of course, but good example is the most effective. I can’t be sure that you pray or are interested in vocations, but I can—and do—see how you live. “Example speaks louder than words.”


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Egidia Marengo FSP (1968)—Renata Tosoni IAM (1996)—Sr. Rosaria Giannecchini FSP (1998)—Fr. Eleazar Jimenez SSP (1999)—Fr. Joseph Parella SSP (2009)— Nancy Carmichael (2005)—Elizabeth Martinez Bujol (1954)

November 8, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, November 8
OF THE DAY
Wis 2: 23-3:9
Lk 17: 7-10

Prudence is the eye of zeal and in the apostolates of modern communication you sometimes need four eyes! (SP Nov. 1950).

Father Tom: Prudence, yes, but we are not lacking in this—I speak for you, not myself! What we mostly need is PUSH, PROGRESS, PERSISTENCE. Not only in finding vocations, but even in promoting the SAVE THE DYING DEVOTION among our friends and neighbors. Can anybody inform me why we have only, say, 300 enroled instead of 3000?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Bro Mathew Kottoor SSP (2001)—Sr. M. Agnesina Stoto PD (2002)—Sr. Luigia M. Cozza (2008)

November 7, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, November 7
OF THE DAY
First Monday of the Month—St. Paul
Wis 1: 1-7
Lk 17: 1-6

I have been hearing of “bad times” since 1914. If you wait till the good times come, nothing gets done. Let’s do what we can in the present time. Only in heaven will we have a really good time!

Father Tom: Well, said, Fr. Alberione! A word of advice to all of us. Waiting for the “right time”? The “right time” has a habit of disappearing as you think about doing something, but don’t do it. Let’s do what we can NOW … and leave the Lord to worry if the time was “right” or not!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Vincenza Ferreri SGBP (1989)—Sr. Fulgida Sandrini FSP (1993)—Sr. Rita Dos Santos SGBP (1995)—Ramon Miguel Maturana HFI (1995)—Sr. Miriam Guidi FSP (2001)—Sr. M. Consolata Di Ruvo PD (2003)—Fr. Aldo Poggi SSP (2004)—Sr. M. Rosalia Rotolo PD (2005)—Stella Ruiz (2003)

Let's Get Into the House Before the Door Closes!

Let's get into the house before the door closes!



Nov. 6 - XXXII Sunday in Ordinary Time



As we approach the end of the Church Year, we are given two more liturgies underlining the true meaning of life on earth: constant preparation for life in heaven.


The Opening Prayer (which rarely gets the attention it deserves) asks for "freedom of spirit" to do the work of God. It also asks for "health in mind and body" - especially in mind. Our minds run our lives. We have, of course, automatic reflexes (when you put your hand on a hot stove you don't stop to think what you should do!), but all our other actions are first of all in our minds. This is a generic reflection.


The Second Reading is more specific and introduces the concept of "wisdom" The Book of Wisdom from which the Reading is taken, was written probably in the first century before Christ when Jews were being persecuted for their faith but also tempted to defect to a pagan culture. The Book points out many dangers which are familiar also to us. These are not mentioned in this Reading but they are to be understood as the reason we must seek the truth and live it.


The Responsorial Psalm must make many of us (perhaps all of us?) rather uneasy. "My soul is thirsting (?) for you, 0 Lord, my God" Can we read that without a sense that it really does NOT express our "thirst" which all to often is for something quite different? Perhaps yes, but there is no day like today for reflection and decision on where our life is going. All too often we have to say these words and then say to the Lord in tears: "Sorry, Jesus, I haven't go that far yet... help me!" The Second Reading finds St. Paul comforting his converts in Thessalonika. He had given the impression that the Lord would be returning any time but in the meantime people were dyiing and the problem arose: what will happen to these people who will not be here to greet the Master? St. Paul (still thinking of an imminent return of the Lord) says that not only those on earth at that time but equally those who have died will eventually be safe in the hands of God - "caught up together with them in the clouds." In fact the Savior still has to return but Paul's reference to the final Resurrection are still very valid.


In the Gospel we return again to the concept of wisdom. The Lord has in mind a Jewish wedding normally begun at night. The bridegroom comes when it suits him and the ten virgins for this reason must keep awake so as to be ready to escort the groom coming to claim his bride. There are many possible lessons to be drawn from this Gospel but the main one is surely to live a life such that we are always ready to greet the divine Bridegroom when he comes to take us to himself. The closing of the door is also significant. The time to prepare to meet the Bridegroom is limited and, once the door of our life is closed - so to speak - there is no possibility of opening it.


~ November 2011 Concord

All Saints...

Easier to pray... than examine your conscience.



It's Sunday!



November 1 - All Saints


What do the " Saints" - people we have known and loved and knew they would make a success of their lives, but also others who gave us quite the opposite impression - DO in heaven? One answer is that we don't really know, but this is not entirely correct. Mostly they REJOICE in the Lord but they are also, we believe, concerned about us and want us with them forever.


The First Reading is taken from the Book of Revelation which was written to encourage the early Christians of the second half of the first Christian century. From that point of view it is still, unfortunately, quite relevant. Even in our day the Church is being persecuted here and there in different parts of the world and - in another real sense - ALL of us are being subtly "persecuted" and weakened in our faith by the atmosphere around us poisoned by negative media.


The Responsorial Psalm brings us back to earth again. Our relatives and friends and neighbors are among that "great multitude" but we still have to arrive at journey's end and so we cry out in longing - everybody does, even those who say they don't believe in God. Then, how explain we are never satisfied?


The Second Reading points out that we shall be like God for all eternity. Too little! The God we believe in is limitless in His love, in His desire to give and thus in heaven we will BE in God just as, indeed, we are now if we could only grasp the reality of the Master's presence in our lives. This explains the urgency of correcting our defects, i.e. making ourselves as united as possible to him, because the unity we possess as we die is the unity that we will have in Paradise forever.


Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus gives us the blue-print for success in life - real and permanent success, not just whatever we may accomplish during our time on earth. Note that the Master speaks of states or attitudes, not of prayer. This is an important point. Since it is easier to say prayers than to examine our consciences, many good people say endless prayers all day long but the meantime they are much less concerned about rash judgments, gossip, fits of anger, lack of charity, and many other impediments to union with Christ. And so the lesson we can draw from today's liturgy is: of course that we must pray and ask the Lord's help - "without me you can do nothing." But we must also try very hard to find what defects may be keeping us from full union with him and ask his help constantly to get rid of them.


~ November 2011 Concord

November 6, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Sunday, November 6
XXXII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Sunday of the Month—the Divine Master, Way, Truth and Life
Wis 6: 12-16
1 Th 4: 13-18
Mt 25: 1-13

In heave the apostolate will not change and there you will pary for the apostolate of the press, radio and movie (APD 1947).

Father Tom: But… do we pray for this apostolate even now?? Do I? I have to convess that I pray for the Holy Souls and for individual members in difficulty and for an increase of membership, and for my own salvation. What about you?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Rosaria Russo HFI (1994)—Bro Aurelia Garcia SS (1999)—Sr. M. JanuacOeli Presti PD (2004)—Sr Giuseppina Franchi SGBP (2008)—Sr. M. Annunziata Spada FSP (2009)

November 5, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Saturday, November 5
OF THE DAY
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY on Saturday
First Saturday of the Month—Mary, Queen of Apostles
Rm 16: 3-9., 16: 22-27
Lk 16: 9-15

The first followers of Jesus were looking at Mary and how she practiced what He preached. So also, she remains an example in every nation and to all people of how the Gospel should be lived (RSP p. 569)

Father Tom: Actually, we people who have had a special training should give the example of how the Gospel should be lived. But, beginning with myself, perhaps we would hesitate to say: “Learn of me”? true? Well… we are still alive and perhaps will become exemplary in the time remaining?


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Giovenale Pistone SSP (1979)—Sr. Lucia Capra FSP (1985)—Sr. Luisa Toninello FSP (2007)—Anna A. Burnieika (1996)

November 4, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, November 4
St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop
First Friday of the Month—The Sacred Heart
Rm 15: 24-21
Lk 16: 1-8

November is a month that invites us to recollection, thoughts of eternity, of the need for spiritual progress (AAP 1957)

Father Tom: Indeed, but dear Father, why only in November? You were never one to live well in November and they whoop it up in the summer months! Neither should we be. Every day is a gift of God to be used for Him and for others.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Leandra Pianezzola PD (1969)—Sr. M. Ilaria Formento PD (1973)—Fr. Angelo Omarini SSP (1995)—sr. Giovanna Vaschetto FSP (1996)—Fr. Giacomo Yu SSP (2004)—Luigia Meo HFI (2006)—Sr. M. Assunta Carducci FSP (2007)—Sr. M. Leonina Dogliani PD (2007)—Louis A. Pizzi (1997)

November 3, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Thursday, November 3
OF THE DAY
St. Martin de Porres, Religious
First Thursday of the Month—The Guardian Angels
Rm 15: 7-12
Lk 15: 1-10

Nothing will be lost of what the children of God do or the children of Satan and both will receive the appropriate reward or punishment (BM p. 5610).

Father Tom: That seems to say it all. To SAY it all. Now whate about DOING something as a chld of God? We can sin by act and we can sin just as much by omission: “… in what I have done and in what I have failed to do”. We rattle off this formula at Mass without realizing how serious it is.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Chiara Saltarin PD (1993)—Sr. M. Alessandra Kim PD (2003)—Adrenaline Mendiola (2005)

November 2, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Wednesday, November 2
ALL SOULS
First Wednesday of the Month—St. Joseph
Jb 19 1, 23-27
Rm 5: 5-11
Jn 6: 37-40


I supplicate you, O Divine Master, for the souls in purgatory because of the Press, Radio and Television. May they pray to you and supplicate you for the modern world (Prayers of the Pauline Family).

Father Tom: And just as important, may we pray for them, beginning with our 20+ deceased members, then family and friends. We would not like to leave good friends languishing in the hospital without a visit. Let’s be even more concerned about the Holy Souls.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Gabriel Do Giovannantonio SSP (1985)—Sr. Lorenzina Franco SGBP (1995).

November 1, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

I saw this image on the internet. I don't know who created it, but will gladly give credit.

Tuesday, November 1
ALL SAINTS
First Tuesday of the Month—the Souls in Purgatory
Rev 7: 2-4, 9-14
Jn 3: 1-3
Mt. 5: 1-12
MONTHLY INTENTION

For an increase in Catholic initiatives in the field of social communications so as to promote human and Christian values effectively (Pauline Offertory).

Father Tom: Institute people are not very skilled in communications (beginning with YOU-KNOW-WHOM!) but let’s communicate the gift of the Institute and let’s most of all PRAY that others may become skilled.


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Gisepppina Cosner SCBP (1978)—Sr. M. Stefana Freddi PD (1980)—Fr. Angelo ARoldi IJP (1988)—Fr. Giuseppe Buttiglione IJP (1991)—Sr. M. Giusepppina Pormalejo FSP (1999)—Mr. Brem—Corinne Smith—Mike

October 31, 2011 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Monday, October 31
OF THE DAY
Rom 11: 29-36
Lk 14: 12-14
1999 Dedication of the Divine Master Church in Rome
In a few years we will be in one of the two eternities. Which will be ours? The one we are preparing for ourselves just now (VMC 913).

Father Tom: And on this note we end Octyober…forever! Sobering thought. But not, let’s prepare for November, ready to help our brothers and sisters on their way to Paradise!


Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Renato Magnani SSP (1962)—Sr. M. Addolorata Saracco FSP (1970)—Sr. Bernarda Lagrutta FSP (1973)—Sr. M. Edvige Bronska PD (1984)—Sr. Esterina Degni FSP (1994)—Fr. Enzo Quaglia IJP (1999)—Fr. Paolo Gilli SSP (2004)—Sr. Lidia Minnig FSP (2006)—Giovanna Corigliano HFI (2006)—Natalina Fortini IAM (2008)—Antonio Valdes (1950)