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

Saturday, January 10

CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
1 Jn 5: 14-21
Ps 149: 1-9
Jn 3: 22-30

All the power of Mary before God depends on the fact that she is the Mother of God. Therefor let our prayer be humble on the one hand, but also full of confidence (Meditazioni per consecrate secolari, p. 325).

From Father Tom:  How can we express the power of Mary? Is she not--she will forgive me for the comparison--like a great dynamo at the heart of the old-style ocean liner--there in quiet power but in maintaining the great ship on course just as the presence of Mary is absolutely central to the boat of Peter?

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Bernadita Arcila FSP (1987)--Mary Kennedy (2005)

January 9, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, January 9

CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
1 Jn 5: 5-13
Ps 147: 12-20
Lk 5: 12-16

Our confidence is revived while we call God with the title of "Father" (SM 664).

From Father Tom:  Jesus referred constantly to His "Father-" and died a terrifying death to show his love for this "Father" of His.The Father is the first-named when we talk of the Trinity but the relationship of Son to Father is beyond our minds to comprehend, all the more when we speak of the "Holy Spirit"!

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Maria Orsola Gattei PD (1947)--Fr. Antonio Maccaferri IJKP (1994)--Lucia Melotto HFI (1994)--Michele Budetta HFI (1997)--Maria da Assucao Pereira Pinto IAM (2001)

January 8, 2015 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Alberione

Thursday, January 8

CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
1 Jn 4: 19-5:4
Ps 72: 12, 14-17
Lk 4: 14-22

One of the characteristics of this Council is ecumenism as commitment of the Church and as exercise: respect for the separated Churches, for non-Catholics, for non-Christians, for adorers of the one God, for those who have some cult, for the atheists themselves, for all mankind (SP Sept-Dec 1964).

From Father Tom:  An important item of Council deliberations was what was called Ecumenism or the consideration of the life and teaching of other religious groups, some separated from us, other Christians but not of our persuasion, etc. We went from saying -- if not in actual words--"we are right and you people are wrong:-- to saying : "we are right but you people have also much right on your side."

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Manuel Marques SSP (1990)--Fr. Paolo Cirio SSP (1990)--Sr. M. Guglielmina Bufano PD (1995)--S.r Maria Cristina Barbieri FSP (1995)--Emilia Desato HFI (1995)--Bro Crisostomo Cancini SSP (2000)--Angelo Falchi, Gabrielite (2004)--Ruth Helline (1986)

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

Wednesday, January 7

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH-- ST JOSEPH
ST RAYMOND OF PENAFORT, PRIEST
CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
1 Jn 4: 11-18
Ps 72: 1-2, 10-13
Mk 6: 45-52

Characteristic of this Council are: the present-day situation of the Church in today's world, religious liberty, the role of the Catholic laity, intervention in everything and every-where bringing the voice of the Church as contribution toward peace, social justice, good morals, help for the poor and in everything that is real progress in every field (SP Sept--Dec 1964).

From Father Tom:  The Council looked at the situation of the Church at the time it assembled. Some characteristics and problems will always be much the same and these are as listed. Less visible but actually of tremendous importance was the role of the media, just beginning at the time That was where we came in!

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Ambrosina Vargas Suena FSP (1996)--Sr. M. Oliva Garcia Allende FSP (1997)--Fr Vincenzo Catrino IJP (1997)--Fr. Giovanni Scalone IJP (2002)--Charles W. Basquette (1992)

January 6, 2014 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Tuesday, January 6

FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH-- 
THE SOULS IN PURGATORY
ST ANDREW BESSETTE, RELIGIOUS
CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
1 Jn 4: 7-10
Ps 72: 1-8
Mt 6: 34-44

The reign of God always starts like the mustard seed. Likewise do all those works that are supernatural and destined to endure; they start in this way. Blessed are they who start from the Manger! All the rest can make an impression but they are worth nothing (Meditation, 22 Dec 1933)

From Father Tom:  The Kingdom of God begins like a mustard seed, and all the supernatural works and works which are going to last, begin in this way. Blessed is the one who begins from the crib! All the rest may make an impression but it is worth nothing..

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Bilberto Adaco Vasquez SSP (1985)--Esuperanzio Sdrubolini HFI (1987)--Bro Gilberto Zachin SSP (1990)--Sr. Marta Prinotti FSP (1993)--Fr. Giuseppe Cuva IJP (2002)--Sr. Anticla Labrettini FSP (2004)

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

Monday, January 5

FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH-- ST PAUL
ST JOHN NEUMANN, BISHOP
1 Jn 3: 22-4:6
Ps 2: 7-12
Mt 4: 12-25

The Council is the greatest, most complex and necessary of the world; it is the most immense and qualified assembly, called and presided over by the Vicar of Jesus to deal with human and divine problems, under the light and comfort of the Holy Spirit (SP Sept 1962)

From Father Tom:  Like every such meeting, the Vatican Council had representatives
                       * mostly Bishops from every corner of the world, the best brains
                       * the most experienced, the most dedicated and the most
                       * prayerful. It was a wonderful assembly.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Giacinta Cocciolone FSP (1945)--Bro Antonio Mollo SSP (1989)--Sr. Cristina Bertello FSP (1990)--Paterniano Falcioni HFI (1985)--Alfonso romano HFI (2000)--Sr. Elena Roallos FSP (2002)--Sr. Monica Lunkes FSP (2002)--Henry J. Berlo (1994)--Charles A Bujol (1939)

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

Sunday, January 4

FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE DIVINE MASTER, WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Is 60: 1-6
Ps 72: 1-11
Eph 3: 2-6
Mt 2: 1-12

We are children of God, members of the Church, disciples of the Divine Master: it [the Council] is not a matter that does not touch us; we constitute the Church: hence it is a matter of our spiritual and eternal interests, of the salvation of humanity (SP 1962).

From Father Tom:  It is a little fascinating--and also awe inspiring-to think that we, common or garden Catholics, have been raised by our Profession to be Church -- designated people and special representatives of the Divine Master. Let's never forget it!

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. M. Luigina Grandi FSP (1974)--Sr. Maria Agostina Agnetti FSP (1988)--Sr. M. Emanuella Pintus FSP (1989)--Fr. Remo Anselmi IJP (1990)--Fr. Alfredo Bordon IJP (1996)--Sr. Cristina Leonardo FSP (1997)--AMalia Tomasello HFI (2000)--Marie Mennella

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

Saturday, January 3

FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH--
MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES
THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS
CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
1 Jn 2: 29-3:6
Ps 98: 1-6
Jn 1: 29-34

I am sure that in all houses of the Pauline Family, the members have prayed every day with the Pope, for the Pope and for the Ecumenical Council (SP Sept 1961).

From Father Tom:  Yes, there were great expectations and prayers were many and fervent --even though most of us Paulines didn't really know what exactly we were praying for!Happens all the time...the main thing is to pray

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Fr. Davide Cordaro SSP (1958)--Fr. Antonio Sabarino SSP (1963)--Sr. Maria Deomnica Aguilar SSP (1987)--Fr. Benedetto De Stefano IJP (1989)--Fr. Nicola Cavotta IJP (1993)--Sr. M. Santos Gamez de Dios PD (2000)--Robert Walton Emily Renda (2008)

January 2, 2014 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

Friday, January 2

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE SACRED HEART
STS. BASIL THE GREAT & GREGORY NAZIANZEN, 
BISHOPS, DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH
1 Jn 2: 22-28
Ps 98: 1-5
Jn 1: 19-28

His Holiness, John XXIII, to whom we had promised our prayers for the preparation of the Vatican II Ecumenical Council, answered: "Thank you. Let us all pray...I commend to you the Holy Catholic Church. Pray for her unity. Ut unum sint (=that they may be one). Continue in your generous efforts for the coming of a better world" (SP--San Paolo-Sep 1962).

From Father Tom:  The reference here is not just generic--"better world" but has in mind the "Better World Movement" flourishing at the time under a Jesuit, Fr. Lombardi.

Please Pray for Our Deceased: Sr. Rosaria Nazari SGBP (1950)--Fr. Josep Labedz SSP (1967)--Sr. Aloisia Aciarri FSP (1977)--Fr. Sperandio Ravenoldi IJP (1985)--Fr. M. Benedicta Aimo PD (1997)--Sr. Quirina Angeli FSP (1999)--Sr. M. Matilde Garzitto FSP (2000)--M. Cristina Canfarotta HFI (2000)--Mateo Albano (1945)