March 8, 2016 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

ST JOHN OF GOD, RELIGIOUS
LENTEN WEEKDAY
Ez 47: 1-12
Ps 46: 2-9
Jn 5: 1-16  

Brother Andrea Maria Borello deserves to be glorified and recommended as an example to all those who consecrate themselves to the apostolate of social communication, but in a particular way to our Brothers (SP Jun 1964).

FROM FATHER TOM: The quote is still relevant after over 50 years. The challenges to our work are so great that prayer is often the ONLY relevant thing we can do. Sure we can reach a certain number of people...but convert them...?

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED: Sr. M. Carmine Vittiello FSP (1972)--Fr. Alvise Soppelsa SSP (1978)--Fr.  Giuseppe Gregoris UP (2000)--Sr. M. Benedetta Baiguera FSP (2010)--Fr. Leo Mathew Vechoor SSP (2011)--Fr. Gino Ferrari UP (2015)--Byron B. Bordellon, Jr. (1974).

March 7, 2016 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

MONDAY, MARCH 7

FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH--
ST PAUL THE APOSTLE
SS PERPETUA AND FELICITY, MARTYRS
LENTEN WEEKDAY
Is 66: 17-21
Ps 30: 2-4, 11-13
Jn 4: 43-54

This miracle (today's gospel) must contribute to make us grow in faith in Jesus Christ, by whose action we have been freed from the fever of sin (RSP, p. 279).

FROM FATHER TOM: The actual miracle is not listed but it might be the recover of Peter's mother-in-law whose fever Jesus cured just as he can cure us if we ask His help.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED: Fr. Domenico Ambrosio SSP (1971)--Sr. Adelaide Bertolini SGBP (1979)--Michele Piccininni HFI (2003)--Sr. M. Enrica Paloschi FSP (2012)--Sr. M. Angelica Ancilotto FSP (2014)--Sr. Clotilde Sorrentino SGBP (2014)

When You Forgive...

March 6, 2016 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

SUNDAY, MARCH 6

FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE DIVINE MASTER, WAY, TRUTH 
AND LIFE
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Jos 5: 9-12
Ps 34: 2-9
Eph 5: 8-14/ 2 Cor 5: 17-21
Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32

With the help of Divine grace we have the strength to bring to a good end the work of our sanctification and all the good initiatives of the apostolate (BM, p. 220).

FROM FATHER TOM: All the good initiatives? And what might be the "bad" initiatives? Your guess is as good as mine, but doubtless the Founder is talking about activity founded on, and preceded by prayer.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED: Sr. M. Natalina Rivetti PD (1961)--Francesco Luperto HFI (1992)--Fr. Giovanni Mana SSP (2007)--Sr. M. Gabriella Mana FSP (2012)--Sr. M. Fedele Olivero PD (2012)--Sr. M. Giacomina Monticone FSP (2013)--Sr. Emma Garol FSP (2013)--Sr. M. Giulietta Leguizamon PD(2013)--Leo Helline (1993)

God Never Ceases to Call...

God of mercy, 

You never cease calling us

to renew our relationship with You.

Bring us back

when we wander from the path of truth

and fidelity.

Help us return to You with humble and

contrite hearts.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen
~Daily Prayer 2016, p. 98

March 5, 2016 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

SATURDAY, MARCH 5

FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH--
MARY QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES
LENTEN WEEKDAY
Hos 6: 1-6
Ps 51: 3-4, 18-21
Lk 18: 9-14

Gradually as we lower ourselves in humble and true knowledge of ourselves, we approach God and elevate ourselves to Him (BM, p. 544).

FROM FATHER TOM: As I have pointed out several times, the movement in this case comes especially from God. We don't need to "elevate ourselves"--presumption--but simply leave enough space in our lives for our humble God.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED: Sr. M. Natalina Rivetti PD (1961)--Francesco Luperto HFI (1992)--Fr. Giovanni Mana SSP (2007)--Sr. M. Gabriella Mana FSP (2012)--Sr. M. Fedele Olivero PD (2012)--Sr. M. Giacomina Monticone FSP (2013)--Sr. Emma Garol FSP (2013)--Sr. M. Giulietta Leguizamon PD(2013)--Leo Helline (1993)

March 4, 2016 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

FRIDAY, MARCH 4

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
ST CASIMIR
LENTEN WEEKDAY
Hos 14: 2-10
Ps 81: 6-17
Mk 12: 28-34

The souls who confide in St. Joseph run to him in every necessity. And they notice soon enough his protection and his prayer (RSP, p. 356).

FROM FATHER TOM: How are you on this point? How am I? Don't be so inquisitive.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED: Sr. M. Annina Strano PD (1949)--Sr. M. Vincenza Adamao PD ( 1980)-Fr. Amedeo la Mattina UP (1983)--Fr. Mario Senettone UP (1990)--Sr. M. Albertina Parma PD (1999)--Sr. M. Redenta Alessi PD (2002)--Sr. Nazarena Merigo SG-BFH2Q04--Isabel MSrquez--IAM (2008)--Luigi Roberti HFI (2011)--Frederick Tarlit (2003)

March 3, 2016 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

THURSDAY, MARCH 3

FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH--
THE GUARDIAN ANGELS
ST KATHERINE DREXEL, VIRGIN
LENTEN WEEKDAY
Jer  7: 23-28
Ps 95: 1-9
Lk 11: 14-23

In the light of Saint Joseph, the concern of Brother Andrea Maria Borello was to inform the whole of his life with intense reparatory piety, habitual recollection and silence, a serene docility in generous sharing in the apostolate through technology. and propaganda, a constant straining toward Pauline perfection (SP Jun 1964).

FROM FATHER TOM: We have to recall, however that Brother Borello lived what was called "the life of perfection," and did not have to accept that perfection can be reached in any lifestyle.

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED: Sr. Edvige Vitali FSP (1946)--Bro Slavatore Paglieri SSP (1997)--Bro Arturo Guinea Barredo SSP (2014)--Paul Douglas (2004)--Buna Weckter (2010)

March 2, 2016 With Blessed Father Alberione and With Father Tom

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH--
ST JOSEPH
LENTEN WEEKDAY
Dt 4:1, 5-9
Ps 147: 12-20
Mt 5: 17-19

The first Wednesday is dedicated to Saint Joseph with a threefold aim: 1) protection over the Church universal; 2) a happy death for each one of us and for all the dying of the month; 3) Divine assistance in all our needs (SP Dec. 1952, I)

FROM FATHER TOM: The "hours of prayer" are the surest guarantee that we will have a happy death. And is the opposite not equally true?

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED: Fr. Giovanni Tronci UP (1980)--Fr Francesco Bonfiglio SSP (1988)--Sr. M. Emilia Demarie PD (1999)--Egidio Gazzola GABRIELITE (2002)--Sr. M. Elisa De Paolis FSP (2003)--Anelina Mencarini HFI (2004)--Anna Muneroni IAM (2006)--Fr Giovanni Selle SSP (2010)--Sr. M. Cecilia Baron Toaldo FSP (2011)--Sr. M. Lorenza Binni FSP (2013)--Bro Alex Lameida SSP (2014)--Massimo Bientinesi HFI (2014)--Olandia Bonoarr (1952)