Pope on Christmas

"A Christmas celebrated without mention of the birth of Christ is an 'empty holiday'.
What sense does it make to celebrate Christmas if we don't acknowledge that God has become man?”

-- Pope Benedict XVI in his message last Wednesday

Huckabee

"You can find Santa at every mall.

You can find discounts

in every store,

but if you mention

the name of Jesus,

as I found out recently,

it upsets the whole world.

Forgive me, but I thought

that was the point

of the whole day."

-- Mike Huckabee, the Republican Presidential hopeful.

Jesus in our hearts

“What does it profit us if Jesus is born in thousand cribs and churches all over the world

and not born into our hearts?”

--Alexander Pope

A Prayer for Priests

O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep all Thy priests within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart, where none may harm them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands which daily touch Thy Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips purpled with Thy Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts sealed with the sublime marks of Thy glorious priesthood.

Let Thy holy love surround them and shield them from the world's contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they have ministered, be here below, their joy and consolation and in Heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen

GOD WAS THERE!

"I'm surprised how good they are! There's a miracle from God in there somewhere,” said Dr Kurt Bower who treated a man and his three children who were lost for three days in the mountains during a snow storm. Frederick Dominguez (38) and his three children, Christopher (18), Alexis (15) and Joshua (12) had gone into the mountain near Paradise, California, on Sunday, 16 December, searching for a good Christmas tree when the terrible snow storm buried their tracks and made it impossible to return home. A helicopter rescue team found all the four alive after three days of harrowing experience.
The man said it was his love for his children and his faith in God that kept them strong even when there was very little hope of survival. They sang church songs to lift their spirits during those three harrowing nights. The rescue came as relatives and friends had lost hope and the rescue team launched a final search as another severe snow storm was nearing. “It’s the best Christmas ever,” said Dominguez.

WHO IS BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE

On August 20, 1914, in Alba, Italy, Father Alberione founded the first congregation of the "Pauline Family," the brothers and priests of the Society of St. Paul. They were to use the modern means of communications to spread the Gospel. The following year, along with Sr. Thecla Merlo he founded the Daughters of St Paul to carry on with the men this important mission. In 1924, a second congregation for women was born: the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master for the eucharistic, priestly, and liturgical apostolates. To guide these sisters in their new vocation, Father Alberione chose Sr. Scholastica Rivata. Before his life was over he founded and organized a grand total of 10 groups that now make up the Pauline Family. He stressed a spirituality based on the Eucharist and the study of the Scriptures. He presented his followers with Christ as the Divine Teacher, the Way the Truth and the Life. He stressed the importance of developing the whole person and transforming the person into the whole Christ. Prayer, study, work and poverty were the four wheels that would keep his followers moving towards Christ and make them instruments of salvation. In a papal audience of 1969, Paul VI stated, "Here he is: humble, silent, tireless, always vigilant, ever recollected in his thoughts that run from prayer to work, ever attentive to the ‘signs of the times,’ that is, the most ingenious forms of reaching souls. Our Father Alberione has given the Church new instruments to express herself, new means to add vigor and breadth to her apostolate, a new capability and new awareness of the validity and of the possibilities of her mission in the modern world and with modern means." On November 27, 1971 Fr. James Alberione died. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 27, 2003.

"Blessed James Alberione felt the need to make Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life, known "to all people of our time with the means of our time", as he liked to say. He was inspired by the Apostle Paul, whom he described as a "theologian and architect of the Church", remaining ever docile and faithful to the Magisterium of the Successor of Peter, a "beacon" of truth in a world that is so often devoid of sound spiritual references. "May there be a group of saints to use these means", this apostle of the new times was in the habit of repeating.
What a formidable heritage he left his religious family! May his spiritual sons and daughters keep intact the spirit of their origins, to respond adequately to the needs of evangelization in the contemporary world. "
(From the Homily of Pope John Paul II, during the beatification ceremony at St Peter's Square, Vatican).

Prayer to St. Therese for Vocations

St. Therese, Little Flower, you are "love in the heart of the Church." You dedicated your life as a Carmelite Nun for good Priests to serve God's people. From your privileged place in God's Heart, I ask you to stir up responsive hearts in young men to follow Jesus as good and holy priests and religious. Bless our Church with loyal servants of the Gospel.
Renew our Church in love by igniting the love of the young men Jesus calls. We need your help, intercession, and intervention today, Beloved Patron of Priests. Amen.
--taken from prayer card issued by the Society of the Little Flower.

Isn’t it Strange???????

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how two hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying but... you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn’t it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel or Zane Grey book?

Isn’t it strange how everyone wants front-row tickets to concerts or games. But they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in the church?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events at the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say but... we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven but, they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away but then we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

TO PONDER & PRAY ALWAYS!!!

(I Pt 5: 6-7)

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.
Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you."

(this scripture passage is particularly powerful. It can change us and make us understand, accept and surrender to God's will. Please read, interiorize and repeat it as often as you can with full trust in God. You will experience miracles).

Society of St Paul

Who is James Alberione? Founder and Blessed.

Monthly Day of Prayer and Recollection

Theme: Mary our Model of Advent Preparation

Mary was totally open to God's invitation to bear and bring forth His Son.
She was given the annunciation experience during her ordinary, simple life situation.
Thus she becomes an apostle and Queen of Apostles.
We are called to be Christ-bearers and Christ-sharers like Mary, andthus apostles like her.
God gives us annunciation experiences in our own ordinary life situations.
Our openness and availability make it possible to bear Christ and share him with others.

(Thoughts shared by Sr Bernadette Reis, FSP)

A striking letter from Jesus....

PEACE BE WITH YOU!

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.

As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration.

Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time.

To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor! At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me.

Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you.
Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements.. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.

See you soon.
I Love you!

Jesus.

Share this message with your loved ones, before Christmas.

FAITHFUL TO DON ALBERIONE

By Fr Silvio Sassi
Superior General of the Society of St Paul,
Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication.

Who are the Paulines, present in 34 countries of the five continents with publishing houses of books, periodicals, music and radio productions, televisions, cinematography, with multiple areas of diffusion and multimedia bookstores, with internet sites, with centers of communication studies, among which a Faculty, with courses of specialisation in Sacred Scripture and organisms of the promotion of culture? We are a community of priests and consecrated laity who, responding to the gift of vocation, have decided to belong to the religious Congregation founded in 1914 in Alba (Cuneo, Italy) by a diocesan priest, Blessed James Alberione.

From the market point of view, Paulines can be identified a catholic publishing house at a world level. Observed as persons who continue the pastoral activity of Fr. Alberione, Paulines do not maintain a publishing house which puts out in the market products of Christian inspiration, nor the least, a commercial activity which has as a sole scope economic benefit. The inspirational idea behind all the editorial activities of Paulines has been indicated by the Founder since his first journalistic assignment in the direction of the weekly newspaper Gazzetta d’Alba: the press is a new form of evangelisation. In its 93 years of history, Paulines have assumed in their mission mass media communication, that of multimedia and on-line.

Faithful to the teachings of Blessed Alberione, we maintain that the proposal of the person and the teachings of Christ can be realised in a new way, complementary to that which comes in a parish: can be presented are the richness of the faith, the various modes of prayer and the necessity of a testimony in social work, as occurring in the multiple forms and languages of communication. The Pauline priests, do not assume, if not as exception, parish administration, because their parish is constituted by millions of persons who read the publications, listen to the transmissions, see the TV and cinematographic programs, are served in the bookstores, are formed by culture
and by communication and visit websites. «Your parish is the world», repeated untiringly by Fr. Alberione.

In front of the explosion of the phenomenon of the press, filled with the certainty that «if St Paul would return today he would be a journalist», Fr. Alberione with the approval of the Church, to realise “a new evangelisation”, gave life to the ecclesial community a new style of pastoral activity that has as foundation a new style of religious life: religious and priests, but also professionals of communication. The development of the works of the Congregation, has pushed the founder to start the other institutions which form the Pauline Family and motivated his followers to a progressive coinvolvement of professional laity who realises the Christian vocation participating in the aims of the Society of St Paul.

Well apart from wanting to be industrialist of the sacred, yet trusting in the mysterious ways of Providence, Paulines are convinced that it is possible to
encounter God in the pastoral activity in a parish as much as they immerse
themselves in the consumption of a communication in which God reaches out
his hand.

(written on the occasion of the 41st World Day of Social Communications)

THE ITINERANT PREACHER

He was born in an obscure village.
He worked in a carpenter’s shop until he was thirty.

He then became an itinerant preacher.
He never held an office.
He never had a family or owned a house.
He didn’t go to college.
He had no credentials but himself.
Twenty centuries have come and gone,
And today he is the central figure of human race.

All the armies that ever marched,
And all the navies that ever sailed,
All the parliaments that ever sat,
And all the kings that ever reigned
Have not affected the life
Of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life.

"He was called Jesus"
Luke 2:21

I ASKED GOD...

I asked God to take away my habit. God said, No!It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No!His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No! Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.God said, No! I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No! Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No! You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No! I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!

***

"May the Lord Bless you and keep you, May the Lord Make his face shine upon you, and give you peace forever”.