April 2018: Olive Tree
Volume II/Issue 24/April 2018
From The Editorial Desk:
This month we celebrate the Patron Saint of our site Brother Hermenegilds Spiritual Bookshelf . Here you will find timeless classics of the Catholic Faith made available so all may deepen their Faith.
With this in mind I thought it would be appropriate to give a bit of a back ground to one of our favorite Saints for my editorial. Enjoy!
St. Hermenegild was a Visigoth Prince matyred for the faith in 585. He was put to death by his father, the Arian King Leovigild for holding firm to the Catholic faith. His father cast him into a dungeon and after several months, sent an Arian Bishop to him on Easter Sunday to offer him a pardon if he would accept Communion from him. By his firm refusal to yield his faith to heresy, even to his father’s heresy, he earned a martyr’s crown. His story has a particular relevance to this unique and tragic time in the Church.
Saint Hermenegild was a young martyr, seventeen years old, who lived in the sixth century. He was Catholic, but his father was a heretic, an Arian. He was supposed to inherit the throne of Spain, but his father, furious that his son was a Catholic, forbade him the throne and sentenced him to prison. Hermenegild – whom we celebrate on April 13th, was in prison for several months as Easter approached. He wanted to receive Holy Communion for Easter. His father was thinking the same thing and sent him a bishop carrying Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament! What a joy for Hermenegild to be able to make his Easter communion! Except that when the bishop entered the prison cell, he presented himself thus: “I am the Bishop of Huesca, I am an Arian and I bring you Holy Communion!” “I am Arian,” that is to say “I am a heretic, I’m not Catholic.”
It was a bishop who was not Catholic, who brought Holy Communion to Hermenegild. What did Hermenegild do? What would you have done in his place? Would you still have accepted to receive Holy Communion? In order to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, is it not worth making some compromises, receiving even from unworthy hands the Lord Jesus? This bishop celebrated Mass validly though he did not believe that Jesus is God, because that was the Arian religion. He did not even believe that Jesus was God! But we do think he could validly celebrate Mass and he was bringing Jesus in the Eucharist!
Well, in the twinkling of an eye, inspired by one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost − the gift of Counsel, he said: “No. I will not receive communion from your sacrilegious hands! As for me, I am in chains but I am free to work my salvation. You, my lord, are free but you are a slave of the devil because you have a false faith, you’re not Catholic! And I will not receive Holy Communion from sacrilegious hands!”
What an example for us, my dear faithful! All the beautiful gifts coming from Rome, we are not prepared to accept them without examination, without considering the circumstances in which this gift would be made. We demand to be able to maintain our public and entire profession of the Catholic Faith. We cannot receive poisoned gifts that would condemn us to compromise with Modernism. This is the example of Saint Hermenegild, inspired by the Holy Ghost.
When the Arian heresy swept throughout Christendom, and nearly destroyed the Church, the remnant remained steadfast, even to martyrdom and their prayers and sacrifices eventually achieved the extirpation of the evil heresy of Arianism.
Modernism, the synthesis of all heresies is the current counterpart to the ancient evil of Arianism; and we are facing an even greater threat to the faith in promotion of relativism and situation ethics. Unlike past times, today’s Church is not only beset by a pernicious heresy, it is permeated with a debilitating corruption in both the laity and the consecrated life. Now, the Church is so constituted that those who are blessed with the faith are charged with helping those who are failing in their faith.
Therefore, we are responsible for our wayward priests, prelates and Popes. We owe them our prayers, but we also owe them the truth. We are responsible for recalling to the faith those who have fallen into error.
Those who are considered our spiritual leaders have achieved what was previously unthinkable: They have introduced heresy in there homilies and writings, heresies against the clear and firm teaching of the Faith proclaimed by Our Lord Jesus Christ and the constant teaching and practice of the faith for over 2,000 years. And the silence of our brave “Princes of the Church” is stunning! Who will defend the Bride of Christ?
We are fast approaching a time, when after our prayers and penances, after our remonstrations, we must do as St. Hermenegild did. Soon, I believe we are being called to leave our comfortable places in the institutional Church; we may yet have to say with Athanasius, “They have the churches, but we have the faith.” With the Holy Family, we need to withdraw to the desert, until this onslaught of heresy plays out and God once again restores the Visible Church of Rome.
St. Joseph was forced to take his Family and leave the visible structure of his faith in order to save the faith. Let us pray to him, as Guardian of the Holy Family and Protector of the Church to protect us now from those in our own hierarchy who seek to destroy the Faith and murder souls in the name of a perversion of mercy.
"Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath the faithful with the unbeliever? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God saith: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore, Go out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: And I will receive you; and I will be a Father to you; and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (II Corinthians 6:14-18)
Reading Sacred Scripture
In reading the Gospels, let us remember each person that came across Jesus' path did so for a reason in their life. There is a lesson in each encounter that is related in Sacred Scripture. Some did God's will and some did not. The same may also be said with the balance of Sacred Scripture in which much fruit will be found in contemplating its sacred pages.
Each saint had a lesson to teach us, which is why the Church presents them to us for emulation. Unfortunately in the last century or more, we see flowery lives written of plaster saints, which bear more resemblance to their statue than to their life. I have found that often you only get part of the story, when we need a few key points from other places to flesh out the true picture of the lesson God wants us to receive from this or that saint. Later on we will have an example of this.
One story from the Gospels has puzzled me for decades, until I read what the Fathers of the Church have to say on the subject. Let us consider it and my first thoughts and then what I learned recently from the Fathers:
“And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting? Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith to him: All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me? Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16-22)
Let us look at this man with a surface view. He is doing the minimums fine. So why did he go away sorrowing? And this is where we need to go to the Fathers of the Church. Some of the Fathers say this man lost his soul. And so why do they think this? Isn't he keeping the minimums? We do not know how he lived after this incident, but these Fathers believe he fell away. Why did he lose grace?
Why did this man approach Jesus in the first place? God sent him a grace to prompt him to look for more in his life. Following this grace he went to Jesus. But the prompting was for more than the minimums: “All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me?” What was wanting to him? Jesus answered: “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.”
Now we need to look at the other five calls issued by Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus called James and his brother John. Jesus called Andrew and his brother, Simon. And Jesus called Matthew. They instantly answered Jesus' call, leaving all things. Look up the Scriptures and read them. Jesus has now given this man a vocation, that is a call to a more perfect life. When this man rejected Jesus' call, it is quite probable that God removed grace from the man, because of his unfaithfulness.
Saint Teresa of Avila had many great graces from God, including inner promptings called locutions. And yet Jesus was able to show her the place prepared for her in hell, had she been unfaithful. Teresa received a locution from Jesus that He wanted her to give up her visits with someone. These visits were permitted by the Rule, but Jesus asked for her to make this sacrifice. It took over a decade and a half for her to make this sacrifice. At the same time, she had to use a book during the meditation period to find something to reflect on. Her advance in the spiritual life was retarded by this refusal to make this small sacrifice.
God is speaking to us. Rarely does He use burning bushes or locutions. Those are reserved for certain people He wishes to speak to in a more dramatic manner. Also these special graces, such as visions and locutions, are extraordinary cases and not necessarily a sign of sanctity. For instance, God works miracles for several reasons. He may work a miracle to prove someone's sanctity as He does in cases of those who He wishes the Church to declare saints. He may also work a miracle to prove someone's mission from Him. In fact, if someone claims an extraordinary mission from God, he should be asked to ask God to prove his mission by a miracle. God used a dream to confirm Saint Francis of Assisi's mission to the Pope, so the Pope would approve his Rule.
God speaks to us in many ways. One is through those He has placed in authority over us, the Pope, the Bishop of our diocese and the Pastor of our parish. He also speaks to us through our Confessor, who we should listen to in holy obedience. He speaks to us through Sacred Scripture, which we should be reading from every day. Spiritual reading is another way God speaks to us. God can speak to us through the most unlikely instruments, such as Balaam's ass in Sacred Scripture. Saint Augustine heard a child say: “Take and read.” Circumstances can also indicate God's will.
And so what do we do, when we receive a prompting to investigate: “Is God asking something from me?” First we follow the prompting. For it may be to “take and read,” something and to consider it in our heart. It may be to go to our God given superior to ask him his advice on the matter.
Saint John the Evangelist reminds us: “Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1) Not every inspiration may be from God, but we should look into them. This is why we have a Pastor and a Confessor to present our case to for advice. Even the Pope has a Confessor, who he consults on spiritual matters. The Pope and the Bishops also have advisers they consult in the discharge of their God-given duty.
We should also place the matter before God in sincere prayer from our heart, considering in our heart His holy will. Sometimes the matter will be clear cut and our duty immediately clear as in the Gospel we began with today. What the man needed to resolve to do, he needed to do so instantly. The only thing that would take time is selling all he had and giving it to the poor. The resolution needed to be instantaneous. Other matters need consideration and prudence. This is why we need a strong spiritual life, so we can recognize God's will better.
Once we are certain about God's will, then our duty is to follow God wherever He may lead us. Like the Apostles, we must be ready to drop everything and follow Him, if that is what He asks of us.
Let us take time to consider: “What more is God asking me to do for Him and His holy Church?”
Children seem to be scared about various things, don't they? Whether it be a strange noise or fear of "monsters under the bed," children get scared quite often. And as we get older, we still get scared of various things: watching scary movies or hearing unfamiliar noises. Even as adults, we still can get scared. Whether it be someone threatening us or receiving a bad health report from the doctor. Again, the point is that all throughout our life human beings will get scared of various things. But fear always seems to go away . . . or at least diminish a great deal . . . when someone is with us. When the young child is scared of a "monster under the bed" or scared after having a bad dream, and mom or dad comes in, the child is relieved, the child is comforted. When the teenager is bullied at school, it is comforting to be in the company of friends. When someone gets a questionable health report and a MRI or a CAT scan is ordered, aren't we relieved when someone goes with us to the hospital . . . . to support us . . . to help us . . . . to be by our side?.
I recently saw a TV program where it recounted a horrifying event where a woman was involved in a high-speed car chase. The woman was being chased by an ex-boyfriend. The man had intentions of killing this woman and so was chasing her with his car because he wanted to shoot her. Well, the visual scenes were portrayals of the event that occurred but they played the actual recordings of the 911 calls. You see, the woman was on the phone with the 911 operator for some eleven minutes while this whole event unfolded. At one point, when the woman knew that the man was upon her and she felt that her end was near, this woman asked the 911 operator to please call her mother. They interviewed the woman for the TV show and she explained the reason why she asked the operator to call her mother was because she wanted to hear her mother's calming voice. She wanted to hear the voice of the person that was there for her throughout her entire life. In her moment of panic, when things seemed the darkest, she wanted someone to be there for her. She wanted her mother to be with her at that moment even if it was only via telephone. Again, when we are facing trials or tribulations that scare us to death, we feel comfort when someone is with us . . . to support us, . . . to be with us, . . . "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD Thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
In the Twentieth Chapter of St. John's Gospel, St. John describes the disciples days after Our Lord's Crucifixion. St John describes that the disciples were found shut up behind closed doors: " . . . . where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, . . . . " (St. John 20:19) The disciples were scared, St. John writes. They had "fear of the Jews," we are told. Now it's not the fear of the disciples that I want to focus on. I mean, let's face it, wouldn't you be scared too? I think I would be. If we had been in their shoes and had seen our teacher, our leader, taken into custody, savagely scourged at the pillar, forced to carry His own Cross, and then crucified, they probably thought that they were next. They obviously thought that they were targeted as well because, again, St. John tells us that they were "assembled for fear of the Jews." All of this is obvious. So what I want to focus on is the complete turn around when Our Lord appears to them. We read that Our Blessed Saviour appears to them and shows them His Hands and His side. And when the disciples recognize that this really is their Master, St. John writes: "Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. " (v. 20) They were glad. More than that, they were relieved. The Lord was with them. Similar to when the small child is scared of the "monster under the bed" or frightened due to a sudden shock, and the parent is there to protect, to comfort. The child feels protected. So, too, the disciples felt protected that the Blessed Lord was there in their midst . . . to comfort them . . . to relieve them . . . to protect them.
So often if life we get scared by a whole host of scary things: losing people we don't want to lose . . . being overwhelmed by bills . . . . health concerns . . . . getting older . .. . the list goes on and on. We all have things that cause us to be scared to one degree or another. And when people are scared, sometimes they turn to things they should not turn to to help them cope with their fear: drugs, . . . drink, . . . . But we should turn to God when we are scared. We should turn to Our Heavenly Father when we have concerns. God is the One that will help us. God is the One that wants to be there for us. God is the One that is concerned for our well-being. Turn to God and turn your life over to Him. Let Him be your guide, your inspiration, your anchor in the storm. Remember when the disciples were in the ship and a storm came up and they became afraid that they were going to die. Our Blessed Lord came to them: "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." (St. Matthew 14:27)
Our Lord is always with us. God is always faithful to us. God is always true to His word. The problem is that we are not always true to our word. Despite the fact that God is always with us, we are not always with God. In other words, we are too busy with our own lives . . . our own concerns . . . we are too busy involved in what keeps us busy in this life . . . too busy to notice that God was with us all along. Our Lord said to the disciples in the last chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel: " . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (St. Matthew28:20)
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (St. John 14:27) Only the peace of Christ can give us true security. Only the peace found in Our Blessed Saviour can give true peace . . . lasting peace . . . real joy. So many of our concerns in our everyday life seem to trouble us to no end: bills that never seem to get paid off . . . . responsibilities at work and home that seem to overwhelm us . . . concerns for our well-being or the well-being of our loved ones that burden us. We know that life is not always the proverbial "bowl of cherries." Sometimes life is difficult, quite frankly. Sometimes, life is overwhelming. But God is there with us in the good times and the bad. God is there for us . . . and with us . . . . when things seem the darkest. "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord Thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9) As I stated, sometimes life can be scary. Sometimes life can be downright overwhelming. Sometimes we have good reason to be scared . . . to be nervous. I have to admit I always liked the John Wayne quote regarding courage. He said: "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." He's right. The definition of "Courage" is not the absence of fear. The definition of courage, it seems to me, is being afraid and moving forward despite the fear. Be strong! Have courage! God is with us. "Be not afraid." "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
The Funny Pharmacy
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones. - Proverbs 17:22
Do you agree that the only necessary condition for papal candidacy is for the person to be a baptized male Catholic?
Yes, this is the teaching of the Church, as Ecclesiastical Law cannot limit who may be elected, as history proves.
The Pope Speaks: April 2018
All Thee and no me
Why won't we make this commitment to Almighty God? Why won't we give our self completely into His hands? Why do we hold things back from Almighty God? Don't we realize that He could take everything we have in a moment? “For in one hour are so great riches come to nought; and every shipmaster, and all that sail into the lake, and mariners, and as many as work in the sea, stood afar off.” (Apocalypse 18:17) We could go from living in luxury with our family to being abandoned, homeless and mocked by our friends. It happened to Job.
In our pride we think on things as mine, not as coming from God. Didn't I work hard to amass these possessions, to gain these honors? Doesn't the Church teach that we have a right to our private property?
In fact, we are so bold as to take credit for our talents and abilities. But let us consider that God created us, our talents and our abilities. True, we may have done something to perfect our talents and abilities, but without God we would not have had them to build on in the first place. A strong man can be reduced to a weakling in the blink of an eye in a car crash or more slowly by a disease.
Let us seriously consider that all that we have and are comes from Almighty God. Without His help we would have and be nothing. This should help us surrender our self completely to Almighty God and conform our self completely to His holy will.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) Like Saint John the Baptist, we must decrease to nothingness so that Jesus may be all. Indeed, this is the center and key to the spiritual life. Jesus said: “Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Saint Therese of Lisieux had her little way, where she looked for an elevator to get to Heaven. We should follow her example and become as a little child before Almighty God. Indeed, we are merely a tool, which God may use or not as He wills. Let us be ready to be used and ready to be forgotten and left in the tool box.
And so let us come to God and tell Him we want our life to be All Thee and no me. May Thy holy will be done in me, Almighty God. Amen.
Dear soul, it is a joy to write to you again. I hope that the lenten season has helped to rejuvenate and to reinvigorate your resolve in living the life of prayer. Certainly the incomparable celebrations of Paschaltide offer to each and every one of us a grace-filled opportunity to continue our walk, daily picking up our crosses, and following Him Who is risen from the dead!
This month, we will quickly consider the next ten chapters from Evagrius on prayer. As we grow naturally and supernaturally in the life of prayer, we more and more develop a sense of how the truths related in the chapters on prayer flow one from the other. I think you will find as we continue that you will have already come to a certain intuitive recognition of the various chapters that we encounter even before we actually arrive to them. This is a sure sign that you are growing well.
Have no fear, though, should such ideas seem not to occur to you frequently, or even at all. What is important is that you do pray. Intellectually thinking about prayer is secondary at best. And that leads us straight to the next "chapter" from Evagrius:
11. Try to make your intellect deaf and dumb during prayer: you will then be able to pray.
This can not be stated enough, my dear soul. The intellect must not be allowed free reign during the time of prayer, or else distraction will become the rule. The intellect should be trained gently to return always to the matter at hand - prayer - as soon as we avert to it straying off. The fathers through the centuries strongly warn against allowing discursive though and imagination during the time of prayer. This is a sure way to spiritual delusion and destruction. Turn your intellect to the meaning of the words you might be saying during prayer, and to the intentions for which you have been enjoined to pray.
If you do not seek to control the impulses of your intellect, you will easily be thrown about by every passing thought, and this will invariably cause imbalance within the psyche. This brings us to the next "chapter."
12. Whenever a temptation or a feeling of contentiousness comes over you, immediately arousing you to anger or to some senseless word, remember your prayer and how you will be judged about it, and at once the disorderly movement within you will subside.
See here the remedy for the unbalanced soul in prayer: simply bringing the intellect back to remembrance of prayer itself, and the fact that we are to be judged according to our own prayer.
I must here mention, dear soul, that we are not to become overly scrupulous in this matter, even as we fight against our own unruly passions. You are not going to be able to keep your intellect perfectly upon prayer as a beginner in the way. Even one who spends a lifetime in the way of prayer will still find it a struggle - a winnable struggle, but a struggle nevertheless - to train and keep his intellect according to the manner which is profitable. Do not be discouraged in this! Rather know that the struggle is itself a means of grace for yourself and for others. Boldly face it within yourself. This leads to the next "chapter."
13. Whatever you do to avenge yourself against a brother who has done you a wrong will prove a stumbling-block to you during prayer.
See here that our boldness must be in overcoming ourselves, not in avenging ourselves. Though we be wronged, the fathers tell us to become insensible to this, to overcome ourselves, to do the will of God - which is none other than our own sanctification. Thus, even having been wronged can become an opportunity for selflessness, and opportunity for grace, both for ourselves and for those who may have done us a wrong. God thereby can bring good out of evil, and thus is darkness conquered. This leads us to the next few "chapters," which we would all do well to keep in our heart.
14. Prayer is the flower of gentleness and of freedom from anger.
15. Prayer is the fruit of joy and thankfulness.
16. Prayer is the remedy for gloom and despondency.
Here, dear soul, we see encapsulated the essence of the life of prayer. How sorely do we need this in our world today! All around us we see anger, gloom, despondency. These have become, as it were, even a way of life for the world. And is it not easy to fall into these ourselves? So easy it is for us broken sinners to become blinded by our selves, and to fall into these sad traps.
But we are not without hope, dear soul. Prayer is at all time and in every place available to the soul who seeks. Let us make seeking the solace of prayer into a habit! And let our joy and thankfulness not only animate our actions, but let them shine through us, attracting others to the spring of grace! Let us keep nothing for ourselves, but rather let us hear the next "chapters" on prayer.
17. 'Go and sell all you have and give to the poor' (Matt. 19:21): and 'deny yourself, taking up your cross' (Matt. 16: 24). You will then be free from distraction when you pray.
18. If you wish to pray as you should, deny yourself all the time, and when any kind of affliction troubles you, meditate on prayer.
No one is so free as he who has given all to the poor to take up his cross daily and follow the Lord, in Whom is ineffable treasure. Though we are constrained certainly to make us of the things of this earth while we yet find ourselves here, and we are called to do great good with the material goods given to us from the bounty of God, we must not allow ourselves to become slaves to them.
Would you be free from distraction in prayer, free from anger, free from gloom, free from despondency, free from the unrelenting waves of that depression which kills the spirit? Then come! Give all you have, including your very self, and follow our Lord! The Lord does call. Hear his voice.
The only cost is the very temporary pain of losing illusory happiness. When illusion is stripped away, then you will be able to open your eyes to the light of reality in grace. This bring us to our final "chapters" for this month.
19. If you endure something painful out of love for wisdom, you will find the fruit of this during prayer.
20. If you desire to pray as you ought, do not grieve anyone: otherwise you 'run in vain' (Phil. 2:16).
Yes, we endure the pain of discarding the comfort of illusion, but we do so out of love for that wisdom which is found in God and in Him alone. It is only through prayer that we will find the fruit of such an act as giving up all things.
But it must be done in the proper spirit, and never for the sake of anything or anyone less than God Himself. Nor is the life of prayer ever to be used as a weapon against another, to grieve another, or to cause you to esteem yourself more than another. For if we make the life of pryaer and grace an excuse for injuring others, we decieve ourselves, enflame our passions, inflate our egos, and truly "run in vain."
Dear soul, I think that here we have ample spiritual food for meditation over the coming month, especially as we find ourselves in the joyous season of Paschaltide.
Let us take these lessons to heart. Let us run not in vain, but in boldness, confidence, and grace. Thus we will ourselves become vessels of grace and supple instruments in the hand of the all-good God. And let us pray for each other.
Books to feed your faith!
The Roman Martyrology $19.95
Charity: A Commentary on I Corinthians 13 $9.99
For More Good Traditional Catholic Books:
Brother Hermenegild's Spiritual Bookshelf
Pope Michael's Books
Christ the King Library
Roast Leg of Lamb
A delicious and traditional Easter dish, simple but delightful.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 h 45 minutes
Ready In: 2 hours 10 minutes
"Cooking peeled potatoes in the pan around the roast makes a delicious side. The only other things you need are gravy made from the pan drippings and a fresh vegetable."
Ingredients
4 cloves garlic, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
5 pounds leg of lamb
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Cut slits in the top of the leg of lamb every 3 to 4 inches, deep enough to push slices of garlic down into the meat. Salt and pepper generously all over the top of lamb, place several sprigs of fresh rosemary under and on top of the lamb. Place lamb on roasting pan.
Roast in preheated oven until the lamb is cooked to your desired doneness, about 1 3/4 to 2 hours. Do not overcook the lamb, the flavor is best if meat is still slightly pink. Let rest at least 10 minutes before carving.
Kulich (Russian Panettone)
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Ready In: 6 hours 10 minutes
Kulich is a sweet yeast bread, similar to panettone, that is traditionally baked in Russia for Easter. But you can enjoy it any time! It can be glazed or left plain. You can bake the bread in large coffee tins so they keep their traditional shape.
Ingredients
Kulich:
1/2 cup sultana raisins or golden raisins
1/4 cup rum or vodka
3 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 cup white sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups warm milk (105 degrees F (40 degrees C))
6 cups sifted all-purpose flour, divided
5 eggs, separated
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup candied mixed fruit peel
Icing:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 egg white
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions
Combine sultanas/raisins and rum/vodka in a small bowl and let soak.
Dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in 1/2 cup milk in a bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 10 minutes.
Mix remaining 1 cup milk and 1 cup flour together in a bowl. Add yeast mixture and stir well. Cover and let stand in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Beat 5 egg whites and salt in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form.
Combine remaining sugar and egg yolks in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until fluffy and pale, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract. Drain sultanas/raisins and add rum/vodka to egg mixture. Add to yeast mixture and mix well. Fold in egg whites gently. Add remaining flour in small batches, mixing well after each addition, until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Turn out dough onto a floured work surface and knead for about 10 minutes, adding more flour as needed. Start rubbing in 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup at a time, once dough seems pliable and soft. Knead for 2 more minutes and form into a ball.
Transfer to a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean dish towel. Allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 90 minutes.
Tun dough out onto a floured work surface and knead for 2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over sultanas/raisins. Scatter sultanas/raisins, almonds, and mixed peel in a circle around the dough. Keep kneading dough to incorporate fruits and nuts evenly.
Line 2 large metal coffee tins with parchment paper. Divide dough in half and transfer to the tins. Cover with a clean dish towel. Allow to rise in a warm place until dough has risen to the top, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake kulich in the preheated oven until top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 1 hour. Carefully tip loaves out of the tins onto a work surface and let cool, about 2 hours.
Combine confectioners' sugar, 1 egg white, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Brush over the the tops of the kulich loaves, allowing icing to run down the sides.
Video sermons and instructions: Oldies but goodies!
Easter 2013
One Flock
Third Sunday after Easter 2013
Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew
VIE EVENTS FOR APRIL
Hi friends, We at Catholic Radio are excited about all the new programs we've got going for the month of April. Let me tell you about them. We have a new line up of programming that we think you will enjoy. Since the 16th century, Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The Church traditionally encouraged the month of April for increased devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. With this in mind, starting the first Sunday of the month of April you will be able to listen to wonderful homilies with different perspectives on the Holy Eucharist.
Then Monday through Saturday is even more wonderful programs for your enjoyment.
If you missed the Sunday's sermon on the Holy Eucharist never fear! You can catch it every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as well.
Welcome to Paws and Tales! Paws and Tales is stories that come from the town of Wildwood. Here the folks live just like you and me. They love fun and adventure, enjoy their work and family, and try to learn each day what it means to be like Christ. You can hear this program on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. You might find your children wanting to turn off the TV and listen in on the radio.
We have people from all over the world that tune in to the VIE Catholic Radio network, In fact, those who are listening in have almost doubled! But few contact us to tell us what they think. So I encourage you to please email us or write us with your thoughts and let us get to know you. For everyone that contacts us we will send a free copy of the Gospel of John, a rosary and a rosary pamphlet. It will be our gift to you, thanking you for taking the time to contact us. But please give us your mailing address so that we can send them out to you. To get OUR address, or to contact us by email please go to the contact page at www.VIECatholicRadio.com. And lastly, these programs are provided for you free of charge but it does cost us money to get them out to you. We sure would appreciate any financial help that the Lord would lay on your heart to give. We have a small group of people who faithfully send us a gift to help us with the up keep of this station. And we are so grateful for what they give. And of course we all ways need your prayers. Thanks for taking the time to tune in and listen. We pray that our programs will continue to be a blessing to you and your family.
Cloning of animals was recently brought to the attention of many people as Barbra Streisand revealed that she had her late beloved dog, Samantha, cloned twice before the dog died last year. The two Coton du Tulears puppies – Miss Violet and Miss Scarlet – were cloned using cells taken from Samantha’s mouth and stomach before she passed away. The singer wanted to make another Samantha. But … “They have different personalities,” Streisand said in her interview.
Cloning takes tissue from the original animal, with its complete DNA for the whole organism, and places it into egg cells from a female of the same species. After “zapping” the merged cells with electricity so they start dividing, the cells are placed in a surrogate mother to carry the embryos to birth.
Clones are exact genetic copies. Every bit of their original DNA is identical. Clones happen naturally too, as in the case of identical twins.
You may know some identical twins. I do. Our families have known each other for a long time, and the twins are good friends with our children. We’ve watched them grow up from when they were little into their early twenties. And I still can’t really tell them apart! – until I’ve talked to them for awhile. You see, they are different souls! And although they went to the same college and recently graduated with the same degree, one is a little more outgoing and personable than the other, and that’s how I tell them apart!
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was upset with Streisand for disclosing in her interview that she cloned her dog. And they released a statement, “We all want our beloved dogs to live forever, but while it may sound like a good idea, cloning doesn’t achieve that – instead, it creates a new and different dog who has only the physical characteristics of the original. Animals’ personalities, quirks, and very ‘essence’ simply cannot be replicated, and when you consider that millions of wonderful adoptable dogs are languishing in animal shelters every year…”
I like that – “…personalities, quirks, and very ‘essence’ simply cannot be replicated…” Well said. And I like it when a radical leftist group admits the failing of naturalism/materialism!
Biologically and materially, we are limited. This brings us to an important point. The Church and scriptures distinguishes between biological life (Gr, βίος - bios) and spiritual life (Gr, ζωή - zoe). And the Church teaches us about how people are comprised of three components – body, soul. The scripture also adds the spirit which is a part of the soul. It talks about how the Word (Jesus Christ) and Spirit worked together in creation. The Spirit of God was “moving” (hovering, vibrating) when the creative word was spoken (Genesis 1:2-3). And the Bible talks about how Word and Spirit work together in re-creation of our individual spirits in alignment with God! They work together to bring us to faith in our Savior and to grow us in Him!
Spiritual life infuses the living Word of God – “…in Him was life (zoe); and the life (zoe) was the light of men” (John 1:4). Spiritual life is in Christ, and He reaches out to us with Divine light that infuses our spirits and transforms. The Eastern Orthodox statement of belief says it this way: “That supremely Divine light is … grace, illumination, and energy which everlastingly and inseparably proceeds from the very essence of God.”
In their statement, PETA says that animals have an ‘essence’. So does our Creator and Supernatural Personality, God! – one that reaches out to us like the sun reaching us with its rays of sunshine! Christ’s transformation of us will one day be complete. The Bible tells us: “
"But our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, (bright shining righteousness), according to the operation (the energy of His power) whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21). This shining glory of His heavenly body was visible to several disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration – where His clothes were shining a brilliance beyond this world and His face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:2-4).
The Bible says we are more than just material matter. That’s why clones are not complete replicates. Our minds and hearts go beyond biochemistry. And we can be tuned-in to wavelengths of radiation that originate in the minds of men, or to those that originate in a spiritual dimension. This may seem paradoxical to modern sensibilities. But the Bible tells us that we can “hear” the voice of the Lord (“My sheep hear my voice,” John 10:27) or we can listen to the lies of our adversary and his demonic minions. This is what Jesus meant when He said to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan” as Peter was trying to tell Him that He did not have to suffer at the hands of the Pharisees and die and be raised again.
We’ve mentioned previously how material things resolve at their most fundamental level into space and energy/vibration. This seems to be the limits to which science can take us – and it is in a direction from the very material to the very immaterial, pointing toward a spiritual reality that is at the root of all things.
We have also talked about how the heart is Scripture’s seat for our spirit. And we have mentioned how modern medicine is finding that, indeed, the heart is much more than a muscle to pump blood through the body. The heart as muscle-only was the early evolutionists’ idea. Yet, we now know that the heart communicates with the entire body through external nerves, hormones, and electromagnetic field (light) – a field thousands of times bigger in amplitude than the brain waves measured by EEG. Measurements are by electrocardiogram (EKG) and magnetocardiogram (MCG) and can be detected several feet from a person. There are also over 40,000 sensory neurons relaying information from the heart to the brain. And communication between the two organs occurs also through hormones, blood pressure waves, and electromagnetic field.
The Bible says we can understand through our hearts – we can receive the “light” that Jesus Christ has for us (John 1:4). This relates to a spiritual perception, beyond DNA and beyond biochemistry, although it interacts with the biochemistry – for example, “… they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Acts 28:27). We can either understand the spiritual voices out there and heed the Spirit of God or we can be led down a path of lies.
Barbra Streisand may not have been able to resurrect Samantha, but God resurrected Jesus! And He will bring us into the fullness of that resurrection one day too!
Catechism Catch-Up
The Holy Spirit's Role in the Church Age
A. He has a central part in how people become Christian.
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He directs and enables evangelistic efforts.
An example of the Holy Ghost directing in evangelism can be found with Philip meeting up with the Eunich who was reading the book of Isaias.
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: Arise, go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza: this is desert. And rising up, he went. And behold a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore. And he was returning, sitting in his chariot, and reading Isaias the prophet. And the Spirit said to Philip: Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias. And he said: Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest? Who said: And how can I, unless some man shew me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. And the place of the scripture which he was reading was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb without voice before his shearer, so openeth he not his mouth. In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth? And the eunuch answering Philip, said: I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip, opening his mouth, and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water; and the eunuch said: See, here is water: what doth hinder me from being baptized? And Philip said: If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answering, said: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch: and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more. (Acts 8:26-39)
The Holy Ghost enabled the Apostles so that they would be able to witnesses or evangelize others. This happened as they waited in Jerusalem in the Upper Room.
But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
2. He convicts the unbeliever of sin
And when he is come, he will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment. Of sin: because they believed not in me. And of justice: because I go to the Father; and you shall see me no longer. And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged. (John 16:8-11).
The language that is used here is a judicial language. Here He is described as an Advocate for Christ. Or you could say a Defense Lawyer . But he also acts as a prosecutor who indicts a world that is unbelieving.
The word convince means: To persuade or satisfy the mind by evidence. It also can mean to convict; to prove guilty.
*The Holy Ghost, at His coming, was to prove the world to be guilty of sin.
*He was to convince the world of justice, that is the righteousness of Christ.
*He was to convince the world of judgement, of itsown condemnation which was effected by the over throw of the devil and his kingdom through the merits of the death of Christ.
3. He renovates a person.
Not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost;(Titus 3:5).
According to Titus God our Saviour (Christ Jesus) regenerates us. That is he generates or produces anew the heart by a change of affections; to change the heart and affections from natural enmity to the love of God; to implant holy affections in the heart. And He does this by the "laver".
A laver is a vessel for washing; a large basin. In scripture history, a basin placed in the court of the Jewish tabernacle, where the officiating priests washed their hands and feet and the entrails of victims. A laver then speaks of water baptism which Jesus uses to regenerate us. But then the Holy Spirit does the renovation of our lives.
Renovation: To make new. to restore to it's first state or to a good state, after decay, destruction, or depravation.
The Holy Spirit begins to work on the outward and inward things that need to be changed.
People are always putting the cart before the horse. They try to renovate first when they have not been regenerated yet! It becomes a hard burden to bear. when you live like that. Get the regenerated heart first and the renovation will come so much easier.
4. He seals the person.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is the sign or mark of our salvation.
In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth, (the gospel of your salvation;) in whom also believing, you were signed {marked} with the holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13).
A better word to use then sign would be a seal. There is a twofold purpose in the sealing work of the Holy Spirit. He implants the image of God upon their heart to give reality to the believer. A seal is put down on a document and that seal has an image on it. This is what the Holy Spirit of God does to the believer.
He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33)
This is the thought in Ephesians 1:13. That is that God has put His implant upon the believer.
The second purpose of the sealing is to denote rightful ownership.
But the sure foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal: the Lord knoweth who are his; and let every one depart from iniquity who nameth the name of the Lord. ( II Timothy 2:19)
The fact that God seals you with the Holy Spirit does not mean you can live in sin. If you name the name of Christ, you are going to depart from sin. If there is not this evidence, then you are not sealed.
5. He baptizes (places) the person into the body of Christ.
a. What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
- It is the Spirit’s work of uniting us with Christ by water baptism, identifying us with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.
Know you not that all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in his death? For we are buried together with him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5).
- By this same baptism, it is the Spirit’s work of incorporating us into the Catholic Church, which is the body of Christ.
For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free; and in one Spirit we have all been made to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-28)
b. When is the baptism with the Holy Spirit?
- In each believer it occurs at their confirmation.
With Confirmation a baptized Catholic, "becomes stronger with the strength of a new power, and thus begins to be a perfect soldier of Christ."- The Catechism of the Council of Trent.
- Confirmation is Distinct from Baptism.
"by the grace of Baptism we are begotten unto newness of life, whereas by that of Confirmation we grow to full maturity, having put away the things of a child."-The Catechism of the Council of Trent.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. (I Corinthians 13:11)
"we can sufficiently understand that the same difference that exist in the natural life between birth and growth exists also between Baptism," where we are 'born again' or "regenerated, and Confirmation, by virtue of which growth and perfect spiritual strength are imparted into the faithful." The Catechism goes on to say that Confirmation perfects the grace of Baptism. "For those who have been made Christians by Baptism, still have in some sort the tenderness and softness, as it were, of newborn infants, and afterwards become, by means of the Sacrament of chrism (that is the Holy oil used as a sign of the Holy Ghost), stronger to resist all the assaults of the world, the flesh and the devil, while there minds are fully confirmed in faith to confess and glorifiy the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ."- Catechism of the Council of Trent.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent also goes on to say that Confirmation increases Grace in the one being confirmed as well as "impressing a character". That character being of one who becomes a soldier of Jesus Christ.
- In history it is limited to church age believers (predicted in Acts 1:5).
For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence. (Acts 1:5)
- Although it’s the Holy Ghost's power that is at work at Confirmation, the believer must choose to be controlled/empowered by the Holy Ghost. It is a command to “Be filled” and likewise to “Walk in the Spirit”
I say then, walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16).
The Spirit’s presence is permanent (indwelling) but we must repeatedly choose to yield to God to experience the Spirit’s transforming power to change and grow us. In actual experience, “walking in the Spirit” or “being filled with the Spirit” means living the Christian life (facing temptations, making decisions, etc.) with a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit. He is the one who enable us at Confirmation – producing godly “fruits”.
But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity (kindness or tolerance toward others.), goodness, longanimity (long-suffering), (Galatians 5:22, 23).
6. He gives the power of the Holy Ghost to believers.
A. What is the purpose of the power of the Holy Ghost?
The number one reason for the power of the Holy Ghost is for evangelizing those outside of the Catholic Church.
Before Jesus was ascended into heaven He commanded the Apostles to go "therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:" (Matthew 28:19-30).
But for them to be able to do this he also commanded them "that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father,.....you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:3,8)
In Conclusion:
Have you ever been born again through the Sacrament of Baptism? If not you are still dead in your trespasses and sins. You must come to Jesus, realizing you are a sinner, trusting in what he did on the cross. And then by the Sacrament of Baptism the Holy Spirit comes in and makes you alive again in Christ. A new creature.
If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new. (II Corinthians 5:17)
Do you find yourself struggling in the Christian life never having real victory? there are at least two things possible. One you have never gotten the Sacrament of Confirmation. You must have the Holy Ghost power in your life that comes from Confirmation to help you live out your Catholic Faith. Or you have been Sacramentally Confirmed, but no longer, or never yielded to the Holy Ghost working in your life. Growth can not happen until you let go of your life and yield.
Living Catholic
7 Steps Of Action When Asked To Do Something You Think is Wrong
Part I
It is easy for us to think that we are following Christ and are even suffering for Him when we disobey commands that violate His principles for our lives. But unless we have carefully applied each of the following steps, we are only deceiving ourselves.
We Must Check Our Attitudes:
- An independent spirit is the basis of disloyalty.
A spirit of independents is so subtle most people do not recognize it for what it actually is --disloyalty. When a person belonging to the Church, a family, or company develops an attitude of unhealthy independence, he or she becomes more and more autonomous within the setup. The Dogmas and Traditions of the Church, the rules and goals of the family unit or the company they work for, no longer control his or her behavior. While still being active in the Church, or family, or company, this person does what he or she wants to do in spite of contrary instructions.
- A condemning spirit is the basis of self-righteousness.
A self-righteous hypocrite judges the sins of others while overlooking his own sins.
Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam in thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother' s eye. (Matthew 7:5)
A self-righteous hypocrite judges others based on selective standards, not on all of God’s Word.
(Matthew 23)
A self-righteous hypocrite is more concerned about external conformity than with true, inner godliness.
So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just; but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.(Matthew 23:28)
A self-righteous hypocrite is not interested in helping others grow in godliness, but only in gaining a following.
But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men, for you yourselves do not enter in; and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you go round about the sea and the land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, you make him the child of hell twofold more than yourselves. (Matthew 23:13,15)
A self-righteous hypocrite justifies himself by comparing himself with others or by blaming others for his own sins.
The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:11-12)
- An ungrateful spirit is the the basis of pride
All pride is self-love. Self-love says I am what I am because I made it. Self-love says I got there by myself, who's to thank? Self-love is ungrateful for that reason and secondly, self-love is ungrateful because it never has enough. So when it is it ever going to stop and say I'm grateful? What am I going to be grateful for, I never have had enough yet? I haven't reached the point of thankfulness because I haven't reached the point of satisfaction. Self-love says I did it myself and self-love says I haven't got it all yet.
- A lazy spirit is the basis of dishonesty and poverty
The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a lioness in the roads. (Proverbs 26:13)
In other words he is so lazy he will be dishonest and say that there is a lion in the street so he will not come out to work.
The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: (Proverbs 10:4)
- A bitter spirit is the basis of selfishness.
The world says: "You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. And if you are not able to satisfy your needs, to expand your needs, or are struggling for more, it is then that bitterness sets in.
- An impure spirit is the basis of self-indulgence.
Self-indulgence, for what we are talking about, is a lack of self-control or undisciplined living, that will weaken you. It can be the way you spend money. It can be sex. It can be food. It can be alcohol. It can be your emotions. It can be the way you manage your time. Anything that's left out of control will weaken your life. and self indulgence in these things start by an impure spirit.
Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world....(Titus 2:11)
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Pray for Frater Francis Dominic as he teaches Catechism through the web site. We are still working on our new Website where people can listen or watch Catechism lessons, take tests, and get a certificate of completion. It will take a long time to finish it but you can see the work that we are doing and we will keep you updated on when it is completed. Check out all of the construction going on over there at Traditional Catechism.com
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God is calling men to come fully into His service with us here at the Vatican in Exile. It will be a life of self sacrifice. And so we ask all to pray for these men, that they will surrender to this calling and also have the fortitude to undertake this sacred calling.
- Please keep the VIE Radio Network in your prayers. The listener base is growing! Head on over to the site and let's keep getting the good news out!
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- Keep His Holiness also in your prayers. He has taken on a three day job helping a lady with disability by cooking for her and taking her to her doctors and the grocery store. The extra money is such a blessing. But the reality is that there are many who could be giving at least $10.00 a month to support the Church and are not giving. We are thankful for Gods provisions but pray that the people of God will start supporting the Church. Thank God for the faithful who do.
So as we say every month we are very close with our budget. It takes money to be available to people in other areas as well as having supplies like rosaries, bibles, pamphlets, Catechisms etc. for sharing with Non Catholics. At this time to stay comfortably out of the red we need 700.00 a month. Please read the message Giving to God's Work and then decide how you can give. Everyone should give something. It does not have to be much.
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