Author: justafatsassygrandma

I think most Christians agree that baptism erases the stain of original sin from our souls and claims us as a child of God.We probably also agree that baptism gives us all unmerited grace and opens us to receive more grace and gifts the Father has for us.It seems that the big bone of contention is who gets baptized and when they get baptized. The other arguments as to where and how are really dealt with in the who and when.So what is original sin? That is the stain of sin on our souls that Adam & Eve bequeathed to all generations to come because of their disobedience to God. It is not a sin of our own fault but it is a sin that separates us from God and from His grace.Let’s consider a baby born of an addict mother. We know that baby will be born an addict also, and through no fault of it’s own but through the sins of another. And without intervention that child will not have much of a chance at a normal life.Do we withhold life saving treatment or therapy until that child is old enough to choose that they no longer want to be stained with the sin of addiction? Do we withhold the loving caresses, rocking, cuddling and nourishment that baby needs to overcome this sin because he or she cannot make that choice?Isn’t that the same thing we do if we withhold life saving, life giving baptism from an infant? Why would we not want them to be claimed, to be marked, (we believe baptism puts an indelible mark on the one who is baptized), and to be known as a child of God? Why would we not want them to be filled with the grace that comes with baptism?For 1500 years there was no problem with infant baptism, in fact, because of the infant mortality rate, babies were generally baptized right after birth. If the family lived in close proximity to the church the father took the baby, while the mother was still in bed, and had the priest baptize the infant. So many were baptized at just hours old. It was deemed important to claim that child for God!Notice, they weren’t worried about a party. They weren’t worried about a show. They weren’t worried about a public testimony. They were concerned with one thing only – inferring the graces on their son or daughter that are promised with the sacrament.How far away we move from God’s grace because we think we become smarter or more mature in our faith than was possible centuries ago. Modernity is our downfall.A couple of quick thoughts here, I know many Protestant sects do not recognize the baptism of Catholics because we were baptized as infants. Guess what, we recognize yours. We believe you were validly baptized and will always be marked that way as long as it was with water and in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We don’t care if it was in a river, a stream, a bathtub, a basin or under a faucet – just has to be water!So perhaps we should consider recognizing everyone baptized as Jesus commanded, as an adopted child of God instead of negating another’s baptism because it doesn’t meet the criteria you have set. That baptism truly makes us all brothers and sisters in Christ.Maybe, just maybe we can all truly work to be One Body of Christ.

December 14, 2019

Christmas is just 11 days away! As we all scurry around preparing our homes for the light, joy and celebrations perhaps we can walk with Mary and Joseph as they prepare for their journey to THE Christmas.
Joseph has received word that there is to be a census and for this he must travel to Bethlehem to be counted. His wife, Mary, is nine months pregnant and must make the journey with him.
Remember, there were no cars, no google maps, no hotels.com, none of the modern conveniences we take for granted, including walking shoes! Joseph prepared a donkey to carry their satchels and Mary when she grew tired.
This was not an easy and fast trip to take. It would be an 8 – 10 day journey with a lot of mountains and rough terrain to traverse. They would join in a caravan of travellers who were on their own journeys. Perhaps they had other family and friends in this caravan traveling for the same reason.
Mary is preparing with packing bread and wine probably for the journey. Again remember, no McDonald’s, or Cracker Barrel to stop along the way, no 7-11 or Kroger to replenish or stop for a coke – they needed to carry what they would need for the journey.
She also must be thinking about what she needs for her baby if He makes His entrance during this trip. She must have blankets and swaddling clothes with them.
They must also prepare their house and carpenter shop to be empty for at least the next 20 to 30 days, perhaps more if the Baby is born during this journey.
So again, use your imagination, ask Mary and Joseph to show you how they prepared to welcome Jesus, and ask them to help you prepare to welcome Him into your home and your heart this Christmas!
O come, o come Emmanuel!

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December 15, 2019

It’s time. Time to load up the donkey and hit the road to Bethlehem.
Everything, every move, every action that Mary and Joseph have taken and will take, point only to one thing, their complete trust and faith in God.
Both Mary and Joseph model what humbling ourselves, as we are called to do, before our God looks like. They never put themselves first. They didn’t have any agenda except to faithfully follow the God they knew to be true, present and faithful. And when they questioned and asked God, they completely trusted His will and His answer. They knew no matter how it looked to the world, it only counted in how God saw it.
Today, ask God to give you the gift of that faith and humility, to make your heart ready to welcome His Son at Christmas!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!

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December 16, 2019

2 hours and 27 minutes is how long it would take us to go from Nazareth to Bethlehem. 8 – 10 days is the length of time for Mary & Joseph.
The route they took was probably the one marked in red so as to avoid Samaria as good Jews did in those days.
This way, although longer, is flatter terrain and a more comfortable climate. There is however, along the way, the steep climb of 16 miles, it ascends 3500 feet over that 16 miles, from the Jordan valley near Jerricho to the heights on which Jerusalem lies. In Jesus’ time, this section of the road was called “the Way of Blood”, because of the danger from robbers. Incidentally, this section of road is where Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan is set.
After the first day of the journey they may have made it to Nain. Perhaps they could even find a comfortable place there to bed down for the night or perhaps through this entire journey they slept out under the stars. Either way, they are doing what God has called them to do, without complaint.
Oh God, please help me to hear and follow your prompting in my life.
O come, o come Emmanuel!

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December 17, 2019

So, I wonder what the weather is like for Mary & Joseph on their journey. Where is their shelter if it rains? Do they have anything like an umbrella or raincoat? Do they keep trekking in a light rain? Do they find a cave to wait out a storm?
On this, the second day of their journey are they resting by the Harod Stream? And if it has rained, has the stream become a raging river?
Mary & Joseph, thank you for your courage and faithfulness in following God’s plan for the salvation of mankind.

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God,
you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care:
Come and show your people the way to salvation.

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December 18, 2019

Today you have probably traveled by or through Beth Shean an ancient city full of history. This is the city where King Saul’s body was impaled on the wall. Do you stop and visit sites? Do you go to the marketplace in town? Or do you just walk around the outskirts to start your journey down the Jordan River valley?
I wonder about your conversation during your travels. Was it much like any couple expecting their first child? Did you talk about what He would look like? Did you wonder what color His eyes would be? Joseph, did you look forward to teaching Him your trade?
Mary and Joseph, you both knew who this child was, is. Was your conversation about the weightyness of this calling? Did you talk about what it would be like to raise God?
Did you know He would be born in Bethlehem and that this was really through God’s hand that the census was ordered? And did you talk about taking Him to the Temple in Jerusalem for His presentation?
So many things we can ponder to try and get to know you better and in knowing you, you show us so much more about your Son.

O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who did appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

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December 19,2019

As you continue down the Jordan River valley I think about how Mary is feeling. My goodness – the things we take for granted! Look at where you are walking, without walking shoes or hiking boots, and nine months pregnant! How many of us would be bitching up a storm?!
I tend to think that both of you, Mary & Joseph are smiling, chatting, noticing the beauty around you (knowing the baby you carry is responsible for that beauty!) and maybe even singing! You stop along the way to rest and perhaps feel the Baby in your womb kicking up a storm – He is also enjoying the journey!
Wow! For anyone to think that either of you are not important to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit has not pondered or meditated on how God moved in your lives. On how He could rely on your faithfulness and trust in Him.
Mary, you are the one that God chose to take all His DNA & RNA from. You are the one He chose to have the privilege of feeling Him grow and kick in your womb! You are the voice He chose to hear sing and pray from the point of His conception.
Mary, our Holy Baby must look just like you! He probably has your eyes, which I am sure are eyes that twinkle of love at all times. Oh Mary, show us your Son and how to love Him more!
And Joseph, what an honor! You were chosen to protect Mary and the Baby! I wonder if you put your head on Mary’s belly to hear the Baby and to talk to the Babe! You had the absolute privilege of feeling the Holy Child kick in Mary’s womb.
Thank you for your faithfulness to God’s plan of salvation! Please show me how to be faithful to your Son!

O Root of Jesse’s stem,
sign of God’s love for all his people:
come to save us without delay!

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December 20, 2010

Who is traveling with you on this journey? You have probably joined a caravan of many heading to their family’s town of origin for the census. And just think, we complain about filling out a census form, imagine if we had to walk for 10 days to fill it out!
There are many others to talk with, many to share with, especially women who are already mothers that love sharing with a young woman who will soon meet her baby. They share the needlework they are in process with, and special attention is paid to the swaddling clothes Mary is working on.
But I also wonder about family traveling with you. Joseph, perhaps you have children who are with you and Mary, I think particularly of James, who we know, and brothers and sisters mentioned in the Gospel. Were they a part of this journey? Did they know what was happening? I am sure with such a righteous and faithful father they did learn their Jewish faith and the prophets. They would know about the promised Messiah. But did they know He was their foster brother?
The Bible doesn’t tell us for sure any of this, but is that because it doesn’t change anything? Mary is still Mary, the Blessed Virgin and Joseph is still Joseph, her most chaste spouse. And they both had so much love to share or they would not have been created by God for this honor.
What about Clopas and Mary? Are they traveling with you? Do they have children with them?
I feel so much joy in this journey! The smiles and laughter and love are abundant and are generously shared with all!
Teach me to be joyful in this journey of life!

O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

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December 21, 2019

Mary, I have been thinking about how beautiful you must have been, and are. A pregnant woman is always glowing and beautiful, but to be pregnant with the long awaited Messiah, to be the precious vessel chosen by God to carry His only begotten Son, oh my goodness, how you must of had a glow and beauty that was indescribable!
I watch children be naturally attracted to you today, and I have to think that on this journey the children in the caravan were also attracted to you. Oh, what a blessing they received when they hugged you or took your hand – much like Elizabeth who was filled with the Holy Spirit as soon as she heard your greeting, and her baby jumped for joy, these children would be changed forever!
Perhaps one of them was Veronica who wipes your Son’s face, or Simon who helps Him carry His Cross. Perhaps one was Peter, who would become the keeper of the Keys! Oh, what a blessing and wonderful thing to ponder!
Mary, I bet your feet and your back hurt. I wonder if you were having early contractions to prepare the way. I imagine you were tired. I also think that no one but you and God knew these things, that you accepted every second and every feeling as a gift, a gift to be treasured, and couldn’t help but smile at everyone. I think you shared your love with everyone just like you shared the Love with the world!
Oh, how beautiful!
Thank you for your example of faithfulness. Of putting one foot in front of the other to bring the journey to completion. How me to grow in my faith. Help me to smile and share Love with all I meet.

O Radiant Dawn,
splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O come, o come Emmanuel!

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December 23, 2019

Oh, Mary and Joseph! You are on the toughest part of your journey as Mary is so close to giving birth! The walk from Jericho to Bethlehem, about 16 miles of a 3500 foot ascent. That was generally a 2 day hike but I wonder if it perhaps took you longer.
As Jesus is preparing to make His first appearance here on earth as a man, the God-man, I have to wonder if you, Mary, were having contractions during this part of the journey. I wonder if you smiled through every one knowing that it must be to bring Jesus to the world!
Oh, so many thoughts that scroll through my head right now…. Mary, you also accepted the pain on the walk to Calvary because you knew too, that had to be for the salvation if the world.
I also think about how we are called to bring Jesus into the world, but if it becomes uncomfortable or painful, we give up. We turn away from Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We refuse to accept our labor pains and cross.
We refuse to make our ascent to the Holy!
Oh, so close! So close to seeing the face of the long awaited Messiah! So close to seeing the face of your Baby! So close to using the swaddling clothes you have been making for months! So close to feeling Love in your arms like no one before has ever imagined!
Joseph, I wonder if everytime you look at Mary your heart melts. Are you constantly amazed that you are on this journey with her? Are you afraid?
Mary and Joseph, thank you for your yes to God’s call! Thank you for the courage and strength you give us example of. Help us to say yes and follow your lead to Jesus.

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:
come to save us, Lord our God!

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December 24, 2019

Mary & Joseph, I have been thinking about you all day as I scurried about with wrapping presents,finishing the tree, helping Kayla with the Nativity and talking about what each piece is and was. You have arrived in Bethlehem after such a long journey, and Mary, I am sure you know the time is fast approaching when Jesus, the God-man, the only begotten Son of God, your Son, will humble Himself to be born as one of us!
Bethlehem is crowded! Many others have made the trek for the required census. Joseph, you are always portrayed as frantically searching for a room, and being turned away at many inns. Isn’t it funny how we put our own spin on God’s Holy Word instead of taking it at face value?
The more I have pondered your journey, the more sure I am that you both were very secure in your faith that God had a plan and that plan would keep you safe and secure.
When we put today’s standards on your journey we cannot imagine being that sure in someone else, even when that someone else is God, that everything will work as it should. Instead of taking a true look at your journey, at what Luke has to say simply,
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7
we have started injecting political statements and bending this to our own agendas.
There are so many opinion pieces, written as theology, that say the Bible makes you both look weak and simple. Oh, I think it is quite the opposite! We can’t see humbleness of heart as strength, or meekness as wisdom – when in all actuality humility is strength of heart and meekness is knowledge that God is in control! Nothing you did was weak or dumb!
Back to your journey – I have been wondering if you passed Rachel’s tomb in Bethlehem and when you did, did you stop and pray for her? And ask her to pray for you?
Did you make a side trip to see Zechariah, Elizabeth and baby John?
Was there a midwife for the delivery? And did you see, feel and hear the angels around you? Did you know the bright star was for you and your Son?
Tonight, we celebrate the birth of Christ at midnight Mass, I look so forward to falling on my knees to humble myself and worship our Lord & Savior.
Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2: 7-8
Thank you for your example of strength in humility. Help me to be humble and meek in heart!

Come Lord Jesus, come!!!

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December 26, 2019

Oh Mary and Joseph, I imagine you are just in wonder and awe with Baby Jesus. By now you have counted all His fingers and toes, you have caressed and kissed His cheeks many times, you have swaddled, cuddled and rocked your baby and felt His love for you.
Such complete innocence and yet the salvation of the world lie on His shoulders.
Did you feel the angels with you on your journey? Did you hear their announcement to the shepherds? Did you hear them sing “Glory to God in the highest”? Were you surprised when the shepherds came and fell in adoration of your baby?
Joseph, did you know what was going to fall on the shoulders of your son? Did you know the love and hate just His name would stir in hearts? Did you look for ways to protect Him from His world?
Oh so many followers of your Son have already forgotten what and why we celebrated. They already take down the lights that signify your Son as the Light of the world, the tree that shows both the wood of the manger and the wood of the Cross, the evergreen symbol of hope has already been thrown to the curb. The star that represents the star that shined bright to lead pilgrims to your son is already tucked away in the attic. And all of the creches are stuffed in old newspapers and styrofoam. There is no more Holy music celebrating His birth.
It’s time that life go on as normal. There are much more important things to do.
Mary and Joseph, thank you. Help me remember who and what is most important in this life!

Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. Kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you! Save souls!

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December 27, 2019

Happy 3rd day of Christmas!
The feastday of Saint John the beloved apostle. Writer of the Gospel of John

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be
through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it
John 1:1-5

3 French hens – the Trinity – Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Oh come let us adore Him!

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December 28, 2019

On the 4th day of Christmas we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents. The following sermon is from Saint Quodvultdeus.

Quodvultdeus was a fifth-century church father and bishop of Carthage who was exiled to Naples. He was known to have been living in Carthage around 407 and became a deacon in 421 AD. He corresponded with Augustine of Hippo, who served as Quodvultdeus’ spiritual teacher.
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Even before they learn to speak, they proclaim Christ

A tiny child is born, who is a great king. Wise men are led to him from afar. They come to adore one who lies in a manger and yet reigns in heaven and on earth. When they tell of one who is born a king, Herod is disturbed. To save his kingdom he resolves to kill him, though if he would have faith in the child, he himself would reign in peace in this life and for ever in the life to come.

Why are you afraid, Herod, when you hear of the birth of a king? He does not come to drive you out, but to conquer the devil. But because you do not understand this you are disturbed and in a rage, and to destroy one child whom you seek, you show your cruelty in the death of so many children.

You are not restrained by the love of weeping mothers or fathers mourning the deaths of their sons, nor by the cries and sobs of the children. You destroy those who are tiny in body because fear is destroying your heart. You imagine that if you accomplish your desire you can prolong your own life, though you are seeking to kill Life himself.

Yet your throne is threatened by the source of grace, so small, yet so great, who is lying in the manger. He is using you, all unaware of it, to work out his own purposes freeing souls from captivity to the devil. He has taken up the sons of the enemy into the ranks of God’s adopted children.

The children die for Christ, though they do not know it. The parents mourn for the death of martyrs. The child makes of those as yet unable to speak fit witnesses to himself. See the kind of kingdom that is his, coming as he did in order to be this kind of king. See how the deliverer is already working deliverance, the saviour already working salvation.

But you, Herod, do not know this and are disturbed and furious. While you vent your fury against the child, you are already paying him homage, and do not know it.

How great a gift of grace is here! To what merits of their own do the children owe this kind of victory? They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ. They cannot use their limbs to engage in battle, yet already they bear off the palm of victory.

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What are you afraid of that it is important to either support or ignore the killing of the innocents now? Is it a quest for glory, power and wealth? Is it for convenience sake? For political correctness? Or because it’s none of your business what a woman chooses to do with her own body (and the body of her child)?

Would you have stood by as those baby boys were massacred and their blood ran in the streets?

The words of this saint from 1600 years ago ring true today
“You destroy those who are tiny in body because fear is destroying your heart. You imagine that if you accomplish your desire you can prolong your own life”

Let us remember the truly innocent martyrs massacred by King Herrod and the 50 million innocent children massacred since 1973 for the sake of someone’s choice.

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December 29, 2019

Merry 5th day of Christmas! Today we celebrate the Holy Family.
From the beginning God the Father called us to be family. He showed us in His example of His love for His Son and the Holy Spirit and the perichoresis that exists in their relationship.
Perichoresis “allows the individuality of the persons to be maintained, while insisting that each person shares in the life of the other two” (McAllister) – sounds like family to me!
Then when the time came, God gave us the example of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary & Joseph. An unlikely family from outside appearance. A young girl who had spent her life to now, as a temple maiden in prayer and worship, who is pregnant without the benefit of marriage. An older widower who was a good and righteous Jew and picked to marry the young girl and care for her once she could no longer spend her time in the Temple. For once a girl came to puberty they were “unclean” for part of the month and could not enter the temple.
Dogma holds the Mary was immaculately conceived, that is, she was conceived in the normal way but without the stain of original sin that we all inherited from our original parents, Adam & Eve. She was created to be Theotokos, the Mother of God, but she was also given the gift of free will so she had to give her fiat at the Annunciation in order for the Incarnation to be.
Imagine how beautiful she must have been since she was created by God to be His spouse and His mother!
Tradition holds that Joseph was an older man, a carpenter, and a devout Jew. He was picked to take Mary as his wife after the priests had assembled many eligible men, took their staffs and prayed over them, Joseph received his staff back a dove flew out of it and landed on his head. That was the sign they prayed for and at that moment they were betrothed.
Perhaps he was a widower with children and Mary came in as their stepmother. Even more an unlikely Holy Family in outside appearances.
Thank God what He sees and judges on is not what the world sees and judges but on what He sees and knows to be.
He saw that Mary gave her yes when that yes very well could have led to her being stoned to death! “I am the handmaid of the Lord…..”
He saw that Joseph gave his yes after a message in a dream and took Mary into his house and adopted her baby to be his own. That is when Jesus became in the line of David.
He saw that they both faithfully followed and did as He asked, knowing it wouldn’t be easy.
He saw the love, protection and care they gave to His only begotten Son, Jesus, even in the lowest of accommodations.
He saw them fulfilling their duties as Jewish parents and He saw them teach Jesus to walk, talk, their faith and a trade.
Imagine having the responsibility to teach God prayers to Him!
God saw them frantically search for the child Jesus for 3 days and when they found Him took Him back home to be family.
God saw Mary tell Jesus it was time. Time to start His walk to Calvary with the miracle at Cana. And God saw Mary walk that journey with her Son, even though she knew it would cause her much grief.
“(and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:35
God saw them be family no matter what others thought, said or did.

Father, help our family to faithfully walk our journey as family. Allow us to keep you in the center.
Please bless all of our ancestors and all generations to come. Keep them in your loving embrace.
Hear and answer our prayers. Keep us safe and free from sin.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you! Save souls!

There are many things about being Catholic I love, there is one in particular in the front of my mind now. As a Catholic I am called to ponder and meditate on the entirety of Jesus’s life on earth and in that there are so many that cannot be ignored and must be honored for their yeses to God’s plan.

Mary, as we know, is not given the honor due her, the honor I believe Jesus would want given to His mother. But a really overlooked, and so important person in Jesus’s life is Saint Joseph, His foster father.

Is it because he only has one sentence in all of Scripture? Or could it be that if your focus is only on the Resurrected Christ, none of the early years, or people from that period of His life matter? Or maybe because if you dive too deep you may have to go where you, and this world, don’t want you to go?

Oh, Saint Joseph! Chosen by God the Father to be the guardian of His Son and protector of Mary, the Mother of God. Titles no one before him could have had and no one after him ever will.

Saint Joseph had to give his consent for all the prophecies to ring true, he had to consent to take Mary into his home and raise the baby in her womb as his own, for the line of David comes from his side of the family. Just a teeny bit important perhaps?!

Just imagine, Saint Joseph held, cuddled, taught, protected, fed, corrected, and loved God! Our God as an infant, our God as a toddler, our God as a teenager and our God as a young man! A pretty fantastic role in Salvation history!

Our tradition holds that Saint Joseph died with Mary and Jesus by his side – would there be anyone better to be with you at that moment? That’s why Saint Joseph is the patron of departing souls and for a happy death. I ask him everyday to pray for those who will die that day.

Take a few minutes, ponder Saint Joseph’s yes to God’s plan for our salvation. Think about his life as the foster father of God. Thank him for his role in our Savior’s life.

And I know it’s true, God could do all this without Mary or Joseph, but that’s not what He did. So for my part, to honor Mary and Joseph I am honoring God’s plan and God’s chosen.

Saint Joseph, I never weary contemplating Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposed near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

Oh Saint Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for all those who will die today, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

Today reflecting on the first Pentecost I find myself where I do so often when I meditate on this Glorious mystery of the Rosary – the descent of the Holy Spirit. What was Mary’s role here, in the upper room?

She had received the Holy Spirit at the Annunciation with her fiat, and manifested Christ Jesus to the world as no one else ever could or would. I also believe she received the gifts of the Spirit at that time.

Think about the courage, fortitude and faith she needed to say yes and know that saying yes could cost her her marriage, her friends and her life. Yet Mary’s response was “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me” Her trust in God was unconditional, oh, that I could have that kind of trust!

So back to the first Pentecost and why was Mary there? Consider how cowardly most of the Apostles had been. Who were the only ones to accompany Jesus through His entire passion and death? Mary never showed any fear no matter what was asked of her.

How open were Apostles throughout the Gospels? How many times did they just not get it? Mary didn’t flinch if she didn’t get it, she knew and trusted in God and His ways. She knew He had a reason.

Mary is there to teach the Apostles how to be open and receptive to the Holy Spirit. She is there to help push them out of their comfort zone and to assure them there truly is a reason. She is there to show them to trust.

Mary is there too, because she is the Mother of the Church. As the mother, she had to be there at the birth of the Church.

We can all go to Mary. Ask her to show us how to be receptive to the Holy Spirit. Ask her to show us how to trust in God’s plan. Ask her to show us how to use the gifts of the Spirit to manifest her Son to the world.

Mary, Queen of the Apostles,

Mary, Mother of the Church,

Mary, Mother of God,

Mary, Queen of Martyrs,

Pray for us!

I often wonder as I pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, and we get to the Nativity of our Lord, the Presentation of Jesus and the Finding in the Temple, who was around during those events. We know some because they are mentioned in the Bible, but who is not mentioned?

Particularly, if Annas and Caiaphas were there. Annas was high priest starting in about 6AD and Caiaphas, who was his son in law, was born around 14BC, so the rank and the ages make sense that they could/would be around the temple in Jerusalem.

Were they some of the Jewish scholars called on by Herrod to determine where this new king was born after the visit from the Wise Men?

Were they in the temple when Simeon proclaimed after meeting Mary and Joseph with the Baby Jesus, “Lord, now you can let your servant go in peace for I have seen the Savior” (not exact quote) and when Anna acknowledged that this Baby was the one.

Where were they when the lad of 12 was teaching for 3 days in the temple? Did they watch the elders question Him and speak amazement at His understanding? Were they attentive to Him or were they threatened by Him, a boy of 12?

It just makes me wonder if Annas actually started the plot to kill Jesus at the same time that Herrod did. Was his earthly title and prestige so much more important then the promise of eternity with the Father? Was he so willing to drag others with him to protect his status on earth?

But sadly we find the same scenario today. Preachers preaching what they feel instead of the Truth. Followers bending and twisting the words of Jesus to fit their narrative. And so many forgetting Jesus’ words to live by: “if the world hates you it’s because it first hated me.”

How many justify their actions with Christ’s words “thou shalt not judge” without reading the entire book?

To wrap it up, this reading from Acts 5 that we heard a couple of Sundays ago has stuck with me:

“When the captain and the court officers had brought the apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders, did we not,
to stop teaching in that name?
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the apostles said in reply,
“We must obey God rather than men.
The God of our ancestors raised Jesus,
though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.
God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior
to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
We are witnesses of these things,
as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The Sanhedrin ordered the apostles
to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.”

Lord, help me obey you rather than men or the secular culture we live in. Give me the faith to stand up strong in your Holy Name, grant me the love to see you in everyone I meet.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you, save souls!

Anyone who recites the Apostle’s Creed or the Nicene Creed, says the phrase “He descended to Hell” have you ever wondered about that?

This ancient homily is a part of the Liturgy of Readings for every Holy Saturday.

The Lord’s descent into the underworld

There was something so familiar about the name of the Firefighter Chaplin in Paris  – Father Jean-Marc Fournier. I kept thinking I know that name and I know Kentucky has Catholic history with that name and I was bound and determined to find it.

You can read about the chaplin here – https://aleteia.org/2019/04/16/he-made-straight-for-the-relics-firefighter-chaplain-saves-crown-of-thorns/?utm_medium=aleteia_en&utm_campaign=english_page&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1Vst4rx5QMKxTN2E0uO40_JyhrKjV2hB8K5sOMM_qtVIBr1-Gtc_vwHEU#Echobox=1555439598

Most of the missionary priests that God blessed the wilderness of Kentucky with in her early days were refugees from the French Revolution. For no matter how romantic you want to make the French Revolution sound the truth of the matter was if you were a Catholic priest you had the choice of taking an oath of allegiance to the government, which meant you left any allegiance to the Catholic faith behind, or to be exiled, jailed, killed or perhaps all three!

The first ordained priest in the United States was one of those refugees Divine Providence sent our way – Father Stephen Theodore Badin and his story in the Kentucky wilderness is definitely worth the read, but right now I want to introduce you to another refugee sent our way.

So much we take for granted and never give a thought to those who came before us who held the faith and passed that faith on to us – unscathed and whole!

This comes from the beginning of Chapter 5 in a very interesting read written by the Right Reverend Bishop Martin J Spalding. Keep in mind, this was written in the 1800s so the style is a bit different. The M. in front of the priests name is for Mister Reverend and many words are spelled the old English way.

SKETCHES OF THE EARLY CATHOLIC MISSIONS OF KENTUCKY; FROM THEIR COMMENCEMENT IN 1787, TO THE JUBILEE OF 1826-7

EMBRACING A SUMMARY OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE STATE; THE ADVENTURES OF THE FIRST CATHOLIC EMIGRANTS; BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF THE EARLY MISSIONARIES; THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE PRINCIPAL PROTESTANT SECTS IN KENTUCKY; WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EPISCOPAL SEE AT BARDSTOWN, OF THE VARIOUS RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES, AND OF THE GENERAL STATE OF THE CATHOLIC RELIGION IN KENTUCKY.

COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES, WITH THE ASSITANCE OF THE VERY REV. STEPHEN THEODORE BADIN

THE FIRST PREIST ORDAINED IN THE UNITED STATES.

BY M. J. SPALDING, D. D. 

CHAPTER V

________________

Arrival of other Missionaries – From 1797 – 1803

_________________

Rev. M. Fournier – Traits and facts of his early life – His arrival in Kentucky – His stations and labours – His character – His sudden death – Rev. M. Salmon – His zeal and labours – Humorous incident – His tragical death – His Epitaph – Rev. Mr. Thayer – Anecdote of Franklin – Mr. Thayer’s conversion – His labours in Boston – In Kentucky – And in Limerick – His death

For about three years M. Badin had been alone, desolate in heart, and weighed down with labours. At length, Divine Providence took compassion on his loneliness, and sent other labourers into a harvest now become much too extensive to be cultivated by one man. The new missionary recruits were from among those illustrious clerical exiles from France, to whose apostolic zeal America is so greatly indebted, and without whose generous aid our infant missions could scarcely have been sustained.

The first of these who arrived in Kentucky, was the Rev. M. Fournier, in the year 1797. He was a native of the Diocess of Blois in France; and, when driven from his native country, by the French Revolution, he took refuge in England. In London he taught French language for about four years, in order to obtain a subsistence. Weary of this manner of life, and panting for a field of action more congenial to his zeal for the salvation of souls, he sailed for America, which he reached towards the close of the year 1796. He immediately offered his services to Bishop Carroll, who gratefully accepted them, and immediately sent him to Kentucky to the assistance of M. Badin, of whose melancholy condition he had been already well apprised.

Fournier, after a long and painful journey, in the dead of the winter, reached Kentucky in February, 1797. M. Badin received him with open arms, and extended to him for several months the hospitality of his own log cabin of St. Stephen’s. M. Fournier soon purchased one hundred acres of ground, on the Rolling Fork – the site of the present Holy Mary’s – and, after having erected a temporary hut, removed thither in 1798. He then took charge of a portion of M. Badin’s stations. He attended the congregations situated on the Rolling Fork, on Hardin’s Creek, on Cartwright’s Creek, on Rough Creek in Hardin County, with those at Danville, and in Madison county. When we reflect that a distance of at least one hundred and twenty miles intervened between the two extreme points of this circuit, we will probably come to the conclusion, that, like his fellow-labourer in the same field, he was certainly in no lack of employment.

He was an excellent priest; pious, zealous, laborious, and punctual to all his appointments. He was of ordinary size, but had a thin visage, furrowed with care, but still beaming with habitual cheerfulness. His manners were extremely popular; he soon caught the spirit, and adapted himself to the manners of the country; and he had not one personal enemy. He spoke English remarkably well, and preached sermons which had the triple merit of being solid, short, and intelligible to the meanest capacity.

When not engaged in his missions, he was almost constantly laboring on the little farm adjoining his residence. His death was caused by the rupture of a blood-vessel through over exertion in raising large beams of wood, to be sawed into plank. It was so sudden, that his friend, M. Badin, arrived only in time to assist at his funeral. His body was interred at the church of Holy Cross. He had not yet reached his fiftieth year.

So I wonder if both of these priests, one from the 18th century and one from the 21st century, who both have so much zeal for the Catholic faith they profess, confess and preach, are from the same family lineage. No matter what Kentucky and France have both been blessed by Divine Providence with the courageous priests named Fournier!

May God give us all the courage, faith and zeal that both of these priests give us example of. Give us the fire of faith to set the world on fire with You, Lord! For we do not want to be found lukewarm! Inflame our hearts with your Love so all can see it’s you! And only You!

Imagine living when Jesus lived. You hear about this teacher and are drawn to listen. When you are close enough to meet Him, close enough to touch Him, you see the most loving of eyes. He looks at you like no one ever has before. You know the love He has for you is indescribable. You know He, with one look, knows more about you than you probably know about yourself. And you know, you can feel, in your very core, that His love for you is unconditional. You feel a love you have never felt before and you want to stay in that love.

Back to today, look for that teacher. Close your eyes and listen to Him. Look into His eyes as He speaks. Feel His love for you – that unconditional love that has always been. Feel that indescribable love. Know He loves you no matter what and He is always waiting to gaze into your eyes.

Imagine the house with the upper room where Jesus had shared the Last Supper with His apostles. Mary is there on this Sunday morning looking out a window and gazing at the cave that held her Son’s lifeless body.

She sees Mary Magdalene speaking to a man Magdalene thinks is the gardener and smiles thinking, “oh Mary, don’t you see? It is Jesus! He is alive! Wipe your tears and rejoice!”

Our Blessed Mother ponders the last few days. The bond between mother and son is so strong that she felt His pain. She felt the absolute sadness and isolation He felt when He was abandoned by His friends. She felt His sorrow as He hung on that cross and was taunted by His creatures. She felt His love He had for each and every one of us even though we were cheering for His death.

Much like when she felt His lifeblood begin at the Incarnation, she felt His lifeblood leave Him on the Cross. But, she also knew, this was not the end.

Now imagine the scene when Jesus comes to Mary in His glorified body! I believe that she was the first, and I believe that for a few reasons. The bond between a mother and a son is like no other, and Jesus and Mary were no exception.⁹

Mary was the first Christian. She was His first disciple as well as being His first teacher. Even though we don’t hear much about her during His 3 years of ministry, I believe Mary was right there with Jesus.

She was the tabernacle of the Lord. Only she held His Body & His Blood. She was the Ark of the New Covenant. And all of Jesus’ humanity came from one person – Mary.

Mary called Jesus to start His ministry at Cana when she told the wedding servers ” Do whatever He tells you”.

She was His mother. Back to this because there is no greater reason. She is His mother and is His Queen Mother.

I just can’t find the words to convey the joy, the love, the glory that was in that scene when Jesus, in all His glory says, “Mother”. Suffice it to say, I don’t think we could even come close to the experience on this side of Heaven.

The Garden of Gethsemane is a beautiful place, filled with ancient olive trees and large, dark, if not black rocks. It overlooks the City of Jerusalem and at that time the temple.

Numerous pictures go through my head when I ponder and pray on Jesus’ agony in the garden.

As I see Jesus prostrate on a large rock, praying, crying and sweating blood- I wonder but also know it’s because of me. Did He, in those few hours, see me? Did He see all of the mess that would be my life? Did He see me turn my back on His Father and on Him? Did He cry for me?

I see Jesus pleading that this cup, filled with our sins, pass him by, and I see Him accept the will of the Father, for the sake of all of us who caused this to be.

And I wonder was this garden a place where He and his parents would go during their pilgrimages to the Holy City? Did they have picnics on this very rock?

Did Jesus play hide and go seek or tag with his cousins, friends and family in this garden?

Did Joseph carry Jesus on his shoulders through the garden?

Did He and Mary gather flowers to make crowns for each other?

And was Mary nearby now, watching her son in agony and knowing she could do nothing but pray and love Him.

So many images of family, of obedience, of faithfulness, of sorrow and of joy.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you, save souls!