OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS! Jubilee Year of Hope arrives Inspiration and news from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception Marian Helper Marian.org Winter 2024-25
Wish your loved ones a blessed Christmas with our exclusive cards. They’ll be remembered in the three Masses on Dec. 25 at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Enroll a loved one today! 1-800-462-7426 l Marian.org/b64/sc Your offering helps support the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. B64-SC242 Holy Family Gold Foil More than a card — it’s Three Masses on Christmas B64-SC241 Madonna & Child Gold Foil B64-SC243 Jesus in Manger Gold Foil
AMH Director/Publisher: Fr. Mark Baron, MIC — “Father Joseph, MIC” Executive Editor: Dr. Joe McAleer Designer: Andrew Leeco Writer, Assistant Editor: Chris Sparks AMH General Promoter: Br. Andrew R. Mączyński, MIC Vol. 81, No. 4 Winter 2024-25 12 Doorway to Hope Mission Statement Marian Helper is intended to serve members of the Association of Marian Helpers (AMH), a spiritual benefit society of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The magazine seeks to provide spiritual nourishment, education about the Catholic faith, and information about the mission and good works of the Marians. It also provides information about Association services and presents opportunities to support the mission and good works of the Congregation. Marian Helper is published quarterly by the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. It is sent free of charge to active members of the Association. Printed in the USA with ecclesiastical approval. Copyright © 2024 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. All rights reserved. Send all correspondence to: Association of Marian Helpers, Editorial Dept., Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Email: [email protected] Website: Marian.org If the Pope himself invited you to a celebration, would you attend? Of course! And Pope Francis’ announcement that 2025 is a Jubilee Year of Hope is a personal invitation to participate in a year-long celebration of reconciliation and renewal of our faith. It all begins on Christmas Eve with the opening of a Holy Door in Rome. 3 Father Joseph Writes 4 Marian Helpers in Action 6 Father Joseph’s Picks 7 Notes from Rome 8 On Eden Hill 31 Outstanding Helpers 33 Graces Received 36 From the Vaults Departments Dr. Robert Stackpole previews a new web series with the evidence concerning the Nativity. The historical Jesus Mary at the movies 10 The makers of “Faustina: Love and Mercy” present a new film on the Immaculate Conception. Father Matthew Tomeny, MIC, National Shrine rector, offers a post-election reflection. Pray, forgive, heal 11 A Jubilee of priesthood 15 Fifty years in the service of God and students: Congratulations, Fr. Timothy Roth, MIC! Our heavenly helpers The Marian Fathers have a group of patron saints: Chris Sparks reveals who made the list. 16 Page 18 It’s time to remind Catholics of the dangers of playing God in the lab, warns Maria Gallagher. The tragic consequences of IVF Créches galore! 20 Chris Sparks visits a Marian Shrine where it’s Christmas all year round and mangers abound. To Heaven, via marriage Look to Sts. Zélie and Louis Martin, parents of St. Thérèse, as role models, says Caitrin Bennett. 22 24 The next volume of the popular Gospels for Little Ones series arrives, reports Sara Beth Meyer. The light of Luke Much ado about Medjugorje The news from the Vatican brings much joy and hope to pilgrims, says Peggy Stanton. 26 29
Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception The Marian Fathers are a Congregation of nearly 500 priests and brothers in 19 countries around the world. We support the Holy Father and embrace the official teachings of the Catholic Church in our special calling to: ● Spread devotion to Mary as the Immaculate Conception. ● Offer our lives for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially the victims of war and disease. ● Operate publishing apostolates and assist where the need is greatest in parishes, shrines, and missions. ● Promote the Divine Mercy message and devotion. ● Organize people of good will to work with and through us to bring Christ everywhere. Association of Marian Helpers — Join us! Established in 1925, the Association of Marian Helpers is a spiritual benefit society that prayerfully and financially supports the priests and brothers of the Congregation of Marian Fathers. Your enrollment means that, by a decree of the Holy See, you share in these graces: ● A daily Mass offered for all Marian Helpers. ● A share in the prayers, good works, and merits of the Marian priests and brothers around the world. ● A special Mass offered on feast days of our Savior and His Blessed Mother. ● A monthly Mass on each First Friday and each First Saturday. ● A Mass offered for deceased members on All Souls’ Day. ● The perpetual Novena to the Divine Mercy. l Deepen your commitment of prayer and support by joining one of our three spiritually nourishing prayer clubs: Marian.org/clubs l Support a particular ministry: Marian.org/give l Create a memorial or tribute: MemorialsOnEdenHill.org l Arrange a special gift of stock, a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA, a grant from your donor-advised fund, a gift through your will or trust, or annuity: Giving.Marian.org Call 1-800-671-2020 to make a gift by phone or for assistance. Free online help for your will, visit Marian.org/will. A sample form of bequest to the Marians is: I give and bequeath to the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. (Tax ID #20-8599030), Stockbridge, MA 01262, ____% of my adjusted gross estate (or $_______, or a specific asset) to be used for its religious and educational purposes. Marian Helpers Center Stockbridge, Massachusetts Headquarters and publishing center for the Association of Marian Helpers. 1-800-462-7426 National Shrine of The Divine Mercy (413) 298-3931 For pilgrimages: (413) 298-1119 ShrineOfDivineMercy.org Mercy Apostolates Learn about our lay ministries: Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy Dr. Bryan Thatcher TheDivineMercy.org/eadm 1-877-380-0727 Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy Marie Romagnano, MSN, RN, CCM TheDivineMercy.org/hpdm 1-866-895-3236 John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy Dr. Robert Stackpole TheDivineMercy.org/JPII 1-866-895-3236 Mother of Mercy Messengers Joan and Dave Maroney TheDivineMercy.org/momm 1-830-634-7765 Evangelization Team Invite the Marians to speak at your parish. (413) 298-1349 [email protected] Intercessory Prayerline Send us prayer intentions. 1-800-804-3823 Marian.org/prayer Websites Marian.org TheDivineMercy.org ShopMercy.org DivineMercyPlus.org Who We Are Other ways to support God’s mission Sign-up is easy: Visit MICPrayers.org Visit marian.org/social 2 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org
Father Joseph Writes But it’s also been a year with a spotlight on our Lord in the Eucharist, as thousands traversed the country with Him from coast to coast and border to border, culminating in an astonishing National Eucharistic Congress and the sending forth of a new generation of Eucharistic disciples. Talk about the unexpected! Now, it’s time to offer thanksgiving to God for His many gifts and blessings; to entrust to Him all these urgent, important, but ultimately passing troubles, tragedies, and emergencies; to gather with our families, set aside our differences, and remember that love of God and neighbor demands of us relationships that are stronger than the controversies of our times. It’s time to regain our perspective on what’s really important. We celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, or Christ the King, on Nov. 24 this year, right before the blessed holiday of Thanksgiving. What a great reminder that we put our trust in Jesus, not in worldly wealth, strength, or wisdom! What a great reorientation after the fervor and confusion of a Presidential election year (see Ps 146:3)! Take the time to really sit with the meaning of these feasts. If you can, go to Mass with your loved ones on Thanksgiving Day, and unite your personal thanksgiving to God with the transcendent thanksgiving of the Most Blessed Sacrament. That sets us on the right course to prayerfully make Advent a truly penitential season — one filled with parties and family get togethers, sure, but also a time to grab whatever silent moments we can to read a bit of Scripture and talk to God about His love for us, our love for Him, and the needs of our neighbors, many of whom have been suffering as a result of the emergencies of this year, especially in Florida, North Carolina, and the Southeast. Let us be the face of the Father’s mercy to our neighbors, something only really possible if we’re plugged into the grace of God through regular reception of the Sacraments, regular prayer and spiritual reading, and regular works of mercy. Then Christmas can be at its best for us and for all our neighbors, all our family, friends, and communities. And then we can enter the Jubilee Year as true “Pilgrims of Hope,” witnesses to hope, in imitation of St. John Paul II, the Great Mercy Pope. Last time, it was the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2015-16. This time, it’s 25 years after the Great Jubilee Year 2000, when the Church marked 2,000 years since the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, St. Faustina was canonized, and Divine Mercy Sunday was made a universal feast. So this Advent isn’t just the start of a new liturgical year. It’s the preparation for a Jubilee Year, a time for the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation between enemies, and restored relationships between people who had been at odds. Let’s take the lead as servants and friends of Jesus, the Divine Mercy Incarnate; as children of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculata, and of St. Joseph, Universal Patron of the Church. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and fear nothing! May God bless you! ‘PILGRIMS OF HOPE’ “Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director of the Association of Marian Helpers, currently Fr. Mark Baron, MIC. Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 3 After a year dedicated to the urgent and the temporary, it’s time to turn our attention to the perennial, the traditional, and the eternal. What do I mean? We’ve been immersed in a year like few others: an exhausting Presidential election, natural disasters, war, disease, and so many other urgent, important, but ultimately passing things.
Even for those who do not stop, the sight is nearly impossible to miss — a giant print of the Divine Mercy Image, displayed prominently on the stone exterior of St. Pius X Catholic Church. Made you look! Debra Carey, pastoral associate at St. Pius X, has seen the effect the Image has had on many passersby: “They’re looking at Him, and He’s looking back at them.” Some know the history of the Image and share that they, too, have a devotion to the Divine Mercy; some may never have seen it before, but “they recognize Jesus” and stop to inquire about the Image and its meaning. This simple displaying of the Image and responding to the comments or questions it evokes illustrate the approach Deb recommends for drawing others into the light and warmth of the rays of mercy: “Don’t make it complicated.” Don’t explain, at that first inquiry, all about St. Faustina, her visions, and her Diary. “Simply tell people that Jesus is an ocean Showing the message Marian Helpers in Action By Marian Friedrichs The Divine Mercy Image greets parishioners and passersby at St. Pius X Church in Westerly, Rhode Island. On a busy street in Westerly, Rhode Island, where summertime tourists often stroll as they spend sunny days enjoying the town and its beaches, a certain piece of art sometimes makes pedestrians slow their steps, stop, and look. Some even seek out a friendly local who might talk to them about the piece or answer questions. 4 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org
of mercy waiting for you no matter what you’ve done,” Deb says. “Remind them that God’s mercy is for everyone. People are longing to feel that mercy.” The story of the Divine Mercy devotion at St. Pius X Parish offers an example of what can happen when people follow that longing where God leads. In 2000, the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet had been part of Deb’s daily prayer life for two years, ever since she had read Divine Mercy in My Soul as a Lenten devotion. So, when Deb received an urgent prayer request for Michelle, a young mother of three diagnosed with a brain tumor, she decided at once to confront Michelle’s need with two of the most powerful prayer weapons she had. “We invited anyone able to come before the Blessed Sacrament on Fridays at 3 p.m. to pray for Michelle,” Deb recalls. She expected the band of intercessors to meet for a few weeks, but the parish Rosary and Divine Mercy Prayer Group gathered weekly for 14 years! (Their first petition was granted: Michelle is alive and cancer-free today.) And since 2020, parishioners have continued praying for one another’s intentions through St. Pius X’s Divine Mercy Intercessory Prayer Group, using Flocknote. In 2002, Cathy Reese, a faithful participant in that Friday prayer group, was herself diagnosed with cancer and given only two years to live. Drawing “tremendous strength” from her “unwavering faith,” Cathy lived six years longer than expected. During that time, she was among the prayer group members who contributed to the purchase of a large Divine Mercy Image to display inside the church. Devotion expands Over the years, as prayers continued to multiply, so did visible signs of the parish’s devotion to the merciful Christ. Father Raymond Suriani bought a second large Divine Mercy Image to display in the rectory, and in 2011, St. Pius X held its first Divine Mercy Sunday celebration. Parishioner Sharon Furman had received a first-class relic of St. Faustina as a gift, and it has been venerated at the Feast of Mercy service every year. In 2012, Fr. Ray led a group of more than 50 parishioners on pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, where the group received a tour from Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, who was then a deacon. Four years later, during the Year of Mercy, Father Ray led another pilgrimage to the Shrine. Deb recalls, “The grace and blessings experienced as we walked through the Holy Doors of Mercy were profound.” Later that same year, the parish’s new pastor, Fr. Michael Najim, introduced the “Pilgrim Icon of Divine Mercy” program, in which a family or individual hosted a Divine Mercy Image for a week and received a prayer card explaining how to consecrate their homes and themselves to Divine Mercy. Each hosting household was then given a certificate proclaiming Jesus as “King of their Home.” Also in 2016, a couple donated yet another Divine Mercy Image, which, displayed in an enclave of the church, established a special area of prayer that has become the parish’s own “Divine Mercy Shrine” (below). Seed to tree In time, non-parishioners began to perceive the remarkable honoring of God’s mercy that had become part of St. Pius X’s parish character. During the 2016 Jubilee Year of Mercy, parishioner Christine Magowan lost her nephew, John Jerabeck, suddenly. Only 33 years old when he died, John was devoted to St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy message, and he frequently visited St. Pius X when he traveled from his home in upstate New York to see his aunt. After John’s death, his parents made a donation to the parish, which used the funds to install a stained-glass window, depicting St. Faustina holding a Divine Mercy Image (see opposite page). In 2021, thanks to Fr. Edward Nadolny and the generosity of parishioners Paul and Dolores Cusson, the large beckoning Divine Mercy Image was erected on the façade of the church. The current pastor, Fr. Daniel Mahoney, is organizing a Divine Mercy pilgrimage to Poland in May 2025. The mustard seed planted 24 years ago in the form of a small group praying the Chaplet for a special intention has grown into a tall sheltering tree, where parishioners and strangers alike seek comfort in the shade of its branches. After reading St. Faustina’s Diary for the first time during that Lent so many years ago, Deb made an Easter promise to our Lord “to spread the message any way I could.” Together with her pastors and fellow parishioners, Deb has done precisely that, following the promptings of the Holy Spirit toward ever more fervent, ever bolder devotion to Jesus, the Divine Mercy. She hopes others will do the same. “Stay steadfast,” she urges, “and you can always go deeper.” To purchase a Divine Mercy Image and other sacred art, visit DivineMercyArt.org. Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 5
Visit ShopMercy.org/b64 or call 1-800-462-7426. Father Joseph’s Picks As we enter Advent and approach Christmas, parties, family functions, and earthly celebrations are good, but we also need to be taking time in silence, prayer, and listening to the wisdom of our faith so our souls may truly have room at the inn for Jesus. Here are some great resources to do just that. By Caitrin Bennett This book will help you unwrap and tap into the power of the gifts Jesus has given us through His Church. You will grow in your understanding of your marriage vows and become better equipped to live them out; befriend several married saints who also lived out these vows and ask for their intercession; and learn to strive constantly towards holiness and rely on marital grace when you and your spouse inevitably fall short. $16.95. B64-HLMY BIBLE GEMS: SCRIPTURE VERSES ON GOD’S MERCY AND OVERCOMING FEAR By Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC Perfect love casts out fear, and God is love (see 1 Jn 4:16-19). So let us allow His Word to find a home in our hearts each day with these 366 Scriptural exhortations to fear not (the basis of the Divine Mercy spirituality of trust taught by Pope St. John Paul II). We journey through the books of the Bible using verses drawn from the Divine Mercy Catholic Bible and daily reflections written by Chris Sparks and edited and arranged by Fr. Calloway. $16.95. B64-GEMB HOLIER MATRIMONY: MARRIED SAINTS, CATHOLIC VOWS, AND SACRAMENTAL GRACE NEW! NEW! By Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle Hope is truly a lifesaver! God is certainly the foundation of our every hope, and He has gifted us with a most eminent gift — His own Mother! This book presents many reasons for hope in our world today through the lens of Our Mother Mary and some of her apparitions around the world. Join Our Blessed Mother, “Our Life, Our Sweetness, and Our Hope,” on an inspiring journey to coincide with the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. $16.95. B64-POHB OUR LIFE, OUR SWEETNESS, AND OUR HOPE JUBILEE PILGRIMS OF HOPE WITH MARY 6 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org NEW! By Helen Hoffner This beautifully illustrated book will help you identify and understand the history of crosses seen on historic monuments, houses of worship, flags, and anywhere your travels may lead. It also addresses crucifixes, or crosses that contain an image of the Body of Jesus Christ. Stories of crosses awaken curiosity about medieval knights, crusades, and the exploration of new lands. Every cross has a story to tell. Perfect for travelers and young folks off on fresh adventures! $23.95. B64-CRUS THE CROSS: A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL NEW!
Notes from Rome By the Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC Some will remember the Great Jubilee of 2000. There was also an extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. The Pope explains that a Jubilee Year is a time of special grace, “characterized by the forgiveness of sins and in particular by the indulgence, which is a full expression of the mercy of God.” The City of Rome is preparing for an expected 35 million pilgrims and tourists to visit the Eternal City for the Jubilee Year, under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” There are construction projects under way all over the city. We who lived through the pandemic in Rome are already a bit overwhelmed. Rome had become like a ghost town. Since the pandemic, rivers of tourists try to cross the streets near the Vatican every day. We worry, “What will next year be like?” The Jubilee, however, is a spiritual event for the whole Church, not just for those who are blessed to be able to make a pilgrimage to Rome. In his letter, Pope Francis expressed the desire that 2024 would be a preparatory year marked by a “symphony” of prayer. The best way to open our hearts to the graces that God wants to give us is through prayer. The Pope wants us to renew our desire to be in God’s presence, to listen to Him and to adore Him. Pope Francis wants “Hope” to be the central message of this Jubilee. We live in a time when uncertainty about the future is leaving all of us feeling at loose ends. May this Jubilee allow us to renew our hope in Christ. Pilgrims to Rome will be able to gain the Jubilee indulgence by passing through the Holy Year doors at the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, including the one shown on this magazine’s cover, St. Mary Major. On Dec. 29 this year, diocesan bishops all over the world will solemnly open the Jubilee Year in each diocese with the celebration of Holy Mass. Pilgrimages of Hope can take place to each cathedral. There will not be Holy Year doors in every diocese as there were during the Jubilee of Mercy, but there will be many ways to obtain indulgences during the Jubilee. To learn more, download the Jubilee app (iubilaem25) or visit the dedicated website, iubilaeum2025.va. Jesus is the doorway to eternal life. Pope Francis wants each of us to experience a genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus during this upcoming Jubilee. Let’s open our hearts! DOORWAY TO ETERNITY The Catholic Church has declared a Jubilee Year in 2025, explained in the “bull” (letter) by Pope Francis entitled Spes Non Confundit, which means, “Hope Does Not Disappoint” (Rom 5:5). The Holy Father reminds us that the Church has been celebrating Jubilees at various intervals since the year 1300 to commemorate the anniversary of Christ’s birth. God called His people to celebrate Jubilees every 50 years in the Old Testament (see Lev. 25:1-13). Now we celebrate them in the Church every 25 years. The Most Rev. Joe Roesch, MIC, is the Superior General of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He lives in Rome. Listen to his podcasts, including “Saint Faustina’s Diary in a Year,” on TheDivineMercy.org/podcasts and DivineMercyPlus.org/podcasts. Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 7 Father Joe talks about the Jubilee Year.
SAINT FAUSTINA’S FEAST Hundreds of pilgrims visited Eden Hill on Oct. 5, a First Saturday this year, to celebrate the feast day of St. Faustina. A highlight was a talk by Sister M. Inga Kvassayová, OLM (top left), a member of St. Faustina Kowalska’s order, the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy of the U.S. province, based in Washington, D.C. “The Lord said to St. Faustina that she will be the one who will prepare the world for His final coming, and I believe as many of us do I hope, that that will happen through Mary,” said Sr. Inga. “So what both St. Faustina and Mother Mary teach us — that’s trust. Trust in God. Why? Because they both know how merciful and good God is.” 8 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS Father Andy Davy, MIC, presided over the annual Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4. “If you have a pet, just ask the Lord, ‘What message do You want to share with me through this part of Your creation, this pet that You have entrusted me to take care of? How are You reminding me of Your faithfulness and love?’ Allow that pet to move your heart always to praise, not the creation, but the Creator who made it all for you.” ROSARY CONGRESS Bishop Robert McManus of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts led the Eucharistic Procession closing the week-long Rosary Congress at the National Shrine. For seven days and seven nights, Oct. 5-11, volunteers spent time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and prayed the Rosary hourly. On Eden Hill
Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 9 POLISH DAY The annual Polish Day on Sept. 21 drew a large and festive crowd, which gathered for Mass (celebrated by the Most Rev. Andrzej Zglejszewski, Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, New York), and Stations of the Cross (below). PARISH MISSION NIGHT “We will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)” was the theme of a Parish Mission Night held on Oct. 1. Moderated by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (second from left), the featured speakers from Australia were (from left) Dr. Robert Haddad (who spoke on “The Eucharist: The Glory Presence of the New Israel”), Charbel Raish (“How Islam Led Me Back to Christ”), and Kevin Bailey (“From Success to Significance”). MERCY FOR SOULS CONFERENCE Father Dan Cambra, MIC, was the keynote speaker at the 14th annual Mercy for Souls Conference, held on Sept. 7. The theme was, “Mary, the Immaculate Conception, and the Holy Souls in Purgatory.” “Any time we cooperate with God’s grace in our lives, the good that we do is still a mere shadow of the goodness of God,” Fr. Dan said. “The mercy that we show to another person is but a mere shadow of the mercy of God for us. When you and I were baptized, we were baptized into the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ. We were made partakers in the mystical life of Christ.”
Mark your calendars: A new docudrama on the Immaculate Conception, from the filmmakers who brought us “Faustina: Love and Mercy” and featuring the Marian Fathers, is premiering in cinemas across the United States in December. “I Am the Immaculate Conception,” presented by Fathom Events, will open on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12, and run for several days. The film had its world premiere at the 14th annual Napa Institute Summer Conference last July 25. Expert interpretation The title recalls how Our Lady introduced herself to St. Bernadette Soubirous in the grotto of Lourdes, France, in 1858: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” The film addresses the questions: Why does Mary present herself this way to St. Bernadette? And why does she emphasize her Immaculate Conception in other apparitions as well? “The mystery of the Immaculate Conception is at the very heart of our faith,” said Pope St. John Paul II. Interspersed with dramatic recreations of the most important moments in the lives of Mary and Jesus are commentaries by experts and scholars on Scripture, Tradition, revelation, and dogma. Among the familiar Marian faces are the Most Rev. Joseph Roesch, the Very Rev. Chris Alar, Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, the Very Rev. Donald Calloway, and Fr. Boguslaw Gil. Marian participation “We are so grateful to the Marian Fathers for their collaboration on this film that is going to bring audiences to a point of reflection on Mary during the season where we honor her and her role in God’s plan for salvation,” says Michal Kondrat, producer. “This is a movie for today’s world in need of the sound teaching of the Church and the presence of Our Mother, Mary, the Immaculate Conception. We encourage families, parishes, and schools to see this movie together to grow in their love and devotion to Mary and her Son, Jesus.” Visit Fathom Events online for showtimes in your area. Mary at the movies! Join in the Consecration to the Immaculate Conception! A new daily series by Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC, based on his book. Watch LIVE at 9 a.m. ET on Facebook (DivineMercyOfficial), Instagram (TheDivineMercy), and DivineMercyPlus.org. Shining in Spotless Splendor (B64-BELH) is available in book and eBook formats on ShopMercy.org.
Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 11 Needless to say, the Presidential election was contentious and divisive. But the political tensions that arose should not lead us to sin, especially that of anger or hatred, but rather be opportunities for our love to be purified. All the prayers we offer for our country will be weakened if we don’t have forgiveness in our hearts. It would be sad to see fellow Americans we don’t agree with politically as enemies rather than neighbors. Even soldiers have shown incredible forgiveness of their enemies. There are remarkable stories of veterans from World War II befriending an enemy soldier after the war and even having their families visit years later. How much easier should it be to forgive our neighbor than an enemy trying to kill us! Merciful to others Just as the Lord has been merciful to us, we must be merciful to others. At our judgment after death, the mercy and forgiveness we receive from the Lord will be limited by the mercy and forgiveness we gave to others. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” As Marian Renovator Blessed George Matulaitis put it, “My party is Christ.” While we must carry out our civic duties as Catholic citizens of the United States, we must remember our ultimate citizenship is of the Kingdom of Heaven. As Catholic citizens, we turn then to Mary, the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States. Just as she was preserved from original sin by the grace of her Immaculate Conception, the grace of her Immaculate Conception can preserve our country from sin and evil. As our Mother, she wants all her children, all citizens of our country, living and deceased, to be pure and holy. The Immaculate Conception shows it is possible to be completely purified of all sin by the graces of the Divine Mercy and to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. For us, if we don’t reach that purity in this lifetime, we may yet by the mercy of God in Purgatory, where, as St. Faustina saw, Mary comes as Star of the Sea to refresh the Holy Souls and guide them to Heaven when fully purified (see Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 20). “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” And may all our American brothers and sisters who have gone before us, especially those who gave their lives in defense of its freedom, rest in peace. Father Matthew Tomeny, MIC, is rector of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, and soon to be a chaplain for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, U.S.A. Pray, forgive, heal By Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC ‘It would be sad to see fellow Americans we don’t agree with politically as enemies rather than neighbors.’ Every November, the month of the Holy Souls, the Church exhorts us to pray for the souls in Purgatory. We can especially pray for the souls of all the patriots who have died in service of the United States. In return for our assistance through prayers, sufferings, penances, and acts of charity, we can ask them to pray and assist our country in this crucial time. (While the Holy Souls cannot pray for themselves, they can pray for us, the Church Militant.)
to original owners, a forgiveness of monetary debts, and the liberation of any slaves or indentured servants. The Hebrews were asked to “proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants” (Lev 25:10). The Hebrews ceased their celebration of the jubilee year in 600 B.C., when the Jews were held captive in Babylon, and have not resumed the practice since. The Catholic Church aimed to restore the sacredness of this celebration by instituting a jubilee year approximately every 25 years. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first one in Church history. Since then, the Church has celebrated 26 ordinary and three extraordinary jubilees. Many will remember the last jubilee Here comes the Jubilee! If the Pope himself invited you to a celebration, would you attend? Of course! And Pope Francis’ announcement that 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church is essentially a personal invitation for us to participate in a year-long celebration of reconciliation and renewal of our faith. But what exactly is a “Jubilee”? The basic definition is “special anniversary” and “season of celebration,” but that only scratches the surface. “Jubilee” comes from the Hebrew word yobel, which means goat horn. The Hebrews used a yobel to announce the beginning of a jubilee year, marking the occasion to conduct a spiritual “reset”: “For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you” (Lev 25:12). Rest and restoration The Old Testament describes how the jubilee was a time of rest for the land and restoration for its people. The jubilee was a year for social justice: there was a restitution of land 12 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org By Veronica Szczygiel
year in 2015-16, the “extraordinary” Jubilee Year of Mercy. This upcoming “ordinary” jubilee, which begins Dec. 24, 2024 and ends Jan. 6, 2026, will mark the occasion of several key milestones. Next year is the 1,700th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicea, during which a unanimous vote approved of the Nicean Creed that we recite every Sunday at Mass. What a beautiful way to celebrate a renewal of our faith! Additionally, the Eastern and Western Christian churches’ calendars will providentially be in sync so that Easter will be celebrated on the same day, April 20. Pope Francis is using this as an opportunity to invite Eastern Orthodox communities to a discussion about unity, such as regarding calendars. Lastly, this jubilee year will also help us look forward to 2033, the 2,000th anniversary of the Passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus, a truly momentous occasion in our faith history. Rekindle our hope While this jubilee year will celebrate important historical markers, the announcement is also the Church’s personal invitation for us to have an authentic experience of love of God, through reconciliation, mercy, and forgiveness. It is an invitation for us to rekindle our hope in salvation through Jesus Christ. In fact, Pope Francis announced that the theme of this upcoming jubilee year is hope. Our faith is anchored in hope. Christ’s death and Resurrection showed us God’s redemptive grace. We have hope for healing, forgiveness, and eternal life by believing in Him and spreading the Good News. Saint Paul writes, “We boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God … because God’s love has been poured into our hearts” (Rom 5:2, 5). We should take comfort in our Christian hope. But Pope Francis knows that sometimes it’s hard to hope in the tumultuous times we live in. Evil, violence, and darkness exist tangibly in our world. In response to this reality, the Pope asks us not to be tempted into thinking that evil can overwhelm us. We can persist in hope by desiring and praying for peace in our world and for sharing an enthusiasm for life. He asks us especially to consider how to revive a joy for living that is not tied to materialism, appearances, or expectations. Signs of Hope One way to find hope is to share it with others. Pope Francis calls us to be “tangible signs of hope,” especially to the most vulnerable communities: the imprisoned, the sick and disabled, the youth, the displaced, the elderly, and the poor. He invites us to action during this jubilee year, writing that “all baptized with their respective charisms and ministries are co-responsible for ensuring that manifold signs of hope bear witness to God’s presence in the world.” We should think deeply about the special talents that we each have and how we can use them to bring hope into our own families and communities, especially to the vulnerable populations who probably need hope most of all. To be witnesses of hope, we need also attend to our own inner spiritual lives. The jubilee is an invitation to do so, mainly through pilgrimage and Reconciliation. The Pope urges us to rediscover the joy and healing of the Sacrament, encouraging us to approach Confession as an authentic encounter with God and to savor His forgiveness of our sins. As we are forgiven, we, too, should seek to forgive others. While we can’t change the past, we can change the course of our future by not letting anger or vengeance take hold of our hearts. Additionally, the faithful can obtain the jubilee indulgence, a gift of God’s infinite mercy. Pilgrimage Another fundamental aspect of every jubilee year is pilgrimage. The Holy Father encourages us to rediscover silence, effort, and simplicity as we traverse to holy shrines, always keeping Jesus close to us. There’s a host of activities and celebrations planned at the Vatican over the next year (see page 14). But we need not hop on a plane and travel far to go on our spiritual journey. Many of us may not be able to physically or financially do so, and listening to online Masses and talks can be a spiritual journey. But if we are able to physically journey, a nice way to engage in a pilgrimage is to visit a Marian shrine such as the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy! The Pope has written that Mary is the supreme witness of hope, as she never abandoned her hope and trust in God even when her Son was being violently crucified. Marian shrines, then, will be special places for the rebirth of hope during the jubilee year. The jubilee year is an opportunity for us to grow closer to our God, deepen our faith, and anchor ourselves in hope. It is a chance for the Church to unify in its defense of all life and bear witness to the rest of the world the light of Jesus Christ. We can partake in the celebrations by attending to our interior spiritual lives, through Reconciliation and pilgrimage especially, and by sharing our gifts and talents for the glory of God, particularly with those in need. Let’s accept the Pope’s invitation and ready ourselves for a festive and fruitful jubilee year! The Jubilee Year is an opportunity for us to grow closer to our God, deepen our faith, and anchor ourselves in hope. Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 13
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Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 15 Where would we be without our priests? No Sacraments. A much harder road, with far less grace, and far fewer of the blessings (quite literally) that God intends for us to have on the long pilgrimage of this life, the straight and narrow path to Heaven. So when you hear of a priest celebrating his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination — Fr. Timothy J. Roth, MIC — it’s news of a great gift to Christ, to His Church, and to all of us members of the Mystical Body of Christ! Marianapolis ministry Born on Aug. 22, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, Fr. Timothy made his first vows as a member of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception on Aug. 15, 1967 in the old St. Casimir Province in Chicago, and made his perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1973. A graduate of the Catholic University of America, the Sacred Heart School of Theology, and Assumption College, he was ordained a priest on Sept. 14, 1974. For Fr. Timothy, 50 years of priestly life has, in many ways, meant service at Marianapolis, a Catholic preparatory high school in Thompson, Connecticut. Marianapolis was founded by the Marians in 1926 in Illinois as a house of formation for Lithuanian students. When Archbishop — future Blessed — George Matulaitis toured the United States in 1926, he visited what was then called Marian Hills Juniorate. In 1931, the school moved to Connecticut and began the transition to an all-boys prep school offering high school and college degrees. In 1974, girls were admitted. In 2001, the Trinity Foundation completed the purchase of Marianapolis; Marians continue to reside on campus and remain an integral part of the community. Father Timothy joined the school shortly after ordination, and over the years served as a teacher of religious studies and psychology, dean of students, and resident director. From 1988-2001, Fr. Timothy was headmaster of Marianapolis, stepping down when the school ownership changed. Today, he serves as chairman of the religious studies department and chaplain. He teaches moral and ethical dilemmas and social justice, and coaches golf and intramural basketball. “I take a pastoral approach in presenting the faith to students,” he says. “We do not force. We invite and encourage, with the knowledge of what is good. It’s about putting Christ forward towards others to see His message.” Outside of school, Fr. Timothy presents Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends for couples, a ministry he has done for 45 years. He’s also writing the history of Marianapolis Preparatory School in anticipation of its centennial in 2026, with 11 chapters published so far. “I’m working on the draft for the year 1948,” he says. Without which, nothing And of course you Marian Helpers have all played a role with your prayers and financial support of the vocations of men like Fr. Timothy. “One of the things that every Marian needs is support, not only financially but more spiritually, and most important in ministry,” said Fr. Timothy. “Your prayers make a tremendous amount of difference. In the religious life, knowing that we’re being prayed for helps us in our ministry for others, to bring them to Christ, and to share His message successfully.” A Jubilee of priesthood By Chris Sparks Father Timothy J. Roth, MIC, in the chapel of Marianapolis Preparatory School, with a portrait of Blessed George Matulaitis in the background. Photo by Adrienne Fournier
In these trying times, we need all the help we can get. Fortunately, the entire Marian Family — Marian Fathers as well as Marian Helpers — are blessed with a great wealth of patron saints whom we can beseech for their intercession. All are members of the Communion of Saints specifically invited by the Congregation to help us all as we journey on the road home to Heaven, following the path laid out for us by the Marian charism and its three components: to profess, proclaim, and honor the mystery of the Immaculate Conception; to assist the dying and the Holy Souls in Purgatory; and to spread the Kingdom of God on earth, serving the Church where the need is greatest — all undertaken with a special emphasis on spreading the message of Divine Mercy in the modern world. First and Foremost: Our Lady The titular Patroness of the Congregation is, of course, the Immaculately Conceived Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church. The mystery of her Immaculate Conception (celebrated this year on Dec. 9, as Dec. 8 is the Second Sunday of Advent) has been, from the beginning of the Congregation more than 350 years ago, a particular sign, strength, and joy of the Marian vocation. The Congregation also honors past members who serve “as a model of the faithful fulfillment of the Marian vocation”: the Father Founder, St. Stanislaus Papczyński (feast day: May 18); the “Renovator,” Blessed George Matulaitis (feast day: Jan. 27); Blessed Martyrs Fr. Anthony Leszczewicz and Fr. George Kaszyra (feast day: June 12); and Venerable Servant of God Fr. Casimir Wyszyński. Fellow Patrons Then there are the “official” patron saints of the Congregation whom we should invoke and imitate in a special way: l Saint Michael the Archangel: Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as “one of the chief princes” (Dan 10:13) and leader of the forces of Heaven in their triumph over the powers of Satan and his followers. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles. Feast day: Sept. 29. l Saint Joseph: “Saint Joseph was never in the forefront. He was a man of prayer, who was a protector and a guardian, and he was a humble servant of God,” as the late Br. Fred Wells, MIC, put it. Feast days: March 19 (Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and May 1 (the Worker). l Saint Peter: “You are Peter,” Jesus said, “and upon this rock I will build my church” (Mt 16:18). When the Romans were going to crucify him, tradition tells us, St. Peter was too humble to be killed in the same way as his Lord, so he convinced them to crucify him upside down. Feast day: June 29. l Saint Paul: The son of a Roman citizen, Saul (as he was called until after his conversion) was sent to Jerusalem to By Chris Sparks Our Heavenly Helpers 16 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org
be trained in the famous rabbinical school headed by Gamaliel. Here, in addition to studying the Law and the Prophets, he learned a trade, as was the custom: tentmaking. Feast day: June 29. l Saint Francis of Assisi: One day, as he prayed in the humble little church of St. Damian outside the walls of Assisi, Francis felt the eyes of the Christ on the crucifix gazing at him and heard a voice saying three times, “Francis, go and repair My house, which you see is falling down.” Feast day: Oct. 4. l Saint Thomas Aquinas: Towards the end of his life, when laboring over his great treatise, Against the Pagans (Summa Contra Gentiles), a sacristan saw Thomas kneeling before the altar and heard a voice, coming, it seemed, from the crucifix, which said, “Thou hast written well of Me, Thomas; what reward wouldst thou have?” To which Thomas replied, “Nothing but Thyself, Lord.” Feast day: Jan. 28. l Saint Joan de Valois of France: Unloved and despised by her husband, she bore all torments with heroic patience and humility. Being physically impaired from childhood, Joan suffered rejection, humiliation, unjust opinions, and physical, moral, and spiritual sufferings. Her faith and trust in God — together with her special devotion to Our Lady — protected her. Feast day: Feb. 4. l Saint Ignatius Loyola: While praying in a little chapel on the road to Rome, Ignatius had a vision. God appeared, commending him to His Son, who shone radiantly beside Him, though burdened with a heavy cross, and a voice said, “I will be helpful to you at Rome.” On this second visit, the Pope received the first Jesuit priests cordially and accepted their services. Feast day: July 31. l Saint Vincent de Paul: With grace, the anger-prone Vincent became tenderhearted to the point of looking on the troubles of all mankind as his own. Selfdenial, humility, and an earnest spirit of prayer were the means by which he attained to this degree of perfection. Feast day: Sept. 27. l Saint Faustina: She had only three years of simple education, but received extraordinary revelations — or messages — from our Lord Jesus. Her notebooks are known today as the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, and the words contained within are God’s loving message of Divine Mercy. Feast day: Oct. 5 l Saint John Paul II: It was Pope St. John Paul II who told the Marian Fathers: “Be apostles of Divine Mercy under the maternal and loving guidance of Mary.” We’ve been faithfully following his instructions ever since. Both in his teaching and personal life, St. John Paul II strove to live and teach the message of Divine Mercy. Feast day: Oct. 22. You can find their feast days marked in our Marians of the Immaculate Conception 2025 Wall Calendar. You can also find prayers to the patrons and a little information about them on our new prayer cards! Patrons of the Marian Fathers and the whole Marian Family, pray for us! To order the 2025 Calendar (B64CAL25) and the new Patron Saint prayer cards, visit ShopMercy.org/b64. Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 17
Two of the evangelists, St. Matthew and St. Luke, open their Gospels with accounts of the Nativity of Jesus, including a prophetic star and the coming of the wise men, and angels appearing to shepherds to herald the birth of the newborn King. There are even remarkable accounts of the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary, His mother, while she was a virgin. It’s hard to believe that some New Testament scholars wonder if all of this is true. Surely, they say, if anything in the Gospel records smacks of myth and legend, it is these colorful stories of the conception and birth of the Son of God, laced as they are with angelic visitations, and miraculous signs and wonders. But what does the historical evidence actually suggest? Matthew and Luke The accounts of the Nativity by Matthew and Luke are obviously very different from each other. For example, Luke tells of the Annunciation of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin By Robert Stackpole, STD The Historical Jesus 18 Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org
Mary, the Roman census, angelic messengers appearing to shepherds abiding in the fields, and the finding of the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem “wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:12). Matthew, on the other hand, tells us of St. Joseph’s dreams, a special star, the coming of the wise men, the flight into Egypt, and the slaughter of the innocents. Obviously, these two accounts of the Nativity are drawn from completely independent sources. On the other hand, they also manifest important similarities: l In theology: In both accounts, Jesus is said to be conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. l In lineage: He was born to Mary and Joseph, the latter at least a descendant of King David. l In geography: Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. l In chronology: His birth took place during the reign of the tyrant Herod the Great (who died somewhere between 4 and 1 BC). These similarities lend an initial probability that they have an historically factual basis. Some, however, remain controversial among historians working in the field. Born in Bethlehem? As surprising as it may seem, some historians doubt that Jesus actually was born in Bethlehem. Princeton scholar James H. Charlesworth, for example, notes that Jesus is never called “Jesus of Bethlehem” but always “Jesus of Nazareth.” Mark 1:9 states “Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee,” so Charlesworth considers that “If Jesus came from Nazareth, he may have been born there” (see Mt 21:11, Mk 6:1, Jn 1:45-46). The only strong evidence he presents in favor of this possibility, however, is that “Nicodemus is unable to reply to the charge that Jesus cannot be a prophet or the Messiah, because no prophet is to come from Galilee, which includes Nazareth” (see Jn 7:52). But in Luke’s Gospel, the designation of Bethlehem as Jesus’ birthplace is not tied to any prophecy. Rather, Bethlehem was just the temporary residence of Mary and Joseph, who had journeyed there for the Roman census. This explains why, although both Matthew and Luke report that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, they continue to call Him “Jesus of Nazareth” throughout their Gospels: because it was surely not the Jewish custom to name a person after a birthplace that was merely en route, but after their permanent family home, which in this case, as both Gospels tell us, was Nazareth. Finally, none of the early Christian writers outside of the Gospels report that Jesus was born in Nazareth, and none of the early Jewish polemicists (who attacked so many other aspects of the Gospel accounts) cast doubt on His birth in Bethlehem. In short, the preponderance of the historical evidence still strongly supports Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Shepherds and caves Further corroboration of St. Luke’s Nativity accounts include the fact that there really were shepherds who tended flocks on the outskirts of Bethlehem in those days, and caves in the hillsides that were used as stables for animals (which is why an early Christian tradition holds that Jesus was born in a cave). Even the Christmas tradition that places an ox and an ass beside the stable stands to reason: If there was no room for Mary and Joseph in the “inn” in Bethlehem, so that Jesus had to be born elsewhere, and was laid in a “manger” (see Lk 2:7 and 2:16), then he was most likely born in a stable for sheltering animals. If Matthew and Luke were probably accurate on all the major aspects of the story of the Nativity of our Lord (the star, the wise men, the slaughter of the innocents, the location of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, the Roman census, the shepherds, and the manger), then they are not telling myths or concocting legends here. Rather, they are trying to inform their readers about events that they believed — and had good grounds for believing — really happened. And so can we. Dr. Robert Stackpole is the director emeritus of the John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy. His new weekly web series, “Jesus of Nazareth: The Historical Evidence Behind the Greatest Story Ever Told,” begins on Monday, Dec. 1 on TheDivineMercy.org. Marian Helper • Winter 2024-25 • Marian.org 19 We invite you to send us your intentions for the Three Christmas Masses on Dec. 25 at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Visit Marian.org/b64 to have your intentions remembered.
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