National Shrine of The Divine Mercy May 19th Pentecost Sunday A Ministry of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary National Shrine of The Divine Mercy PO Box 951 2 Prospect Hill Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 (GPS: 11 Pine Street, Stockbridge, MA) Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC: Rector Fr. Robert Vennetti, MIC: Vice Rector Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC: Vice Rector Shrine Reception: 413-298-3931 Bus Pilgrimages: 413-298-1119 Gift Shop: 888-484-1112 National Shrine: www.shrineofdivinemercy.org Divine Mercy: www.thedivinemercy.org Marians: www.marian.org Livestream from the National Shrine Daily Devotions Daily Mass 9:00am Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3:00pm Rosary for Life 5:00pm Divine Mercy (Official) Divine Mercy Videos posted on our website daily: shrineofdivinemercy.org Dear Pilgrims, We welcome you to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Please join us for any upcoming events at the Shrine along with doing a personal pilgrimage during this year. Feel free to visit our Gift Shop and stroll our beautiful grounds during your visit here. May God bless you. . Sincerely in Jesus and Mary Immaculate, Fr. Matthew Tomeny, MIC Shrine Rector Monday- Saturday 8:00am, 9:00am & 2:00pm Sunday 9:00am, 10:30am & 2:00pm Please note: 2pm Mass on Saturday does NOT fulfill Sunday obligation Confessions Available Monday thru Friday 1:00pm - 2:00pm Saturdays and Sundays 1:00pm – 2:00pm 3:30pm – 4:15pm Daily Schedule
Upcoming Events May 2024 5/19 Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday 5/25 Explaining the Faith Talk at 11:00am Relic of St. Padre Pio • See page 11 for more information Bike Blessing • See page 12 for more information 5/26 Solemnity of The Most Holy Trinity 5/30 Healing Mass • see flyer on page 14 for more information Forty Hours of Adoration of The Most Blessed Sacrament • May 30-June 1 • see flyer on page 13 for more information For more information please visit the Shrine Calendar found on our website: https: www.shrineofdivinemercy.org June 2024 6/1 First Saturday Talks at 11:00am 6/2 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) • See page 15 for more information
Pope Francis Today concludes the Easter season, the fifty days that, from Jesus’ resurrection to Pentecost, are marked in a particular way by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is in fact the Easter Gift par excellence. He is the Creator Spirit, who constantly brings about new things. Today’s readings show us two of those new things. In the first reading, the Spirit makes of the disciples a new people; in the Gospel, he creates in the disciples a new heart. A new people. On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit came down from heaven, in the form of “divided tongues, as of fire… [that] rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages” (Acts 2:3-4). This is how the word of God describes the working of the Spirit: first he rests on each and then brings all of them together in fellowship. To each he gives a gift, and then gathers them all into unity. In other words, the same Spirit creates diversity and unity, and in this way forms a new, diverse and unified people: the universal Church. First, in a way both creative and unexpected, he generates diversity, for in every age he causes new and varied charisms to blossom. Then he brings about unity: he joins together, gathers and restores harmony: “By his presence and his activity, the Spirit draws into unity spirits that are distinct and separate among themselves” (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, Commentary on the Gospel of John, XI, 11). He does so in a way that effects true union, according to God’s will, a union that is not uniformity, but unity in difference. For this to happen, we need to avoid two recurrent temptations. The first temptation seeks diversity without unity. This happens when we want to separate, when we take sides and form parties, when we adopt rigid and airtight positions, when we become locked into our own ideas and ways of doing things, perhaps even thinking that we are better than others, or always in the right, when we become so-called “guardians of the truth”. When this happens, we choose the part over the whole, belonging to this or that group before belonging to the Church. We become avid supporters for one side, rather than brothers and sisters in the one Spirit. We become Christians of the “right” or the “left”, before being on the side of Jesus, unbending guardians of the past or the avant-garde of the future before being humble and grateful children of the Church. The result is diversity without unity. The opposite temptation is that of seeking unity without diversity. Here, unity becomes uniformity, where everyone has to do everything together and in the same way, always thinking alike. Unity ends up being homogeneity and no longer freedom. But, as Saint Paul says, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor 3:17). Solemnity of Pentecost Homily June 4, 2017
So the prayer we make to the Holy Spirit is for the grace to receive his unity, a glance that, leaving personal preferences aside, embraces and loves his Church, our Church. It is to accept responsibility for unity among all, to wipe out the gossip that sows the darnel of discord and the poison of envy, since to be men and women of the Church means being men and women of communion. It is also to ask for a heart that feels that the Church is our Mother and our home, an open and welcoming home where the manifold joy of the Holy Spirit is shared. Now we come to the second new thing brought by the Spirit: a new heart. When the risen Jesus first appears to his disciples, he says to them: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them” (Jn 20:22-23). Jesus does not condemn them for having denied and abandoned him during his passion, but instead grants them the spirit of forgiveness. The Spirit is the first gift of the risen Lord, and is given above all for the forgiveness of sins. Here we see the beginning of the Church, the glue that holds us together, the cement that binds the bricks of the house: forgiveness. Because forgiveness is gift to the highest degree; it is the greatest love of all. It preserves unity despite everything, prevents collapse, and consolidates and strengthens. Forgiveness sets our hearts free and enables us to start afresh. Forgiveness gives hope; without forgiveness, the Church is not built up. The spirit of forgiveness resolves everything in harmony, and leads us to reject every other way: the way of hasty judgement, the cul-de-sac of closing every door, the one-way street criticizing others. Instead, the Spirit bids us take the two-way street of forgiveness received and forgiveness given, of divine mercy that becomes love of neighbour, of charity as “the sole criterion by which everything must be done or not done, changed or not changed” (ISAAC OF STELLA, Or. 31). Let us ask for the grace to make more beautiful the countenance of our Mother the Church, letting ourselves be renewed by forgiveness and self-correction. Only then will we be able to correct others in charity. The Holy Spirit is the fire of love burning in the Church and in our hearts, even though we often cover him with the ash of our sins. Let us ask him: “Spirit of God, Lord, who dwell in my heart and in the heart of the Church, guiding and shaping her in diversity, come! Like water, we need you to live. Come down upon us anew, teach us unity, renew our hearts and teach us to love as you love us, to forgive as you forgive us. Amen”. Homily given by Pope Francis on the Solemnity of Pentecost, June 4, 2017 https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2017/documents/papa-francesco_20170604_omelia-pentecoste.html Picture: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/pope-francis-unique Coat of Arms: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html I “Oh, if souls would only be willing to listen, at least a little, to the voice of conscience and the voice—that is, the inspirations—of the Holy Spirit! I say “at least a little, ‘ because once we open ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit, He Himself will fulfill what is lacking in us.” St. Faustina’s Diary 359
Proper Attire Inside the Church “Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much. Woe to women lacking in modesty.” Our Lady of Fatima to Sr. Lucia Out of respect for Our Lord and to preserve others from any near occasions of sin, we ask that you dress in a spirit of modesty when entering the Church. Dress Code Guideline: For Women: No shorts, spandex, or skirts above the knees. No leggings or athletic wear. No low cut, backless or spaghetti strap dresses. All dresses should fall to knee length or below. No tank tops, bared midriffs or halter tops; no tight fitting, low cut or backless tops. For Men: No shorts No tank tops No baseball caps No flip flops If you should choose to wear a shoulder baring dress or top, please bring a covering for when you enter the Church. "Christian girls, think also of this: the more elegant you will be, and the more pleasing, if you dress with simplicity and discreet modesty." – The Forgotten Virtue: Modesty in Dress A good resource to learn more: The Forgotten Virtue: Modesty in Dress by Mgsr. Charles M. Mangan at https://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=647
Saint Faustina Get to know the Diary of… “Be at peace, My child, I am with you. Go in great peace.” God is love, and His Spirit is peace. 148+ A noble and delicate soul, even the most simple, but one of delicate sensibilities, sees God in everything, finds Him everywhere, and knows how to find Him in even the most hidden things. It finds all things important, it highly appreciates all things, it thanks God for all things, it draws profit for the soul from all things, and it gives all glory to God. It places its trust in God and is not confused when the time of ordeals comes. It knows that God is always the best of Fathers and makes little of human opinion. It follows faithfully the faintest breath of the Holy Spirit; it rejoices in this Spiritual Guest and holds onto Him like a child to its mother. Where other souls come to a standstill and fear, this soul passes on without fear or difficulty. June, 1936. Conversation with Father A. [Andrasz] “Know that these are hard and difficult things. Your principal spiritual director is the Holy Spirit. We can only give direction to these inspirations, but your real director is the Holy Spirit. If you yourself have decided to leave, Sister, I neither prohibit nor order you to do so. You take the responsibility for yourself. I say this to you, Sister: you can begin to take action. You are capable of doing so, and therefore you can do so. These things are indeed probable; all you have told me up to now [before perpetual vows in Cracow in 1933] speaks in favor of taking action. Still, you have to be very careful in all this. Pray much and ask that I be given light.” It so happened that I fell again into a certain error, in spite of a sincere resolution not to do so — even though the lapse was a minor imperfection and rather involuntary — and at this I felt such acute pain in my soul that I interrupted my work and went to the chapel for a while. Falling at the feet of Jesus, with love and a great deal of pain, I apologized to the Lord, all the more ashamed because of the fact that in my conversation with Him after Holy Communion this very morning I had promised to be faithful to Him. Then I heard these words: If it hadn’t been for this small imperfection, you wouldn’t have come to Me. Know that as often as you come to Me, humbling yourself and asking My forgiveness, I pour out a superabundance of graces on your soul, and your imperfection vanishes before My eyes, and I see only your love and your humility. You lose nothing but gain much… Soul: O my merciful Lord, there are secrets in my heart which no one knows or will ever know except You because, even if I wanted to reveal them, no one would understand me. Your minister knows some because I confess to him, but he knows only the bit of these mysteries that I am capable of revealing; the rest remains between us for eternity, O My Lord! You have covered me with the cloak of Your mercy, pardoning my sins. Not once did You refuse Your pardon; You always had pity on me, giving me a new life of grace. To prevent doubts, You have entrusted me to the loving care of Your Church, that tender mother, who in Your name assures me of the truths of faith and watches lest I wander. Especially in the tribunal of Your mercy does my soul meet an ocean of favors,
though You did not give the Fallen Angels time to repent or prolong their time of mercy. O my Lord, you have provided saintly priests to show me the sure way. Oh, how numerous are the instances of forgiveness about which no one knows! O Jesus, I want to bring souls to the fount of Your mercy to draw the reviving water of life with the vessel of trust. The soul desirous of more of God’s mercy should approach God with greater trust; and if her trust in God is unlimited, then the mercy of God toward it will be likewise limitless. O my God, Who know every beat of my heart, You know how eagerly I desire that all hearts would beat for You alone, that every soul glorify the greatness of Your mercy. On the evening of the last day before my departure from Vilnius, an elderly sister131 revealed the condition of her soul to me. She said that she had already been suffering interiorly for several years, that it seemed to her that all her confessions had been bad, and that she had doubts as to whether the Lord Jesus had forgiven her. I asked her if she had ever told her confessor about this. She answered that she had spoken many times about this to her confessors and... “the confessors are always telling me to be at peace, but still I suffer very much, and nothing brings me relief, and it constantly seems to me that God has not forgiven me.” I answered, “You should obey your confessor, Sister, and be fully at peace, because this is certainly a temptation.” But she entreated me with tears in her eyes to ask Jesus if He had forgiven her and whether her confessions had been good or not. I answered forcefully, “Ask Him yourself, Sister, if you don’t believe your confessors!” But she clutched my hand and did not want to let me go until I gave her an answer, and she kept asking me to pray for her and to let her know what Jesus would tell me about her. Crying bitterly, she would not let me go and said to me, “I know that the Lord Jesus speaks to you, Sister.” Since she was clutching my hand and I could not wrench myself away, I promised her I would pray for her. In the evening, during Benediction, I heard these words in my soul: Tell her that her disbelief wounds My heart more than the sins she committed. When I told her this, she began to cry like a child, and great joy entered her soul. I understood that God wanted to console this soul through me. Even though it cost me a good deal, I fulfilled God’s wish. +Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy. +Oh, how much I am hurt by a soul’s distrust! Such a soul professes that I am Holy and Just, but does not believe that I am Mercy and does not trust in My Goodness. Even the devils glorify My Justice but do not believe in My Goodness. Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy. You, who are the dispenser of My mercy, tell all the world about My goodness, and thus you will comfort My Heart.” May 26, [1938 — Feast of the Ascension]. Today I accompanied the Lord Jesus as He ascended into heaven. It was about noon. I was overcome by a great longing for God. It is a strange thing, the more I felt God’s presence, the more ardently I desired Him. Then I saw myself in the midst of a huge crowd of disciples and apostles, together with the Mother of God. Jesus was telling them to... Go out into the whole world and teach in My name. He stretched out His hands and blessed them and disappeared in a cloud. I saw the longing of Our Lady. Her soul yearned for Jesus with the whole force of Her love. But She was so peaceful and so united to the will of God that there was not a stir in Her heart but for what God wanted. I saw the Lord in beauty and splendor, and He said to me, My daughter, peace be with you. He blessed me and disappeared, and my soul was filled with gladness and joy beyond words. Diary excerpt 1674, 589; 148, 658, 1293, excerpt 1489; 628, excerpt 300 –301, 580; 1710, excerpt 1067
Prepare for Sunday Mass with our Founder Inspectio Cordis: Examining the depth of one’s heart with St. Stanislaus Papczyński SixthSunday of Easter May 5, 2024 This Sunday’s Inspectio Cordis meditation uses the original meditations – in the quotation marks – from St. Stanislaus Papczyński. Before Holy Communion 1. “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.” “And this is the way to recognize the Spirit of God: Namely, if a trial precedes Him. For this is a peculiar sign of the divine grace being poured into man’s soul, according to someone’s saying: ‘We almost never have God nearer to us, than when we find ourselves in a difficult situation.’ And Nahum says: ‘His way is in whirlwind and storm’ (Nah 1:3). The Holy Spirit comes to a man with a loud clamor and sound, when the soul is disturbed, frightened, and worn out. ‘Finally, He comes from Heaven, sent by Christ the Lord from that immortal ark of the triumphant heavenly Sovereign. For the inspirations proceeding from the infernal marsh (namely, the whisperings of the evil spirits) seductively approach the soul and gently caress it; but on their departure they leave a thousand vexations of conscience, a thousand stings, and a thousand severe pains. On the contrary, it is clear that the Spirit of the Lord (preceded by anguish) comes in a whirlwind and with noise. However, signs of joy, a thousand consolations, a thousand fruits and a thousand goods immediately follow Him. “If, therefore, you were tormented before the Sacred Banquet because of your imperfections, or because of a desire to regain divine grace, or for any other pious reason, believe that you received the Spirit of the Lord, who will be accompanied by incredible consolations.” We must be wary of the evil one, who tempts with promises of peace but leaves us desolate. God is peace itself, but the Holy Spirit – the “strong driving wind” – shakes us out of false peace, when we become complacent or lukewarm. Rather than giving into discouragement or believing we must be displeasing to God, such “whirlwind and storm” may be the Holy Spirit preparing us to receive Christ, our Peace. How does the evil one tempt you with promises of peace? Where have you perhaps not recognized the work of the Spirit in the chaos of daily life? Where do you need Him to “shake you” out of complacency and false peace? 2. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues.” “Consider that the knowledge of tongues, the explanation of the Scriptures, the capacity for understanding the mysteries of faith and the knowledge of future things are the signs, consequences and gifts of the Holy Spirit. But they would vanish quickly, or they would be of little use for our
salvation, unless strengthened by our gratitude, guarded by humility, directed by right intention, and sustained by proper use. For the Apostle speaks thus about them: ‘Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away’ (1 Cor 13:8). He says so not because he makes little account of God’s gifts, but because love is to be recognized as the foundation of them; love is the foundation of all virtues, of gratitude, of humility, and of many other things.” The Holy Spirit is the sap that enables us, as branches on the vine, to bear much fruit. But we ought to focus not upon His gifts but upon the sap of love that enables us to bear such fruit. Without love, all gifts disappear; with love, we can use our gifts to bear much fruit in serving others. Moreover, our reward is the Holy Spirit Himself, the love of our Father poured into our hearts through Jesus. In what ways do you need the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to love this week? How can you utilize your gifts from the Spirit in loving others? 3. “When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” Politicians are infamous for promising change if elected. They tap into the human desire for renewal, for we recognize that our life – and the world – is not as we would hope it to be. But despite promises, efforts, even revolutions, we do not see the renewal we had dreamed. The Holy Spirit is the “Lord and giver of life,” and when He is received by human hearts, we are recreated. The earth as we know it – broken by sin, death, and intense suffering – is restored by the Holy Spirit. The Father sends Him forth, but our hearts must be open to receiving Him, and our apostolate is to help others’ hearts to be open to Him, as well. The earth is renewed by each person who receives the Spirit of Jesus, given to us anew in Holy Communion. Where do you need the Holy Spirit to renew your life, your world? How can you surrender more fully to Him in Holy Communion? How can you help others to be open to receiving Him, whom the Father sends? After Holy Communion 1. “The fruit of the Spirit…” Notice that St. Paul places the word “fruit” in the singular. We often speak of twelve fruits (plural). But perhaps his point is that, like a diamond, the fruit is only one, but with many facets or sides that radiate His light. Sometimes we may excel in one aspect of the fruit over another, but if we surrender to His work, we will shine with each of them. Like fruits that we eat, the fruit of the Spirit is delightful, pleasant, and sweet. How often our Christian life may seem difficult, painful, and even boring. But that is a sign that we are placing too much emphasis on our own ability, rather than relying upon His grace. Yes, we must crucify our “flesh with its passions and desires,” no longer performing the works of the flesh. But if we truly live by the Spirit, we will taste how sweet, how enjoyable it is, to experience His peace, joy, kindness, and more. What ‘works of the flesh’ do you struggle with? What aspects of the fruit of the Spirit do you need to mature in your life? Where do you find your Christian life difficult or hard, and where do you need to taste His sweetness and delight? 2. “He breathed on them.” As the Father breathed the Spirit into Adam to give him life, so Jesus breathes that same Spirit into us sinners to restore us to life. Sometimes, in prayer or in Holy Communion, we expect “more” to happen: to have a brilliant point to meditate upon, or something we can share with others.
But St. John of the Cross identifies the climax of the spiritual life with breathing the Spirit together with Jesus. What if our deepest prayer is not when we think or do, but rather, sit in silence, feeling His breath, His Spirit, upon us, and learning to breathe that Spirit with Him. Filled with His Breath, we then are sent forth, to breathe that Spirit upon others. Sometimes, faced with so many problems in the world that we cannot solve, all we can do is the same as Jesus: breathe with others, asking that our simple breath convey the same Spirit to their hearts. How can you learn to be present to Jesus who breathes His Spirit upon you? How can you be present to others and breathe that same spirit upon them? 3. “Come, Father of the poor!” The Pentecost sequence – Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit) – petitions the Holy Spirit to take care of us in all our sundry needs. This petition – “Come, Father of the poor!” – summarizes them all. We are truly poor when we do not have the Holy Spirit; but with Him, He provides for all that we need, in body and in soul. The more we admit and recognize our poverty, the more we learn to cry out to Him, to be filled with the abundance of His life and grace. All we need to say is, “Come!” And, sometimes, all we need to do in the face of others’ poverty and pain is the same: inviting Him to pour forth His love and help the poor. And, indeed, He comes, not only when we ask, but each time we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, filling us with His abundant riches. Where do you experience your poverty? How can you cry out more frequently to the Holy Spirit for His help? What riches do you need Him to give you this week? By Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC Who is Saint Stanislaus Papczynski? Father Papczynski (1607-1701) was an esteemed theologian, philosopher, and preacher. He wrote many books, and the Marians wrote a beautiful book on his life titled, Saint Stanislaus of Jesus and Mary Papczynski: The Life and Writings of the Marians’ Founder. Father first entered the Order of Piarists; the order struggled from 16461656 due to rapid growth and laxity of rules, and in 1670 he was dispensed from his vows and set up hermitage in Pia Marianska (Marian Forest). After many years he was able to start a new order. The Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception was the first male Order dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and this was nearly two centuries before the declaration of this dogma. St. Stanislaus was beatified in 2007 in Lichen, Poland. He was canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis. The miracles leading up to his canonization are both amazing, and I encourage you to listen to the story of the infant that had died in the womb. It is a pro-life miracle emphasizing the great mercy of God and the gift of human life. To learn more go to: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/videos/who-was-st-stanislauspapczynski-founder-marians-immaculate-conception Excerpt from Mercy Unbound – Who was St. Stanislaus Papczynski, Founder of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception? by Fr. Joseph Roesch, MIC; www.thedivinemercy.org Picture: www.padrimariani.org
In the Fight for the Dignity of Life There has been much spirited discussion lately of walls and bridges: of which image (or perhaps some combination of the two) properly represents a Christian perspective on immigration. The Bible commands us to shelter the homeless and welcome the stranger, but is it ever acceptable to close our doors to newcomers? Does the Lord expect us to give the green light to everyone wishing to cross our borders, or should our liberality be tempered by prudence? In the Old Testament, God instructs the Israelites, "The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt" (Lev 19:33-34). In the New Testament, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that Heaven takes a keen interest in their treatment of wanderers: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Heb 13:2). The Lord Himself, who had "nowhere to lay His head" (Mt 8:20) warned that even after ascending His throne in Heaven, He would take personally anything done to one seeking shelter on earth: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" (Mt 25:35). And in our modern age, Pope St. John Paul II asked, "How can the baptized claim to welcome Christ if they close the door to the foreigner who comes knocking?" (Message of the Holy Father for the World Migration Day 2000). On the other hand, no country in the world, even the most affluent, has unlimited resources - including available employment - and it is possible for even the wealthiest land to become overwhelmed by a too-concentrated population. God created a bountiful planet and intended all of its habitable regions, not only select areas, to be filled with human life. To help Catholics understand the Church's perspective, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has compiled a list of "three basic principles of Catholic social teaching on immigration": First, "people have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families"; second, "a country has the right to regulate its borders and to control immigration"; and third, "a country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy" ("Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration and the Movement of Peoples," see usccb.org). The first and second principles may seem fundamentally at odds with each other, but they are not when viewed through a truly Catholic lens. The essence of Catholic teaching on immigration extends - as does all Catholic thought on social justice and morality - from the concept of human dignity. The native and the immigrant are equal in dignity, and where the dignity of either is threatened, each has the right to use any moral means to rectify that injustice and to call upon the aid of people of good will in doing so. That means that when a downtrodden soul comes knocking at a neighbor's door, that neighbor has the obligation to open the door and give him as much help as possible. When, however, the neighbor is honestly unable to welcome his poor brother inside, his obligation does not disappear: He is bound to do whatever he can to help that brother find relief elsewhere. In his message for World Migration Day in 2000, Pope St. John Paul II reminded the world's citizens that most immigration is not a capricious or pleasure-seeking adventure but, rather, an act of desperation on the part of:” men and women, often young, who have no alternative than to leave their own
their own country to venture into the unknown." Frequently, however, "the reality they find in host nations is ... a source of further disappointment." And is this disappointment the inevitable result of the host nation's depletion of resources? Sometimes, yes, but too often it is simply the manifestation of "a public opinion disturbed by inconveniences that accompany ... immigration under what terms, the USCCB has this to say: "The native does not have superior rights over the immigrant. Before God all are equal; the earth was given by God to all. When a person cannot achieve a meaningful life in his or her own land, that person has the right to move." He has the right to seek domicile in a place that can provide him with the means to build a life worthy of his human dignity. Natives of more comfortable societies, however, do not have the right to force him to live in fear and want simply because we prefer to keep our lands to ourselves. Rather, even in cases when immigration must be restricted, "a sincere commitment to the needs of all must prevail." The American bishops continue, "While people have the right to move, no country has the duty to receive so many immigrants that its social and economic life are jeopardized." And it must be added that no country has the duty to receive immigrants who would jeopardize its safety. If a country has reliable information that an individual wishes to enter the country with evil intentions, of course that country's government is obligated to turn that person away in order to protect the innocent. This disturbing exception aside, a nation's refusal to well-intentioned would-be immigrants cannot be its final word. Every nation at all times should do what it can "to make it unnecessary for people to leave their own land": to prevent that desperation that Pope St. John Paul II described. In other words, if the bridge we extend to migrating people cannot be a bridge of welcome, it must always be a bridge of genuine concern that proves itself in our constant efforts to help make other lands suitable places to live in plenty and peace. Now, as in the earliest days of humanity, the answer to the ancient question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9) is yes. And when we do encounter the immigrants among us, whatever their status, God's standards for our treatment of them are clear. "While we do not neglect whatever material assistance is permitted," Pope Pius XII wrote in the apostolic constitution Exsul Familia Nazarethana, "we seek primarily to aid them with spiritual consolation" - seeing in these wandering ones the Holy Family, weary and exiled; remembering that they, too, are beloved of the Lord, who notices the fall of every sparrow, and who promised His friends, "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me" (Mt 10:40). Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration From article Part 3: Immigration by Marian Friedrichs: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/part-3-immigration The Catholic Church in the United States is an immigrant Church with a long history of embracing diverse newcomers and providing assistance and pastoral care to immigrants, migrants, refugees, and people on the move. Our Church has responded to Christ’s call for us to “welcome the stranger among us,” for in this encounter with the immigrant, the migrant, and the refugee in our midst, we encounter Christ. Excerpt from Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration from USCCB: https:// www.usccb.org/committees/migration/immigration To learn more, please check out the following resources: Migration and the Social Doctrine of the Church by Fr. Michael A. Blume, S.V.D., Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/migrants/pom2002_88_90/rc_pc_migrants_pom88-89_blume.htm Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope 2003 pastoral statement written by the U.S. Bishops together with the Bishops of Mexico https://www.usccb.org/committees/pastoral-care-migrants-refugees-travelers/welcoming-stranger-among-us-unity-diversity Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity 2001 pastoral statement written by the U.S. Bishops https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/strangers-no-longer-together-on-the-journey-of-hope
Faces of Hope MARIANS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Yes,I want to Help! How to help Please visit www.marian.org/ukraine/ to make a donation for Ukraine relief. One-hundred percent of funds received are sent directly to Ukraine and used to purchase humanitarian aid and medical supplies. Please do not mail medical supplies to Ukraine! Instead, please contact the Eucharistic Apostles of The Divine Mercy: 1-877-380-0727 or e-mail [email protected] to answer any of your questions. Because shipping via container is more cost effective, we prefer whatever monetary donations you can give rather than you sending medical supplies. Please know that boxes previously sent to the Marians or the EADM office were sent to Project C.U.R.E. and will be on future containers. https://marian.org/articles/shining-merciful-light-ukraine
Embrace Life! Be A Hospice Volunteer. Do you have a talent to share? A contagious passion for just about anything? Would you like a appreciative audience? Want an easy way to make a big impact in someone’s life? Do you want to spend your precious free time making a difference in someone’s life? This is an opportunity for you. We are currently looking for HOPSICE VOLUNTEERS on a regular, periodic or as needed basis. You can play cards, read papers, or have a nice conversation with patients. We provide training. You must be at least 18 years old to apply. Please contact Lori Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator, at 413-443-2994 Or email: [email protected] Visit their website for more information: https://hcib.org/ Jesus said to St. Faustina: "... I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it" Diary of St. Faustina, 742 Excerpt from Comfort the Sick-Park of a Series on Corporal Deeds of Mercy. To read in full go to: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/comfort-sick
The Image of Divine Mercy I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I myself will defend it as my own glory. (Diary 48) In 1931, our Lord appeared to St. Faustina in a vision. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with His right hand raised in blessing. His left hand was touching His garment in the area of the Heart, from where two large rays came forth, one red and the other pale. She gazed intently at the Lord in silence, her soul filled with awe, but also with great joy. Jesus said to her: Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory (Diary, 47, 48). I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You (327). I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world (47). At the request of her spiritual director, St. Faustina asked the Lord about the meaning of the rays in the image. She heard these words in reply: The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. Happy is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him (299). By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works (742). These words indicate that the Image represents the graces of Divine Mercy poured out upon the world, especially through Baptism and the Eucharist. Many different versions of this image have been painted, but our Lord made it clear that the painting itself is not what is important. When St. Faustina first saw the original image that was being painted under her direction, she wept in disappointment and complained to Jesus: "Who will paint You as beautiful as You are?" (313). From The Image of The Divine Mercy www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/image
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