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A very warm welcome to all parishioners and visitors of Our Lady Help of Christians to our parish website. Fr Mario
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Fatima 100th Anniversary (1917-2017)For the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Pope Francis has decided to grant a plenary indulgence opportunity throughout the entire anniversary year, which began 27th November 2016, and will end 26th November 2017.
To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must fulfil ordinary conditions: go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, be detached from sin (even venial), pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (Our Father and Hail Mary would suffice); and complete prescribed indulgenced work, as stated in official document of the Shire of Fatima.
National tour (around England and Wales Cathedrals) of a pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the relics of two of the visionaries (Saint Francisco and Jacinta) may be good opportunity to obtain plenary indulgence. More details on following website.ReflectionsIn today’s gospel Jesus told the crowds: “A sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and birds came and ate it up.” Reflection: God is working through us flawed instruments to bring about God’s plan for the world. There will be an abundant harvest, even if we don’t see it now. The parable encourages us to have hope, as we wait to see the seed come to fruition. So we ask ourselves: How do I sow the seed of the Word of God? How have I seen it bear fruit? Where?
“Permit her to weep and lament! Ye know not what is passing in her” St Mary Magdalen, Model of penitents (Saturday, 22nd July)Magdalen, the youngest child, was very beautiful and, even in her early years, tall and well-developed like a girl of more advanced age. She was full of frivolity and seductive art. Even as a child she was vain beyond expression, given to petty thefts, proud, self-willed, and a lover of pleasure. She was never faithful, but clung to whatever flattered her the most.
Magdalen was spoiled by her mother and her nurse. They showed her off everywhere, caused her cleverness and pretty little ways to be admired, and sat much with her dressed up at the window. That window-sitting was the chief cause of her ruin. I saw her at the window and on the terraces of the house upon a magnificent seat of carpets and cushions, where she could be seen in all her splendour from the street. —Visions of Blessed Anne Catherine EmmerichBlessed Pope Pius IX’s testimony on his deathbed:The Rosary is a compendium of the Gospel, and gives to those who pray it those rivers of peace of which the Scriptures speak; it is the most beautiful devotion, the most abundant in grace, and the most pleasing to the Heart of Mary. My sons, let this be the testimony by which you remember me on earth.
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Everyone can share in the merits and in the goods produced by the sorrows of my Mother. One who, in advance, places herself in the hands of Providence, offering herself to suffer any kind of pains, miseries, illnesses, calumnies, and everything which the Lord will dispose upon her, comes to share in the first sorrow of the prophecy of Simeon. One who actually finds herself in a state of suffering, and is resigned, clings more tightly to Me, and does not offend Me, it is as if she were saving Me from the hands of Herod, and she keeps Me, safe and sound, within the Egypt of her heart. So she participates in the second sorrow. One who feels gloomy, dry, and deprived of my presence, and remains yet firm and faithful to her usual practices; even more, she takes the opportunity to love Me and to search for Me more, without tiring – comes to share in the merits and goods which my Mother acquired when I was lost. One who, in any circumstance, feels sorry in seeing Me gravely offended, despised, trampled upon, and tries to repair Me, to compassionate Me, and to pray for the very ones who offend Me – it is as if I encountered in that soul my own Mother, who would have freed Me from my enemies, had She been able to do so. So she shares in the fourth sorrow. One who crucifies her senses for love of my Crucifixion, and tries to copy the virtues of my Crucifixion within herself, participates in the fifth one. One who is in a continuous attitude of adoring, of kissing my wounds, of repairing, of thanking etc., in the name of all mankind, it is as if she were holding Me in her arms, just as my Mother held Me when I was deposed from the Cross – and she shares in Her sixth sorrow. One who remains in my grace and corresponds to it, giving a place to no one else but Me within her heart, it is as if she buried Me in the center of her heart – and she shares in the seventh one.
St Peter: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. St Andrew: And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. St James the Greater: Who was conceived through operation of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary. St John: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. St Thomas: Descended into hell, arose from the dead on the third day. St James the Less: Ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. St Philip: From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. St Bartholomew: I believe in the Holy Ghost. St Matthew: In the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of saints. St Simon: Forgiveness of sins. St Thaddeus: The resurrection of the flesh. St Mathias: Life everlasting. Amen.
St Joseph – the foster father of Jesus Christ is a remarkable man in many ways, but first of – did you know that - he was the vicar on earth of Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. As Pope, the prince of Apostles, is highly honoured for being the vicar of Jesus Christ upon earth so dignity of St Joseph was even greater. God, the Eternal Father appointed St Joseph as His vicar so His Only-Begotten Son, while on earth, is not deprived of a Father. God, the Son, appointed St Joseph as His vicar so St Joseph may represent interests of infant Jesus, allowing Child and His most Holy Mother Mary to live hidden life of prayer and contemplation. God, the Holy Spirit, appointed St Joseph as His vicar so Blessed Virgin Mary finds a Spouse and Protector in person of St Joseph.