"It is no coincidence that our beloved savior declared the Holy Spirit to be the Advocate (Jn. 16:7) and that Christ Jesus' bride, the Catholic Church, declares the Ever Blessed Virgin also to be our Advocate. In truth, the Holy Spirit and the Mother of God have an intimate spiritual union. The Holy Spirit acts through His spiritual spouse (Lk. 1:41-3, Acts 1:14; 2:1-3)."1
Michael J. Ruggiero, SFO
Master of Arts in Theology
Franciscan University of Steubenville
1 Ruggiero, Michael. The Blessed Virgin Mary: Advocate for Humanity. CES:NY 2010. Copyright, 2010, Michael Ruggiero and CES.
Click on "This Week's Gospel Message" to read Mr. Ruggiero's teaching on Sunday's gospel reading!
Remember to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Click on "Great Prayers" for more information!
Catholic Evangelization Society
michaelr
Catholic Thoughts
this Month:
(For more wonderful Catholic Thoughts, subscribe to our Theological Digest "Response.")
Mary, Mother of God
"Mary embraced humility so God could embrace her. She recognized her lowliness (Lk. 1:48) and in doing so allowed the Holy Spirit to raise her to the rank of divine mother. She who is now timelessly immaculate married the source of all purity.1 The great dogmatic theologian Matthias Scheeben once noted, 'The divine light in undiminished fullness falls on her as an untarnished mirror, to be born by her and to be poured out by her into all the world.'"2
- Michael Ruggiero, SFO, M.A.
1 Scheeben, Matthias. Mariology. Vol. 1. St. Louis : B. herder Co, 1946.2
----Nature and Grace. Trans. by Cyril Vollert. St. Louis : B. Herder, 1954.
Why Contraceptive Practice is Morally Wrong
When two souls are united in holy matrimony they are also united in a special way to God. Hence, they are called to keep union between themselves and God at all times and this requires they commit themselves to do God's will - not their own - in all moral matters, especially matters involving procreation.
Thus, "'...every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible' is an intrinsic evil..."1
1 Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2370. Ratzinger et al. Ignatiius:San Francisco, 1994.
Wise Souls "Go To Joseph"
Do you have pressing needs or concerns? If so, why not bring them to the "righteous man" mentioned in the first Chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew - the foster Father of the only begotten Son of the living God?
When you ask our Heavenly Father for something in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's name he hears you! When you ask through the intercession of St. Joseph, our universal patron, in Jesus' name to the Father, the great merits of the one who cared for our savior while he was on earth are considered by our Heavenly Father as he hears you!
Wise souls go to Joseph!
"Go to Joseph in every need and the light of the Savior's radiant smile will rest on you. Let us pray at the side of the Saint who inspires us all to give thanks to our Loving Redeemer, for the hidden miracles of grace in our lives and for every blessing of His love."
-Abbess Maria Cecilia Baij, OSB
*We recommend this month that you read "Redemptoris Custos" (Guardian of the Redeemer), the Apostolic Exhortation by Pope John Paull II on St. Joseph and his relation to us! Simply click on the link below to access this document!
The Fathers of the Church Drew Strength from Sacred Scripture
"If we consider the immediate disciples of the Apostles, St. Clement of Rome, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Polycarp - or the apologists, such as St. Justin or St. Irenaeus, we find that in their letters and their books, whether in defense of the Catholic faith or in its commendation, they drew faith, strength, and unction from the Word of God."
-Pope Leo XIII
Providentissimus Deus, n. B2a.
Honor the
Divine Infant
CES reminds all Catholics this month that our beloved savior, Jesus Christ, is always there for us in times of trial. Consider, this month, honoring the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague with a 9 day Novena! No-one loves you more than our timeless savior, the Divine Infant Jesus of Prague! NEVER despair, turn to the Divine Infant Jesus and cast your cares upon Him.
What Virtue Is...
"Virtue is not the tame 'respectability' and 'uprightness' of the philistine, but the enhancement of the human person in a way befitting his nature. Virtue is the ultimum potentiae, the most a man can be. It is the realization of man's potentiality for being. Virtue is the perfecting of man for an activity by which he achieves his beatitude. Virtue means the steadfastness of man's orientation toward the realization of his nature, that is, toward good."
- Josef Pieper, "On Hope"
Ignatius Press: San Francisco, 1986.
Catholic Evangelization Society
michaelr
