CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES

For Our STELLA MARIS

Family of Parishes

including:

St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette,

St. Mary's, St. Peter's

August 13

THE ASSUMPTION OF

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15

On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption of Mary

to be a dogma of faith:

“We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma

that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary,

having completed the course of her earthly life,

was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.”

The pope proclaimed this dogma only after

a broad consultation of bishops, theologians and laity.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul speaks of Christ’s resurrection

as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Since Mary is closely associated with all the mysteries of Jesus’ life,

it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit has led the Church to

believe in Mary’s share in his glorification.

So close was she to Jesus on earth,

she must be with him body and soul in heaven.

Mary already experiences God’s glory.

She has reached the goal where we will one day all find ourselves.

This is why Mary is today a sign of consolation

and hope because if she, a creature like ourselves,

is already there, we can also join her there.

Let us fix our gaze and our hearts on her

who never abandoned her Son Jesus

and who today enjoys the joy and glory of Heaven.

And let us entrust ourselves to her

so that she might help us journey the paths of life

knowing how to recognize the great things that God

accomplishes in us and around us,

to know how to magnify Him

with the hymn of our existence.

Pope Pius XII gives four theological reasons to support this traditional belief.

1. The degeneration or decay of the body after death is the result of original sin. However, since, through a special intervention of God, Mary was born without original sin, it is not proper that God would permit her body to degenerate in the tomb.

2. Since Mary was given the fullness of grace, Heaven is the proper place for this sinless mother of Jesus.

3. Mary cooperated with God in Christ's redemptive mission. Hence, her rightful place is with Christ our redeemer in heavenly glory. This is what St. Paul meant when he said “We are God’s co-workers” (I Cor. 3:9.). Hence, it is “fitting” that she should be given the full effects of the Redemption, the glorification of the soul and the body.

4. In the Old Testament, we read that the prophet Elijah was taken into heaven in a fiery chariot. Thus, it appears natural and possible that the mother of Jesus would also be taken into Heaven.

Click below to watch a Marian Brother explain

what the church teaches about the Assumption:

BR. JASON LEWIS TEACHES ABOUT THE ASSUMPTION



Click below for a reflection on the Assumption of Mary:

A REFLECTION FROM DR. SCOTT HAHN

ON THE ASSUMPTION

Click below for some recipes to share on this Feast Day:

RECIPES FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE ASSUMPTION

HOW DO YOU DEAL

WITH FORGIVENESS?

Mother Angelica said :

"Don't let unfinished business finish you."

We need to be forgiving people, but that can be difficult.

This video from the Chris Stefanick Show with exorcist, Fr. Chad Ripperger,

is an excellent explanation of the disorder of unforgiveness...

the holding on to negative unfinished business.

Click below to watch this video:

HOW DOES THE DEVIL USE UNFORGIVENESS?

SPIRITUAL

PRACTICES

FOR THE BRAIN

Research shows that many spiritual practices

also provide long-lasting benefits to our physical and mental health,

boosting our well-being.

Spiritual exercises practiced regularly

can lead to greater immune function,

less inflammation, better cognitive capacity,

and many more improvements to our daily lives.

Join author Anne Kertz Kernion for a free webinar!

She identifies and explains spiritual practices that can

provide profound blessings for us,

not only spiritually, but also physically, mentally, and emotionally.

A Webinar with Anne Kertz Kernion

August 14, 2023 - 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Click below to join this webinar with Anne Kernion:

WEBINAR WITH ANNE KERNION

THE PRAY MORE

HEALING ONLINE RETREAT



In this retreat you'll hear from five speakers,

who each give a few video presentations

focused on healing and growing closer to God.

Some are about healing from specific problems

-- like loss and grief.

Others are about God's faithfulness during difficult times.

Dive into Scripture,

into Jesus' healing ministry,

and personal testimonies,

to learn how you can grow closer to Him

and receive the healing He offers us.

The retreat begins August 16, but you can participate at your own pace.

Click below to register for this FREE online retreat:

ONLINE PRAYER RETREAT ON HEALING

"An Introduction to Spirituality"

by Dr. Cooney Hathaway

Would you like to grow in

discipleship and

understanding of Catholic theology

from your own home? 

Sacred Heart Major Seminary has three programs available in a fully online format—

all designed to help YOU grow and share the Gospel.

Classes are offered in multiple formats, including

live virtual instruction and classes that can be completed at any time of day!

In this course you will learn:

▪️ That spirituality is about how we live our faith in everyday life

▪️ How spirituality helps us respond to God's love and develop a personal relationship with Him

▪️ The ways in which we can respond to God's presence in our everyday life

▪️ How spirituality teaches us that we are loved by God as we are and helps us grow in our relationship with Him

▪️ The tools to develop a deep relationship with God, which is the ultimate purpose of our lives

▪️ How, through spirituality, we can experience the familiarity of friends rather than the awkwardness of strangers when we meet God

Jesus says,

"I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly"

— and that's the purpose of a course in spirituality:

to help you understand what life in abundance means

when you find fulfillment in your relationship with God.

Click below to watch a short trailer:

DR. HATHAWAY INTRODUCTION

Click below to request information:

AN INTRODUCTION TO SPIRITUALITY

National Conference on

Eucharistic Miracles

Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center,

Cincinnati, OH

AUGUST 11-13

__________________________________________________________________________

An in depth opportunity

to grow deeper in our faith in God

through what He has revealed to us in the Holy Eucharist.

 With documented examples going back

over 1,000 years, to examples as recent as the last two years. 

Astonishing Miracles!

Click on the link below to register:

HOST OF MIRACLES CONFERENCE

See the speakers in the chart below:

DETAILS BELOW...

SPECIAL PRAYERS

Prayer to Mary,

Assumed into Heaven

O Immaculate Mary, Assumed into heaven,

you who are most blessed in the vision of God:

of God the Father who exalted you among all creatures,

of God the Son who willed that you bear Him

as your Son and that you should be His Mother,

of God the Holy Spirit who accomplished the

human conception of the Savior in you.

O Mary, most pure

O Mary, most sweet and beautiful

O Mary, strong and thoughtful woman

O Mary, poor and sorrowful

O Mary, virgin and mother

woman very human like Eve, more than Eve.

You are near to God by your grace and by your privileges

in your mysteries

in your mission, in your glory.

O Mary, assumed into the glory of Christ

in the complete and transfigured perfection of our human nature.

O Mary, gate of heaven

mirror of divine light

ark of the Covenant between God and mankind,

let our souls fly after you

let them fly long your radiant path,

transported by a hope that the world does not contain eternal beatitude.



Comfort us from heaven, O merciful Mother,

and guide us along your ways of purity and hope

till the day of that blessed meeting with you

and with your divine Son

our Savior, Jesus. Amen!

(Saint Paul VI)

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

NEW WEEKLY INFO

SPEAKERS FOR THE EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

Congress attendees will be equipped and inspired

through powerful plenary sessions and edifying breakouts

across five unique tracks.

These powerful, unitive experiences

will be led by some of

the Church’s most trusted voices and on-fire experts.

Click the link below to see who they are:

MEET THE SPEAKERS FOR THE

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

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EUCHARIST: AN ACT OF HOPE

Kevin Fitzpatrick shares the story of longtime family friend, Brother Ed,

who insisted that babies are always a sign of hope.

Even in the midst of adversity and suffering,

Br. Ed knew who he was because he knew he belonged to Jesus.

Learn how Br. Ed’s hope was rooted in the Eucharist

and how it has inspired Kevin in his own missionary discipleship.

Click below to read more:

EUCHARIST: AN ACT OF HOPE

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Hear from Our Music Competition Winners!

Real Presence Live recently interviewed

Kathleen Pluth and Diane Mahoney,

winners of our Eucharistic Revival Music Competition.

As we eagerly await the release of their winning hymn (Pluth)

and theme song (Mahoney),

get to know these faithful women

who have shared their gift of music

to help the whole Church sing praise to our Eucharistic Lord!

Listen to Kathleen's:

LISTEN TO KATHLEEN'S

Listen to Diane's:

LISTEN TO DIANE'S

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In the Streets

Another major moment in the Revival:

National Eucharistic Pilgrimage

one of the largest Eucharistic pilgrimages in history!

We will process with our Eucharistic Lord on 4 routes,

departing from our nation's north, south, east, and west edges.

These branches will meet in Indianapolis in July 2024

for the National Eucharistic Congress.

To see the four routes, and intercessor for each, click below:

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC PILGRIMAGE ROUTES

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The Eucharist and the Sacred Heart:

A Prayer after Communion

By St. John Henry Newman

Most Sacred, most loving Heart of Jesus,

You are concealed in the Holy Eucharist,

And you beat for us still.

Now, as then, you say: “With desire I have desired.”

I worship you with all my best love and awe,

With fervent affection,

With my most subdued, most resolved will.

For a while you take up your abode within me.

O make my heart beat with your Heart!

Purify it of all that is earthly,

All that is proud and sensual,

All that is hard and cruel,

Of all perversity,

Of all disorder,

Of all deadness.

So fill it with you,

That neither the events of the day,

Nor the circumstances of the time,

May have the power to ruffle it;

But that in your love and your fear,

It may have peace.

Registration for the Congress

With all the grace Our Lord wants to pour over the U. S.

through this Congress,

the devil wants to disrupt it in big and little ways.

Please pray - even just a quick prayer -

for everyone involved, especially:

• The technology that will process registrations

• Congress volunteers

• Event organizers and administrative staff

• All those considering attending

• All who God is calling to the Congress, especially sacrifice to be there

• The pilgrims as they prepare for the National Eucharistic Procession

Thank you for being a Prayer Partner of the Revival.

Your intercession makes a real difference!!!

WILL YOU BE THERE, TOO?

You can join us!

in July, 2024

for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.

Directly experience the fruits of your intercession and

see its impact around the country.

Click the link below to REGISTER:

REGISTRATION FOR 10TH

NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE

QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK

WHAT IS A PARDON CRUCIFIX?

Scroll down to find the answer!

HUMOR HIGHLIGHT

MEETING PLACE

A man left Chicago for a vacation in Key West.

His wife was on a business trip and planned to fly down

to meet him the next day.

When the man arrived in Florida, he e-mailed his wife

to let her know he had arrived, but mistyped her address.

Instead, his message went to the inbox of a woman whose husband

had just passed away.

When the grieving widow opened her e-mail, she read the message,

screamed, and passed out cold.

The woman's daughter rushed into the room and found

this note on the computer screen.

"My darling wife: Just checked in.

Everything is prepared for your arrival tomorrow.

Looking forward to being with you again.

Your loving husband.

P.S. Sure is hot down here!"

GOSPEL READING REFLECTION

For August 13, 2023

THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gospel:  Mt 14:22-33

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

MASTERY OVER NATURE

• Our Lord wanted to be by himself to pray and he finally got the chance after sending the disciples ahead and dismissing the crowds himself.

• Like Moses and Elijah on Sinai, Christ “went up on the mountain by himself to pray.” Later, these two Old Testament prophets will appear with Christ on the mountain of the Transfiguration to speak of Jesus’ “exodus.”

• We wonder what Jesus said and what the Father answered. We don’t know, but we can imitate Christ. We can go by ourselves to pray. If we do, we will know what we will say to the Father and we will know what the Father answers. As was the case with Elijah, we should listen carefully.

• Our own Horeb will be someplace we can be alone: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Mt 6:6).

• Christ shows his complete mastery over nature by walking on water. It is hard to imagine a reason that any of us would need to walk on water but we do need to carry out God’s will with (sometimes) heroic faith. God may ask us to do something we are afraid to do, because it seems beyond our powers, and so we don’t do it. Or, we start to do it and then feel overwhelmed and cry out, “Lord, save me.” God is much more pleased by that seeming failure than the one that results from doing nothing. Still, he rebukes us a little: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

• In heaven, we will enjoy mastery over nature. In asking Christ to call him to walk with him on the water, Peter was asking to enjoy heaven now. Christ agreed and said, “Come.”

SCOTT HAHN'S

MASS READINGS REFLECTION

Click the link below to hear Scott Hahn reflect on

the 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME:

"SINKING FEAR"

NINETEENTH SUNDAY REFLECTION WITH DR. HAHN

ANSWER TO QUIZ

Perhaps you’ve seen a friend carrying an ornate crucifix with the words

“Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum”

engraved across the top. 

That is no ordinary crucifix. It’s a Pardon Crucifix.

If you look at the back of the cross, an image of the Sacred Heart will be emblazoned at the crossing of the beams. Along the horizontal beam run the words: “Father, forgive them” and upon the vertical beam it will say: “Behold this Heart which has so loved men.”

This powerful sacramental can overthrow the devil and his attempts to steal souls—that’s why he hates it! When coupled with the Rosary, this crucifix is perfectly lethal to him and his wiles. 

Description of the Pardon Crucifix:



The front takes us back to Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. It portrays Jesus on the cross with the sign hung above his head reading “Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum.” (Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews) (Matthew 27:37)

The back of the crucifix is centered with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On the cross beam we see the words of Jesus which were echoed from the cross. “Father forgive them,” was one of the seven phrases Jesus said as he hung dying on the cross. (Luke 23:34) Forgiveness lies at the heart of God, flows from the blood of Christ on the cross, and ushers sinners into eternal life with God and the holy angels and saints.

On the vertical beam is the second phrase of the crucifix. These words take the individual back to an encounter St. Margaret Mary had with our Lord in 1675 when he spoke to her. “Behold this Heart which has so loved men,” were the words Jesus spoke to the French nun and mystic, resulting in her promoting and spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

At the bottom of the vertical beam, serving as the anchor, is a depiction of the Blessed Mother. It’s the symbol of Our Lady with a star overhead that sits at the foot of the cross. The one who tramples the head of the serpent and was pure from conception to her assumption stands at the foot of the crucifix.



A combination of the forgiveness of Jesus, His Sacred Heart, the sacrifice at Golgotha for the forgiveness of the world’s sins, and the Blessed Mother Mary at the foot: it’s no wonder the devil trembles and wants people to forget about the Pardon Crucifix.

See a picture of the pardon crucifix below:

ST. THOMAS MORE WEBSITE LINKS

Click the link below to find more:

Faith Formation Activities & Events for every Month & Season

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CATHOLIC FAITH NEWSLETTERS?

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BOOK

RECOMMENDATION

We need to be armed for battle!



At all times, and especially during these crazy times in this vale of tears,

we need to lay our foundation in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual reading helps us build and strengthen that foundation.

Order though your favorite book dealer.

This week's recommendation is:

BEAUTIFUL EUCHARIST

By MATTHEW KELLY

____________________________________________________________________

Nothing will transform your life quite like a

personal encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist.

When we encounter Jesus,

he changes us in powerful and unexpected ways.

 He heals us, brings us peace and clarity,

models how to relate with others, and

teaches us the lessons we need to learn

to navigate the everyday situations of our lives.

In the Eucharist we meet with the same Jesus

who healed the blind, forgave sins, and rose from the dead.

Beautiful Eucharist is a stunning collection of stories

from people who once doubted the Eucharist,

until a personal encounter with Jesus

changed them forever.

The list includes

Fr. Mike Schmitz, Jackie Francois Angel,

Peter Kreeft, Fulton Sheen and Sr. Helena Burns—

incredible people of faith who all have one

thing in common: they’ve wrestled with one

of the hardest beliefs in the history of Catholicism

and they came out on the other side…transformed.

We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful

spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled,

Christ centered life.