Change | AirMaria.com

From Swordfighter to Saint: Bernard of Corleone

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:10:05 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

From the swashbucklers garrisoned in his hometown in Sicily, the young Philip Latini learned a dubious skill that was immensely popular in the 17th century: swordsmanship. Indeed, he acquired the reputation of being the best blade in Sicily…

But mortally wounding his opponent after being challenged to a dual,

he knew his life must change.

+++

ST BERNARD OF CORLEONE : Feast day is January 12th

Born in 1605 in Corleone, Italy, St. Bernard followed the footsteps of his father and became a cobbler. But he also was enamored by the soldiers stationed nearby. From them he learned the art of fencing, or swordfighting. He was very good and considered ‘the one’ to beat and so he would be challenged to fights. But one fight turned deadly. Seeking sanctuary in the Franciscan Capuchin church, where he remained for a week, he had time to take stock of his life. Conversion ensued and he decided to join the Franciscans and become a lay brother in the order. And so Philip Latini became Brother Bernard in 1632.

The way in which Brother Bernard strove particularly to make amends for his violence towards others was in directing his violence against himself. He led a most penitential life as a Franciscan. But along with his stern self-discipline and fasting, he advanced by giant steps in his prayer life. Many spiritual gifts were reported of him as time passed: prophecies, wonders, miracles.

Among the more unusual graces bestowed on Br. Bemard was the ability to heal animals. In a truly Franciscan spirit, he felt loving kinship with all lesser creatures. He was sad to see them in pain, for, as he said, they could not speak in order to tell human beings of their illnesses, and there were (at that time) no doctors to prescribe for them or medicines to cure them.

Because of the reputation Bernard acquired of curing animals, owners of all sorts of animals brought them to this “supernatural veterinary”. He would usually say the Our Father over them, and then lead them three times around the cross that stood in front of the Capuchin church. “He cured them all,” says a biographer.

St. Bernard cherished a special love for the Blessed Mother, and encouraged others to do the same. The Blessed Mother appeared to him and placed the Divine Child in his arms. Moreover, she gave him knowledge of the day of his death four months in advance. He died at Palermo on January 12, 1667.

His biographers stated that, attracted by the fame of his sanctity, there gathered for his burial so many people who raised their voices in praise of the deceased, that it was less a funeral cortège than a triumphal procession. Numerous miracles occurring at his grave promoted the cause of his beatification in 1767 and subsequent canonization in 2001.

God our Father, you have given us St Bernard
as a wonderful example of penance and of Christian virtues.
By the power of your Spirit make us firm in faith and effective in our work.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The post From Swordfighter to Saint: Bernard of Corleone first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Video – Face Pro-Life #80: Susan Boyce – Horrors in the Health Care Bill

apostolate — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:53:24 +0000

Face of Pro-Life #80 – Susan Boyce ( 29min) >>> Play

[Updated]

Ave Maria!

Susan Boyce outlines the hidden horrors of the latest National Health Care Bill, HR 3590. She covers the fact that 1000 pages have been added to the bill just since the summer. Now is 2074 pages, 2.5 trillion cost over ten years, mandatory visitation of government officials to your homes, massive increase in family health care costs in very high taxes. For all US employees an abortion premium will be charged that goes diectly to the procurement of abortions. Also the head of Health and Human Services, currently pro-abortion Kathleen Sabelius, will have carte blanche powers to make changes to the plan with no recourse for the people to protest. Rationing by denial of care to long term or elderly patients, realtime access to bank accounts in, requirements to. Why, based on Catholic measures, the whole thing needs to be scrapped because of its neglect of Catholic principles of whether the Stupac Amendment is added or not and how the Catholic bishops and the USCCB are the only ones that can make this happen. National ID Card.

Update – Sources referenced in talk:

John Boehner explaining the monthly abortion fee:
http://republicanleader.house.gov/blog/?p=690

Liberty Counsel’s Comparison chart

Health care premium cost for a family of four with an annual salary of 75K

Rasmussen Reports on percentages favoring reform

I mentioned this article but didn’t have it handy to pull info from:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120723411

Raymond Arroyo (again)
http://www.ewtn.com/news/blog.asp?blog_ID=2

Rush Limbaugh explanation of the 2.5 trillion dollar price tag:

“RUSH: Let me give you the real number on this, Deborah, because it’s even worse. The way this is working, it’s the same thing they did in the House. They do a ten-year projection. However, the tax increases that fund it start immediately. The health care bill doesn’t get implemented until year three or four, and that’s how they’re able to bring in this phony price. It’s also phony because the numbers are just targets. The real number in this bill — and I’ll spell it out for you when we come back from the break — is $2.5 trillion. It’s over 2,000 pages. It would take 34 hours to read this bill from start to finish. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma wants to make that happen, make them read it on the floor of the United States Senate. Thanks, Deborah. ”

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

The post Video – Face Pro-Life #80: Susan Boyce – Horrors in the Health Care Bill first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Video – Variety #82: How Many Friars Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb.

apostolate — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:00:19 +0000

Variety #82 – Some bulbs get changed every 6 to 8 years. ( 01min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

You will have to count them yourself. I think we need a friar that can levitate.

Ave Maria!

+++

The post Video – Variety #82: How Many Friars Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb. first appeared on AirMaria.com.

May 12 – Homily – Fr Tito: The Direction of Your Life

apostolate — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:27:04 +0000

Homily #130512t ( 09min) Play – Many people start off life in the wrong direction, but you can change that. Saul Became St. Paul.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Sunday 7th Week of Easter – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: act 7:55-60
Resp: psa 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
2nd: rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
Gsp: joh 17:20-26

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post May 12 – Homily – Fr Tito: The Direction of Your Life first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Feb 22 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Dogmas on the Papacy

apostolate — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 17:15:20 +0000

Homily #140222n ( 14min) Play – Many Catholics and non-Catholics have been confused by some of the things Pope Francis has said about the future of the papacy. Fr. Matthias reminds us that, as the Holy Father knows and says, the essence of the papacy is not subject to change. In particular, Father goes through the three dogmas proclaimed by the First Vatican Council, and reminds us that the papacy is under the mantle of our Lady, and that the Church is Marian before it is Petrine. Finally, he share a prayer with us from Servant of God Father John Hardon SJ.

Lord Jesus, You gave us the papal primacy as a continuation of the exercise of Your own authority on earth until the end of time. But we know, Dear Savior, how this papal authority has many enemies. Give us, we beg, the courage to defend the authority of the Bishop of Rome. But above all, give us the humility to obey the teachings of Your Vicar on earth, Pope Francis, being sure that by obeying him, we are obeying You and by obeying You, we are loving You here on earth as a prelude to our everlasting love of You and by You in Heaven. Amen

Ave Maria!

Mass: Chair of St. Peter – Feast – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: 1pe 5:1-4
Resp: psa 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
Gsp: mat 16:13-19

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post Feb 22 – Homily – Fr Matthias: Dogmas on the Papacy first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Desire for Eternity in a Changing World – Sep 25 – Homily – Fr Ignatius

apostolate — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 13:29:29 +0000

Fr Ignatius gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Sep 25, 2020, on how our desire for a changeless happiness in our changing world is a desire for God for whom we were made. He relates this to the profession of faith by Peter in the Gospel today and to Mary the Pillar of Faith.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Friday in the 25th Week in Ordinary Time – Wkdy
Readings: – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/092520.cfm
1st: ecc 3:1-11
Resp: psa 144:1-2, 3-4 0
Gsp: luk 9:18-22

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=952

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/1664765323674321
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wx-bmv-4zQo

The post Desire for Eternity in a Changing World – Sep 25 – Homily – Fr Ignatius first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Immutability, Divine Attributes #4 – May 19 – Homily – Fr Terrance

apostolate — Wed, 19 May 2021 11:07:58 +0000

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 19, 2021, on how God is immutable, unchanging, and how this was taught by pagan philosophers prior to Christ. Changeability is something that belongs to creatures but not to God. He explains the times that God seems to change His mind, then how this applies to our journey of becoming holy and how the knowledge of His immutability should be a comfort in that we can count on Him.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wednesday 7th Week of Easter – Wkdy
Readings: – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/051921.cfm
1st: act 20:28-38
Resp: psa 68:29-30, 33-35, 35-36
Gsp: joh 17:11-19

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1729

Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/5AQz7y0mGE/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/-_PFo8e_kts

The post Immutability, Divine Attributes #4 – May 19 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Eternal, Divine Attributes #6 – May 26 – Homily – Fr Terrance

apostolate — Wed, 26 May 2021 10:27:06 +0000

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on May 26, 2021, on how God is Eternal. This continues his series on the Divine Attributes. Here he explains what eternal means, based on language and scriptures, and how to apply this to our spiritual life. Time is related to change eternity. Then there is sempiternal that applies to angels and human souls, and eternal that has no beginning, end, or change, and this applies to God alone. All of time is present to God at all times. This helps our spiritual life because we can focus on the here and now and God is present now and has the future in his control. God can also apply our prayers to our past sins and those of others.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Philip Neri – Mem
Readings: Wednesday 8th Week of Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052621.cfm
1st: sir 36:5-6, 10-17
Resp: psa 79:8, 9, 11, 13
Gsp: mar 10:32-45

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1080&r=1403

Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/5K2AmrJa9f/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/TLJ1CgqyY_g

The post Eternal, Divine Attributes #6 – May 26 – Homily – Fr Terrance first appeared on AirMaria.com.