Children | AirMaria.com

Video – Face of Pro-Life #7: The Fight Against Same-Sex Marriage

apostolate — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:39:56 +0000

Face of Pro-Life #7 – Guest Peter Wolfgang speaks with host Corinn Dahm (29min)>>> Play	?
?	?

Ave Maria!

“In order to push same-sex marriage, you have to deny that children do best in a home with both a mother & a father.” On this episode, Corinn talks with Peter Wolfgang, Director of Public Policy for the Family Institute of Connecticut, on this mission of the FIC and their current battle against same-sex marriage. Mentioned in the discussion is how the same-sex marriage agenda is fueling attacks on religious liberties in Boston, Minnesota, England, Canada, & Sweden, & how it’s effecting what are children are being taught in school. “Children are not mere creatures of the state,” was the decision passed down in a famous 1920s Supreme Court case (Pierce vs. Society of Sisters), & yet Peter explains how in the Boston school system today, the Constitution & parental rights are being subverted in the name of teaching our children sexual immorality. Such is always the case when “the State” deifies itself & vilifies Christ & His followers.

Ave Maria!

The post Video – Face of Pro-Life #7: The Fight Against Same-Sex Marriage first appeared on AirMaria.com.

The Model Grandparents: Saints Joachim and Anne

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:00:22 +0000

Today many grandparents are raising their grandchildren. How prayers to the parents of Our Lady and the grandparents of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, are needed!

Saint Anne and Saint Joachim , Parents of Mary
Feast Day: July 26
Patronage of: Anne – of Canada, women in childbirth, Christian mothers, Joachim – of fathers

Patrons for Grandparents

Joachim and Anne were the parents of Mary and the grandparents of Jesus.

The name “Hannah” means grace. In Galilee, where she lived, Mary’s mother was probably called “Hannah” even though we know her as Saint Anne. So, if you are named “Hannah” or “Anne” you are named after the mother of Our Blessed Mother.

It was in the womb of Saint Anne that Mary was immaculately conceived. From the first instant of her life, she was in a state of grace and free from all stain of Original Sin. It was her parents, Anne and Joachim that raised her to be faithful to God’s word and remain free of sin.

Tradition has it that the couple offered their little daughter to God in the Temple. As a young girl, she spent time in service to the Temple. working and learning with other girls. But it was problbly her parents who taught her to read, and certainly Joachim and Anne who taught her to love and follow God’s word and to know and understand the Scriptures.

Anne is the patron of Christian mothers, and Joachim the patron of fathers. They were given the great honour and responsibility of raising Mary to be the Mother of God, and can help mothers and fathers today to raise their children to love and follow God too.

PRAYER TO ST JOACHIM AND ST ANNE

Great and glorious patriarch, St Joachim, and good St Anne, what joy is mine when I consider that you were chosen among all God?s holy ones to assist in the fulfillment of the mysteries of God, and to enrich our earth with the great Mother of God, Mary most holy. By this singular privilege, you have become most powerful with both the Mother and her Son, so as to be able to obtain for us the graces that are needful to us.

With great confidence I have recourse to your mighty protection, and I commend to you all my needs, both spiritual and temporal, and those of my family. Especially do I entrust to your keeping the particular favour that I desire and look for from your intercession.

And since you were a perfect pattern of the interior life, obtain for me the grace to pray earnestly, and never to set m heart on the passing goods of this life. Give me a lively and enduring love for Jesus and Mary. Obtain for me also a sincere devotion and obedience to Holy church and the sovereign pontiff who rules over her, in order that I may live an die in faith and hope and perfect charity. Let me ever invoke the holy Names of Jesus and Mary. And may I thus be saved. Amen.

LITANY IN HONOR OF SAINT ANNE:

Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

St Anne, pray for us.
Offspring of the royal race of David, *
Daughter of the Patriarchs,
Faithful spouse of St Joachim
Mother of Mary, the Virgin Mother of God,
Gentle mother of the Queen of heaven,
Grandmother of Our Saviour,
Beloved of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Instrument of the Holy Spirit,
Richly endowed with God?s grace,
Example of piety and patience in suffering,
Mirror of obedience,
Ideal of pure womanhood,
Protectress of virgins,
Model of Christian mothers,
Protectress of the married,
Guardian of children,
Support of Christian family life,
Help of the Church,
Mother of mercy,
Mother of confidence,
Friend of the poor,
Example of widows,
Health of the sick,
Cure of those who suffer from disease,
Mother of the infirm,
Light of the blind,
Speech of those who cannot speak,
Hearing of the deaf,
Consolation of the afflicted,
Comforter of the oppressed,
Joy of the Angels and Saints,
Refuge of sinners,
Harbour of salvation,
Patroness of a happy death,
Help of all who have recourse to you,
(* Pray for us is repeated after each invocation)

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, good St Anne,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, You were pleased to choose St Anne to be the mother of the Mother of Your loving Son. Grant, we pray, that we who confidently honour her may through her prayers attain to everlasting life. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

ShareThis

The post The Model Grandparents: Saints Joachim and Anne first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Aug 16 – Homily – Fr Angelo: St Steven of Hungary

apostolate — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:53:14 +0000

Homily #080816 ( 11min) Play – On this feast of St Steven of Hungary Fr. Angelo preaches on the need to take responsibility for our actions and also how these actions effects others especially our children.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
+++

The post Aug 16 – Homily – Fr Angelo: St Steven of Hungary first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life#8: One Nation Under…

Leticia — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:00:09 +0000

Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #8 ( 02min) Play – How great is the guilt of our nation for murdering our children! What other issue is more important?
Ave Maria!
+++

The post Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life#8: One Nation Under… first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #11: The “Freedom of Choice” Act

apostolate — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:00:25 +0000

Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #11 ( 02min) Play – Fr. Pablo reflects on the terrible Roe v. Wade decision and on one presidential candidate’s promise to mandate the murder more children with the “freedom of choice act”.
+++

The post Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #11: The “Freedom of Choice” Act first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #16: Talk to Your Children

apostolate — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:00:40 +0000

Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #16 ( 02min) Play – Even if your children have left the Sacraments, you should still tell them the truth about the culture of death, and tell them they need to vote Pro-life.
+++

The post Video – Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #16: Talk to Your Children first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:00:06 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto, children of Fatima, Feast day is February 20th.

Our Lady appeared to three small children in Fatima in 1917. She told two of them, the brother and sister, that they would soon go to heaven but Francisco would have to pray many rosaries. These little children had seen a vision of hell and did penance in their young lives.

Francisco would spend much time in prayer at the tabernacle of the Church. He longed for Heaven and was thrilled at the thought of being able to see Jesus and Mary forever. In his last illness, he continually made the sacrifice of taking any medicine or food which was given him, no matter whether he liked it or not, without complaining. As his illness progressed, he could no longer say his prayers out loud, but he continued to pray “with his heart.” At Francisco’s request, the parish priest came to give him his first Communion, which he had not yet received. It would be his last Communion – Francisco died peacefully the next day, April 14, 1919. He was only 10 years of age.

Jacinta was attacked by the Spanish plague almost at the same time as her brother Francisco. She too spoke of nothing else than of reciting the Rosary and offering sacrifices for sinners. Towards the end of January, 1920, Jacinta was taken to Lisbon to be operated upon for a persistent lung infection. There she immediately impressed all by her candor, her modesty, her great patience, her perfect submission, her continued prayer and ardent love for Holy Communion which she received every day except when prevented by illness. Many doctors came to examine Jacinta; their only thought was of science and medicine. They discounted the influence God might have on the condition of the patient. The little girl did not hesitate to set them straight on the matter, pointing out the cause of their frequent failures. “Pity doctors. They have no idea what awaits them. Doctors do not know how to treat patients with success because they have no love for God.”

The Blessed Virgin continued to encourage this heroic virtue by her apparitions. One day, when Mother Godinho, Superior of the orphanage, came to see her, Jacinta asked her quite naturally: “Could you come back a little later? I am expecting the Blessed Virgin any minute!” The effects of these visits from heaven manifested themselves not only in the supernatural wisdom of the child’s words, but also in her predictions.

What ardor did not this child of ten preach amendment of life, not only to sinners, but also to faithful souls! How she insisted on flight from sin, the practice of the Christian virtues and penance!

“Oh!” she said to the Superioress of the Orphanage in Lisbon, “if men only knew what eternity is, how they would make all possible efforts to amend their lives!

Dear Godmother (she addressed the Superioress in this way), mortification and sacrifice give great pleasure to Our Divine Lord! Oh! Fly luxury! Fly riches! Love holy poverty and silence.

Be very charitable even towards the wicked! Never speak evil of anyone and avoid those who do.

Be very patient because patience leads to heaven.

Pray much for sinners!

Pray much for priests, for Religious, for Governments! The sins of the world are too great!

The sins which lead most souls to hell are sins of the flesh! Certain fashions are going to be introduced which will offend Our Lord very much. Those who serve God should not follow these fashions. The Church has no fashions; Our Lord is always the same.

Many marriages are not good; they do not please Our Lord and are not of God. . . . Oh! Men must do penance! If they amend their lives Our Lord will still pardon the world; but if they do not, the chastisement will come!

Priests should occupy themselves only with the affairs of the Church! They must be pure, very pure.”

Mother Godinho asked her: “Do you know what it means to be pure?” “Yes, Yes. I know to be pure in body means to be chaste, to be pure in mind means not to commit sins; not to look at what one should not see, not to steal or lie, and always to speak the truth, even if it is hard.

The disobedience of priests and of religious to their Superiors and to the Holy Father offends Our Lord very much!

Our Lady said that there are many wars and discords in the world. Wars are only punishments for the sins of the world. She stated that she could not stay the arm of her Beloved Son upon the world anymore. It is necessary to do penance. If people amend themselves, Our Lord shall still come to the aid of the world. If they do not amend themselves, punishment shall come.”

When Jacinta was at the orphanage in Lisbon, before she was sent to the hospital, she spent every possible moment in the chapel kneeling with her eyes riveted on the tabernacle. Seeing people in church being irreverent toward the Blessed Sacrament upset her greatly. She stated that Our Lady does not want us to talk in church. One day she heard visitors discussing faults of a certain priest who had been forbidden to say Mass. Jacinta began to weep for sorrow and she said people should not talk about priests but they should rather pray for them.

Blessed Jacinta’s Death

February 20, 1920 came. Jacinta seemed about the same; she might last a few more days, she might go any moment. About six o’clock in the evening the child said she was not feeling well and she wanted to receive the last rites of the Church. A priest was called, heard her confession and promised to bring her Communion in the morning. Jacinta asked him to bring it immediately but he could see no reason for alarm. She insisted that she was to die shortly. At ten-thirty, she died peacefully without having her wish fulfilled. She had just turned ten years old. The news of the child’s death spread fast through the city and crowds flocked to the church to see the body.

The undertaker testified that he never before nor after had a case like Jacinta’s. “It seems to me that I can still today see the little angel. Laid in the casket she seemed to be still alive, in her full beauty with rosy cheeks and lips. I have seen many bodies in my business, young and old. Never did a thing of this sort happen to me before nor since.” The pleasant aroma that exhaled from her body cannot be explained. The worst unbeliever could not question it . . . Though the child had been dead three days, the aroma was like a bouquet of flowers. Fifteen years after Jacinta’s death, her body was transferred to the cemetery of Fatima. When her casket was opened on this occasion her little body was still whole and incorrupt.

The post Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Oct 05 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Being Childlike

apostolate — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:11:17 +0000

Homily #091005 ( 06min) Play – We must become like children as Our Lord did toward His Father in obeying Him, becoming humble of heart even if this means accepting death, death on a cross.
Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post Oct 05 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Being Childlike first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Dec 11 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Of Dirge and Dance

apostolate — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:30:12 +0000

Homily #091211 ( 04min) Play –

Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’

We must see in scripture the first coming in the facts surrounding John the Baptist in order to prepare for His coming again.

Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: Isa 48:17-19
R: Ps 1:1-4,6
G: Mt 11:16-19

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post Dec 11 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Of Dirge and Dance first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Dec 28 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Innocent and Holy

apostolate — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:47:41 +0000

Homily #091228 ( 10min) Play – Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocence who died in the place of Jesus when Herod tried to kill the messiah by killing all the male children under two years of age at Bethlehem. Father relates this to our own times and invokes their intercession for the protection of innocent life.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
1: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2
R: Ps 124:2-5,7-8
G: Mt 2:13-18

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post Dec 28 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Innocent and Holy first appeared on AirMaria.com.