Fr. Pablo: Vote Pro-Life #1 ( 02min) Play – Ave Maria!

We’re grateful to be able to air this new 18-part series by Redemptorist Missionary Fr. Pablo Straub, C.SS.R., in which he exhorts the faithful and all people of good will to cast their ballots on November 4th for candidates that will advance the pro-life cause.

In the first of these 2-minute shorts, Fr. Pablo pulls apart the lie that says “A woman has a right over her own body,” which is an infamous slogan of the pro-abortion crowd.

We also invite you to visit www.windowtotruth.com, the official website of Fr. Pablo and the Mission Helpers of the Holy Savior.

Ave Maria!

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Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

Psalm 116:15

A happy death is one of the greatest and the last blessings of God in this life. The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death. In the litany of the saints, for instance, she has us pray: “From a sudden death and unforeseen death, deliver us, O Lord,” to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us “at the hour of our death” in the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a Happy Death. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1014.)

Why should we be dedicated to St. Joseph?

St. Joseph is the Foster Father of our Judge and Savior. His power is dreaded by the devil. His death is the most singularly privileged and happiest death ever recorded as he died in the Presence and care of Jesus and Mary.

St. Joseph will obtain for us that same privilege at our passage from this life to eternity.

We are called to pray for a happy death and for the dying. Blessed Louis Guanella said, “There is a need of living well, but there is even more need of dying well. A good death is everything.”

Every day more than 152,000 persons die worldwide and are judged. The are souls that died in the tsunami, earthquakes in Pakistan, Iraq war, suicides, sudden deaths. More people are dying at a faster rate than ever before. Each time we pick up the paper or watch the news there is a crisis of huge proportion. Is it a wake up call? We are called through our prayers and sacrifices to assist these souls. Justice demands it if through our faults some souls are lost.

If by your prayers, sufferings or other good works, you have obtained a good death for a dying sinner, you shall look upon yourself as a mother or father to that soul.Their souls may be going the wrong way, but by your prayers you have saved them. You have placed their souls in purgatory. Now you can assist by all the means possible in obtaining the soul’s release from purgatory. To do this, you should be anxious to have Masses offered, pray the Rosary, do the Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic Adoration, and obtaining all the indulgences you can. These are the greatest devotions to help the souls reach Heaven. Blessed Leonard of Port Maurice thought so highly of praying for the holy souls he considered a person on the road to sanctity who adopted it. Save the dying if you have been a stumbling block to the living.

St. Joseph repays us generously if we come to the rescue of the sufferings souls. Holy Communions offered to him for seven consecutive Sundays in honor of the Holy Souls is what pleases him most.

St. Teresa of Avila says, “I do not remember that I ever asked St. Joseph at any time anything which he did not obtain for me.” Do you need a conversion in your family? Are your children away from the Church? Do you want peace of mind? Do you need a job? And yes, do you want to sell our home?

Go to St. Joseph and pray for the holy souls in honor of him.

St. Joseph sanctified labor, poverty, and privations by bearing them with patience, humility, and resignation to the will of God. We have many trials in life to endure, we have need of these virtues. We need many things. Make out a list of your necessities, write them down and go confidently to St. Joseph. Let us pray especially for all the holy souls who were dedicated to St. Joseph.

Let us pray for our eternal salvation. Offer Masses in honor of St. Joseph for your deceased loved ones and for the grace of a “happy death” for you and your family. The greatest need in the world today is family life. Remember to arrange for Gregorian Masses in your Will. They are 30 consecutive Masses offered for one deceased soul. The Mass is the quickest means to help a soul reach God. The Mass heals the living and the dead.

Pope John Paul II lived and died a holy death. His whole life was a prayer to the very end. He lived and died in the state of grace. That is a “happy death.” To live and die in the state of grace with the last sacraments. This is the grace of all graces. And it is ours for the asking.

My new book, Prayers For Eternal Life, gives you all the practices and devotions for the grace of a “happy death.” Use it for yourselves, your loved ones and those who are dying. Encourage everyone to become a member of the Pious Union of St. Joseph. Pay a visit to this beautiful shrine. Visit an altar or statue of St. Joseph and pray to him for the grace of a holy life and happy death for you and your loved ones. Pray for the holy souls in Purgatory. They suffer day and night. They suffer the loss of the sight of God. They long to be with God. They cry out, God! God! I must be with God! Make their desire your desire!

What’s in it for you? Heaven! Our Lord has conferred on St. Joseph the special favor and privilege of obtaining a happy death for all, who during life, and especially at the our of death, invoke his aid. St. Joseph and the holy souls will pray for you all the days of your life protecting you, interceding for you now and until you are safely home in Heaven. They become your nearest, sincerest, and dearest friends now and for all eternity!

To honor the Father, you honor Jesus. To honor Jesus, you honor His mother. To honor His mother, you honor Joseph. As you know, our world is in great peril. We need Joseph. Are you ready to join St. Joseph in prayer?

The time has come that St. Joseph be hidden no longer. The time has come that St. Joseph be known to the people of God. The time has come that St. Joseph receive the honor that will glorify God and bring back the most abundant blessings upon this entire world. May Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph and the holy souls lead you and your families to the House of the Father!

This article is by Susan Tassone who is a member of the Pious Union of St. Joseph and the author of several best selling books, including ‘The Way of the Cross for the Holy Souls’, (CD/Audio), ‘Praying in the Presence of Our Lord for the Holy Souls’, ‘The Rosary for the Holy Souls’, ‘30 Day Devotions for the Holy Souls’, ‘Prayers for Eternal Life’, all published by Our Sunday Visitor.

And for more information on the Pious Union of St. Joseph see http://www.piousunionofstjoseph.org/ –this pious union is dedicated to the suffering, dying and deceased with St. Joseph as the Patron of the dying.  JosephMary is also a member. In this month of November, dedicated to the aid of the holy souls in Purgatory, we beseech St. Joseph in a most special way.  Having the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered for our deceased loved ones is the greatest thing we can do for them!

Litany of St. Joseph

V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Christ, have mercy.
R/ Christ, have mercy.

V/ Lord, have mercy.
R/ Lord, have mercy.

V/ Jesus, hear us.
R/ Jesus, graciously hear us.

V/ God, the Father of Heaven,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ God, the Holy Spirit,
R/ have mercy on us.

V/ Holy Trinity, One God,
R/ have mercy on us.

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R/ for following: pray for us.

Holy Mary,
St. Joseph,
Renowned offspring of David,
Light of Patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster father of the Son of God,
Diligent protector of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most strong,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of artisans,
Glory of home life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the wretched,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world,
R/ graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world.
R/ have mercy on us.

He made him the lord of his household.
R/ And prince over all his possessions.

Let us pray. O God, in your ineffable providence you were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of your most holy Mother; grant, we beg you, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector: You who live and reign forever and ever.

R/ Amen.

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The post Dies Irae – Gregorian first appeared on AirMaria.com.

On this memorial day of Bl. John Duns Scotus (anniversary of his death) we are announcing the AirMaria Month of Scotus which will start today November 8th and will end, quite fittingly, on December 8th, feast of the Immaculate Conception for which he was so instrumental at giving the theological basis and is the FIs major feast day. We will be reporting on the outcome of the Newman Scotus Symposium that was held last month at the Washington Theological Union and posting other videos of past symposiums and other Scotistic materials along the way. Stay tuned.

Ave Maria!

The post News: Newman Scotus Symposium first appeared on AirMaria.com.

November is a month especially dedicated to praying for the souls in Purgatory.  Let us begin with these thoughts:

According to tradition, our Lord promised St. Gertrude the Great that 1000 souls would be released from purgatory each time it is said devoutly.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

other prayers:

O Lord, who art ever merciful and bounteous with Thy gifts, look down upon the suffering souls in purgatory. Remember not their offenses and negligences, but be mindful of Thy loving mercy, which is from all eternity. Cleanse them of their sins and fulfill their ardent desires that they may be made worthy to behold Thee face to face in Thy glory. May they soon be united with Thee and hear those blessed words which will call them to their heavenly home: “Come, blessed of My Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

For more information on the Indulgence to be gained and also an Introduction to All Souls Day:

Often overshadowed by the two days preceding it, Halloween and All Saints Day, All Souls Day is a solemn feast in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating all of those who have died and now are in Purgatory, being cleansed of their venial sins and the temporal punishments for the mortal sins that they had confessed and atoning before entering fully into Heaven.

History of All Souls Day:

The importance of All Souls Day was made clear by Pope Benedict XV (1914-22), when he granted all priests the privilege of celebrating three Masses on All Souls Day: one, for the faithful departed; one for the priest’s intentions; and one for the intentions of the Holy Father. Only on a handful of other very important feast days are priests allowed to celebrate more than two Masses.

While All Souls Day is now paired with All Saints Day, which celebrates all of the faithful who are in Heaven, it originally was celebrated in the Easter Season, around Pentecost Sunday (and still is in the Eastern Catholic Churches). By the tenth century, the celebration had been moved to October; and sometime between 998 and 1030, St. Odilo of Cluny decreed that it should be celebrated on November 2 in all of the monasteries of his Benedictine congregation. Over the next two centuries, other Benedictines and the Carthusians began to celebrate it in their monasteries as well, and soon it spread to the entire Church.

On All Souls Day, we not only remember the dead, but we apply our efforts, through prayer, almsgiving, and the Mass, to their release from Purgatory. There are two plenary indulgences attached to All Souls Day, one for visiting a church and another for visiting a cemetery. (The plenary indulgence for visiting a cemetery can also be obtained every day from November 1-8, and, as a partial indulgence, on any day of the year.) While the actions are performed by the living, the merits of the indulgences are applicable only to the souls in Purgatory.

Praying for the dead is a Christian obligation. In the modern world, when many have come to doubt the Church’s teaching on Purgatory, the need for such prayers has only increased. The Church devotes the month of November to prayer for the holy souls in Purgatory, and participation in the Mass of All Souls Day is a good way to begin the month.

The post November 2nd: All Souls Day first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #141116t ( 08min) Play – The Body of the Church is living, is in need of purification, has Christ as It’s Head.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: pro 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
Resp: psa 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
2nd: 1th 5:1-6
Gsp: mat 25:14-30

Audio (MP3)

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The post Nov 16 – Homily – Fr Tito: Jesus Came to Purify His Church. first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Mary Now #14 ( 06min) Play – Dr. Mark Miravalle on how the teaching of the Church on Purgatory which seem rather harsh is actually quite merciful in that it enables those who are not perfect to get to heaven. It also has a family aspect where we pray for our brothers and sisters in purgatory.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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The post Video – Mercy of Purgatory – MNOW 14 first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Ave Maria Meditations

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them.
R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

(Recommend yourself to the Souls in Purgatory and mention your intentions)

Blessed Souls, we have prayed for thee; we entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for us miserable sinners, who are in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever.

Let us pray:  O God, the author of mercy, the lover of the salvation of mankind; we address Thy clemency, in behalf of our brethren, relations, and benefactors, who are departed this life, that by the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, and of all the saints, Thou wouldst receive them into the enjoyment of eternal happiness; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Alphonsus Ligouri

The post Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Br. Gabriel preaches a retreat on purgatory called November, Month of Holy Souls. In this first talk, he covers the biblical and traditional roots of purgatory and how the souls in purgatory need prayers and especially masses said for them.

Notes:

Story of purgatory Frasen to Father Montfort

Mercy exercised toward the soles and purgatory

Promise to distribute books on purgatory to save son and wife.

Souls in purgatory are very appreciative of prayer and can give graces to us in return

They cannot help themselves though. They need our help

Purgatory Explained by Rev. Fr. F. X. Schouppe, S.J.
Buy: https://www.amazon.com/Purgatory-Explained-Lives-Legends-Saints/dp/0895553015
Read online: https://archive.org/details/purgatory00scho/page/280/mode/2up
Audio: https://librivox.org/purgatory-by-rev-francois-xavier-schouppe/

How All souls Day started

Monastery Clooney under St Odilo

Maccabees make a sacrifice for the souls that perish and battle

Jesus’s mentions of punishment after death will not get out till you pay the last penny

First St Paul of the Corinthians 3:13-15

Will be saved yet so as by fire

St Gregory of Nyssa

Pray for the dead that they may be loose from sin

Pope Saint Gregory the Great

In the fire, the sinner is purified

St Thomas Aquinas says something similar

Summa, it is sufficiently clear that there’s purgatory after this life.

Council of Trent

The apostles gave us the doctrine of purgatory

Prayers for those in purgatory

Pope Leo XIII

The holy sacrifice of the mass is the most effective way of helping the poor  souls in purgatory

Pius XII

Souls don’t want to leave purgatory until they are purified and presentable to God

The love of God and the desire to see him and knowing that they will be able to far out ways the sensible pain they are experiencing purgatory

Prayer helps them get the process done.

World War I

Given the number who died 20 million gave all priests the ability to say three masses per day on All souls day.

Also on Youtube: https://youtu.be/FUWje9hTIM8

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-TlYvy_hbw&list=PLejh_e0-LN4zsd9XUd7dbgFmrlmfc6-pV

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