REFERRING to our Lady’s great compassion for sinners, St. Bernard calls her the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. And St. Leo tells us that, when he looks at her, he no longer sees God’s justice but only His mercy, for Mary is full of the mercy of God. She is like a fair olive tree in the field (Sir 24: 14). Only oil (a symbol of mercy) is extracted from the olive; only grace and mercy flow from the hands of Mary.

Why is the fair olive tree pictured as standing in the field, and not in some garden, enclosed with walls or hedges? So that all can see her plainly, and get to her without trouble, to secure the remedy for all their evils. And what safer refuge can we find than the compassionate heart of Mary? There the poor find a home, the sick a cure, the afflicted consolation, the doubtful counsel, and the abandoned help…

It must be this way, since all graces are dispensed at Mary’s prayer. Where there is no prayer from Mary — there can be no hope of mercy, as our Lord gave St. Bridget to understand — “Unless the prayers of Mary interposed, there could be no hope of mercy.” But perhaps you fear that Mary is not aware of our needs, or has no feeling for them. Ah no; she sees and feels them far better than we do ourselves. There is not one among all the Saints who can ever feel for us in our miseries, of body and soul, like this woman, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary…Indeed, Mary is more eager to grant us graces than we are to receive them. Therefore, no matter when we go to her, we find her hands filled with generous mercies.

…In our Lady’s case: her spirit is the same as her Son’s, and we can never doubt but that she is all mercy. As she said to St. Bridget: “I am called the Mother of Mercy, and it was God’s mercy that made me so merciful.”

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun (Rv. 12: 1). St. Bernard says, “O Lady, thou hast clothed the sun, the Eternal Word, with human flesh, but He has clothed thee with His power and mercy . . . ”

” Mary is so compassionate and kind that when sinners, no matter who they are, throw themselves on her charity, she does not investigate their merits, or consider whether they are worthy, but she hears and helps all.”

Therefore, St. Idlebert remarks, she is called as beautiful as the moon (Song. 6: 10). She pours her light and favor on all sinners, even the most unworthy, as the moon sheds her radiance on all creatures. And though the moon, says another writer, gets all her light from the sun, yet she completes her cycle of work quicker than the sun —– that is, what it takes a year for the sun to do, the moon does in a month. So, according to St. Anselm, we often get our request more quickly by calling on Mary’s name than by calling on the name of Jesus.

We may be afraid (as we said in another place) to go directly to Almighty God, because after all it is His infinite Majesty we have offended. But we should never be afraid of going directly to Mary, because we will find nothing in her to terrify us. True, she is holy, immaculate, and the great Queen of the universe. But at the same time she is also flesh of our flesh, a child of Adam. Always keep in mind that our Lady’s protection is greater and more powerful than anything we can imagine.

How is it that the same God Who was so rigorous in punishment under the Old Law now shows such great mercy topersons guilty of far greater crimes? He does it all because of His love for Mary, and on account of her merits.

The world would have been destroyed long ago if it were not for Mary’s intercession. And now that we have the Son as Mediator with the Eternal Father, and the Mother with the Son, we have full access to God and can go to Him with absolute confidence, hoping for every good thing from Him. For how can the Father refuse to hear the Son, when He shows Him His side and His wounds, the marks of the sufferings He bore for sinners? And how can the Son refuse to hear His Mother, when she shows Him the breast that nursed Him?

Let us conclude with St. Bernard’s beautiful and tender words: “O Mary, thou art clement to those who need thee, compassionate to those who beseech thee, sweet to those who love thee! “Thou art clement to the penitent, compassionate to anyone striving for virtue, sweet to the perfect! “Thou art clement in working for us, compassionate in giving grace, sweet in giving thyself!”

+St. Alphonsus Liguori (From The Glories of Mary)

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Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners: Pray for us!

A true devotee of Mary will not only be saved, but also, through Mary’s intercession, will become a great saint and will increase in holiness every day. 
St. Vincent Pillotti

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(Image courtesy of ANDREW MURRAY)

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Our Lord’s closest personal friends failed Him, betrayed, abandoned, and denied Him on the night He gave them the pledge of future glory. If they could fail so miserably, we shouldn’t be too sure of our own steadfastness, but rather approach our Lord in the Eucharist with humility and contrition.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday Holy Week – Wkdy

Readings: 
1st: Isa 49:1-6
Resp: Ps 71:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17
Gsp: Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

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The post Don’t Betray Jesus in the Eucharist (Audio Fixed) – Mar 27 – Homily – Fr Alan first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Andre gives the homily for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time (Jun 18, 2019), pointing out the danger of the Internet which separates many children of God from their Father. Although the internet offers potential for good usage,it has become also a tool of the Luciferian conspiracy: for many, it has become a habitual, near occasion of sin.

What is needed is a firm conviction of eternal life, offered to all on condition of repentance, sincere confession, and the breaking of bad habits. For many this may imply disconnecting from the internet and social media, or at least drastically reducing usage, combined with an increasing the spiritual life and spiritual discipline. Devotion to the Eucharist, to Our Lady and the Holy Rosary are key.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 11th Week of Ordinary Time – Wkdy

Readings: 
1st: 2 Cor 8:1-9
Resp: Ps 146:2, 5-6, 7, 8-9
Gsp: Mt 5:43-48

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1420, and http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061819.cfm

See also: “From a treatise on the Lord’s Prayer” by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr; Second reading from the Office of Readings for Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time.

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On the memorial of St. Josaphat (Bishop & Martyr, Nov 12, 2019), Fr. Andre uses in his homily the example of this great servant of the Church, martyr for the unification of the Eastern and Western Churches, to expound on the duty of all priests.

“The shepherd, who is the priest, the ordained minister of God, is to offer his life for his flock. St. Maximilian Kolbe is a fine example; his soul was fired for this reason. His flock consisted also of SS Nazi murderers. It does not matter if the flock does not agree with the priest. The priest is to expose the wolves in the flock, to expose the error, announce the sin that is in his flock. The priest is not to seek popularity or to be ambitious. Instead, he is to be humble, he is to sanctify himself, and in so doing, sanctify his flock and ready them for judgment.”

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Josaphat – Mem

Readings: Tuesday 32nd Week of Ordinary Time

1st: Wis 2:23-3:9
Resp: Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19
Gsp: Lk 17:7-10

More on the Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111219.cfm

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On the memorial of St. Agnes (Virgin and Martyr, Jan 21, 2020), Fr. Andre gives the homily on the conditions of conversion and sanctification. Relating his own experience, he explains that renunciation of wealth–poverty–is a part of the conversion process. St. Agnes renounced all worldly benefits to belong entirely to Christ, to the point of preferring death to betraying her consecration. Her purity, another aspect of holiness, is an example to us still today.

If these heroic virtues exemplified by the virgin and martyr St. Agnes seem to us far off or out of reach, Father reminds us of the grace of God’s mercy, available to us through the Sacrament of Confession. God is merciful, but is not a pushover. We must sincerely repent and change our life while we have the opportunity.

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr – Memorial

Readings:
1st: 1 Cor 1:26-31
Resp: Ps 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6
Gsp: Mt 13:44-46

More on the Readings: http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/0121-memorial-agnes.cfm

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The post God is Not Mocked: Tips for True Conversion – Jan 21 – Homily – Fr Andre first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Sep 16, 2022, on the fourth installment of his series on corporal works of mercy, giving shelter to the homeless.

Corporal work of mercy – Mat 25: 31-46 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25?31

St. Vincent De Paul gave shelter to abandoned infants and led to the Sisters of Charity

Die to self

Holy Family denied shelter in Bethlehem Luke 2:7 – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?7

God and wisdom are a shelter

Psalms 61: 4 Oh to be sheltered under you sings – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/61?4

Psalms 91: 1 – You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty … My refuge, my God – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/91

Sirach 2: 13 Trust in God to – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/2?13

Sirach 14: 22 and 27 Wise – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/14?22

Proverbs 9: 10 Wise fear the Lord and trust in him – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/proverbs/9?10

Wisdom 10: 15-17 Shelter to those seeking truth – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/10?15

John 4:24 Seeking a spiritual home in spirit and truth https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/4?24

Ruth Ann Barn for the homeless for God’s Children

Isaiah 56: 7 Gods temples are places of shelter https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/56?7

Parishes where people find a distorted form of the gospel, liberal or conservative

“Emergency of faith” is often given as an excuse; instead of shelter, it is a prison

We can always find priests or bishops that will justify our errors

Archbishop here in Indianapolis says attending SSPX is illicit, morally sinful, and do not listen to LifeSiteNews

We can not rely on  personal judgment but submit to the church, the pitfall of Martin Luther

Ignatius Antioch Letter to Trillian, be obedient to your bishop, very early tradition.

Disobedience can result in slander

God will always bring about

sira 6: 14 who has found friend has found treasure, shelter https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/6?14

Children find shelter under Mary’s Mantle, refuge of sinners

Ave Maria!

Playlist, Works of Mercy, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1AVkZz-w8g&list=PLejh_e0-LN4wQxZdmm4kZudGz2tzbteGs

Mass: Sts Cornelius and Cyprian – Mem
Readings: Friday in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091622.cfm
1st: 1co 15:12-20
Resp: psa 17:1, 6-8, 15
Gsp: luk 8:1-3

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1155&r=946

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