Fr Chris Alar MIC - Homily Ash Wednesday Feb 22, 2023 - Preparation for Mercy Sunday Begins Now! Fr. Chris Alar, MIC shares his recent, very moving experience in Ireland and makes clear the need to turn back to God and begin preparing now for the Feast of Divine Mercy. He invites everyone to join the Miraculous 54-Day Rosary Novena for Mercy that begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes Divine Mercy Sunday. Go to MercySundayMomentum.org to register. The daily prayers will be sent to you to make it super easy for you to make this extremely powerful novena. Mercy Sunday Momentum is the vehicle to help everyone prepare for, promote, and celebrate the Feast of Mercy. Sponsored by Mother of Mercy Messengers and the Marian Fathers at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, MSM delivers the very best plan and resources to help build momentum toward the greatest celebration of the Feast of Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday. Those who join the campaign can access short videos and in-depth teachings by Divine …More
Wow a Miracle Boy, Age 5, Rescued from the Earthquake, after 192 Hours, says Person in White Fed him! The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on February 6th, 2023 has now left over 45,000 dead with many still missing and millions homeless. The work of rescuers and volunteers from many countries, has been very sad but also offered hope with some miraculous rescues. After spending more than 192 hours under the rubble, a 5-year-old boy was rescued safe and sound by the teams of volunteers from Turkey, who were surprised by the good condition in which the child was. “A person dressed in white came to me regularly, he fed me and gave me water. Then he would disappear, ”said the boy before the volunteers watched, according to the alNas media outlet, retaking information from the aHaber channel of Turkish television.
St. Josephine Bakhita was born in the region and lived there before being sold into slavery. You can get Aleteia inspiration and news in your inbox. Our specially curated newsletter is sent each morning. The best part? It's free. Sign up here The life of St. Josephine Bakhita has inspired many people over the years, especially those in Sudan and South Sudan. While she spent most of her life in Italy, she was originally born in the Sudanese region of Africa. Bakhita was born in the village of Olgossa, in what is now referred to as Sudan. She was taken by slave traders when she was around seven years old and remained enslaved for many years until she was bought by an Italian. Her Italian master left Sudan in 1885, when Bakhita was 16 years old. She remained in Italy for the rest of her life, dying when she was 77 years old as a Canossian Sister. Despite the horrible treatment she endured during the early part of her life as a slave, Bakhita had a firm faith in God and forgave her captors…
Catholic poet Dana Gioia once wrote, “Catholic writers tend to see humanity struggling in a fallen world.” The statement applies perfectly to writer/director Martin McDonagh’s latest acclaimed film: The Banshees of Inisherin. McDonagh is not a practicing Catholic, but growing up, he was taught in Catholic schools, and Catholicism saturates much of his work, including Banshees. As I watched the film with my wife, I noticed that it perfectly encapsulated the Catholic doctrine of Original Sin. Even if Original Sin’s cure, Grace, is absent, the film provides an opportunity for movie-loving Catholics to discuss with other people the often-misunderstood doctrine of Original Sin as well as its remedy in Christ. Brief Film Synopsis: The Banshees of Inisherin centers on the fragile friendship of two men: Colm, played by Brendan Gleeson, and Padraic, played by Colin Farrell. They live in an agrarian village on a small island, Inisherin, just off the coast of Ireland in the year 1923. The film …
Alternate reading:Luke 2:22-40 GOSPEL READING: Mark 6:7-13 7 And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them. Meditation: What kind of authority and power does the Lord want you to exercise on his behalf? Jesus gave his apostles both the power and the authority to speak and to act in his name. He commanded them to do the works which he did - to heal the sick. to cast …
< < Thursday, February 2, 2023 > > Presentation of the Lord Malachi 3:1-4 Hebrews 2:14-18 Psalm 24:7-10 Luke 2:22-40 “For my eyes have witnessed Your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: A revealing Light to the Gentiles.” —Luke 2:30-32 Today, throughout the world, the Church proclaims that Jesus is the Light to the nations and the Glory of Israel (Lk 2:32). However, “the Light came into the world, but men loved darkness rather than Light because their deeds were wicked” (Jn 3:19). Thus, Jesus was and is a “sign of contradiction” for “the downfall and the rise of many in Israel” (see Lk 2:34). The message of today’s feast day, the Presentation of Jesus, is highly controversial. Jesus has promised to confirm the proclamation of the Gospel, including today’s Gospel passage, with signs and wonders (Mk 16:20). Tomorrow, we will use the candles which are blessed today. Through the blessing of throats tomorrow at the liturgy of St. Blaise, many will be healed and freed from …