Thursday, August 29, 2013

The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist - Visiting Bishop's homily

Visiting bishop and pastor this morning after Mass

Today Saints Peter and Paul Church in Honolulu, was privileged to have a visiting bishop from the Philippines, celebrate Mass.

In his homily about the gospel reading of the death of St. John the Baptist,  he gave two examples of two very young people who were not afraid to stand up for the truth and to stand up for their faith.

The first story was about a busload of people traveling into Muslim territory in the Philippines. The Muslim bandits stopped the bus and ordered all the Christians off the bus.  Not one person on the bus had the courage to stand up and state that he or she was a Christian. However, one small boy stood up.  His mother frantically tried to tell him to be quiet and to stay down.  He responded that he had just learned in his catechism class to stand up for the faith.  The bandits lead him off the bus. They were actually impressed by this brave little Christian and thank God, nothing bad happened.

The second and less dramatic story was about the bishop and some Catholic volunteers bringing relief supplies to a tent city of homeless people.  Upon seeing extra relief supplies, one man asked for another bag.  His little daughter spoke out and told her father and the volunteers that they had already had their share and maybe someone else could use it. The father told her to be quiet but the little girl insisted it they had already had their share.  Later that night, the angry father slapped his daughter on her face.

We can learn much from these two young people who followed the example of the baptizer who stood up for truth, regardless of the danger to themselves.


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

September Vocation Discernment




Picture source


Mary replied:
”Yes.”

Any person who is discerning the possibility of a religious vocation is invited
Sunday, September 8-Mary’s Birthday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Sisters of the Sacred Hearts Community
1117 Fourth Avenue Honolulu Hawaii 96816
Join us for an afternoon of worship and reflection with Sister Mary Dolorine Pires, ss.cc. & Sister Ivy Yim, ss.cc.
RSVP/information:
Sister Ivy Yim, ss.cc.
(808)845-4353




Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Happy Birthday Bishop Larry!

PRAYER FOR OUR BISHOP

O, Jesus, 
Prince of Pastors, Shepherd and Bishop of our souls,
give our bishop all those virtues, which he needs for his sanctification!
May he watch over himself and the entire flock,
with which the Holy Spirit has entrusted him!
Fill his heart with Thine Own Spirit!
Give him faith, charity, wisdom and strength!
Send him faithful co-laborers in the great work of saving and guiding souls!
Make him a shepherd after Thine own Heart, 
living only for his holy office,
fearing nobody but Thee,
and hoping for nothing but Thee,
in order that when Thou Shalt come, to judge shepherds
and their flocks,
he may obtain the unfading reward of eternal life!
Especially, bless our beloved bishop Larry, today as he celebrated his birthday!
Amen!

Imprimatur
Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D.
Raleigh, N.C.
March 25, 1956

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Growing in Holiness: Modesty and Chastity




Pope Benedict XV

For meditation:
"One can not sufficiently deplore the blindness of so many women of every age and station. Made foolish by a desire to please, they do not see to what degree the indecency of their clothing shocks every honest man and offends God. Most of them would formerly have blushed for such apparel as for a grave fault against Catholic modesty. Now it does not suffice to exhibit themselves on public thoroughfares; they do not fear to cross the threshold of churches, to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and even to bear the seducing food of shameful passions to the Eucharistic Table, where one receives the Heavenly author of Purity."  
-Benedict XV, Sacra PropediemJune 1, 1921, n. 19

For the spiritual mothers: We are not consecrated virgins, but great are the riches to learn from the writings of Pope Pius XII on Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Consecrated Virginity.
"To prayer must be added frequent and fervent use of the Sacrament of Penance which, as a spiritual medicine, purifies and heals us; likewise it is necessary to receive the Eucharist, which as Our predecessor of happy memory Leo XIII asserted, is the best remedy against lust.[111] The more pure and chaste is a soul, the more it hungers for this bread, from which it derives strength to resist all temptations to sins of impurity, and by which it is more intimately united with the Divine Spouse; 'He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me and I in him.'[112]" Sacra Virginitas, #63, Encyclical )
The eminent way to protect and nourish an unsullied and perfect chastity, as proven by experience time and again throughout the course of centuries, is solid and fervent devotion to the Virgin Mother of God. In a certain way all other helps are contained in this devotion; there is no doubt that whoever is sincerely and earnestly animated by this devotion is salutarily inspired to constant vigilance, to continual prayer, to receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. Therefore in a paternal way We exhort all priests, religious men and women, to entrust themselves to the special protection of the holy Mother of God who is the Virgin of virgins and the 'teacher of virginity,' as Ambrose says,[113] and the most powerful Mother of those in particular who have vowed and consecrated themselves to the service of God." Sacra Virginitas, #64, Encyclical )
Sources cited: 
111. Leo XIII, encyclica Mirae caritatis, d. 28 Maii, a. 1902; A. L. XXII, pp. 1902-1903.
112. Io. VI, 57. 
113: S. Ambros., De institutione virginis, c. 6, n. 46; PL XVI, 320.