OUR LADY OF FATIMA DAY

Thursday, October 13, 2005

10:30 am Stations; 11:30 am Mass

1:00 pm Lunch; 2:00 pm Rosary and Benediction

Shrine of Our Lady of the Island

L.I.E. Exit 70, go south to Eastport Manor Rd.

 

     THE SACRED LITURGY

 

            In April, 2003, Pope John Paul II released his 14^th encyclical, “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” (the Eucharist in relationship to the Church).  The Eucharist is our most precious possession from which the Church draws her life.  It is through holy Mass that the Church expresses her faith. Perhaps this is why Pope John Paul II chose “The institution of the Eucharist” as the title for the fifth luminous mystery when he introduced the new “Mysteries of Light” into the prayer of the Rosary. 

            The purpose of this document was one of the beginning steps taken by Pope John Paul II to restore correct doctrine and practice with regard to the celebration of the Eucharist which he saw as threatened.  In (10) of this document, the Pope states:  “It is my hope that the present encyclical letter will effectively help to banish the dark clouds of unacceptable doctrine and practice, so that the Eucharist will continue to shine forth in all its radiant mystery”. 

 

            One Catholic doctrine that has been under threat is the sacrificial nature of the Mass.  Some have tried to portray the Eucharist simply as a fellowship meal among Christians.  We must never forget that the Eucharist is the sacrifice of Christ on the cross made present to us again on the altar.  Christ freely gives up His life for the forgiveness of sins.  The words of the consecration support this:  “This is my body which is given up for you” and “This is my blood, poured out for you”.  If Christ’s death on the cross was not an acceptable sacrifice to the Father, how could He have won our salvation?  If the Mass is not a sacrifice, how could we have forgiveness of our sins?  At the Last Supper, Jesus did not just give the apostles his body and blood as food and drink, He made sacramentally present his sacrifice which was soon to be accomplished on the cross.  This is why the priest says the following just before the distribution of holy communion:  “Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who takes away the sins of the world; happy are we who are called to His supper”.

(The Answer Guide, Ecclesia de Eucharistia,www.catholicanswers.com)

    

        THE PIPING PLOVERS

If you’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a visit to the beach this summer, you know that the Piping Plovers (cute little birds) and their nesting areas are protected under NYS and Federal law.  Anyone who kills these birds or their eggs, or harasses or disturbs their nesting areas can be arrested and fined.  This warning is posted and the areas patrolled pursuant to Section 11-0303 and 11-0321 of the Fish and Wildlife law and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Our taxes pay for people to patrol the beach to make sure that these birds and their eggs are not disturbed.

      In a similar way, sea turtles and their eggs are protected by law as well as other animals considered to be endangered species.  While we have nothing personally against such laws, we cannot help but wonder about the disparity in our laws which protect these animals and their eggs but fail to protect living human babies prior to birth.  Obviously we have no problem understanding that bird eggs or turtle eggs are living things which, given time and proper care, produce birds and turtles.  These living things are worthy of protection; and are in fact protected by laws.  However, when it comes to abortion, suddenly it becomes an issue of “privacy rights” or a “religious issue” and our pre-born brothers and sisters are left with no protection under the laws of our country.

            Even when bills are presented for such things as parental notification or informed consent prior to an abortion procedure, there are groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) fighting so that these things never become law.  These same groups oppose abstinence education in our schools and the ban against partial birth abortion, the most hideous of all abortion procedures.

            Many people today have become complacent, calling abortion “settled law” or believing that we can never rid our land of legal abortion simply because legal abortion has been here for 32 years.  If this were the case, we would still have slavery today for the right of every man to hold slaves existed in this country as “settled law” from the time of our country’s beginning through the civil war.  As followers of Christ we can never grow weary of our efforts to insure that our laws reflect the gospel.  We proclaim the truth to the world without shame.  God blesses every effort we offer, small though it may be, and multiplies it just as He multiplied the loaves and fishes.

 

People asked Mother Teresa what her secret was.  Her answer:  “Simple, I pray”.

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COAT AND BLANKET DRIVE

     St. John the Baptist RC Church will be holding a coat and blanket drive on the weekend of October 29/30.  Just bring your new or gently used donations of coats, jackets, and blankets to the parish hall before or after any of the weekend Masses.  These will be donated to the Eastern Farm Workers.

     Sponsored by the Respect Life Committee

 

Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you naked and clothe you?  I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me” Matthew 25:39

WILL THE EYES OF THE WORLD OPEN UP TO THE REALITY OF ABORTION?

            An Orlando woman went to an abortion clinic on April 1, 2005 and was treated for the start of a late term abortion.  The next day she returned there to finish the procedure.  Her baby was born alive and she screamed as she saw his perfect little body moving.  Her screams for help went unheeded at the clinic.  The mother immediately regretted her decision; grabbed her cell phone and called out for help which did not arrive in time.  The abortion rhetoric this mom had heard did not prepare her for the reality of abortion.

            Stacy Dow is a 20 year old Scottish woman who gave birth to a healthy girl after her abortion failed to kill both twins she was carrying.  The surviving twin is now a healthy 3 year old.  The mother has sued the hospital for “wrongful life” saying that since the hospital failed to kill her child, they should help support her.

            Recently Senator Hillary Clinton  made statements which appear to be changing her position on abortion.  In January, 2005, Senator Clinton stated “we want every child in this country to be wanted, cherished and loved.  We can all recognize that abortion in many ways represents a sad, even tragic, choice to many, many women.”  Two months later, in March of 2005, Senator Clinton berated President Bush for not using taxpayer dollars to fund groups that perform or promote abortions in other countries.  She also refused to meet with Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, the director of The Christian Defense Coalition, when he attempted to secure a meeting.  Voters beware:  is it all about what Hillary says??? Or what she does???

                       

Planned Parenthood offered the victims of Hurricane Katrina free abortions.  Their contribution to the destruction and death was MORE destruction and death.

QUESTION:  Who Said this? – “Once life has begun, no matter at what stage of growth, it is my belief that termination should not be decided merely by desire.  I share the confidence of those who feel that America is willing to care for its unwanted as well as wanted children, protecting particularly those who cannot protect themselves.  I also share the opinions of those who do not accept abortion as a response to our society’s problems – an inadequate welfare system, unsatisfactory job training programs, and insufficient financial support for all its citizens.  When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very  moment of conception.”

 

ANSWER:  U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy on August 3, 1971

 

NOT WORTH THE RISK

 

  It is already known that the birth control pill carries a risk of fatal blood clots.  Recently, a study by the Associated Press has shown that the birth control patch carries an even higher risk of fatal blood clots.  Although this fact was known by the FDA, the patch was still approved for sale.  Women who have died or suffered strokes from using the birth control patch have been in their late teens or early twenties. (information from Life Dynamics, 9-05 DVD magazine)

 

            A study by the World Health Organization has revealed that the birth control pill causes cervical cancer, breast cancer and live cancer, especially when used by teenagers.  This was reported in the New York Times.

 

 

 

REST IN PEACE, FATHER BILL

In case you have not heard, Father Bill Vigliotta of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island, Eastport, New York, has gone to his eternal reward.  He died on August 8, 2005 at 3:00 am…..at the hour of mercy on the feast day of St. Dominic who is associated with the rosary of Our Lady which Father Bill loved so much and prayed so devoutedly and so often.  Father Bill was pro-life in every sense of the word and was not afraid to say so.  The unborn were his special concern.  He flew the flag at the shrine at half mast on behalf of all the unborn who never got to see the light of day.  There is no doubt that this humble and holy priest is now rejoicing in the kingdom.  Pray for us, Father Bill!

 

THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST

 

IS COMING TO AN END IN OCTOBER

 

 

DON BOSCO’S DREAM and POPE BENEDICT XVI

 

      You may be familiar with the famous dream of St. John Bosco which has come to be viewed as a prophecy being fulfilled in our time.  In this dream the Church is represented by a large ship which is being attacked on all sides.  The Pope is steering the ship between two pillars.  On top of one pillar is the Eucharist; on top of the other pillar is Our Lady.  The Pope is shot down but another quickly replaces him and steers the ship safely into port.

            Some have seen Pope Benedict XVI as the Pope in this dream who quickly replaces the first Pope.  It was Pope John Paul II who established first the Year of the Rosary and second, the Year of the Eucharist (the 2 pillars) which is just now concluding in October, 2005. 

            On World Youth Day which took place in August, 2005 in Germany, Pope Benedict XVI rode into town on a ship down the Rhine River.  The image of him standing in this ship as it sailed into port very much looked like the images of Don Bosco’s dream.  As Pope Benedict stood on the ship with his arms outstretched, the hundreds of young people were standing waiste deep in the waters of the Rhine cheering and waving their arms to greet him.

            No one can deny that the church in our day is being attacked on all sides, nor can we deny that the Holy Spirit has chosen two very special Popes for this time in the history of the Church.  May our prayers assist our beloved Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI to steer the Church into safe harbour.

 

 

SHOULD SAME SEX COUPLES BE ALLOWED TO MARRY?

 

          “God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.  God blessed them, saying to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it.”  Genesis 1:27-28

 

            “For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body”.  Ephesians 5: 31-32

 

ROSARY WALK FOR LIFE

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Following the 11:30 am Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Island.  Sponsored by MAA (Mothers Against Abortion)

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The Allen Guttmacher Institute is the research arm of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider.  Recently they released a statement that abortion rates are at their lowest in 30 years.  They cited the following factors for this:

*        reduced access

*        changing attitudes

*        abstinence programs

*        crisis pregnancy centers 

 

PRAYER FOR ASKING GRACES THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF  POPE JOHN PAUL II

     O Blessed Trinity, we thank you for having graced the Church with Pope John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your Fatherly care, the glory of the cross of Christ, and the splendor of the Holy Spirit, to shine through him.  Trusting fully in your infinite mercy and in the maternal intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus the Good Shepherd, and has shown us that holiness is the necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of achieving eternal communion with you.  Grant us, by his intercession, and according to your will, the graces we implore, hoping that he will soon be numbered among your saints, AMEN