WORLD BOARD OF TRUSTEES APOSTOLA E OF FATIMA, USA President...... John A. Kostrubanic Erie Diocesan Division Vice President...... John M. Walsh Treasurer...... Walter Jakopac A Public Association of the Faithful Secretary...... Wayne Hagan for the Universal Church Dionne Orner • E. William Sockey III Spiritual Director...... Fr. David L. Poulson Rodney 'Andrew' Housler • Bonnie Housler Asst. Spiritual Director...... Fr. Marc Solomon Kristin Stravinsky

"I invoke upon you ... all Erie Diocesan Blue Army members ... joy and peace ... and my Apostolic Blessing." John Paul II "I bless your work and your Apostolate." Pope Benedict XVI 2017 January, February, March, April mary, “the mother of mercy” Whenever we pray the Salve How appropriate it is for us to do that during this Extraordinary Regina, the Hail Holy Queen, the Jubilee Year of Mercy which began by Papal Decree on December most popular Marian antiphon, 8th, 2015, the Marian Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Pope whether we sing it as a song or Francis deliberately chose that date to begin this Jubilee Year of pray it as a recited prayer after Mercy and I will reveal the reason why in a few minutes. each , we are honoring the But let me ask you an important and very pertinent question first. Blessed Mother Mary with two Who would you say is the most perfect example of God’s Divine words that have great prominence. Mercy? Let me ask that question again. Who would you say is the Those two words follow the first most perfect example of God’s Divine Mercy? You might be tempted Marian Title: “Holy Queen”. The to shout out: “The most miserable of all sinners”. Others might say, two words in Latin are “Mater the Prodigal Son or the Good Thief on the Cross. How about the & Misericordiae”. Translated Good Samaritan, or better yet, the Adulterous Woman. There are into English we declare Mary by those who would say, the most perfect example of God’s Divine her second Marian Title, as “The Mercy most definitely would be a saint with a dramatic conversion Mother of Mercy”. story, or a sinful past, like Saul who became St. Paul, or St. Mary We have done so for about 1,000 years of our Roman Catholic Magdalene, or St. Augustine or St. . Church’s History going back to the Middle Ages when Herman But the answer is NO to all of the above, when it comes to being Contractus first wrote those words, and monks of the abbey the most perfect example of God’s Divine Mercy. The most perfect at Cluny, along with the Cistercians, and the religious orders of example of God’s Mercy isn’t any desperado or notorious sinner Franciscans, Dominicans, and Carmelites chanted those words. at all. When it comes to the most perfect example of God’s Divine Several lines later, we also sing or say the ancient Latin words “Eia Mercy, it is none other than “”. The Immaculate Ergo advocate nostra, illous tuos misericordes oculos.” They are One. The Perfect One. The Most Perfect Human Being whoever words that petition Mary to “Turn her eyes of Mercy towards us.” lived. Conceived without sin. Born without sin. A woman who It’s easy to sing the words of the and it’s easy to never sinned in her lifetime. pray the words of the Hail Holy Queen but, have you ever stopped You see, Mary and Mercy are well connected. And, this is why, to reflect, to meditate and contemplate what it is you are saying the Jubilee Year of Mercy began on the Feast of the Immaculate when you call Mary “the Mother of Mercy” and when you call her Conception. Pope Francis knew what he was doing. She is the to “turn her eyes of mercy toward us?” most perfect example of Mercy from the beginning of her life to the If you say you never have, I’d like to help you appreciate the end of her life through the continuation of her life in Heaven as she deeper meaning of those words. If you say you already have, I’d now lives. Mary is the model of God’s mercy par excellence. like to shed further light on the topic. Mary, the Mother of Mercy, God, the Father of Mercy, took the initiative to fashion the the one who has “Eyes of Mercy”, we pray she turns those eyes Immaculate soul of Mary, from the very moment of her conception, towards us. preserving it from any stain of original sin, continued on page 2 FATIMA, HEAVEN’S PEACE PLAN, 100 YEARS OLD, 1917 - 2017 The cover art for this issue of OLC is an authorized reproduction of an original pencil sketch by Shawn Elmer entitled “In God We Trust”. At the time, Shawn was an inmate at the Crawford County Correctional Institution. He drew it from photographs of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue provided to him by volunteers from the Catholic Prison Ministry. Our Lady’s message is summarized in the single word: “Pray”. The cross is inscribed with the initials of the Crawford County Jail and the word “hope”. Blessed copies suitable for framing are available for a donation from St. Anthony Church at (814) 398-4234. Donations help provide New Catholic Answer Bibles to inmates at CCCI. HOME Welcome the Hearts of MARY continued from front ENTHRONEMENT Jesus and Mary into and made her soul the very masterpiece of His Mercy. Later PROGRAM your Home today ... on, as a teenage girl, Mary’s “Yes to december 2016 Self-Surrender”, by her words to the Angel Gabriel at the annunciation, Let the Sacred Heart of Jesus shine in our and consecrate ourselves to you forever. Receive would confirm her role in God’s hearts this Christmas season. Listen carefully us and possess us entirely. Purify, enlighten and Divine Plan of Mercy: “I am the to the tug at your heart that Jesus is strongly sanctify us so that we may love you, Jesus, with handmaid of the Lord, Let it be done encouraging all of you to have your homes the heart of Mary, and love you, Mary, with the to me according to thy Word.” enthroned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with heart of Jesus. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have Jesus revealed to Sr. Maria consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. mercy on us! Oh Sorrowful and Immaculate in a vision In our current world of lovers of money and Heart of Mary, pray for us and save us!“ recorded in her diary that Love & pleasure rather than God, we need the pure (St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque’s first part of the Mercy are God’s greatest attributes. light that only Christ can bring to our homes, Act of Consecration to the Two Hearts.) our hearts, and our family. We need not worry The Love & Mercy of God are the “He loves, He hopes, He waits. If He came same thing. Love and Mercy are two though, for we are the children of our Eternal down on our altars on certain days only, Father who desperately loves each one of us and sides of the same coin. The word some sinner, on being moved to repentance, for Mercy in Latin “Misericordia” at Fatima Jesus assured us “that He would rein might have to look for Him, and not finding in spite of His enemies and all opposition.” Jesus is composed of two words: miseri, and Mary will be the victor in the fierce struggle Him, might have to wait. Our Lord prefers to and cordia. Miseri which comes from against the forces of evil we are witnessing. This wait Himself for the sinner for years rather Miserere, means to have pity upon is where the Home Enthronement program helps than keep him waiting one instant.” or to feel compassion for or with. Jesus and Mary to triumph in our homes with our (Saint Peter Julian Eymard) Cordia is the Latin word for heart. families. When we enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus and our Blessed Mother are waiting for We know that the heart since ancient Jesus we are asking him to rein not only in our you to invite them into your home and hearts times has been well associated with hearts, homes and lives but also in the hearts, in an intimate way. Won’t you answer their love. Mercy, that is, Misericordia, homes and lives of everyone everywhere and in call? Let us together celebrate the families that is the love emanating from the all nations of the world. recently had their homes Enthroned: Please heart, Cordia, which embraces, has Let us together with our families pray: “Hail contact Kristin Stravinsky at 903-495-2020 pity upon and feels compassion for most loving Hearts of Jesus and Mary! We to schedule your Home Enthronement for the human person. We are asking venerate you. We love and honor you. We give more information. Mary, the Mother of God, and the Special Thanks to Ann O'Leary for helping with the following Enthronements: Mother of Mercy, to embrace us in August 7: Diana and Darrel Rose (and family, sisters and foster children) with Father Jerry our suffering in the very same way August 14: Janet and Al Arment with Father Jerry that she participated in the passion, October 16: Barb and Donnie Weingart with Father Romey Hontiveros a new pastor of St. Dominic’s in suffering, and death of her Son, Westfield, NY and is starting a in Jesus Christ and embraced His body Westfield and wants to do Home Enthronements when it was taken down from the Kim Glancy cross. Her Heart was full of love. A Total Tan Her Heart was also filled with pity Family Home and compassion. Enthronement - You see, the Pieta so beautifully November 20, 2016 captures everything about Mary as conducted by Barb and Donnie Weingart and the Mother of Mercy. She turned her Father Jerry Father Romey Hontiveros, eyes of Mercy upon her Son Jesus, Priscaro St. Dominic’s Parish Home Enthronement continued on page 3 REMEMBER THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS Our Holy Father, Pope Francis; our Bishop Lawrence Persico; our Spiritual October 8, 2017 at St. Peter Cathedral Director Very Rev. Father David Poulson; all priests and religious; and student for the in Erie will be the next Rosary March priesthood, Clayton Housler. Agnes Priscaro, in a nursing home - mother of Father celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Our Jerry Priscaro ... Lady’s peace plan from Heaven. Bishop Please pray for the repose of the souls of Msgr. William E. Beibel, who was Lawrence T. Persico will be the homilist and we so generous and supportive to our annual Rosary March and this Apostolate for so ask parochial school, and CCD teachers, and par- many years; he went to his eternal reward on September 29th. Also, for the soul of ents to bring the children; represent your school Mr. Stephen J. Cash, who was a member of the Knights of Columbus, having served with your school banner. We hope this will be as Master of Pennsylvania West; working with the K of C and our Apostolate of a day to make reparation to Jesus, Mary, and Fatima, he aided in the distribution of 500,000 in the Erie Diocese thru the St. Joseph, who appeared at the miracle on WAF Rosary for Kids program; Steve passed away on August 27th. Mr. Ronald O. October 13, 1917; They appeared as the most Eldridge, was from West Springfield, a faithful member of the World Apostolate of holy Family. The Bishop asked that we fill the Fatima for many years and he made rosaries and sent them to the Missions all over the Cathedral. Watch your Church bulletins for any world; Ron passed away on September 1st. announcements about a bus running in your area. May our Lord have mercy on their souls through the intercession of our Blessed Mother. 2 and she turns her eyes of Mercy upon us, because, like Jesus, all of Why do we call Mary the Mother of Mercy? St. Sr. Faustina us have a cross to carry in life, and for some of us, there is more than Kowalska shares in her diary: “Divine Mercy in My Soul”, paragraph one cross, there are several of them to carry. Mary as the Mother of 330, that she heard Mary refer to herself by name: “I am not only the Mercy holds us, she cradles us, as she cradled the Christ Child, and Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy, and your mother.” as she cradled His body taken down from the cross. She holds and St. Bernard once asked why the Church names Mary Queen of Mercy. cradles us with Misericordia, that is, her Love & Mercy. And then he spoke of the great Mercy of Mary for us sinners during No doubt, Jesus is the first instance of God’s Mercy divinely revealed his lifetime. St. Bernard also gave encouragement to the sinners of to the world. He is the merciful one. The very source from which his day by saying: “Go to this mother of Mercy, and show her the Mercy originates. But Mary is what Mercy received looks like. Jesus wounds which your sins have inflicted on your soul. Then she will is Mercy the verb, the one who gives mercy. Mary is Mercy the noun, surely beg her Son to pardon you, and the Son who loves her so the one to whom mercy is most perfectly given. The human agent much will certainly hear her and oblige her request.” through whom God’s divine mercy flows. Mary is the one who is filled St. said we call Mary the Mother of Mercy with God’s merciful grace. She is full of grace. Mary as Our Mother because we believe that “she is the mercy of God for all who seek of Sorrows was the closest, in every sense of the word, to the Cross, it, so that, not even the greatest sinner is lost if Mary protects him. where the mystery of God’s mercy triumphed. She submitted most Mary is the queen of mercy intent only on compassion and pardon for perfectly to God’s holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. sinners.” While God has reserved the Kingdom of Justice for Himself, According to Pope St. John Paul II, in his encyclical letter “Dives He has granted the Kingdom of Mercy to Mary, His Blessed Mother. in Misericordia”, 1980, Ss 9), translated “Rich In Mercy”, he declares St. Leo said, Mary “not only deserves to be called merciful, but Mary is the vessel of mercy because she “obtained mercy in a particular should be called Mercy itself.” St. remarked when he and special way, as no other person has.” She received the fullness of looked on Mary, it seemed to him, he no longer beheld Divine Justice, God’s mercy by her Immaculate Conception. She was, from the first but only Divine Mercy with which Mary is filled. In a word, Mary’s moment of her existence, protected from and preserved from original mercy is so great, that her love can never cease to bring forth for sin. Her Immaculate Conception did not mean she did not need God’s us the fruits of mercy and the works of mercy. For what else but mercy, rather it meant she received God’s mercy totally and completely, mercy can flow from a fountain of mercy.” more than any other human being ever did. No part of her life, and St. Bonaventure said that “everyone who loves this Godmother no part of her existence was ever apart from the loving mercy of her should take courage. What have we to fear? Be joyful then all you Redeemer. Imagine the image of God’s Mercy as endless as an Ocean. children of Mary the Mother of Mercy. Remember, she adopts all those If mercy is an ocean, Mary is immersed in it. But it doesn’t end there who wish her to be their spiritual mother. For what fear have you with the Immaculate Conception. Mary wasn’t just the vessel of Mercy of being lost, when this spiritual mother defends and protects you?” as Pope St. John Paul II called her. Mary was also the channel of Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Mary using the Mother of Mercy Mercy to the world. She isn’t just a creature in the Ocean of Mercy. title during his Message, shortly after celebrating Mass at She is the Network of Mercy. She is the one through whom God’s Amman International Stadium, during his Holy Land Trip in May of mercy flows. Mary is the Co-Mediatrix of God’s Mercy in the world. 2009. He said: “The supreme model of womanly virtue is the Blessed She followed God’s will throughout her life from the Incarnation to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy ....” foot of the Cross and beyond. She was the means by which Mercy, the The marian title “Mother of Mercy” is a wonderful model and Love of God towards sinners through Jesus Christ, entered the world. source of inspiration for Mothers. “As mothers form and shape their Pope St. John Paul II eloquently said “Her sacrifice is a unique children, they remember that no one is perfect - not their children sharing in the revelation of mercy." The Redemptive Sacrifice of the and not themselves. Mothers show mercy in a way that they are Son on Calvary together with the sacrifice of Mary’s Maternal Heart always there, ready to pick you up, dust you off, give you a hug, and establishes her as having the deepest knowledge of the mystery of put you back on the right path again. The Mother of Mercy is the God’s mercy. Mary is what Mercy looks like at its fullest. This is best perfect intercessor for mothers in today’s busy and complex world. represented by Mary’s own words in the in which she Being a mother of mercy entails caring for and nurturing families and declares; “His mercy is upon those who fear Him from generation to picking up the pieces when things go wrong. Our Lady of Mercy is generation. Jesus is the revelation of mercy.” the one to turn to when we need someone to continued on back

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MARY continued from page 3 savior of the world, by His passion, death, and resurrection gave the intercede for us in our most sinful, fragile . She understands. world HOPE. And whether we say or sing the Salve Regina, Mary, Pope St. John Paul II knew the help our Mother of Mercy could and the Blessed Mother never wants us to forget, she too is “our Life, would give to all those who ask for it. In his encyclical: “Veritatis our Sweetness, and our HOPE." Splendor” (The Splendor of Truth), in the section titled “Mother of Mary experienced Divine Mercy firsthand, and she hosted the Mercy”, he wrote: “Christ came not to condemn but to show mercy.” very source of this mercy, Jesus Christ, in her womb. Mary always (Matthew 9:13). Mothers act with great mercy when they lead their lived intimately united, by flesh and by blood, to her Son, Jesus. children to Jesus. Pope St. John Paul II also emphasized that Mary’s Mary knows better than anyone else what God wants, what her mercy is rooted in love. “Not having known any sin, she is able to Son wants. Mary the Mother of Mercy helps us to understand how have compassion on every kind of weakness." much God & God’s Son love us. Despite the sufferings and trials of The English word compassion, which comes from two Latin life that we appropriately call “Misery”, there is the Sacred Heart of words “cum” and “passio”, means to “suffer with”. Who better to Christ, & the Immaculate Heart of Mary that beat as one and remind “suffer with us” than the very one, the woman who suffered with us that nothing can steal the peace and joy of eternal life that awaits Him on Calvary. The Pieta. Michelangelo had it right. He created us. As our Lord spoke in the Gospel of Luke 15:7, “There is more joy the perfect image of Mary as the Mother of Mercy by sculpting the in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous Pieta. Mary’s example as the Mother of Mercy should be compelling people who have no need of repentance. St. Alphonsus Ligouri, to all women, not just those who have given birth, because each founder of the Redemptorist Order, said so eloquently in his book: woman has “the instinct to protect the weak and the vulnerable. “The Glories of Mary”, that Mary is the mother of all sinners who We are weak. We are vulnerable. God chose a woman to protect us wish to repent. And, as such, she cannot help but have pity upon with His Mercy. Pope St. John XXIII often turned to Mary’s mercy. them. Mary as the Mother of Mercy feels the misfortunes of her And, Pope Francis tweeted in February of this year, “Our Lady is children as though they were her own. God does not condemn those always close to us, especially when we feel the weight of life with sinners who have recourse to Mary and for whom she intercedes. all its problems.” Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Mary plays a Let us implore her to guide the footsteps of the American people, unique role in God’s eternal plan of Mercy. Whenever we pray the a pilgrim people looking for the Mother of Mercy and ask her to show Salve Regina we say: “To thee do we cry poor banished children us her Son Jesus. With Mary as our most gracious advocate turning of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs mourning and weeping her eyes of Mercy upon us, we can be sure that Mercy itself will be from this valley of tears.” We live in a world filled up with misery. with us to lift us up from this valley of tears. I don’t want you to get the wrong impression by overemphasizing May these words inspire us to turn to Mary the Mother “the miseries of this world” because all of us know, Misericordia and of Mercy, most especially in times of trouble. Mater Misericordia go well beyond that. All of us know Jesus Christ, Fr. Jerry S. Priscaro