St. Alphonsus Liguori's Great Devotion to the Blessed Mother the Great Doctor of the Church, St
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WORLD BOARD OF TRUSTEES APOSTOLA E OF FATIMA, USA President..........................John.A..Kostrubanic Erie DioCesaN DIVisioN Vice.President...........................John.M..Walsh A Public Association of the Faithful Treasurer..................................Walter.Jakopac for the Universal Church Secretary...................................Marilee.Hylant Bishop....................Lawrence.T..Persico,.J.C.L. Dionne.Orner..•..E..William.Sockey.III. Spiritual.Director............. Fr..Jerry.S..Priscaro 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.” Pope Saint John Paul II “I bless your work and your Apostolate.” Pope Benedict XVI 2020 January,.February,.March,.April St. Alphonsus Liguori's Great Devotion to the Blessed Mother The great Doctor of the Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori, had a great graces should come to us by the devotion to our Blessed Mother. He wrote what I believe to be, and hands of Mary.” He states: “This what numerous Theologians and Scholars believe to be, the finest is a most consoling truth” to both literary masterpiece of information ever assembled about the Blessed those “souls tenderly devoted to our Mother, five books in all, combined into one volume entitled: “The Most Blessed Lady, and for poor Glories of Mary”. sinners who wish to repent.” He also The Glories of Mary is, perhaps, the single greatest collection of asserts that Mary gave spiritual birth books, spanning nearly eighteen centuries of teachings about the to all the members of the church, past, Blessed Mother and her important role as Co-Redemptrix when it present, and future, when Jesus said comes to our salvation. on Mt. Calvary “Behold Your Mother”. Book One explains the words of the Salve Regina, along with how As for Mary’s intercessory abilities, Our Lady of Good Counsel and why God gave Mary to humanity as the Gate of Heaven. Book St. Alphonsus said: “God, to glorify the mother of the Redeemer,” two focuses on numerous feasts of the Blessed Mother. Book three determined “she should intercede on behalf of all of these.” highlights the Seven Sorrows of Mary and shows how sacrifices Among his most inspirational sayings are: “The Blessed Virgin is so made by Mary were longer and even greater than those offered up great, so sublime, that the more she is praised, the more there remains by all of the other martyrs. Book four reveals, and explains in depth, to praise,” so much so, “that if all the tongues of men were put together ten different virtues our Blessed Mother exhibited in her lifetime. they would not suffice to praise her as much as she deserves.” Book five contains several dozen famous prayers, meditations, and Worldly lovers often speak of those whom they love, and praise devotions to Mary. them in order that the object of their affections may be praised and St. Alphonsus Liguori composed his five books into one volume, as exalted by others. St. Alphonsus says some pretend to be lovers of the Glories of Mary, by researching and quoting from many writings Mary, yet they seldom speak of her or about her. Their love is not so of saints and holy authors who lived, during the eighteen centuries great. Her lovers desire to praise her on all occasions, and to see her before him. He quotes the Sacred Scriptures too, as they pertain loved by the whole world, never losing an opportunity, either in public to Mary. He writes in such a way, that the reader easily becomes or private, of enkindling in the hearts of others those blessed flames convinced, this man had a very intimate, loving, spiritual relationship of love with which they themselves burn towards” this... .”beloved with a woman he came to know so well, through historical research, Queen.” Everyone should be persuaded on how important this is. prayer, and reflection, even though he never had the opportunity to He said: “Those who speak of the glories of Mary are certain meet her in person. of Heaven. To honor the Queen of Angels is to gain eternal life.” If you’re looking for a man totally dedicated, in every way, to St. Alphonsus asserted that this most gracious lady will honor and devotion to the Blessed Mother, and recognition of her divine maternity remember in the next world those who honor and remember her in this and mission, you need look no further. He’s the one saint who knows world. Showing great earthly devotion to Mary, St. Alphonsus Liguori and writes just about everything one would want to know about her. fasted on bread and water every Saturday in honor of the Mother You could say, St. Alphonsus is the St. Thomas Aquinas of his day of God. On his table he always kept a picture of Our Lady of Good and age, when it comes to giving a nearly complete summary about Counsel which he often gazed upon with great love and before which the Blessed Mother, spanning nearly two millennium, with plenty more he frequently prayed for comfort in the trials of life. of his own personal insights. St. Alphonsus frequently visited churches dedicated to the Mother St. Alphonsus asserted that”... it is the will of God that all of God. On his arrival at St. Agatha church he discovered there was continued on page 4 HOME ENTHRONEMENT PROGRAM Welcome the Hearts of Jesus and Mary into your Home today ... Welcome the Hearts of Jesus and Mary into your home through the “For a Son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home Enthronement Program. Many blessings, graces, protection and is a man on fire with love, who spreads its the assurance of Jesus’s 12 promises as given to Saint Margaret Mary flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means when we entrust and enthrone our hearts, family, and home to Him are possible to set the whole world on fire with God’s love. Nothing daunts waiting. The Enthronement also includes making a consecration to our him; he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, beautiful Mother, the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary. We need smiles at slander, and rejoices in suffering. His only concern is how Them in our life, in our homes and to take Their hands to navigate us in he can best follow Jesus Christ and imitate Him in working, suffering, our life and world. I can attest I hold on to Their loving hands each day and striving constantly and single-mindedly for the greater glory of and know They do not leave my side nor will they yours or your precious God and the salvation of souls.” — ST. ANTHONY MARY CLARET family’s. Do you have family struggles and would love peace in your If.you.would.like.to.get.your.home.Enthroned,.please.contact. homes? Has your faith lost its fervor? Do you worry about your children Mrs..Kristin.Stravinsky.Home.Enthronement.Chairperson. and all they are up against? Is there anything that is disturbing you in your home? Is your marriage and family in need of renewal? Do you want at.903-495-2020 or [email protected] protection of your home and family? If you have answered yes to any of We would like to congratulate the following families these questions, then you may want to prayerfully consider having your whom recently have had their homes Enthroned. home Enthroned. Christ longs to have us invite Him into our homes, for He will not force His way in. Once the invitation is made, the graces just May God bless these overflow! Our love for the Sacred Heart and His Mother’s Immaculate beautiful families and a Heart will never be outdone. I have personally witnessed conversions, special 'thank you' Peace, love, tepid souls growing fervently, signal graces, protection from for all the priests willing natural disasters and much more. to conduct the ceremonies As Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque: “Behold this Heart in their homes which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love.” ALL.ENTHRONEMENTS. Oh,.how.Christ.loves.you!...LET.Us be oN fire for HIM!.. conducted.by Father.Jerry.Priscaro Justin.and.Louise.Blose.Family Dr..Jacqueline.Phillips. October.20,.2019 October.6,.2019 Bertha.Siggia.Family.-.August.25,.2019 PRAYER GROUPS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO JOIN: • Adult.Fatima.Apostolate.Rosary on Monday evening from 6 to 7 at Sacred Heart Church in St. Marys. • First.Saturday.Fatima.Children’s.prayer.group.at Mrs. Bonnie Housler’s home from 10 until 11 am, call 814-834-3214; this is a new cell for the children. • Rosary.said.at.8.am.Sunday.mornings at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Church in Girard, Pa. • Rosary.for.the.children at the Walsh residence at 5916 Carriage Hill Dr., Erie every 3rd Thursday at 7 pm for 45 minutes. • Rosary.at.St..George.parish every 1st Saturday at the 8 o’clock Tim.and.Stacy. Mass with confession, Communion and fifteen minutes for private Malesiewski.Family. meditation; all being offered in reparation for the five blasphemies September.1,.2019 committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. • St..Gregory.parish.prays.the.Rosary.and.Caplet.of.Divine.Mercy M T W - F, Thursday is in Church or at Mercyhurst Chapel. When the Angel of Portugal appeared to the three children in 1916, he told Rosary after 1st Saturday Mass honoring Her Immaculate Heart. them to say the following prayer three times. It is a good prayer to cut • Punxsutawney.Rosary.cell.meets every Tuesday evening at 6 pm, out of OLC, commit it to memory, and say often.