In NINE days, the whole United States will be voting for our next president. I encourage you to vote and to choose your decision wisely. Remember that you are a Catholic first before you are an American citizen. For help with making a good decision on your voting choice, check out www.usccb.org. This is a website put on by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and they have an article about how Catholics should vote. Please keep the whole United States in prayer, so that we all will make the right choice about our future president.

Saint John of Capistrano's feast day is today, October 23.

Born in Italy in 1386 to a German knight, John grew up and studied law at the University of Perugia and then became a lawyer and governor of the city of Perugia.

 

When war broke out between Perugia and Malatesta, John strived to make peace but failed. The enemies of his city threw him into prison. During his time in jail, John contemplated the true meaning of life. He realized that the salvation of his soul was far more important than anything else.

 

He was set free at the age of thirty and decided to join a Franciscan monastery. After he became a priest, John was sent out to preach. He and St. Bernardine of Siena, spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. John traveled all over Europe preaching for forty years and those who heard him were moved to love and serve Jesus better.

 

When St. John was seventy years old, The Turks decided to conquer Europe and to wipe out the Church of Jesus.

 

Pope Callistus II sent St. John to all the Christian kings of Europe to beg them to unite and fight the mighty Turkish army. The kings obeyed this poor friar.

 

He then marched off at the head of seventy thousand Christian soldiers leading them and encouraged the men to keep fighting. The saint himself ran to the front lines. Holding his crucifix up high, he cried, "Victory, Jesus, victory!" And the Christian soldiers felt full of courage. They fought until the enemy ran away in fear, and they won the battle of Belgrade.

 

John died a short time later on October 23, 1456. He was beatified in 1694 and canonized in 1724.

 

He is the patron saint of judges.

 

On John's tomb in the Austrian town of Villach, the governor had this message inscribed: "This tomb holds John, by birth of Capistrano, a man worthy of all praise, defender and promoter of the faith, guardian of the Church, zealous protector of his Order, an ornament to all the world, lover of truth and religious justice, mirror of life, surest guide in doctrine; praised by countless tongues, he reigns blessed in heaven."

Saint John of Capistrano, pray for us.

 

Blessed Pope John Paul II's feast day has been chosen to be October 22. The date marks the anniversary of the inauguration of his pontificate in 1978. There is so much we can learn from his words, his writings, his teachings, his example. Please keep him in your prayers on his special day, that he may be officially made a saint in the eyes of the Church soon. Blessed Pope John Paul II, pray for us.

 Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.

 ~Pope John Paul II

Just a reminder that this Friday, October 26th, is the FFFFFFF for the month of October. They will be showing Karol: A Man Who Became Pope. It covers the Pope's life before he is elected the 243rd Successor of St. Peter. It starts at six o'clock central time. I encourage you to come and watch this movie to learn more about an inspiring man who changed the world through his wonderful example.

Also, this coming Saturday, October 27th, is the annual All Saint's Day Party. As is the custom, please come dressed as a saint and stump the contestants on your identity. It begins at five o'clock central time with a pitch-in meal, so please bring entre, drinks, and dessert. We will pray the Sorrowful Mystery Trail at twilight and process to the Tomb by candlelight and flashlight. Afterword, we will share any sweet snacks/desserts. Those who wish, may play games and others may watch the movie Karol: the Pope, the Man. It is the sequel to Friday's movie, and it covers John Paul II's papacy. 

I hope to see you there!

        

Jeannine Marino, a program specialist for the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), offers "10 American Saints for the Year of Faith" to help Catholics learn about the lives of the saints and to appreciate the history of the Catholic faith in America.

Two saints from the list, Marianne Cope and Kateri Tekakwitha, will be canonized by Pope Benedict on October 21.

 

Here is the full list:

1. St. Isaac Jogues, SJ, a missionary and one of the North American martyrs, traveled from France to the new world shortly after his ordination. In 1641, he and his companions were captured by the Iroquois, who tortured and killed most of them. He was killed with a tomahawk in 1646 and canonized in 1930.

2. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, MSC, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, came to the United States as a missionary from Italy. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, over 35 years, started six institutions for the poor, the abandoned, the uneducated, and the sick. She died in 1917 and is the patron saint of immigrants.

3. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, SC, the first native-born U.S. citizen to be canonized, was left poor and widowed with five children. She converted to Catholicism and founded the first order of religious women in America, the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. She was co-founder of the first free Catholic school in America and is considered the founder of the Catholic school system in the United States. She died in 1821.

4. St. John Neumann, CSsR, a Redemptorist priest, was the fourth bishop of Philadelphia from 1852 till his death in 1860. A native of Bohemia, he followed his vocation to New York City and, at the time of his ordination, was one of only 36 priests serving 200,000 Catholics. He founded the first diocesan Catholic school system in the United States, growing the number of schools in his diocese from two to one hundred.

5. St. Katharine Drexel, SBS, a wealthy, educated young woman from Philadelphia with a deep sympathy for the poor, gave up everything to become a missionary to the Indians and African Americans. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and started numerous schools and missions for Native and African Americans. She died at the age of 96 in 1955 and was canonized in 2000.

6. St. Mother Théodore Guérin, SP, founder of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, was asked to leave France and lead a small band of missionary sisters to Indiana. When the sisters arrived, there was only a log cabin with a porch that served as a chapel. By the time she died in 1856, she and her community had opened schools in Illinois and throughout Indiana. She was canonized in 2006.

7. St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, RSCJ, a missionary to Native Americans, traveled to the Louisiana Territory from France in 1818, where she and other members of the Society of the Sacred Heart carried out their missionary work. She opened the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi River, as well as the first Catholic school for Native Americans. She was known among the Pottowami Indians as the "Woman Who Prays Always."

8. St. Damien de Veuster of Molokai, SSCC, missionary to the lepers of Molokai, Hawaii, was born in Belgium in 1840 to a poor farmer and his wife. At 19, he entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. His older brother, also a priest in the congregation, had offered to minister to the lepers on the island of Molokai but fell ill and couldn't go. Damien volunteered to take his place and offered to stay in the leper colony permanently, building schools, churches, hospitals and coffins. He contracted leprosy himself but continued to serve the mission until his death in 1889.

9. St. Marianne Cope, OSF, another missionary to the lepers of Molokai, joined the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis in her teens and served in leadership roles including novice mistress of her congregation and superior of St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse. She became a leader in the field of health care, often caring for those considered outcasts, which led her to volunteer in Hawaii. In Hawaii she cared for women and girls suffering from leprosy, providing them with an education. She died in 1918.

10. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, also known as the Lily of the Mohawks, converted at the age of 19, heedless of the anger of her relatives. Because she refused to work on Sundays, she was denied meals that day in the Mohawk village. Finally, a missionary encouraged her to run away to Montreal, where she practiced her faith freely and lived a life of extreme prayer and penance, taking a vow of virginity. She died in 1680.

 

St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us. St. John Neumann, pray for us. St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us. St. Mother Théodore Guérin, pray for us. St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, pray for us. St. Damien de Veuster of Molokai, pray for us. St. Marianne Cope, pray for us. St. Kateri Tekakwitha,

pray for us.

Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote “10 Ways Catholics Can Live the Year of Faith.” Rooted in guidelines from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, some of these suggestions are already requirements for Catholics; others can be embraced by Catholics at all times and especially during the Year of Faith:

1. Participate in Mass. The Year of Faith is meant to promote the personal encounter with Jesus. This occurs most immediately in the Eucharist. Regular Mass attendance strengthens one’s faith through the Scriptures, the Creed, other prayers, sacred music, the homily, receiving Communion and being part of a faith community.

2. Go to Confession. Like going to Mass, Catholics find strength and grow deeper in their faith through participation in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Confession urges people to turn back to God, express sorrow for falling short and open their lives to the power of God’s healing grace. It forgives the injuries of the past and provides strength for the future.

3. Learn about the lives of the saints. The saints are timeless examples of how to live a Christian life, and they provide endless hope. Not only were they sinners who kept trying to grow closer to God, but they also exemplify ways a person can serve God: through teaching, missionarywork, charity, prayer and simply striving to please God in the ordinary actions and decisions of daily life.

4. Read the Bible daily. Scripture offers first-hand access to the Word of God and tells the story of human salvation. Catholics can pray the Scriptures (through lectio divina or other methods) to become more attuned to the Word of God. Either way, the Bible is a must for growth in the Year of Faith.

5. Read the documents of Vatican II. The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) ushered in a great renewal of the Church. It impacted how Mass is celebrated, the role of the laity, how the Church understands itself and its relationship with other Christians and non-Christians. To continue this renewal, Catholics must understand what the Council taught and how it enriches the lives of believers.

6. Study the Catechism. Published exactly 30 years after the start of the Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church covers the beliefs, moral teachings, prayer and sacraments of the Catholic Church in one volume. It’s a resource for growing in understanding of the faith. Another helpful resource is the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA). Or for youth wanting to learn more, check out the "YouCat" or Youth Catechism. It has all of the same information as the one for adults, but it presents the information in a way
more suitable for the youth.

7. Volunteer in the parish. The Year of Faith can’t only be about study and reflection. The solid grounding of the Scriptures, the Council and the Catechism must translate into action. The parish is a great place to start, and each person’s gifts help build up the community. People are welcome as ministers of hospitality, liturgical musicians, lectors, catechists and in other roles in parish life.

8. Help those in need. The Vatican urges Catholics to donate to charity and volunteer to help the poor during the Year of Faith. This means to personally encounter Christ in the poor, marginalized and vulnerable. Helping others brings Catholics face-to-face with Christ and creates an example for the rest of the world.

9. Invite a friend to Mass. The Year of Faith may be global in its scope, focusing on a renewal of faith and evangelization for the whole Church, but real change occurs at the local level. A personal invitation can make all the difference to someone who has drifted from the faith or feels alienated from the Church. Everyone knows people like this, so everyone can extend a loving welcome.

10. Incorporate the Beatitudes into daily life. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) provide a rich blueprint for Christian living. Their wisdom can help all to be more humble, patient, just, transparent, loving, forgiving and free. It’s precisely the example of lived faith needed to draw people to the Church in the year ahead.

 

I challenge you to use these guidelines to better yourself and your spiritual life during this special Year of Faith.
 

YEAR OF FAITH

 

Pope Benedict XVI announced the "Year of Faith" to help Catholics appreciate and better understand the true gift of faith, deepen their relationship with God, and strengthen their commitment to sharing faith with others. This special year starts October 11, 2012, and ends November 24, 2013, the feast of Christ the King. Pope Benedict described the Year of Faith as an opportunity to reopen the “door of faith” that was first opened for us through Baptism and then to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

 

Why October 11th? This day is the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and also the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

 

“By beginning the year of faith on these two great milestones of our Church, the Holy Father is calling on us to deepen our commitment to study our faith, to reflect on what the Church teaches us and to pray,” said Bishop Charles C. Thompson of the Evansville diocese in a recent homily. “In order to proclaim the good news to the world, we first need to know what the content of our Catholic faith is all about; we need to embrace it and understand it ourselves if we’re going to be credible in proclaiming it to others.”

 

"Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy," the Pope wrote in "Porta Fidei" ("The Door of Faith"), an apostolic letter released October 17th to formally announce the Year of Faith.

 

Pope Benedict said Catholics cannot "grow lazy in the faith." He added that in addition to studying the Catechism and gaining a greater understanding of the creed, the Year of Faith must also consist of more acts of charity.

 

Take the opportunity to join with Catholics all over the world in deepening your faith in God and expanding your relationship with Him during this special Year of Faith. May God continue to bless you as you grow in His love.

THE BATTLE OF LEPANTO

 

WHEN?: October 7, 1591

WHAT?: A great naval battle.

WHO?: The Holy League and Christendom versus the Ottoman Empire and Turkish forces.

WHERE?: The northern edge of the Gulf of Corinth, off western Greece.

WHY?: The Ottoman Empire and the Turkish forces wanted to take over Rome. 

VICTORY: The Catholic Allies.

HOW WAS IT WON?: Even though the Christian forces had the victory in the end, they began with a large disadvantage due to their adversaries having more ships and grander forces. Knowing that the Christians did not have the advantage, Saint Pope Pius V called for all of Europe to pray the Rosary for victory. Through the rosary, they asked Mary to intercede for them that they might win the battle. 

Considering the victorious outcome of the Catholics over their enemies, Padre Pio was so right when he said, "The Rosary is the weapon."

During the hour of victory, Saint Pope Pius V - who was hundreds of miles away at the Vatican and who could not have known the results of the battle - is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and exclaimed: "The Christian fleet is victorious!"

The Battle of Lepanto was at first celebrated liturgically as "Our Lady of Victory." Later, the feast of October 7th was renamed "Our Lady of the Rosary" and extended throughout the Universal Church by Pope Clement XI in 1716. 

I encourage you to witness the power of the Holy Rosary yourself. Just as Mary helped achieve a victory for the Christian Allies, ask her to win a victory for Christ within your own heart.

 

 I just wanted to remind everyone that this Saturday, October 6th, is First Saturday Devotions at St. Joseph's Holy Family. 

I strongly encourage you to come. If you've never been there before, you should definitely check it out. Join us in a day of prayer, renewal, learning, and fellowship.

I can safely assure you that if you come to First Saturday Devotions, you won't be disappointed.

 

For more information, go to stjosephsholyfamily.org.

 

It's October!

 

October has been dedicated as the month of the Holy Rosary by Pope Leo XIII in 1883. He obviously thought the rosary is a very important thing and wanted to encourage us Catholics to pray it. Why October? The Battle of Lepanto occurred on October 7, 1571, when the Catholics won against the Ottoman Turks because they all prayed the rosary and asked Mary for her intercession. When Pope Leo dedicated this month to the rosary, it was in memory of this spectacular battle.

For more information about the Battle of Lepanto, just keep reading this blog and there will be a separate article so you can read all about it. 

 

October is also Respect Life Month. This year’s theme is “Faith Opens our Eyes to Human Life in all its Grandeur and Beauty.” Chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities Cardinal Daniel DiNardo quoted Pope Benedict in an address he made concerning this month being set aside for respecting life. “If we want peace, let us defend life,” 

our Holy Father proclaimed.

 

Our beloved Blessed Pope John Paul II said this about respecting life: "Nowadays, in America as elsewhere in the world, a model of society appears to be emerging in which the powerful predominate, setting aside and even eliminating the powerless: I am thinking here of unborn children, helpless victims of abortion; the elderly and incurably ill, subjected at times to euthanasia; and the many other people relegated to the margins of society by consumerism and materialism. ... This model of society bears the stamp of the culture of death, and is therefore in opposition to the Gospel message. Faced with this distressing reality, the Church community intends to commit itself all the more to the defense of the culture of life."

 

So during this incredible month of October, I encourage you to pray the rosary. And as you keep in mind just how beautiful life is, pray for all those whose lives are being threatened.