October 19, 2015
Marian Shrine E-Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 12
Fr. Jim McKenna Greetings!

Too often we try to "fix" a problem or get rid of our uncomfortableness as quickly as possible. Rather than looking into what's affecting us, we just try to cover over it and be done with the situation. We try to distract ourselves.

It's like having a leak in the roof, and instead of fixing the roof, we put a bucket in the house to catch the water. Eventually the bucket will overflow if we don't replace it with another one. And another one. And another one.

Or when our health is declining and we only seek medication to relieve our symptoms, without addressing the underlying cause of our health's demise. There is no amount of pain killers that will help our situation if we broke an arm and don't get the help to re-set it properly. And there's no amount of caffeine that will keep us awake if we consistently don't get enough sleep.

When it comes to spiritual development, the bypass looks a little different.

That's why we might not recognize it as a bypass. It's when we shift our attention away from our direct immediate experience and focus instead on some outcome that either 'resolves' our situation or distracts us from it.

Here are a few examples of spiritual bypass...
  • Changing what we want instead of facing the pain of not wanting what we have
     
  • Excessively using positive thinking to avoid acknowledging our negative thoughts
     
  • Denying our ego or trying to transcend it instead of accepting our humanity and vulnerability
The purpose of the spiritual bypass is to maintain our emotional and spiritual "status quo" instead of look within and be with whatever experiences are shaking up our live. It's a defense mechanism so that we don't have to look at the reality of our lives.

Often times, we're not even consciously aware of doing the bypass. Consequently, we don't learn the lesson and will end up repeating the same mistakes over and over and over.

Fortunately, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to detect when you might be doing a spiritual bypass:
  • "Is there *anything* I am avoiding right now or hiding from?"
     
  • "Why am I making this specific choice?"
     
  • "What do I really want from this experience?"
     
  • "Am I focusing more on what I am getting instead of what I am experiencing?"
Those are just a few questions. At the heart of the matter is really just noticing when life gets difficult, what's your first response?
 
God bless you.
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
And Mary was there...

Our family of four was returning home after a restful holiday. Traffic was at a crawl.  There was a U-haul truck ahead of us.  We were suddenly rear ended by a distracted truck driver.  The impact smashed our car between the two large vehicles.
Our children were squeezed at the back, my wife was unconscious with a head injury and the steering
wheel was wedged into my chest. We didn't
think we would survive.
Our sincere thanks to Jesus on the crucifix in our car and Mother Mary's protection our lives were saved.
Mr. Jude Everett, DC

 
My Child
 
My child isn't my easel to paint,
Nor my diamond to polish!
My child isn't my trophy to flaunt,
Nor my dummy to taunt!
 
My child isn't my badge or my honor,
Nor my respect that he/she must protect!
My child isn't an idea or a fantasy,
Nor my reflection or legacy!
 
My child isn't my puppet or my project,
Nor my pawn or my cadet!
My child is here to fumble & stumble
To get in & out of trouble!
 
My child is here to try,
To fall & to cry!
My child is here to unravel the mysteries,
To educate oneself & rewrite histories!
My child is here to make his/her own choices,
 
To exercise his/her freewill & experience the consequences!
 
As a Parent,
My task is to make my child able & capable,
To keep aside my ego & be by his/her side!
My task is to guide & educate,
To let be & not frustrate!
My task is allow him/her to ponder,
And see my child grow into a Wonder!
Laughter the best Medicine
Parenting Tip
Mary Siegel was almost crazy with her three young kids. She complained to her best friend, "They're driving me nuts!! Such pests. They give me no rest and I'm half way to the funny farm."
"What you need is a playpen to separate the kids from yourself," her friend said.
So Mary bought a playpen A few days later, her friend called to ask how things were going.
"Superb! I can't believe it," Mary said.
"I get in that pen with a good book, a chocolate bar, and the kids don't bother me for hours!"
 
The Half Cake Diet
A woman in our diet club was lamenting that she had gained weight.
She'd made her family's favorite cake over the weekend, she reported, and they'd eaten half of it at dinner.
The next day, she said, she kept staring at the other half, until finally she cut a thin slice for herself. One slice led to another, and soon the whole cake was gone. The woman went on to tell us how upset she was with her lack of willpower, and how she knew her husband would be disappointed.
Everyone commiserated, until someone asked what her husband said when he found out.
She smiled. "He never found out. I made another cake and ate half!"
 
Getting To Heaven
The pastor was talking to a group of young children about believing in Jesus and going to heaven.
At the end of his talk, he asked, "Where do you want to go?"
"Heaven!" they all piped up.
"And what do you have to be to get there?"
"Dead!", one boy yelled.

The Devotion of the Three Hail Marys
The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.
Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.

Thank you Mother Mary for granting a safe delivery and for the delivery of a healthy baby to Michelle. Vince and Nancy, NY 

My sincere thanks to the Holy Trinity and Our Lady for helping my grand daughter and her family.  A Devotee, UK

My sincere thanks to Jesus, Mother Mary and all the saints for a clear report and for many other blessings and favors granted to our family. Maria Fernandez, TX

Thank you Mother Mary for helping me secure the job I always dreamed of. 
Miss Atila, DE 
In Closing

Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,
If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at MaryShrine@aol.com.
 
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm

Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm

Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.

MEMORIES
Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.

MASS INTENTIONS
To offer a mass intention, please write to
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
174 Filors Lane,
Stony Point, NY 10980

 
Fine Print

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Visit our website:  www.marianshrine.org to donate.

Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
(845) 947-2200