|
|
In our busy life today we have become a civilization that has suddenly adjusted itself to a 'fast-food' culture. For whatever they're worth, there's a lot to be said for these fast-food joints: they are useful when you're in a hurry or in need of a quick meal or snack or they provide a cheap form of refreshment and they are also clean and nice.
Whether it's a snack or a fast meal I find it hard to sit and relax in such surroundings. Everyone around seems to be in a hurry and on the go. Worthwhile conversations are difficult and the emphasis seems to be on the meal as a time for the tummy to be satisfied rather than an accompaniment to recreation, restoration or refreshment.
I suppose that's become the accepted norm today. Take-away cafes, frozen foods, pre-cooked snacks, micro-wave dinners - all these have made us accept this 'instant' culture. Hurriedly prepared meals are often eaten alone and in a hurry. Sitting together for meals has become a thing of the past. Few, if any families, sit down together for a daily meal anymore. Don't even mention a Sunday meal that's been consigned to the dusty pages of The Good Old Days. Today's teens and young adults may not have even heard of such mores. The pace of life, the needs of efficiency, increasing traffic problems - all these aspects of today's world seem to be squeezing out the opportunities that were once taken for granted - to gather to share a joke, chat about the day, discuss problem while breaking bread together. That's old fashioned...that's out of the question!
It's striking just how often Jesus is seen in the Gospels sharing a meal with his disciples, with sinners, the poor, with Simon the Pharisee. For the Jews of that time - and even to this day - a meal was not just about food being imbibed. A meal was an expression of fellowship, a communal celebration of shared hopes and faith, an expression of commitment to one another and an act of gratitude to God who provides us with all we have. To share a meal was to share life. After the resurrection when Jesus prepares breakfast for the tired apostles following their futile night's fishing he doesn't hand them a takeaway. He offers them fellowship with him in his risen glory: 'Come and have breakfast.'
And of course, it's not by accident that Jesus instituted the Eucharist during a meal. In the Eucharist we share together the Bread of Life. The Eucharist is our communion with the Lord Jesus. It is the great cry of thanks to God from his people and our resounding 'yes' to Christ who on Calvary offers the sacrifice which sets us free.
God bless you.
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
|
|
Walking with the Church
Q. Our Catholic Church is the 'One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church'. Now what religion are the following, Jews, Greek Orthodox, Baptists,Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Quakers, Anglo Catholics? I do not know how there can be so many different religions. A. Thank you for your question. There is a Penguin book on religions which is the size of a large novel. There are thousands of other religions apart from the ones you mention. But among the various religions there are a number which are called Christian religions because their members believe in Jesus Christ. He is the head of their Church and they are his followers. In what way do these differ? There are many differences between the various Christian denominations. Take just two. Catholics believe the Pope is the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church and also believe that Jesus Christ is wholly present in the Eucharist. These beliefs are not shared by the great majority of other Christian denominations. However there are constant talks and meetings between the various Christian religions seeking the unity for which Christ prayed - "that they may be one as we are one."
UPCOMING SALESIAN FEASTS
MAY 6
ST. DOMINIC SAVIO
MAY 13
ST. MARY MAZZARELLO
MAY 24
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
|
|
 MAY-TIME MEMORY
This is a true story, and it is given here in the words of Max, the man who lived it.
Every man has his own sound, a noise, a sound, a melody that makes his heart vibrate with the memory of a certain occasion. My sound is the hymn they sing at the community procession on the first of May. The voices of the choirboys rise and fall like the sound of the sea. - Immaculate Mary thy praises we sing... Ave Maria. They sing it while the young girls in white, the altar boys, the young men and women and the rest of the congregation march through the town.
"Whenever I hear it I see two pictures, a battlefield furrowed with trenches, the sunlight falls sadly on the sprawled figures of the dead, a mild breeze stirs the leaves of the few remaining lindens: and across no man's land, I can make out the ruins of the farmhouse we have been attacking for about a week - Presieux Ferme, where we have left the dead by the hundreds around the shell blasted house. It was the first of May... Just as I was brooding, one of my comrades interrupts me to ask me to bring water, and so, reluctantly I will have to go. But it is daylight. I will be exposed to the enemy gunfire if I go towards the water fountain. It would not be so bad if I go to the fountain on the right for, it is covered by the lindens. I climb out of the trench reluctantly and go out picking my way among the dead. The warm spring breeze gently brushes my face as I move towards the house then I realize that I am not listening to my friend Karl. Was it the fountain on the right or the one on the left? The one on the left looks more inviting.
The linden trees are filled with the evening sun and the shade seems so good. It could not be under enemy observation, so I go there.
The fountain is housed in a pavilion, with four wooden posts supporting a gabled roof. Inside the shelter there is a stone tub, into which the water pours, I fill the canteens. A strange quiet prevails. The sun shines through the trees... not a sound. Only the water gurgles as it flows gently into the tub. Suddenly what I want most in the world is a bath. And why shouldn't I take one? I have time it is safe here. So I pull off my clothes and slide into the tub. The water is pleasantly cool. It is the first bath I have in weeks. I frolic and splash like a boy. I almost forget the war!
"Then I catch sight of my uniform on the ground. This is war! I am a soldier! Reluctantly I get dressed and I prepare to leave and then I notice something. On one of the posts is an old weather beaten statue of Our Blessed Lady. If I were at home I would be going every night to the May devotions with my father and mother. The statue in church would be surrounded with flowers. This poor battered statue still stands for the Mother of Christ. I break off a few twigs of shrubbery and a few flowers and decorate the statue. The flowers I place in the Mother's arms. And then I kneel down and pray. I ask the blessed mother for peace, for a safe return home, for a good death... if it is the will of God. Then I pick up the canteens to leave.
"Suddenly a terrible and nameless fear seizes me. I begin to run. As I fling myself into the trench our own guns open up. The French artillery had opened fire on the other fountain the one on the right, a few instants earlier..."
Max had not been listening and good for him, since the French shelled the fountain that seemed safe. Max's friend Karl thought to himself: - "This must be Max's lucky day."
"Seven years later on the first of another May, I am in a town on the French side of the Rhine. Ten thousand men march through the streets honoring the Virgin Mary, their Queen and Mother in heaven. A choir passes by singing their hymn: "Immaculate Mary... Ave Maria."
There is a French officer standing at my left, I notice that he is staring at me. He continues to stare at me and I become nervous. I start to move away but he comes after me. "Wait, pardon me, tell me whether I am dreaming? Were you an infantry man in the last war?"
"Yes. I was but not in your army.
I am a German."
"Of course, on the other side. Were you at a place called Presieux Ferme about seven years ago the last year of the war?"
"Yes. I was."
The officer went on to ask Max whether he had come for water to the farmhouse on that day the first of May and decorated the statue of the Madonna? Max agreed that he had been there. But Max had never seen him before.
"That is it! You did not see me.
If you had you would not be alive today perhaps I would not either.
I was there at Presieux Ferme at the fountain itself hidden behind the shrubbery."
Max was amazed that he had been followed. He did not realize it till the French soldier told him the story of how he was followed and how his men itched to shoot him. They saw him pray to the Madonna and then leave. After Max had left the soldier and his platoon came up to examine the decoration, just then three shells crashed into the bushes where they had been hiding." The French soldier continued: "If we had not gone to see your Madonna we should all have been blown to pieces. We were talking about you for months afterwards, you were our hero!"
Max remarked after this: "Some people could call this a marvelous coincidence."
The French officer replied: "But you and I know better!"
"Now you see," continued Max. "Why my thoughts go back to two pictures: a farm in France and a procession in a little town on the Rhine?"
"When I hear the hymn to Our Lady of Lourdes my heart rises in gratitude to the Mother in heaven whom God has made the Mother of us all too."
|
|
|
 Laughter the best medicine
Optimist's Hunting Dog
Friends, one an optimist and the other a pessimist could never quite agree on any topic of discussion. One day the optimist decided he had found a good way to pull his friend out of his continually pessimistic way of thinking - the optimist owned a huntin' dog that could walk on water.
His plan? Take the pessimist and the dog out duck hunting in a boat.
They got out into the middle of the lake, and the optimist shot down a duck. The dog immediately walked out across the water, retrieved the duck, and walked back to the boat.
The optimist looked at his pessimistic friend and said, "What do you think about that?"
The pessimist replied, "That dog can't swim, can he?"
Bedroom Traffic
On their way home from attending a church service, little Johnny asked his mother, "Is it true, Mommy, that we are made of dust like the minister said tonight?"
"Yes, darling," his mother answered.
"And is it true that we go back to dust again when we die?"
"Yes, dear," his mother replied. "Well, Mommy, when I said my prayers last night and looked under the bed, I saw someone who is either coming or going?"
Mom's Clarinet
My Dad bought my Mom a piano for her birthday. A few weeks later, I asked how she was doing with it.
"Oh," said My Dad, "I persuaded her to switch to a clarinet."
"How come?" I asked. "Well," he answered, "because with a clarinet, she can't sing."
|
|
 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.
Our sincere thanks to Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Help of Christians, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio for all the favors received. Jesley Hernandez, Miami, FL
I am most grateful to Our lady and Don Bosco for our good health and well being.
Debra & Kirk Claremont, Australia
My sincere thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary Help of Christians and St. John Bosco for the blessings of good health, a successful retirement and a good family.
Rosalind Moreira, Canada
Our sincere thanks to Mother Mary for all the favors received. Mrs. Ó Ceallaigh, NY
We are most grateful to Mary Help of Christians for all the blessings and graces received. Dear Mother, do continue to bless us. Effie Rodriguez, FL
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Weekday Masses: 12 noon.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm
Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Friday night Lenten Pasta 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
|
Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
(845) 947-2200
|
|
|
|
|
