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A Hindu saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.
'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'
Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'
'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint
Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.
Finally the saint explained, .
'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.
What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'
The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'
He looked at his disciples and said.
'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.
We all have times of difficulty. Times when we feel anger, sadness, despair, and other challenging emotions. Whenever we feel angry it's because we WANT something that we can't have in that moment. Maybe we want something from another person and they won't give it to us. Maybe we want something from reality that we can't have. (such as a break from frustrating kids, incompetent coworkers, a nagging spouse, unwelcome weather, financial fears, and so on and so forth...)
In short, we expect reality to be one way that is negatively different from what we want.
That's why whenever I'm having challenges in life, whenever I feel upset, I try to remember to ask myself a simple but profound question:
"What do I want to get from this?"
Or phrased slightly differently... "What am I expecting this person to give me that I don't feel I can actually have?"
Many spiritual teachers tell us that we should give to others.
Give unconditional love.
Give gifts.
Give ourselves.
Give charity.
Give our world praises and prizes generosity.
Give service to others.
One reason that giving helps is that it moves us away from the more ego-centric selfish mindset that is trying to "get." Instead, we shift into a more heart-centric space that has a little less "self" in it.
So when it comes to being angry, especially with people you love, take a few moments to explore what today's story is all about...
God Bless you.
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director
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May your Eyes be bright
"One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right if the head is totally wrong." This teaching by Martin Luther King Jr. illuminates the gospel saying about the need for light. If we see clearly, we will know what to do. If we learn to think past opinions and can be motivated beyond personal comfort, we will find our way all the way to the truth. King also said: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Love is the lamp that brightens every eye.
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 The Power of the Mass
At the hour of death the Holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation.
Every Mass will go with you to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you.
By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervor.
By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord.
He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.
By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass.
Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
Every time you assist at Holy Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of the day.
"The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!"
~Pope Paul VI~
For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death.
~revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the Great~
Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS."
"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."
~Pope Benedict XV~
A great doctor of the Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable than many after it.
"When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary - a joy, a fragrance, a well being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt."
~ Saint Jean Vianney~
"The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross."
~Saint Thomas Aquinas~
"If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy." ~ Saint Jean Vianney~
"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." ~ Saint Jean Vianney~
"It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass. "
~St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), stigmatic priest~
"When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee." ~ Saint Jean Vianney~
"The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. " ~Saint Gregory~
"The angels surround and help th priest when he is celebrating Mass."
~ St. Augustine ~
"When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar." ~ St. John Chrysostom~
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 Laughter the best medicine
A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, "I know what the Bible means!"
His father smiled and replied, "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?
The son replied, "I do know!"
"Okay," said his father. "What does the Bible mean?"
"That's easy, Daddy..." the young boy replied excitedly,
It stands for 'Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.'"
There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible
to her brother in another part of the country
"Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk.
"Only the Ten Commandments." answered the lady.
"Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world.
There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord,"
and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, its morning." | |
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 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.
My sincere thanks to Our Lady for I have been blessed in so many ways through her intercession. Ronald Clapton, NY
I am sincerely grateful for Our Lady's protection. She was there with my daughter who met with an accident. I prayed fervently the three Hail Marys and when the reports of the
scans and X-rays came we found she was OK Mrs. & Mrs. F.M. Lazarus
Thank you dear Mother for the successful operation (stomach) of my daughter. I pray for a complete recovery. S. M. Paul, PA
My sincere gratitude to Jesus and Mother Mary for granting me a good job through the faithful recitation of the Three Hail Marys. Diana V., FL
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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
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Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
(845) 947-2200
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