August 1, 2016
Marian Shrine E-Newsletter
Volume 5, Issue 5
Fr. Jim McKenna

During a conversation with a friend, a word popped up several times... "Integration." It stayed with me for a few days. A few things came to the forefront that I'd like to share with you...

While I've always valued integration, it was only in looking at my visioning drawing that I came to realize what "integration" really means.

See, many people make vision boards (digital or physical) and put all the stuff they want there.
 
Other people go a little deeper and focus on the kinds of experiences they want to have in life.

And a few people go even deeper to focus on what kind of person they want to be. 

The rarest few focus on their connection with the Divine.

I became aware that while all the experiences I need have to be integrated and interconnected, the binding force is my connection with the Divine.

That's the glue that keeps it all together.

It's one thing to know this intellectually. It's a deeper experience to feel it. And it's another level entirely to bridge the heart and mind so that the awareness is integrated and infused together.

So next time you're defining what you want, creating a vision board or a mind movie, or engaging in some other creative manifestation process...

Ask yourself what YOUR glue is that makes your desires possible.

Maybe you need to develop more courage or willpower?

Perhaps there's a specific skill you need to learn?

Or perhaps what you need is a teacher who has walked your path and can guide you through it?

Over time, your glue will change depending on your desires and what you need to manifest your desires. Rather than tell yourself what your glue "should" be, spend some time in quiet contemplation and explore these two things:
  1. In which ways are all of your desires interconnected and interrelated? 
  2. What is the glue that binds your specific desires together?
In my experience, getting clear on these two questions will make a difference in your life.
 
God Bless you,
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director

Judgment is the Lords

Judging others-even if criticism is justified-is a bad habit to get into. Jesus often called those who judged others (rather than themselves) hypocrites, a word that in Greek meant actors or pretenders. Pope Francis says, "I think we too are the people who, on the one hand, want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat others with, to condemn others. [But] the Lord's most powerful message is mercy." You've been misjudged. You know how it hurts. So why cause others pain?
 
Augustus Czartoryski, SDB
- Feast August
2nd. 
Augustus Czartoryski was a Polish Prince of the Royal Czartoryski family. Poland was one of the strong countries of Europe towards the end of the 18th century. Then it lost its power and was partitioned into several pieces in 1793. Threatened with
death by the Russians the Czartoryski family fled to France and set up a government in exile from the Lambert Palace along the river Seine in Paris. Efforts were made from there to restore unity and statehood to Poland. It was in these circumstances that Augustus was born in 1858 to Prince Ladislaus Czartoryski, the heir to the throne of Poland, and his wife, Princess Maria Amparo, daughter of the duke and queen of Spain.
 
Don Bosco was touring France from January 31 to May 31, 1883, seeking funds for
his various endeavors. On May 18th he accepted the invitation from the noble Polish
family to celebrate mass in the chapel of their Lambert Palace. The altar servers
were Prince Ladislaus, aged 55 and his eldest son, Augustus, aged 25. Augustus
gazed at Don Bosco and decided that Don Bosco would be his future guide. In the
following months Prince Augustus kept writing letters to Don Bosco and enclosed
donations for his works. Don Bosco would write back and appreciate his generosity.
 
In August 1864, when Augustus was 6 years of age, his mother died of
tuberculosis. The disease was also transmitted to him as he would suffer from ill
health for the rest of his life. At the age of 17 he had to interrupt his schooling due
to lung infection. From then on he was sent to one resort after another to recover
from his illness. In these trips he had a tutor by the name of Joseph Kalinowski,
who was a very good Christian and whose cause for beatification and canonization
has been introduced. When Joseph left to join the Carmelites, Augustus wanted a
priest as a tutor and was given Fr. Stanislaus Kubowicz.
 
In April 1887 he made up his mind to join Don Bosco, but Don Bosco would not
accept him as he knew that his father was depending on him to lead the Polish
people. Don Bosco was leaving for Rome for the consecration of the new basilica of
the Sacred Heart. He asked Augustus to accompany him. In Rome he met Pope Leo
XIII in June 1887. He told the Pope how he wished to become a Salesian and how
his father was opposed to it and how Don Bosco was hesitant to accept him. The
Pope told him to tell Don Bosco that he desires that he should receive him among
the Salesians.
 
Augustus completed his novitiate and entered the society. It was not easy for him
to adjust to community life, time-tables, frugal meals and other sacrifices, but he
took everything in his stride. When Don Bosco died in 1888, Augustus was still a
novice and spent hours praying at his tomb. He took his vows on October 2nd 1888
and had earlier signed the document renouncing all his rights as the eldest son of
the Prince. When the Salesian Bulletin reached Poland announcing that a young
prince joined the Salesians, several young Polish boys came to Turin asking to be
admitted. Don Rua accepted them.
 
Augustus was ordained a priest on April 2nd 1892. He celebrated mass in the
presence of his family on May 3rd, the national feast day of Poland. His brother
Vitoldo served at his altar and his father received Holy Communion from his hands.
The disease of tuberculosis afflicted Augustus. He died within a year on April 9th1893. He was just 35 years old. At his funeral Mass in Turin, 120 Polish youth came
to take his place in the Salesian society.
 
In 1898, the first Polish Salesians opened a house in Oswiecim, Poland. During the
Second World War, in the Salesian parish of Krakow, a priest taught Latin to a
young artisan who wanted to become a priest even though seminaries were closed
by the order of Hitler. The artisan's name was Karol Wojtyla. He succeeded in
becoming a priest and then Bishop and eventually Pope John Paul II. It was he who
proclaimed in January 1979 the heroicity of the virtues of Augustus Czartoryski. He
also beatified him on April 25, 2004
 
Laughter the Best Medicine
A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter.
Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 10 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses."
When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note
"I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket I'll lose my job.
Lead us not into temptation."

There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation:
"I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new gym-fellowship hall building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."

While driving in Pennsylvania, a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage
was a hand printed sign... "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass.
Caution: Do not step in exhaust."  
 
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.

On May 17th 2016, I was on my way to attend Mass at the Shrine together with my husband and kids. We were caught in slow moving traffic on the parkway when all of a sudden we were rear ended. I was seated at the back with my 4 month old son. With the
impact the entire rear screen was shattered but not a piece of glass came near us. It was Our Lady who protected us. We always pray the 3 Hail Marys and I continue to recite these 3 Hail Marys every time I embark on a journey. Carol Titus, NY

My sincere thanks to Jesus, Mother Mary and all the Saints for a clean medical report and for the graces received through the recitation of the Three Hail Marys.
Rubertina Galo, NY

Thank you dear Mother Mary for saving me from burns and curing me from my sickness.
Mrs. Carmen Gomez, NJ 
I am grateful to Our Lady Help of Christians because I prayed for the vocation of a young sister who is still persevering and doing well in the congregation. I am sorry I have delayed this long in acknowledging this favor. Sr. Michael, NC

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 [email protected].
 
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