Prayer as Relationship

https://soundcloud.com/franciscan-friars/prayer-as-relationshipmp3

Mass at an Unholy Place

Once again we were able to offer Mass on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade at an office which is next door to an infamous abortion center (near Washington D.C.). The unholy place was literally on the other side of the wall of our Mass. Having just returned from the Holy Land, a special connection came to mind.

If you go to all of the places of Jesus' passion, you will find an altar marking each spot today. The Mass is now offered at the very place where Judas gave his traitorous kiss, where Jesus was mocked and abused, where He was scourged and crowned with thorns, and most especially at the very place where His cross was inserted into the earth. These unholy places have been transformed by the love of Christ.

Under this altar is the spot of Jesus' crucifixion

Today we offered the Mass at the modern Mount Calvary, an abortuary. We do so as a prayer for the mothers, fathers, babies and the abortion workers. We make Jesus' prayer our own, "Father forgive them..." We do so with hope filled hearts. One day we will remember the anniversary of the overruling of Roe v. Wade. That will be a day that life triumphs over death! Come Lord Jesus!

+ Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
Yonkers, NY
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HolyHaiku Pro-Life

Making a new commitment to the pro-life cause would be a great way to respond the culture of death we are surrounded by. A greater respect for life is the answer to so many problems... Little lives matter!

Salvation Overview (literally & visually)

Our pilgrim guides are able to give us a brief run through salvation history in two minutes while we look over the Holy City of Jerusalem and it's surroundings; Abraham, Joshua, Saul, David, Solomon, the Maccabees, St. John the Baptist, Jesus, Mary, the disciples...this is where it all took place...their footsteps traced out the ones we have made these past several days, the Lord still teaching His people how to walk in His ways. Amen.
+ Fr. Sebastian Maria, CFR

Jesus' Greatest Sorrow & Consolation

Today we had Mass at the rock where Jesus underwent his agony in the garden of Gethsemene. The devil came to finish his temptations. Like a crushed olive oozing oil, Jesus sweat blood in anguish over all those who would reject the grace of salvation. This was his greatest sorrow.

However, the Father sent a good angel to strengthen him. His greatest consolation was the knowledge of all those who would accept the grace he was winning for salvation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church holds that, due to his divinity, Jesus "knew and loved us all when he offered his life" (#616).

My friends, every time we repent of sin, cooperate with grace and let the love of God shine - the angels and saints in heaven rejoice and we console the heart of Jesus!

+ Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR

Timing & Location

"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan." (Mk 1: 9)

Fr. Luke and I were able to enter into this scripture today like never before because it actually was the celebration of the Baptism of Our Lord in the Church today, which we celebrated at a local parish in Jerusalem. BUT then we also renewed our baptismal promises at the Jordan river and we got to be prayed over by some of our friends...not bad for one day. After all that we went to swim in the Dead Sea to get younger - I think it worked!

+ Fr. Sebastian, CFR

Always Christmas

At the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem

1 Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming
As men of old have sung.
It came, a flower bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half-gone was the night.

2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind:
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright
She bore to men a Savior
When half-gone was the night.

3 This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us
And lightens every load

(prayed at the grave of the Holy Innocents for all affected by miscarriages and abortion)

Prophecy & Fisherman

"Behold, I am sending for many fishers, says the Lord, and they shall catch them” (Jer 16:16).

"As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him" (Matt 4: 18-20).

Cana & Nazareth

Cana and Nazareth today. What a beautiful day to ponder the importance of basic domestic life - marriage & family! God is present in the ordinariness of our homes & families. Look for Him there...

Holy Land Pilgrimage

We are blessed to be on pilgrimage in the Holy Land with 206tours, Dr. Scott Hahn and five buses of pilgrims! We will update from Israel over the next ten days. Please feel free to leave prayer requests in the comments below. Today we are at Joppa:

Peter came to Joppa from Lydda to raise Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-42). While in Joppa, the apostle stayed at the house of Simon the Tanner. When Peter was praying on the roof, he had a vision of a large sheet filled with animals being lowered from heaven (Acts 9:43-10:23), signaling to him to go with the messengers from Cornelius. The Church of St. Peter marks the traditional site of Peter’s vision of the great sheet.

+ Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR