E-letters

CONCLUSION

2008-12-23T16:54:00.000-08:00

We won't be having any more newsletters for the time being. Thank you for your interest!

August E-Letter 2007 - Our New Look

2007-08-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Some great news to share with you all! We have finally found a place to print our magazine – Little Flower Family Press in Canada has agreed to print our magazine, partly in color, too! We hope this is exciting news for all of you as it is for us. The price of a subscription has been raised slightly due to printing costs as well as the postage that has been raised once again by the Postal Service. It is now $16.95 per US subscription. ($18.95 CAN and $32.95 other country.) Not a huge jump from $12 and we hope you find each extra penny worth it. We have tried as best we can to make the magazine extremely pleasing and inspiring both inside and out. If you would like to subscribe or renew please fill out our subscription form found on our website: subscription link

Do you know of any friends or family members that may be interested in receiving Saint Maria’s Messenger? If you do, please send us their email so that we may add them to our mailing list.

One of the hardest jobs that we have found in publishing Saint Maria’s Messenger is spreading the word. If you are able to help us please do so by telling friends and family about us, placing ads in newspapers, church bulletins, homeschool catalogs and on websites.

The next hardest job is writing all the articles and features for each issue. If you have any suggestions on what to write or would like to submit your own work, please contact us as soon as you can. saintmariasmessenger@yahoo.com

The profit we receive from each subscription ultimately goes back into the magazine. Donations are thus helpful for us to continue. We shall never rely on donations, yet, we are very thankful when they do come.

And as this is another e-letter installment we couldn’t end this without a few inspiring thoughts that we hope you will take to heart.

The Carmelite sisters in Ada, MI have a strong devotion to Saint Therese, as many Carmelite monasteries do. I sometimes think that St. Therese has become just way too popular and because of that I don’t have much devotion toward her or feel as drawn to her Little Way. However, Mother of the Ada Carmelites told me something that completely cleared those thoughts I had of Saint Therese’s over popularity. She told me that Saint Therese did nothing in her life. She worked no miracles, she did not found any orders, she did absolutely nothing extraordinary - at least in the world’s eyes. The only thing she did was love, she simply and with all her being loved. Love! “Love one another as I have loved you!” Mother Teresa wrote: “Our vocation is to belong to Jesus, not to work for the poor. The work for the poor is our love for God in action.”

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity said once, “Someone who loves truly, no longer lives for herself.”

God bless you all and we pray you are all having a pleasant and safe summer!

In Jesus and Mary,

Bernadette and Rebekah Fox

Editors

Saint Maria’s Messenger

July 2007

2007-07-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

This is our first e-letter of the year! We hope this finds you well!

Our main reason for sending this e-letter is to let you in on some important news concerning St. Maria's Messenger, a magazine for Catholic girls. So far, since November 2002, we've been printing the magazine with our family's printer – ink and paper given to us by our parents. Beginning this coming season we will transfer our printing to an outset printer which means the cost for printing goes way up for us. We have to do this because the amount of subscribers we have now has become too large for us to handle by ourselves. Postage has also taken a rise recently. With all this in mind we must raise our subscription price. However, not until we work things out with our outset printer will we change the price. This means a great chance for you to subscribe or renew when a subscription is still only $12.00. But you must hurry! This great opportunity can end at anytime! (Keep a close eye on our website and a lookout for any email updates about change of prices!) If you want to subscribe or renew or know a friend who would like to receive Saint Maria's Messenger, please fill out our Subscription Form found on our website: www.saintmariasmessenger.com.

Some Thoughts for This Month

July brings with it vacations, dips in the water, relaxing under a big umbrella, camping in the great outdoors – all sorts of take-a-break-from-the-usual kind of stuff. It also brings with it the temptation to dress immodestly. Immodest bathing suits, short shorts, spaghetti strap tanks, and so on. The bottom line here – there is just no need to wear immodest clothing just because it is hot or whatever temperature it is. If you feel self conscious about what you are wearing – too tight, too low, too high, too shier – it probably is, so don't wear it. Respect yourself, help the people around you to respect you too. You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit! Your body becomes a living tabernacle during every Holy Communion! You are always in the sight of God! No matter who you are, you are an example to your neighbor – let that example be a good, pure, and modest one! If you are having trouble finding decent clothes we suggest you take a look at the websites below, (some of them are where we buy our own clothes).

At the end of May this year Bernadette had a chance to visit the Carmelites in Ada, MI. They are a wonderful, holy group of 14 sisters, with beautiful grounds surrounding their convent. This brings to mind another aspect of Summer – its knack to bring the future into focus. It gives you the time to ponder and wonder about what God has in store for you - what plan, what vocation does He desire. Hopefully prayer and Adoration has been at the top of your list to know God's will. Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament and intimate Holy Communions opens your soul to God's light!

Marriage – Its sole purpose is to bring children into the world, raise them in a rock solid Faith and love of God in the Holy Catholic Church and love, cherish, and help your spouse on the way of virtue.

Single Life – Its sole purpose is to live in the world, in the work place, or at home with ailing family members in the state of purity – all the while emanating God to your neighbor.

Religious Life – Its sole purpose is to attain God by giving ALL to God - to sacrifice your entire self through active ministry or the purely contemplative life.

We invite you to send us an email about any thoughts or questions you might have about your vocation. If you are having trouble knowing God's will, want to learn more about certain vocations, or to learn more about different Religious orders we would be more than happy to help you out. God bless you all!

In Jesus and Mary,

Bernadette and Rebekah Fox

Editors

Saint Maria's Messenger

5426 S. Gordon Ave.

Newaygo, MI 49337

www.saintmariasmessenger.com

www.magiclandfarms.com

www.geocities.com/bernadettesgourdcreations

www.geocities.com/beckyslittletreasures

www.geocities.com/crafty.cathy

September 2006

2006-09-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome to September and our fifth e-letter to the Lilies of Saint Maria. Each month or as often as we can, we will post a free e-letter on our website, Lilies of Saint Maria, for all our visitors to read. Both Rebekah and I, Bernadette, will take turns writing the e-letter. We will try to include some inspiring words, any news from here or afar, magazine sneak peeks or updates, prayer requests, and/or anything else that we think would spark your interest. To make this letter more convenient to read, it will not only be available to those visiting our site, we will also send it to you via email after you sign up for it HERE.

Our audience is, of course, directed toward Catholic girls and teens, but everyone is invited to take a look!

Just a Few Thoughts . . .

As of late, I have come across quite a few times, the mention of the consecration to Mary according to St. Louis de Montfort. To name just one time, I read a very well-written biography of Venerable Maria Teresa Quevedo. In it I read, "As a novice, she read the Story of a Soul, the autobiography of Saint Therese, and commented that she loved her "little way" and agreed with its philosophy. But to her, this little way must be carried a little further in that it must be extended to the ‘Total Consecration to Mary’ of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort's True Devotion.

This total consecration I think is something for everyone to know and if you’re aware of it already, then it would be a good time to refresh your mind about it. For me it was not just a should know, I am a soul who must rely on her Mother - I cannot so much as approach my beloved Savior without conscientiously letting my Mother Mary go first.

Quite a few years ago (I believe when I was only 10) I bought the book True Devotion to Mary by Saint Louis de Montfort which explains, in entirety, total consecration to Mary, which we have been speaking about. I read it, but it didn't exactly seep through all the way. I read it again a year or so later and boom! What inspiration and revelation I encountered on each page! My devotion to Mary certainly soared after that, although I know I looked to Mary for most of my needs before that point in my life - especially after the example set by my Momma who is in heaven now. But Saint Louis de Montfort opened up Mary's role and love for her Son and us in a whole new light, something much more solid than my devotion to her before. True Devotion to Mary may not be such an eye opening experience for you as it was for me, but it is certainly a must read.

I regret, I can't explain the entire text of True Devotion to Mary or St. Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Mary here. Which means you’ll need to get a copy of True Devotion to Mary for yourself or reread the one sitting on your shelf. But it would be only fair of me to give you somewhat of a peek into this transforming devotion.

St. Louis de Montfort presents his reader with a devotion to Mary that is, no, not new, but something that was adopted by many great saints before him. He explains that because God wished Mary to be the bridge for Jesus to come to us, she is to be the bridge for us to reach Jesus. We are to take Mary as our shining star, such as the star that lead the Wise Men to Jesus. This doesn’t seem so different from any other devotion to Mary does it? True Devotion to Mary consists of knowing, loving, and serving Mary so that we can better know, love and serve God. She is the saint above all saints. The holiest of all humans after Jesus Christ Himself. And because of her fidelity to Christ and her sinlessness she is more than worthy to be our Mediatrix with the Mediator.

When we call upon Mary, Mary calls upon Christ. Where there is Mary, there is Jesus. The two are inseparable. Reminds me of a question that was posed to Saint Bernadette once right after she received her First Communion. A person asked which made her happier, conversing with the Blessed Virgin or receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. Bernadette hesitated a moment, and then replied, “I don’t know; these two things go together and can’t be compared. All I know is that I was intensely happy in both cases.”

The Total Consecration to Mary is called total, because we give everything to Jesus through Mary, everything that we have and are, spiritual and temporal. This totality Saint Louis de Montfort calls Holy Slavery. He calls those who adopt this devotion, Slaves of Jesus and Mary.

Saint Bernard once said, “Who can live without loving Mary?”

Saint Bonaventure exclaims, “God could make a grandeur world, a greater heaven; but a greater Mother than the Mother of God He cannot make!”

September 15th is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows or as it was traditionally called, The Seven Sorrows of Mary. Can you name the Seven Sorrows of Mary?

They are:

1) Prophecy of Simeon

2) Flight into Egypt

3) Loss of Jesus for Three days

4) The Way of the Cross

5) Crucifixion

6) Descent from the Cross

7) Jesus lying in the Sepulcher

On the opposite hand, you would probably think of the Seven Joys of Mary - I did anyway. And what are they?

They are:

Annunciation
Visitation
Birth of Christ
Adoration of the Magi
Finding Jesus in the Temple
Apparition of Jesus after His Resurrection
Assumption and Coronation of Mary

You may have noticed that the episode with Jesus being lost at the age twelve is mentioned in both the Sorrows and Joys. This simple fact brings to mind an important point concerning the 5^th Joy and the 3^rd Sorrow.

Mary and Joseph went sorrowing for three days searching for the Divine Child they had lost. That is why it is one of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. They both took their sorrow to God in the Temple, and there, to their immense joy and relief, found Jesus safe and sound amidst the doctors. This is why it is one the Seven Joys of Mary.

What heartache must have swept over the Holy Couple after realizing their Jesus was not among their relatives. Yet they persevered in Faith, they relied on God and went to Him in their grief. Like they, we too, can go to God with our trouble no matter how big or how petty and like they, will receive comfort and strength.

No matter how petty I say again, for remember what happened at the marriage feast of Cana? Mary told her Son that the newly weds had run out of wine. She noticed their embarrassing predicament and notified her Son of it. Christ listened to His Mother (probably holding in a laugh all the while) and consented to her trivial plea. Christ performed His first public miracle through the intercession of Mary with a miracle that is almost funny.

Help Us Spread the Word . . .

Do you think your Parish bulletin would be willing to lend us a small space to mention briefly about Saint Maria's Messenger? If so, please let us know by contacting us and please don't forget to mention your Parish's email address.

Become Sponsors of Saint Maria's Messenger

* Do you know of any generous Catholic people (or are you one?) who would be willing and able to become Sponsors for our apostolate? This means those people who have the time and means to promote St. Maria's Messenger.

* Can you be able to reach a large audience of Catholic girls and/or families?

* Can you be able to tell them about St. Maria's Messenger in its true form – honestly and with sincerity? (No car-salesman pitches.)

* Can you tell girls through ads, website(s), flyers, etc.?

* Are you able to do all this with the little we have to offer in return? (Prayers and an ad for your company/work on our website and in our magazine.) Note: We cannot supply sponsors with the money, supplies, and equipment needed to spread the word unless otherwise noted after contacting us.

We greatly look forward to your help in this matter. Please pray about this, do not just brush it aside as another one of "those." Thank you!

Also, another thing almost any one can do for us. Post flyers about our magazine in your Parish Church (permission needed first, of course). Just click HERE and up will pop a page you can print off and then distribute. Using colored paper (or ink) will help the flyer stand out better.

And one last idea to help us spread the word. We mentioned this before, but believe this to be a very rewarding method of getting the word out. If you are able to write up a press release or an article about our magazine and apostolate for Catholic newspapers or magazines, we would be so very grateful! Please email us if you have any questions about this.

Please Keep In Your Prayers . . .

1. Jacob: He is 16 years old and his heart is in critical condition.

2. Wright Family: A Catholic family of 11, three of whom were in a horrible car crash. One died and the rest are in serious condition.

3. Hanson Family: They are a new Catholic family singing group and would appreciate your prayers.

4. Leo: Health is declining.

5. Virginia: Passed away last year.

6. Sally: Who passed away last June.

7. Al: Who passed away last February.

8. Stephanie's aunt: For her health.

9. Carole: Health and well-being.

10. Christopher: For his vocation and ministry

11. Mrs. Egleston: For her health

12. Anne: For her vocation and new job

13. Justin and Family: Conversion of Justin.

14. Joshua and family: Death of little Joshua.

15. Erin: Our parish's current seminarian.

16. Elizabeth: Recovering from surgery.

17. Gina’s Uncle Patrick and family

18. Brittany’s mother

If you have any prayer requests please let us know so we can add them to our prayer list!

Saint Maria's Messenger Sneak Peeks or Updates . . .

About the E-letter (A Message to the Lilies of Saint Maria): Because we are beginning to work on the magazine we don’t have much time to devote to writing things up for the e-letter. This does not mean we will postpone it, but we will have to skip a month or more if we do not have enough time. But be sure we will keep you updated on Saint Maria’s Messenger regardless of not being able to write up the E-letter. Thank you for understanding!

For those of you who have not heard: We now make it easier than ever to subscribe, we accept PayPal! Please read the Renew/Subscribe Update found on our website.

SMM Catholic Reporter (home, national, or world news). . .

Home: Labor day weekend has come and gone. The Friday and Saturday before Labor day is our busiest time of the year at the farm. It is when we need to harvest everything we have in order that the loads of people who come will be able to get a look at what we have available. Lots of work and running around to get things set. We thank God for a very rewarding, record breaking day. We know we could not have succeeded without His help.

We have a couple more patches of corn on the way and hopefully the dry spell we are in won't effect it too much, but most likely it will. At least we are irrigating some of it.

Being September you are probably wondering about our "fall stuff." We have begun to pick pumpkins and gourds. We have some of the cutest pumpkins this year, they are called cannonball pumpkins.

Our apples, which are usually considered a part of the "fall stuff," are doing alright. Not real good, for the bugs have gotten into lots of them. Please pray though that they will still come out well, the majority of them anyway.

You may know or not, can't remember if I told you in an earlier e-letter, but I like to make things out of dried gourds and then I sell them at our stand in our Magicland Kids' Craft Room. I'm bringing this up just to mention that we have a pretty good crop of green gourds this year. But speaking of the Magicland Kids' Craft Room, kids' isn't plural for nothing. Rebekah sells knitted and crocheted things down there along with handmade Rosaries. Our sister Catherine sells handpainted pumpkins and rocks and lots of different kinds of jewelry. I have a website about my gourds: Bernadette's Gourd Creations. Catherine has a website with her stuff, too: Crafty Cathy's Website.

Rebekah's website is still in the making.

Please check out www.magiclandfarms.com to find out what we have been up to at our farm. Our Papa regularly updates the website, especially the Magicland Farm News section.

News from around the world:

Evolving thought – Benedict’s writings reveal window onto his view of evolution, creation

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21156

Archbishop of Madrid launches “unappealable” call to evangelize young people

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=7538

Benedict praises “administrative qualities and moral integrity” of Gregory the Great

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=7518

Pope visits Veronica’s Veil, tells crowd to search for the face of Christ in their lives

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=7508

Vatican says farewell to Christmas pop concert

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=7509

Parents' Responsibility to pass on the Faith

http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/catholichome/page5.phtml

Petitioning for Life

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110008802

A Few Extras . . .

I copied and pasted a couple emails from a wonderful sister, Sister M. Beata, Vocational Director of the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Martyr Saint George. She likes to write up some inspirational notes and just some recent news on a regular basis. Thought you may enjoy it.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Happy 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations!

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday!

How are you doing? This Sunday gives us many things to meditate upon - many things to pray for. The readings in today's Liturgy lead us to contemplate Christ, our Good Shepherd. One thing that we can always count on in our lives is that He guides us, guards us, comes to find us when we wander away, picks us up, holds us close to His Heart and brings us back to the rest of the flock. Let's not forget to cry out to Him in our need, confident that He hears us and is running to find and heal us.

As each person prays for the grace to know and live her vocation, we must remember to pray for one another. Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI said in his address for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations,

"Remembering the counsel of Jesus: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9,37), we readily recognise the need to pray for vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. It is not surprising that, where people pray fervently, vocations flourish. The holiness of the Church depends essentially on union with Christ and on being open to the mystery of grace that operates in the hearts of believers. Therefore, I invite all the faithful to nurture an intimate relationship with Christ, Teacher and Pastor of his people, by imitating Mary who kept the divine mysteries in her heart and pondered them constantly (cfr Lk 2,19).

To read all of our Holy Father's address go to: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/vocations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20060305_xliii-vocations_en.html

For all of you who are taking finishing up a semester, taking finals or who continue to plug along at your job, please know of my prayers! We would love to have visitors this summer, so please contact me and we will arrange something with you. I would love to hear about your summer adventures that are coming up!

With prayers in the Heart of our Shepherd,

Sister M. Beata, FSGM

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Praised be Jesus Christ!

Happy Feast of the Visitation!

As we think today about the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, we are also led to think about the many ways in which we are called to bring Christ’s presence into the lives of others. Mary wasn’t commanded to go to Elizabeth. She wasn’t even invited, but she knew in her heart Elizabeth’s need and the desire to serve her cousin prompted her to go. Here are a few quotes about the Visitation for your own meditation. May the love of our Mother in heaven inspire you always to reach out in love!

I would love to hear about how your summer is going. Please let me know if you are interested in visiting during these months!

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Sister M. Beata, FSGM

“Exultation is the keynote of the encounter with Elizabeth, where the sound of Mary's voice and the presence of Christ in her womb cause John to “leap for joy” (cf. Lk 1:44)” Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae.

“The love and charity of the two cousins present an image that almost every human being can meditate on and receive with warmth. The Lord is coming, but He comes in a humble, gentle, and human way.” Fr. Groeschel, The Rosary.

“In the Magnificat, Mary unites both: as a maiden to vanish from sight, but as the bearer of God’s Word, to come into full prominence. All generations will call her blessed, and they shall never cease to look up to her; but she herself looks only to him “who has come to the help of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy as he had promised to our father, Abraham and all his children.”

Hans Urs Von Balthasar, The Threefold Garland.
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Good morning! I know this is the Monday after Trinity Sunday, but it still merits a reflection. I'm sorry that I didn't get it out to you yesterday or before.

Father Cantalamessa has a beautiful reflection on the Trinity. It can be found at http://www.zenit.org/english/

Pope Benedict XVI does as well... http://www.zenit.org/english/

The priest, Fr. Titus, who had our morning Mass on Sunday was sharing about how we all could choose Trinity Sunday as our nameday because it is in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit that we are baptized. Our whole lives are lived within the mystery of this relationship of love. I was praying about how there is no heartache, no joy, no trial or frustration that occurs outside of His Divine Life. He holds us so securely in His arms that we need not fear, but too often we do fear - we focus on the day to day circumstance that confronts us instead of focusing on His providence to take care of us through it all. He knows what will bring us happiness and so we must trust in His goodness.

I pray that as you experience the adventures of this summer, you are able to find yourself surrounded by His love and goodness.

Have a wonderful day!

Sister M. Beata, FSGM

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A Most Blessed Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to you! On this beautiful day, I pray that each of you experiences the fullness of the love of His Heart that it may overflow from you to the hearts of many others that are in need of His living water.

There is a very nice meditation on our website which was sent to us by Reverend Mother Margaretha Maria. Just go to the main page and click on the scrolling banner to see the picture and read the meditation. www.altonfranciscans.org

Today is also our Eucharistic Day at St. Francis Convent in Alton. It is a wonderful day to have both a Eucharistic Day and the Feast of the Sacred Heart. On the Eucharistic Day we pray for the intentions of the Church, world, and our community – that unity and charity may reign. It is only possible through the Heart of our Savior! So you are all in my prayers in a special way this day.

May our Lord pour over you the fullness of His love!

United in His Heart,

Sister M. Beata, FSGM

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Praised be Jesus Christ!

A very blessed Wednesday morning to you! I apologize for not having emailed in quite some time. The summer has definitely gotten away from me. It has been a blessed time as I’ve had the privilege of filling in while the postulant director was away. We have our big Feastday celebrating the Reception into the Novitiate of 6 Sisters and the First Profession of vows of 6 Sisters on August 15^th. Since this is also a time when many young women are preparing to enter religious life, this Ordination Sermon of St. Anthony of Padua (adapted from the movie: St. Anthony, Miracle Worker of Padua) is an excellent meditation upon which to reflect. May it be a source of inspiration for your prayer.

As always, you are in my prayers. I would love to hear how your summers are going. Please continue to keep our young Sisters in your prayers as we keep you and your discernment in ours. As we kneel before the Eucharistic Lord, we entrust you always to His Heart.

In the Love of our Lord,

Sister M. Beata, FSGM

“I had written a sermon, but I’m not going to read it to you because I have a question to ask you. Why have you come here? What’s all this incense? Why have you put on your best clothes? We are here today to celebrate the young women who have embraced Christ’s cross. They have promised to help Him carry it. They have reached this moment coming from different and difficult paths, following the light which illuminates the darkness of night. The light of Divine Providence. It is written that the Lord is the light. Each one of us dreams of Him at night and looks for him in the morning. The young women you see here today have done this. This is what the women who consecrate their lives to Christ do. They abandon the man they love, forget their friends. They disappoint their father and abandon their mother. They say goodbye to pride, wealth, comforts, their homeland. They are not alone. They are no longer alone. Wherever they go, they take with them their loved one, their friends, their mother, their father and their homeland. Because Christ is home and peace, adventure and tranquility. Because the questions are infinite, but there is only one answer. Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thank you, Antonio. You have helped me understand who I am and why I’m here.

*Adapted form the Ordination Sermon in “St. Anthony: The Miracle Worker of Padua”*

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Praised be Jesus Christ!

May the love of the Heart of our Lord bring you joy this day! These past months have been so full of the Lord's blessings. I apologize for being so long in sending a reflection to you all. How are you doing? As the new school semesters have begun and many of you are facing new challenges, be assured of the constant guidance and love of our Lord wherever you are in life. I, too, am experiencing change. Our community has asked me to serve as the Postulant Director as well as Vocation Director. Please pray for our postulants who will be entering on the Feast of the Birth of Mary (September 8).

I have been reflecting on change. (Not a surprise, I'm sure!) Our lives are characterized by constant change, but our Lord - He is the unchanging One. He is the one constant in our lives - His love is always there - unfailing. He wishes always to give us more - that we may experience His love more deeply. May we always be convicted His presence - He's always there with us in joys and sorrows, holding us and being our peace.

Little tid-bits of news:

1. August 15, 2006 was a day of great rejoicing for our community as Sister M. Henrietta celebrated her Golden Jubilee (50 years as a professed Sister); six novices made their first profession of vows and six postulants were received into the novitiate. We were also able to celebrate this day with Reverend Mother Margaretha Maria from Germany who stopped here for a few weeks on her way back to Germany from visiting the Sisters in Brazil. To see more on the Feastday, visit www.altonfranciscans.org

2. Fall Veni Si Amas Discernment Retreat: November 3-5, 2006. Materials will soon be available on the website. Or call 618-463-2757 for registration forms. If these dates do not work well for your schedule, we host vocation visitors on other weekends of the year. Email or call me and we can see what would work well for you.

Please be assured of my daily prayers for your discernment and journey with the Lord. I would be happy to hear how you are doing!

In the Heart of our Savior,

Sister M. Beata, FSGM

Vocation Director
Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George
St. Francis Convent
2120 Central Ave.
Alton, IL 62002-9020
618-463-2757
www.altonfranciscans.org

Have a Very Blessed Month of the Sorrowful Mother!

In Jesus and Mother Mary,

Bernadette and Rebekah Fox

Editors

Saint Maria's Messenger

A Catholic Magazine for Girls

5426 S. Gordon Ave.

Newaygo, MI 49337

www.saintmariasmessenger.com

saintmariasmessenger@catholic.org

August 2006

2006-08-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome to August and our fourth e-letter to the Lilies of Saint Maria. Each month or as often as we can, we will post a free e-letter on our website, Lilies of Saint Maria, for all our visitors to read. Both Bernadette and I, Rebekah, will take turns writing the e-letter. We will try to include some inspiring words, any news from here or afar, magazine sneak peeks or updates, prayer requests, and/or anything else that we think would spark your interest. To make this letter more convenient to read, it will not only be available to those visiting our site, we will also send it to you via email after you sign up for it HERE.

Our audience is, of course, directed toward Catholic girls and teens, but hey, we invite everyone to share in this new endeavor.

Just a Few Thoughts . . .

Running a little behind schedule, huh? Sorry for coming in a little bit late for my turn to write this month's e-letter. August is a very important month for my family, it is harvest time and I feel that we are in the thick of it right now.

Yet, farm work does not tear me away from doing one of my favorite things and that is: reading. Right now I am enjoying myself by learning about Sister Faustina Kowlalska, who was canonized a saint on April 18th, 1993, through a book called Sister Faustina Kowalska - Her Life and Mission by Maria Tarnawska. I must say that I really didn't know anything about Saint Faustina before reading this book, and that is the main reason why I decided to pick it up.
For some background information on St. Faustina you can check out these websites for her biography:
http://marian.org/divinemercy/faustina/index.html
http://www.catholiculture.org/docs/doc_view.cfm?recnum=2780

One of many things that stand out in my mind in St. Faustina's life is her devotion and complete reliance on prayer. It seemed, when reading this book, that the things of this world were not on St. Faustina's mind frequently, she always thought of what was to come after her life on earth had ended. Many people who came in contact with this saint noted her habit of "never ceasing to pray."

As a helper in the convent's kitchen for a time, the Sister in charge immediately discovered St. Faustina's (then a postulant) special trait - her prayerfulness.

"During the day she sometimes asked me, "Sister, I should like to pay a visit to the chapel for a moment." The Sister in charge of the kitchen related after Sr. Faustina's death, "I did not always allow her to go, explaining that she was not yet a Religious and had no special duties. It was sufficient to visit the chapel morning and evening. Nevertheless she would ask permission to pay just a little visit. . ."

From Sr. Faustina's diary it appears as if she had a difficult time trying to learn that work is prayer, that it does not disturb contemplation, even from Jesus Himself. Yet she gradually came to understand the necessity of having a balanced life of prayer and work, having too much of either one will eventually result in the tipping of the scale.

Another facet of her prayer life was her complete reliance in Jesus. She knew that He would always be there for her, she relied on Him for assurance and her source of consolation. When her visions of Jesus became known to the congregation, the other sisters began to ponder her mental well-being. Was she hallucinating or experiencing hysteria? It was during this time until her death she leaned onto the Holy Shoulder of Christ. He told her that many people will stand in her way of proclaiming His message. . . His message of Mercy. As more and more people began to question her "so called" visions of Christ, she delved deeper and deeper into uncertainty. Perhaps these visions are not from God? Sr. Faustina was totally confused, she didn't know which way to turn. The doubt in her soul caused her to hesitate to do anything Jesus asked of her - perhaps it was all a trick from the devil?

". . .it seemed to my superior that these graces were unlikely," notes Sr. Faustina, "She told me that it was impossible that God should commune with His creatures in such a way: `I fear for you, Sister; isn't this an illusion of some sort! You'd better go and seek the advice of a priest.' "

She continues in her diary: "During meditation I asked of Jesus, 'If You who commune with me and talk to me are truly God, I beg You, O Lord, to make this ward (a student member of the convent's school) go this very day to confession; this sign will give me reassurance.' " At that very moment, the student asked to go to confession.

The Mother in charge of the class was surprised at this sudden change in her, but she undertook to call a priest immediately, and this person made her confession with great compunction. At the same time, I heard a voice within me say, 'Do you believe Me now?' And once again a strange power pervaded my soul, strengthening and reassuring me to such a degree that I myself was surprised that I had allowed myself to doubt even for a moment."

With the doubts vanished from her mind and soul, she set to work on spreading the word of Jesus' Divine Mercy. It is through her obedience and trust in Jesus that led to the commemoration of this essential devotion. It is a wonderful tool to see God's love for us through the two rays of Blood and Water, which pour forth from the very depths of His tender mercy. The Water which makes souls righteous and the Blood which is the life of souls.

One story in St. Faustina's life truly demonstrates her willingness to go to God even about the smallest matters. A fellow Sister narrates this significant happening:
"On one occasion, meat from an entire beef carcass was delivered from the town. There was a heat wave at the time and no suitable place to keep the meat, and we did not want it to spoil. The Sister Cook was ill; the Housekeeper Sister was busy with other urgent work. Sister Josepha, who kept the larder, did not want to know, having to finish some work to a deadline. Sister Faustina was left alone to cope with the carcass. I came to help. She told me, 'We will dish up lunch, and then we'll go to the chapel and pray. I'll ask Jesus' advice, I'll tell Him all about it, and He will give me the best advice on what to do.'

"After we had served lunch we did indeed go to the chapel. After a moment's prayer Sister Faustina came out as if overjoyed and filled with a new energy, and she said, 'I know what we'll do: the smaller pieces of meat will be for minced meat burgers, and we will sprinkle the large joints with vinegar and put them in the cellar wrapped in cloth.'

"We worked until late at night. We were able to keep the meat very well and nothing was spoiled. . . When Sister Cook came back to work after a few days, she praised Sister Faustina for having done so well. Seeing the state in which the meat was delivered, and recalling also the heat wave and lack of appropriate methods of preserving it, for there was only the cellar, without any ice, I think that for all that meat to keep without going bad was almost a miracle."

Sister Faustina's example of prayer undoubtedly can be applied to our lives. How she allowed prayer to cover every aspect of her daily life, how she learned to look at work as a form of prayer, how to looked towards Jesus as the source of consolation, how she sought out Jesus for His advice even about small matters, and how she put to action Jesus' wishes. It is doubtless to say that St. Faustina Kowalska must had believed with her whole heart the signature of Divine Mercy: Jesus, I Trust In You.

Help Us Spread the Word . . .
Become Sponsors of Saint Maria's Messenger
* Do you know of any generous Catholic people (or are you one?) who would be willing and able to become Sponsors for our apostolate? This means those people who have the time and means to promote St. Maria's Messenger.
* Can you be able to reach a large audience of Catholic girls and/or families?
* Can you be able to tell them about St. Maria's Messenger in its true form – honestly and with sincerity? (No car-salesman pitches.)
* Can you tell girls through ads, website(s), flyers, etc.?
* Are you able to do all this with the little we have to offer in return? (Prayers and an ad for your company/work on our website and in our magazine.) Note: We cannot supply sponsors with the money, supplies, and equipment needed to spread the word unless otherwise noted after contacting us.

We greatly look forward to your help in this matter. Please pray about this, do not just brush it aside as another one of "those." Thank you!

Also, another thing almost any one can do for us. Post flyers about our magazine in your Parish Church (permission needed first, of course). Just click HERE and up will pop a page you can print off and then distribute. Using colored paper (or ink) will help the flyer stand out better.

And one last idea to help us spread the word. We mentioned this before, but believe this to be a very rewarding method of getting the word out. If you are able to write up a press release or an article about our magazine and apostolate for Catholic newspapers or magazines, we would be so very grateful! Please email us if you have any questions about this.

Please Keep In Your Prayers . . .

1. Jacob: He is 16 years old and his heart is in critical condition.

2. Wright Family: A Catholic family of 11, three of whom were in a horrible car crash. One died and the rest are in serious condition.

3. Hanson Family: They are a new Catholic family singing group and would appreciate your prayers.

4. Leo: Health is declining.

5. Virginia: Passed away last year.

6. Sally: Who passed away last June.

7. Al: Who passed away last February.

8. Stephanie's aunt: For her health.

9. Carole: Health and well-being.

10. Christopher: For his vocation and ministry

11. Mrs. Egleston: For her health

12. Anne: For her vocation and new job

13. Justin and Family: Conversion of Justin.

14. Joshua and family: Death of little Joshua.

15. Erin: Our parish's current seminarian.

16. Elizabeth: Recovering from surgery.

If you have any prayer requests please let us know so we can add them to our prayer list!

Saint Maria's Messenger Sneak Peeks or Updates . . .

IMPORTANT notice for all looking to become a Saint Maria's Messenger subscriber: We now make it easier than ever to subscribe, we accept PayPal!
To see our new way of subscribing, please click here.

SMM Catholic Reporter (home, national, or world news). . .

Home: We ended up having a little one day vacation this week. On August 15th, The Feast of the Assumption (a holyday of obligation), we closed up the stand and spent the day celebrating my younger sister Catherine's birthday. Her b-day is actually the 14th, but the fun and celebrating is done the next day, when we observe the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mass was beautiful, I wish they could select for the hymns, Immaculate Mary and Hail Holy Queen, Enthroned Above more often!

As I said at the beginning, we are in the thick of harvesting time at our farm. Lots of delicious, yummy sweet corn have been flooding our corn bin and hopefully the sweet ears have been creating lots of smiles for our customers!

Watermelon has made quite a scene this year. Having poor luck with them in recent years we are truly grateful to God for allowing such a remarkable watermelon crop. They too have been extraordinarily sweet, luscious, and "dripping to your elbow" juicy.

Yesterday, we brought a rare sight to our farm stand: bushels of peaches and plums. They sold in a flash and I absolutely can see why, there is nothing like them!

Please check out www.magiclandfarms.com to find out what we have been up to at our farm. Our Papa regularly updates the website, especially the Magicland Farm News section.

News from around the world:
Lots of news articles concerning Catholic teens can be found here:
http://www.catholic.org/hf/teens/
Articles about singer, Charlotte Church:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=396952&in_page_id=1773
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/jul/06071909.html
Article concerning new Catholic colleges:
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=20849

A Few Extras . . .
Thought you may want a little reminder for this month and the coming month concerning special feast days. So I listed feast days of Great Women Saints found in the months of August and September.

August:
2 Our Lady of the Angels
9 Saint Edith Stein
11 St. Clare
15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
18 St. Jane Frances de Chantal
21 Our Lady of Knock
22 Queenship of the Blessed Virgin
23 St. Rose of Lima
24 Our Lady Health of the Sick
26 Our Lady of Czestochowa
27 Saint Monica, Seven Joys of Mary

September:
1 Saint Anna, Prophetess
2 Saint Ingrid of Sweden
4 St. Rose Viterbo
7 Saint Regina
8 Birth of the Blessed Virgin
12 Most Holy Name of Mary
15 Our Lady of Sorrows
19 Our Lady of LaSalette
24 Our Lady of Ransom

Have a Very Blessed Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

In Jesus and Mother Mary,

Bernadette and Rebekah Fox
Editors
Saint Maria's Messenger
A Catholic Magazine for Girls
5426 S. Gordon Ave.
Newaygo, MI 49337
www.saintmariasmessenger.com
saintmariasmessenger@yahoo.com

July 2006

2006-07-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome to July and our third e-letter to the Lilies of Saint Maria. This is Bernadette talking. It’s my turn to write the e-letter. :) Been quite busy, so I did not actually write up the A Few Thoughts section in the e-letter. But I’m sure you’ll like what I have for you – good for mind and soul.

To explain what this is about: Each month or as often as we can, we will post a free e-letter on our website, Lilies of Saint Maria, for all our visitors to read. Both Rebekah and I will take turns writing the e-letter. We will try to include some inspiring words, any news from here or afar, magazine sneak peeks or updates, prayer requests, and/or anything else that we think would spark your interest. To make this letter more convenient to read, it will not only be available to those visiting our site, we will also send it to you via email after you sign up for it HERE.

Our audience is, of course, directed toward Catholic girls and teens, but hey, we invite everyone to share in this endeavor.

Just a Few Thoughts . . .

Some sweet Sisters of the Carmelite monastery in Ada, MI sent me a booklet with some writings of Saint Therese’s sister, Pauline. What a soul she is! I read it through and chose some of my favorite pieces just for you. You could try using them for meditations, too – that would be great!

Jesus wishes us always to rejoice, and to love with a supernatural love everything that He sends us, everything He permits, all the sacrifices He asks of us.

In your heart abandon yourself to God and go courageously through the trials He sends in order “to see how far our trust will go.”

If you can bless Him in the night of exile, praise Him for all He does or permits, without trying to understand His mysterious ways, you will bless Him all the more when He rends the veil.

We must do everything gladly, even what pleases us the least and which could last all our lives. We must constantly accept the Will of God and never question it.

If we want to benefit from Jesus’ kindness, we must say ‘yes’ to all the means He uses. . . His ways are hidden from us but everything reveals His goodness.

There is grace hidden in everything God permits. Always seek Jesus in everything.

How good God is to give us occasions of practicing meekness, humility and patience. It is another proof that everything should serve to detach us from the earth, that the only way we can be happy waiting for heaven is in practicing charity. It suffices for everything.

Let us try to sweeten the bitterness we know is in the ‘chalice’ of our Sisters, drinking theirs as well as our own if we can, and as our beloved little saint (Therese) said, “without letting it be noticed.”

Do not make the fact that some of our Sisters have nothing about them that reminds us of Jesus a pretext for imperfections in our sisterly charity. What does a little piece of bread on the altar have in common with a God?

We must not run away from the opportunities of little daily martyrdom which present themselves. We run away when we do not do all that God asks of us, when we resist His grace and inspirations, and when we close our eyes as not to see the light which clearly reveals some sacrifices to be made, some duty to perform. Take the sword bravely, give yourselves neither rest nor truce in the battles of life. This is how we shall obtain true peace, and how our secret martyrdom will become glorious.

You will become more pleasing to Jesus each day by seeing Him in all things and always making His Will your own . . . Do the will of others; that will be doing the Will of God.

Only confidence can give us peace. Only blind confidence in God can give us the strength to accept everything and even be happy in our acceptance.

We must trust God always, and the less we understand His Will, the greater the love and confidence with which we should embrace it. Otherwise, where would be the merit of faith?I can do nothing, but Jesus can do everything – that is the basis of my trust.

We must courageously plunge into the blessed of truth and sincere humility . . . It is the humble soul who does real good. Unknown to itself, it repairs the greatest of evils, pride, and holds up the world with its weakness. It delights the Spirit of the Lord Who fills it unresisted. He carries out within it His miracles of salvation for souls and finds in it a second heaven.

If we beg the grace to be profoundly humble – and we shall obtain as mush as we desire, - then everything in our souls will become pleasing to the Lord.

Jesus is not asking us to succeed in the work of perfecting ourselves in any startling fashion. He watches our efforts with delight when they are inspired by love. Sometimes our failures, accepted with humility, even attract His tender compassion and touch Him more than our victories.

We must always be ready to admit our failures, not afraid to have them known or corrected, and not finding excuses for them. We must look ourselves straight in the face, longing ceaselessly for the fire of love which will consume our faults. Then they will be transformed into flowers of humility and we shall not have to pay for them after death. On the contrary they will have earned us treasures for eternity.

It is true, as the Imitation says, that “the moment one seeks self, at that moment, one ceases to love.” But it is also true that the moment you humble yourself you begin to love again, or rather continue to love. Love cannot be interrupted by involuntary faults; we shall bewail these until we die.

To be corrected is one of the great graces of religious life, and you should not think that, on the contrary, it is a grace to be left alone and never humiliated. You should go away happy afterwards; the worst thing you can do is sulk. You must be content. Have nothing weighing on your heart and always be gay and happy. What do you expect? We will be imperfect until we die, but we must not grieve over it; that will not prevent us from going straight to the Heart of God. What He asks of us is humility of heart. If we have that we can still be very imperfect and God will smile on us all the same – I am quite sure of it.

ur exile cannot be exempt from suffering; we must carry our cross each day, but since the cross has borne Jesus, it has lost all its harshness. We can say now with the holy Cure of Ars: “The thorns give forth balm and the Cross breathes sweetness.”

Both tribulations and the ephemeral glory of this world come to an end, they disappear with the speed of lightening; but a holy life has no evening – the night of death introduces it into eternal day.

If God tries us and if we submit with all our hearts to His Will, however crucifying it may be, He will not be able to continue, and without waiting for heaven, He will be with us in a marvelous way.

Our goal is not suffering, our goal is Heaven, for ourselves and many other souls; first a Heaven of peace here below and afterwards a heaven of glory. We must not complain of the length of our sufferings, for after all they are only a road leading to a life of eternal blessedness in which the other will seem no more than a flash of lightning.

Let us be saints, it is not so difficult; love finds nothing hard.

A few sunbeams and many clouds – that is life. But when the sun is Jesus, a single ray of light is enough to make one accept and even forget the clouds.

Help Us Spread the Word . . .

Sponsoring our Magazine

Do you know of any generous Catholic people (or are you one?) who would be willing and able to become Sponsors for our apostolate? This means those people who have the time and means to promote St. Maria's Messenger.

Can you be able to reach a large audience of Catholic girls and/or families?

Can you be able to tell them about St. Maria's Messenger in its true form – honestly and with sincerity? (No car-salesman pitches.)

Can you tell girls through ads, website(s), flyers, etc.?

Are you able to do all this with the little we have to offer in return? (Prayers and an ad for your company/work on our website and in our magazine.) Note: We cannot supply sponsors with the money, supplies, and equipment needed to spread the word unless otherwise noted after contacting us.

We greatly look forward to your help in this matter. Please pray about this, do not just brush it aside as another one of "those." Thank you!

Post Flyers:

Post flyers about our magazine in your Parish Church or wherever possible (permission needed first, of course). Just click HERE and up will pop a page you can print off and then distribute. Using colored paper (or ink) will help the flyer stand out better.

Writing:

Write reviews or press releases about us for your local newspapers and periodicals.

Posting:

Post on Internet groups and boards about us. Add our website to the link page of other websites. The address is: www.saintmariasmessenger.com

Please Keep In Your Prayers . . .

Jacob: He is 16 years old and his heart is in critical condition.

Wright Family: A Catholic family of 11, three of whom were in a horrible car crash. One died and the rest are in serious condition.

Hanson Family: They are a new Catholic family singing group and would appreciate your prayers.

Leo: Health is declining.

Virginia: Passed away last year.

Sally: Who passed away last week.

Al: Who passed away last February.

Stephanie's aunt: For her health.

Carole: Health and well-being.

Christopher: For his vocation and ministry

Mrs. Egleston: For her health

Anne: For her vocation and new job

If you have any prayer requests please let us know so we can add them to our prayer list!

Saint Maria's Messenger Sneak Peeks or Updates . . .

Hope this won’t spoil the surprise, but our sister Catherine (the website programmer) is updating our site to make it more easy and efficient for our visitors. Remember to check it out in a week or so.

We hope to interview many people/groups for the upcoming issues of Saint Maria’s Messenger. Famous people and not so famous. Young and old. Man or woman. Who would you want to read about in the magazine? Please let us know. saintmariasmessenger@yahoo.com

To remind you from our previous e-letter: We have issue themes all set up for our Volume Five that will be coming out this November. What are issue themes? For each issue and every issue of St. Maria's Messenger we try to stay within one subject or topic. In the past we have done magazines devoted to angels, family, St. Maria Goretti, miracles, and so on.

Now, since we have our themes for next season nailed down, we are looking for the content to fill it. We are hoping some of you may help us by bringing one of the following ideas for articles into reality.

Discovering the Soul of America. The past, present, and future of a state. What churches, shrines, festivals, history, landmarks, sights, recipes, events, charities, would you want to show or talk about that are located in your home state? Try to stir in a Catholic view point as many times as you can.

The Strength of the Soul. What virtuous fruits are obtained through sports and recreational fun? Show how sports can be very beneficial to the soul as well as the body. Quote from the saints and popes, maybe use fictional or non-fictional stories to demonstrate the necessity of recreational fun. Perhaps bring to light a Catholic woman athlete or a girl who is a sport fan.

Catholic 101. This article will list many things every Catholic girl should know. Give the statistics of how religious education has dropped over the last few decades, how important it is to learn your Faith, give a quiz listing the most necessary Q and A's , (Baltimore Catechism), give a few tips on how to defend your faith, and list good Catholic websites so our readers can learn more about their Catholic Faith.

Fictional Fun. Do you have an idea for a story that will fit our magazine's standards? Well, sit back, relax, and just have fun with it! We are looking for any sort of story around 1500 words long and that would be intriguing to our readers.

Rosary Know-how. The rosary is a powerful tool against the devil and is often neglected and forgotten by many Catholics today. Bring to light this wonderful gift from God, tell stories of how this prayer has changed hearts, quote from the saints, give it's origin and history, list the indulgences attached, give tips on how to remain in meditation while praying, and give meditations on each mystery of the rosary.

Catholic Authors. Give brief biographies on Catholic authors through the centuries. Possibly some or all of the following: St. Teresa of Avila, St. Augustine, St. Gertrude, St. Thomas Aquinas, Ann Ball, Mary Fayban Windeatt, C. S. Lewis, J. R. Tolkien, G. K. Chesterton, Michael Brown, St. Therese of Lisieux, or St. Alphonsus Liguori.

Bookworm Food content. We have to admit it, we are both true bookworms and a lot of our readers are no different. Yet, we are always short on time when it comes to reviewing books. That is why we are always in need of reviews on books that are safe and interesting to our readers. Please try to keep in mind our age range: 10-teen.

Mary, our Mediatrix. Dig deeper into Marian apparitions and find the revelations, hope, facts, history, and lives of the visionaries. Please only write about apparitions that have been approved by the Catholic Church.

SMM Catholic Reporter (home, national, or world news). . .

Home News

Please check out www.magiclandfarms.com to find out what we have been up to at our farm. My Papa regularly updates the website, especially the Magicland Farm News section. Also, my website about gourd art (one of my hobbies) is up and running. Please take a look at it: Bernadette’s Gourd Creations

HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY

General: That all those who are in prison, and especially young people, may receive the necessary support from society to help them rediscover a sense to their own existence.

Missionary: That in the mission territories, different ethnic and religious groups may live in peace and together build a society inspired by human and spiritual values

Here are some news articles you might be interested in:

and . . .

From UK Telegraph (a London newspaper)

Silence modern music in church, says Pope

By Malcolm Moore in Rome

(Filed: 27/06/2006)

The Pope has demanded an end to electric guitars and modern music in
church and a return to traditional choirs.

The Catholic Church has been experimenting with new ways of holding Mass

to try to attract more people. The recital of Mass set to guitars has
grown in popularity in Italy; in Spain it has been set to flamenco music;
and in the United States the Electric Prunes produced a "psychedelic"
album called Mass in F Minor.

However, the use of guitars and tambourines has irritated the Pope, who loves classical music. "It is possible to modernise holy music," the Pope said, at a concert conducted by Domenico Bartolucci the director of music at the Sistine Chapel. "But it should not happen outside the traditional path of Gregorian chants or sacred polyphonic choral music."

His comments prompted the newspaper La Stampa to compare him with Pope
Pius X, who denounced faddish classical and baroque compositions and
reinstated Gregorian chants in 1903.

The Pope's supporters argue that the music played during Mass is a vital part of the communion between worshippers and God, and that medieval church music, with the liturgy, creates the correct ambience for perceiving God's mystery.

Cardinal Ersilio Tonini, the Archbishop of Ravenna, said:"Mass is the
presence of Christ and the music adds so much more when the harmony allows
the mind to transcend the concrete to the divine."

But Cardinal Carlo Furno, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, said it was "better to have guitars on the altar and rock and roll Masses than empty churches". The use of modern music was a "sign of the vitality of the faith".

The argument is part of a wider debate about the Latin Mass, restricted in
the Vatican II reforms of the 1960s because it was seen to be putting
worshippers off going to Church.

The Pope believes that if Latin Masses are reintroduced, more Catholics
will learn the words to the Gregorian chants that he advocates.

Catholics can get indulgence for praying for families in early July

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To encourage Catholics to attend the Fifth World
Meeting of Families in Valencia, Spain, and to recite prayers with their
families, Pope Benedict XVI is offering a special spiritual gift, the
Vatican said.

"The gift of a plenary indulgence" will be given to those who
participate in the July 1-9 meeting in Spain or who gather their own
families together in early July to pray for families, the Vatican
announced June 27.

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment deserved for sins.
In order to receive the indulgence, Catholics must attend the meeting in
Spain, go to confession, receive the Eucharist and offer prayers for the
intentions of the pope.

If they cannot go to Spain, the decree said, "they will obtain the same
plenary indulgence under the same conditions," but rather than going to
the meeting they are to "recite as a family the Our Father, the creed
and other devoted prayers" asking God to strengthen their families.
Both those in Spain and those remaining at home are to promise to dedicate themselves generously to conforming their families ... to the holy rule of the Gospel, said the decree, which was signed by U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican court responsible for regulations governing indulgences

Special Events coming up:

Sisters of Life Fall Come and See

November 16-19, 2006

Villa Maria Guadalupe Retreat House

Stamford, CT

Call Sr. Mary Gabriel, S.V. at 718.863.2264 for more information

Vocational Retreat sponsored by the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary

August 1-3, 2006

International Schoenstatt Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Contact them at: 262.542.4384 or vocation@schsrsmary.org

Ask about a Consecrated Life Retreat at the Passionist Nuns Monastery

Whitesville, KY

July 21-23, 2006

Prior to registering for this retreat please e-mail or call and ask to speak with Sister John Mary. The quicker you contact them the easier you make their job!
Space is limited ... Registration Deadline: July 14th, 2006 ... Registration Fee $10

sjohnm@passionistnuns.org

(270) 233-4571

Passionist Nuns

8564 Crisp Road

Whitesville, KY 42378

www.passionistnuns.org

Soaring for Wisdom

Join the Brothers and Sisters of Saint John (www.stjean.com)

Princeville, IL

July 8-16

Contact Angela Grunkmeyer

815-633-6837

Eagle_eye_institute@yahoo.com

Also, check out the religious life link below to find out where and when other vocational retreats are held.

A Few Extras . . .

Discerning your vocation or know someone who is?

Check out these informative websites:

www.vocation.com/

www.visionguide.info/

www.vocationsplacement.org

www.vocations.com

www.jesuits.ca/becoming/discerning.html

www.vocationquest.org/

www.revolutionoflove.com/soapbox/vocation/discern_bannon.htm

www.cmswr.org/

www.phatmass.com

www.religiouslife.com/

Have a Very Blessed Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus!

In the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Bernadette and Rebekah Fox

Editors

Saint Maria's Messenger

A Catholic Magazine for Girls

5426 S. Gordon Ave.

Newaygo, MI 49337

www.saintmariasmessenger.com

saintmariasmessenger@yahoo.com

June 2006

2006-06-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome to June and our second e-letter to the Lilies of Saint Maria. Each month or as often as we can, we will post a free e-letter on our website, Lilies of Saint Maria, for all our visitors to read. Both Bernadette and I, Rebekah, will take turns writing the e-letter. Since Bernadette volunteered to be the author of our first, I am your writer for this month. We will try to include some inspiring words, any news from here or afar, magazine sneak peeks or updates, prayer requests, and/or anything else that we think would spark your interest. To make this letter more convenient to read, it will not only be available to those visiting our site, we will also send it to you via email after you sign up for it HERE.

Our audience is, of course, directed toward Catholic girls and teens, but hey, we invite everyone to share in this new endeavor.

Just a Few Thoughts . . .

Can you believe it is already the beginning of June? You all are probably done with the school year or finishing up your last exams and tests. But before you run off on your family vacation, camp, or other Summer activity, I wanted to give you a little survey and something to think about this season.

Survey Questions

Picture yourself at Sunday morning Mass. When you come into the church you make the Sign of the Cross and kneel down in your pew. What are you thinking about?
After a couple minutes you return to your seat, what are you thinking about now?
What are you thinking about before reciting the Confiteor? (i.e. I confess to You Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters. . .)
During the priest's homily?
Right before you receive Communion?
After Communion?

Perhaps you are thinking one of the following during these times. . .

"I wonder what I should have for breakfast," "I wonder where the family is that usually sits up in front, " "Oh gee, someone has to mow the lawn tomorrow!" "Penney's should have a sale this Saturday. I just have to get those shoes I saw!" or "I think Father's homily is longer than usual today."

Do you recognize any here? Unfortunately, many people do.

My parish priest brought this mind wandering problem up during his homily last week. He gave the example of a wedding reception he went to the night before. He said, "The music at the wedding was so loud we had to yell at the top of our voices in able to communicate with each other."

He went on comparing the blaring music with the distractions we are confronted with during Mass. A wedding is a very special time, everyone is there, Mom and Dad, relatives, and friends. Music shouldn't create a barrier between you and those you love. It is the same way with Mass. Jesus is there, distractions of the mind shouldn't create a barrier between us and Love Itself.

"We should try to leave these distractions at the entrance door!" he said during his homily. "They will be waiting there for us when we leave, believe me!"

Why would we want to fall into this temptation of the mind? Why can't we spend just one hour a week thinking about our Lord, is that too hard for us? If I know you, it certainly is not, right?

During another one of Father's homilies he told the story of his father who could stay glued to a newspaper with outstanding concentration. With kids running through the house, screaming and yelling, his father could sit in the kitchen and be entirely unaware of nothing else but his newspaper. (Personally, I believe all dads have that talent!) This is how we should act in prayer and the time we spend at Mass. Isn't it interesting that we can easily stick to the television, internet, phone, etc. without trouble, but when it comes to talking to the One Who created us, we find it to be difficult and frustrating?

Another point to bring up to you is the importance of actually going to church. Sometimes it is impossible to go to Mass, it could be illness, it could be lack of transportation, bad weather, whatever the case may be. But what about us who can go but do not, all due to not wanting to spend a WHOLE hour doing something that is not as exciting as one of our other activities. The Mass is a sacred time when we remember Christ's sacrifice, it is when we come to receive His Body and Blood - something He told us to do about two thousand years ago.

You may say to yourself again and again when you are returning home from Mass, "I certainly didn't get anything from that. Father's sermon wasn't inspiring, the music wasn't uplifting, those kids in front kept on making noise. . . I absolutely can wait for next Sunday."

Sorry, but it's not the Mass, it's US. WE must become part of the Mass, offer ourselves up as Jesus did. We may feel nor see any returns in participating at Mass and offering ourselves up with Jesus, but they are there nonetheless. How can a person convert a heretic when he himself needs conversion? It is the same for us during Mass. How can we expect change of heart and receive virtue when we do not make the slightest effort to have this happen? And yet, isn't the Mass an Act of Worship! (The Supreme Act of Worship, I should add!) We go to Mass to worship and love our Lord.

Now it is up to you - the next time you go to Mass will you fall into the bad habit of conscientiously thinking about other things rather than what is happening at the moment? Or will you go to Mass with a fresh mind that is open to giving thanks and praise to the One Who sacrificed His Life for you? You make the choice.

Help Us Spread the Word . . .

Do you know of any generous Catholic people (or are you one?) who would be willing and able to become Sponsors for our apostolate? This means those people who have the time and means to promote St. Maria's Messenger.
Can you be able to reach a large audience of Catholic girls and/or families?
Can you be able to tell them about St. Maria's Messenger in its true form – honestly and with sincerity? (No car-salesman pitches.)
Can you tell girls through ads, website(s), flyers, etc.?
Are you able to do all this with the little we have to offer in return? (Prayers and an ad for your company/work on our website and in our magazine.) Note: We cannot supply sponsors with the money, supplies, and equipment needed to spread the word unless otherwise noted after contacting us.

We greatly look forward to your help in this matter. Please pray about this, do not just brush it aside as another one of "those." Thank you!

Please Keep In Your Prayers . . .

Jacob: He is 16 years old and his heart is in critical condition.
Wright Family: A Catholic family of 11, three of whom were in a horrible car crash. One died and the rest are in serious condition.
Hanson Family: They are a new Catholic family singing group and would appreciate your prayers.
Leo: Health is declining.
Virginia: Passed away last year.
Sally: Who passed away last week.
Al: Who passed away last February.
Stephanie's aunt: For her health.
Carole: Health and well-being.

If you have any prayer requests please let us know so we can add them to our prayer list!

Saint Maria's Messenger Sneak Peaks or Updates . . .

We have issue themes all set up for our Volume Five that will be coming out this November. What are issue themes? For each issue and every issue of St. Maria's Messenger we try to stay within one subject or topic. In the past we have done magazines devoted to angels, family, St. Maria Goretti, miracles, and so on.

Discovering the Soul of America. The past, present, and future of a state. What churches, shrines, festivals, history, landmarks, sights, recipes, events, charities, would you want to show or talk about that are located in your home state? Try to stir in a Catholic view point as many times as you can.
The Strength of the Soul. What virtuous fruits are obtained through sports and recreational fun? Show how sports can be very beneficial to the soul as well as the body. Quote from the saints and popes, maybe use fictional or non-fictional stories to demonstrate the necessity of recreational fun. Perhaps bring to light a Catholic woman athlete or a girl who is a sport fan.
Catholic 101. This article will list many things every Catholic girl should know. Give the statistics of how religious education has dropped over the last few decades, how important it is to learn your Faith, give a quiz listing the most necessary Q and A's , (Baltimore Catechism), give a few tips on how to defend your faith, and list good Catholic websites so our readers can learn more about their Catholic Faith.
Fictional Fun. Do you have an idea for a story that will fit our magazine's standards? Well, sit back, relax, and just have fun with it! We are looking for any sort of story around 1500 words long and that would be intriguing to our readers.
Rosary Know-how. The rosary is a powerful tool against the devil and is often neglected and forgotten by many Catholics today. Bring to light this wonderful gift from God, tell stories of how this prayer has changed hearts, quote from the saints, give it's origin and history, list the indulgences attached, give tips on how to remain in meditation while praying, and give meditations on each mystery of the rosary.
Catholic Authors. Give brief biographies on Catholic authors through the centuries. Possibly some or all of the following: St. Teresa of Avila, St. Augustine, St. Gertrude, St. Thomas Aquinas, Ann Ball, Mary Fayban Windeatt, C. S. Lewis, J. R. Tolkien, G. K. Chesterton, Michael Brown, St. Therese of Lisieux, or St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Bookworm Food content. We have to admit it, we are both true bookworms and a lot of our readers are no different. Yet, we are always short on time when it comes to reviewing books. That is why we are always in need of reviews on books that are safe and interesting to our readers. Please try to keep in mind our age range: 10-teen.
Mary, our Mediatrix. Dig deeper into Marian apparitions and find the revelations, hope, facts, history, and lives of the visionaries. Please only write about apparitions that have been approved by the Catholic Church.

SMM Catholic Reporter (home, national, or world news). . .

Home: Please check out www.magiclandfarms.com to find out what we have been up to at our farm. My Papa regularly updates the website, especially the Magicland Farm News section.

HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JUNE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 1, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy Father's general prayer intention for June is: "That Christian families may lovingly welcome every child who comes into existence and surround the sick and the aged, who need care and assistance, with affection."

His mission intention is: "That pastors and the Christian faithful may consider inter-religious dialogue and the work of acculturation of the Gospel as a daily service to promote the cause of the evangelization of peoples."

A couple news articles for you . . .

A Few Extras . . .

Here is a website you might be interested in: Click here.

Also check out the message boards on this site: www.phatmass.com. My sister Bernadette regularly is on Vocation Station and she says its an excellent board with many wonderful people.

And one more thing. For those of you who haven't read our Holy Father's first encyclical, here is a link to it from the Vatican's website.

Have a Very Blessed Month of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus!

In Jesus and Mother Mary,

Bernadette and Rebekah Fox

Editors
Saint Maria's Messenger
A Catholic Magazine for Girls
5426 S. Gordon Ave.
Newaygo, MI 49337
www.saintmariasmessenger.com
saintmariasmessenger@yahoo.com

April 2006

2006-04-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our first e-letter! Each month or as often as we can, we will post a free e-letter on our website, Lilies of Saint Maria, for all our visitors to read. Both Rebekah and I, Bernadette, will take turns writing the e-letter. I was voted to write the first. We will try to include some inspiring words, any news from here or afar, magazine sneak peeks or updates, prayer requests, and/or anything else that we think would spark your interest. To make this letter more convenient to read, it will not only be available to those visiting our site, we will also send it to you via email after you sign up for it HERE.

Our audience is, of course, directed toward Catholic girls and teens, but hey, we invite everyone to share in this new endeavor.

Just a Few Thoughts . . .

I am writing this on the Feast of Divine Mercy. For those of you who are unaware of this feast instituted by Pope John Paul II in 2000 you can find out lots of information about it on www.divinemercysunday.com. I'll briefly state that it was ultimately instituted by Christ who appeared to St. Faustina. He explained that on the First Sunday after Easter He will open the floodgates of His mercy upon the whole world. All those who receive Communion after recently going to Confession, will have all their temporal punishment due to sin erased. It will be as if we were rebaptized. Christ is so good!

Coincidently, while praying my daily prayers I looked up on my wall to where I have listed the Eight Beatitudes and just guess which one stood out the most? Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Girls, read that again and slower this time. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Only if we forgive our brothers and sisters will we be forgiven. This is told to us in the Our Father. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. However, that Beatitude takes a step further. We are to be like Christ - merciful, not just forgiving. Showing mercy is to forgive no matter what, if we are repentant. Mercy accepts no excuse to neglect or delay forgiving one another.

Just yesterday, I received the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the "Third Step to a Good Confession" stood out from the rest this time. Make a firm resolution not to sin again. Just hold it, let this seep in . . . Okay, if we truly love our Lord, are sorry and contrite for our sins, would we go to confession and receive absolution then walk back into our life without the thought of what Christ just did for you? What you just did? Are you going to commit those same sins you just confessed without the slightest thought that you just told our Lord you were "heartily sorry for having offended Him and you detest all your sins?" Girls, with all your strength and love that I know your feminine hearts possess, "firmly resolve with the help of His grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin!"

I have been searching through contemplative, cloistered Religious communities and I thought just to tell you a few of the things I have learned in my research about these orders.

You may lose your freedom of land and space to walk and roam, yet your freedom is boundless in the space the cloister gives to walk within the Lord.

A girl does not become a nun to get away from the world or flee from it and all its sorrows, miseries, sin, pain and yes, joy and love, but to embrace it all the more purely and wholly. These women separate themselves from the world in order to better give themselves - their whole life - to the world- the whole world.

Their lives are centered around prayer, their apostolate is in fact prayer and penance. They become living prayers, ever burning before the Lord for the Church and the world. Every act of their day becomes valuable in the eyes of God, their prayers, penances, work, recreational activities become a perfume of love to their Spouse. Their apostolate is not centered around one particular good work or mission such as teaching or nursing, they embrace it all.

A contemplative does not keep her Jesus to herself. Like St. Therese, she desires to "remain ever at the foot of the cross to receive the Precious Blood and to pour it out upon souls." It is a life of pure Faith because a contemplative never sees, here on earth, the result of her prayers and supplications. But in Heaven what happiness to see the multitude of souls that have benefited by them . . . souls who perhaps otherwise may not have been there, had it not been for her daily sacrifices.

It needs a great heart to fashion a contemplative, a capacity for love so wide and deep that only God can fill it, a missionary zeal so ardent that no fewer than all the souls in the world can satisfy it.

Help Us Spread the Word . . .

Do you know of any generous Catholic people (or are you one?) who would be willing and able to become Sponsors for our apostolate? This means those people who have the time and means to promote St. Maria's Messenger.
Can you be able to reach a large audience of Catholic girls and/or families?
Can you be able to tell them about St. Maria's Messenger in its true form - honestly and with sincerity? (No car-salesman pitches.)
Can you tell girls through ads, website(s), flyers, etc.?
Are you able to do all this with the little we have to offer in return? (Prayers and an ad for your company/work on our website and in our magazine.) Note: We cannot supply sponsors with the money, supplies, and equipment needed to spread the word unless otherwise noted after contacting us.

We greatly look forward to your help in this matter. Please pray about this, do not just brush it aside as another one of "those." Thank you!

Also, another thing almost any one can do for us. Post flyers about our magazine in your Parish Church (permission needed first, of course). Just click here and up will pop a page you can print off and then distribute. Using colored paper (or ink) will help the flyer stand out better.

Please Keep In Your Prayers . . .

Jacob: He is 16 years old and his heart is in critical condition.
Wright Family: A Catholic family of 11, three of whom were in a horrible car crash. One died and the rest are in serious condition.
Hanson Family: They are a new Catholic family singing group and would appreciate your prayers.

If you have any prayer requests please let us know so we can add them to our prayer list!

Saint Maria's Messenger Sneak Peaks or Updates . . .

None this time.

SMM Catholic Reporter (home, national, or world news). . .

Home: Please check out www.magiclandfarms.com to find out what we have been up to at our farm. My Papa regularly updates the website, especially the Magicland Farm News section.

National: http://www.lifenews.com/state1619.html

World: http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=43793 | http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=43798

Extras . . .

Here are a couple articles I received via email from the editor of Crisis magazine. Thought you might be interested. . . .

Does The Gospel of Judas Undermine Christianity?

Crisis Magazine e-Letter

April 13, 2006

**********************************************

Dear Friend,

It just keeps coming... one after another.

First, there was The Da Vinci Code, which sent historians and art experts into fits over its countless errors and distortions.

Then there was a lawsuit in Italy and a feature-length documentary... both of which argue that Jesus never actually existed (if you read my last e-Letter, you know how to respond to that claim).

And now, we have the Gospel of Judas... which is being promoted by National Geographic as a bombshell that could destroy the very foundations of Christianity.

The press -- going for sensationalism over fact -- has jumped on the story, intoning solemnly that new light has been shed on the life of Jesus, and that the traditional biblical accounts have been thrown into question.

In reality, this latest episode says less about Christianity than it does about the media's profound ignorance of ancient history.

But just in case you missed all the press hoopla, let me give you some background. . .

In 1978, an Egyptian farmer unearthed a box that contained an ancient manuscript. He sold the document to a dealer in Cairo, who then tried to sell it himself.

Finding no buyers, he put the piece in a safe deposit box in a New York bank... where it sat for 16 years. Finally, a buyer purchased the manuscript in 2000, and in 2001, National Geographic teamed up with a Swiss antiquities foundation to restore and translate the ancient text.

In it, they discovered several apocryphal documents. . . the Apocalypse of James, the Epistle of Peter to Philip, fragments of another ancient book (temporarily titled the Book of Allogenes), and the Gospel of Judas.

The text was carbon dated to between the third and fourth century, though the gospel itself was penned in the mid-second century.

But here's where it really gets interesting. . .

You see, the Gospel of Judas tells a different story of Christ's relationship to the man who would betray Him. In fact, according to the newly found gospel, Judas wasn't His betrayer at all.

Apparently, Jesus (who came from "the immortal realm of Barbelo") took Judas aside at one point and asked the apostle to turn Him in. . . so that through the crucifixion, He could be freed from His body.

So Judas wasn't such a bad guy after all. And traditional Christianity may have gotten the whole religion thing wrong from the start.

At least that's what most of the media coverage has been saying.

Here's where a drop of historical knowledge would do wonders for secular journalists. In point of fact, the Gospel of Judas is hardly a theological earthquake. After all, the Gospel of Judas is one of the Gnostic gospels. There are many others... the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, the Gospel of Philip, the Gospel of the Egyptians, etc. And with the possible (and partial) exception of Thomas, they offer no reliable historical insight into the actual events of the first century.

You see, Gnosticism was a parasite theology. It latched onto whatever religion was available and rewrote the host's scriptures and doctrines to fit its own unique beliefs. Often, the villains of the original religion were turned into the heroes of the Gnostic variation (and so we often see Cain lionized in Gnostic texts). Furthermore, Christianity was not its only victim... there were also Gnostic forms of Judaism and paganism as well.

One of the primary tenets of Gnosticism is salvation through hidden or secret knowledge -- the name itself comes from "gnosis," the Greek term for knowledge. And so, not surprisingly, the Gospel of Judas begins with a nod in this direction:

"The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week three days before he celebrated Passover."

What follows is a relatively short summary of Gnostic belief, dressed up in Christian garb: There's a spark of the divine trapped within the prisons of our bodies... Through knowledge, we'll learn to free ourselves... etc.

Of course, like any good Gnostic, the Jesus of the rediscovered gospel shares his knowledge with Judas, even going so far as to arrange His own arrest.

He tells Judas:

"'But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.... Look, you have been told everything. Lift up your eyes and look at the cloud and the light within it and the stars surrounding it. The star that leads the way is your star.' Judas lifted up his eyes and saw the luminous cloud, and he entered it."

While the Gospel of Judas sheds no light on historical Christianity, it is nevertheless a significant find. After all, it's a pretty big deal when an ancient work long considered lost is rediscovered. And the document does flesh out the heavenly pantheon of second-century Gnosticism.

But that's as far as it goes. In the end, this is just another Gnostic gospel... interesting if you're a scholar of Gnosticism, but of little value to anyone else. As for it's historical reliability, St. Irenaeus said it best in A.D. 180:

"[The Gnostics] declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did, accomplished the mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas" (Adversus haereses 1:31:1).

Before I sign off, I want to make a quick recommendation. You may have heard about the five-part miniseries, "God or the Girl," to be shown on the Arts & Entertainment channel. If not, the program -- a documentary, really -- follows the ups and downs of four young men who are considering the Catholic priesthood.

I had the opportunity to watch a preview of the show, and despite the unfortunate title, it's absolutely wonderful. While presented in the style of a reality TV program, it has none of the lurid sensationalism of the genre. Quite the contrary. This is a thoroughly respectful look at the trials young men experience when considering a vocation to the priesthood.

The show premiers on Easter night, but there will be a showing of all five episodes on April 23. Here's the Web site, complete with the program's schedule:

http://www.godorthegirl.com/index.php/

We've rightly criticized the Arts & Entertainment channel in the past, when they've aired their tiresome "debunking the Bible" shows. So let's now give them full credit for putting together a powerful and emotionally moving testament to Catholic youth and the priesthood.

The best way to thank them (and ensure future programs of this quality) is to watch. Don't worry, it won't be difficult. This is an immensely enjoyable show and I give it my highest recommendation.

Have a blessed Triduum,

Brian
May this Easter Season abound with many blessings for you and your family!
God bless!

In Jesus and Mother Mary,

Bernadette and Rebekah Fox

Editors
Saint Maria's Messenger
A Catholic Magazine for Girls
5426 S. Gordon Ave.
Newaygo, MI 49337
www.saintmariasmessenger.com
saintmariasmessenger@yahoo.com