Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ!  The month of March is providentially enveloped in the season of Lent and within the glad embrace of the Year of St Joseph. Silence. Challenge. Insight. Prayer. Fasting. Almsgiving. Graces sufficient. Let us also make room for celebrating: St Joseph’s Solemnity (19th) and what God has done through YOU!  Read on…

St Padre Pio shared a story about a youngster who each afternoon sat near the lap of his grandmother while she sewed. The boy kept happily occupied with his toys.  For days into weeks, he often glanced up to heed his grandmother’s voice and smiles.  In those moments, he caught glimpses of what seemed a puzzling, even peculiar, design of her handiwork.  One afternoon the grandmother excitedly invited the lad to stand near her.  There he surveyed her outstretched finished piece, and was stilled by its detail, harmony and beauty.  Weeks of viewing only the underside of the project had not prepared him for the exquisiteness of the work, now fully and rightly viewed.

March 24 marks the tenth anniversary of the Inspiration Day of the Apostolate.  Divine Providence reserved the day (Thursday) and the moment (during the Hour of Divine Mercy) long before any of us or any priests existed.  A heaven-sent plan showed itself in the humility of a whispered idea in the hush of an Adoration Chapel.  A mere thread-of-a-plan lay destined to weave its beauty into the existing tapestry of not just St Paul, Minnesota, history, but eventually into that of all 50 states and into lands across the great ponds.

In June of that year (2011), seven groups of seven women formed to test the spirit of the inspiration through committed Holy Hours for seven St Paul-Minneapolis diocesan pastors.  Positive testimonies abounded after the first full year of their intentional, consistent prayer for these seven priests.  Since that ordained time, hundreds, then into thousands, of generous hearts have bolstered the prayer discipline of the Apostolate – you included!  The Master Weaver continues to weave the threads of His Will and Way for such as time as this for His Plans, His Purposes.

While we hold an encouraging benefit today of witnessing a great deal of growth and fruit through the Apostolate, in large part, as the youngster in St Padre Pio’s story, we have a limited view.  We cannot see better than God Himself, the master weaver. No eye has seen nor ear has heard nor mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him (I Cor 2:9).

For 10 years our sacrifices and prayers for priests have gone forth, joining those of centuries past.  We claim nothing novel.  We heed a call, do our part, during our time, in cooperation with a colossal plan of God that directs all things in the universe. His sovereignty, our collaboration.  For now, the Apostolate work is appealing to many and blessing many.  God’s Hand and Heart will direct what is ahead. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Truly, as St Paul reminds, let us only boast in Him (II Cor 10:17).  “In all your affairs lean solely on God’s Providence,” counsels the saint dubbed the “Saint-Maker” (St Francis de Sales), “by means of which alone your plans can succeed. Meanwhile, on your part work on in quiet co-operation with Him, and then rest satisfied that if you have trusted entirely to Him you will always obtain such a measure of success as is most profitable for you, whether it seems so or not to your own individual judgment.’”

Let us remain as handmaids, both docile to His Providence and ready and willing to act.  Humility and endurance have their reward.  On the other side of the veil, as we are made aware of our patterns of life, may we appreciate and recognize that red thread of the Will of God (Maria von Trapp) woven frequently, firmly and surely in our life’s tapestries, which for some length of time for each of us, has included the threads of this Apostolate.  Every breath of prayer has merit.

Work in the Apostolate under the attention of God’s guidance brings about a tremendous liberty of heart, anticipation and ensuing peace, and perhaps especially in the midst of our perplexing times.  “We are entirely in the care of Divine Providence,” reminds St Rose Philippine Duchesne, “and it is very sweet to remain so in peace.  The Cross is never lacking; may it be our consolation.” Amen.

United in prayer and mission…that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette (Howe)
+JMJ+
[email protected]

The Apostolate received a most exquisite GIFT for our TENTH anniversary!

A Seven Sister, Lamp-Bearer and seamstress par excellence created a stunning piece of handwork in counted cross stitch to commemorate our 10th anniversary of service.  Nancy H (Minnesota) used 77,678 stitches with 78 distinct colors to fashion a replica of our patron, Madonna of the Grapes.  First stitch: 1 June 2020 (month of our commitment renewals).  Last stitch: 4 August 2020 (Feast of St John Vianney).  With each stitch she prayed, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph:  bless each Seven Sister for Priests.” Photos attached: (1) Nancy and her pastor who blessed the image. The blessing was unrushed, thorough and very, very moving.  (2) Image in my home where it has pride of place!  Nancy added, “May the Seven Sisters Apostolate joyfully celebrate the first of many decades of prayerful support for priests!”  Eternal gratitude in every language, Nancy, for your time, talent and treasure!

Virtual Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Founding Graces
24 March 2021, Wednesday, 7 pm
Fr Joseph Johnson and Janette
Includes: two short pre-taped talks and live Q and A
Total time: 1 hour, FREE

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ! The Lenten season arrives this month with special grace upon grace.  We journey together in united prayers with and prayers for the bishops and priests who lead the way in this most fruitful of seasons!

In the tender, early moments of the germination of the Apostolate (when all was there, but only little known), Fr Johnson, leaned forward in his chair and brought to life an image of Moses.  His glance was in the past and future all at once.  “Janette, just as the hands of Moses were lifted by Aaron and Hur, the Seven Sisters will do the same for the priest.” In Exodus 17 Israel faced a major military threat, the fierce Amalekites. As they engaged in combat, Moses up-stretched his arms in prayer.  With arms raised the Israelite soldiers prevailed, but as Moses drooped in weariness, the battle shifted.  Moses’ brother, Aaron (whose name means strength), and brother-in-law, Hur (whose name means liberty), fittingly stood beside Moses assuring his arms remained elevated, guaranteeing victory for the Israelites.  These men were not mere spectators, but resolute partakers in the battle!

Father Johnson’s words have proven prophetic.  As relay runners pointedly and surely hand off a warmed baton – one hand to another – our seamless prayers surround and fortify the priest’s efforts and prayers.  We have not abandoned him in the battle for souls, but rather – join him!  As Aaron and Hur were family to Moses, we are sisters in Christ to our priests.  It has been said that “A need seen, is an assignment given.”  New Anchoresses over and again relate that they observe their brothers in Christ, their pastors or nearby priests, sorely in need of strength. Love compels them to help (II Cor 5:14), to come alongside to lift up their hands.

Hands receive special attention by the Church on a man’s Ordination day to the Royal Priesthood of Jesus Christ.  The imposition of hands upon the head by the Bishop is born in ancient tradition.  It is an act of consecrating a man for the service of God and transmitting a divine gift of unique identification with Christ.  There is ontological change.  The man leaves the altar the same, but different. “In my judgment, this concept of the ontological nature of the priesthood, is critical. We don’t just put on vestments; we don’t just receive an assignment. Neither makes us priests. We become priests at ordination. There is an “ontological change” in our spiritual nature. Such is a profound mystery. Is it too bold an analogy to compare the change to Christ the Son of God’s retaining His Divinity while becoming a man? Or to observe that after bread becomes the Sacred Body of Christ, it still tastes like bread and feels like bread, but is now the Body of Christ? There has been an ontological change. A cup of wine still smells like wine and tastes like it, but it is now the Blood of Christ. At ordination an ontological change takes place” (John Cardinal O’Connor, 1996).  Mystery. Hands. Truth. Goodness. Beauty. Grace. Gift.

The hands of the Ordinand are anointed with Chrism oil, a mix of olive oil and balsam. The oil symbolizes strength, the fragrant balsam represents the aroma of Christ (II Cor 2:15).  The oil is also used for Baptism, Confirmation, and consecrating a new Bishop, new altar or vessels for use at Mass.  Anointing with chrism signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit in consecrating someone or something to God’s service.

Consecrated hands.   Set apart for holy purposes.  The priest’s hands are steadfastly raised to invoke the Trinitarian God in protective blessing.  They generously serve to worship, express gratitude, seek wisdom, beseech healing and mercy.  The beautiful hands of the priest confer the sacraments. They absolve and sanctify.  They hold and offer the fruits of earth and vine – and the work of human hands.  Those same hands elevate those same offerings as our eternal Bread of Life and Spiritual Drink.  A priest’s sanctified hands bless marriages with the strongest of hopes, fortify the weak of the sick-bed, and big-heartedly fling the holy spray of the aspergillum at the graveside, as expectant of new life as rice tossed at a Wedding.

The hands of a priest devotedly turn page-after-page, ribbon-after-ribbon, day-after-day … the Liturgy of the Hours, Scripture, the Sacramentary, the book of blessing.  They grip the pulpit tightly or wave passionately to punctuate a truth of Scripture in homilies.   They are meant to comfort, squeeze confidence into the shoulder of a lad lacking courage, and lift high a newborn post Baptism for the congregation to bask in the glow of the new light of a Child of God.  All in a day…

The custom of kissing the hands of a newly Ordained priest stems from a recognition of the fundamental change that has occurred and of the unique importance of the hands of the priestly ministry.  You may be aware of this well-loved story of St Francis of Assisi: A parishioner brought to the attention of St. Francis a priest involved in a scandalous affair. He asked St. Francis (who himself remained a deacon, never becoming a priest) to go and correct the priest. Upon arriving at the home, the little Saint immediately knelt, gently cupped the hands of the priest in his and kissed them.   Not condoning wrong behavior, he was teaching that God works through His church, even when its ministers fall short.  “If I were to meet at the same time some saint coming down from heaven and any poor little priest,” said St Francis, “I would first pay my respects to the priest and proceed to kiss his hands first.  I would say, ‘Ah, just a moment St. Lawrence, because this person’s hands handle the Word of Life and possess something that is more than human. These hands have touched my Lord, and no matter what they be like, they could not soil Him or lessen His virtue . . . To honor the Lord, honor His minister . . . He can be bad for himself, but for me he is good.”

As Seven Sisters, let us fold our own hands in prayer and decisively venerate the holy hands of priests through an awareness of their ordained purposes and through the graces of our prayers.  In so doing, we elevate those hands and arms that are fated to be raised for our very lives!

(See attachment:  The Beautiful Hands of the Priest poem)

 United in prayer and mission…that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

 … eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

 Janette (Howe)
+JMJ+
[email protected]

Christmastide greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ! The joys and graces of Christmas cannot be held in one day.  In wisdom, Mother Church grants us an entire season to receive and savor the flood of blessings! As if that were not enough, the Church gifted us with even more anticipated benefits through the proclamation of a Year of St Joseph (12/08/20 to 12/08-21)!  What a tonic to the heart at the end of 2020!

After 9 months of seeking and searching, my own firm commitment to return to the sacramental life of the Church was prompted on the Feast of St Joseph, 19 March 1999.  While my Confession was not until the following day, I fully credit this Patron of the Universal Church for leading me Home.  He guides and he guards and he generously gives.   Silent and sure.

St Joseph is an unequivocal friend of the Apostolate, for likely any friend of Jesus and Mary is a friend of his! Let us together ask for graces to understand his role in the Apostolate.  For starters our Apostolate Chaplain was baptized Joseph (Johnson).  In celebration, please share the daily wee Hail Mary offerings with Father this year!  Second, the Fasting Brothers have a particular devotion to St Joseph as a strong patron for their endeavors.  St Joseph’s influence can already be sensed!

Praying the moving Litany to St Joseph offers insight into his character.   What he modeled within the Holy Family is unique, but he is also the Light of the patriarchs, the Watchful defender of Christ, Mirror of patience, Model of workman, Guardian of virgins, Pillar of families, Solace of the afflicted, Hope of the sick, Patron of the dying, Terror of demons, Protector of Holy Church.

St Joseph inhabits a singular place within the Divine Economy.  He obediently, justly and fully lives a responsibility that, while essential, remains hidden.  This, dear Seven Sisters, is where we embrace a solidarity with the good St Joseph.  As intercessors for the sanctity of priests our work is vital.  As intercessors for the sanctity of priests our work is happily veiled.  St Joseph committed and submitted, we too commit and submit to this way of prayer.  Our offerings, hidden from the view of most, is in full sight of God Himself, for His use as He wills. Likewise, with St Joseph.

Recently when in conversation with a Seven Sisters Coordinator for a Midwest Diocese her thoughts moved to a suggestion of consistently (daily) asking for the assistance of St Joseph to help cover more and more priests in prayer this year, his year.  Ask every intercessor to pray the same prayer.  I resonated with the idea immediately!

We both took it to prayerful task.  She soon shared the link for the Catholic Tradition Website which held a section laden with rich prayer offerings soliciting the good help of St Joseph.

http://www.catholictradition.org/Joseph/joseph-txt.htm.

In review of the offerings, my heart was struck with the simplicity and completeness of a prayer entitled Act of Confidence (see opening of this Communique). This is it! Please accept the invitation to pray this prayer DAILY for growth of the Apostolate.   Make a copy of the image and prayer. Size-wise – it can be perfectly affixed to a standard-sized calling card.  Voilà – you have a holy card from which to pray each day for the intention suggested:  more Seven Sisters groups for more priests/bishops!  The Website also offered this prayer (below) that could be easily adapted for your Holy Hour by inserting the name of the priest /bishop for whom you are committed to pray.

Prayer for Priests (asking the intercession of St Joseph)

O ILLUSTRIOUS PATRIARCH St. Joseph, who carried the Infant Jesus in thy blessed arms and who, during the space of thirty years, lived in the most intimate familiarity with Him, take under thy powerful protection those whom He has clothed with His authority and honored with the dignity of His priesthood, whom He has charged to continue His mission, to preach His Gospel, and to dispense everywhere His graces and blessings.  Sustain them in their fatigues and labors; console them in their pains; fortify them in their combats; but above all, keep far from them all the evils of sin.

Obtain for them the humility of St. John the Baptist, the faith of St. Peter, the zeal and charity of St. Paul, the purity of St. John and the spirit of prayer and recollection of which thou, my dear Saint, art the model, so that, after having been on earth, the faithful dispensers of the Mysteries of thy foster Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, they may in Heaven receive the recompense promised to pastors according to the Heart of God. Amen. – From the Booklet, Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph (TAN Books)

St John Paul II poignantly portrays St Joseph: “Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit.  He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the living God.  He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the living God.” Together, let us learn from St Joseph and see what God will do – through St Joseph and through us!

United in prayer and mission…that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette (Howe)
+JMJ+
[email protected]

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ! Advent arrives in hopes of rousing us from our spiritual drowsiness.  A wide-eyed keenness of heart reminds, renews and revives! We are then readied to remember and recognize the true brilliance of our Emmanuel.  A retired priest shared recently a nugget from his seminary professor on how to summarize Advent for each Sunday:  1) Wake up.  2) Shape up. 3) Cheer up. 4) Hurry up.

Liturgical seasons offer timely perspective. In nature’s darkest period of the year, there happily arises the celebration of the arrival of the Light of the World.  It hearkens to the bolstering reality that even in spiritually dark times, the darkness will not overcome the Light! (John 1:5)

Our Catholic heritage merits pondering.  What mighty and deep roots we have, often strengthened by prayers and courageous sacrifices.  In 2014 a visit to Ireland awakened in me an awareness of Mass rocks.  Under the odious penal times (1695-1756), the Catholic Faith was outlawed.  Priests were hunted like criminals and killed.  Holy Mass was celebrated secretly atop large rocks in fields and wooded areas.  The faithful secretly fashioned the settings and acted as protectors and sentinels during Mass.  The Irish priests and faithful kept the flame of Faith alive!

In an earlier period, under the reign of terror of Elizabeth (1558+), the English also hunted priests and any laity who hid them or taught the Faith to others.  Ingenuity and carpentry skills shrouded the clergy in “priest holes” built in walls, recesses, under floors and staircases, even behind fireplaces, to conceal their presence during countryside manhunts. Our Apostolate patron, St Margaret Clitherow, commissioned a priest hole to be built in her home.  Here she also hid vestments, elements for Mass and her personal catechetical materials.  She was discovered and martyred in 1586.  Her two young sons later became priests and her daughter a religious Sister.   St Nicholas Owen, a Jesuit brother, was a master at constructing ingenious priest holes.  He too was eventually captured, tortured and martyred in 1606.  His Memorial is celebrated March 22, fittingly close to our patron, St Margaret Clitherow on March 26.  The English priests and faithful kept the flame of Faith alive!

Moving even further back in history, one might regard the well-recognized statue of a lean, youthful David balancing a lamb upon his shoulders.  Seen traditionally as a prototype of Christ and His brother priests, the image conveys a symbiotic strength.  While David is sure and steady in his grip, the lamb, though docile to being carried, stretches its head high, with an upward, hopeful glance.  One senses a mutual benefit of vigor.

What a fitting marble piece to study as Seven Sisters, who resolutely keep the flame of Faith alive along with the shepherd, who is armed in your prayers and sacrifices.  Like the ever-ready and courageous help of the Irish and English in earlier times, your work vivifies.  Your endeavors aid to perpetuate the Faith in untold ways.  Your sacrifices support both the priest and yourself.  Whatever darkness may surround or attempt to settle in our midst will not overcome the Light!

The Church is set to be fortified in the shower of graces in these Advent and Christmas seasons.  Let us continue to pray in earnest as protectors and sentinels of our priests who steadfastly celebrate holy Mass and serve as conduits of those graces through the sacraments and their countless acts of mercy and love.  In the fitful fluctuating pandemic restrictions throughout the world, the clergy everywhere need intensified sacrifices of prayer.  Let us take up arms (and knees) in response, knowing full well that in Divine economy we too will be strengthened in the acts.

The resolve of the priests and faithful alike will continue to fuel the light of Faith.  Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matt 5:15).  Be light!

United in prayer and mission…that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

 Janette Howe
+JMJ+
[email protected]

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ!  In poetic cadence, it is said, “In November we remember.” On a natural level, in this month most reminisce on the all-too-fleeting summer days and swiftly vanishing year.  Catholics intentionally remember to visit cemeteries in November, and offer prayers for those who have passed.  The liturgical year concludes with both the solemn consideration of the Last Things and the climactic celebration to remind that Christ is King (this year, Nov 22).

Times of recollection often lend themselves to interior reflection.  Where have I been, where am I going? Are my days generally fully embraced or squandered?  Do complexities stifle the joy of the journey?  Our Seven Sister ways are likewise worthy of periodic review.  Do I keep my commitment to pray? Stay true to the mission?  Has its simplicity become unduly knotty?

At the heart of the Apostolate we each respond simply and surely to the Lord’s invitation to His work, “So, could you not watch with me for one hour?” (Matt 26:40). The offering is eternal, for it is a labor of love.  Quite literally, it is the gift that keeps on giving (I Cor 13). Both intercessor and recipient benefit.  St Teresa of Calcutta reminds: “Each of us has a mission to fulfill: a mission of love.   At the hour of death, when we come face-to-face with God, we are going to be judged on love; not on how much we have done, but on how much love we have put into our actions.” Bl Charles de Foucauld reminds, “The best prayer is the one in which there is the most love.”

A Seven Sister is faithful to the mission of the Apostolate by: (a) keeping the commitment to a Holy Hour on her designated day of the week (or securing a sub); (b) praying for the well-being and sanctity of the one priest/bishop for whom she offers the Hour; and (c) sometime during the Hour praying for a deepening devotion to Mary for the priest/bishop. A beautiful simplicity continues to define our work.  This strength hearkens to the words of Fr Joseph Johnson, Apostolate founder, in the early hour of learning about the inspiration: “I believe it is from the Holy Spirit because it is so simple.”

The Holy Hour is unique to each Seven Sister.  She chooses the Hour within her committed day and also the flow of prayer within that Hour.  Thus, the collective prayer offering of the group is likewise unique – tailor-made for the priest/bishop each day, each week!  The Seven Sister, recurrently enters a sort of school of intercession in these Hours, gradually learning and living a docility of heart that heightens her keenness to the impulses of the Holy Spirit.  Guide me, O Holy Spirit, in my prayer today. Help me to be a conduit of Your Love.  Our simple assent to the Holy Hour brings us into audience with the Triune God, who is all Wisdom and all Love.  The patrons of the Apostolate and the countless, exquisite angels encompassing the Blessed Sacrament enhance the sanctity of the setting. What at first glance appears a mere calendar point and duty of our day as a Seven Sister, when lived, can be perceived and experienced beyond the thin veil.  Truly time collapses in the presence of God.  Heaven settles upon earth.  What could not be wrought here?

Our Lord over and again presents an offer – simple yet beyond full understanding:  strike the rock, rise and pick up your mat, love thy neighbor as thyself, put out into the deep, take and eat.   Every offer beckons our participation coupled with His.  Our offer is straightforward and simple:  One holy hour, one priest, each week, one heart of prayer.  The invitation is not for one holy Mass nor for multiple priests nor for every day nor solo, without others.  His Ways are higher, His thoughts complete. Untold goodness arises from this untroubled heaven-sent blueprint.

We do best to stay as close to the inspiration of the Apostolate as possible.  Your witness to do so is heartening!  It is wildly fruitful! You remain like-hearted to a mentor, St Teresa of Calcutta, who shares her secret of trust: “My secret is simple.  I pray.”  Oh, how it confirms what looms large in our hearts: that in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15).

United in prayer and mission…that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

 … eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+
[email protected]

Let us TOGETHER continue to prepare a Birthday gift for Our Lord: 2020 active groups by 12/25/20 Prayer will make things clear as to who, when, where and how to encourage new groups!

Greetings to dearest Sisters in Christ! The Church dons full regalia in October.  There are treasures and a rosary in every pocket! The liturgical calendar is overflowing with Feast days and in this month mother Church reminds us to turn toward Our Lady of the Rosary and pray as she repeatedly prompts us. Our Lady also reminds us to make frequent and good Holy Communions.

Recently my husband and I reminisced about a scene in our early family years.  The four of us were being seated in a restaurant.  My husband and I chose seats opposite one another at the round table.  Our son hopped in a vacant chair, looked across at his older sister with a big grin, and announced, “I get to sit between mom and dad!”  In a millisecond something else dawned on him, “Oh,” he mumbled in a whisper, “you get to sit between mom and dad too!”  The truth of the matter is – security and joy are fittingly found near those who love and will protect.

Italian priest, St John Bosco, had vivid dreams from childhood onward, which helped guide his life and proved to be prophetically accurate.  One of his more remarkable mystical dreams was in the Spring of 1862. He had a vision of the near-term future of his beloved Catholic Church.  Following are excerpts from Forty Dreams of St John Bosco, compiled and edited by Fr J Bacchiarello, SDB:

“Try to picture yourselves with me on the seashore, or, better still, on an outlying cliff with no other land in sight. The vast expanse of water is covered with a formidable array of ships in battle formation, prows fitted with sharp spear-like beaks capable of breaking through any defense. All are heavily armed with cannons, incendiary bombs, and firearms of all sorts — even books — and are heading toward one stately ship, mightier than them all. As they try to close in, they try to ram it, set it afire, and cripple it as much as possible.

This stately vessel is shielded by a flotilla escort. Winds and waves are with the enemy. In this midst of this endless sea, two solid columns, a short distance apart, soar high into the sky: one is surmounted by a statue of the Immaculate Virgin at whose feet a large inscription reads: Help of Christians; the other, far loftier and sturdier, supports a [Communion] Host of proportionate size and bears beneath it the inscription Salvation of believers. …

The entire enemy fleet closes in to intercept and sink the flagship at all costs. They bombard it with everything they have: books and pamphlets, incendiary bombs, firearms, cannons. The battle rages ever more furious. Beaked prows ram the flagship again and again, but to no avail, as, unscathed and undaunted, it keeps on its course. At times a formidable ram splinters a gaping hole into its hull, but, immediately, a breeze from the two columns instantly seals the gash. …

Very grave trials await the Church. What we have suffered so far is almost nothing compared to what is going to happen. The enemies of the Church are symbolized by the ships which strive their utmost to sink the flagship. Only two things can save us in such a grave hour: devotion to Mary and frequent Communion. Let us do our very best to use these two means and have others use them everywhere.”

Through the grace and strength of the Holy Eucharist and the assured intercession of Our Lady, the Church has and will withstand raging squalls and assaults of every type.  “Trust things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Mary, Help of Christians,” encourages St John Bosco, “and you will see what miracles are.”

From its inception, the Apostolate has held in its simple mission of beseeching sanctity for all bishops and priests, the encouragement of staying close to both the Eucharist and the Madonna.  It is built in! Our weekly prayer is ideally as near as can be to the Blessed Sacrament. (While in the current pandemic milieu this is not possible for all right now, but please keep fidelity to prayer, even in your domestic oratories.  Return to the Chapels and Tabernacles when you are able).  Within that offered Hour we intentionally seek prayer for the recipient bishop/priest for a greater devotion to Mary.  Don Bosco is worth repeating: “these two things… can save us in such a grave hour.”

As Divine economy would have it, over and again, Seven Sisters tell me they too are growing in knowledge and love of both our Eucharistic Lord and Our Lady. As Seven Sisters we come to trust a growing inner fortification and peace of being near the Blessed Sacrament and Mary.  When we experience a hiatus from one or both we develop a longing that goes unsatisfied until remedied!  Like my son’s epiphany, like St John Bosco’s detailed dream… we desire to be harbored safely (or at least seeking this sweet spot) between trusted Love and Protection.  Please keep fidelity to your Hour.  “Where humble obedience reigns, grace will triumph” (St John Bosco).

United in prayer and mission…that our prayers may find the heart of every bishop and priest…

… eternal gratitude continues as you each remember to offer a wee Hail Mary for me every day….  “One Ave Maria makes hell tremble” (St John Vianney). Pray that I will not ‘spoil the beautiful work that God has entrusted…’  (St Teresa of Calcutta)

… your kind emails and notes and phone calls and generous support always arrive to my heart door at the right moment! Your financial sacrifices are for 100% furtherance of Apostolate.  THANK YOU!  The letters of testimony are so beautiful and edifying! What glory is given to God through your writing! Eternal gratitude is mine for YOU! Be assured of my continued daily prayers for you at the altar.

Janette
+JMJ+
[email protected]

Let us TOGETHER continue to prepare a Birthday gift for Our Lord: 2020 active groups by 12/25/20

Prayer will make things clear as to who, when, where and how to encourage new groups!