St Joseph Our Spiritual Father

Today is the Feast Day of St Joseph the Worker! 🙏🙏🙏

I came across this beautiful, holy book in an interesting, surprising way. On January 27, 2020 my son Constantine had his First Reconciliation. We attended Mass that morning and he was greeted happily by the daily morning Church goers. His First Confession was heard right after Mass. It seemed like a split second that he went in and out of the confessional.

On a whim I asked Father if he had time to hear my confession. He graciously said yes. I spoke about things that pulled at my heart especially about the challenges of parenthood. He asked me to start praying to St Joseph for guidance and patience. He also asked me if I had a scapular. I told him that I had lost mine. He then quickly took his off and gave it to me. What a most wonderful gift offering! I received it with much gratitude.

The next day my son and I went to Adoration. We hadn't gone in a while but it was really special to see the Lord and to give thanks. Something interesting happened to me. We were not seated closely to anyone. Also, the poinsettias were placed at the altar far away from us. A beautiful fragrance as if the scent of roses swept by two distinct times while we were in the chapel. What another beautiful gift for me to ponder!

That same week I was flipping through my Facebook account. I paused to read about Fr Donald Calloway's newest book Consecration to St Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father. Somehow I was drawn to learn more. I thought what perfect timing. I took Father's advice and decided to make the book part of my Lenten journey.

I'm so grateful that I did. This book has been such a joy and contribution to me. I warmly invite fellow Catholics, Christians and those who are curious about the Faith to get the book. It is an intriguing, delightful book to be cherished for years to come and to be shared with loved ones as well as an awesome opportunity to become close the most powerful saint after Our Blessed Mother.

Dearest St Joseph, Head of the Holy Family, Mirror of Patience, Model of Workmen, Pillar of Families, Hope of the Sick, Patron of the Dying, Terror of Demons, Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us!

✝️ Get the book here: https://amzn.to/2YwczJv

Heaven Gained a New Saint Named Teresa

Dear friends,

This past week and a half my husband and I have been quietly mourning the loss of our dear friends’ beautiful and precious sixteen year old daughter, who passed away unexpectedly. Despite their grief, our friends have unwaveringly continued to trust in the Lord. Their faith has been a source of consolation for their family and friends — it certainly has been for us.  

The post below is something I wrote on November 4, 2011.  As I re-read it, it made me think so much of our friends. Their daughter, Reese, was named after St. Teresa of Calcutta, about whom the post was written. This post is dedicated to our dear friends and dearest Reese.  Today is Reese’s funeral and also a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, which is so appropriate since our friends are committed pro-lifers.   

~~~

As I was praying and kneeling on the pew with my husband this morning after receiving Holy Communion, an interesting thought came to mind. It was simply the word peace. In my prayer this morning I was asking God to give me a task. Whether He would give me a task or not I would still be thankful to Him. The word peace came to my mind. It could have been through the Holy Spirit (God answering my prayer) or through the prayers of St. Charles Borromeo since it is his feast day today. Anyway, it was a curious thought as I am still contemplating the word after almost twelve hours.

I listened to a talk by Father Larry Richards a few years back. He talks about a time when he and a friend went to visit some of Mother Teresa's nuns. He mentions how spiritually conscious and aware they were in front of the Blessed Sacrament. He says that once the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, all of the nuns immediately bowed down and touched their heads to the ground to worship. Fr. Richards then continued about a sign at the entrance of their chapel.

"The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."

These words were once said by Mother Teresa. After adoring the Blessed Sacrament, one of the nuns offered Fr. Richards and his friend to eat with them. At first they declined but the nuns insisted that they join them. At the table, after they said grace, the nuns constantly passed food for their guests, hosting them and making them feel at home. They offered simple food but they shared what they had. After recalling the story, Fr. Richards said that those nuns exemplified Mother Teresa's words. They understood peace because of prayer, through silent prayer they understood faith, through faith love, through love service. Those nuns were stewards of service and ultimately of peace.

Mother Teresa was peace. Fr. Robert Barron in the film series Catholicism names her the most influential person in the twentieth century. Though he has great admiration for Pope John Paul II, he believes that Mother Teresa was more influential.  Mother Teresa is a saint who during her life on earth worked tirelessly for the poor, the unwanted, the pro-life cause and peace.

That same spirit of service can evoke a world of peace. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Charles Borromeo, please pray for us and for peace on earth.

Nine Suggestions To Help Strengthen Your Faith

1. Attend daily Mass. There is no better way to start the day than going to church and being in the presence of Christ. The Eucharist is the central teaching of the Catholic faith. Going to Mass allows us to be transformed. We are brought closer to God. Our faith and love grow stronger.

2. Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. Going to Confession lifts the heavy burdens of sin. I like to say my Confession face-to-face with the priest but you have the option of saying an anonymous confession. After Confession all sins are forgiven. Through God's Divine Mercy, He gives us a clean slate.

3. Pray the Rosary every day. In my lowest moments, I have prayed the Rosary. The Rosary is simple and calming. It has given me hope and strength in times of despair. When we pray the Rosary we address Mary and ask for her intercession and prayers. In turn she gives our requests to Our Lord.

4. Serve others. At the end of Mass, the priest says to the congregation, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord." When we serve others, we serve Christ. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus says, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." When we give our time to help others, we are humbled. We are given an indescribable joy.

5. Find a spiritual director. Fr. Larry Richards recommended this in one of his CDs. He said that you can ask a priest or nun to be your spiritual director. The reason for a spiritual director is to keep us in the path of holiness. We are to grow in holiness. We are to live holy lives and become saints. Our goal in life is to get to Heaven. A spiritual director can assist in this. I also like to think of Catholic TV and radio personalities as my own spiritual directors. I follow Fr. Richards, Mother Angelica and Fr. Mitch Pacwa on EWTN. They help me stay the path.

6. Listen to Catholic Radio. There are a number of sources such as the Catholic Channel on XM Radio, Ave Maria Radio, EWTN Global Catholic Radio, Relevant Radio and many others. I have access to XM Radio so I enjoy listening to daily Mass, Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Gus Lloyd with Seize the Day. Many Catholic questions can be answered by listening to Catholic Radio.

7. Listen to Christian music. When I do not have access to Catholic Radio, I enjoy listening to Christian music. Throughout the nation, there are Christian, family-friendly radio stations. The music keeps me in a good mood throughout the day. Many times you will hear inspirational stories, too.

8. Forgive others. To forgive is a difficult act to do but Jesus calls us to. Mother Teresa had love and compassion in her heart for the poor and unwanted. She once recalled a story. She found an abandoned woman in a garbage dump very feverish and left there to die. The woman told her, "My son did this to me." Mother pleaded with her and told her that she must forgive her son. She continued, "In a moment of madness, when he was not himself, he did a thing he regrets. Be a mother to him, forgive him." After a long while, the dying woman conceded to say that she forgave her son. Right before she died in Mother's arms, she was able to say it with a real genuine forgiveness.

9. Spread the Good News. This is part of the New Evangelization that Blessed Pope John Paul II initiated. We can do our part in the New Evangelization by spreading the Good News through social media. Facebook, Twitter and e-mail are great starting places. There are a number of church group ministries that you can join. There is power in numbers. The wonderful thing is with the Catholic Church no one is alone. We Catholics belong to a community. As a community we can grow our faith. Consider giving Catholic gifts (books, CDs) as Christmas or birthday presents.

Other Resources

1. EWTN is the Eternal Word Television Network. It is on 24/7 and on the website you can watch live streaming. EWTN has a broad array of wonderful Catholic programs and movies. EWTN's website has a wealth of Catholic information such as devotions and prayers. It is normally my go to site for all things Catholic.

2. Catholics Come Home is a fantastic website that guides people to the Catholic faith. Whether one is a non-practicing Catholic contemplating returning to the church, a non-Catholic interested in learning more, or a Catholic who would like help in growing in the faith, the website welcomes everyone.

3. The Reason For Our Hope Foundation was started by Fr. Larry Richards. I enjoy listening to Fr. Richards' homilies which can be found on the website. He also has a great guide to Confession on his website. Fr. Richards will no doubt capture your attention. He speaks the truth about the faith in an inspirational way. Read more about the foundation and Fr. Richards on his website.

4. Rome Sweet Home is a book by Dr. Scott Hahn. It is about Dr. Hahn's and his wife's journey to the Catholic faith. It is a well-loved book by many. I especially recommend it to those who are away from the faith or are looking for answers.

5. Word On Fire by Fr. Robert Barron is right now promoting the Catholicism series and is showing on EWTN. This series is the first of its kind and has been well received by Public Television and many Catholic leaders. Fr. Barron took some amazing pilgrimages around the world to showcase the beauty of the Catholic faith. Its intent is to evangelize and glorify God. This is a must see for everyone wishing to seek God. Check out the Word On Fire and Catholicism Series websites.

6. No Turning Back is Fr. Donald Calloway's miraculous story of once being spiritually dead but finding peace in Holy Mother Church and the priesthood. It really is a story of God's Divine Mercy and how anyone who is open to the Holy Spirit can change his or her life for Christ. You can learn more on Fr. Calloway's website.

7. Bella is a beautiful movie about life. After watching it, I immediately became involved in the pro-life movement. I signed up to be a volunteer at a local pregnancy center as a counselor. I also participated in the March for Life in Washington, DC for the very first time. Both were unforgettable experiences.

~~~

Heaven gained a new saint named Teresa and we are sure she is with her namesake St. Teresa of Calcutta, Our Blessed Mother and Our Loving Lord Jesus Christ.  

St. Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!

Dearest Reese, pray for us!

In His faithful and loving service,

Elaine and Martin Javier

Pope St. John Paul II, St. Louise de Marillac, and the Most Holy Rosary for Families

"There are two immediate things which the Catholic families of America can do to strengthen home-life. The first is prayer: both personal and family prayer. One prayer in particular I recommend to families: the one we have just, just been praying, the Rosary. The second suggestion I make to families is to use the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn about the faith and to answer the questions that come up especially the moral questions which confront everyone today. - Pope Saint John Paul II

"The faults of children are not always imputed to the parents, especially when they have instructed them and given good example. Our Lord, in His wonderous Providence, allows children to break the hearts of devout fathers and mothers. Thus the decisions your children have made don't make you a failure as a parent in God's eyes. You are entitled to feel sorrow, but not necessarily guilt. Do not cease praying for your children; God's grace can touch a hardened heart. Commend your children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When parents pray the Rosary, at the end of each decade they should hold the Rosary aloft and say to her, 'With these beads bind my children to your Immaculate Heart,' she will attend to their souls." - St. Louise de Marillac

Years ago when I felt so lost and confused as to what God’s plans were for me I would frequently visit a beautiful church near my home and work called Our Lady of Hope in Potomac Falls, Virginia. I remember a couple of times hearing the voice of a small child singing with its mother. I didn’t know it at the time but I would visit around 3:00 in the afternoon and the child would be singing the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I was awestruck and thought, “What a voice! Just like an angel’s voice!” And then the child and its mother would silently pray the Rosary.

God did help me find my way and He did help me find a loving and devout spouse. From the beginning of our relationship the Rosary has been very special to us. Even though we lived in different states (I was in Virginia and Martin was in Texas) we would recite the Rosary over the telephone faithfully every night. Our son was born a few years after we married. The recitation of the Rosary is a devotion that is so sacred and meaningful to us that we hope for our son to continue and pass it on. May the beads of the Most Holy Rosary bind our child to Mary’s Immaculate Heart always.

This family picture was taken in the fall of 2013 in Norfolk, Virginia. It’s still one of my favorites.

Padre Pio, Confession and the Rosary

Last year I attended the Syracuse Catholic Women’s Conference with a friend and it was a fantastic experience. There were engaging speakers, time for prayer and devotions, Confession, and Mass with the bishop.

I remember sitting and waiting my turn for Confession. There were a number of diocesan priests hearing confessions and many good nuns assisting to make the wait easier for us. I quickly noticed that a number of ladies didn’t mind waiting for a certain priest. I was curious about that. From a distance the priest’s side profile reminded me of Padre Pio.

When it was my turn one of the nuns pointed to the confessional of the priest that looked like Padre Pio. At once I felt very comfortable because the priest was very attentive, genuinely kind and easy to talk to. As the priest was granting me absolution he gently touched my forehead. It was such a warm gesture. As I was thanking the good-hearted priest I asked his name. He told me, “I’m Father Dellos from Utica.” There was a joy that he radiated.

I remember feeling so much gratitude that day. I told my friend that I felt like I was being showered with so many blessings all day long.

The following quote is by Padre Pio. This is one of my favorite quotes about the Blessed Mother and the Rosary.

“Go to the Madonna. Love her! Always say the Rosary. Say it well. Say it as often as you can! Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying, it is what is essential. Prayer shakes the Heart of God, it obtains necessary graces!” - St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Pictured is a statue of Padre Pio given by my sister in law as well as a children's Rosary she got from a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal. Beside Padre Pio is a sleeping St. Joseph statue and on the other side is a picture of my paternal grandmother (a devout Catholic who helped convert her husband and many of his family members to the Catholic faith). St. Pio of Pietrelcina, please pray for us!

Our Lady of Fatima and the Rosary

This picture was taken at my father in law’s memorial service over two years ago. He passed peacefully on the 100th anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima on May 13, 2017. This is the most beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima I have ever seen.

I love the following quote by Sister Lucia because she is saying that everyone can pray the Rosary. No one is excluded. Religion or religious sect has no bearing. Our Blessed Mother asks everyone to participate. This quote is so fitting because today is the 102nd anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in which the sun “danced” witnessed by at least 70,000 people in Fatima, Portugal.

“All people of good will can, and must say the Rosary every day. Why? In order to put ourselves in contact with God, to thank Him for His benefits and ask for the graces we need. It is the prayer which places us in familiar contact with God, like the son who goes to his father to thank him for the gifts he has received, to talk to him about special concerns, to receive his guidance, his help, his support and his blessings.” -- Servant of God Sister Lucia

Through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima may we remember to pray often especially the Most Holy Rosary and may we always be thankful for all the graces Our Lord bestows upon us.

Jim Caviezel and the Holy Rosary

This picture was taken this past summer with Fr. Fred Mannara, the pastor of the Most Holy Rosary in Syracuse, New York.  My family and I had just met Fr. Mannara the day before at a Macedonian festival!  Father warmheartedly and graciously invited us to visit his beautiful parish that seats at least 1400 people.  And so we took him up on his invitation.  He was so surprised and excited to see us the very next day for Sunday Mass that he asked us to bring up the gifts and stay after Mass for a personal tour.  What a wonderful day full of blessings it was!

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary so I would like to share my favorite Rosary quotations on Sundays.  I really am drawn to Jim Caviezel's talks and message.  Here is part of a presentation he did in the spring.

"I believe Jesus wants the full truth about Mary - that she is the world's Spiritual Mother, the Co-redemptrix and Mediatrix, to be proclaimed by the present Pope, so that Our Mother can utilize her 'full power' of intercession to bring peace, true peace, to the world.

My friends in Jesus and Mary, the present world scene is one of unprecedented moral breakdown, natural disasters, and even greater global threats of war and terrorism are now looming in our midst. The power of Satan is evident, no matter where we turn. Our whole world is in desperate need of the peace of Jesus Christ. And his peace, both spiritual and global, will only come to us - as it did originally - through the person of Mary, our Mediatrix and Advocate!

At Fatima, Our Lady promised that 'In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph... and a period of peace will be granted to the world.' Let us trust in these words of Our Lady. Let us pray, especially before our Eucharistic Jesus, for true and lasting world peace through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of All Peoples.

She will keep her promise, but we must do our part. As St. Bernard has written, and as I have seen in my own life: 'You will not go astray if you follow her... you will not get lost if you call to her. If she is holding you by the hand you will not fall. If she is protecting you, you have nothing to fear. You will not grow weary if she is at your side.' But you must reach out to her.

My brothers and sisters, be faithful, call out to your Mother, pray the Rosary for world peace! Adore Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and Heaven will respond!

Before I leave you, this path will not be an easy one for our bishops and laity who accept this challenge and the fight to fulfill the will of God is never easy... but from God's gospel and Mother Teresa's personal creed, they echo this sentiment: Blessed are you when people hate you... when they exclude you and insult you... and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.' In the final analysis, it is between you and God... it was never between you and them anyway."

- From Jim Caviezel's presentation delivered at the World Day of Prayer for Peace through the Mother of All Peoples, Amsterdam, June 1, 2019

I wish you peace and love this holy month of October.  God bless you and your families!