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Marian Messenger News of the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine September/October 2015 Detroit Archdiocesan Division Celebrate the Year of Mercy at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine with Father Louis Guardiola C.P.M. Director of Eucharistic Adoration Fathers of Mercy. Friday, January 8, 2016 7pm Mass extended homily and Adoration Father Louis, who is based in Kentucky,Fr. John’s Journal has traveled the world giving retreats and talks on Jesus' Divine Mercy. His extended homily isFr. John Hedges, Spiritual Director entitled \"Angelic Eucharistic Warfare: The ThreeWorld Apostolate of Our Lady of Fatima Apparitions of the Angel of Pardon and Peace toThis is the third and last installment on my series of the three children of Fatima.\" 2016 marks the 100th Anniversary of thethe greatest sermon ever preached: the “Sermon on the Angel of Pardon and Peace's three apparitionsMount.” This final article coincides with the November/ to the children of Fatima. You won't want to missDecember newsletter, and the Month of the Holy Souls in this important talkPurgatory and the Incarnation and Birth of Our Lord for our times!Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.The seventh chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel contains the conclusion ofthe Sermon on the Mount, and begins with our Saviors’ caution:“Do not judge so that you in turn may not be judged. For you will bejudged in the same way that you judge others, and the measurethat you use for others will be used to measure you.” (Mt. 7:1,2)Salutary words for all of us as we think of our particular judgment at thehour of death! The month of the Holy Souls is set aside by the Church to Left: Fr. Louis Guardiola showingconsider the “Four Last Things”: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. We know Leonard St. Pierre around the grounds.from Jesus in the Gospels that He will be our judge measuring all our Above: Divine Mercy Chapel at Fathersthoughts words and actions performed in the body during our life on earth. of Mercy in KentuckyHe will also judge our sins of omission—all the good left undone: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of “Amen, I say to you, whatever you failed to do for one of the least hell; lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have of these brethren of mine, you failed to do for me. “ (Mt. 25-45) Jesus’ teaching not to judge refers to the hearts and souls of our the greatest need of Your mercy.”neighbors. It doesn’t mean we can’t judge external actions or words, or Jesus tells us to help our brother when he sins but only after weobjective moral evils. God has revealed the rightness and wrongness of have recognized our own sin first and examined our own consciences.external acts: Thou should not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Honor thy “Why do you take note of the splinter in your brother’s eye but do notfather and thy mother; Keep holy the Sabbath…. But Jesus warns us to be merciful, even to the erring. At Fatima and notice the wood plank in your own eye?” Mt. 7:3,5)Lourdes, our Lady asked us to pray for the conversion of sinners. She even One of the greatest sins of omission today is the failure ofteaches us a prayer to be said at the end of each decade of the rosary. Catholics to practice the spiritual works of mercy: Admonish the sinner; instruct the ignorant; bear wrongs patiently; pray for the living and the dead. Too many parents remain silent in the face of the

sins of their children. Instead of admonishing and giving correction, they aid All of these things taken together, while living the supreme law ofand support them in their sins. The same can be said of bishops, priests and charity in our daily lives, will conform us more and more to our Lordother consecrated souls with their own flocks. Not to warn of eternal and Savior, Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the goal of this life and the life todamnation for mortal unrepented sin is a sin of omission. come is union with Christ! It is indeed an understatement that we need to pray constantly for the Jesus completes His Sermon with these words of counsel andsouls entrusted to our care. The spiritual work of mercy to pray for the living warning:and the dead is of paramount importance in our times. Because we sufferdiabolical disorientation in today’s society, our souls are always in danger of “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the roadeternal damnation. Sometimes all we can do for others is pray for them. So broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it aremany are not open to hear the words of Jesus in the Gospel. Others have many. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, andaligned themselves openly to the prince of darkness. Jesus teaches; those who find it are few in number. “ (Mt. 7, 13, 14) “Do not give to dogs anything that is holy. And do not cast your pearls These sobering words remind us how difficult it is to enter the before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and then kingdom of heaven. Jesus warns us against false prophets; and those proceed to tear you to pieces.” (Mt. 7:6) who appear to be holy but are instead evil in their deeds. He tells us that we need more than external faith and acts of piety: We must pray always and make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners! When I was growing up, my parents had a great devotion to the Infant Jesus “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord” will enterof Prague and to the holy rosary. The image of the holy Infant had a place of the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does thehonor in their home. They confided all family matters, especially trials anddifficulties to the Infant Jesus, even placing their bills and financial difficulties will of my heavenly Father. “ (Mt. 7:21)under His statue! At Christmas time the Infant Jesus of Prague was venerated The will of the heavenly Father is revealed in the parable of the wisewith greater fervor, and the “Christmas Prayer” - “Hail and blessed be the and foolish builders at the conclusion of the Sermon.hour and moment...etc.” was offered fifteen times a day from November 30- “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts in accordanceDecember 25th. with them will be like a wise man who constructed his house on a Our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount, encouraged rock foundation. Everyone who hears these words of mine and doessuch devotion:: “Ask, and it will be given to you: seek and you will not act in accordance with them will be like a fool who find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For constructed his house on a foundation of sand.” (Mt. 7:24-26) everyone who asks will receive, and those seek will Let these words of Jesus Christ be your spiritual food in November as you consider the Last Four Things. And let these words of Jesus find, and to those who knock the door will be bear abundant fruit of holiness, purity, trust and love in pleasing opened.” (Mt.7,7-8) sacrifice to the Infant Jesus in the holy season of Christmas. Give Jesus souls for Christmas! Bring Him many souls in your holy Our Lord enjoins on us the necessity to pray with confidence to the Father. hours before His Divine Person in the Blessed Sacrament, offerWho wants to give good things to His children! And we are His children! Jesus everything through the most Pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary.speaks to us of the providence of the heavenly Father in all the aspects of daily Practice the greatest charity on earth each day: pray for the Holylife, but especially our conduct with one another. It is at the end of the Souls in Purgatory.greatest sermon ever told that Jesus gives us the “Golden rule”’ Jesus tells us that our eternal salvation is possible for God if we keep His Commandments. If you love, Me keep my words, If you wish to “In everything, deal with others as you would like them to enter into life, keep My Commandments! deal with you. This is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 7:12) May the Infant Jesus, His Immaculate Mother and St. Joseph, bless In the month of November, the Church calls us to pray for the souls in you and your families during this holy Christmas Season. In this “YearPurgatory, and to consider over our own last end on earth—death. It is wise to of Mercy” may you act in accordance with the Words of Jesus in Hisanticipate death by praying with fervor the daily rosary:…. “Pray for sinners Sermon on the Mount.now, and at the hour of our death.” It is wisdom to cultivate a tender devotionto St. Joseph who is the patron of a happy and holy death. St. Pius X gives us Any may the Holy Souls in Purgatory praythis wise counsel: that daily Holy Communion is the shortest and most perfect for us as we pray for them on their journey toway to heaven. The practice of frequent confession and the wearing of the the Beatific Vision.Scapular of Mt. Carmel are excellent means of preparing ourselves for thehour of our death. Merry Christmas! Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

President’s Corner Page 3 By: Leonard St. Pierre Sequoya Szczechowski and Maria Daly are new board members for our local World Apostolate of Fatima. They are taking their roles seriously in promoting the Fatimamessages. These two faithful women, whocoincidentally traveled to Fatima together on atour with Father John Hedges, are making ittheir mission to teach our youth about OurLady's Peace Plan from heaven.Sequoya has been giving talks to thechildren of St Mary's in Rockwood on Fatima aswell as sending the children home with 10traveling statues complete with rosaries andinstructions on how to pray the rosary. The Above: Sequoya teaching the childrenchildren keep the statues for a week and are about the Fatima message of peace.asked to pray at least one rosary with their Above right: Rosary, and two bookletsfamily and record their thoughts in a diary. All One booklet is about Fatima and thethe grades including pre-school have sent the rosary with pictures of the Fatima children in it and the other is how tostatues home with the students! pray the rosary and has beautifully illustrated mysteries) If you know of a school who would like to Right: The statue that is placed in thereceive a traveling statue, have talks on Fatima, case for children to take home foror a tour of the Shrine, please contact Sequoya prayer time.at [email protected] . Thank you to Kathy Valley who has kept ourMaria has scheduled all the classes from website up and running and going strong all theseGabriel Richard High School to visit the shrine years....you have been a blessing to us Kathy!the last two years and pray the rosary and hear We have also been blessed with a new web-a talk from their religion teachers on Fatima. The site, www.fatimashrinedetroit.org. Thank you tostudents receive rosaries as well. These two Jeremy Hawley for putting together our new web site.women are a great witness to the New Jeremy is a member of Cabrini Parish, married fatherEvangelization and are an inspiration to me. of two children who works full time, but sacrifices timePlease keep them in your prayers as well as the to use his computer talents to spread the message ofchildren and families that their work is touching. Fatima! Thank you!I know Our Lady through her image and rosaryis bringing many of these children to her Son. If you have talents you wish to share them inShould anyone promoting Our Lady of Fatima’s message of peace,press you into please call me and let me know at 313 320-7887.service for one If you choose to support us with your monetarymile…. donations, we truly need them and thank you for them! Either way, if you are reading this article, Our Lady wants to use you to help spread her Peace Plan from Heaven, especially as we approach the 100th Anniversary of Fatima in ... go with him 2017. Wishing you and your for two miles. families peace!

The World Apostolate of Our Lady of Fatima of Michigan, Inc. NONPROFIT Detroit Archdiocesan Division US POSTAGE 18637 Ray Street Riverview, MI 48193 PAID 734-281-1445 WYANDOTTE, MI www.fatimabluearmy.info 48192 PERMIT NO 11Fort Street (M-85) Current Resident or: Ray Street Koester N SSibley RoadOur World Apostolate of Fatimais funded solely by yourdonations. Please use theenvelope in this newsletter andgive generously to support OurWorld Apostolate of Fatima!Keep us in mind when planningyour estate and will. Pray the Rosary · Wear the Scapular The Holy Mass Schedule Virtus Men’s Prayer Group November Virtus Men’s Prayer Group has regular meetings:November 6th, First Friday, 7:00 P.M. 9:00 AM-10:30 in the Chapel on 2nd and 4th Saturdays.November 7th, First Saturday Mass 8:00A.M. St. Michael the Archangel holy hour: December Third Thursdays, 7:30 P.M. December 4th, First Friday, 7:00 P.M. Email Jean ([email protected]) if youDecember 5th, First Saturday Mass 8:00 A.M. are planning on attending, weather and attendance will keep us from gathering January at the chapel, but not from praying! January 1st, First Friday, - No Mass St. Joseph Bookstore hours Please attend Mass at your parish. Before and after all MassesJanuary 2nd, First Saturday Mass 8:00 A.M. Wednesdays 11:00 A.M.— 4:00 P.M. Saturdays 11:00 A.M.— 4:00 P.M. January 8th, Mass 7:00 P.M.Special Mass of Mercy with Fr. Louis Guardiola Our bookstore is staffed by volunteers so feel free to call in advance to be sure someone is E-mail us at: [email protected] or call Leonard St. Pierre at: (313) 320-7887. there to assist you. (734)281-1445. If you would like to help at the bookstore please call Jane www.fatimashrinedetroit.org Lenart at (734) 413-3016