Newsletter 2024
May 2023: The Month of Our Lady
The Crowning of Our Lady
Recognise some of these children? On the 3rd of May we crowned Our Lady. The Crowning of Our Lady refers to the Catholic tradition of crowning a statue or image of the Virgin Mary with a crown of flowers or jewels as a symbol of her being the Queen of Heaven and Earth. This ceremony is often performed during the month of May, which is dedicated to Mary in the Catholic Church.
The practice of crowning Our Lady has its roots in medieval Europe, where the coronation of queens was a common practice. Over time, this tradition was adapted to honor Mary as the spiritual queen of all creation.
The ceremony typically involves a procession, prayers, and hymns in honor of Mary, followed by the crowning of her image or statue. The crown may be made of flowers, jewels, or other materials, and is usually placed on Mary's head by a priest or a member of the congregation.
The Armour of God
Last Wednesday the Children made the model armour and played a number of games to help them remember what each weapon represents spiritually. They memorised the passage and wrote it out and recited it. They had great fun, but with a important message, if we are going to try to live for Christ and Our Lady and build the Kingdom of God we will encounter opposition that we must be ready for. Also our fight is not against people, an idea that was hard to get the boys to accept as they practised their sword fighting skills, or political opponents or anti-Catholic individuals or apostate Catholics but against the forces of darkness namely Satan and our own tendency to sin (concupiscience).
10 Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power. 11 Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. 13 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. 4 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice, 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: 16 In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.17 And take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). 18 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints. Douai Rheims Eph 6 :10-18
Padre Pio clearly prayed the Rosary as a “weapon” against the “evil spirits” in the world, who are “prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Padre Pio knew that there is a spiritual war going on in the world that is invisible to the eye and he urgerd families to pray the Rosary daily as one of the most effective weapons against these evil forces.
Maybe you already prayer the family Rosary. However, maybe try in the month of Our Lady (May) to pray with fervor and love for God the prayer the Angel taught the three children of Fátima in 1916, making them repeat it three times at the end of each decade.
My God, I believe, adore, hope and love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You. Meu Deus!
June 2023: The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Praise God for June, the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Is your house concecrated to the sacred heart? Do you have a devotion to the sacred heart, well now is the time to start...
Daily Devotion to the Sacred Heart
O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I love You, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer You this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Your will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in You and for You.
Our Lord Jesus Christ made these twelve promises to those who honor His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, whom he called “the Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart” and the Heiress “of all Its treasures”, in the 1670’s. They show us how much he cherishes this devotion.
Considering that the blood that redeemed us at Calvary came from His Sacred Heart and that so much love and light still exude from it, we can easily understand why! These promises were revealed in one of many private revelations that Jesus gave St. Margaret Mary. Our Lord promised the following:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will comfort them in their trials.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and, above all, in death.
5. I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings
6. Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls will become fervent.
8. Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
9. I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Corpus Christi