The three “firsts” all fall this week—First Wednesday (July 2), First Friday (July 4) and First Saturday (July 5). In this Month of the Precious Blood, we also remember our nation’s freedom came at the cost of blood as we commemorate Independence Day on the Fourth of July (First Friday).
Please pray for the Palestinian Christians. Fanatic Jewish settlers have been attacking Palestinians (killing 3 recently), destroying their property and burning their homes—including Christians in Taybeh which is the only all-Christian town in Palestine (its in the West Bank not far from Ramallah). This side of the situation is underreported in the mainstream media.
Today is the feastday of the great Franciscan missionary, St. Junipero Serra—founder of the California Missions. His motto was “Always forward, never back!” (“Siempre haciadelante, nunca para tras”). We have an opportunity to be a local missionary by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ during the Dream Cruise (Saturday, August 16) for about 1½ hours as walk about as a group (or maybe in pairs) to share your love for Jesus and your Catholic Faith with anyone who is open. It is meant to be a simple venture that doesn’t take too much time. God will open doors. Please contact me or the leader of the venture, Randy Husaynu: (248) 515-6805 or randallhusaynu@icloud.com. A brief meeting (30 minutes max) by Randy Husaynu will be held after Mass on Saturday, July 19 to discuss what is involved and to provide some tips on sharing the Faith. We’re keeping this simple. If you are willing, Jesus will make you able!
This summer, let’s turn more intensely to the Blessed Virgin Mary to let her lead us more deeply into God. Here are some points to ponder:
- Mary’s singularly unique relationship with the Holy Spirit (Luke’s Gospel) makes possible her amazing ability to maternally help us, her spiritual children.
- God’s strategy for reversing the trend of “Russia’s errors” is to “establish in the world devotion to [Mary’s] Immaculate Heart.” (July 13, 1917 Apparition)
- Mary disassembles diabolical obstacles: God wants to establish in the world a devotion that can enlist hidden [angelic] forces that are at the beck and call of our heavenly Mother to disassemble the obstacles erected by our common enemy.
- Mary helps us respond to the truth better—in all its forms. This is critical in this time of relativism—the main “error” of Russia that is affecting Americans.
- Devotion to Mary helps preserve the full truth of her Son Who is the Truth of existence and of our salvation. (That’s why it is good to memorize the 20 Mysteries of her Rosary—they are really about Jesus.)
To communicate with me, please DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL but email me directly at abunaalex@yahoo.com or call/text me at (313) 727-9784. St. Junipero Serra, pray for us!
In Jesus, Mary & Joseph,
Fr. Alex Kratz, OFM
Spiritual Director of Terra Sancta Ministries