Thabor – Elevation and Discipline II
…continued from previous post
Man is both body and soul. The angels shine contemplating God and singing His praises in pure spirit, but man with his body as well. His actions, every beat of his heart should give glory to God.
Man in Paradise had a perfect nature. All he did was orderly and pleasant to God. But with original sin, the situation changed …with labor and toil shall you eat thereof all the days of your life… (Genesis 3:17)
No longer are all things in man subject to God’s will. Man is burdened by disorderly passions. He must fight against inclinations towards evil, as he was cursed to a fallen nature.
“For you are dust, And to dust you shall return. …”
Oh how we are subject to that just sentence! At every instant our flesh calls us despise the law written in the bronze of our souls! Even worst, not only the flesh, but the Devil and the World conspire against our salvation, against our union with God! How can we maintain our minds in Heaven when our feet are dragging?
Of course, for man that is impossible. Only with God’s grace can man stably practice the 10 commandments. St. Thomas teaches us that while a man is capable of doing some ethical or moral good, supernatural good is only with His Grace.
But graces come in many forms. To simplify, we’ll use an example used a lot demonstrate the difference between sufficient grace (gratia mere sufficiens) and efficacious grace (gratia efficax).
Sufficient graces are those that give the person the possibility to do good.
A man who wants to cross a river needs a boat, oars and the strength to do so.
It is analogous to a man who wants to practice good. He needs grace. God gives it.
But when the current is stronger than normal? When the task at hand is so much more difficult than the common situation? More help is needed.
There God not only gives you oars, but He shall push the boat towards the goal.
Of course, man always has free will, but isn’t it hard to row against a hurricane of graces?
When God sends His winds, at most you need to open the sails to reach the goal. Sometimes not even that. How many wonderful stories about mystics could we tell? They saw the most sublime things, as if ascended into Heaven. But not only they, but every person, at one point in their lives, was subject such a grace, in a greater or lesser degree.
But the journeys of a Catholic are not always full of winds that push towards the Heavens. How many times have we found ourselves in a dark night, and the boat slipping from our control?
Does God abandon us? No, absolutely not! Does the mother abandon the child when she puts the child down from her arms and gives it her hand as it may walk on its own feet? No, God helps us in the same way, as we may be strengthened. He shall always be there. Even St. Paul begged God to take Him in His arms as the mother takes child the child and carries it where she wishes and protect it. But the Lord told him, as we read in 2 Corinthians 12: My grace is sufficient for you: for power is made perfect in infirmity.
This is where discipline comes in. Our small contribution to the action of grace. A man must put order into his life in so that he may triumph over his worst enemy: himself. To defeat all his evil inclinations he needs both grace and a bit of effort (Or sometimes a lot!) . “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” – St. Augustine.
He needs to make efforts to strengthen his will. Waking up early and having schedules to follow make a Herald use his time wisely and efficiently. Practicing ceremonials, be it for mass or the muster of the Credo before classes or even the cortege from dinner to Complines, helps the body discipline its movements to make them dignified movements yet leaving the mind open to reach the highest contemplations that grace proportions when we are properly disposed for them. If angels had bodies… imagine it…we want to imitate them!
Discipline is not only work! Everything helps a young herald be always with enthusiasm to love, know and serve Our Blessed Mother and Her Divine Son!
Washing dishes, cleaning, exercise, silence, early wake-up, lights out, drills, music practice, Marian missions (will be the subject of future posts), parish duties, community admonishments, chapters of faults, studies, strong reading habits and being expected to always do everything with a love for perfection creates habits that end up forming ideas, that then forms mentalities and finally forms saints. All this next to an intense spiritual life make a seminarian ready for anything and willing to go and do anything that Holy Church needs of him. At a young age, obedience already becomes way of life, making him capable of things others aren’t. Living in community, having to follow an Ordo of Customs (again, we hope to write on it later) and constantly having to dominate their will and put it the hands of another make a seminarian be ready for those times that God hands us “just an oar” to give us merits. These habits end up being connatural to the person, allowing him to fly when life weights down. Without discipline, when aridness begins to ail a soul, it succumbs and is incapable of elevating the minds to God. When God sends His winds to push us towards great things and great horizons to “Put out into deep water” (Luke 5:4 ) it is easy to elevate your mind towards Him. But when He wants us to suffer the apparent abandonment as He Himself suffered to make us grow, we need to be ready for it. An athlete who wants to win a race can’t rely on having a “good day” . He has to train for it. The path towards sanctity is not always full of bright skies and and soothing winds. Sometimes it goes through dark knights and heavy storms. With discipline, overcoming those trials, always with God’s grace, becomes possible, being able to always keep the celestial objective in sight and on the path towards it.
Let us all discipline ourselves, above all in our prayer life, so we can one day with great joy say: I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course: I have kept the faith!
Working
Making pizza on Sundays!
Working with wood with our Master Carpenter!
Always seeking Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, be it with the greatest consolations or the most challenging aridity
International Theological Convention “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest” – Convegno Teologico
from: http://www.annussacerdotalis.org/ To see video: http://www.convegnoteologico.org/Communiqué on the Internet transmission
of the
International Theological Convention
“Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest”
Rome, March 11-12, 2010
We would like to inform you that the International Theological Convention
“Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest”, promoted by the Congregation
for the Clergy, to be held at the Aula Magna of the
Pontifical Lateran University
on March 11-12 2010, will be transmitted on this website, on which it will be
possible to follow proceedings of the various conferences.
With Bishop Joe S. Vasquez
With Bishop Joe S. Vasquez
With Bishop Joe S. Vasquez – Bishop elect of Austin: Thanksgiving mass at the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston Texas. Feb. 18, 2010
Heralds Retreat at Cap-de-la-Madeleine
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May 07, 08 & 09, 2010
Preacher: Fr. François Bandet, EP.
Program
Friday, May 07
7:00 am Departure from 365 QUEEN ST S. Mississauga, ON
7:30 am Stop at 10 Cartwright St, Toronto, ON
4:00 pm Arrival and Registration at Madonna Hotel.
5:30 pm First Meeting
6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Opening Mass – End of the Day
Saturday, May 08
7:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am Mass
9:00 am First Meeting
9:45 am Time for Meditation
10:45 am Second meeting
11:45 am Time for Meditation and confessions
1:00 pm Lunch and free time
4:00 pm third Meeting
4:45 pm Time for Meditation and Confessions
5:45 pm Prayers
6:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Mass and Confessions
9:00 pm – End of the Day
Sunday, May 09
7:00 am Breakfast
8:00 am Closing Mass
9:00 am Departure to Toronto – End of the Retreat
Costs
(Deadline for inscriptions: April 23rd)
One Person: $300.00 (private room)
Double Room: $440.00 (sharing room)
Triple Room: $655.00 (sharing room)
Four people room: $795.00 (four people sharing a room).
Price includes Transportation by bus, Lodging at Cap-de-la-Madeleine and breakfast, Lunch, Dinner during the Retreat; meals during the trip are not included.
Family Coolers are welcomed.
For more information
Please call (905) 939-8226 or (647) 283 0310
Snow in Rome!
[book id=” /]It snowed in Rome! The last time it snowed this hard was February 1986.
For the Heralds it marked the last day of exams. For some… the canon law students are still in exams!
For all of us a gift from Santa Maria ad nives on the Eternal City
Here are some pictures we took:
Bernadette: the greatest miracle of Lourdes.
February 11 – Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
Bernadette: the greatest miracle of Lourdes.
On February 11, 1858, in the French village of Lourdes, on the bank of the Gave river, our holy mother, Mary, manifested in a direct and close manner her love for us. She appeared to a young girl of only 14 whose name was Bernadette Soubirous.
At that moment, Bernadette experienced the most beautiful moment of her life: “I felt a strong wind which compelled me to raise my head. Looking around, I noticed that the branches of the thorn bushes that grow around the cave of Masabielle were moving. At once there appeared, a beautiful Lady, so lovely, that seeing her, one wished to die, such is the desire to see her again.”
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!
St. Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us!
A view of the house of the Heralds of the Gospel in Ponta Grossa
A nice picture we received from the Heralds in Ponta Grossa
A view of the hall of Mater Divinae Gratiae in the house of the Heralds in Ponta Grossa
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE 44th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE 44th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
“The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World:
New Media at the Service of the Word”
[Sunday, 16 May 2010]
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The theme of this year’s World Communications Day – The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word – is meant to coincide with the Church’s celebration of the Year for Priests. It focuses attention on the important and sensitive pastoral area of digital communications, in which priests can discover new possibilities for carrying out their ministry to and for the Word of God. Church communities have always used the modern media for fostering communication, engagement with society, and, increasingly, for encouraging dialogue at a wider level. Yet the recent, explosive growth and greater social impact of these media make them all the more important for a fruitful priestly ministry.
All priests have as their primary duty the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments. Gathered and called by the Word, the Church is the sign and instrument of the communion that God creates with all people, and every priest is called to build up this communion, in Christ and with Christ. Such is the lofty dignity and beauty of the mission of the priest, which responds in a special way to the challenge raised by the Apostle Paul: “The Scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame … everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? (Rom 10:11, 13-15).
Responding adequately to this challenge amid today’s cultural shifts, to which young people are especially sensitive, necessarily involves using new communications technologies. The world of digital communication, with its almost limitless expressive capacity, makes us appreciate all the more Saint Paul’s exclamation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16) The increased availability of the new technologies demands greater responsibility on the part of those called to proclaim the Word, but it also requires them to become become more focused, efficient and compelling in their efforts. Priests stand at the threshold of a new era: as new technologies create deeper forms of relationship across greater distances, they are called to respond pastorally by putting the media ever more effectively at the service of the Word.
The spread of multimedia communications and its rich “menu of options” might make us think it sufficient simply to be present on the Web, or to see it only as a space to be filled. Yet priests can rightly be expected to be present in the world of digital communications as faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as leaders of communities which increasingly express themselves with the different “voices” provided by the digital marketplace. Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites) which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelization and catechesis.
Using new communication technologies, priests can introduce people to the life of the Church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ. They will best achieve this aim if they learn, from the time of their formation, how to use these technologies in a competent and appropriate way, shaped by sound theological insights and reflecting a strong priestly spirituality grounded in constant dialogue with the Lord. Yet priests present in the world of digital communications should be less notable for their media savvy than for their priestly heart, their closeness to Christ. This will not only enliven their pastoral outreach, but also will give a “soul” to the fabric of communications that makes up the “Web”.
God’s loving care for all people in Christ must be expressed in the digital world not simply as an artifact from the past, or a learned theory, but as something concrete, present and engaging. Our pastoral presence in that world must thus serve to show our contemporaries, especially the many people in our day who experience uncertainty and confusion, “that God is near; that in Christ we all belong to one another” (Benedict XVI, Address to the Roman Curia, 21 December 2009).
Who better than a priest, as a man of God, can develop and put into practice, by his competence in current digital technology, a pastoral outreach capable of making God concretely present in today’s world and presenting the religious wisdom of the past as a treasure which can inspire our efforts to live in the present with dignity while building a better future? Consecrated men and women working in the media have a special responsibility for opening the door to new forms of encounter, maintaining the quality of human interaction, and showing concern for individuals and their genuine spiritual needs. They can thus help the men and women of our digital age to sense the Lord’s presence, to grow in expectation and hope, and to draw near to the Word of God which offers salvation and fosters an integral human development. In this way the Word can traverse the many crossroads created by the intersection of all the different “highways” that form “cyberspace”, and show that God has his rightful place in every age, including our own. Thanks to the new communications media, the Lord can walk the streets of our cities and, stopping before the threshold of our homes and our hearts, say once more: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Rev 3:20).
In my Message last year, I encouraged leaders in the world of communications to promote a culture of respect for the dignity and value of the human person. This is one of the ways in which the Church is called to exercise a “diaconia of culture” on today’s “digital continent”. With the Gospels in our hands and in our hearts, we must reaffirm the need to continue preparing ways that lead to the Word of God, while being at the same time constantly attentive to those who continue to seek; indeed, we should encourage their seeking as a first step of evangelization. A pastoral presence in the world of digital communications, precisely because it brings us into contact with the followers of other religions, non-believers and people of every culture, requires sensitivity to those who do not believe, the disheartened and those who have a deep, unarticulated desire for enduring truth and the absolute. Just as the prophet Isaiah envisioned a house of prayer for all peoples (cf. Is 56:7), can we not see the web as also offering a space – like the “Court of the Gentiles” of the Temple of Jerusalem – for those who have not yet come to know God?
The development of the new technologies and the larger digital world represents a great resource for humanity as a whole and for every individual, and it can act as a stimulus to encounter and dialogue. But this development likewise represents a great opportunity for believers. No door can or should be closed to those who, in the name of the risen Christ, are committed to drawing near to others. To priests in particular the new media offer ever new and far-reaching pastoral possibilities, encouraging them to embody the universality of the Church’s mission, to build a vast and real fellowship, and to testify in today’s world to the new life which comes from hearing the Gospel of Jesus, the eternal Son who came among us for our salvation. At the same time, priests must always bear in mind that the ultimate fruitfulness of their ministry comes from Christ himself, encountered and listened to in prayer; proclaimed in preaching and lived witness; and known, loved and celebrated in the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation.
To my dear brother priests, then, I renew the invitation to make astute use of the unique possibilities offered by modern communications. May the Lord make all of you enthusiastic heralds of the Gospel in the new “agorà” which the current media are opening up.
With this confidence, I invoke upon you the protection of the Mother of God and of the Holy Curè of Ars and, with affection, I impart to each of you my Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, 24 January 2010, Feast of Saint Francis de Sales.
BENEDICTUS XVI
Reception of habits – Jan. 24, 2010
Some pictures of a ceremony of reception of habit in Our Lady of the Rosary church.
A view from the nave…
A view of the nave of the church of the seminary.
And the phrase of the day…
Our founder, Msgr. João S. Clá Dias, has the custom of, after signing the registry of the masses, to write in a phrase that synthesizes the homily and leave a lasting impression above all in the younger heralds. So we hope to transmit them often!
“Quem vive em virtude, transborda em alegria!”
“Who lives in virtue, overflows in joy!
16-01-10
Waiting for the phrase after the Mass
“O amor move o universo enquanto a Fé, as montanhas”
“Love moves the universe while Faith, the mountains.
Mons. João S. Clá Dias, 12-01-2010
Thabor – Elevation and Discipline I
Thabor (in English Tabor or Thabor) is a place where elevation and discipline reign. Banalities and lack of seriousness are naturally discouraged.
Naturally? Yes, naturally. In the sense that without needing to always having to drag a person, heavy with earthly thoughts and desires, to elevated things, he is in a situation where it is, in a way, the only thing possible. From a door handle that ennobles a simple closet to the way the indirect lighting creates a penumbra enveloping a corner with mystery, turning every detail into an occasion for elevation of the mind towards God. In creatures one can see an aspect of God, a principle behind a design and even opens the mind to the possibilities of things God could have created, wonders that exist in God’s infinite mind; these wonders that we hope to contemplate in Heaven. A prayer that really shows this spirit is one that the Heralds of the Gospel, who voluntarily live in a spirit of poverty, when are in need of some material good, end the request for them with it, adapted from the litany of the saints.
“Cor Sapientiale et Immaculatum Mariae, ut mentes nostras ad caelestia desideria erigas! Te rogamus, audi nos! ”
Even in the most simple situations, pulchrum involves the life of a herald, so that the union with God, Our Blessed Mother, the Choirs of the Angels and the Community of the Saints is always more intense. Everything proportions an opportunity for mystical graces to touch the deepest recesses of the soul.
The Church after Complines
But then why discipline? Doesn’t the soul fly towards these wonders? Is this not the essential part of a holy person”s life?
Certainly. Without elevation man is nothing. We were created to contemplate and glorify God.
But this is precisely why we need discipline.
To be continued…
Heralds Youth Saturdays
On Saturday January 8th, a program of religious formation took place at the Heralds house in Schomberg, ON geared to boys, grades 4 to 8.
This time, the boys had a power point presentation on the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, tobogganing in the snow hills, a meeting about Grace and the Commandments, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by half an hour adoration and the recitation of the Rosary, ended with the traditional Heralds Pizza.
Youth activities take place every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at the Heralds House, 5535 17th sideroad, Schomberg, ON, @ 2:30 P.M
The next meeting is scheduled for January 22nd, 2010. For more information contact Br. Gustavo Kralj at 647-283-0310
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Apostolate of the Shrine in Rwanda
From Mr Emmanuel Batagata, companion of the Heralds of the Gospel in Rwanda:
“We have also a young choir composed by 25 girls we are in need of uniform for them and musical instruments. The Apostolate of the Shrine is active in many parishes : Rango, Nyumba, Butare, Ngoma (Butare Diocese) and Muhondo and Shyorongi (Kigali Archidiocese).
At present, 350 families are members of the Apostolate of the Shrine and visits among families continue with Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In June 26th, 2011, we will celebrate 5 years of this work of evangelization in Rwanda.”
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A quick video of Thabor during Christmas
It is a really nice video of scenes around the seminary.
It is in Portuguese, but the spoken part is minimal as it is mainly scenes.
Enjoy!
Thabor – The Heralds of the Gospel’s International Seminary
Tabor at an angle
The classrooms and the courtyard during Christmas
Tabor (Thabor in Portuguese) is the name of the international seminary of the Heralds of the Gospel (The Society of Apostolic life of Pontifical Right Virgo Flos Carmeli). It comprises the Major Seminary, Minor Seminary, Church and TV studios of the Heralds of the Gospel.
It is the main place where our future priests and consecrated receive their formation. In here they will not only study theology, philosophy and other ecclesiastical disciplines, but will formed into holy men. In a life full of prayer and study, guided by discipline and love of perfection they learn to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)”
At the Major Seminary, St. Thomas Aquinas, the young Heralds study the Church disciplines, always with a particular love for the via pulchritudinis. At the minor seminary, young aspirants begin their steps in the religious life with joy, starting from middle school to high school.
The Heralds of the Gospel always strive for the elevation of man to God through beauty and splendour. That is a keynote to Tabor. Everywhere and at all times is the young seminarian/novice surrounded by a an ambiance that elevates him towards contemplation. In a life full of ceremonials, the young Herald already begins to participate in the joys of the angels and saints in Heaven, feeling the peace God gives when we are in search of Him.
From dinner to Complines
We wanted show you this wonder to let you participate in our joy. If you ever find yourself in São Paulo, Brazil, come visit us!
This is a first post on Tabor and we hope to post more. We’ ll be putting things on the daily life and activities of the Heralds of the Gospel in Thabor and Our Lady of the Rosary Church.
The pictures are all thanks to our seminarians there who run a blog on the seminary. Please visit them! thabor.blog.arautos.org
New group of the Shrine Apostolate coordinated by kids
On January 2, in the celebration of the First Saturday devotion, a new group of the Apostolate of the Shirne was formed. Blessed by the Rev. Fr. Michael Greer, pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Miami, the group has the particularity that it will be coordinated by kids. This ceremony took place the First Saturday preceding the Missionary Childhood Day celebrated today on the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
For more information on the Apostolate of the Shrine in Miami and general please call 1-305 238 2435. Please visit www.heralds.us and click on the top where is says “Shrine”.
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New Companions
On Saturday 19th, 2009 at 11:am, at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, in Toronto, 5 new companions were received on a solemn Mass concelebrated by Fr Marcos Faes, EP and Fr. François Bandet, EP.
The Heralds of the Gospel are very happy to receive these five new members into their spiritual family: Mrs. Marie Bilof, Mrs. Lourdes Fernandes, Ms. Theresa Fernandes, Mrs. Mary Cruz and Mr. Luis Cruz.
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Christmas 2009
In this Year for Priests, proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, the Heralds of the Gospel kneeling before the manger, implore the Holy Family to bestow the choicest graces and blessings upon you and your loved ones. May the Peace and Hope of the Eternal and High Priest, be showered upon you each day of the coming year.
♦
Hérauts de l’Évangile
Invitation: Solemn Mass on Saturday December 19th
The Heralds of the Gospel would like to invite you and your family for a Solemn Mass on
Saturday December 19th @ 10 a.m.
Our Lady of Sorrows Church,
3055 Bloor Street West, Etobicoke, ON.
During the Mass, concelebrated by Fr. Marcos Faes, EP and Fr. François Bandet, EP, new companions of the Heralds of the Gospel will be officialy received.
Rome Reports
It is not recent news for the readers of our magazine… but you might like to watch this video published yesterday on www.romereports.com:
Heralds of the Gospel founder receives the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
November 25, 2009. The Nobel prizes are awarded to those who have made notable discoveries or investigations for peace. But it’s not the only important recognition out there. Those who give service to the Church and the pope also receive an award of their own. It’s called the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Cardinal Franc Rode travelled to Brazil to award the prize to Monsignor Joao Scognamiglio Cla, founder of the Heralds of the Gospel.
Card. Franc Rode
Prefect, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life
“The pope is grateful for your noble work, holy audacity, your love for the Church and the exceptional example of your life. You are the race of heroes and saints.”
The Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia is made of gold and has an image of Saint Peter and Saint Paul and a yellow and white band for the colors of the Vatican.
Mons. Joao Scognamiglio Cla
Founder, Heralds of the Gospel
“This award honors all of us—myself, the Heralds and the societies of apostolic life. We have the grace of God to be able to continue our work and your guidance, Eminence, as well as the Holy Father’s.”
The Heralds were also celebrating the approval of the female section and the priestly section of the Heralds of the Gospel.
Father José Fco. Hernández Medina.
President, Heralds of the Gospel (Italy)
“That was another reason why Cardinal Rode wanted to go to Sao Paulo, Brazil this summer to award the Holy Cross and celebrate our pontifical approvals in the proper place.”
This approval comes together with one granted by John Paul II in 2001. Founded in the 1970’s in Brazil, they are present in 50 countries around the world.
It’s spirituality is based on the adoration of the Eucharist, devotion to the Virgin and fidelity to the pope. It’s a spirituality that means to take the Gospel to all corners of the world.
BR/RS
–WP
Pilgrimage to Montreal and Quebec city
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A Pilgrim’s Testimony:
Our pilgrimage to the shrines in Montreal and Quebec commenced on Friday October 30th and ended on Sunday November the 1st. We were very blessed to have two priests, Fr. Francois Bandet, Fr. Ramon and three Brothers of the Heralds, Br. Gustavo Kralj, Br. Justin Bonyun and Br. Francois. Br. Gustavo, the chief organizer of the trip did a fantastic job in coordinating everything very efficiently. The driver of the coach was Carlos Montenegro, who was an excellent driver and his wife too was on the trip.
A group of us from St. Catharines, Hamilton, Milton, Brampton and Mississauga areas joined the coach at the Heralds school Lumen Veritatis Academy in Streetsville around 4:00 a.m. The next group of pilgrims was picked up at Cartwright Avenue near the Yorkdale Mall around 4:30 a.m.
Around 7 a.m. we stopped for breakfast in Kingston. We prayed two rosaries prior to getting into Montreal led by Fr. Francois and always seeked the invocation of St. Joseph, Our Lady of Good Success, Our Lady of Good Counsel, St. Anne, Our Lady of the Cape and Blessed Frederick and many other Saints. Fr. Francois also gave us the history of Notre Dame Basilica and St. Joseph’s Oratory. We had a guided tour of the beautiful Basilica of Notre Dame in Montreal and then went to St. Joseph’s Oratory. We had lunch at the Oratory and had time to pray, light candles etc., and also Fr. Francois heard confessions. We were a little late getting into Montreal, hence mass could not be celebrated as scheduled in the Crypt church at St. Joseph’s. We were very fortunate that the weather was very good and there was no rain.
Our first stop was a visit to the Basilica dedicated to Our Lady the Blessed Virgin – “Notre Dame”.
The small original chapel was operated at first by the Jesuits followed by the Sulpician Fathers, who in 1657 undertook construction of a larger church. The Sulpician François Dollier de Casson was its architect, and the present-day Notre-Dame Street served as the original site. Its construction, in Baroque style was completed between 1672 and 1683.
Next stop, Saint Joseph’s Oratory which is the largest shrine in the world dedicated to Saint Joseph, perched atop Mount Royal.
Brother Andre who was a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross realized an impossible dream in founding Saint Joseph’s Oratory, a treasure trove for generations of believers around the world!
If canonized, Brother André would be the first Quebec man to be named a saint. Marie Marguerite d’Youville (1701-1771), founder of Montreal’s Sisters of Charity, or Grey Nuns, was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1990.
Brother André was born Alfred Bessette in 1845, the eighth of 12 children in a family in the farming village of St. Grégoire, 50 kilometres southeast of Montreal.
Around 3 pm we boarded the bus again and left for Cap-de-la-Madeleine. We also had a fairly large group from the Spanish community and it was so nice to see the young children and teenagers who came with their parents. Some of the little ones were the children that served at all the masses. Br. Gustavo led the 3rd rosary in Spanish and Br. Justin gave us the history of Our Lady of Cape. By this time most of us were tired and were nodding off, hence Br. Justin had to give us the talk again the next day.
We arrived at the Madonna House around 5:30 and the hotel had everything ready for us and the keys were handed over to us as we walked in, so there was no waiting. We had time to freshen up and went downstairs for dinner. After dinner around 7 pm, Fr. Francois heard confessions and mass was celebrated at the Basilica of Our Lady of Cape at 8 pm. This was a very special mass and again we were blessed to be in such a magnificent and holy place. The night was dreary with the rain; hence after mass everyone retired to bed early as we had had such a long day.
The next morning Saturday, we began with breakfast at 7 and mass was celebrated at the original shrine of Our Lady of the Cape. This is where the miracles of eyes took place many centuries ago. During the mass those of us who did not have the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel were all presented with one and a special blessing conferred upon us by Fr. Francois.
Below is a picture of Notre-Dame-du-Cap or Our Lady of the Cape which is located on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.
The original stone parish church, now known as the Little Old Shrine, was opened for worship in 1720. It is the oldest church preserved in its integrity in the whole of Canada.
On June 22, 1888 the statue of the Virgin was placed on the altar and the little church was dedicated to Mary’s honour, becoming the “Shrine”. At the same time, Fr. Frederic, a Franciscan friar, became the first pilgrimage director. On this very night, kneeling in front of the altar, along with two other witnesses, he saw the miraculous statue open her eyes! An event that will be later on identified as the “Miracle of the Eyes”.
In 1955, the building of the present basilica was begun. Inaugurated in 1964, it is adorned with remarkable stained-glass windows by Fr. Jan Tillemans, a Dutch Oblate. The basilica can seat over 1660 people. Its dome rises up 125 feet high (38 meters).
On September 10th, 1984, during his trip to Canada, Pope John Paul II came to pray in the Old Shrine and had an outdoor celebration of the Eucharist before a crowd of more than 75,000 pilgrims.
After mass Br. Francois took some pictures of the group with the Basilica as the backdrop and then we boarded the bus and proceeded to St. Anne de Beaupre.
Again, on the way we prayed a couple of rosaries and the history of St. Anne de Beaupre and history of the area was relayed to us by Fr. Francois.
We arrived at the Comfort Hotel in St. Anne’s in time for lunch. Again, as we arrived our keys were handed over to us without any delay. There were many restaurants near the hotels, so everyone went to their choice of restaurant and had lunch. At 3 pm we were taken to the Basilica of St. Anne. Since mass was scheduled to be celebrated at 4:30 pm., we had time to pray, light candles and visit the gift shop.
The parents of Fr. Francois and the Mother of Br. Francois paid a surprise visit at St. Anne’s and it was a pleasure meeting them. Mass was celebrated at the Blessed Sacrament chapel. After mass we were taken to the main church and we venerated the relic of St. Anne.
St. Anne De Beaupre – First Church was built in 1658. The healing of Louis Guimont took place during the construction of this chapel. It was to be the first of many favours received.
The present Basilica’s construction began in 1923, after a fire destroyed the first Basilica in March of 1922. This new construction was oriented towards the future, all the while remaining faithful to the past. There was need for a large church, and the local people wanted it to be beautiful so pilgrims would be proud of it. Built in the Neo-Romanesque style, the Basilica is very harmonious to the eye, and is meticulously decorated. Cardinal Maurice Roy consecrated the Basilica on July 4, 1976.
There was a heavy downpour and high winds when we left the Basilica after mass. As such we went back to the hotel instead of going to Quebec City which was an optional visit weather permitting.
The next morning we went to the Basilica for mass at 7 a.m., which again was celebrated in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and this was the feast of All Saints. At the time the host was elevated and the consecration prayers were being recited, the sun shone brightly through the stained glass windows and the chapel lit up so brightly, which was almost a sign of hope from Our Lord.
After mass we had a quick breakfast at the hotel and departed for Toronto around 9. On the return journey also we prayed 3 rosaries and Fr. Francois gave us a talk on how Jacques Cartier and his men survived the winter through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother. Prior to getting into Toronto Bro. Gustavo asked us to sharing our experiences and testimonies. It was especially nice to see how confidently the little children came up and shared their experiences. Also we were made aware of the spouses of some of the pilgrims who are sick and in hospital and now we can lift them up in our Thursday night rosary group. We arrived in Toronto about an hour earlier than expected; hence we also had time to have a tour of the school when we got to Streetsville.
My association with the Heralds goes back to 2001 when I first got the lay apostolates to bring the statue of Our Lady of Fatima to my new house that I moved into the previous year. Subsequently I became one of their benefactors and have been getting the statue to my house every year except this year as the girls had left for Brazil on mission work and studies.
Since returning from the pilgrimage, 3 of my numerous prayers have been answered and I mean I wrote pages and pages of prayer requests for family and friends and deposited them at all the shrines and lit candles everywhere. Almost as soon as I got back home, I heard of 2 of my prayers being answered and I was waiting for the 3rd and I received it today, which is a real miracle as a relative of mine who had major surgery for breast cancer has been told that she does not need chemotherapy nor radiation treatment. So Praise the Lord, Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, St. Anne and all the saints for their intercession in hearing our prayers!
My friends Mira and Feliks Josipovic and Indi Sahni and I were blessed to be part of this pilgrimage and would like to say a sincere thanks to Br. Gustavo for keeping me informed about the pilgrimage and for the wonderful spiritual journey we all had together.
October, Month of the Rosary – Mass to Honor Our Lady
The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston, Texas once again was the perfect place to honor Our Blessed Mother during the Month of the Rosary with a solemn Rosary and Mass.
As we celebrate the Year for Priests, one of the seminarians from St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, crowned and place the rosary in the hands of the Pilgrim Statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary during the beautiful ceremony.
We were also very bless to have many of the ecclesial and Marian groups present in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese, accompany the Heralds of the Gospel on this wonderful evening.
God Bless, and thank you, everyone!
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