Greetings from California

...and the word "swamped" does not begin to cover it.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 6:57 PM link

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Flying Tomorrow...

...for Retrouvaille, for CPPS Cluster, for Provincial Council Meeting, For a few days away...

Retrouvaille this weekend:

Oakland, CA
Wichita, KS
Twin Cities, MN
Augusta, GA
Fremont, OH
Chicago, IL
San Antonio, TX
Delaware, PA
Aurora, OH

at 20-40 couples per weekend it could nearly be 200+ couples seeking help. Prayers posted here will be shared with the couples.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 8:39 PM link

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If only....

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 4:37 PM link

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Happy Feast Day

We began the liturgy today singing "At The Lambs High Feast." One of the seminarians who is still learning appropriate times for humor inquired if we were singing about dinner. Ok, Ok, it was funny, I just wake up slower than most.

It is my turn to cook. We have two ASC sisters coming for prayer and dinner tonight. I am preparing a Leg of Lamb that I have had sitting in a garlic marinade since Monday. We will also have herbed Basmati rice, green beans with Rosemary, and a tossed salad. The Bread is a Roasted Garlic, and a Rosemary and Herb bread from the Bakery. The store had a supply of Chilean Cabernet on sale for $5.00 a bottle.

Otherwise the day was spent grocery shopping, paying bills, slipping on ice and cooking.

A fellow blogger has posted a bunch of church bulletin bloopers that has made its way around the internet the past several years. I grin every time I hear it and it always reminds me of two real bloopers that appeared in the church bulletin where I was pastor:

1. Come to the festival; Our chefs will be serving Barbecued Children.
2. Fr. Jim FrancK, CPPS will be the homliest at next Sunday's Masses.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 12:56 PM link

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February 4th
Solemnity of
Saint Maria De Mattias


Maria De Mattias was won over in the depths of her spirit by the mystery of the Cross and founded the Institute of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ "under the emblem of the Divine Blood". Love for Jesus crucified was expressed in her in passion for souls and in humble devotion to her brothers and sisters, her "beloved neighbour", as she liked to say. "Let us encourage one another", she urged, "to suffer willingly out of love of Jesus who with such great love shed his blood for us. Let us work hard to win souls for heaven".

St. Maria De Mattias entrusts this message to her spiritual sons and daughters today, spurring all to follow the Lamb who gave himself in sacrifice for us, even to the point of giving up their life.

Pope John Paul II, Homily at Maria's canonization, May 18, 2003


Maria's Canticle

The Vatican calls her a preacher.

This was the Mass for her last year,
but she was canonized last May
and a new set of Mass texts have recently been approved.
You can find them here.

The story of her life

Feb 4th is the 199th anniversary of her birth.

From the Office of Readings

More on her life

Venerable John Merlini on Saint Maria De Mattias


The tomb of Maria de Mattias


at her canonization


Yours truly at Maria's canonization, May 18th, 2003

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 8:44 PM link

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PRAYER WITH
SAINT MARIA DE MATTIAS

"Pray...so that the divine Will be done." 1841

"Let's not neglect holy prayer since of ourselves we are unable to do anything good without the help of divine grace." 1846

"Often tell Jesus that you love him very much, and that you wish to die for love of him. Behold our love, Jesus; behold our life, Jesus; behold our all, Jesus. Let us accompany Jesus in all his ways. When we are alone, let it be with Jesus in the solitude of Bethlehem when we are traveling, let us think that we are with Jesus in Palestine or on the way to Calvary; when we are lashed by biting criticisms, behold us scourged with Jesus; when we are fixed to the cross, behold we are crucified with Jesus.

Always, always with Jesus: God always in view, Jesus in practice, our life in sacrifice.

With Jesus let us think, with Jesus let us speak; let us labor with Jesus, let us rest with Jesus; with Jesus let us weep, with Jesus let us keep silence; let us pray with Jesus; with Jesus let us live, with Jesus let us die. May Jesus live in our minds. May Jesus live on our tongues. May Jesus live in our hearts. May Jesus live in our souls. May Jesus live at all times. May Jesus live in all places. May Jesus live in all hearts. Yes, let us always say: May Jesus live!" 1850

"...in tranquility of spirit rest lovingly in the wounded side of Jesus, and do not be anxious about your soul, but preserve interior calm by kissing that loving Wound and pressing to your heart so dear a Good." 1852

"Let us often look toward Jesus on the Cross and let his teachings sink into our hearts." 1852

"Let us confide also in Mary most holy, our dear Mother." 1853

"...let us summon our spirit to union with God, in whom we shall find the person of His most holy Son given to us with infinite love, clothed with human flesh and covered with wounds and blood, inviting us to contemplate him with fixed attention so that our hearts might respond to the delicacy of his most tender love...let us ask for the grace to love him." 1855

"...let's not ever neglect the offering of the precious blood to the eternal divine Father for the present needs of holy church, for the conversion of poor sinners, and for the blessed souls in purgatory." 1855

"...we should offer our prayers for the salvation of souls." 1856

"Let us pray with confidence in Jesus Christ and in His Blood, which is the means of our salvation." 1857

"Remember to be very devoted to Mary most holy; be persevering in often invoking her with confidence; tell her to enkindle your heart with love for Jesus." 1856

"Much prayer." 1857

"I exhort you to speak little and to pray very much." 1859

"...make the intention to beg the Lord that the whole world may become Catholic, that there be one fold and one Shepherd, and that all may experience the fruits of the Precious Blood from which flow the blessings of true peace." 1860

"Let us pray very much for the Church and ardently love Jesus, who founded it with his Precious Blood...Let us pray, let us pray, let us pray." (No date)

"By silence and prayer we will come to understand much better the preciousness of the cross, made sacred by the precious blood of Cross." 1863

"The Cross is always dear to those who truly love Jesus. Whoever love the Cross gives a sure sign that she holds in her heart a genuine love for Jesus. My dear, let us never move away from the Cross, for this is the key to the treasures of heaven. This is the gate of Paradise." 1847

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 7:57 PM link

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The Best a Man Can Get?

Much of the media this morning is focused on a few moments in a half time show where more was revealed than allowed by polite society. I was in the kitchen preparing a sandwich so I mercifully was spared the display. I was present for most of the game, however, and we have more to worry about that this momentary gaffe.

Super Bowl Sunday is the highest holy day of “american civil religion”. Churches get that kind of attendance around our country on any given Sunday, but without all the hoopla. One feature of the day is a focus on advertising. A 30 second spot cost more than a few pennies, and many advertisers put a great deal of time, energy and money into presenting some pretty spectacular ads. They spend a great amount trying to find out what sells, what it is that you and I as American consumers really want. For many years now I have been attempting to view the game in a contemplative stance, trying to articulate for myself what are the values represented by this event. Joe and Jane Pewsitter and many of their friends subscribe to these values. It is the air they the breath on a daily basis.

Let me first say that Advertising, in itself, is not evil. A person has a right to sell their beer, the newest car, or the latest in a bad of potato chips.

Yet the manner in which advertising presents itself today presents some problems. If these advertisements describe us, if they describe our deepest desires, we are in trouble.

In Advertising people are expendable objects, things are substitutes for people. Sexuality is most often portrayed as unfaithfulness, married people are unhappy or unfulfilled. Value formation is associated with the names and types of products. We are confronted with the personalization of products and a re-definition of commitment. Faith values are associated with products. Self-discovery is associated with products.

In Advertising money becomes the main symbol of human worth. We are invited to substitute relationships with cars, computers, VCRs and Bank Accounts. When there are no values only money counts. Violence is presented as redemptive, personhood is discounted, things, especially guns, are necessary for victory. In these psychological and economic enclaves, when we are a "thing,” we become unwoundable. When a body becomes a commodity and sexual mechanics is equated with computer mechanics, the result is that the body does not belong to her. When we are surrounded by value free performance and advertising, the technological, mechanical, sexual are all severed from personhood.

Why are we not surprised that Justin was not arrested? If he did that in any other venue in this country he would have been.

The most offensive ad was of referee who is able to endure horrible abuse on the field only because he is well trained for it by an abusive wife. In case you missed it, this was an advertisement for a beer.

The market longs for the destruction of the human family. After we have put asunder what God has joined they will need two homes, two or more cars, microwaves, televisions, stereos, beers, and so forth. What has happen as viewed from the towers of corporate America is that the population remains the same, advertising budgets remain the same, but the market can now be TWICE as big as it used to be.

In what universe is it funny for an elderly couple to attack each other violently over a bag of chips?

(Rant mode off) It was a good game, well played. These were two excellent teams. It was excellent community time here in the house.

I just want to know if it ever causes a question in our minds when we hear “It’s all here” and we discover that they are speaking of a beer.

For those of us who believe that the glory of God is the human person fully alive, what happens in our hearts when we hear it’s “The best a man can get,” and we discover that they are only speaking about a shave?

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 10:26 AM link

. . .

I thought this was hilarious.

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 11:58 PM link

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Look like a neighbor has a blog!

posted by Fr. Jeffrey Keyes, C.PP.S. on 1:01 PM link

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