CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES

For Our Family of Parishes

St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette, St. Mary's, St. Peter's

October 30

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

And Its Catholic Roots


In the modern world, especially English-speaking countries,

Halloween has become a significant holiday, with millions of children (and adults) dressing up as their favorite heroes, superstars, ghouls and goblins.


While some connect Halloween to earlier pagan new year celebrations, Halloween actually has significant Catholic roots.


The name itself comes from All Hallow’s Eve

meaning, the Vigil (night before) the Solemnity of All Saints,

commonly called All Saints' Day

when Catholics remember those who have entered

our heavenly home before us.


Immediately afterwards, on November 2, we celebrate the

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed,

commonly called All Souls' Day

when Catholics remember all the faithful departed who remain in Purgatory and pray for their final purification so they can enter heaven.


Click below to read more from Dr. Brown on:

THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN ROOTED IN CATHOLICISM


Click below to read about the Catholic:

ORIGINS OF TRICK OR TREATING


Click below to learn the difference between superstition and Catholic beliefs:

ANGELS AND THE SUPERNATURAL


According to the Catholic Church, ghosts are real,

although the Church’s definition of ghosts is somewhat different than

the world’s typical viewand includes three types. click below to read about them:


CATHOLICISM'S THREE TYPES OF GHOSTS


THE FEAST OF

ALL SAINTS


NOVEMBER 1


When most of us think about October holidays,

we think of Halloween.


When we think of

November holidays,

we skip straight to Thanksgiving.


In between those secularly-celebrated holidays, however,

is a less understood religious holiday: All Saints’ Day



Unfortunately, it is often forgotten, swallowed up

by the pumpkins and spiders of Halloween,

but there is

real merit to bringing recognition back to this ancient holiday.


It is an opportunity for Christians

to remember lost loved ones, and

it reveals the true depth of Halloweenthe reason

WHY we started telling our children, "Let’s go get candy!"


Click below to read more about this holy holiday and its Catholic traditions:

CELEBRATING ALL SAINTS DAY



ALL SOULS'

FEAST DAY



NOVEMBER 2





On this feast day we turn our thoughts toward Purgatory

and the holy souls who dwell there for a time,

expiating their faults.


Holy Mother Church encourages us to

pray more in November for these souls,

both known and unknown to us.


St. Therese once shared, “That beautiful day passed

just as the saddest ones do,

since the most radiant of days has a tomorrow.

It is wrong to pass one’s time in fretting,

instead of sleeping on the Heart of Jesus.” 


Click the link below to share the names of your dearly departed

for remembrance in the Carmelites All Souls Day Masses

throughout the month of November.


ALL SOULS DAY CARMELITE REMEMBRANCE



EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES OF THE WORLD!


BLESSED ACUTIS' EXHIBITION


GUARDIAN ANGELS CHURCH

NOVEMBER 5 - 7



This Eucharistic Miracles exhibition was created by Blessed Carlo Acutis and

displays over 120 approved Eucharistic Miracles from around the world!!


Don’t miss this opportunity!

Witness how Jesus miraculously manifested Himself in the Eucharist.


Also, hear a 30-minute live presentation on Eucharistic Miracles

by Fr. Ryan Ruiz from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary

on Monday, November 7th at 7:00 pm

in Guardian Angels Church.


Admission is free for all events.

Exhibition Hours:

November 5th and 6th from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm;

November 7th from 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm.


Eucharistic Miracles Presentation: Monday, November 7th at 7:00 pm


Guardian Angels Church: 6531 Beechmont Ave. Cincinnati, OH.

Coming Soon - Order Now!!


A comic book that highlights the

final years of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ life...


How he became a digital disciple

and created a dynamic website

and stunning display

that teaches others


about the many remarkable Eucharistic miracles.


Click below to preorder the:

NEW COMIC BOOK ON BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS'S LIFE



ETERNAL REST


THE ART OF DYING WELL



There is a reality that none of us can escape: DEATH!

how should we properly understand and prepare for this reality?


Find out in this NEW VIDEO Coming exclusively to FORMED

on November 2, 2022


Learn God’s response to death

and the Church’s teaching from god about death


aFTER nOVEMBER 1st, Click the link below to view:

ETERNAL REST: THE ART OF DYING WELL



In Catholic teaching there are three states of the Church:

the Church Militant,

the Church Penitent,

and the Church Triumphant.


We are the Church Militant, still living our earthly life

in active spiritual warfare on Earth.


The Church Triumphant are are already in Heaven and these are who we celebrate on All Saints’ Day.


The Church Penitent are in Purgatory, knowing they will enter Heaven, but being purified so as to be spiritually fit for it.

We remember and pray for them on All Souls’ Day,

to lighten the burden of their purification

and hasten their journey to Heaven.


Click below for the:

ALL SAINTS NOVENA


Click below for the:

ALL SOULS NOVENA




CATHOLIC CLASSICS


NEW READING PLAN



Welcome to Catholic Classics!




Each season you can read through a classic text

providing insightful commentary and

practical guidance along the way.


These 20-30 mins episodes will allow you to

learn from the Church’s most revered saints

and teachers as you seek to cultivate your spiritual life.


This season, Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.

and Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, O.P.

will guide you through 

Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales,

Doctor of the Church.


Click below to get the reading plan:


CATHOLIC CLASSICS READING PLAN

National Eucharistic Revival Resources

WEEKLY UPDATE


Letting our Hearts be Touched by the Word of God


Jesus is deeply interested in the questions, longings and hurts of your heart. Journey with Sister Kathryn Hermes, FSP, as she explores the power and freedom available to us through the Scripture readings at Mass


Click the link below to read more:

TOUCHED BY THE WORD OF GOD


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Seeing Jesus in the Eucharist

and in the Poor


Discover the real power behind Mother Teresa’s love

and devotion for the poorest of the poor

in this video clip from Mother Teresa: No Greater Love.


Click the link below to watch the video:


SEEING JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST

QUIZ! FOR THE WEEK

What is Jesus’

blood type?


Scroll down to find the answer!



HUMOR FOR


THE HEART






The Pastor woke up Sunday morning and realizing it was an exceptionally beautiful and sunny early spring day, decided he just had to play golf.


So.... he told the associate pastor that he was feeling sick and convinced him to preach for him that day.


As soon as the associate pastor left, the Pastor headed out of town, to a golf course forty miles away. This ensured he wouldn't accidentally meet anyone he knew from his church.


Setting up on the first tee, he was alone.

After all, it was Sunday morning and everyone else was in church!


At about this time, Saint Peter leaned over to the Lord while looking down from heaven and exclaimed,


"You're not going to let him get away with this, are you?"


The Lord sighed, and said, "No, I guess not."


Just then, the pastor hit the ball and it shot straight toward the pin, dropped just short of it, rolled forward and fell into the hole.

IT WAS A 435 YARD HOLE IN ONE!


Saint Peter was astonished. He looked at the Lord and asked,

"Why did you let him do that?"


The Lord smiled and replied, "Who's he going to tell?"  


GOSPEL READING REFLECTION

For October 30, 2022


The Thirtieth-first Sunday in Ordinary Time


Year C - Lk 19:1-10


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

GOD IS LOVING GOODNESS


“Today salvation has come to this house

because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.

For the Son of Man has come to seek

and to save what was lost.”

 

  • Our Lord changed his plans to pass through Jericho when he saw Zacchaeus, and the short fellow changed his life when he saw Christ. Christ’s appearance, his body language, his words, and his tone of voice must have reached Zacchaeus with a flood of grace. And that grace must have met something in Zacchaeus, an openness to receive that grace, just as he then received Christ into his home and gave away his wealth.


  • We can love our neighbor if we receive the love of God.


  • Blatant sinners can sometimes make a more dramatic conversion to God than the supposed “righteous.”
  • The sinner has fully committed himself to the good he thinks can be gotten by means of his bad course of action, yet he knows by bitter experience it is not so.
  • On the other hand, those who are trying to be good might have to try to hide even from themselves their own disordered attachments.



  • We can all take great comfort in this Gospel, that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost,” because we know we too need to be found and saved by God.


ANSWER TO QUIZ


It’s easy to forget, sometimes, that

Jesus has a human nature.


It’s fascinating to think that He has such attributes as eye color, hair color, and skin tone.


His Most Precious Blood, too, is real human blood,

and as such belongs to one of eight different types:

A+, B+, AB+, O+, or

a corresponding negative type.


Available evidence indicates Jesus’ blood is type AB.

(We're not sure if it’s positive or negative.)


SO... How do we know?!


From scientific tests on several

Eucharistic miracles and Passion relics

in recent decades. 


For more information check out the book: 

A Cardiologist Examines Jesus:

The Stunning Science Behind Eucharistic Miracles

by Dr. Franco Serafini 


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Click the link below to find more:

Faith Formation Activities & Events for every Month & Season

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BOOK

RECOMMENDATION


We need to be armed for battle!

At all times, and especially during these crazy times in this vale of tears,

we need to lay our foundation in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual reading helps us build and strengthen that foundation.

This week's recommendation is:


Eucharistic Miracles

by Joan Carroll Cruz


Throughout the Catholic Church's history,

many times God provided:

visible proof

of the invisible reality

of the Real Presence

of Jesus Christ

in the Holy Eucharist!

Cruz documents 36 such miracles

that occurred between 800 AD and today.

Consecrated Hosts visibly:

  • Turned to human flesh
  • Bled
  • Levitated
  • Turned hard as flint when received by a person in mortal sin


Eucharistic Miracles details official investigations into these miracles

by scientists worldwide,

and identifies where some miraculous Hosts are still venerated today. 


Read also of miraculous Eucharistic phenomena around saints, who:

  • Were sustained solely on the Eucharist (no other food)
  • Received Communion miraculously
  • Experienced raptures, ecstasies, levitation, visions, locutions and more!

We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled, Christ centered life.