CATHOLIC FAITH AT HOME RESOURCES
For Our Family of Parishes
St. Thomas More, St. Bernadette, St. Mary's, St. Peter's
October 30
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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 view—and includes three types. click below to read about them:
CATHOLICISM'S THREE TYPES OF GHOSTS
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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 Halloween—the 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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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National Eucharistic Revival Resources
WEEKLY UPDATE
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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
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What is Jesus’
blood type?
Scroll down to find the answer!
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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?"
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GOSPEL READING REFLECTION
For October 30, 2022
The Thirtieth-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year C - Lk 19:1-10
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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.”
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- 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.
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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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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.
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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!
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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
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Experienced raptures, ecstasies, levitation, visions, locutions and more!
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We pray you will be excited to embark on purposeful spiritual reading as a way to build a more prayer-filled, Christ centered life. | | | | | |