Here’s the long-awaited “Human Paintbrush” 4 minute short documentary film of Don Matis. Make the film full screen and turn up the volume!
Here’s the explanation of “Real Presence” painting in beginning of film. Please take a look at our store to see some of Don’s creations painted with his beard. You can also view the Press Release and learn more information about the short movie and sponsors of the event. Also check out our “Catholic 12 Steps to Sobriety & Holiness DVD”
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Immaculate Heart of Mary
Today, in traditional circles, it’s the Immaculate Heart of Mary Feast day. This is significant in my life because I look to her to draw me closer to Jesus. Recently, August 19th was the feast day of St John Eudes (1680) who just happens to be the patron and founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary. He devoted his life and was an apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was one of the first who wrote and celebrated the Mass to Their hearts.
In the early church, Christians were attracted to the love and virtues of the Heart of Mary. The Gospel of St Luke shows Mary with St Simeon with his prediction of her heart to be pierced by a sword. She therefore “pondered all the sayings and doings of Jesus in her heart” by living by them. Next we see the prophecy fulfilled as she is seen at the foot of the cross, participating with Jesus at the crucifixion. As St Augustine stated, “She cooperated through charity in the work of our redemption.” That’s why we see Mary’s heart pierced with a sword in modern and ancient art.
Miraculous Medal-M for Mary at foot of the Cross-Crown around Sacred Heart of Jesus & Pierced with Sword Immaculate Heart of Mary
Throughout Christian history, there have sprung devotion to the heart of Mary not just her physical heart but the spiritual heart that so loved her God the Father, her maternal love for her Divine Son , and loved her spouse the Holy Ghost. You can find out more from excerpts from the Catholic Encyclopedia from 1913.
When it comes to love and devotion to the Heart of Mary, “love is more the result than the object of the devotion, the object rather to love God, and Jesus better by uniting ourselves to Mary for this purpose and by imitating her virtues. Her Son, Jesus, gave her to us at the foot of the Cross. Therefore she also loves us and cares for our spiritual welfare. Read more about her interior life with New advent.
Devotion to the Heart of Mary flowered with the above manifestation of the Miraculous Medal from St Catherine Laboure in 1830 and the appearances of Our Lady in Fatima.Let me leave you with a quote from 9 yr old Blessed Jacinta Marto to her sweet 12 yr old cousin, Lucia dos Santos, when they discussed the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, “When you are to say this, don’t go and hide. Tell everybody that God grants us graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; that people are to ask Her for them; and that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated at His side. Tell them also to pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace, since God entrusted it to Her.” Lucia then later became a nun and changed her name to Sister Lúcia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart. See Wikipedia Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Lady of Fatima for more details.
I could write three articles on the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the fondness and love I have towards her, with all the data and research information I have but I’ll share this YouTube video to help you understand further. God bless you!
Here’s jpitera123′s wonderful 2 minute YouTube video with music & pictures
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Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary by Cleveland Friends of TLM
Do you ever have that Joyous feeling that bubbles up inside of you that you don’t know what to do with yourself? Maybe you feel that way at Christmas time just anticipating, like a small child, the very moment you can open up your presents from under the giant blue spruce tree? This is how I feel at this very moment about the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. That the Most Holy Blessed Trinity determined not to have this Holy Mother of God be corrupted and remain pure, so they brought her up to heaven body and soul! “O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?” (I Corinthians 15:57).
“Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above” is one of those songs I burst out with Love and Joy to Our Blessed Mother as a child belts out to the Love of his Heavenly Mother with the choir of Angels and Saints in Heaven.
Listen, Sing, Meditate on the “Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above” video
You can learn from Catholic culture.org more about the Assumption like the following excerpt:
“The Assumption completes God’s work in her since it was not fitting that the flesh that had given life to God himself should ever undergo corruption. The Assumption is God’s crowning of His work as Mary ends her earthly life and enters eternity. The feast turns our eyes in that direction, where we will follow when our earthly life is over.
The feast days of the Church are not just the commemoration of historical events; they do not look only to the past. They look to the present and to the future and give us an insight into our own relationship with God. The Assumption looks to eternity and gives us hope that we, too, will follow Our Lady when our life is ended.
In 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of Mary a dogma of the Catholic Church in these words: “The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heaven.”
With that, an ancient belief became Catholic doctrine and the Assumption was declared a truth revealed by God.”
Excerpted from Fr. Clifford Stevens in Catholic Heritage
Here’s a wonderful little video about what the Assumption means:
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Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary by Cleveland Friends of TLM
Something to contemplate this eve of the Assumption ~ Pope St Pius X wrote this lovely prayer:
O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God and Mother of Humanity, we believe with all the fervour of our faith in your triumphal assumption both in body and in soul into heaven where you are acclaimed as queen by all the choirs of angels and all the legions of saints; we unite with them to praise and bless the Lord who has exalted you above all other pure creatures and to offer you the tribute of our devotion and our love.
We know that your gaze, which on earth watched over the humble and suffering humanity of Jesus, in heaven is filled with the vision of that humanity glorified and with the vision of uncreated wisdom, and that the joy of your soul in the direct contemplation of the adorable trinity causes your heart to throb with overwhelming tenderness; and we, poor sinners whose body weights down the flight of the soul, beg you to purify our hearts so that, while we remain below, we may learn to see God and God alone in the beauties of his creatures.
We trust that your merciful eyes may deign to gaze down upon our miseries and anguish, upon our struggles and our weaknesses; that your countenance may smile upon our joys and our victories; that you may hear the voice of Jesus saying to you of each one of us, as he once said to you of his beloved disciple:
“Behold your son,” and we who call upon you as our mother, we, like John, take you as the guide, strength and consolation of our mortal life.
We are inspired by the certainty that your eyes, which wept over the earth crimsoned by the blood of Jesus, are yet turned toward this world racked by wars and persecutions, the oppression of the just and the weak. From the shadows of this vale of tears, we seek in your heavenly assistance, tender mercy, comfort for our aching hearts, and help in the trials of Church and country.
We believe finally that in the glory where you reign, clothed with the sun and crowned with stars, you are, after Jesus, the joy and gladness of all the angels and the saints, and from this earth, over which we tread as pilgrims, comforted by our faith in the future resurrection, we look to you our life, our sweetness, our hope; draw us onward with the sweetness of your voice, so that one day, after our exile, you may show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.
Amen.
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Stoned On Happiness
I gathered all my Stones of Pride, Selfishness, and Sins.
With Prayer, With God’s grace, and with His Love, I turned them into Gratitude Stones.
These Tumbled Stones of Love and Virtue in Action, I share.
And I Spread the Love and Joy of Jesus To all that I meet.
Stay Stoned On Happiness!
Everything is Possible with God!
Psalm 1
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Here’s the long-awaited “Human Paintbrush” 4 minute short documentary film of Don Matis. Make the film full screen and turn up the volume!
Here’s the explanation of “Real Presence” painting in beginning of film. Please take a look at our store to see some of Don’s creations painted with his beard. You can also view the Press Release and learn more information about the short movie and sponsors of the event. Also check out our “Catholic 12 Steps to Sobriety & Holiness DVD”
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Sacred Heart of Jesus - Photo by Monica
It’s Great To Be Alive! Thanking Jesus for his wonderful feast day! The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Truly it’s great to be Catholic and be able to celebrate all aspects of Jesus’ life. This photo is from a picture I bargained for from a Flea Market we had in town a few years ago. Funny story, I kept walking past it but the price was too expensive. Throughout the day I’d come back longing to have him. Finally, I got up my nerve and asked him if he’d settle for an inexpensive sum? You know what transpired? I got that beautiful old-fashioned Jesus framed picture for FREE! You can’t out due Jesus in generosity!
Just as I treasure this picture, here’s golden promises! The 12 promises of Jesus if we honor his Sacred Heart given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque:
All of these promises come from Catholic Family News and the Daily Catholic article. You can get in-depth meditations for FREE at their website.
Below is a great montage of Sacred Heart of Jesus prayer cards along with the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pray along and Enjoy!
Did you see Don’s video with him painting with his beard yet? Or have you checked out our Catholic 12 Step DVD?
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Stoned On Happiness
