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Spiritual Guidance
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A Word from the Pastor"A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed..." - Isaiah 40: 3 - 5a
Though the Prophet Isaiah lived more than 3,500 years ago (he preached between 740 - 701 BC), his words are addressed to people of every age, even to us at the end of 2023. It is easy to get distracted, even depressed, by the state of our world. Wars are erupting all over, in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and South America. Even in the United States, we are shocked by the intensity of political strife, which at times appears like a new "Civil War." The random acts of extreme violence, such as the murder this past week of the store guard at Macy's downtown can rob us of a sense of safety and security. Just when we may be tempted to say, "I can't do anything about this crazy world, there is no hope for the future," the Prophet Isaiah calms us down and gives us a task that we can all do: "Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!"
The call to Prepare the way of the Lord and Straighten out the highway for God is a call to Straighten out My Life and Prepare My Soul for Christ. It is a call to "Fill In" the Valley of my Soul with God's Grace and allow God to "Make Low" the mountain of my sins through the Sacrament of Penance (Confession). As we harken to the voice of the Psalmist, we are changed and so is the world for the better: "Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD—for he proclaims peace to his people. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land." (Psalm 85: 7 - 9) To honestly listen to and HEAR what God proclaims is to be transformed by His power, allowing His "Glory" to dwell in our soul. As we are changed, our families are impacted for the better, our attitude and actions are more just, kind, and thoughtful. The personal changes we experience by being Ground in God's Grace begin to spread out in our workplace and community, and we actually become a blessing to those around us. St. Peter tells us that while we wait for the "Day of God" we are to "conduct yourselves in holiness and devotion." (2nd Peter 3: 11)
Our world may be crazy, but we can be calm in the Lord, and grace-filled. Advent is the time to hear the voice of God lovingly calling us to Straighten Out our life and Prepare our soul for Christ! It is a time to get ready and make use of the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) and make sure that with God's help we are a blessing in the world and ready for Christ. God bless!
– Fr. Francis Foley
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Some Passages from Scripture and Quotes to Think About..."Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
- Mark 13: 33 - 37
"Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard 'delay,' but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God..."
- 2nd Peter 3: 8 - 12a
"Do not let the greatness of your sin make you despair of pardon. The greater the sin, the more striking is the power of God's mercy.”
- St. Jerome from his Commentary on the Book of Joel
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Join Us for "Talbot Tuesdays" @ 3PMWe are pleased to introduce our new Ven. Matt Talbot Prayer Book and Devotions. These Devotions will continue on Tuesdays throughout the year, with Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament at 3 PM, concluding with the Ven. Matt Talbot Prayers and Benediction at 4 PM. As we pray for our friends and loved ones, let us ask for the heavenly intercession before God of a sympathetic "friend in high places," Ven. Matt Talbot. Join us in prayer at St. Gabriel for "Talbot Tuesday" and spread the word, for all are welcome!The church is also open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM, with the Rosary prayed on Thursdays at 4 PM.Also on Tuesday, October 17th, join us for Confessions at 6 PM and Mass at 7 PM. All are welcome!
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Welcome to Our Spiritual Guidance Page.
Weekly messages and prayers from our Pastor, Fr. Francis Foley,
along with poetry and quotes from the saints,
will be posted here! -