The Family Altar

JMJ

Our homes are supposed to be the domestic church, and as such Catholics have traditionally reserved a central place in the home to place a family altar. The true head of the Catholic home is Jesus, the husband is (as I like to put it) only there on loan and the altar can serve to remind the whole household who is really in charge.

Just as we are to pray the Holy Mass with the Priest, at our homes we should at least be praying together these few prayers that everyone should know:

The Holy RosaryThe Nicene Creed Blessing before Meals Blessing after Meals Prayer to Guardian Angel Act of Contrition Hail, Holy Queen The Eternal Rest Prayer

The focus of so many modern homes is the television set; well my dear friends if the TV is your central focus have you not made the TV your god? Just something to think about.

The focal point of a Catholic home should be the family altar and it need not be an elaborate affair however you should use the altar as a place of prayer and devotion, not just art to be looked at. The above photo is the Family Altar at our home, very simple however it serves to remind me as husband who the real boss it.

On your altars you will want to place statues, holy cards, holy water, candles, incense, a crucifix, rosary, etc. anything to help you focus your attention to prayer and devotion. It's no reason why the family Rosary has declined in this day and age. Why would children want to say the Rosary when sponge bob is on? The family altar is a place where the entire family comes together and offers adoration, praise, and devotion.

If you don't have a family altar, I ask you to remedy that TODAY......

The Gospel played out

JMJ

My friends, last week (14th Sunday after Pentecost) we heard the Gospel proclaimed in which Our Lord said,

"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will stand by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Mt.6:24).

Well this week has truly been an echo of that passage and I have had to remove myself from so-called friends. These are the same people who openly proclaim that they are "pagan" and feel the need to always to make sick jokes about Holy Mother Church. My wife and I have always tried to be the one good example of what Christians should act like however; sometimes you really do have to "Shake the dust from your heels."

While at Holy Mass last Sunday, Fr. Leon's sermon seemed to be fit just for my situation (isn't that always the way?) and I realized that one can only stand up and defend The Church for so long and when people don't want to hear it's time to move on...This is not the first time I've lost friends because of Our Holy Faith and it won't be the last I'm sure....

You can either serve God, or if you choose you can serve Mammon but you cannot serve both and if situations, friends, or circumstances happen to lead you from God to Mammon you must break with that, hold fast to Our Lady's mantle, and stay within the protection of the Ark of Salvation; The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith.....

AMEN!!

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOTHER MARY!!!