Message from the Pastor

- Parish Information

WHY PRAY THE ROSARY!

The Catholic Church designates October 7th as the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Holy Rosary has been called “the prayer of saints.” The following are some reasons why the Holy Rosary ought to be prayed often, even daily.
- “Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been so favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary” (Pope Pius IX)
- “Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world” (Our Lady of Fatima)
- “There is no surer means of calling down God’s blessings upon the family… than the daily recitation of the Rosary” (Pope Pius XII)
- “We do not hesitate to affirm again publicly that we put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils of our times” (Pope Pius XII)
- “No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary” (Bishop Hugh Doyle)
- “The Rosary is a magnificent and universal prayer for the needs of the Church, the nations and the entire world” (Pope John XXIII)
- “How beautiful is the family that recites the Rosary every evening” (Pope John Paul II)
If you do not have a Holy Rosary, please know you may obtain as many as you desire from Fr. Marc!
Cremation

The 2007 United States Catholic Catechism for Adults notes the following in regard to cremation:

“The Church prefers the burial of the body but does allow cremation. The Church permits cremation provided that it does not demonstrate a denial of faith in the resurrection of the body. In cases where cremation is planned, the Church urges that if at all possible, the body be present for the funeral M0ass with cremation taking place afterwards. However, if for some reason cremation takes place before the funeral Mass, the diocesan bishop can permit the practice in his diocese of allowing cremated remains to be brought into the Church for the funeral Mass. Whenever a Catholic is cremates, the remains are to be buried, not scattered.” (U.S.C.C. for A., page 160).
GOSSIP!!

Would information which is absolutely true about a person be damaging to his/her reputation, if you shared your knowledge of it with someone else?

Unfortunately, some people believe that simply because something is true about a person, anyone is free to say whatever he/she desires, and to whomever is willing to listen! A person who thinks and acts this way is very much wrong.

Why? Even though the information shared is absolutely true, it is considered a sin of detraction and insult. A sin of detraction occurs when a person makes known the short comings of another void of a good reason for doing so. Insult happens when the other person is refused respect of his/her good name. Both seriously disregard the virtue of charity.

Therefore, it is incorrect to assume that if something is true about someone else, I have the liberty to spread it around to whomever I wish.

A good “rule of thumb,” as you know, is “if you cannot say something good about someone, keep quiet.”

May the Lord assist all of us to carefully select what to say, when to say it, and to whom it should be said.
Spiritual Works of Mercy

Words and actions that assist others when they’re in need are called “spiritual works of mercy.”
The spiritual works of mercy are:

Counseling the Doubtful
Instructing the Ignorant
Admonishing the sinner
Comforting the Sorrowful
Forgiving the Injured
Bearing Wrongs Patiently
Praying for the Living and Dead
Which of the seven have you done most often?

Which of the seven have you rarely done?
THE WRONG USE OF GOD’S NAME

The second commandment is “You shalt not take the name of the Lord God in vain” (Deut.5) Blasphemy is the purposeful use of the name of God in an offensive manner. The misuse of the Holy Name, “inwardly or outwardly – words of hatred, reproach or defiance is gravely sinful (Catechism #2148).” When we curse in that manner an erosion of our relationship with God occurs.

On the other hand, we must, also, realize “diminished culpability may be present when the name of God is used because of an outburst of undisciplined speech due to passion or unexpected incitement to anger (U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults, pg. 355).” However, even if “diminished culpability” is present, the misuse of the sacred name of God should not be habitual.

Essentially, each of us has a part of our vocation in this world, a call to “cultivate a persistent reverence for the Holy Name of God (Ibid).” If you do not have a tendency to break the second commandment, some effort should be made to correct a habitual misuse of the Holy Name of our God. Perhaps, you and I can do it gently and respectfully, even though it is a risk. But consider what the Lord has done for us, as well as the extreme extent. He has honored us with abundant blessings in this life!
ANGELS

“The existence of the spiritual, noncorporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith (Catechism #328).” Today, spend a few minutes pondering on the following information:

1. Who are they?

Angels are “servants and messengers of God (Catechism #329).” They are pure creatures, not tangible, but spiritual. The angels have “intelligence, will and surpass all visible creatures (Catechism #330).”

2. What do they do?

“They do His word, hearkening to the voice of His word (Catechism#329).” Furthermore, they adore God, forever in the presence of the Almighty in heaven. Angels are also sent to assist us. “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession (Catechism #336).” Everyone has “an angel as protector and shepherd leading him/her to life (Ibid).”

3. Can I communicate with my “protector” angel?

Yes, through formal prayer, as well as informal dialogue throughout the day. A simple prayer to unite yourself to your protector angel is:

“Angel of God my guardian dear, whom God’s love commits you here, ever this day be at my side, to light, to guard, to rule, and to guide.”
Purity

In the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, it is written, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Mt.5:8).” Please kindly spend a few moments considering this teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Pure in heart refers to those who have attuned their intellects and wills to the demands of God’s holiness, chiefly in three areas: charity, chastity, and love of truth (Catechism # 2518).” Simply, those who are “pure of heart” are able to perceive life in this world, in accord with God’s vision.

The exercise of “purity in heart” is not easy. We “struggle against concupiscence of the flesh and disordered desires (Catechism # 2520).” Nevertheless, each of us can attain some success exercising purity in heart by:

“Discipline of feelings and imagination - refusing all complicity in impure thoughts… (Ibid).”

Practicing modesty. “Modesty means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden (Catechism #2521).”

Remaining free from “widespread eroticism and avoiding entertainment inclined to voyeurism and illusion (Catechism#2525).”

If we can improve the purity of our heart, each of us will become more blessed than we are today. Then, as a consequence of the heart becoming more pure, our society can be purified of its sin.
Pastor's Messages 2022
Clergy Appointment

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney has announced the following clergy appointment,
effective on May 1^st, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker:
Rev, Marc A. Mancini to Judicial Vicar of the diocesan Tribunal,
while remaining as pastor of St. James of the Marches Parish in Totowa.
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Saint James of the Marches

Totowa, NJ

Message from the Pastor

Pastor's Messages 2022

Clergy Appointment

Pastor's Arcived Messages