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Below is an excerpt from the wonderful 100-page by Fr. Jacques Philippe entitled “Searching for and Maintaining Peace.” Every page of the book is good and the result is highlighting or underlining the whole manuscript! Try reading this text twice and there’s a question below that is worth meditating on. Fr. Philippe writes: “The first obstacle is that, as long as we have not experienced concretely the fidelity of Divine Providence to provide for our essential needs,

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Matthew’s next talk, “Basics of Dementia: Your Catholic Faith has Prepared You for This Journey,” will be at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Parish at 7pm, Thursday, December 1st. The address is 15208 Hwy 73 in Prairieville, LA 70769. Matthew will present for an hour, offer Q&A, sign books, and have prayer cards and art for sale. We thank Pastor Fr. Martin and the Respect Life team at St. John the Evangelist Parish for hosting the event.

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The month of November is dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Here are some notable Feast Days: November 1 Feast of All Saints (Holy Day of Obligation) November 2 Feast of All Souls November 5 Opportunity to begin a 33-day preparation for Consecration to Mary on December 8th (Matthew will be) November 20 Christ the King (new calendar) November 27 First Sunday of Advent November 27 Feast of the Miraculous Medal

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By St. Francis De Sales St. PAUL says that “godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” 187 So we see that sorrow may be good or bad according to the several results it produces in us. And indeed there are more bad than good results arising from it, for the only good ones are mercy and repentance; whereas there are six evil results, namely,

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In 1609, St. Francis de Sales published “Introduction of the Devout Life.” His chapter on anxiety may be of interest to our community. It is in the public domain, so here it is. Any italics are my emphasis: ANXIETY of mind is not so much an abstract temptation, as the source whence various temptations arise. Sadness, when defined, is the mental grief we feel because of our involuntary ailments;—whether the evil be exterior, such as poverty,

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The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. Here are some notable feast days: 8th – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 14th – Exaltation of the Cross 15th – Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows (image above) 21st, 23rd, 24th – Ember Days (fasting) 29th – Michaelmas / Feast of St. Michael – pre-1962 calendar 29th – Feast of the Archangels – new calendar

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If we are blessed to be old enough, we will all reach a condition where we can no longer safely drive. It may be our vision, cognition, or something physical, such as the limited range of moving the head and neck. This article is meant to be a primer on the dynamics when it may be time to trade in our keys in exchange for others to help us get around. Whatever the limitation causing concern,

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Welcome to August 2022! Here is a list of notable observances and feast days, especially as it relates to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary: Aug 5th (Fri)    First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Aug 6th (Sat)   Feast of The Transfiguration of Jesus                            First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary  Aug 15 (Mon)  The Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven  Aug 16 (Tues)  Feast of St. Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary (pre-1962 calendar) Aug 22 (Mon)  Immaculate Heart of BVM (pre-1962 calendar); 

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I’m a cradle Catholic and just heard about this special novena. I could get salty every time that I learn something that was kept from me (and most) growing up in the 1980s/1990s, but I am too excited to share this in teaching or reminding you. The St. Andrew (my Confirmation Saint) Christmas Novena is recited 15 (Fifteen) times per day starting on his feast day of November 30th through December 24th. Yes, more than 9 (novena) days.

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