Vatican, Columbia (of the Knights of Columbus), The Latin Mass I suggest that the happiest day of our lives is the day we complete the mission God has given to us., Father Gaitley also spoke at length about the importance of Marian Consecration and relying on Marys mediation at all times. A priest of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, he is director of the Association of Marian Helpers, which assists others in growing spiritually and raises funds for seminarians. Gaitley has also included his popular and easy-to-use novena of consecration to St. Joseph, Nine Days to Joseph, which helps us enter more fully into the Fatherhood of God. is that I like to find God in those unexpected places like in Napoleon Dynamite while on my skateboard, at the beach chasing a Frisbee or volleyball, or even when talking to modern-day hippies., As Im saying this, while Ive got movies on my mind, I think I just figured out one of the reasons Chariots of Fire is one of my all-time favorite movies: The main character, runner Eric Liddell, experienced God in the chapel, yes, but also when he would run. Update from Fr. 1. Early this year, I wrote a post that began with two paragraphs that I hope will now sound familiar. A priest of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, he is director of the Association of Marian Helpers, which assists others in growing spiritually and raises funds for seminarians. We know that Jesus cant resist the requests of his mother, we see her pure influence in the Bible on many occasions such as the wedding at Cana. Until I was about 7, we were kind of a southern California hippie family. Fr. Father Michael Gaitley explains how to manifest the heart of Divine Mercy in our lives. Michael Gaitley, MIC, deftly unlocks the "one thing," the key to the Church's wisdom, and the greatest mystery of the Catholic faith: the Most Holy Trinity. St. Thrses Little Way offers all souls, especially little souls, the power to overcome potential discouragements and attain the heights of perfection. Father Gaitleys emphasis on Mary bringing us to Jesus pierced heart, the fountain of Mercy through our consecrations was so beautiful! The small w stands for our wills. Want to see fewer ads on Aleteia? The Napa Institute Summer Conference brings together some of the worlds most prominent Catholic and Christian thinkers each year to engage, encourage, and inspire the over 700 participants who gather from every corner of the country and around the world. So, Mary, at this moment, on this day, I freely choose to give you my full permission to do your work in me, with your Spouse, the Holy Spirit., For it must be recognized that before anyone else it was God himself, the Eternal Father, who entrusted himself to the Virgin of Nazareth, giving her his own Son in the mystery of the Incarnation.87, if we want to love Jesus completely, ardently, and perfectly as did Mother Teresa then we need his Spirit of Love, and Mary Immaculate brings him to us., Yet the saint obediently accepted the destruction of his plans and blessed God. If Night Befalls Your Father, You Dont Discard Him. Amazon.com: Michael E. Gaitley: books, biography, latest update Follow Michael E. Gaitley and explore their bibliography from Amazon.com's Michael E. Gaitley Author Page. Father Gaitley serves as the primary formator for these young people, and he encouraged those interested in learning more to visit in person or online at, The retreat was co-sponsored by the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Office of Adult Faith Formation, Lenten Spiritual Advice Found in Aldi Aisle of , Queen of Angels Lenten Fish Fry Drive-Thru Only. Heres how God answered Jobs protest about suffering: The story of Job and his suffering never intended to explain the why of suffering, or to justify Gods allowance of it. The first is doubt, about God, about justice, about mercy, about life itself. Second, we all need immersion in Scripture. Gaitley chose this part of the title because it depicts the goal of Marian consecration: a new way of life in Christ. It is a fresh start; it marks the beginning of a gloriously new day, a new dawn, a brand new morning in ones spiritual journey., Fr. Dec. 09. Instead of initially aspiring to priesthood and religious life, you both pondered marriage, but then ended up a priest and a nun. He was 100 pounds overweight, a pack of Camel cigarettes protruded from his breast pocket, and a flask of whiskey in another pocket shattered before I could get to it. He's Fr. He was and is our brother, our Lord. I listened to Defilippis and. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC. Sign up for our Premium service. I told her I would work hard (and I do). However, it requires the continual effort of trusting and trying to advance in the spiritual life, even in the times when it feels absolutely useless. Therese of Lisieux, Faustina Kowlaska, and Louis de Montfort. The tumultuous history of Poland set the stage for a remarkable woman, St. Faustina, to become the catalyst of the main drama of the Second Greatest Story Ever Told, a drama involving the modern message of Divine Mercy and its popularity following World War II. According to Webster's Dictionary, the root word for Gnosticism is gnosis, which means "divinely inspired knowledge." 1 This word is generally used to describe heretical . Now is the time of Mercy! This was the enthusiastic message of Father Michael Gaitley, MIC, during his weekend retreat at St. Pius X Parish on March 8-9, which brought together over 700 people for an encounter with the mercy of Christ and the love of Mary. After Blanche graduated, she went back to France, and I didnt hear from her. Meet the new "Father Joseph, MIC," director of the Association of Marian Helpers. [P]eople today, The Prologue of Johns Gospel speaks of a power Jesus gives us, the power to become Children of God (1:12). I stacked the deck in favor of UCLA, especially because I figured yellow roses are much less common than red roses. Then, one day, out of the blue, she called me from her home in Paris. Her suffering is lived today in the service of others, and I am very proud of her. The party atmosphere was fun, but something was definitely missing. The point of the story of Job is that God is also profoundly involved in the destiny of man. 2022 Augustine Institute. But God hasn't given up on us. Seeing that face must have melted this womans heart and filled her with insight as she realized that he was indeed the prophet like Moses. And, Eric explained, when I run, I feel his pleasure.. I simply didnt understand them and Father Gaitley admits that he didnt either, until he heard Leonardo Defilippis. The book brings readers to a place where we can pray, with Father Gaitley, Come, Holy Spirit move me to cry out with love, Abba, Father!. And so, also, with us., terrible indifference towards ones neighbor . Finally, because Jesus wants to bring us home to the Father, we arrive at 33 Days to Greater Glory. Help us continue to bring the Gospel to people everywhere through uplifting and transformative Catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more. So, Mary, at this moment, on this day, I freely choose to give you my full permission to do your work in me, with your Spouse, the Holy Spirit., even as Jesus touched the Samaritan woman at the most painful place of her shame and guilt, he did so with the tenderness of the closest and most compassionate friend. Father Gaitley described how Jesus, knowing that if we choose to follow Him and love with His love, will suffer. At Auschwitz I saw in a new way the reality of evil and intense misery, yet at Kolbes cell and in this retreat, I have seen in a new way the reality of mercy., Mackenzie Kracker, a University of Notre Dame senior and president of the universitys Militia Immaculata, which coordinates campus Marian Consecrations each semester, shared her joy to have taken part in the retreat alongside over 20 fellow students who delayed their spring break travel plans in order to attend. I immediately think to myself, Jackpot! Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. That cause is Divine Mercy, and the answer to suffering is trust. Did you grow up in a devout family, and did you appreciate the Divine Mercy early on? May the Lord fill the hearts of all who make this inspired retreat.". Submit a story, ask a question, or get in touch with our staff. And this really is a case of saving the best for last, because a consecration to our Heavenly Father truly is the greater consecration, the one in which all others find their origin and end. Father Gaitley, popular for his books explaining the mystery of Gods Divine Mercy and how to become consecrated to Jesus through Mary in the example of great saints, encouraged those present to be missionaries of mercy by displaying trust, littleness, courage and compassion. Years ago in the mid-1970s when I was in college, I worked part-time as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) in the emergency room of an urban hospital and trauma unit. Fr. Instead, it probes the depths of faith in the face of human suffering. Meet local business professionals in the Fort Wayne - South Bend area. And even though its universal, its also intensely particular. Based on the demand and unique offers Ive received to help with the distribution, the second print run order, which Ive just sent in, is for 90,000 books. Faustina.). Father Gaitley makes the most of that and many other themes in the retreat, giving beginners access to deep spiritual riches. In other words, during his retreats, Lanteri would emphasize Divine Mercy and Mary, and he believed that this emphasis lent even greater spiritual oomph to his eight-day retreats, making them just as effective as the longer versions. Our mother Mary wants to help us. He is best-known for his sports interviews with the National Catholic Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. Overview From Fr. God is much aware of our problem with forces beyond our control, personified by Behemoth and Leviathan, who are, however, constrained by God: THE PURSUIT OF LEVIATHANAlas, no, Job can do none of these things, nor can you nor I. Only suffering can forge such mercy.It is for this reason that I must call on the Church - and by that I mean not just our bishops and priests, but all of you as well - to resist letting judgment deny and suppress your capacity for mercy. Fr. Father Gaitley invites readers to do what he did, and listen only to Defilippiss The Gospel According to John through the duration of the 33 days. 33 Days to Morning Glory, the popular Marian consecration published in 2011 and written by Fr. I discerned that God was calling me to religious life, so that ruled out becoming a diocesan priest. But Father Gaitley, 35, has not always possessed such dedication to the Divine Mercy. 33 Days to Morning Glory is an alternative to the customary preparation to Marian consecration. Each person in attendance received a copy of the Marian Missionaries manual for instructions on participation in their spirituality and living out the Divine Mercy message with courage and compassion. [P]eople today are hungry for love, for understanding love which is much greater and which is the only answer to loneliness and great poverty., Unfortunately, we may not always fully enter into the mysteries of Christ, because we don't persevere in praying the Rosary. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of the popular book Consoling the Heart of Jesus, comes an extraordinary 33-day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Bl. Gaitley is a priest with the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary who are headquartered in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. One day, he taught them a lesson they would never forget: How to become a Saint. The future saint began by telling his listeners that sanctity isnt so hard. Android When they come we pray for deliverance, knowing that deliverance may take the form of the grace needed to endure in faith. He had struggled to get through Preparation for Total Consecration which he describes as a prayer marathon.He wrote, I personally find more spiritual fruit not in reciting long prayers but in pondering in my heart inspiring teachings on Marian consecration.. In the retreat, you pray, Father, purify my heart of the noise and the ways of the world, that I may always hear your word of love for me: You are my Beloved. I am eternally grateful to this book for helping me experience that joy. It contains tons of info about the Divine Mercy message and devotion. He received his Masters in Theology from St. John's Seminary in Boston and his Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC. Learn how Vatican II provides a . It's FREE! Youre right. If anyone is interested in learning more, weve put together a website that explains everything, AllHeartsAfire.org, and I invite people to tune in for our live Divine Mercy Sunday broadcast on EWTN that starts at noon (EST). Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, author of the bestselling book Consoling the Heart of Jesus, comes an extraordinary 33day journey to Marian consecration with four giants of Marian spirituality: St. Louis de Montfort, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and Blessed John Paul II. Your submission has been received! (With all the new seminarians, this is becoming a very big job.). Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. On this day in 1670, St. Stanislaus Papczyski left the Piarist order and made his oblatio, his self-offering, to defend the Immaculate Conception. How many printings have there been, and how many copies have sold so far? I reported for the Baltimore Sun Rev. Our spiritual leaders did that. This conference provides unique opportunities to build community, share ideas, and grow in friendship with some of the most effective Catholics leaders in the country. So, I started an evangelization initiative for the parishes called Hearts Afire: Parish-Based Programs for the New Evangelization. Reverend Michael Gaitley's book, 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration, begins with a promise to disclose a "secret" form of knowledge based on Gnosticism. Keep in mind that Ignatian spirituality is about becoming a contemplative in action and that St. Ignatius intended that his retreats be made either at a retreat house during a long period of silence or in the midst of the hustle and bustle of ones daily life according to whats called the 19th Annotation version of the retreat. Gaitley presents the consecration as a retreat, not just preparation for the final consecration. This is possible through coming to Jesus in humility, realizing our brokenness and allowing Him to raise us up. Men in judicial robes did that. Divine Mercy In the Second Greatest Story Ever Told is a dramatic 10-session journey featuring best-selling author and popular speaker Fr. The story goes that he would basically tell people, Look, if you dont have time to make the whole 30-day Ignatian retreat, then give me just eight days, and you will have everything you need to become a saint, a great saint and quickly. Father Lanteri had such confidence in his retreats because of what I call his two secret weapons, namely, Divine Mercy and Mary. After eucharistic adoration and a communal Divine Mercy Chaplet led by Father Gaitley, he concluded the retreat describing the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy, a group of young people who dedicate a year to service and companionship with the poor and homeless, based in Massachusetts near the National Shrine of Divine Mercy. Unite my will to the will of the Immaculata, which is one with your will., Lord, please cleanse me of my selfish pride through the power of your humble love, and then help me to love others as you have loved me., Before the fall, all these smaller rings were joined together and remained in harmony and communion. In the Diary of St. Faustina, Jesus tells her the greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy. Acknowledging that there might be initial skepticism to such an optimistic view in the face of tremendous suffering, Father Gaitley shared his personal testimony of how he came to believe in the truth of Divine Mercy through gentle moments of encounter with the Lord and by seeing his fathers conversion and healing from cancer through the power of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and image. After the fall, theyre pulled apart: Reason becomes darkened such that it doesnt clearly see the good; the will becomes fickle and weak, and the passions become wild, unpredictable, and difficult to control., Father, behold the suffering of your Son, Jesus. Michael is also the author of the bestselling books 33 Days to Morning Glory, Consoling the Heart of Jesus, and the new book 33 Days to Merciful Love. Fr. If we are forgetful or distracted, he encouraged, Lets tell the Lord were sorry, trust in his mercy, make up the missed readings, and keep going., The 33 Days part of the consecrations title is clear, but what is the significance of Morning Glory? When the two wills are united, they equal Sanctity., Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary. 33 Days to Greater Glory: A Total Consecration to the Father through Jesus Based on the Gospel of John (eBook version) $9.95. He then enriches these Scriptural texts on mercy with the practical insights of St. Pope John Paul II, St. Faustina, and Pope Francis. His newest book completes a trilogy of 33 Days books dedicated to Marian consecration, consecration to Divine Mercy, and now consecration to the Father. (3) Keep trusting: Keep trusting and believing that God will satisfy our desires for holiness, even if we dont yet fully understand how., Thrses word in Letter 197 that it is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love., When we pray the Rosary, the goal is not so much to reflect on the words of the Hail Mary prayer itself. We accept that, and pray for one another with that in mind.Some of our suffering is self-inflicted. Father Gaitleys approach helps you find your personal identity in Jesus Christ, who invites you to enter into his life of love and intimacy with his Father. 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Atmosphere was fun, but something was definitely missing, come, fr michael gaitley blanche Spirit, living in Mary of! Them a lesson they would never forget: how to become a Saint tons of info the... Get in touch with our staff our brokenness and allowing Him to raise up. Definitely missing Parish-Based Programs for the final consecration Gaitley chose this part of Immaculate. I was about 7, we arrive at 33 Days to Morning Glory, the power to potential! Especially Little souls, especially Little souls, especially because I figured yellow roses are much less than. Contains tons of info about the Divine Mercy: how to manifest the heart of Divine Mercy message and..