From the writings of Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, Founder of Opus Dei. On the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother

293 If we truly got to know Mary our Mother, how quickly the supernatural virtues would grow in us! Let us not be shy about repeating short prayers and aspirations to her throughout the day. There is no need to say them out loud, we can say them in our heart. Christian devotion has gathered together many of these loving words of praise in the Litany which accompanies the Holy Rosary. But each one of us is free to think up new ones, and address new praises to her, telling her with our heart — with a holy bashfulness that she understands and approves — what we would not dare to say out loud. Finally, I would recommend that, if you haven't already done so, you find out for yourself by personal experience the meaning of Mary's maternal love. It is not enough just to know she is our Mother and to think and to talk about her as such. She is your Mother and you are her son. She loves you as if you were her only child in this world. Treat her accordingly: tell her about everything that happens to you, honour her and love her. No one will do it for you or as well as you, if you do not do it yourself. I give you my word that, if you set out along this way, you will quickly discover all the love of Christ: and you will find yourself drawn into the ineffable life of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. You will draw strength from it to put the Will of God fully

into practice, and you will be filled with desires of serving all men. You will be the Christian you have sometimes dreamed of being: full of works of charity and justice, happy and strong, understanding towards others and demanding on yourself. This, and no other, is the kind of faith we want. Let us have recourse to our Mother Mary; she will accompany us and help us make firm and constant progress.

280 We should often meditate, in the calm and quiet of our prayer, on all we have heard about our

Mother. The reward will be that the story of her life will become engraved on our souls; we will find ourselves going to her without hesitation, especially when we have no one else to turn to. This may sound like self interest on our part. It is, of course; but then don't all mothers know that we children tend to be somewhat self interested, and that we often turn to them only as a last resort? They know this very well, but it doesn't really worry them. That comes with being a mother, and their disinterested love is able to discern, through our apparent selfishness, our filial affection and our trusting confidence. I am not suggesting, either for myself or for you, that our devotion to Mary should be limited to times of urgent need. I feel, nevertheless, that we should not feel humiliated if this happens to us from time to time. Mothers don't keep a record of their children's tokens of affection; nor do they weigh them up or measure them with petty calculations. A tiny sign of affection is as sweet as honey to them, and they give themselves generously in return, bestowing much more than they receive. If good earthly mothers react in this way, just imagine what we can expect from our Holy Mother Mary.

PRIESTLY FRATERNITY OF SAINT PETER

Pastor: Fr. Kenneth Fryar, FSSP Phone: 480-231-0573 Mail: 2312 E. Campbell Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85016

Email: contact@phoenixlatinmass.org Website: www.phoenixlatinmass.org

Notitiæ September 7, 2008

Sunday Masses Propers: Readings:

17th Sunday After Pentecost, Class II, Green Ephesians 4, 1-6; St. Matthew 22:34-46

Intention:

5:30 pm Mass at St. Cecilia (Clarkdale, AZ) (1st Sunday of the month) Pro Populo (i.e. For the Members of Mater Misericordiæ Mission)

Intention: 1:00 pm Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle (24th St. & Campbell Ave, Phoenix) Mons. William McKay

Weekday Masses At St. Thomas the Apostle at 6:30 am (ending 7:15 am) and

7:00 pm on Holy Days of Obligation

Monday, September 8 Thursday, September 11 Propers: Readings: Intention:

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Class II, White Proverbs 8: 22-35; St. Matthew 1: 1-16 Margie Miranda

Propers: Readings: Intention:

Requiem Mass (Daily Mass for the Dead) Class IV, Black Apoc. 14:13; John 6:51-55 + Poor Souls in Purgatory

Tuesday, September 9 Friday, September 12 Propers: Readings: Intention:

Requiem Mass (Daily Mass for the Dead) Class IV, Black Apoc. 14:13; John 6:51-55 + Brian Patrick Moore and Family

Propers: Readings: Intention:

Most Holy Name of Mary Class III, White Eccles. 24: 23-31; St. Luke 1: 26-38 Confraternity of St. Peter

Wednesday, September 10 Saturday, September 13 Propers: Readings: Intention:

St. Nicholas of Tolentino, Confessor Class III, White I Cor. 4: 9-14; St. Luke 12: 32-34 Earl D. Nelson

Propers: Readings: Intention:

Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday Class IV, White Eccl. 24, 14-16; St. Luke 11: 27-28 Marion Nelson

Confessions Friday 5-5:30 pm and Saturday 4-5 pm at St. Thomas the Apostle. Sunday before Mass at St.

Thomas the Apostle, and at St. Cecilia, if possible. Other times by arrangement.

Sunday Music (Numbers for the Traditional Roman Hymnal)

Processional Hymn: Recessional Hymn:

Praise to the Holiest Salve Regina

#219 #159

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Sunday Collect Grant, O Lord, unto Thy people grace to avoid all contact with the devil, and with pure minds to follow Thee, the only God. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who reigneth with Thee in the unity …

Sunday Epistle EPHESIANS 4. 1-6

Brethren: I, a prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called. With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity, careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one spirit, as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all, who is blessed for ever and ever. Amen

Sunday Gospel MATTHEW 22. 34-46

At that time the Pharisees came to Jesus, and one of them, a doctor of the law, asked Him, tempting Him: Master, which is the great commandment of the law? Jesus said to him: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets. And the Pharisees being gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying: What think you of Christ, whose son is He? They say to Him: David’s. He saith to them: How then doth David, in spirit, call Him Lord, saying: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on my right hand until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool? If David then call Him Lord, how is He his son? And no man was able to answer Him a word; neither durst any man, from that day forth, ask Him any more questions

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Parish Announcements and Prayer Requests

� PotLuck:.Next Sunday, September 14th will be our Potluck in the Hall. Everyone is invited and welcome. Spend some time with other members of the Mission to get to know them better. Please remember to help With the clean –up and to take your dishes hame with you afterwards

� Registration: Those who have been attending for some time and would like to become members of Mater Misericordiae Mission can obtain a registration form from the table at the back of the church,

or online at www.phoenixlatinmass.org � National Right To Life Committee: Msgr. William McKay has donated some materials from the NRLC. The “Choose Life” newspaper has a section on “Where do the Candidates Stand on Life?” These materials will be available at our table in the back of church. We only have about fifty or so copies so please be quick, and only take one per family. You can make copies of them if you so wish. � Altar boys Schedule: There is a new schedule for the Altar Boys on our website, under the link for “Parish Activities.” Any other young men who would like to take part in the service of Our Lord at His Holy Altar need to have made their first Holy Communion, and should be regular members of the Mission, and need to be able to be present at the required practices. Please contact Father Fryar. The mandatory practice is on the second Monday of each month, and therefore will be at 6:45 at Saint Thomas the Apostle church on September 8th. All the Altar Boys are asked to attend, or at least inform Fr. Fryar why they cannot make it.

� Children’s Choir: Dr. Haefer would like to meet with any young adult of high school age or older who would be interested in directing the Children's choir under his supervision. Please call him at 480 968-5817. � Adults Choir: Rehearsals for the Adult Choir began last Wednesday, September 3rd. The Choir is very much in need of new members both male and female. Please remember to pray for the development of the music program at Mater Misericordiae Mission since it is such an important part of our service to God on your behalf.

FSSP Prayer Requests

Sun. – Fr. Robert Fromageot Tue. – Fr. Peter Byrne Fri. – Fr. Joseph Lee Mon. – All Seminarians Wed. – Fr. Kenneth Fryar Sat. – Fr. Matthew McNeely Thu. – Fr. John Brancich

On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux Chapter I. Why we should love God and the measure of that love

You want me to tell you why God is to be loved and how much. I answer, the reason for loving God is God Himself; and the measure of love due to Him is immeasurable love. Is this plain? Doubtless, to a thoughtful man; but I am debtor to the unwise also. A word to the wise is sufficient; but I must consider simple folk too. Therefore I set myself joyfully to explain more in detail what is meant above. We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable. When one asks, Why should I love God? he may mean, What is lovely in God? or What shall I gain by loving God? In either case, the same sufficient cause of love exists, namely, God Himself. And first, of His title to our love. Could any title be greater than this, that He gave Himself for us unworthy wretches? And being God, what better gift could He offer than Himself? Hence, if one seeks for God's claim upon our love here is the chiefest: Because He first loved us (I John 4:19). Ought He not to be loved in return, when we think who loved, whom He loved, and how much He loved? For who is He that loved? The same of whom every spirit testifies: 'Thou art my God: my goods are nothing unto Thee' (Ps. 16:2, Vulg.). And is not His love that wonderful charity which 'seeketh not her own'? (I Cor.13:5). But for whom was such unutterable love made manifest? The apostle tells us: 'When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son' (Rom. 5:10). So it was God who loved us, loved us freely, and loved us while yet we were enemies. And how great was this love of His? St. John answers: 'God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). St. Paul adds: 'He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all' (Rom. 8:32); and the son says of Himself, 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends' (John 15:13). This is the claim which God the holy, the supreme, the omnipotent, has upon men, defiled and base and weak. Some one may urge that this is true of mankind, but not of angels. True, since for angels it was not needful. He who succored men in their time of need, preserved angels from such need; and even as His love for sinful men wrought wondrously in them so that they should not remain sinful, so that same love which in equal measure He poured out upon angels kept them altogether free from sin.

Chapter V. Of the Christian's debt of love, how great it is From the contemplation of what has been said, we see plainly that God is to be loved, and that He has a just claim upon our love. But the infidel does not acknowledge the Son of God, and so he can know neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit; for he that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which sent Him, nor the Spirit whom He hath sent (John 5:23). He knows less of God than we; no wonder that he loves God less. This much he understands at least--that he owes all he is to his Creator. But how will it be with me? For I know that my God is not merely the bounteous Bestower of my life, the generous Provider for all my needs, the pitiful Consoler of all my sorrows, the wise Guide of my course: but that He is far more than all that. He saves me with an abundant deliverance: He is my eternal Preserver, the portion of my inheritance, my glory. Even so it is written, 'With Him is plenteous redemption' (Ps. 130:7); and again, 'He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us' (Heb. 9:12). Of His salvation it is written, 'He forsaketh not His that be godly; but they are preserved for ever' (Ps. 37:28); and of His bounty, 'Good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom' (Luke 6:38); and in another place, 'Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, those things which God hath prepared for them that love Him' (I Cor. 2:9). He will glorify us, even as the apostle beareth witness, saying, 'We look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body' (Phil. 3:20f); and again, 'I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us' (Rom. 8:18); and once more, 'Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen (II Cor. 4:17f). 'What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me?' (Ps. 116:12). Reason and natural justice alike move me to give up myself wholly to loving Him to whom I owe all that I have and am. But faith shows me that I should love Him far more than I love myself, as I come to realize that He hath given me not my own life only, but even Himself. Yet, before the time of full revelation had come, before the Word was made flesh, died on the Cross, came forth from the grave, and returned to His Father; before God had shown us how much He loved us by all this plenitude of grace, the commandment had been uttered, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy might' (Deut. 6:5), that is, with all thy being, all thy knowledge, all thy powers. And it was not unjust for God to claim this from His own work and gifts. Why should not the creature love his Creator, who gave him the power to love? Why should he not love Him with all his being, since it is by His gift alone that he can do anything that is good? It was God's creative grace that out of nothingness raised us to the dignity of manhood; and from this appears our duty to love Him, and the justice of His claim to that love. But how infinitely is the benefit increased when we bethink ourselves of His fulfillment of the promise, 'thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast: how excellent is Thy mercy, O Lord!' (Ps. 36:6f). For we, who 'turned our glory into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay' (Ps. 106:20), by our evil deeds debased ourselves so that we might be compared unto the beasts that perish. I owe all that I am to Him who made me: but how can I pay my debt to Him who redeemed me, and in such wondrous wise? Creation was not so vast a work as redemption; for it is written of man and of all things that were made, 'He spake the word, and they were made' (Ps. 148:5). But to redeem that creation which sprang into being at His word, how much He spake, what wonders He wrought, what hardships He endured, what shames He suffered! Therefore what reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits which He hath done unto me? In the first creation He gave me myself; but in His new creation He gave me Himself, and by that gift restored to me the self that I had lost. Created first and then restored, I owe Him myself twice over in return for myself. But what have I to offer Him for the gift of Himself? Could I multiply myself a thousand-fold and then give Him all, what would that be in comparison with God?