ANCHOR THE VIEW FROM OUR APOSTOLATE S IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY RETREAT HOUSE IN THE ITALIAN ALPS

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1 APOSTOLATE OF THE SUFFERING MARY FARM 1915 WARE ST. PALMER, MA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHICOPEE, MA Permit No. 56 THE ANCHOR to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, (Heb 6:18,19) 2010 VIEW FROM OUR APOSTOLATE S IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY RETREAT HOUSE IN THE ITALIAN ALPS SEE PAGE #7

2 Page 2 To Suffer Is To Pray Editor s note: Recently a long time member of our Apostolate, terminally ill with cancer, told me she was no longer able to pray much but would make brief ejaculations to God, letting Him know she has not forgotten Him. Her remarks were instrumental in the publishing of this article. Our loving God does not ask the impossible of us, He asks only for our love and fidelity. The material is taken from The Twelve Steps to Holiness and Salvation People sometimes say they cannot pray. Why not? Granted, you may not be able to meditate for any length of time but what prevents you from turning your eyes to Jesus crucified and offering Him the sufferings you must endure? The best prayer you can say is to resign yourself to the Will of God in your sufferings, uniting your pains to the pains of Jesus Christ as a sacrifice to God. It was thus St. Vincent de Paul acted when he was mortally ill. He placed himself in the presence of God, and from time to time made an act of love, of confidence, of gratitude or of resignation, especially when in severe pain. You may also consider yourself a burden to others. It must be evident to everyone that your helpless condition is not of your own choosing, but simply in accordance with the will of God. Therefore the complaints you make cannot proceed from the love of God, but are the expression of self love; we would like to serve the Lord, but in our own way and not as He desires. Another opportunity afforded us is the practice of patience when we are sometimes exposed to persecutions. You may say, I have done nothing to deserve these insults and these persecutions. Why should I have to endure them? Do you remember what our Lord said to St.. Peter the Martyr when he complained that he was imprisoned unjustly? O Lord, what evil have I done that I should suffer this persecution? Our Savoir answered, And what evil have I done that I should be nailed to this cross? How Great is Our God! It s a common mistake to think that God s works and mighty deeds are told only in Scripture. Every person s life is a work of art, an expression of his creative love, his goodness, his compassion. A little thought can personalize quite a few psalms as for example stances from Psalm 145: I will give you glory, O God my King I will thank you forever and ever. The Lord is loving and merciful, slow to become angry and full of constant love He is near to those who call to him. He supplies the needs of those who honor him He hears their cries and saves them.

3 Page 3 SAINT MARTIN de PORRES Father unknown was the cold legal phrase sometimes used on baptismal records. Half Breed or War Souvenir were also frequent cruel names inflicted by those of pure blood. And so it was with Martin de Porres, born in Lima Peru as an illegitimate son of a Spanish Knight, Juan de Porres and a freed slave from Panama, of African or possibly Native American blood named Ana Velazquez. Because the child had African, rather than European features, his father was ashamed and refused to acknowledge him as a son until he was eight years old. He abandoned his mother after the birth of a daughter, leaving her and their children to a life of poverty. Ana recognized in her son signs of intense spirituality and tried to obtain for him an education beyond a mere substance level. At 10 years of age she managed to enroll him in a school for two years. At 12 he was apprenticed as a barber, a profession, that in his day, involved much more than cutting hair. Martin learned the rudiments of surgery, administering herbal remedies, dressing wounds and drawing blood- a common medical practice of the time. At 15 he applied for acceptance into a Dominican monastery. Racial restrictions dictated he be given the position of tertiary or lay helper, which he enthusiastically accepted. Even in the monastery Martin suffered incidents of harassment that may well have been racially motivated. At 24 he was given the habit of a Coadjutor Brother and assigned to the Convent infirmary, using skills learned as a barber. He remained thus until his death at the age of 60. His superiors recognized in him the virtues necessary to exercise unfailing patience in this difficult role, never disappointing them. On the contrary, it was not long before miracles began to happen. St. Martin, was working with the sick outside the convent, often bringing them healing with only a simple glass of water. He begged for alms to procure for them necessities his Convent could not provide, and Providence always supplied what he sought. He would provide his medical skills to the treatment of a wounded dog wandering the streets, as he would devotedly use them to a sick human. Pictures of Martin often depict him with a mouse, dog or cat and sometimes a broom, symbolizing his devotion to everyday tasks. He would humbly called himself Brother Broom. St. Martin died November 3, 1639 of typhus (a disease contracted from lice, mites or fleas), probably contracted due to his contact with animals. He was canonized by Pope John XXIII with a contingent of 350 African-Americans in attendance. The 1st. black saint of America designated, patron saint of universal brotherhood. Racism is a sin almost nobody confesses. Like pollution, it is a sin of the world that is everybody s responsibility but nobody s fault. Who a more fitting patron of Christian forgiveness (on the part of those who discriminate) and Christian justice (on the part of reformed racists) than Martin de Porres?

4 Page 4 OUR SILENT WORKERS OF THE CROSS IN FATIMA For five years our Silent Workers of the Cross Community in Fatima, Portugal have been conducting three weeks of Holiday Programs in our Francisco and Jacinta Marto Sanctuary, for adolescents and children with serious physical and psychological problems. Each program is one week. While the children are playing at various activities, members of the Silent Workers meet with the parents of the children and discuss their concerns and in helping to provide support and understanding of their child s situation. THE HONOR DUE MARY The highest type of worship is reserved for God alone and is called latria by the theologians. The honor paid saints is on an infinitely lower plane. When it refers to Saints, it is called dulia, and when it refers to Mary it is called hyperdulia. This latter is indeed less than that given God but surpasses the honor accorded the saints and Angels combined. Mary deserves this veneration because of her unique position as Mother of God who happily gave birth to the Redeemer for us She teaches us all the virtues; she gives us her Son and with Him all the help we need. This veneration given Mary is far removed from idolatry for two reasons: It is an honor rendered to a creature who has carried out a unique role in the History of Salvation and has through grace attained the heights of sanctity and glory, but remains a creature nonetheless; the servant of the Lord. The veneration of Mary is neither a substitute for, nor something independent from, nor an alternative to the worship owed the Trinity. It is willed by God and has God as its end. Dictionary of Mary The one who belongs the most perfectly to the Immaculate will be able to approach the wounds of the Savior, the Eucharist, the Hearts of Jesus and the Heart of God our Father with the most courage and freedom. The more we belong to the Immaculate, the better we understand and love the Heart of the Lord Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Trinity. But only the Virgin Mary can form all these supernatural things in and through us. Taken from St. Maximilian Kolbe s letter, Oct. 11, 1934

5 Page 5 DOWN Mother Teresa greeting our members of the Apostolate and other disabled people in attendance of a Rosary Rally, June 22, 1985, held in the University of Massachusetts stadium. Each person greeted received a small Miraculous Medal from her. It was a day many cherished. During private conversations with Mother she asked if the members of the Apostolate of the Suffering would spiritually adopt one of her Missionaries of Charity Sisters. Mother then directed the names and addresses of all her community be provided the Apostolate of the Suffering, allowing our members to write a Sister, letting her know she had been spiritually adopted and would be remembered in their prayers. The program resulted in many of Mother s Sisters being adopted by our Apostolate. Mother Teresa Quotes: "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." Jesus said love one another. He didn't say love the whole world. Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness. We are all pencils in the hand of God. I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."

6 Page 6 Suffering is, in many ways, a mystery. We know it has a complex involvement with sin and It could be said that when a person suffers, they experience a kind of evil because they are not sharing in a good, especially when they should have a share in this good, but are denied it. Suffering is considered the natural condition of man, caused by limitations we have as human beings. It is also caused by humanities disobedience, when we separate ourselves from God, but it is not always as a punishment. We also have suffering which comes into our lives from the world. It is interesting that even though it is from the world that suffering does often come into our lives, people will usually ask God why they are suffering. God, created us, with the gift of a free will. He could have created us as puppets, always doing exactly as he wanted, but gave us the freedom to make our own decisions. Do we love God and make choices that reflect our love for Him or do we turn our back on Him and do our own thing? Our first parents, Adam & Eve, received this gift, along with the command not to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. However, the fruit of this tree was very tempting to them. They had to make a decision. Would they choose God and obey His command or do their own thing? Today we know their decision. They disobeyed God and the Original Sin came into the Garden of Eden and into our own lives as well. Everything we do affects others. Every sin has its effect on someone else. The sin of Adam & Eve affected the lives of each and everyone of us. And so it is today. Someone commits an evil and it causes others to suffer because of it. God is love! He did not create evil but will sometimes allow it for a reason. He may allow it when it will result in saving a soul or as a discipline, much as a loving parent disciplines a child to teach it right from wrong. It could also serve as a conversion, the possibility of building goodness in a person. This applies to the good we do as well. Example: When someone prays for an individual, we all benefit from that prayer, not just that one person. Whatever we do, good or bad, has its effect on others. Br. Bob Letasz, SODC

7 Page 7 SHARING IS A GIFT OF OURSELF WHO WE ARE, HOW WE FEEL, OUR ATTITUDES, JOYS, HOPES AND PRE- SENT STRUGGLES. WE OFTEN FEEL A SENSE OF RISK AS WE SHARE. TO SHARE IS A DECISION TO LOVE.WITH CONFIDENCE THOSE WHO LOVE AND CARE ABOUT US. SHARING IS A TIME TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART AND TO LISTEN FROM THE HEART. TO LISTEN DEEPLY TO THE SHARING OF OTHERS, WE HAVE TO TURN OFF THE COMPETITIVE URGE AND THE URGE TO HEAL THAT OFTEN ARISES IN US. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN SHARING NOT TO INTERRUPT, COMMENT ON, OR REACT TO ANYONE ELSE S SHARING. SHARING IS NOT A TIME TO TEACH, TO JUDGE OR EVEN HELP ANYONE ELSE. OFTEN, WE WANT TO SAY, OH, YOU SHOULDN T FEEL THAT WAY, OR YOU LL FEEL BETTER WHEN YOU GET OVER YOUR POOR SELF- IMAGE. NO MATTER HOW LOVING THESE STATEMENTS SEEM, THEY ARE REJECTIONS AND CAN TURN OFF SOMEONE ELSE S SHARING. OTHERS MAY REALLY STRUGGLE TO SAY WHAT IS IN THEIR HEARTS. WE HAVE TO BE KIND ENOUGH NOT TO STIFFLE THEM WITH LOVING INTERRUPTIONS OR JOKING COMMENTS. THEIR STRUGGLES TO SHARE ARE A GIFT TO US OF THEIR JOY, EXCITEMENT & EXHILARATION. THE SHARING OF OTHERS CAN HELP US TO RECOGNIZE OUR OWN FEELINGS AND ATTITUDES IF WE LISTEN AND NOT PREPARE OUR OWN SHARING. SHARING WITNESSES OUR SOLIDARITY, OPENS US TO ONE AN- OTHER AND STRENGTHENS FIENDSHIPS... SINCE SHARING OF OURSELVES IS A GIFT ONLY TO THOSE PRESENT, NOTHING WE SHARE SHOULD BE SHARED OR REPEATED TO ANYONE ELSE. ONLY WITH THIS FEELING OF TRUST, CAN WE BE FREE TO SHARE FULLY WHO WE ARE. Sunday September 12th, 2010 was the joyful 50 TH Anniversary celebration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary House

8 Page MEMBERSHIP or RENEWAL Name: Address: City/State/Zip: ( ) I wish to be enrolled as a Volunteer of Suffering for the year ( SUFFERING ONE ) ( ) I wish to be enrolled as a Brother/Sister of the Sick for the year 2010 (ABLE-BODIED ) Signature: _ Date: A suggested dues of $5.00 is requested to help with the cost of mailings etc. This dues is optional. It is more important we receive your renewal or initial enrollment for St. Martin de Porres ( ) A Dominican monk known as a healer and tireless worker in service to the poor. He was canonized in 1962 by Pope John Paul XXIII... (see page #3) APOSTOLATE UPDATES CHRISTMAS PARTY: Our annual Christmas Party will be held at St. Michael s Cathedral December 15 th, beginning with registration at 10:00 AM. Mass celebrated at 11:00AM, followed by dinner in the hall. A $15.00 donation is appreciated to help defray the costs. There will be the customary gift exchange by Santa. Please mark your wrapped gift with the letter M on it if it is for a man and the letter F if for a woman.