While Blessed John Paul II was pope as he was going through illness and difficult days, a Capuchin Friar stood below his window in Saint Peter's Square, raised his fist and cried out "Coraggio." Just what the Pope needed to hear. The Pope made him preacher to the Papal Household. We all need that "Corragio" from God and others from time to time. I hope this blog gives a lift and helps inspire all who read it, at least from time to time.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
Friday, July 01, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Fr. Corapi announces he's leaving the priesthood :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)
Fr. Corapi announces he's leaving the priesthood :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)
This is sad news! I plan to pray that the truth will out and that the Justice and mercy of God will hold sway for all involved. Fr. Willy
This is sad news! I plan to pray that the truth will out and that the Justice and mercy of God will hold sway for all involved. Fr. Willy
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sad Day in Malta for America
For me and Bishop Lumen Monteiro,CSC, it was a privilege to meet with the ambassador. I am only sorry we do not have more like him. He will be a big loss to our diplomatic community and the good people of Malta. May God bless you Ambassador Kmiec.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Friday, April 08, 2011
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Friday, April 01, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Friday, March 04, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
The Anatomy of Forgiveness
Saint John Vianney spent 16 hours a day hearing confessions and through him Christ the Risen Lord healed hundreds of thousands. It is shocking because the Warlord, General Butt Naked, recruited young men with his powerful and charismatic personality, convinced them that entering into battle naked protected them from bullets and was resposnbile by his own testimony for at least 20,000 civilians deaths.
One day, a visitor came to his barracks to tell him that he could be saved and forgiven. His guards claimed that they did not see the visitor come in or go out of the General's office. He began the long process of conversion, changing his heart by God's grace, leaving the civil war and renouncing violence, going before the truth and reconciliation tribuanl and confessing his crimes, going personally to as many victims and survivors as he could and asking forgiveness, and making satisfaction wherever he was able to.
As a priest who is blessed to celebrate the sacrament of mercy and forgiveness with many members of the Body of Christ weekly I am always honored and moved by the way in which God himself brings people to sorrow and contrition for their sins, to forgiveness and confession, to taking up a penance and make satisfaction for sins, to healing and reconcilation with a firm commitment not to enter into these sins again. The whole anatomy of forgiveness which we encounter in the Prodigal Son of Luke 15 seems to be present in the lives of the penitents who have the humility to come before a priest who acts in teh person of Christ and allows the Risen Lord to forgive, heal and strengthen the person. What a gift.
Some people questioned the sincerity of General Butt Naked's Redemption while we were at Sundance. I may be gullible but I believe that God's mercy extends even to such a man. Praise God!
Fr. Willy
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Friday, January 07, 2011
Friday, December 24, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Friday, December 03, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
November Nights
Every November when the clock "falls back" and night comes early and the weatehr turns cold there are hints of mortality and the end times all around. The Catholic liturgical readings also ramp up their focus on death as the year comes to an end. One friend has a great salutation below his name in all emails. "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention oa arriving safely in a pretty, well-preserved body, but rather a skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow, What a ride!" "
My thoughts turn to what all those relatives and friends who have died and what they are doing in eternity. It is clear from our faith and expereince that the saints are very busy helping us and those in purgatory to compete well in the race and reach the end having chosen to love God and neighbor as much as possible in thsi life.
PEace,
Fr. Willy
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Friday, August 06, 2010
Catholic Hollywood: Good-bye Anne Rice
Catholic Hollywood: Good-bye Anne Rice: "This week, Anne Rice announced on Facebook that she has left the Catholic Church and Christianity. I am sorry to see her go. Her reasons f..."
Monday, August 02, 2010
A letter to yourself
There is a minister at a New England school who has his students write a letter to be delivered to themselves fifteen years in the future. He asks them to address 6 areas:1. Who is the person right now that you would rather spend a day with than anyone else in the world?
2.Write to yourself what you hope you will be doing with your life fifteen years from now; and what you hope you won't be doing.
3. Some people say there is a God and others say there isn't. Set down in your letter what side you would put your money on today and why.
4. Set down the last thing that made you cry. 5. What is the most beautiful place you have ever seen up to now? 6. Write about the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you. Write about the nicest thing you have ever done for anyone.
The letter should have things like these in it so you won't lose track of them. Give the letter to somebody to mail to you someplace in 2025. My bet is that it will turn out to be one of the most interesting and useful letters you will ever receive. Peace, Fr. Willy
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Holy Hour For Hollywood
Every week we pray a Holy Hour on Friday during the "Hour of Mercy" 3-4, for Hollywood. This week we prayed for Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan and Eric Roberts. All are in need of the support of our prayers and our faith to navigate a "Sea of Troubles."- We also pray for all Acting Coaches, Actors, Agents, Animators, Cinematographers, Craft Services, Directors, Executive producers, Grips, Heads of Studios and Productions Companies, Interns, Investors, Lawyers, Lighting Professionals, Line Producers, Location Scouts, Make-up Artists, Managers, Producers, Stuntmen {women},Video Gamers, Wardrobers, Writers, Everyone below the line and above the line.
- Our prayer is that all men and women in Hollywood will use their immense talent, energy, resources to produce true works of art that enhance human dignity and give glory to God.
- We pray for those who love evil and are far from the Good, especially for pornographers who use men, women and children as objects and diminish the value and beauty of the human person, body, soul, spirit, mind and heart. Our prayers are needed here more than anywhere else.
- We also pray for all the video game creators, producers, and marketers some of whom use extreme violence, especially against women and children.
- There is no greater power in this world than the power of prayer. Look at the transformation in the life of Joe Ezstherhas as exhibit A. His memoirs, Crossbearer, speak eloquently of the power of prayer and God's love and mercy to bring about a new man.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Monday, July 05, 2010
Visit to Holy Father
Dear Friends,Sorry for neglecting the blog. This April 21st, 2010, while traveling to Milan, Florence, Castel Gandolfo and Rome with Angelus Student Film FEstival winners and staff, I had the great joy of meeting the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, after a Wednesday audience in Rome. We just had 30 seconds in which I asked for his blessing on Hollywood and the work started by Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC and that Family Theater continues. He said, "Hollywood, that is very important work. God bless you." He also gave me a blessed Rosary which I cherish. Before the meeting, I chatted with some Americans while waiting for the pope's arrival. They were from the University of Southern California and they had the cornerstone of the new Catholic Center which Pope Benedict blessed right after our meeitng. Fr. Lawrence and Mrs. Sample were there with the chairmen of their advisory committee to accompany the blessed stone back to Los Angeles. This was one of the most memorable days of my life. Have you ever met the Pope? I would love to to hear from you if you have.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Caritas in Veritate
Dear Friend,Recently, I have been thinking a lot about Pope Benedict XVI's latest encyclical Caritas in Veritate, for two reasons: I had to prepare a staff development session on "Charity in Truth" and today President Obama signed the Health Care Reform bill passed by the House of Representatives on Sunday, March 21st. The encyclical and health care reform are related. Allow me to begin first by referring to the WORD CLOUD to the left which captures the major themes of this 30,000 word encyclical Caritas in Veritate. This magisterial document opens with three powerful sentences: "Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity. Love-caritas-is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth." Repeatedly, the Holy Father states that Charity and Truth need each other. Charity without truth becomes mere "sentimentality" and a "empty shell" of itself. Truth without charity leads to cold rights and duties and ultimately dictatorship.
Without reiterating the whole argument, it seems to me that the political parties and the extreme media on both ends of the political spectrum in this country, all need to heed the wisdom of Caritas in Veritate. By way of illustration and encouragement, bankers in London have made time in their busy schedules to study in small groups the entire encyclical. It is worthwhile for many since it is addressed not only to religious leaders, but to political leaders, financiers, labor leaders, business leaders and aid agencies.
I believe that too often the civility in public discourse and the respect we owe to every human person as a child of God are lacking because we divorce Caritas from Veritate. If one does not have a respect for the truth but rather selects and advances arguments and data that support only one's preconceived conclusion, what good does that do for humanity and the common good? Conversely, if one wishes to save the world with good intentions cultivated in a generous and noble heart but lacks the wherewithal to face the facts and limits of life in the world, little of value is accomplished. Charity and Truth need each other.
Pope Benedict concludes his encyclical with wise and modest reminders. "Development needs Christians with their arms raised to God in prayer. Christians moved by the knowledge that truth-filled love, caritas in veritate,from which authentic development proceeds, is not produced by us but given to us. For this reason, even in the most difficult and complex times, besides recognizing what is happening, we must above all turn to God's love."
As we near the fifth anniversary of his selection as the successor of Peter, God must take delight in the knowledge one of the most brilliant and holy men alive today is occupying Peter's venerable chair. If you have read this may God bless you and our good Pope Benedict.
With respect,
Fr. Willy Raymond, CSC.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Brother Andre Bessette, CSC
Wow, He was born in 1845 and died in 1937. He interceded with his prayers and Saint Joseph's help to bring God's healing grace into the hearts and bodies of thousands. So beloved and revered was he that more than a million mourners passed by his bier on cold January days in wintry Montreal in 1937.
His Oratory is now the largest shrine to Saint Joseph in the world. In 1982 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II and on December 19,2009 Pope Benedict announced approval for the final miracle that promised an unobstructed path to sainthood for this humble doorman of Notre Dame College at the foot of Mount Royal.
On October 17, 2010 Brother Andre Bessette, CSC will be canonized a saint in Rome, so announced Pope Benedict on Feb. 19, 2010. Holy Cross, Montreal, Canada and much of the Northeastern United States has been waiting for this good news for 72 years.
As a member of Holy Cross, as a descendeant of French-Canadians, as a priest and pilgrim trying to live this Catholic Christian faith, I am delighted to know that our humble lay brother, the "Miracle-worker' of Mount Royal, will finally be recognized as a saint and his great love and faith be shared with the whole world. Beni soit le nom du seigneur, maintenant et a toujours! As Brother Andre told thousands, Ite ad Joseph, Go to Joseph. He is a powerful friend to have in heaven.
His Oratory is now the largest shrine to Saint Joseph in the world. In 1982 he was beatified by Pope John Paul II and on December 19,2009 Pope Benedict announced approval for the final miracle that promised an unobstructed path to sainthood for this humble doorman of Notre Dame College at the foot of Mount Royal.
On October 17, 2010 Brother Andre Bessette, CSC will be canonized a saint in Rome, so announced Pope Benedict on Feb. 19, 2010. Holy Cross, Montreal, Canada and much of the Northeastern United States has been waiting for this good news for 72 years.
As a member of Holy Cross, as a descendeant of French-Canadians, as a priest and pilgrim trying to live this Catholic Christian faith, I am delighted to know that our humble lay brother, the "Miracle-worker' of Mount Royal, will finally be recognized as a saint and his great love and faith be shared with the whole world. Beni soit le nom du seigneur, maintenant et a toujours! As Brother Andre told thousands, Ite ad Joseph, Go to Joseph. He is a powerful friend to have in heaven.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
History in the making
Dear Friend;
This is meant to give an inside look at the workings of the historic Rosary Bowl celebration in California this past May.
It is just over one month since the Rosary Bowl celebration in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on May 19, 2007. Eighteen months of planning and excellent collaboration by hundreds of volunteers preceded this great event. Not in the last fifty years has there been a gathering of this magnitude in southern California to pray the Rosary.
The organizers of this splendid event serve in Holy Cross Family Ministries, the successor organization for all the ministries founded by Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, a Holy CRoss priest who died in 1992 and is now a candidate for sainthood.
Patrick Peyton was born in Ireland in a poor family and came to the United States in 1928. Feeling called to the priesthood he entered the Holy Cross Congregation at Notre Dame University. Gaduated Magna Cum Laude and moved on to Washington, D.C. to study theology and prepare for ordination to the priesthood. Two years from ordination he was diagnosed with terminal tuberculosis and returned to Notre Dame to die--he thought. He was encouraged to trust in God and pray to the Mother of God that he would be healed through her intercession, if it were God's will. It was and he was given a new lease on life. He promised the Blessed Lady that he would dedicate the remainder of his life spreading devotion to her and to family prayer, especially the Rosary.
He founded Family Rosary in 1942 and Family Theater in 1947. He produced excellent radio and television programs; he organized huge rallies around the world sometimes gathering 2 million people at once to pray the Rosary {Sao Paulo, 1964 and Manila, 1985 each had 2 million people at large outdoor rallies.}He died in San Pedro California in 1992 after extraordinary service in over 40 rosary rallies around the world, hundreds of radio, television and film productions.
When Pope John Paul II announced a year of the Rosary and offered to all Christians his letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, he gave a fresh and solid theologuical foundation for the Rosary as a Chrosto-centric prayer. He called the Rosary a compendium of the Gospel and invited all people of good will to consider taking up the practice of the daily Rosary as a way of getting to know the Lord Jesus more intimately. He said we do this by travelling through all the events of Jesus'life in the comapny of the one who knew him best and loved him most, his own mother. She is also our mother and eager for us to take her hand and lead her lead us to her Son.
Pope JP II confessed in this letter that the Rosary was his favorite pryaer.
That 2002 letter provided the impetus for all of us in Holy Cross Family Ministries, including Family Theater, to begin looking at ways of making the Rosary once again a common and valued devotion for Christians everywhere, especially Catholics. The great secret of the Rosary is that it is a meditative way into contemplation that uses the repetition of the Hail Marys and Our Fathers as mantras to keep focused on the Lord and his great love for the human soul.
We see the Rosary Bowl in Pasadena as a way of gathering believers in large numbers to experience the power and the joy of praying to God and honoring His Mother. The Rosary Bowl has been a powerful experience ang the afterglow continues to encourage and inspire other cities around North America to attempt something similar.
You can see footage of the Rosary Bowl celebration on our website www.hcfm.org.
More about this later. I pray you and your family and friends will have a safe and joyful 4th of July celebration in which we all give thanks for our cherished freedom.
God bless,
Fr. Willy
This is meant to give an inside look at the workings of the historic Rosary Bowl celebration in California this past May.
It is just over one month since the Rosary Bowl celebration in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on May 19, 2007. Eighteen months of planning and excellent collaboration by hundreds of volunteers preceded this great event. Not in the last fifty years has there been a gathering of this magnitude in southern California to pray the Rosary.
The organizers of this splendid event serve in Holy Cross Family Ministries, the successor organization for all the ministries founded by Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, a Holy CRoss priest who died in 1992 and is now a candidate for sainthood.
Patrick Peyton was born in Ireland in a poor family and came to the United States in 1928. Feeling called to the priesthood he entered the Holy Cross Congregation at Notre Dame University. Gaduated Magna Cum Laude and moved on to Washington, D.C. to study theology and prepare for ordination to the priesthood. Two years from ordination he was diagnosed with terminal tuberculosis and returned to Notre Dame to die--he thought. He was encouraged to trust in God and pray to the Mother of God that he would be healed through her intercession, if it were God's will. It was and he was given a new lease on life. He promised the Blessed Lady that he would dedicate the remainder of his life spreading devotion to her and to family prayer, especially the Rosary.
He founded Family Rosary in 1942 and Family Theater in 1947. He produced excellent radio and television programs; he organized huge rallies around the world sometimes gathering 2 million people at once to pray the Rosary {Sao Paulo, 1964 and Manila, 1985 each had 2 million people at large outdoor rallies.}He died in San Pedro California in 1992 after extraordinary service in over 40 rosary rallies around the world, hundreds of radio, television and film productions.
When Pope John Paul II announced a year of the Rosary and offered to all Christians his letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, he gave a fresh and solid theologuical foundation for the Rosary as a Chrosto-centric prayer. He called the Rosary a compendium of the Gospel and invited all people of good will to consider taking up the practice of the daily Rosary as a way of getting to know the Lord Jesus more intimately. He said we do this by travelling through all the events of Jesus'life in the comapny of the one who knew him best and loved him most, his own mother. She is also our mother and eager for us to take her hand and lead her lead us to her Son.
Pope JP II confessed in this letter that the Rosary was his favorite pryaer.
That 2002 letter provided the impetus for all of us in Holy Cross Family Ministries, including Family Theater, to begin looking at ways of making the Rosary once again a common and valued devotion for Christians everywhere, especially Catholics. The great secret of the Rosary is that it is a meditative way into contemplation that uses the repetition of the Hail Marys and Our Fathers as mantras to keep focused on the Lord and his great love for the human soul.
We see the Rosary Bowl in Pasadena as a way of gathering believers in large numbers to experience the power and the joy of praying to God and honoring His Mother. The Rosary Bowl has been a powerful experience ang the afterglow continues to encourage and inspire other cities around North America to attempt something similar.
You can see footage of the Rosary Bowl celebration on our website www.hcfm.org.
More about this later. I pray you and your family and friends will have a safe and joyful 4th of July celebration in which we all give thanks for our cherished freedom.
God bless,
Fr. Willy
Monday, August 07, 2006
August Catholic Hollywood News
This first full week of August began with a visit to Family Theater on Sunday, August 6, of first term Nebraska Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. Our guest is a friend of Barbara Nicolosi of Act One fame and spoke at the Act One Graduation Dinner on Saturday, August 5.
At Family Theater The congressman spoke about being a Catholic in Washington. We wish him well as a champion of life and of Justice in the nations's capitol.
On Tuesday, August 8, Barbara Nicolosi visits Family Theater to speak this week and next on Friendship in Hollywood. Always thought-provoking and sometimes provocative, Barbara is never boring.
On Wednesday, August 9, Leo Severino visits Family Theater for another session of Going Deeper at 8:15 PM. This follows informal prayer beginning at 7 PM in the Family Theater Chapel.
On Thursday, August 10, at 4 PM at Family Theater, the Goretti Chastity Group sponsors at Holy Hour with Benediction and a 7 PM training session for Chastity speakers.
The Whole Going Deeper Series of talks, almost 25 hours in Toto, is available through this site.
THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Is Mel Gibson's career in Hollywood in jeopardy? Let me know your opinion.
If you have a prayer intention, send it to this site and we will pray for every reasonable intention at daily Mass here at Family Theater.
Peace and I pray God's blessing on you,
Fr. Willy
At Family Theater The congressman spoke about being a Catholic in Washington. We wish him well as a champion of life and of Justice in the nations's capitol.
On Tuesday, August 8, Barbara Nicolosi visits Family Theater to speak this week and next on Friendship in Hollywood. Always thought-provoking and sometimes provocative, Barbara is never boring.
On Wednesday, August 9, Leo Severino visits Family Theater for another session of Going Deeper at 8:15 PM. This follows informal prayer beginning at 7 PM in the Family Theater Chapel.
On Thursday, August 10, at 4 PM at Family Theater, the Goretti Chastity Group sponsors at Holy Hour with Benediction and a 7 PM training session for Chastity speakers.
The Whole Going Deeper Series of talks, almost 25 hours in Toto, is available through this site.
THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Is Mel Gibson's career in Hollywood in jeopardy? Let me know your opinion.
If you have a prayer intention, send it to this site and we will pray for every reasonable intention at daily Mass here at Family Theater.
Peace and I pray God's blessing on you,
Fr. Willy
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