Father Richard J. Rego,Chaplain
Fr. Isaac Fynn Weekend Associate


“Put on then, as God’s holy and beloved people, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience.  Forgive one another; and if one has a complaint against another, as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also forgive.  And above all these things put on charity, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.  And always be thankful - - - And whatever you do in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3: 12-15,17).





Saints of the Week
Mon, Mar 19 - - - -Saint Joseph. Spouse of the B.V.M.
Tues, Mar 20 - - - Feria of Lent
Wed, Mar 21 - - - -Feria of Lent
Thurs, Mar 22 - - -Feria of Lent
Fri, Mar 23 - - - - -Feria of Lent
Sat, Mar 24 - - - - Feria of Lent

Special Saint of the Week
    Pope Leo XIII said that, after his Mary, his spouse, he is the greatest saint in heaven.  He is that just man of the Scriptures who excelled in every virtue.  He is Joseph Most Chaste who was called by the Father from all eternity to guard and defend the Messiah and the purity of the Virgin Mary.  He is the Foster Father of Jesus.  He is the Universal Patron of the Catholic Church.  He is the patron of a Happy Death.  All honor to you, glorious Saint Joseph!

Gospel Words of Jesus Christ Our Divine Savior
16 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was come into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked him the parable. 18 And he said to them: So are you also without knowledge? Understand you not that every thing from without, entering into a man cannot defile him: 19 Because it enters not into his heart, but goes into the belly, and goes out into the privy, purging all meats? 20 But he said that the things which come out from a man, they defile a man. (Mark 7: 16-20)

From the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans
 21 I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind, and captivating me in the law of sin, that is in my members. 24 Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 The grace of God, by
Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, I myself, with the mind serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin. (Rom 7: 21-25)’’

Spiritual Thought Of The Week
From the Introduction to the Devout Life, by Saint Francis De Sales Part One, CHAPTER XXIII. SPORTS, balls, plays, festivities, expensive dress, are not in themselves evil, but rather indifferent matters, capable of being used for good or ill; but nevertheless they are dangerous, and it is still more dangerous to take great delight in them. Therefore, my daughter, I say that although it is lawful to amuse yourself, to dance, dress, feast, and see seemly plays, at the same time, if you are much addicted to these things, they will hinder your devotion, and become extremely hurtful and dangerous to you. The harm lies, not in doing them, but in the degree to which you care for them.

From The Imitation Of Christ By Thomas A Kempis
Book Three The Thirtieth Chapter:  THE VOICE OF CHRIST: MY CHILD, I am the Lord Who gives strength in the day of trouble. Come to Me when all is not well with you. Your tardiness in turning to prayer is the greatest obstacle to heavenly consolation, for before you pray earnestly to Me you first seek many comforts and take pleasure in outward things. Thus, all things are of little profit to you until you realize that I am the one Who saves those who trust in Me, and that outside of Me there is no worth-while help, or any useful counsel or lasting remedy.

From The Teachings Of The Second Vatican Council  
Dei Verbum (On the Word of God): #14  In carefully planning and preparing the salvation of the whole human race the God of infinite love, by a special dispensation, chose for Himself a people to whom He would entrust His promises. First He entered into a covenant with Abraham (see Gen. 15:18) and, through Moses, with the people of Israel (see Ex. 24:8). To this people, which He had acquired for Himself, He so manifested Himself through words and deeds as the one true and living God that Israel came to know by experience the ways of God with men. Then too, when God Himself spoke to them through the mouth of the prophets, Israel daily gained a deeper and clearer understanding of His ways and made them more widely known among the nations (see Ps. 21:29; 95:1-3; Is. 2:1-5; Jer. 3:17). The plan of salvation foretold by the sacred authors, recounted and explained by them, is found as the true word of God in the books of the Old Testament: these books, therefore, written under divine inspiration, remain permanently valuable. "For all that was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom. 15:4).

From The Code Of Canon Law Canon 277 §1. Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy, which is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity.  §2. Clerics are to behave with due prudence towards persons whose company can endanger their obligation to observe continence or give rise to scandal among the faithful.  §3. The diocesan bishop is competent to establish more specific norms concerning this matter and to pass judgment in particular cases concerning the observance of this obligation.

Catechism Of The Catholic Church
2324 Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.
S
PECIAL NOTICE
Please be advised that donations to Saint Gianna’s can be made through our website: www.saintgianna.net.  By so doing, one can contribute using their credit card.  We appreciate your financial support and also ask your prayers for our continued success.  Also, please note that we are now set up with PaPal so that our parishioners and friends can automatically contribute a designated amount each month toward your support of Saint Gianna’s.  Check our website for details: www.saintgianna.net.
Classes
We will be conducting classes on the Documents of Vatican II at the Desert Springs Academy, 3833 E 2nd St., Tucson.  The phone number is 321-1709.  The next class is Wednesday, March 21th at 3:00 PM.

INDEPENDENT CHAPELS It is vitally for us to understand this fundamental principle of Church discipline:  There is no such thing as an independent priest in the Catholic Church.  Every priest must have faculties from the Bishop in order to offer licit Masses.   In the Catholic Church, there is no such thing as an independent chapel.  Chapels must come under the jurisdiction of the local Bishop.  Our Mother of Sorrows Chapel in Phoenix does not function with the permission of the Bishop Olmstead of Phoenix.  All Masses offered there are illicit.  Carefully note that such Masses do not fulfill one’s Sunday obligation.  Do not be deceived by those who attempt to twist the response of the Ecclesia Dei Commission in Rome concerning attending illicit Masses!

Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Intention For March
General - - - - That the Word of God be more and more listened to, contemplated and lived.
Mission - - - - That the concern of those young Churches who train catechists, organizers and lay people at the service of the Gospel be constant.

   
May is the Month of Mary.  Yet, as I learned from my earliest years, we also honor Mary when we honor Joseph.   The Church’s Magisterium makes this abundantly clear.  March 19th is the Feast of Saint Joseph.  We also begin the month of May with the feast of Saint Joseph, The Worker.  Pope Leo XIII taught magisterially that, aside from Our Lady herself, Saint Joseph is the greatest saint in heaven.  Pope Pius IX named Joseph The Universal Patron of the Church.    
    
    To develop a deep appreciation of the Husband of Mary, we must set aside some perceptions that stubbornly cling to him.  Was Joseph an old man in his eighties with a long white beard?  Had he been married previously?  Some ancient historians have portrayed him in this fashion.   Bear in mind however that one of their prime concerns was to safeguard belief in Mary’s Perpetual Virginity.   Would it not be wise then, to portray an aged Joseph who poses no problem?  Moreover, children by a previous marriage would explain easily references to Jesus’ “brothers and sisters.”
    
    Do these perceptions of Joseph pass the test of reason or indeed, faith?  Theologians of more recent vintage would argue that they do not.   Would the Father have subjected the “Apple of His Eye” to the ridicule and embarrassment that inevitably would plague a sixteen-year-old maiden who married a man of eighty?  How could an old man rise from his sleep and “in haste” assume the protective role of the arduous and perilous Flight into Egypt?   
    
    Was it necessary to counter references to Our Lord’s “brothers and sisters” by Joseph’s children from a prior marriage?   Of course not!  Joseph Most Chaste is not a title that he earned by default.  The Husband of Mary, eternally selected by the Father, was a virtuous man in the full vigor of his youth.   Saints Jerome and Augustine, the greatest of Scripture scholars, staunchly defend the mutual perpetual virginity of Joseph and Mary.    
    
    Joseph loved Jesus and Mary from the very depth of his soul.  They returned his love profoundly!  Recall the three-day loss of Child Jesus.  When the Holy Couple found Him in the temple, Our Blessed Mother said: "Son, why have you done this to us?  Your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow."   “Your father!”  Jesus was the Son of God!  No one knew that better than Mary.  Yet, your father!  Why?   Our Lady’s words acknowledge the profound love and respect that they had for Joseph.
    
    Pope Pius XII said that Joseph showed Jesus, "all the natural love and all the affectionate solicitude that a father's heart can know."   No father loved a son as Joseph loved Jesus; no son loved a father as Jesus loved Joseph.  When Our Lord took His first steps, Joseph held His hand.  Together in the carpenter shop, they talked, worked, laughed, and prayed.  The Virgin Mother was never far away.  She never is!   Visitors to the holy home literally breathed in the love that wafted through the air.
    
    Fathers!  Saint Joseph is your model!  Lead your family’s life of faith by the example of Joseph.  In these days when families are under diabolical attack, seek his heavenly help.   Wives!   Pray to Saint Joseph!   The Guardian of the Holy Family will become the guardian of all who call upon him.  Children!  Pray to Saint Joseph!  He will teach you to be obedient to your parents, as was Jesus.    
    
    One day, the inevitable time designated by God the Father arrived.   Jesus was about to begin His public ministry.  Never must there be a doubt that when Our Savior invoked the name of His Father, He meant His Heavenly Father.  And so God called Joseph from the happiness of his earthly home to the bliss of his eternal heavenly home.
    Pope Leo XIII named Saint Joseph The Patron of a Happy Death.    Let the eye of our imaginations take us back to his holy deathbed.  As Pope Benedict tells us, Joseph’s silence speaks volumes.  Joy filled the scene, for with the Holy Family there is always joy.  Yet, they were deeply saddened.  Joseph was about to leave them in this life.  In still supreme peace, surrounded by heaven’s angels, embraced by the arms of Jesus and Mary, Joseph closed his eyes.  Grief engulfed the hearts of Jesus and Mary.  They wept!
    
    My dear friends!  Go to Saint Joseph in all of your needs!  He answers every prayer.   Beloved Saint Joseph!  Pray for our families!  Pray for our youth!  Pray for our diocese and for the Universal Church!  Glorious Saint Joseph, Patron of a Happy Death!  Grant us that we too may die in the arms of Jesus and Mary!  
    
    Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may we breathe forth our last in union with you!  Amen!    

                    Father Richard J. Rego,  S.T.L.