St Peter and St Patrick Catholic Churches

06/23/2026

DAY 7 NOVENA - IVAN THE VISIONARY JOINS MARIJA FOR THE APPARITION - OUR LADY PRAYS OVER THE PRIESTS AND THE PARISH OF MEDJUGORJE
Tonight Ivan joined Marija. Marija asked Ivan to recount the apparition and he did as follows:

Today also, the Mother came to us joyful and happy, and she greeted all of us with her motherly greeting “Praised be Jesus, my dear children.” with so much joy in Her eyes.

After that, she lifted her gaze upon all of us who were present here. Her face was joyful, and she prayed over all of us for quite a long time in Her maternal language, Aramaic.

In a special way, she prayed again over you priests who are present, and over you who are sick in body and soul.

After that, Our Lady continued further; she stretched out her hands and prayed over this parish, that she says She has chosen in a special way, also for quite some time.

Then, She prayed over all of you and gave her motherly blessing to all of us, and blessed all the religious articles that had been brought for blessing. We recommended to Our Lady all of you: your needs, your families, everything that you brought in the heart, the hearts best known to the Lord.

After that, Our Lady continued, and prayed in a special way for peace. And in that prayer, Our Lady departed in the sign of the light of the Cross, with the greeting “Go in peace, dear children of mine.” That is all. Thank you.

06/22/2026

✝️ WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE BEATITUDES😳🤔
_________________

When people hear the Beatitudes, they often think:

“Try to be poor.”
“Try to be gentle.”
“Try to be peaceful.”

But the Beatitudes are not instructions first.

They are an announcement.

Jesus is not saying, “If you behave like this, God may bless you.”

He is declaring:

👉 “This is what the Kingdom of God looks like now that I have arrived.”

Let’s open it carefully.

✝️ 1. JESUS GOES UP THE MOUNTAIN, AND THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Matthew tells us:

“Seeing the crowds, He went up the mountain…” (Mt 5:1)

This is not a random location.

In the Bible:

Moses went up the mountain to receive the Law

Elijah went up the mountain to encounter God

God reveals Himself from the mountain

By going up the mountain and sitting down to teach, Jesus is silently saying:

👉 I am not giving another law. 👉 I am revealing God Himself.

Moses received words from God.
Jesus speaks as God.

✝️ 2. “BLESSED” DOES NOT MEAN “HAPPY”, IT MEANS “ALREADY TOUCHED BY GOD”

The word “Blessed” (makarios, μακάριος) does not mean emotional happiness.

It means:

Favored by God

Marked by heaven

Already standing in grace

So when Jesus says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…”

He is not praising poverty.

He is revealing who already belongs to the Kingdom.

✝️ 3. THE BEATITUDES REVERSE THE WORLD’S LOGIC

Look carefully at who Jesus calls “blessed”:

The poor

The mourning

The meek

The persecuted

These are not admired people in society.

In the ancient world:

The poor were ignored

The mourners were seen as weak

The meek were crushed

The persecuted were considered cursed

Yet Jesus says:

👉 These are the ones closest to God.

Why?

Because the Kingdom of God does not operate by power, wealth, or control.

It operates by dependence on God.

✝️ 4. “POOR IN SPIRIT” DOES NOT MEAN POOR OPINIONS

“Poor in spirit” does not mean:

Lacking intelligence

Being passive

Having low self-esteem

In Jewish thought, the “poor” (anawim) were those who had nothing left but God.

They trusted God not because they were holy, but because they had no other support.

Jesus begins here because the Kingdom begins here.

👉 You cannot receive God if your hands are already full.

✝️ 5. THE BEATITUDES ARE A PORTRAIT, OF JESUS HIMSELF

This is the key many miss.

Every Beatitude describes Jesus:

He is poor in spirit

He mourns over Jerusalem

He is meek and humble of heart

He hungers for righteousness

He is merciful to sinners

He is pure in heart

He makes peace through the Cross

He is persecuted and killed

The Beatitudes are not just a path to Christ.

👉 They are Christ revealed.

To live the Beatitudes is not to imitate an idea, it is to share in His life.

✝️ 6. THE PROMISES ARE NOT FUTURE ONLY, THEY BEGIN NOW

Notice something important:

“Theirs is the Kingdom” (present)

“They shall be comforted” (future)

The Beatitudes stretch across time.

The Kingdom is:

Already present

Not yet complete

This is Catholic theology at its best: 👉 Grace now 👉 Glory later

✝️ 7. WHY THIS GOSPEL SHAKES US

The Beatitudes confront every false idea of success.

They say:

Holiness may look like failure

Faithfulness may look like loss

Obedience may look like weakness

But Jesus says:

👉 This is the way God wins.

✝️ WHAT THIS GOSPEL ASKS OF US

The Beatitudes are not admired. They are entered.

Not by force. Not by perfection. But by surrender.

They ask one question:

👉 Whose Kingdom am I really living for?

✝️ SO…

The Beatitudes are:

Not slogans

Not moral poems

Not impossible ideals

They are the manifesto of the Kingdom.

And on that mountain, Jesus did not say: “Try harder.”

He said, in effect:

👉 “Come. Live in My life. See the world through My heart.”

God bless you 🙏

_________________

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

DAY 6 NOVENA OUR LADY GIVES INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FINAL THREE DAYS OF THE NOVENA
During the moment apparition, when Our Lady appeared, as always She greeted “Praised be Jesus.” And I as always responded “Praised be Jesus and Mary" and Our Lady smiles. So this evening also, our encounter began with a smile. Then, Our Lady remained in silence.

And I began to recommend to Our Lady all of us, all our intentions, all the people who had recommended themselves to our prayers, and all those who are spiritually connected with us in prayer. In a special way, I prayed for the sick in soul and body. We prayed for peace, as every day; during the apparition I ask Our Lady to intercede before her Son Jesus for peace in our hearts, for peace in our families, and for peace in the whole world.

Our Lady extended her hands above us all and She looked at all of us and prayed in her motherly language Aramaic, for quite a long time.

At the end, She said that we should ”spend these next three days in reflection, in prayer, thanksgiving, and fasting. That these three days should be three days of prayer and thanksgiving to God for everything that God gives us through Her.”

And at the end, Our Lady blessed all of us with the sign of the Cross and said “Go in peace, my dear children.” And she told me "We will see each other tomorrow; at the same time, in the same place." and She went into Heaven.

06/21/2026

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗜𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗨𝗠, 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗?

The ciborium is one of the sacred vessels used in the Catholic Church. It is often mistaken for an ordinary container, but it has a very special purpose in the liturgy and in Eucharistic devotion.

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗔 𝗖𝗜𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗨𝗠?

A ciborium is a sacred vessel that resembles a chalice but has a lid. It is used to hold the consecrated Hosts, which are truly the Body of Christ after the consecration at Mass.

The ciborium is usually made of precious materials and is kept with great care because of the sacred treasure it contains.

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗?

The ciborium holds the consecrated Hosts reserved after Mass.

These Hosts are kept in the tabernacle for:

✝️ Distribution of Holy Communion

✝️ Communion for the sick and homebound

✝️ Eucharistic adoration and devotion

Because it contains the Blessed Sacrament, the ciborium deserves profound reverence.

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗?

The ciborium is sacred because of its intimate connection with the Holy Eucharist.

Just as the Ark of the Covenant was revered because it contained the presence of God among His people, the ciborium is revered because it holds Jesus Christ truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

Its sacred purpose sets it apart from ordinary vessels.

✝️ 𝗔 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗧𝗛

The care given to the ciborium reflects the Church's belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

When Catholics genuflect before the tabernacle or treat the ciborium with reverence, they are expressing faith in Jesus who remains with His Church.

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗪𝗘 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡?

✝️ The ciborium is a sacred vessel used to hold consecrated Hosts.

✝️ It is usually covered with a lid and reserved in the tabernacle.

✝️ It contains the Blessed Sacrament, the true Body of Christ.

✝️ Because of its sacred purpose, it deserves reverence and respect.

✝️ The ciborium reminds us of Christ's abiding presence among His people.

✝️ 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥

Every sacred vessel in the Church points us toward a deeper mystery.

The ciborium is not honored because of its material value but because of the priceless treasure it contains: Jesus Christ Himself in the Holy Eucharist.

Whenever you see a ciborium, let it remind you that God remains close to His people, hidden under the appearance of bread.

✝️ "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." — Matthew 28:20

Ignatius Catholicum ✍️✝️

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day to the men of St Peter Parish! And especially to our spiritual father, Fr Peter. We appreciate you!

06/20/2026

The instructions we hear Jesus give today are addressed to his disciples, but they can also be read as the instructions he has already given to himself, instructions he will follow all the way to the cross. “Fear no one” (Matthew 10:26): Jesus will not be afraid to speak out against the authorities and those with power. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (10:28): Jesus stands up to Herod and Pilate, knowing that they cannot harm his soul. “Not one [sparrow] falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge” (10:29): the Father will raise Jesus from the dead. This perspective makes our mission as Jesus’ disciples easier, for we know that this all has been proven true.

Note that Jesus does not say that God will not allow sparrows to fall to the ground anymore or let you lose any of your hair! No, he just says that the Father watches over us all so that we need not be afraid of loss or death. Saint Paul is able to use the confidence he has in God to proclaim the gospel in hostile situations, eventually facing arrest, imprisonment, and death. As he writes to the Romans, the grace from the Father’s gift of the Son overflows to the whole world. We need not even be afraid of death, for Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

Fear can lead us to all sorts of terrible thinking and actions. Fear of what those who are not like us may do can lead to prejudice and intolerance. Fear of what others may think of us can lead us to avoid standing up for our beliefs or for someone who needs our support. Fear of losing our jobs or our wealth can lead us to unethical and selfish actions. Jeremiah recognized the fears he had—of friends betraying him, of being persecuted, of terror—but trusted in God, who would rescue him from all wickedness. Three times Jesus reassures his disciples that there is no need to fear, even of those who might kill them, since we have God on our side. Our only fear should be of denying our faith and giving in to the devil, for then our soul is in
true peril. (Pastoral Patterns June 21, 2026)

Question of the Week
What do I fear the most about witnessing to my faith in the light of day? How can I see my failing to stand up for what I believe in as a greater fear?

June 21, 2026, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062126.cfm

06/19/2026

What is it like to study, pray, and live at the heart of the Church in Rome?

In this reflection, Br. Mark Nelson and Br. Joachim Conti share personal stories from their time at Sant’ Anselmo. From meeting Pope Leo XIV and participating in a historic papal visit, to the challenges of learning new languages, adapting to a different culture, and discovering how God works through both study and everyday encounters, their experiences offer a glimpse into the formation and adventure of monastic life abroad.

Read the full article to follow their journey from Conception Abbey to Rome https://www.conceptionabbey.org/reflections-from-rome/