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MayThe Month of Our Lady"Today we begin the month dedicated to Our Lady a favourite of popular devotion. In accord with a long-standing tradition of devotion, parishes and families continue to make the month of May a 'Marian' month, celebrating it with many devout liturgical, catechetical and pastoral initiatives!"~Pope John Paul IIFor centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of Mary to honor Mary, Mother of God. Not just a day in May, mind you, but the entire month.The pious practice of honoring Mary during the month of May has been especially recommended by the Popes. Pius XII made frequent reference to it and in his great Encyclical on the Sacred Liturgy (Mediator Dei) characterized it as one of "other exercises of piety which although not strictly belonging to the Sacred Liturgy, are nevertheless of special import and dignity, and may be considered in a certain way to be an addition to the liturgical cult: they have been approved and praised over and over again by the Apostolic See and by the Bishops"The practice was granted a partial indulgence by Pius VII in 1815 and a plenary indulgence by Pius IX in 1859. With the complete revision of indulgences in 1966 and the decreased emphasis on specific indulgences, it no longer carries an indulgence; however it certainly falls within the category of the First General Grant of Indulgences. (A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in the performance of their duties and in bearing the trials of life, raise their mind with humble confidence to God, adding — even if only mentally — some pious invocation.During this period, the tradition of Tricesimum, or “Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary,” came into being. Also called, “Lady Month,” the event was held from August 15-September 14 and is still observed in some areas.In 1945, Pope Pius XII solidified May as a Marian month after establishing the feast of the Queenship of Mary on May 31st. After the Second Vatican Council, this feast was moved to August 22, while May 31st became the feast of the Visitation of Mary.Significant Dates in May* May 13 Our Lady of Fatima* May 13 Our Lady of the Blessed SacramentAnd Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. ~ Luke 1:38And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed. ~ Luke 2:35And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord~Luke 1:46“We may seek graces, but we shall never find them without the intercession of the Mary.”~Saint Cajetan “Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.”~Padre Pio“But his heart burned with the desire to establish perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed upon a royal throne and surrounded by a large court of adorers. On February 2, 1851, at the shrine of Fourvière, the Most-Blessed Virgin had made him [St. Peter Julian Eymard] understand its necessity. ‘All the mysteries of my Son have a religious order of men to honor them. The Eucharist alone has none…’”“Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.” —Matthew 6:11 (Douay-Rheims Bible)You must never separate what God has so perfectly united. So closely are Jesus and Mary bound up with each other that whoever beholds Jesus sees Mary; whoever loves Jesus, loves Mary; whoever has devotion to Jesus, has devotion to Mary. – St. John Eudes "Mary guides the faithful to the Eucharist."~Pope John Paul IIThis weekend is the First Friday and First Saturday of the Month! First Friday It is no wonder, therefore, that our predecessors have constantly defended this most approved form of devotion — the pious devotion of the faithful toward the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus [and] the custom of receiving Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month at the desire of Christ Jesus, a custom which now prevails everywhere.—Pope Pius XI Miserentissimus RedemptorTHE 12 PROMISES of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus1. will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.2. will establish peace in their homes.3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.6. Sinners will find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.9. I will bless every place in which an image of My Heart is exposed and honored.10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart.12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in My disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be the safe refuge in this last moment.For more information on the First Friday Devotion click here or the link below. First SaturdayFive consecutive Saturdays in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of MaryThe practice of the First Saturday devotion was requested by Our Lady of Fatima. who appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, multiple times starting in 1917.She said to Lucia, the oldest of the three children:“I shall come to ask . . . that on the First Saturday of every month, Communions of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.”Years later she repeated her request to Sr. Lucia, the only one still living of the three young Fatima seers, while she was a postulant sister living in a convent in Spain:"Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at very moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me, and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the rosary, and keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries of the rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”CONDITIONS TO FULFILL THE FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTIONThere are five requirements to obtain this promise from the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On five consecutive first Saturdays of the month, one should:1. Have the intention of consoling the Immaculate Heart in a spirit of reparation.2. Go to confession (within eight days before or after the first Saturday).3. Receive Holy Communion.4. Say five decades of the Holy Rosary.5. Meditate for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the goal of keeping Our Lady company (for example, while in church or before an image or statue of Our Lady).You can get more information on the First Saturday Devotion by clicking here or the link below. “But his heart burned with the desire to establish perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed upon a royal throne and surrounded by a large court of adorers. On February 2, 1851, at the shrine of Fourvière, the Most-Blessed Virgin had made him [St. Peter Julian Eymard] understand its necessity. ‘All the mysteries of my Son have a religious order of men to honor them. The Eucharist alone has none…’”OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENTBehold the new title given to Mary by the Very Reverend Pierre-Julien Eymard, Founder of the Society of the Most Blessed Sacrament.This admirable man was born at Mure, Isere, in 1811. After embracing the ecclesiastical state and exercising the sacred ministry for some time, he entered into the Society of Mary, where for seventeen years he afforded an example of all the religious virtues. But God destined him to be the Father of a new family. As soon as the divine will was clearly known to him, Père Eymard accepted unhesitatingly all the trouble and labor which the founding of such a Society would cost him, and to it he gave the name, Society of the Religious of the Most Blessed Sacrament. To glorify the Most Holy Eucharist, is its end. By what means? By solemn and perpetual Exposition of the August Sacrament. It has, also, an exterior apostolate, embracing all the works directly relating to this essential end.This holy institution commenced in Paris, in 1856, in an humble locality given provisionally by Archbishop Sibour. In 1862, Père Eymard, having already a sufficient number of disciples, opened a novitiate. On the 8th of May of the following year, His Holiness, Pius IX, after having heard the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, granted the Decree of Approbation to the said Society.The life of the pious Founder was not of long duration. But before his death God gave him the consolation of seeing his religious family consolidated and extended. On 1 August 1868, he died the death of the just, consumed with the love of Jesus in the Eucharist.Among the pious legacies which Père Eymard left to his religious family, there was one which today more especially claims our attention, since we are in the month of May, and that is the devotion to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.May 1, 1868, being at Saint-Maurice, a house of retreat which he had opened in a pleasant situation far from the noise of the city, and the turmoil of the world, Père Eymard began the pious exercises of the Month of Mary, and closed his burning exhortation with these words: "O let us honor Mary under the title, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament! Yes, let us say with confidence, let us say with love: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Mother and Model of Adorers, pray for us who have recourse to thee!"Père Eymard was radiant, his words trembling with emotion, his heart over flowing with joy, for he had discharged a debt of gratitude to Mary, his Mother, to Mary who had given him Jesus in the Sacrament, who had sustained and encouraged him with maternal solicitude in the founding of his pious and edifying Society. Upon the point of bidding adieu to his children, and leaving them a powerful means of serving their Master better, he added to Mary's diadem a jewel not less beautiful than glorious.Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament is the new title of a thing very old, says the Father.We have good reason to venerate all the mysteries of the life of the Mother of God. Contemplative souls have found an example in the life of Mary of Nazareth, as desolate hearts have done in Our Lady of Dolors. In all Mary's actions, there is a grace which sweetly attracts us to honor and imitate them, each according to his vocation.Now, Mary lived over twenty years after the Ascension of her Divine Son. By what were her long days of exile occupied, and what grace does this important part of our Mother's life comprise?The Acts of the Apostles seem to indicate it with sufficient clearness. "The first Christians," we then read, "lived in peace, union, and the most ardent charity, sighing after martyrdom, and in order to prepare themselves for it, persevering in the breaking of the Bread: Perseverantes in communicatione fractionis pants." - Acts 2:42To live of the Eucharist and by the Eucharist, to gather round the tabernacle in order to chant hymns and sacred canticles, this was the distinctive characteristic of the primitive Church. The Holy Spirit records it in the sublime ecclesiastical history written by Saint Luke, and such is, also, the resume of the Blessed Virgin's last years. She found again in the Adorable Host the blessed fruit of her womb, and in the life of union with Our Lord in His tabernacle, the happy days of Bethlehem and Nazareth.O yes! It was Mary, above all, who persevered in the breaking of the Bread. She is the great model for the adorers of the Blessed Sacrament.We shall now briefly enumerate some of the reasons that justify the title, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, given to Mary by Père Eymard.Mary is the Mother of Jesus, de qua natus est Jesus. We believe, and our faith is our sweetest joy, that the Adorable Body of Our Lord, really present in the Eucharist, is the same Body that was formed of the most pure blood of Mary, that was nourished with her substance and her virginal milk. It is for this reason that Saint Augustine says, Caro Jesu caro est Marise, et ipsam Marise carnem nobis manducandam dedit ad salutem. "The flesh of Jesus is the flesh of Mary, and the Saviour gives us this flesh of Mary as the food of our salvation."In the same sense spoke Saint Ambrose, Saint Anselm, Richard of Saint Laurence, and the theologians Suarez, Kick, Schurlog, Zelada, Vega, Cornelius a Lapide, and others.The Church in her Liturgy for Corpus Christi, repeats for that day the Preface of the Nativity of Our Lord, which speaks of the flesh given by Mary to the Word Incarnate. The Doxology of the Hymn of the Divine Office for this feast, after having chanted the love and the glories of Jesus in the Eucharist, turns to the Virgin as to the cause of the Gift that we receive at the altar: Jesu tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine.These reasons and others, which we are forced to omit for want of space, authorize the new title given to Mary by Pere Eymard. We have found them commented upon with wonderful erudition in one of the works of the Bibliothèque, published by the Religious of the Most Blessed Sacrament.The Lord Bishops of Angers and Arras have granted forty days’ Indulgence to the Faithful of their respective dioceses, and we accordingly do the same in our own for as often as the following invocation is recited:Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Mother and Model of Adorers, pray for us who have recourse to thee!Salamanca, fourth day and first Saturday of the month of May, consecrated to Mary, 1872.- Cardinal Joaquín Lluch y Garriga, Diocese of Salamanca, Spain, 4 May 1872Preparatory MeditationThe month of Mary is the month of blessings and graces, for all graces come to us through Mary, as Saint Bernard and all the saints assure us. It is a feast of thirty days in honor of the Mother of God, and it will prepare us for the succeeding lovely month of the Blessed Sacrament.I. Because we make profession of especially honoring the Holy Eucharist, it does not follow that we should have less devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Far from it! He would be guilty of blasphemy who would say: "As for me, the Blessed Sacrament suffices. I have no need of Mary." Where shall we find Jesus on earth if not in Mary's arms. Did she not give us the Eucharist? Was it not her consent to the Incarnation of the Word in her pure womb that inaugurated the great mystery of reparation to God and union with us, which Jesus accomplished by His mortal life, and that He continues in the Eucharist?Without Mary, we shall not find Jesus, for she possesses Him in her heart. There He takes His delight, and they who wish to know His inmost virtues, His sacred and privileged love, must seek them in the heart of Mary. They who love that good Mother will find Jesus in her pure heart.We must never separate Jesus from Mary. We can go to Him only through her. I even maintain that the more we love the Eucharist, the more we ought to love Mary. We love all that our friend loves. Now, is there a creature better loved by God, a mother more tenderly thought of by her son, than was Mary by Jesus?Oh yes, Our Lord would be very much pained if we, the servants of His Eucharistic Life, did not greatly honor Mary, since she is His Mother. He owes every thing to her in the order of His Incarnation, His human nature. It is by the flesh that she gave Him that He has so glorified His Father, that He has saved us, and that He continues to nourish and save the world by the Blessed Sacrament.He wishes us to honor her so much the more now as, during His mortal life, He seems to have neglected it Himself. He truly honored His Mother very much in private; but in public He left her in the shade, since He had, before all, to assert and support His dignity as God.But at the present day, Our Lord wishes us in some way to indemnify the Blessed Virgin for all that He did not do for her exteriorly; and we are bound (there is here question of salvation) to honor her as the Mother of God and our own Mother.II. But since, as adorers, we are more especially devoted to the service of the Eucharist, it is in this quality that we owe particular devotedness to Mary. Religious of the Most Blessed Sacrament, servants of the Blessed Sacrament, associates of the Blessed Sacrament, we are by our state adorers of the Eucharist. This is our beautiful title blessed by Pius IX. Adorers what does that mean? It means that we are attached to the Adorable Person of Our Lord living in the Eucharist. But if we belong to the Son, we belong to the Mother, also; we adore the Son, we ought to honor the Mother, also; and we are obliged, in order to persevere in the grace of our vocation and participate in it fully, to render to the Blessed Virgin very special honor under the title: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.This devotion is not spread, nor is it explicitly defined as yet in the Church. Since devotion to Mary follows the worship of Jesus, it also follows its various phases and developments.When we honor Our Lord on the Cross, we pray to Our Lady of Seven Dolors. When we honor His life submissive and retired at Nazareth, it is Our Lady of the Hidden Life that we take for model. The Blessed Virgin follows all the conditions of her Son.We have never yet saluted Our Lady by this beautiful title: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. But the devotion to the Eucharist is spreading. Never was it greater or more general than in our time. It is taking hew increase everywhere. It is the grace that the Immaculate Conception has brought to the world. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is not new, but there is, without doubt, a great and new manifestation of the Holy Eucharist. The hidden God comes forth from His tabernacle. He is everywhere exposed by day and by night. The Eucharist is to be the source of salvation for this opening century. The worship of the Eucharist will be the glory, the grandeur of this age.Devotion to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament will grow with the worship of the Eucharist. I have not found this devotion treated in any work. I have never heard it spoken of except in the revelations of Mother Mary of Jesus, where I read something of Mary's Communion, and in the Acts of the Apostles where we see Mary in the Cenacle.III. What did the Blessed Virgin do in the Cenacle? She adored. She was the Mother and the Queen of adorers. She was, in a word, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Our occupation during this month will be, to honor her under this beautiful title, to meditate on what she did, to inquire how Our Lord received her adoration. We shall discover the perfect union of those two hearts, that of Jesus and that of Mary, lost in one love, and one single life. Piety must raise the mysterious veil that hides the adoring life of Mary.We are astonished that the Acts of the Apostles say nothing of it, but are satisfied with leaving Mary in the Cenacle. Ah! it is because her whole life in the Cenacle was one of love and adoration.Why speak again of love and adoration? How shall we express that reign of God in the soul and that life of the soul in God? It cannot be explained. Language has no words to express the delights of heaven, and it is the same with the life of Mary in the Cenacle. Saint Luke tells us only that she lived and prayed there. Prayer and the love of study formed the essence of her life. Let us suppose that all that is most powerful in love, all that is most holy and perfect in the virtues, and attribute it to Mary. But because Mary lived there in union with the Most Blessed Sacrament for more than twenty years, all her virtues took the Eucharistic character. They were nourished by Communion, adoration, and constant union with our Eucharistic Jesus. Mary's virtues acquired in the Cenacle their highest perfection, almost limitless, surpassed only by that of the virtues of Jesus Christ.Let us ask Our Lord to reveal to us what passed between Him and His Mother in the Cenacle. He will tell us some of those wonders, not all, for we could not bear them, but a few, and they will fill us with joy.O how happy we should be, could we make a month of Maria Adoratrix! Meditation is necessary for that, and much prayer. One must understand, also, the thanksgiving of Mary's love. I greatly desire this, but for such a work a longer preparation would be required.IV. All the mysteries of Mary's life live again in the Cenacle. If we meditate on the birth of her Son in Bethlehem, let us continue the Gospel and be hold the Eucharistic birth of that same Son on the altar. Is our subject, "The Flight into Egypt?" Well, then, do we not see that Our Lord is still in the midst of strangers and barbarians in those cities and countries in which the churches are closed, and no one goes to visit Him? Think again on His hidden life at Nazareth. Do we not find Him ever more hidden in His Eucharistic life? Consider all the other mysteries of Mary's life as connected with the Eucharist, and reflect on the part that she took therein.The essential point is to seek out and practice Our Lady's virtues. Let us take them in order, the lowest, the smallest. We know them. We shall afterward rise by degrees to her interior virtues, even to her love.Then let us daily offer up some sacrifice. Let us foresee something that will cost. There are some that we know in advance; for instance, to such a thing, to see such a person. Offer this sacrifice. The Blessed Virgin will be satisfied. It will be one more flower for the crown that she wishes to offer to her Son in our name on His day, the beautiful feast of Corpus Christi.If we foresee no special sacrifices, let us maintain ourselves in generous dispositions to accept all that the good God will send us. Let us be watchful to catch on the wing that bird from heaven. It is a messenger from God, bringing us a grace and a crown of thorns. We must welcome them. A sacrifice foreseen makes us reason, and reasoning diminishes its value. But those that we make generously, without premeditation and without deliberation, are of more value.The good God wants to surprise us. He says to us: "Hold thyself in readiness!" And the faithful soul is disposed for all that the good God wills. Love loves to surprise. Let us never lose these sacrifices, and for that it suffices to be generous. A generous soul O how beautiful! God is glorified by it, and He says of her as of Job, with sentiments of joy and admiration: "Hast thou seen My servant Job?" The soul that loves, allows none of these sacrifices to pass. She has, so to say, her eye in the air. She feels that a cross is coming, and she prepares to receive it well.Let us, then, honor the Blessed Virgin by a daily sacrifice. Let us go through her to Our Lord, take shelter behind her, hide under her mantle, clothe ourselves with her virtues, be, as it were, her shadow. Let us offer all her actions, all her merits, all her virtues to Our Lord. We have only to draw on Mary, and to say to Jesus: "I offer Thee the riches that my Mother has acquired for me," and Our Lord will be very much pleased with us.Practice. Let us fulfill all our Eucharistic duties in union with Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.Aspiration. Hail Mary, of whom was born our Eucharistic Jesus!Our Lady of Fatima May 13 Feast of Our Lady of Fatima “Before her birth, the Prophets proclaimed the glory of Mary. They compared her to the sun.Indeed, the appearance of the Blessed Virgin can be compared to the beautiful ray of sunshine on the cloudy afternoon”.~Saint John Vianney When it comes to Our Lady of Fatima and Her Significance, what more can I say? STAY TUNED! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com

Today I’m revisiting something I wrote on January 29, 2023; with a few additions and a deeper dive audio podcast now included. The Brown Scapular is in the Bible!Make Your Calling Sure“By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature: flying the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the world. And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue: And in virtue, knowledge: And in knowledge, abstinence: and in abstinence, patience: and in patience, godliness: And in godliness, love of brotherhood: and in love of brotherhood, charity. For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you to be neither empty nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”~2 Peter 1:4-8Concupiscence: Strong Desire especially sexual“By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature: flying the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the world. And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue: And in virtue, knowledge: And in knowledge, abstinence: and in abstinence, patience: and in patience, godliness: And in godliness, love of brotherhood: and in love of brotherhood, charity. For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you to be neither empty nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”~2 Peter 1:4-8“Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any time. For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the ever-lasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”~ 2 Peter 1:10-11“Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul”~1 Peter 2:11So how do you fulfill the Sabbatine Privilege (of the Brown Scapular)?2. Living a life of chastity according to one's state in life“Because all the forms of our love for the Blessed Virgin, all its various modes of expression cannot be equally pleasing to Her, and therefore do not assist us in the same degree to Heaven. I say without a moments hesitation that the BROWN SCAPULAR IS THE MOST FAVORED OF ALL!”“No devotion has been confirmed by more numerous authentic miracles than the Brown Scapular.”~ Saint Claude de la Colombiere“Those who die wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire!”–Our Lady to St. Simon Stock"One day, Brother Angelus, to your Order of Carmel the Most Blessed Virgin Mary will give a devotion to be known as the Brown Scapular, and to my Order of Preachers she will give a devotion to be known as the Rosary. AND ONE DAY, THROUGH THE ROSARY AND THE SCAPULAR, SHE WILL SAVE THE WORLD."~Saint Dominic "The Scapular, the rosary, and the Miraculous Medal: here are the three things the Immaculata herself deigned to offer for the salvation of mankind.~Saint Maximilian Kolbe“Guard fervently the purity of your body and soul, because these are the two wings which carry us to God, and make us almost divine.”~Padre Pio This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com

Originally released May, 2023, now in audio podcast format. We may not necessarily be in the “end times” but we are definitely living in interesting times. Evil can be felt everywhere. Perhaps these words from Saint Louis De Montfort can be a source of inspiration or hope to some. Perhaps it can be the spark that ignites the flame burning dimly in the heart of many soul.“....towards the end of the world, ....Almighty God and His holy Mother are to raise up saints who will surpass in holiness most other saints as much as the cedars of Lebanon tower above little shrubs.”“These great souls filled with grace and zeal will be chosen to oppose the enemies of God who are raging on all sides. They will be exceptionally devoted to the Blessed Virgin. Illumined by her light, strengthened by her spirit, supported by her arms, sheltered under her protection, they will fight with one hand and build with the other.With one hand they will give battle, overthrowing and crushing heretics and their heresies, schismatics and their schisms, idolaters and their idolatries, sinners and their wickedness. With the other hand they will build the temple of the true Solomon and the mystical city of God, namely, the Blessed Virgin... ““They will be like thunderclouds flying through the air at the slightest breath of the Holy Spirit. Attached to nothing, surprised at nothing, they will shower down the rain of God’s word and of eternal life. They will thunder against sin; they will storm against the world; they will strike down the devil and his followers and for life and for death, they will pierce through and through with the two-edged sword of God’s word all those against whom they are sent by Almighty God.”“They will be true apostles of the latter times to whom the Lord of Hosts will give eloquence and strength to work wonders and carry off glorious spoils from His enemies. They will sleep without gold or silver and, more important still, without concern in the midst of other priests, ecclesiastics and clerics. Yet they will have the silver wings of the dove enabling them to go wherever the Holy Spirit calls them, filled as they are, with the resolve to seek the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Wherever they preach, they will leave behind them nothing but the gold of love, which is the fulfillment of the whole law.”“They will have the two-edged sword of the Word of God in their mouths and the bloodstained standard of the Cross on their shoulders. They will carry the Crucifix in their right hand and the rosary in their left, and the holy names of Jesus and Mary on their heart.“Mary scarcely appeared in the first coming of Christ...But in the second coming of Jesus Christ, Mary must be known and openly revealed by the Holy Spirit so that Jesus may be known, loved and served through her.”“Through the Most Blessed Mary, God will come a second time, as the whole Church expects him to come and reign over all the earth and to judge the living and the dead” (SM 58)~Saint Louis de Montfort"The kingdom of God is within you",so the kingdom of the Blessed Virgin is principally in the interior of man,that is,in his soul” (TD 38);“in the near or distant future the Blessed Virgin will have more children, servants and slaves of love than ever before, and that through them Jesus,my dear Lord,will reign more than ever in the hearts of men”(TD 113);“When will that happy day come, when God's Mother is enthroned in men's hearts as Queen, subjecting them to the dominion of her great and princely Son Jesus?”(TD 217).~Saint Louis de Montfort“Is it not true that your will must be done on earth as it is in heaven? Is it not true that your kingdom must come? Did you not give to some souls, dear to you, a vision of the future renewal of the Church? Are not the Jews to be converted to the truth and is this not what the Church is waiting for? All the blessed in heaven cry out for justice to be done: and the faithful on earth join in with them and cry out: Amen, Come, Lord. All creatures, even the most insensitive, lie groaning under the burden of Babylon's countless sins and plead with you to come and renew all things: we know well that the whole creation is groaning....” (FP 5).~Saint Louis de Montfort“But Mary’s power over the evil spirits will especially shine forth in the latter times, when Satan will lie in wait for her heel, that is for her humble servants and her poor children whom she will rouse to fight against him. They will be rich in God’s graces, which will be abundantly bestowed on them by Mary. They will be great and exalted before God in holiness. They will be superior to all creatures by their great zeal and so strongly will they be imparted by divine assistance that in union with Mary, they will crush the head of Satan with their heel, that is their humility, and bring victory to Jesus Christ.”~Saint Louis de Montfort This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com

***Please Note…Towards the end of this “discussion” it is said “the end of May is Diverted to Mary when it should be Devoted.” I tried to edit and update the written transcription. This is something I wrote for the Feast of Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort back in 2023 now updated with an audio, podcast style, discussion for your consideration. St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673 – 1716) was born in Brittany, France, to a large farming family. As a child he displayed an unusual spiritual maturity and spent much time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. At the age of 19 he went on foot to Paris to study theology at a prestigious school with the support of a benefactor; along the way he gave his possessions to the poor and made a lifelong vow to live in poverty supported entirely on alms. He was ordained a priest at the age of 27, and at 32 discovered his calling to be an itinerant preacher, receiving the title of "Apostolic Missionary" from the Pope after his bishop tried to silence him. For the next 17 years he preached missions in countless towns and villages throughout France with an emphasis on renewal and reform. His fiery devotion, oratory skill, and identification with the poor led many souls to conversion. He was persecuted by the Jansenists, who, in their spiritual pride, poisoned him, banished him from preaching in their dioceses, and made an assassination attempt on his life. He had a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and taught on the power of the Holy Rosary. He also wrote a number of classic works on Marian devotion, the most famous being True Devotion to Mary. His feast day is April 28."The Rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Redeemer, who loves His Mother."~St. Louis de Montfort"To God Alone, by Christ's Wisdom, in the Spirit, in communion with Mary, for the reign of God” is the best way, to sum up Saint Louis de Montfort’s spirituality. “God alone was everything to him. Remain faithful to the precious heritage, which this great saint left you. It is a glorious inheritance, worthy, that you continue to sacrifice your strength and your life, as you have done until today.”~Pope Pius XII on the day of Saint Louis de Montfort's canonization Saint Louis de Montfort had a love for God but knew this love could be magnified by loving the Blessed Virgin Mary. This was and continues to be God’s way of bringing the Love of heaven to earth in a way that is unexplainable other than to say the Blessed Virgin Mary is all about the Love of His Children. “She loves them tenderly, more tenderly than all the mothers in the world together. Take the maternal love of all the mothers of the world for their children. Pour all that love into the heart of one mother for an only child. That mother’s love would certainly be immense. Yet Mary’s love for each of her children has more tenderness than the love of that mother for her child.”~Saint Louis de MontfortDetachment If there is anything one learns from following Saint Louis de Montfort’s consecration to Jesus through Mary, detachment from the world is necessary to gain peace within and draw closest to God. “If we do not die to ourselves, and if our holiest devotions do not incline us to this necessary and useful death, we shall bring forth no fruit worth anything, and our devotions will become useless. All our good works will be stained by self-love and our own will . . . We must choose therefore, among all the devotions to the Blessed Virgin, the one which draws us most toward this death to ourselves, inasmuch as it will be the best and the most sanctifying. For we must not think that all that shines is gold, that all that tastes sweet is honey, or that all that is easy to do and is done by the greatest number is the most sanctifying.”—St. Louis De Montfort, p.40~True Devotion to MaryGuardian Angels Saint Louis de Montfort was a big believer in showing respect and tenderness towards the guardian angels, not just his own but those of others. He often ended his letters with the salutation "I salute your guardian angel".While Saint Louis de Montfort is known for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary make no mistake it was his love for God and the salvation of all souls that drew his heart so close to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Rosary. I’ll end this with just one of the over 1800 messages from Our Lady of the Rosary of San Nicolas since I know so many are feeling the evils of the world right now and feel all may be lost. All I can say is don’t give up, now is the time to fight(pray) more than ever. Remember God is in control but He must invade your heart and the heart of your neighbor. Our Lady of the Rosary of San NicolásMessage from October 11, 1986:"My daughter, the evil one is triumphant now, it is true, but it is a victory that will last briefly. The Lord is only giving him time, the same time that He gives man for him to return to God. That is why vices and worldly madness increase every day. The weaknesses will have to become strengths and in this way will be able to get rid of evil. As yet, man's heart is not totally invaded. Glory be to God."And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord.~Luke 1:46 As the month of April comes to an end and May begins let’s not forget the entire month of May is devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com

Here’s another piece from July 09, 2021 that I’ve “redone” and am re-releasing. 00:00:00):Welcome to the Deep Dive.(00:00:01):Today, we're plunging into a really fascinating article from E2Day.(00:00:06):It's called Think About Things Differently,(00:00:08):written by V.(00:00:09):And it definitely makes you do that think differently.(00:00:11):It really does.(00:00:12):This piece throws a bit of a curveball, challenging some very basic assumptions we might have.(00:00:18):Absolutely.(00:00:19):I think the core question we're exploring here based on this article is,(00:00:22):well,(00:00:22):what if our whole understanding of life itself is incomplete,(00:00:26):just missing a huge piece?(00:00:27):Exactly.(00:00:28):And if that's true, how might that sort of flip our priorities completely upside down?(00:00:32):Right.(00:00:33):V's argument seems to be that maybe we're focusing on the wrong stuff because we've(00:00:37):misunderstood fundamental concepts like educate even life.(00:00:41):Yeah,(00:00:42):the article pushes this idea that maybe the afterlife,(00:00:44):and interestingly,(00:00:45):our connection to ancestors,(00:00:47):that should be front and center.(00:00:48):Okay, so let's dig in.(00:00:50):Where should we start?(00:00:50):Maybe with how V redefines educate.(00:00:54):Good place.(00:00:55):So the article puts forward this definition,(00:00:57):to persuade or condition to feel,(00:00:59):believe,(00:01:00):or act in a desired way.(00:01:02):Yeah, that's different.(00:01:05):It really emphasizes shaping behavior belief.(00:01:09):It's not just about passing on knowledge, is it?(00:01:12):Not in the way we usually think about it, no.(00:01:14):We tend to see education as, you know, opening minds, providing information.(00:01:18):This sounds more directive.(00:01:21):Right.(00:01:21):So if that's how we see education, what does that mean for our societal values?(00:01:25):What are we actually prioritizing when we educate?(00:01:28):Well, it certainly makes you think about the power dynamics, doesn't it?(00:01:31):Who gets to decide the desired way and why?(00:01:34):Is it about independent thought or something else?(00:01:37):It's definitely provocative.(00:01:38):And V doesn't stop there.(00:01:40):The definition of life gets a similar treatment.(00:01:42):The article references Merriam-Webster,(00:01:44):apparently,(00:01:44):defining life as energy and spirit,(00:01:47):spiritual existence transcending physical death.(00:01:49):And that last bit,(00:01:50):transcending physical death,(00:01:51):that's crucial to the whole argument V is building here.(00:01:54):It seems so.(00:01:55):What does transcend mean in this context, according to V?(00:01:58):OK,(00:01:58):so the article apparently breaks it down to rise above or go beyond the limits of(00:02:04):also to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects.(00:02:08):And maybe most importantly, to be prior to beyond and above the universe or material existence.(00:02:15):Wow.(00:02:15):OK,(00:02:15):so that really paints our spiritual existence as fundamental,(00:02:19):like more real than the material world.(00:02:21):That seems to be the implication.(00:02:24):If life,(00:02:24):true life,(00:02:25):transcends the physical,(00:02:27):then our time here on Earth starts to look different.(00:02:29):So it becomes less about the here and now and more about preparation for what comes next.(00:02:34):Precisely.(00:02:35):It reframes everything.(00:02:36):If the afterlife is the sort of ultimate reality,(00:02:39):then our actions now are basically groundwork for that spiritual journey.(00:02:43):Which leads directly to V's next point.(00:02:45):Shouldn't our main focus be on heaven then?(00:02:47):Not earthly stuff.(00:02:48):That's the logical conclusion within this framework.(00:02:50):Yeah.(00:02:50):A massive reprioritization, the spiritual realm taking precedence over the material present.(00:02:55):It makes you wonder,(00:02:56):though,(00:02:56):if heaven is the number one goal,(00:02:58):how does that actually change your day to day,(00:03:00):your choices,(00:03:01):your values?(00:03:02):What kind of life really aligns with that perspective?(00:03:05):It's a big question.(00:03:06):And then V introduces another layer to this,(00:03:10):the role of our ancestors,(00:03:12):those who've passed away.(00:03:13):Yeah, this part's really interesting.(00:03:14):The article argues we should actually prioritize them.(00:03:17):Our focus should be on praying for them.(00:03:19):Praying for them.(00:03:20):Why?(00:03:21):What's the idea there?(00:03:22):The reasoning presented is that by praying for our ancestors, we help them reach heaven.(00:03:27):And then once they're there, they supposedly receive eternal assignments.(00:03:32):Eternal assignments to do what?(00:03:34):To help us, the ones still on earth.(00:03:36):Yeah.(00:03:36):They become part of this like support network.(00:03:39):Right.(00:03:40):Delivering messages from heaven, working with guardian angels, becoming part of the saints.(00:03:45):Is that it?(00:03:45):That's the picture painted.(00:03:46):Yes.(00:03:47):A really interconnected view between the spiritual world and our earthly existence(00:03:52):mediated by these ancestors.(00:03:54):So if we try and tie all these threads together, V's central thesis is what?(00:03:58):A complete reorientation.(00:03:59):I think so.(00:04:00):It's a pretty radical shift.(00:04:01):Life isn't mainly about our current experiences, our jobs, our material lives.(00:04:05):It's about the future,(00:04:06):the afterlife,(00:04:07):and our connection,(00:04:08):our duty almost to those who've gone before us.(00:04:11):So the key takeaway from this deep dive into V's article really is this fundamental challenge,(00:04:16):a challenge to how we define education,(00:04:18):how we define life,(00:04:20):pushing us toward prioritizing the afterlife and our ancestors.(00:04:23):It's a lot to chew on.(00:04:26):It really is.(00:04:27):And it brings up a crucial point for you listening, I think.(00:04:29):If you were to seriously consider these alternative definitions,(00:04:32):these shifted priorities,(00:04:34):how might that actually reshape your goals,(00:04:36):your daily actions even?(00:04:38):Yeah, how would it change things today, tomorrow?(00:04:41):It definitely prompts you to maybe re-examine your own beliefs about life,(00:04:45):death,(00:04:45):that connection to the past,(00:04:47):worth thinking about.(00:04:48):Thanks for taking this deep dive with us.Think About Things Differently Educate: To persuade or condition to feel, believe or act in a desired way.Life: Energy and Spirit.spiritual existence transcending (see TRANSCEND sense 1c) physical deathTranscendto rise above or go beyond the limits of b: to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : OVERCOMEc: to be prior to, beyond, and above (the universe or material existence)2: to outstrip or outdo in some attribute, quality, or powerWe have been “educated” to believe life is about the here and now. By Merriam Webster’s dictionary definition life is about what happens after we die. What happens to our energy and our spirit.If we truly want to live life properly should we not focus on heaven? Should our priority not be on our ancestors who have passed away?We should pray for them to make sure they reach heaven so they can receive their eternal assignments which is helping those here on earth. They join the Saints in heaven and help deliver messages from heaven to our guardian angels. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com

When I started Eutopia Today the goal was not just to focus on Catholicism but to try to shift people in the right direction to help humanity as a whole. Here’s one of my very first posts when I started this publication back in July 2021, now in a new Podcast style conversation. Have a listen. I’ve included the original article released July 9, 2021, below for your convenience. (00:00:00):Welcome to the Deep Dive.(00:00:01):So today we're looking at this interesting piece of text someone sent in.(00:00:05):Right, anonymous author tackling, well, the meaning of life itself.(00:00:10):Exactly.(00:00:11):And our goal here is just to unpack your perspective, see what resonates.(00:00:14):And they really, they don't hold back, do they?(00:00:17):Kicking off saying, you don't know, Jack, about life.(00:00:20):Yeah, it's quite the opener.(00:00:21):Makes you stop and think, like, what knowing are they even talking about?(00:00:24):What do they think we're missing?(00:00:26):That's the hook.(00:00:27):And then the advice is, well, unexpected.(00:00:29):Totally.(00:00:30):Go check Merriam-Webster's dictionary.(00:00:32):You don't hear that every day as the path to enlightenment.(00:00:34):No, you really don't.(00:00:36):So what did they apparently find there?(00:00:38):Well,(00:00:39):according to the text,(00:00:40):it wasn't the main definition,(00:00:41):but something tucked away,(00:00:44):like a kid's definition.(00:00:45):Yeah, right at the bottom.(00:00:47):And it's incredibly simple.(00:00:49):Energy and spirit.(00:00:50):Energy and spirit.(00:00:51):Huh.(00:00:52):It's basic almost.(00:00:54):It is very fundamental.(00:00:55):Strips away all the,(00:00:56):you know,(00:00:56):the job titles,(00:00:57):the bank accounts,(00:00:58):all that stuff we usually focus on.(00:00:59):It makes you wonder, were we like ever really taught to think of life that way?(00:01:05):Just pure energy, pure spirit.(00:01:07):The author seems to think that's ground zero.(00:01:09):The starting point we've maybe skipped over.(00:01:11):And they don't stop there, right?(00:01:13):Yeah.(00:01:13):There's another definition they highlight.(00:01:15):Exactly.(00:01:16):Building on that first one, it's your spiritual existence that transcends your physical death.(00:01:21):Okay, so now we're going beyond just the here and now.(00:01:24):Energy, spirit, and something that continues after we die.(00:01:27):Right.(00:01:27):It links the basic essence, energy, and spirit to this idea of transcendence.(00:01:32):It paints a much bigger picture of what life encompasses.(00:01:36):So putting it together,(00:01:37):this author's core idea is life isn't really about the day-to-day stuff we stress over.(00:01:42):Not primarily, no.(00:01:44):It's fundamentally about this energy, this spirit, and this ongoing spiritual reality.(00:01:49):And they feel understanding this should be our main focus, like number one priority.(00:01:55):That seems to be the argument, that this understanding should be the absolute foundation.(00:02:00):Why such a heavy emphasis, do you think?(00:02:02):What changes if we actually buy into that?(00:02:05):Well, think about it.(00:02:06):If that's what life truly is, does it change what you value day to day?(00:02:12):Does your job, your car, your worries, do they seem less central?(00:02:20):Yeah, potentially.(00:02:21):It's just the whole game board, maybe.(00:02:23):The author seems convinced it does.(00:02:24):They use this image of life being a roller coaster for most people.(00:02:28):Right.(00:02:28):Up and down, unstable.(00:02:30):What's the connection they're making there?(00:02:31):The instability,(00:02:32):they argue,(00:02:33):comes from not having the spiritual foundation,(00:02:35):from focusing on the temporary,(00:02:36):the material.(00:02:37):So because we don't get the energy and spirit part, we're on shaky ground.(00:02:41):That's the idea.(00:02:41):They even say we've built our lives, our entire foundation on glass stilts.(00:02:45):Wow.(00:02:46):Glass stilts.(00:02:48):That's a pretty vivid and worrying image.(00:02:50):It suggests fragility, danger.(00:02:52):A very stark warning.(00:02:53):And it connects, interestingly, to a biblical reference they bring up.(00:02:56):Oh, yeah.(00:02:57):Which one?(00:02:57):Matthew 7, verses 13 and 14.(00:03:00):Part about the thin and narrow gate.(00:03:02):Okay.(00:03:03):How does that fit with the dictionary definitions?(00:03:04):Well,(00:03:05):perhaps the author sees the common path focusing on worldly things as the easy,(00:03:09):wide gate that many follow.(00:03:11):Right.(00:03:11):The default path.(00:03:12):And understanding life as this deeper spiritual energy, this transcendent journey.(00:03:18):Maybe that's the less obvious narrow gate.(00:03:20):Hmm.(00:03:21):So finding that deeper meaning requires a conscious shift, a different kind of effort.(00:03:27):It implies a choice.(00:03:28):Yeah.(00:03:29):A shift away from the conventional view towards this spiritual core.(00:03:33):So it really leaves us with a question, doesn't it?(00:03:36):If we take these definitions seriously,(00:03:38):life as energy and spirit,(00:03:40):life as a spiritual existence that transcends physical death,(00:03:44):if you truly leaned into that idea,(00:03:46):how might it actually change,(00:03:48):you know,(00:03:48):what you prioritize tomorrow morning or next week?(00:03:51):It's definitely food for thought.(00:03:52):Does the foundation feel like glass stelts or something more solid?(00:03:56):Something to consider for sure and an alternative lens on what this whole life(00:03:59):thing might be about.Original Post The world has “educated” us to spend so much of our time and energy focusing on everything here. They designed the world so you have all but no choice but to navigate by those rules and customs.What if I told you, you don’t know jack about life. You don’t have to believe me, maybe you will believe Merriam Webster’s dictionary.First off, you have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to find almost hidden the kids definition of life which is simply defines it as energy and spirit.Wait hold on Willis, what are you taking about? I was never “educated” as a kid that life was about my energy and spirit! Were you? I didn’t think so. The good folks at Merriam Webster’s dictionary go on to define life as your spiritual existence that transcends your physical death.So life is really about your energy and spirit and your spiritual existence after you die.That should be your number one priority in this “roller coaster we call life” but it isn’t for most. That’s why it’s become a roller coaster.Most people have built their lives, their entire foundation on glass stilts due to their lack of knowledge on the meaning of life.This is why most people do not find the the thin and narrow gate(door). See Matthew 7:13-14 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com

“The heart of Mary became, as it were, a mirror of the passion of the Son, in which might be seen, faithfully reflected, the spitting, the blows and wounds, and all that Jesus suffered.”— St. Lawrence JustinianSourceA few other quotes from the above Saint.Reflection on The Holy Mass “There is no prayer or good workso great, so pleasing to God,so useful to us,as the Holy Mass.”Reflection on The Most Holy Name of Mother Mary“The name of Maryis a tower of strength,which saves sinners from punishmentand defends the justfrom the assaults of hell.”Reflection on the Importance of Prayer “By the practice of prayerwe can construct an impregnable citadel,in which we shall be securely protectedagainst all the snares of the enemy.”SourceSt. Lawrence Justinian(from The Little Office of The Blessed Virgin Mary)While Mary contemplated all she had come to know through reading, listening and observing, she grew in faith, increased in merits, and was more illuminated by wisdom and more consumed by the fire of charity. The heavenly mysteries were opened to her, and she was filled with joy; she became fruitful by the Spirit, was being directed toward God, and watched over protectively while on earth. So remarkable are the divine graces that they elevate one from the lowest depths to the highest summit, and transform one to a greater holiness. How entirely blessed was the mind of the Virgin which, through the indwelling and guidance of the Spirit, was always and in every way open to the power of the Word of God. She was not led by her own senses, nor by her own will; thus she accomplished outwardly through her body what wisdom from within gave to her faith.It was fitting for divine Wisdom, which created itself a home in the Church, to use the intervention of the most blessed Mary in guarding the law, purifying the mind, giving an example of humility and providing a spiritual sacrifice. Imitate her, O faithful soul. Enter into the deep recesses of your heart so that you may be purified spiritually and cleansed from your sins. God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves.Therefore, whether we give ourselves to God in the work of contemplation or whether we serve the needs of our neighbor by good works, we accomplish these things because the love of Christ urges us on. The acceptable offering of the spiritual purification is accomplished not in a man-made temple but in the recesses of the heart where the Lord Jesus freely enters.Through you we drink from the wellsprings of salvation, O Blessed Virgin MaryFrom the sacred wounds of Christ, O Blessed Virgin Mary.Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever.Through you we drink from the wellsprings of salvation, O Blessed Virgin Mary.Taken from today’s Little Office of The Blessed Virgin MaryOne of the requirements to fulfill the Brown Scapular promise is prayer/meditation using The Little Office of The Blessed Virgin Mary. If you consistently read The Little Office I am convinced there is no way one cannot understand and appreciate the Love God has for The Blessed Virgin Mary. This will bring you closer to God as a result. More information on The Brown Scapular Remember..“One Day The Holy Rosary and Brown Scapular will save the World.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit eutopiatoday.substack.com