August 2000 Archive






































"Jim's eyes sparkled as the two discussed the serene beauty of the statue..."





"You must not have heard, doctor..."

August 2000


Feature Article

With Stethoscope and Scapular

One Doctor's Prescription ...True Story


��������� --by Jacqueline Galloway



Doctor Joseph C. Evers, a Pediatrician in McLean, Virginia, for some forty years, is a devoted Roman Catholic with particular devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He wears her Brown Scapular as an outward sign of his formal dedication and surrender. Additionally, Dr. Evers has undertaken the holy mission of spreading devotion to the Blessed Mother by visiting Catholic parishes and schools, giving presentations to literally thousands of God's hungering children and adults over the past thirty years, telling them about Mary's treasures: the Rosary, the Scapular, and the Act of Consecration.

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary gained international prominence through the Fatima apparitions of 1917, with the full approval of the Church.

In obedience to his pledge to spread devotion, Dr. Evers reiterates the Blessed Mother's plea for the daily Rosary, penance and sacrifice, stressing in particular the significance of wearing the Brown Scapular and thereby obtaining its promise: "Whosoever dies wearing this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."

Dr. Evers' daily personal recitation of the Rosary often takes place in the solitude of the university hospital's small chapel. The chapel is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

There was an occasion many years ago in the late evening quiet of the hospital chapel, in the gentle glow of candlelight, Dr. Evers noticed a young man with the traditional whites of a fourth-year medical student, clipboard under his arm, standing somewhat transfixed before the statue of the Blessed Mother. After some time, he reverently genuflected before the tabernacle and left the chapel.

Almost at the same time, Dr. Evers also left, and the two met once again just outside the chapel. The young student rather innocently remarked, "Isn't she wonderful?" as he extended his hand saying, "Hi my name is Jim McCarthy." Dr. Evers perceived his grip to be that of strength and character, and replied, "Nice to meet you, Jim; my name's Joe Evers. Do you come here often?" "No I usually go to the chapel in the medical school or to my parish, Our Lady of Victory," he answered; "but I must say, I really like this chapel, especially since the Blessed Mother has been in my corner for as long as I can remember."

Jim's eyes sparkled as the two discussed the serene beauty of the statue in the chapel. Dr. Joe then recalled that he was scheduled to give a talk on the Fatima apparitions in Jim's parish in just two months, so he invited him to come to the presentation. There was a feeling of warmth as Dr. Joe described it later. He recalls experiencing a special feeling of peace that lingered long after parting with the young student.

The two months passed and Dr. Joe arrived as scheduled at Our Lady of Victory to give his presentation. On leaving, he was pleasantly surprised to see Jim McCarthy and quickly tried to remember if he had seen his face in the audience of some 50 parishioners. He was quickly reassured when Jim said, "Dr. Evers, I enjoyed your talk." "Thanks Jim, glad you could make it."

Jim continued, "For some reason which I can't quite understand, this is the first time I've ever heard about the Brown Scapular and its promise. It's fantastic. Why don't people talk about it more?"

"I wish I could answer that one Jim; it's a mystery to me. Here, I have an extra one." Jim's face glowed as he thanked the doctor.

Dr. Joe continued, "It's blessed and now any priest can enroll you. In fact, if you are planning to go to Confession this Saturday, why not have the priest enroll you after he hears your Confession?"

"Great idea, thats just what I will do!"

It was almost a month later when Dr. Joe was making pediatric rounds at the university hospital that he recognized Jim's medical student roommate. He stopped him and inquired how he and Jim were doing. He looked thunderstruck as I asked.

"You must not have heard, doctor, but Jim drowned in a canoeing accident on the river, three weeks ago."

The young man went on: "I remember how happy he was the night before he died. He had been to Confession that afternoon and the priest had enrolled him in the Scapular that you had given him. He was overjoyed. The very next day he died."

Tears of sorrow welled in Dr. Joe's eyes but they were quickly replaced with that of joy as he reflected on the Blessed Mother's Scapular Promise! He felt secure in the knowledge that young Jim was now in paradise with Jesus and His Blessed Mother.


"Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."


Indeed, what a slight "burden" it is for us to accept this Scapular as a sign of penance for the promise of entrance to the heavenly court.



�������--Jaqueline Galloway


 *Note: This article was first published in "Queen of All Hearts" Magazine, Montfort Missionaries


�copyright2000 Jaqueline Galloway, all rights reserved
no portion of this article may be reproduced
without the express written permission from the author
email [email protected]





News From The Domestic Church

Fish And Chips

 A monastery in the English countryside had fallen on hard times, and decided to establish a business to defray their expenses, such as a bakery or winery. Being English, however, they decided to open a fish-and-chips restaurant. The establishment soon became very popular, attracting people from all over. One city fellow,thinking himself clever, asked one of the brothers standing nearby:

"I suppose you're the fish friar?"
"No", answered the brother levelly, "I'm the chip monk."

submitted by --Lisa Phillips

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A Prayer


: Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.

Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence in Your ability to work through them.

Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, patience, and strength as they learn submission to Your leading.

Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You.

Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage.

Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend's life.

Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to support, and encourage them.

Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it.

I ask You to do these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

In love, Your Friend

submitted by --Vickie Shepherd

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Signs Seen On Church Property

  • "No God -- No Peace. Know God -- Know Peace."
  • "Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!"
  • "Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."
  • "Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"
  • An ad for a Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads, "For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."
  • When the restaurant next to the Church put out a big sign that said, "Open Sundays," the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."
  • "Have trouble sleeping? We have sermons -- come hear one!"
  • "People are like tea bags -- you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."
  • "God so loved the world that He did not send a committee."
  • "Come in and pray today. Beat the Christmas rush!"
  • "When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out all right."
  • "Sign broken. Message inside this Sunday."
  • "How will you spend eternity -- Smoking or Non-smoking?"
  • "Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."
  • "If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."
  • "This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing?" ---------> (U R)


submitted by---Jackie Galloway

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Musings


The Gift
--by Vickie Shepherd

God gave us a gift, twenty two years ago,
He never said she�d stay.
Be joyous we had her a little while
To watch her run and play.

We all exist on borrowed time
We�re given from above.
A time to play, to laugh and cry
But most of all to love.

There�s memories we�ll keep at heart,
Remembering the past.
They�ll make us sad, and happy too,
Hoping they will last.

A gift from God is ours to keep
And care for life so dear.
When He calls us back again
In His light we�ll have no fear.

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Life Is...
  • Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
  • Life is a beauty, admire it.
  • Life is a dream, realize it.
  • Life is a challenge, meet it.
  • Life is a duty, complete it.
  • Life is a game, play it.
  • Life is a promise, fulfill it.
  • Life is sorrow, overcome it.
  • Life is a song, sing it.
  • Life is a struggle, accept it.
  • Life is a tragedy, confront it.
  • Life is an adventure, dare it.
  • Life is luck, make it.
  • Life is life, fight for it!
���������...Mother Teresa


submitted by --Bob Gold




Prayer for August


 Regina Coeli

Queen of heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alleluia.
Hath risen as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.
R. Because Our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray:
O God, who by the resurrection of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, hast vouchsafed to make glad the whole world, grant, we beseech Thee, that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.


Prayer Intention for August

For an end to the persecution of Christians in the Sudan







Patron Saint for August

St. Alphonsus Ligouri
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
August 1

St. Alphonsus was born in Marianella Italy, in the year 1696. He became a lawyer and in 1723, after losing a case, was lead by the Holy Spirit to renounce worldliness and so in 1726, despite intense opposition, was ordained to the priesthood.
In 1732, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known today as the Redemptorists. He labored as a missionary until 1756 when he was appointed Bishop of St. Agatha, a diocese which he oversaw for 19 years. In his later years, he suffered physically from arthritis greatly, to which he added his own asceticism. He was a great author and many of his writings are in use today. He wrote 111 works on spirituality and theology. He is well known for his two works, "Moral Theology" and his "Glories of Mary". He is also well known for his quote "He who prays constantly, stops sinning, or stops praying". He is the patron saint for confessors, vocations,theologians and final perseverance He died at Nocera de Pagani, August 1, 1787.

prayer: Almighty Father, by the example and intercession of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Bishop and Doctor, grant us perseverance in our daily trials of life, enduring in faith to the end, that we might reflect your Son Jesus Christ and share in His eternal glory. -Amen




Featured Website for August

The Catholic Goldmine
http://www.catholicgoldmine.com/

One of the older websites on the internet, Catholic Goldmine is run by webmaster Christopher J. Miller who also worked as an intern at EWTN. Catholic Goldmine has almost 2000 links with a view to add another 1000. This large and well known website, is replete with useful Catholic information and resources. The website features links and webpages for:

  • Apologetics
  • Apparitions
  • Art
  • Bookstores
  • Business
  • Chat Rooms
  • Church Online
  • Dioceses
  • Documents
  • Education
  • Groups
  • Health
  • History
  • Homeschooling
  • K of Columbus
  • Mary
  • Mass/Liturgy
  • Music
  • NFP
  • News
  • Pages
  • Penpals
  • Pope
  • Prayers
  • Pro-Life
  • Retreats
  • RCIA
  • TV/Radio
  • Vocations
  • Youth

Definitely --A website to visit!



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Image of St. Alphonsus Ligouri used with kind permission from Catholic Saints(Catholic Pics)

�2000 eCatholic/2000
all rights reservR>