Peace

Two candles are litThis verse tells us that Jesus came to be the Prince of Peace. On the Second Sunday, the Gospel reading recalls the preaching of John the Baptist, who came to “prepare the way of the Lord.”

The Prophets’ Candle symbolizes hope; the Angel’s Candle symbolizes Peace; the Shepherds’ Candle symbolizes joy; the Bethlehem Candle symbolizes love.

Hope–Peace–Joy–Love

Eric Michel Testimony of Peace and the Virgin Mary:

Everybody knows I have been an ordained protestant minister for 36 years, since December 7. Christianity is my faith, and even if I converted as a Born Again Catholic in 2020 by joining the Third Order of Saint Francis, Mary was not present in my life as a minister and in my personal life. Protestants, in general, reject the veneration and invocation of the Saints. We believe Mary is the mother of Jesus and “blessed among women” (Luke 1:42), but we generally do not agree that Mary should be venerated. She is an outstanding example of a life dedicated to God. As such, we tend not to accept certain church doctrines, such as her being preserved from sin. 

Now, my faith has changed since October, and this is my steps:

• 2023.10.22 Mass @ St Anastasie, if you follow The History and Highlights of Eric Michel and Eric Michel Ministries International, you will notice that I visited some churches in the Diocese of St. Jerome, mainly for two reasons: 1) to be acquainted with Franciscan Priests and 2) taking photos for the photos site. At the end of the mass after the photo session, I saw flyers in the narthex, the church bulletin, and a magazine of the Heralds of the Gospel that I took with me on my way out. At home later that day, I was flipped through the magazine pages, and I noticed a web address; of course, I had to visit it. On-site, I read: “Be under the special protection of Mary! To Jesus through Mary 100% ONLINE 100% FREE. Fill out the form below to join, according to St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort. I asked myself why not. According to Father Michael Joseph Carlson (EP), the Holy Virgin Mary led all my steps toward her and the path to join the Militia of the Immaculate.

The Militia Immaculatae (meaning the “Army of the Immaculate One”), called in English the Knights of the Immaculata, is a worldwide Catholic evangelization movement founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917

• 2023.10.23 Chaplain Eric Michel started the Consecration to Our Lady Course
• 2023.10.26 Chaplain Eric Michel received the Certificate of Enrollment of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary
• 2023.10.27 I purchased the Miracle Medal from a merchant in Italy via Amazon.
• 2023.10.30 The Blessing of the Scapular of St Francis
• 2023-11-05 Member of the Association Médaille Miraculeuse. 
• 2023.11.11 Consecration day with the Heralds of the Gospel
• 2023.12.08  Member of the Association lourdesvolunteers.org. Our members bring the sick to Lourdes and host Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experiences TM worldwide.
• 2023.12.08 World Apostolate of Fatima, USA, Our Lady’s Blue Army
• 2023.12.08 Member of the Association of the Miraculous Medal (Knights of the Miraculous Medal)
• 2023.12.08 Member of Aroma Rosary
• 2023.12 08 Member of Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary

The Church is definitely for Peace in all places and for all people, has repeatedly advocated vocally for the prevention or cessation of war, and supports the long tradition of pacifism for Catholics. From St. Maximilian Kolbe, we work “To conquer the whole world for Christ through Mary Immaculate” by evangelization and prayer, offering one’s dedication and apostolate.

Our weapon:

Most Reverend Pastor Eric Michel, OFS, Chaplain.

The Virgin Mary made me do it!

Published on 1/6/24 1:18 PM Blogger

 Merriam-Webster Websites:

miracle noun

1. An extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs, the healing miracles described in the Gospels,
2. An extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment. The bridge is a testament to engineering ingenuity.
3. Christian Science: a divinely natural phenomenon experienced humanly as the fulfillment of spiritual law

I do not know if it’s a Miracle, but this event happened to me in 1983.

This story begins at the beginning of the 1970s, when I was a passenger in my friend Gaetan H.’s car. We drove around the surrounding area of the Outaouais most of the time, but occasionally, we drove up to Montreal to spend a few hours in that city. Then it was a four-hour drive down and back in Hull (Gatineau today)

On a few occasions, he took me to visit Montreal’s churches, Notre-Dame and St. Joseph Oratory, but not simultaneously. We also went to La Ronde, a cinema, and various bars and restaurants.

One time at the Oratory, when you exit the primary worship space, there was an escalator to take you down, and just across the escalator was a souvenir boutique. I don’t know why, but I purchased a Holy Mary Car Magnet to be stuck on the car’s dashboard. The car dashboard was built in metal then. I didn’t have a car, and I didn’t even have a driver’s license. So, during my motorcycle time, I stuck Mary on the tachometer.

1983

One day at lunch hour at work, my friend Denis invited me to have a beer with him, so we went to a bar on Portage. After one beer, he said I must go home for supper. I worked the evening shift, and lunch was at 1:00 p.m. for me. He wanted me to go with him to his residence for supper, and he would be back on the job in no time. I didn’t want to go, but he convinced me to go; Denis was driving a Honda Goldwing, and I was riding the Suzy. From Highway 5, there are two exits to take to get to his place. One is St. Raymond, and the other is Blvd. Mont Bleu. I was in front of him, aiming at Mont Bleu, when I looked in my mirror and saw him heading off to St. Raymond. So, to be in his place simultaneously, I accelerate up to 80 mph, passing a car, and then it happens.

I don’t remember the month, but it was probably around that time. In June, the bike was out of storage in May. At the same time, I asked Honda of Outaouais to do maintenance and a few repairs. It cost a fortune to take it out, but the mechanic told me that it leaked from my front fork. That needs to be addressed; no more cash, so it was ok to drive at an average speed. That year, Suzuki put oil and air in the front fork, and the air leaked.

Carrying on with the story, the motorbike, at that speed, starts to zigzag and wobble, and it slows down to approximately 50 or 40 MPH. It then flips, and the bike and I start to slide for a good two to three hundred feet.

I was terrified of three things:

1. Will I hit the cement divider? I’m in the passing lane.
2. The bike is in front of me. Will I hit it if it stops sliding before I reach it?
3. Will a car run me over?

It was a scorching day. I had never done this, but I didn’t wear my leather jacket that day.

The result was a second-degree burn on my arms and back.

Treatment: at Hull Hospital, a whirlpool bath in water and iodine.

I was sure of dying, and it didn’t happen. Why?

A few days later, I probed my jeans pocket and found my Holy Mary Magnet all bent. My father told me that she saved me, probably lifting me off the ground and watching the surroundings so nothing worse would happen. I smiled and left; I believed in flying saucers and ghosts more than I did in divine intervention.

This Story was published in the Order of Franciscans of the Eucharist Newsletter: United in Spirit in December 2024

Michel of Notre Dame

Dash photo taken in 1982

About Mary, a few days ago, I received an email from Our Lady of Lourdes Hospitality North American Volunteers, as I am a member, with documentation and two bottles of Lourdes water.

I poured water on Marie’s legs and right arm on Tuesday. This morning, I asked her if she was healed. 

Her reply was no, but I have a lot less pain. 

Michel of Notre Dame

The other Article

HOPE

Hope combines the desire for something and the expectation of receiving it. The Christian virtue is hoping specifically for Divine union and eternal happiness. While faith is a function of the intellect, hope is an act of the will.
The 

Catholic Encyclopedia defines hope as “the desire of something together with the expectation of obtaining it.”
In the Christian tradition, 

hope in Christ and faith in Christ are closely linked, with hope having a connotation that means the one with hope has a firm assurance, through the witness of the Holy Spirit, that Christ has promised a better world to those who are His. 
Pope 

Benedict XVI stated: “Whoever believes in Christ has a future. For God has no desire for what is withered, dead, artificial, and finally discarded: he wants what is fruitful and alive, he wants life in its fullness, and he gives us life in its fullness.”

The Act:O my God, relying on Your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Your grace, and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen

In the morning worship, we had a Catholic Baptist celebration in our rituals., 

In 2014, the year of our corporation, we were a nondenominational Christian. When the association was made with Christian churches worldwide, we became interdenominational Christians in 2017 (IAoC). 

The Archbishop became a born-again Catholic in 2020 by joining the Third Order of Saint Francis.

The Right Reverend Marie is a Baptist pastor, so we have a Catholic Baptist liturgy using our tools for the liturgy of the Word.

Most Reverend Pastor Eric Michel, SFU, Chaplain.

The Virgin Mary made me do it!

2024

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The International Order of St John, Priory of Canada, was sent to the Revd. Eric Michel on 2023/11/21, the Sovereign’s Coronation Pin for His Majesty King Charles III

November 11, 2023 OUR LADY OF THE PORTUGUESE

In 1641, King John IV, in a solemn ceremony, had taken the crown from his head and had placed it at the foot of a statue of the Blessed Virgin.  He declared her to be Queen of Portugal under the title of the Immaculate Conception.

Fr. Michael Carlson EP

In December 2024, United in the Spirit issue

The Order of Franciscans of the Eucharist Newsletter

Vol 5 Issue 2.

Two of my Blog stories were published.

.

OCTOBER IS SAINT FRANCIS’ MONTH

My relationship with or acquaintance with Saint Francis started when I was nine years old, as a Catholic wolf cub (Boy Scout). The adults responsible for us, whom we named Chief, were students from Saint Paul University in the Faculty of Theology, who told us all the stories about Saint Francis. Additionally, I was influenced by a French film from the 1950s or 1960s, a story about a little boy and his donkey who want the priest to bless it. After lengthy arguments, which span almost the entire movie, the priest finally agrees, and all the other animals and village people are brought into the church.

Blessing of animals

At this time of year, people in various places may notice something unusual. A procession of animals, ranging from dogs and cats to hamsters and horses, is led to churches for a special ceremony known as the Blessing of Pets. This custom is conducted in remembrance of Saint Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures.

Saint Francis blessed animals early in his ministry, sometime between 1210 and 1215. The story goes that he was wandering outdoors one warm afternoon, full of self-doubt, when he noticed a flock of birds in his path.

In 1224, Francis became the first saint in history to receive the stigmata (the wounds of Christ crucified). On October 4, 1226, Francis died in Assisi and was canonized by Pope Gregory IX shortly thereafter. Today, over three million people pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Francis a year, revealing him to be one of the most popular and beloved saints of all time. In 1979, Pope John Paul II paid tribute to Francis’ love for creation by declaring him the patron saint of ecologists.

Now, annually, on or around October 4, Christians worldwide celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis with a blessing of animals and prayers for creation.

Catholicism has specific liturgies for blessing animals, which highlight the interdependence of creation. United Methodists also have a specific liturgy highlighting creation and mutual interdependence.

Separate variants of Christianity, such as the Catholic and Episcopal Church (United States) churches, sometimes combine to hold joint, ecumenical, animal blessing ceremonies.

Blessing of animals can be either of the animal or of the human-animal relationship. It can apply to pets and other companion animals, as well as agricultural, working, and other animals that humans depend on or interact with. The ceremonial blessing of companion animals occurs worldwide, including in Australia, Canada, Scotland, Spain, and the United States.

Blessing animals is a religious practice that occurs in various forms across many religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Shinto, and Unitarian Universalism. Secular respect for animals is also vital. For example, World Animal Day, an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually, is still held on October 4, the feast day of Francis of Assisi, a Christian patron saint of animals.

The other Article

CHIROGRAPH OF THE HOLY FATHER

TO INSTITUTE THE PAN-AMERICAN COMMITTEE OF JUDGES FOR SOCIAL RIGHTS AND FRANCISCAN DOCTRINE AS A PRIVATE ASSOCIATION OF THE FAITHFUL WITH INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER,

AND TO CREATE THE “FRAY BARTOLOMÉ DE LAS CASAS LEGAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE” UNDER ITS AUSPICES.

Read it in the Vatican’s letter: 

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2023/documents/20230815-chirografo-copaju.html