Misericordia motus est.“He was moved with mercy.”

(Luke 15:20)

Congregatio Presbyterorum a Misericordia

THE FATHERS OF MERCY806 Shaker Museum RoadAuburn, Kentucky 42206

www.fathersofmercy.com

Preaching Roman Catholic Missions Since 1808

A Novena in Honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

will be offered for you and your intentions November 30 – December 8, 2007 ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ THE MERCY OF GOD:

Healing the Wounds of AbortionBy Fr. Ben J. Cameron, CPM

As a parish mission preacher with the Fathers of Mercy, I have the privilege and joy of seeing the awesome workings of God's all powerful Divine Mercy in souls. But I also have seen that many deeply wounded persons have trouble accepting or fully experiencing God's omnipotent Mercy. Included within this group are many

women and men who have participated in the trauma of abortion and who have experienced its adverse effects.

In October 2004, I attended a Rachel's Vineyard Retreat for Post-Abortion Healing in the Philadelphia area. I wanted to learn more about the trauma of abortion and how I, as a priest, could better minister to those who suffer from abortion. The retreat was far more rewarding than I could have imagined! I not only learned more about the terrible effects of abortion on those who have had one, but I was privileged to see the great healing that Our Lord can bring about in a short period of time. As a priest, such witnessing is particularly rewarding.

How does the ministry of Rachel's Vineyard work? It is a weekend retreat that incorporates the following elements: directed meditations called “Living Scriptures” which are chosen to help the retreatants to come to know and experience the Infinite Love and Mercy of our Lord for them; time to share their own stories (many post-abortive persons have never been allowed to talk about their pain or express their grief, and so have kept that pain and grief bottled up inside for many years) quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament (with a special monstrance carved in the image of Our Lady with the Eucharist at her breast); the Sacrament of Confession; and a Memorial Service in which they honor their children (since they never had a funeral). The retreat concludes with a special Mass in which they entrust themselves and their children to the loving arms of Jesus.

Rachel's Vineyard is so powerful and needed today (it is estimated that nearly one in four American women – including Catholics – have had one or more abortions) that with the permission of our Mission Director, Fr. David Wilton, I started conducting Rachel's Vineyard (RV) (Continued on Page 2)

(Continued from Page 1)retreats at the Passionist Retreat Center in Whitesville, KY. We have had a total of 16 women and men from three states who have made the two retreats, and three post-abortive women have joined our retreat team (these women are now reaching out to share the joy and healing that they have experienced). Our local Rachel's Vineyard team is now working to get the first RV retreat instituted in the Diocese of Nashville, and we are hoping to soon have billboards with the image of the Divine Mercy and the question “Hurting After Abortion? Confidential Help is Available...” with contact information. In addition, my audio CD series “Healing After Abortion” is now available from the Fathers of Mercy. Please pray that this vital ministry may continue to grow and bring the Infinite Mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ to those who are hurting from the wounds of abortion.

Has this ministry helped me as a priest and as a parish mission preacher? It has helped me in so many ways! I am a better listener, a better confessor and a more compassionate preacher on the subject of abortion. I still “tell it like it is,” but I always make sure to preach about the power of God's Mercy: not only does Our Lord forgive the sin of abortion when we return to him, but he also wants to heal the wounds that we have received. Our Divine King is so powerful that he not only “puts Humpty-Dumpty back together again,” but he makes us more whole and more complete than we ever were before. That is the power of the Divine Mercy.

If you, or someone you love, is suffering from the effects of abortion, please contact Rachel's Vineyard by visiting their website at www.rachelsvineyard.org. If you would like to learn more about our local Rachel's Vineyard group and its work, you can visit our website at www.HopeAfterAbortionKY.com.

Promoting Vocationsin the Family

Mr. John Aytona, the natural blood brother of two of our Seminarians, has recently started a new apostolate aimed at promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The first “Family Vocation Day” was held at Sacred Heart Parish in Rancho Cucamonga, California this summer. Three of our seminarians, Br. Joseph Aytona, Br. Jewel Aytona and Br. Michael Espinoza, also participated along with several other religious from communities based in California. Family Vocation Ministries conducts one-day events, called “Family Vocation Days” which seek to promote vocations to the priesthood, religious life and holy married or single life through the celebration of Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and talks by priests and religious about the nature of “vocation” as a call from God to a particular way of serving Him. Encouragement is given to families to

pray together about their vocations. These “Family Vocation Days” bring parents and children together to hear talks suitable to their needs and give families an opportunity to interact with religious men and women to inspire vocations to the priesthood and religious life. To learn more about this ministry, please visit their website: www.familyvocations.org.

Good Men Wanted To Fight The Good Fight

“My brethren, if any one of you strays from the truth and someone brings him back, he ought to know that he who causes a sinner to be brought back from his misguided way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)

As members of the Fathers of Mercy, we strive to bring souls to the fountain of our Heavenly Father's infinite Mercy by preaching parish missions, directing retreats, promoting devotions and staffing rural parishes. Our means for this task are provided by Christ himself: they are his Sacraments of Mercy; namely, the Sacraments of Penance and the Most Holy Eucharist.

If you are a man between the age of 18-40 and perceive a calling to bring the Mercy of God to the people of our times by way of preaching the Divine Word and administering the Sacraments; if you desire to live and work in a Congregation that is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, loyal to the Holy Father and that adheres to the truths taught by Holy Mother Church from Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and expounded by the Magisterium, then please contact our Vocation Director at (270) 542-4146, Ext. 2; Fax: (270) 542-4147; or E-mail: vocations@fathersofmercy.com.

Our Vocation PrayerAlmighty Father, You were so moved with mercyat the sight of sinful humanity that You sent Your

Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be its Redeemer.As Mercy Incarnate, He came to reveal You as a

Father Who is rich in mercy and to be the expiation for our sins. In Your mercy, therefore, we humbly

beseech You to send the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy men who will zealously propagate the Faith and work tirelessly for the salvation of souls under the protection of Mary's Immaculate Conception, so that

the work of calling back Your prodigal sons and daughters will continue throughout the ages. We ask

this, O Lord of the harvest, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity

of the Holy Spirit,One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BREAKING NEWSFrom Our Media Apostolate

In January 2002, the Fathers of Mercy began its “Tape Apostolate” in which the Congregation began producing audio tape sets of its parish missions and retreats. During the Summer of 2005, we began the process of converting our tape sets into audio CD sets. The Fathers are pleased to announce that we will soon be offering video DVDs of some of our parish missions and retreats. Among the first to be released will be retreats given by our Superior General, the Very Rev. William Casey; Rev. Christopher Crotty; and Rev. Louis Guardiola. Audio CD prices will remain $20.00 per set while video DVD sets will sell for only $5.00 more. All profits from sales of both our CDs and DVDs will continue to support the education of our Seminarians as they prepare for the Holy Priesthood. We ask and thank you for your continued prayers and support for our growing Media Apostolate and for our Seminarians. CDs and soon to be released DVDs can be ordered directly from our website at www.fathersofmercy.com.

Fathers of MercyHealing Ministry

Fr. Christopher Crotty, one of our parish mission preachers, has a new website for his work of parish missions and spiritual exercises which focus on spiritual healing. Fr. Chris has some wonderful materials available on this website at www.mercyhealing.com which explain the dangers of the occult, the New Age movement, Wicca and similar movements, and how one can be freed from these dangerous and diabolical influences. People who have participated in the occult through such things as ouiji boards and tarot cards, and those who have at some time in their lives been deeply involved in the occult, can experience great healing and freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Precious Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please visit this website, or purchase one of Fr. Chris' CD sets (or soon to be released DVD sets) from www.fathersofmercy.com to learn more.

“Words of Wisdom”from our Holy Founder,

Fr. Jean Baptiste Rauzan (1757-1847)

“If we possessed the virtues about which we have just spoken, a vibrant faith, humility, (and) a spirit of mortification, love would reign supreme in our hearts. Then, the Church, (which) the Savior of the world acquired by the spilling of his Blood, this Church, to whom we owe our spirituality, would be 7,000 times dearer to us than would be the best mothers in the order of nature. Her smallest interests would seem sacred. We should share deeply her joys, and her sorrows, her tribulations and her triumphs. Nothing should cost us when it comes to serving her: deprivations, age, fatigue, trips – performing all this work with a thirst for the salvation of souls.”

“We would only recall that the complete success of a (Congregation) depends on the joining of forces toward a common goal. Thus, the missionaries…are sent for different ministries. The Lord will not permit that an Order marching in the steps of Jesus Christ not enter the way that Divine Providence has chosen. Penetrated with these dispositions, we feel the need before God, to offer him all that occurs, our thoughts, desires, projects, difficulties, our means of success, the communications of God’s elect. We will pursue our works with an untiring ardor.”

“The Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, gives us in the college of the Apostles the perfect model of community, of priests inviolably united to give the greatest glory to God. Jesus Christ says to them: ‘I give you a new commandment: love one another. It is by this that you will be recognized as my disciples’ (cf. John 13). (This is) an invaluable advantage that was not promised neither by the greatness of their miracles nor by the marvelous works of their zeal in the ministry.”

“Think upon well, meditate often the other words of the Savior: ‘I have loved you as My Father loved Me; love one another as I have loved you.’” (cf. John 13 and John 15)

Novena Prayer to Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception

Please pray with us fromNovember 30 through December 8, 2007

MOST HOLY VIRGIN, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His Mother, Immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on us who implore thy powerful patronage. The wicked serpent, against whom the primal curse was hurled, continues fiercely to attack and ensnare the unhappy children of Eve. Do thou, Mary our Blessed Mother, our Queen and Advocate, who from the first instant of thy conception did crush the head of our enemy, receive these special prayers (mention your requests here) that we unite single-heartedly to thine and beg thee to offer at the throne of God. Help us, that we may never fall into the snares that are laid for us, and may all arrive at the port of salvation; and in the midst of so many dangers, may holy Church and the fellowship of Christians everywhere sing once more the hymn of deliverance, victory and peace. AMEN.

the Creator, and what recompense shall be made her? What shall be done to her, who had this relationship to the Most High?

I answer: nothing is too high for her to whom God owes his human life; no exuberance of grace, no excess of glory but is becoming, but is to be expected there, where God has lodged himself, whence God has issued. Let her be clad in the king's apparel, that is, let the fullness of the Godhead so flow into her that she may be a figure of the incommunicable sanctity, and beauty, and glory of God himself: that she may be the mirror of justice, the mystical rose, the tower of ivory, the house of gold, the morning star. Let her receive the king's diadem upon her head, as the queen of heaven, the mother of all the living, the health of the weak, the refuge of sinners, the comforter of the afflicted. And let the first amongst the king's princes walk before her, let angels, and prophets, and apostles, and martyrs, and all saints kiss the hem of her garment and rejoice under the shadow of her throne.

We should be prepared then, my brethren, to believe, that the Mother of God is full of grace and glory, from the very fitness of such a dispensation. St. John the Baptist was sanctified by the Spirit before his birth; shall Mary be only equal to him? Is it not fitting that her privilege should surpass his? Is it wonderful, if grace, which anticipated his birth by three months, should in her case run up to the very first moment of her being, outstrip the imputation of sin, and be beforehand with the usurpation of Satan? Mary must surpass all the saints; the very fact that certain privileges are known to have been theirs persuades us, almost from necessity of the case, that she had the same and higher.

“The Most Favored of God”By John Henry Cardinal Newman, from his

Discourses to Mixed Congregations

Now, as you know, it has been held from the first, and defined from an early age, that Mary is the Mother of God. She is not merely the mother of Our Lord's manhood, or of Our Lord's Body, but she is to be considered the mother of the Word himself, the Word Incarnate. God, in the Person of the Word, the Second Person of the all-glorious Trinity, took the substance of his human flesh from her, and clothed in it he lay within her; and he bore it about with him after birth, as a sort of badge and witness that he, though God, was hers. He was nursed and tended by her; he was suckled by her; he lay in her arms. As time went on he ministered to her and obeyed her. He lived with her for thirty years...She was the witness of his growth, of his joys, of his sorrows, of his prayers; she was blest with his smile, with the touch of his hand, with the whisper of his affection, with the expression of his thoughts and his feelings for that length of time. Now, my brethren, what ought she to be, what is it becoming that she should be, who was so favored?

Such a question was once asked by a heathen king, “What should be done to the man whom the king desires to honor?” And he received the following answer, “The man whom the king wishes to honor ought to be clad in the king's apparel, and to receive the royal diadem on his head; and let the first among the king's princes hold his horse.” So stands the case with Mary; she gave birth to