La Salette Social-Net (#ILoveMySundayMass)
"Come, my children, come! Fear not!
I AM HERE TO PROCLAIM GREAT NEWS TO YOU."
Brief Summary of Our Blessed Mother Personal Visit to Humanity on September 19, 1846.
Her First Words:
"Come, my children, come! Fear not, I am here to proclaim great news to you."
Our Lady Came To La Salette, France.
On September 19th, 1846, 11-year-old Maximin Giraud and 14-year-old Mélanie Calvat were minding cows in a small village in Southeast France. While returning home, they encountered a bright light. In the light was a sitting woman, weeping into her hands. Maximin would later say: “She was like a mama whom her own children had beaten and who had escaped to the mountain to weep.”
The children approached. The unknown lady, while still crying, told the children about the trials of Her Son. She explained that she and Her Son are weary from the sufferings they have endured for humanity.
She lamented for those who work on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, rather than resting and praying. In addition, the cart drivers continued to swear with Her Son’s name (among many other blasphemes). In the winter, people attended Mass just to scoff at religion, and in the summer, they ignored it altogether.
Our Lady explained that the potato famine across Europe the year before was a warning. If the people did not convert their hearts, more famine awaited them. If they do, then there will be an abundance of food. The famine never came, as many Catholics changed their ways after hearing of the apparition.
Nowadays, more than ever, Our Lady messages in La Salette are for everyone, not just for the townsfolk of La Salette, several years ago. She makes it clear that she intercedes for us more than we could ever repay. Her words are a message of conversion to Jesus and His Church.
2024: The Starting of a New Grassroots Apostolate
About The LaSalette Social-Net
In summary, as requested by Our Lady explicitly and implicitly when she appeared at La Salette (France), the main objective of this international catechetical Apostolate is to teach and invite Catholics, especially non-practicing and/or lukewarm Catholics, to better understand, obey, and (likewise) re-share the "Five Commandments of the Catholic Church." Although deeply bonded by God’s Ten Commandments and rooted into the Sacred Tradition from day one, they are dismissed or simply ignored by the great majority of irresponsible Catholics as if optional or mere suggestions, but not divine Precepts which they are. Some even consider it a kind of five "jokes," fake man-made obligations not worthy to be learned, much less to submit one’s life under them. No wonder Our Lady at La Salette, our loving mother, cried tears of sadness for having no choice but to warn of severe consequences against Christendom and, therefore, the world, if at least the "Day of the Lord" were not minimally respected. And that message preceded her visit and future messages from Fatima-Portugal, almost too late precisely because Christianity didn’t care about her first preventive warnings, at La Salette. Such a historical curse of Marxism that she tried to prevent in Fatima -- now deeply aggravated by other ideologies -- would likely never happen if we Christians had appreciated God’s generosity in giving us six days during each week, reserving just one for rest and worship, which is the only way to avoid and secure that humanity would not live by instinct, like wild animals and its consequent ego-path of gradual self-destruction.
Who Can Survive Without Breathing? Even More so: Who Can Preserve God's Grace Without Spiritual Breathing?
The Essence, The Very Minimum...
Basically, each one of the Five Commandments of the Catholic Church, even when combined, only mandates the absolute minimum -for the benefit of the faithful- that any Catholic must observe in order to have and preserve the Grace of God during a lifetime just to "survive," not thrive. Let’s start by remembering Our Lord’s declaration for each one of us: "If you do not eat my flesh and do not drink my blood, you will have NO [real] Life (capital ‘L’ = fullness of Life, Peace, Hope,... at least on earth) in you!” Therefore, the very first Commandment of the Church ordered and reminded us to minimally "Keep the Lord’s Day by -at least- participating in the Sunday Mass EVERY Sunday (plus 'days of obligation')". The second Precept requires the "Confession of our sins at least once a year." And the third "To receive the Eucharist at least once a year." These, alone, are already a life-or-death determinant; let’s imagine when adding the other two Precepts into the same balance. We cannot, without His aid, worthy build our lives and our world. If, for any reason, we compromise His intended ordinary means or pathways necessary for the granting of His daily Peace, we will not have real Peace; at least not until we are properly corrected by conversion and docility. The rejection of His grace, even if implicit or not fully conscient, cannot fail to have very serious consequences. Actually, especially in cases of explicit rejection, regardless of how long and how much we "pray", beg, or insist, at a personal level -case by case- God remains unresponsive, so-to-speak, in practical terms. Meaning that God indeed never give-in, give-up, never convey, never ever part-with, sag or subside, until each one of us, personally, decide to reject pride, unforgiveness and disobedience, and decide to learn how to love others, as He Loved us: No exceptions!
Can our Blessed Mother Cried Just to Pretend it, Theatrically, Without Enduring Real Sufferance Out of Her Love for Us?
Our Holy Mother Still "Cry" deeply, although in Her Soul!
Not even the deep sadness revealed by Our Blessed Mother at La Salette, to the point of weeping, was enough for humanity to understand the Parable of the Great Banquet (Mt. 22). Jesus compared the whole Kingdom of Heaven with its entry-gate from Earth, which is the Mass in His Church: "[The gate for] The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who gave a wedding feast for his Son." He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, tell those invited: ‘Behold, I have prepared my banquet; my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the Feast'. Some ignored the invitation and went away; one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, who destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, "The feast is ready [anyway], but those who were invited were not worthy to come." Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find. The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests." Sounds familiar? What kind of people attend Sunday Masses?
May Her Tears Come Down Again and Break our Hearts of Stone, Before it is Too Late!
Hearts of Stones..., For How Long?
The tears that Our Lady shed at La Salette had fallen on hard soil (our hearts and minds), again not enough for humanity to minimally understand another parable even more clearly: The banquet that the Father gave to His prodigal son after he repented and confessed his sins. Why is it so difficult to realize that such Merciful Father is waiting for so many prodigal sons to return? And that He has no choice but to grant a similar banquet (The Mass) every week (actually every hour, the world over, 24/7), to properly welcome and celebrate the return of every lost son, also revealed at the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
In addition, for the sake of friends not yet strong in their Faith, let’s concede for a moment that parables are not necessarily proof of factual realities. Therefore, we would like to incorporate over the above parables and so many statements, the real historical fact which happened with the disciples of Emmaus -no longer an analogy- when Cleophas, his wife and/or adult sons invited a complete estrange to stay overnight as a guest, without realizing that they were welcoming the Messiah into their home, despite walking and speaking with Him for so many hours. From this undisputable historical event, we can learn for sure the power-link bonding the nowadays Mass (mystical Supper/Banquet), where Christ is really present under the appearances of bread and wine, with that first ever Sunday Mass (Mystical Supper) that Jesus celebrated for them and with them, in Emmaus. There, inside their home, the first domestic church, after a priceless “homily” granted during their long walk, after the consecration of their bread and the wine, He gave Himself in Holy Communion to Cleophas, his wife Mary, and likely some grown up children or servants.
Historical Fact! Not only a Pedagogical Lesson or Analogy.
The First Sunday Mass...!
It’s critically important to understand that they only recognized and realized what really happened when Jesus broke the bread, said the prayer of blessings, and gave to them to eat and drink. At that moment, Jesus disappeared -but only visually- vanished from the table, in the same way He is invisible at the Mass “table” (altar), since they no longer need to see Him, in order to know that He is really there, under the appearance of bread and wine then transubstantiated into the living body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ resurrected. Evidently, for the rest of their lives, they recognized who was really there, celebrating that first Sunday Mass, at the same day He raised from the dead, in a similar way that we now recognize the mystery of a Priest acting “in persona Christ,” during the miracle of the transubstantiation, which happens during Masses celebrated within the Church founded by Christ. Mother Angelica, the founder of EWTN, frequently reminded us that not even the Angels have the privilege to suffer or offer sacrifices to console God and alleviate the suffering of others, much less the privilege to receive the divine Redeemer via Holy Communion.
The Litmus Test!
Sunday Masses' Attendance
Let’s consider the Sunday Mass attendance in Brazil, for example, since it is the country with the largest Catholic population in the world: Only approximately 8% attend Sunday Masses regularly. Simply unbelievable, if such survey is reasonably truthful (see side graphic).
On the other extreme, i.e., Catholics in Nigeria (94%), although complying in terms of massive presence at Sunday Masses, it seems that many go to a mere cultural event by emotional habit since their faith doesn’t concretely reflect in their practical public and political life. We all ‘forget’ -in practical terms- that God ‘cannot’ vote, God ‘cannot’ get organized (in our behalf) to put corrupt politicians in jail, etc. We, as a responsible Christian community, must do it, energetically, publicly, electing tough Christian leaders, praying and fast for it, etc., out of our duty of faith (as El Salvadorians did), and also funded by our own financial resources -as complement to taxes- whenever necessary. Jesus never called us to be spectators of Masses, but courageous disciples ready to engage the culture despite persecutions, boldly building a Christian-based Civilization as protagonists empowered by Masses. Faith without works is not only fake, it will be the main criteria (sins of omission) for anyone surely ending in hell: "I know your works! You are neither cold nor hot. So, because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth"(Rev3:15-16). Anyway, the crucial point we are trying to emphasize here is that both extremes (present everywhere) are deeply affected by the lack of knowledge and shallow interpretation of these Five Commandments of the Church:
1st. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
2nd. You shall confess your sins at least once a year.
3rd. You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion, at least during the Easter season.
4th. You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.
5th. You shall help provide for the needs of the Church.
Original Pride and Disobedience Almost Destroy Human Nature. Only Obedience and Humility Can Remedy it, at least at a Personal Level.
Obedience is the door of Salvation!
Interestingly that such priceless and lifesaving respectful submission -as a whole or partial obedience- are all directly related to the quality, the possibility, consistence, quantity, reverence, and gratefulness of Mass attendance -the essence and summit of our Faith- by each individual faithful, throughout life. Pope Francis said that “If we leave [each] Mass the same way we entered, something is wrong!” We hope that, by God’s Mercy, whenever it happens, it would be sporadic carelessness, therefore meaning -hopefully- that “something went wrong” at that particular Liturgy, and never that “something is essentially wrong” with any one of us.
Can someone obey 99% of all Traffic Laws, but systematically ignore just one, such as the Stop-Sign, for example, without dying or killing?
The best answer is: Probably both! Killing and, sooner of later, also Dying.
But it is just one minor Law!
Unfortunately, realistically and tragically, that is the case for the great majority of Catholics, forgetting that if we are faithful with little thing, we will certainly be faithful with the more important ones. Even sincerely practicing Catholics frequently dismiss, for example, the 4th Commandment, alleging it is “just” one of the Church’s Commandments, presumed irrelevant by many, without realizing that such personal arrogant presumption (thinking to know better than the Church, as if a mere human institution) is a very serious sin of the intellect. Jesus said that the sins of the mind are worse than the sins of the flesh (cannot be “felt”, difficult to be discerned, etc.), although rootly interconnected with pride and the original sin of disobedience [of a “minor” law], despite God’s warning: “If you disobey and eat the forbit ‘fruit’, you will die.” Paraphrasing St. Augustine -mutatis mutantis- since still within the same supernatural context, “If you obey only what you like in God’s Commandments and ignore (worse than refusal) what you don’t agree with, it is not the Divine Law that you are obeying, but yourself.”
And regarding the 5th Commandment, it should instead be called the Fifth Privilege, a recurring "Opportunity of Honor" or, in the worst-case scenario, lifetime extended family duties. The founder of the Focolare Movement, Servant of God Chiara Lubich, the spiritual mother of hundreds of thousands of consecrated Catholic men and women giving all to God and His Church, not just a mere tithe, used to say that (in a free translation) “If love enters our heart but not our “pocket”, it’s because real Love never entered into the heart.” Surely “pocket" here, means immensely more than just material “treasures” to be joyfully donated to our Church, but also time, talents, prayers, affections, services, gratefulness, etc.
The La Salette.cafe Will Gather Small Groups to Share and Spread the Joy of Becoming Practicing Catholics
Even a Small Flock can make a big Difference
Becoming friends with the La Salette Social-Net will be extremely beneficial also for those unable to receive Holy Communion, especially after joining the Movement as active members. The goal of the La Salette Network is to witness, inspire, and kindly invite every non practicing Catholic to give themselves a new opportunity. We will encourage, accompany, and explain how doable it can be to ask God and receive a new life through His beloved Church, starting with a simple act of repentance for not keeping the "Sabbath" Holy, followed by a comprehensive sacramental confession. After the absolution, gradually, a new wave of joy and peace that cannot have a price tag will begin. And for those still unable to receive sacramental absolution (and Holy Communion, as consequence), they can certainly express their repentance to a priest, asking his prayers to persevere from now on without missing future Sunday Masses, always making a spiritual communion while following his directions to regularize eventual canonic situations within the Church, with a humble, grateful, and patient heart.
Thank You Loving Mother, for Warning Your Children.
Let that sink in: Holy is His name!
This is the replica of the Crucifix (side pic) our Lady was carrying on her chest during her visit. It's the only depiction of a Christian Crucifix in history showing the only two options each one of us have in life, whether hammering more "nails" (sins) in the Mystical Body of Jesus, or removing "nails" (virtues) by each act of Love, Mercy, reparation, etc.
At La Salette, Our Lady specifies two main refusals of her people: "The two things which make the arm of my Son so heavy":
The Seventh Day. The disrespect for the seventh day sends us back to the two first books of the Bible, Genesis, and Exodus. How do we honor "the day which God has reserved for himself," the day when one stands face to face with God? Is it really for us a day of repose befitting free people, the Day of the Lord, befitting us as children of God, the day of assembly for brothers and sisters in need of reconciliation? Christ inaugurated, by his resurrection, the first day of the new creation: we are called to live as children of God. And this life, which passes beyond death, should causes us to enter the Day of the Lord, a day without sunset, with a profound awareness and expectation.
And the Name of My Son ("Holy is His name"). The Virgin comes to tell us again, "Holy is His name." "There is no other Name under heaven given to men which is necessary for our salvation" (Acts 4:12). "Never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus..." (Col 3:17), that is, after the manner of Christ and according to his Spirit.
No Time to Pray, but Plenty of Time for Entertainment, Distractions, Sports, Food, Social Media, Gossip, etc.
Too Busy to go to Mass at least on Sundays?
It is indeed a question, therefore, of Faith and submission. The will to live with and in Christ as a servant inside His Church, not as a mere “tourist” using the Church. A great testimony about that can be inferred from the life of one of the greatest members of the US Supreme Court, Justice Clarence Thomas. Are we busier than him?
