LEAVES Website for May-June 2019 Issue

Excerpted from “Leaflets” column:


This is a time of planting and growth. Farmers are anxious to get their seeds in the ground. The light and sunshine of the lengthening days are most welcome to man and beast. Dull grays and browns of winter fields are refreshed with the glorious greens of new seedlings springing forth from the earth.

For everything there is a season and each season has its own charm. With Pentecost on June 9 we transition from the Easter Season to Ordinary Time. The liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) offers insight for the different liturgical colors for the priest’s vestments at Mass. The colors are “meant to give effective, outward expression to the specific character of the mysteries of faith being celebrated and, in the course of the liturgical year, to a sense of progress in the Christian life” (345).

Here are the colors and their distinctions from the GIRM, #346:

WHITE is used in the Offices and Masses during the Easter and Christmas seasons; also on celebrations of the Lord other than of His Passion, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, of the Holy Angels, and of Saints who were not Martyrs; on the Solemnities of All Saints (Nov. 1) and of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24); and on the Feasts of St. John the Evangelist (Dec. 27), of the Chair of St. Peter (Feb. 22), and of the Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25).

RED is used on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and on Good Friday, on Pentecost Sunday, on celebrations of the Lord’s Passion, on the feasts of the Apostles and Evangelists, and on celebrations of Martyr Saints.

GREEN is used in the Offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.

VIOLET or PURPLE is used in Advent and Lent. It may also be worn in Offices and Masses for the Dead (cf. below).

Besides violet, white or BLACK vestments may be worn at funeral services and at other Offices and Masses for the Dead in the dioceses of the United States of America.

ROSE may be used, where it is the practice, on Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent) and on Laetare Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent).

On more solemn days sacred vestments may be used that are festive, that is, more precious, even if not of the color of the day.

GOLD- or SILVER-colored vestments may be worn on more solemn occasions in the dioceses of the United States of America.

In short, the colors signify the following to the faithful: White - joy, innocence, purity and resurrection; Red - the love of the Holy Spirit; Green - rebirth and hope; Violet - sorrow and penance; Black - mourning; Rose - joy; Gold/Silver - solemn feast days.

Take note at Mass of the color of the vestments worn by the priest. Recalling what it conveys adds another dimension to deepen our celebration. The Church uses these visual aids to help us spiritually.


… In Mary’s honor let us offer up an added daily Hail Mary, Rosary or one of the traditional Marian prayers. “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you” (Miraculous Medal Prayer). May God grant you abundant blessings always - Fr. Thomas Heier, C.M.M.





Rest in Peace Bishop Christian Blouin

Bishop Christian Blouin

Bishop Christian Blouin, C.M.M. of the Mariannhill Missionaries, died suddenly in Lae, Papua New Guinea, on Jan. 12, 2019. He was 77. Born on Nov. 1, 1941, in St-Sebastien, Quebec, Canada, in a family of seven, he began his secondary education in 1957 at Mariannhill’s Mont-Ste-Anne College, Sherbrooke. He professed first vows in Mariannhill in 1963, completed his seminary studies at the University of Sherbrooke and was ordained a priest on May 3, 1969. He was on the staff of Mont-Ste-Anne College until 1985.

One year of mission experience spent in Papua New Guinea nurtured in him the deep desire to remain there, but he returned to Canada. Finally he received this permanent assignment in 1989. Once there, he served across the years as parish priest in several parishes in the diocese of Lae, as provincial superior of the Mariannhill Missionaries there, as the one who established a Mariannhill house of formation of new members in the Port Moresby area and, back again in Lae, as the one in charge of candidates for membership in Mariannhill.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Lae in 2007 and he was ordained a bishop on May 5. He served in this office for 12 years.  His successor, Bishop Rozario Menezes, S.M.M. of the Montfort Missionaries, appointed by Pope Francis, was ordained Bishop of Lae on Dec. 15, 2018. Please remember Bishop Blouin in your prayers.       





Excerpted from “Our Family Album”:

St. Therese Delivers
Live Flowers

Each morning after a Mass a short prayer was said to St. Therese for nine days in petition. The following nine days the same prayer was said in thanksgiving. I asked for a yellow rose.

When I returned home from Mass, these lovely flowers, which carried a “heavenly” scent, were at my doorstep! They were wrapped in cellophane. As soon as I saw them, I knew that St.  Therese was doing her very best to say, “Thank you for your prayers,” and that all will be well. With tears of joy I placed them before my five-foot indoor statue of St. Therese. After checking, I found that no one I knew had given me the flowers.

The next day I brought the flowers to church to show others the power of St. Therese’s intercession. One of the women was having a difficult time grieving over the death of her husband. I pulled the middle rose out with its stem attached and gave it to her.

On my way to the car one of my hands mysteriously held a yellow rose, the same as in the bouquet, but without its stem. There were 10 roses included in this bouquet. Since St. Therese’s parents had nine children, the 10th rose was for Louis and Zelie together as husband and wife. St. Therese wanted me to keep her original bouquet! - Andrea Remlin.



A Miracle Tumor

The medical professionals could not believe the results. The lump that met all the criteria for cancer on Friday showed NO cancer cells. They had never ever seen a tumor like mine that was not cancerous. The doctors all called it “A Miracle Tumor” and said it was because of the power of prayer.

I was blessed. I then began my quest to learn more about St. Therese. To my surprise, her way of doing “little things” was how I thought about life. I learned about St. Therese’s way of sending roses to those she helped. I did receive roses unexpectedly when my daughter’s boyfriend brought roses for both of us.

St. Therese may have lived a short life here on earth, but she is present with us now. I will never forget her feast day as that is the day I found her and she gave me the gift of health. Thank you, St. Therese. Your “little ways” have done great things in everyone’s lives - Name Withheld.



St. Anthony to the Rescue!

My son, Ted, phoned me, all upset. He had lost his great-grandfather’s gold initial ring that my husband had passed on to him about seven years ago.

Ted is a bartender and had looked everywhere at the bar where he was positive that he had lost or misplaced the ring. He said he had filtered through garbage cans and was retracing every place he could remember having been - with no luck.

I told my son to say the Prayer to St. Anthony. After many prayers to St. Anthony, Ted phoned me to say that he had found the ring!

Many grateful tears of thanksgiving later, we are sending a donation in thanksgiving. St. Anthony has always helped us! - Ted’s mom, Lori.





Excerpted from Blessed Engelmar Testimonies:

A Life of
Blessed Engelmar

There is now available a booklet of the life of Blessed Engelmar Unzeitig, C.M.M. You may receive a free copy of it by sending a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.



I am writing on behalf of my 93-year-old mother. She has been praying to Bl. Engelmar for many years. Recently my husband lost his job of 25 years and took it so bad that he went into a depression. My mom made many novenas that he would get healthy again and find another job. My mother prayed fervently.

Many, many novenas were said. Today we are happy to announce that my husband has completed his first week in his new job. It’s hard to start new when you are older and learn a new way of doing things, but it has proved to be worth it.

Our life is so much better now because of the struggles we went through together. It was a blessing in disguise and it brought us not only closer together as a married couple, but it brought us back to practicing our Faith.

This donation is what my mom earned playing bingo at her assisted living center. It is to help further Mariannhill’s mission - F.S.

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I am writing regarding an entry in LEAVES magazine that referred to a brother who was in need of powerful intercession. He was going deeper into insanity. A miracle from Bl. Engelmar was being requested. I am also progressing in the same direction as this gentleman. I would deeply appreciate you sending me another copy of the novena to Bl. Engelmar - F.E.

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I’m sending this donation in thanksgiving for prayers answered through Bl. Engelmar - Carol B.



Novena in Honor of
Abbot Francis Pfanner

Abbot Francis Pfanner founded Mariannhill Monastery, and 110 years ago its monks became the Congregation of Missionaries of Mariannhill. He was not only a great missionary, but also a holy man. The cause for his beatification has begun. We have available a novena in his honor and will send you a free copy of it when you send a stamped (postage for one ounce), self-addressed envelope to us at: LEAVES, P.O. Box 87, Dearborn, MI 48121-0087.



Prayer to St. Dymphna

Lord our God, You graciously chose St. Dymphna as patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders. She is thus an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who ask her intercession.

Please grant, Lord, through the prayers of this pure youthful martyr relief and consolation to all suffering such trials and especially those for whom we pray (name them here).

We beg you, Lord, to hear the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant all those for whom we pray patience in their sufferings and resignation to Your divine will. Please fill them with hope and grant them the relief and cure they so much desire.

We ask this through Christ our Lord who suffered mental agony in the garden. Amen.

[The feast day of St. Dymphna is May 15. She is patron saint of the mentally ill and those with nervous, mental and emotional disorders.]




My Queen
By Albert J. Latcha

The world just only once has seen
A lady lovely as my Queen,
My Queen whose warnings can prevent
God’s wrath and certain punishment.

My Queen, concerned, looks with dismay
And begs a sinful world to pray,
My Queen who will at judgment wear
The stars of heaven in her hair.

Upon her bosom Christ has lain,
Whose life was filled with grief and pain.
Man is born in sin like me,
But just my Queen was born sin free.



Doing God’s Will
By Marianna Rose Graves

To know Thy will, O God, I pray,
And yet to know I fear -
Perhaps a million times you’ve told,
But I dare not to hear.

I am a trembling, fearful child.
O Lord, please hear my plea -
Send me the strength of grace I need.
My God, I trust in Thee.




We Matter!
By Margaret Peterson

No matter the weakness or smallness of prayer,
No matter the frailness of thought,
Nothing slips through the fingers of God.
All that we do is caught.

For God is the God of love and might.
He’s close by our side and caring,
Waiting to help us in all of our plight,
Till one day His heaven we’re sharing.




A Wish for You
By Bernice Laux

The best of things
I wish for you,
all good things
for all you do.
I’ll wrap the world
and give it too,
all washed clean
as if brand new.

Most of all I wish
you love and joy
with skies all blue,
no dark clouds
to spoil the view.
All of this I wish
for you in a rose
fresh-kissed
by morning dew.