St. James the Greater
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Nothing is known of St. James the Greater’s early life, though it has been established that he is the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of John the disciple.

The title “the Greater” was added to St. James’ name to help distinguish him from the Apostle James “the Less,” who is believed to have been shorter than James “the Greater.”

Saint James the Greater was one of Jesus’ first disciples. James was fishing with his father and John the Apostle when Jesus came to the shores of the Sea of Galilee and called for the fisherman, who were unable to catch any fish that day, to dip their nets in the water once again.

When the fishermen followed Jesus’ instructions, they found their nets full, and after emptying the fish on board, the boats nearly sank from their weight.

Later, James was one of only three called by Jesus to witness his Transfiguration, and when he and his brother wanted to call fire upon a Samaritan town, both were rebuked by Jesus.

Following Christ’s Ascension, James spread the Gospel across Israel and the Roman kingdom as well. He traveled and spread the Word for nearly forty years in Spain.

It is said that one day, as he prayed, The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and asked him to build her a church, which he did.

Later, James returned to Jerusalem but was martyred for his faith by King Herod, who decapitated him. Saint James the Greater is known as the first apostle to die.

As he was not allowed to be buried following his martyrdom, his remains were taken to Compostela, Spain, by some of his followers, who buried him.

In the ninth century his remains were discovered and moved to a tomb in Santiago de Compostela. Today, his remains can still be found in the Cathedral of Santiago.

Because Santiago de Compostela is the most frequently visited place pilgrims migrate to following Rome and Jerusalem, Pope Leo declared it a shrine.

St. James the Greater Prayer

O glorious Apostle,
St. James, who by reason of thy fervent and generous heart
wast chosen by Jesus to be a witness of His glory on Mount Tabor,
and of His agony in Gethsemane;
thou, whose very name is a symbol of warfare and victory:
obtain for us strength and consolation in the unending warfare of this life,
that, having constantly and generously followed Jesus,
we may be victors in the strife and deserve to receive the victor’s crown in heaven.
Amen.

Information on God the Father
and Short Biography of Mother Eugenia Elisabette Ravasio

God Our Father: Consecration
and Feast Day for the Father of All Mankind,

The Feast Day for the Father of All Mankind
is celebrated the first Sunday in August

Closing of the Cause Mass on 10/29/2005

On this day in 2010 Sr. Assunta Marigliano*, President of the Pious Association “Luisa Piccarreta – Little Children of the Divine Will”, based in Corato, Italy, who was responsible for promoting the Cause for Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, unofficially released the news that the second Theologian commissioned by the Holy See for the review of the writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta has completed his work and has given his official verdict:  POSITIVE.

On July 24, 2010 it was officially announced that the two Theological Censors appointed by the Holy See to review the Writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta had given their approval.

“We are glad to inform you that the second Theologian, which the Holy See had appointed to review the Writings of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta, has completed his task and given his approval.”

From the Association Luisa Piccarreta on December 29, 2023:                                           On December 29, 2023 Sister Assunta Marigliano serenely pronounced her last and conscious “Fiat” to the call of the Father.  The funeral will take place on December 30th (2023)  in the Church of S. Maria Greca at 4.00 pm.  The burial will take place on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at the Corato cemetery and will be preceded by the Holy Mass at 8.30 am in the Regina di All Saints Chaplaincy.

Luisa’s third Order Dominican tertiary cross 

As a young lady, Luisa became a third Order Dominican tertiary, and took the name of Sister Mary Magdala. At the age of 16, Luisa made her profession to Jesus as His victim. From then until the end of her life she remained in a state of almost continuous suffering, enduring both the physical pains of the invisible stigmata, and the more terrible interior pains inflicted by Divine justice.

On October 16, 1888, Feast Day of St. Mary Margaret Alacoque, the Servant of God the Little Daughter of the Divine Will Luisa Piccarreta received the grace of the Mystical Marriage.

St. Mary Magdalen—Feast Day–July 22nd

St. Mary Magdalen is known for her great love of Jesus. She was the sinner who anointed Christ’s feet in Simon’s house, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, and was at the foot of the Cross at the Crucifixion. She discovered the empty tomb, heard the Angelic announcement of the Resurrection of Christ, and was the first person to see Christ later that same day.

Luisa at her death wearing her third Order Dominican tertiary cross 

On June 10, 2016 Pope Francis
raised the July 22nd memorial of St. Mary Magdalene
to a Feast on the Church’s Liturgical Calendar.
The decree was signed on June 3, 2016,
that year it was the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Recognizing St. Mary Magdalene’s role as the first to witness Christ’s resurrection and as a “true and authentic evangelizer,” in 2016 Pope Francis raised the July 22 memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast on the church’s liturgical calendar, the Vatican announced.

A decree formalizing the decision was published by the Congregation for Divine Worship June 10 along with an article explaining its significance.

Book of Heaven
VOL. 12 – 11/29/18

Finding myself in my usual state, I (Luisa) was praying my always lovable Jesus, according to what He had promised me another time – that when the soul always does His Will, sometimes He consents to do the will of the soul. Therefore, I said to Him: “Today You really have to do my will.”

Jesus, in coming, told me: “My daughter, don’t you know that as the soul goes out of My Will, it is like a day without sun for her, without heat, without the Life of the Divine Attitude within her?”

And I: “My Love, may Heaven keep me from doing this. I would rather die than go out of Your Will. Therefore, place Your Will in me, and then say to me, ‘It is My Will that today I do your will.’

And Jesus: “Ah, bad little one!  All right, I will make you content. I will keep you with Me as long as I want, and then I Myself will leave you free.” Oh! how happy I was that, without doing my will, Jesus, identifying His Will with mine, would do my will while doing His Will.

Afterwards, my Lovable Jesus spent some time with me. It seemed that He was dipping the point of His Finger in His Most Precious Blood, and then traced it over my forehead, my eyes, my mouth, my heart. Then He kissed me. In seeing Him so affectionate and sweet, I tried to suckle from His Mouth the bitternesses that His Heart contained, as I used to do before. But Jesus immediately withdrew a little, and showed me a bundle that He had in His Hand, full of other Chastisements; and He told me: “Look at how many other Chastisements must be poured upon the earth; this is why I do not pour into you. The enemies have prepared all their internal plans to make revolutions; now there is nothing left but to prepare their external plans. Ah, My daughter, how My Heart grieves! I have no one with whom to pour out My Sorrow. I want to pour it out with you. You will have to be patient in hearing Me speak very often about sad things. I know that you suffer, but it is Love that pushes Me to do this. Love wants to make Its Pains known to Its Beloved. I almost could not do without coming to pour Myself out with you.”

I felt bad in seeing Jesus so Embittered. I could feel His Pains in my heart; and Jesus, to Cheer me, gave me a few sips of the Sweetest Milk to drink. Then He added: “Now I withdraw and I leave you free.”