A Fresh New Look!
Newsletter
As you can see, the newsletter’s appearance is new.  It isn’t just to give it a fresh look, although that is nice. In this case it is functional.  We have heard anecdotally that some computers just couldn’t open the newsletters.  This new template that we will be using has been tested on multiple computer platforms and we have been promised “no problems”.  (Uh-huh) So please let us know if it is true!  Let us know what you think of the look too!

Website Update
We have been steadily working on the new format for The Way of the Cross since our last newsletter.  As we mentioned last month it will feature a slide show of the messages that Alex received from Our Blessed Mother (see picture above).  It is our intent to give this site a very, Marian focus – one that we think Alex would be proud of. The video page will feature all of Alex’s meetings and videos including two new ones – his trip to Ireland and the Wisconsin Memorial Mass. The Webmaster has been listening carefully to problems that have come up with regards to downloading our videos. He thinks he has finally fixed them. Now when you request a video on the website, our server will be able to instantly detect your internet speed and match it automatically. Whether you have "dial-up" or "DSL", the process should be painless. Also, we have a section called "Houses of Prayer".  While there is only one House of Prayer to date in Utah, there are several in the planning stages.  Regardless, there are activities that are related to the mission that Alex started that we would like to feature in those areas that he frequented.  So if you are in Tucson, Alpena, Freedom, Deland or elsewhere… let us know what is going on.  This is your space to help keep everyone abreast of your activities.

Consecration to My Immaculate Heart
What does it mean and why should we do it?

Our Blessed Mother has repeatedly asked us through private revelation like Alex’s to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart.  While initially I was confused by the meaning of these words, after reading St. Louis De Montfort’s book True Devotion To Mary I now have a clearer understanding.  Whether you intend to ever do this, I recommend reading this book as a first step.   

So what is this all about? Quite simply, you are invited to consecrate yourself fully to our Blessed Mother, so that through her, you may become closer to Jesus.  So why the circular path?  True devotion to Mary is the shortest and surest path that will lead you to holiness and directly to Jesus Christ.  Mary was granted a most unique status by her birth – immaculate. No human being is or will ever be more perfect and full of grace.  She was a perfect role model for us while on earth. It was through her that Christ entered the world in physical form.  Now as Our Mother, she wants to lead us to Him and she knows the way! No one knows Him better or has ever loved Jesus more than her.  He could not love anyone more than her or deny her anything.  By totally consecrating yourself to her, you are giving your life, your talents and energies for her purposes.  She in return, is totally responsible for leading you to Jesus.  “Blessed are they who practice my virtues and with the help of of divine grace walk in the footsteps of my life.  During life they are happy in this world through the abundance of grace and sweetness which I impart to them from my fullness, and more abundantly to them than to others who do not imitate me so closely.  They are happy in their death, which is mild and tranquil, and at which I ordinarily present myself, that I may conduct them to the joys of eternity; for never has any one of my good servants been lost who imitated my virtues during life.”

How it is done.  
The First Period lasts 12 days.  During this time you renounce the world’s spirit of sin and denial of Christ.  Through scripture readings, examinations of conscience and daily prayers you will allow God to free your heart from attachment to this world and the sins that hinder your efforts to be devoted to Christ.  In the Second Period  lasting 3 weeks, you will focus on knowledge of self, knowledge of the Blessed Virgin Mary and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Following these periods of preparation, all who have committed themselves to this devotion will make an act of consecration. This is done by receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, followed by a special prayer of consecration.  This consecration to Jesus through Mary continues throughout your life and is renewed on a yearly basis.

If you are ready to make this commitment, we would like to send you free of charge St. Louis de Montfort’s book Preparation for Total Consecration and a two page guide.  We currently have 50 copies available as a result of a generous donation.  Please email me at administrator@thewayofthecross.org for your copy(s).  

Community Calendar
This one is for you prayer warriors out there!
February 3, 2007 – Come join the St. Charbel prayer group on the first Saturday      of the month for the next 5 months. It starts promptly at 7PM.  St. Charbel was
     a Maronite monk who lived in a remote mountaintop in Lebanon.  Although he      died in 1898, his body remains uncorrupted still today.  Each year it exudes a      blood-like substance from his body filling the coffin to a depth of about 3”.      Many miracles have occurred.  Interested? Call Mary at 1-920-788-4729.

February 15, 2007 -  Fr. Mark Vander Steeg of St. Mary of the Immaculate             Conception, N2385 Municipal Drive in Greenville, WI 54942 will be starting
     a 33-Day Consecration to the Immaculate Heart. If you are interested, call
    (920) 757-6555.

February 23 & 24, 2007 -  Prayer & Conversion, The New Evangelization
     Monsignor Sweeney will be amongst the speakers at this 2 day Lenten                  Retreat.  It will be held at St. Domitilla’s Gym in Hillside, IL  60162
     If interested in more information go to www.medj1.com/conference07.htm
     or call 1-630-279-8424.

If you have events in your area that you want to let people know about, contact the administrator@thewayofthecross.org.

Prayer of the Month
After mass and before the image of Our Blessed Mother, Alex use to say the following:
“Holy Mother of God, be our guide and lead our steps today that we might get closer to God and avoid offending Him.” 
Follow this with the “Hail Mary” prayer. 

Catholic Humor
Subject: Catholic School
Can you imagine yourself to be the nun that is sitting at her desk grading these papers all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure!

Pay special attention to the wording and spelling. If you know the bible even a little, you'll find this hilarious!  It comes from a catholic elementary school test.  Kids were asked questions about the old and new testaments. The following statements about the bible were written by children. They have not been retouched or corrected. Incorrect spelling has been left in.

1. In the first book of the bible, Guinessis. God got tired of creating the world so he took the Sabbath off.
2. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah's wife was Joan of Ark. Noah built an ark and the animals came on in pears.
3. Lots wife was a pillar of salt during the day, but a ball of fire during the night.
4. The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble
with unsympathetic genitals.
5. Sampson was a strongman who let himself be led astray by a jezebel like
Delilah.
6. Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the apostles.
7. Moses led the Jews to the red sea where they made unleavened bread
Which is bread without any ingredients.
8. The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went
Up to Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Commandments.
9. The First Commandments was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple.
10. The Seventh Commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.
11. Moses died before he ever reached Canada. Then Joshua led the Hebrews
In the Battle of Geritol.
12. The greatest miracle in the bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.
13. David was a Hebrew king who was skilled at playing the liar. He fought
The Finkelsteins, a race of people who lived in biblical times.
14. Solomon, one of Davids sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
15. When Mary heard she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.
16. When the three wise guys from the east side arrived they found Jesus in the manager.
17. Jesus was born because Mary had an Immaculate Contraption.
18. St. John the Blacksmith dumped water on his head.
19. Jesus enunciated the golden rule, which says to do unto others before they do one to you. He also explained a man doth not live by sweat alone.
20. It was a miracle when Jesus rose from the dead and managed to get the tombstone off the entrance.
21. The people who followed the lord were called the 12 decibels.
22. The Epistels were the wives of the Apostles.
23. One of the oppossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan.
24. St. Paul cavorted to Christianity, he preached holy acrimony which is another name for marraige.
25. Christians have only one spouse. This is called monotony.