SEASON 3: SANCTITY & THE SECRET OF JOY
“Invoco abundantes bênçãos de Nossa Senhora de Fátima
para o vosso projecto sobre o Terço do Rosário.”
+ CARDINAL ANTÓNIO MARTO
Fátima, Portugal
Essential Question: Padre Nuno, …
What is the true joy of our Humanity?
("Qual é, então, a verdadeira alegria da nossa humanidade?")
AN INTRODUCTION TO “THE SECRET OF JOY”
Although the Incarnation, in which God took on human nature through his son Jesus Christ, is a unique event in history, Fr. Nuno's reflections encourage us to become aware that God remains with us today:
"God communicates through our lives".
Therefore, true joy resides in relating to one another, which is also an expression of faithfulness. Opposing the Word Incarnate is closed individualism, which results in loneliness and unhappiness. The relatedness of true friendship reflects the same faithfulness that brought us joy at the moment of the Annunciation of Our Lady.
NOTE BY THE EDITORS OF TRAVESSA DA SENRA HOUSE PRESS
THE ROSARY HOUR PODCAST NEWSLETTER | ABOUT PAGE
Last updated on 18 December 2024
+ JMJ +
To those who are called, to those who are dear to God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ: we wish you all mercy and peace and love!
Christianity is a relationship with someone who is understood through the scriptures and whose life was witnessed by a mother from the moment of His conception.
St. John Paul II articulates in his Encyclical letter Redemptoris Mater (25 March 1987) that:
The journey of faith made by Mary, whom we see praying in the Upper Room, is thus longer than that of the others gathered there: Mary "goes before them," "leads the way" for them.”
and
The moment of Pentecost in Jerusalem had been prepared for by the moment of the Annunciation in Nazareth, as well as by the Cross. In the Upper Room Mary's journey meets the Church's journey of faith.
and that
from the very first moment, the Church "looked at" Mary through Jesus, just as she "looked at" Jesus through Mary. For the Church of that time and of every time Mary is a singular witness to the years of Jesus' infancy and hidden life at Nazareth, when she "kept all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Lk. 2:19; cf. Lk. 2:51).
But above all, in the Church of that time and of every time Mary was and is the one who is "blessed because she believed"; she was the first to believe. From the moment of the Annunciation and conception, from the moment of his birth in the stable at Bethlehem, Mary followed Jesus step by step in her maternal pilgrimage of faith. She followed him during the years of his hidden life at Nazareth; she followed him also during the time after he left home, when he began "to do and to teach" (cf. Acts 1:1) in the midst of Israel. Above all she followed him in the tragic experience of Golgotha. Now, while Mary was with the Apostles in the Upper Room in Jerusalem at the dawn of the Church, her faith, born from the words of the Annunciation, found confirmation. The angel had said to her then: "You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great...and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." The recent events on Calvary had shrouded that promise in darkness, yet not even beneath the Cross did Mary's faith fail. She had still remained the one who, like Abraham, "in hope believed against hope" (Rom. 4:18). But it is only after the Resurrection that hope had shown its true face and the promise had begun to be transformed into reality. For Jesus, before returning to the Father, had said to the Apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . . lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (cf. Mt. 28:19-20). Thus had spoken the one who by his Resurrection had revealed himself as the conqueror of death, as the one who possessed the kingdom of which, as the angel said, "there will be no end."
27. Now, at the first dawn of the Church, at the beginning of the long journey through faith which began at Pentecost in Jerusalem, Mary was with all those who were the seed of the "new Israel." She was present among them as an exceptional witness to the mystery of Christ. And the Church was assiduous in prayer together with her, and at the same time "contemplated her in the light of the Word made man." It was always to be so. For when the Church "enters more intimately into the supreme mystery of the Incarnation," she thinks of the Mother of Christ with profound reverence and devotion. Mary belongs indissolubly to the mystery of Christ, and she belongs also to the mystery of the Church from the beginning, from the day of the Church's birth. At the basis of what the Church has been from the beginning, and of what she must continually become from generation to generation, in the midst of all the nations of the earth, we find the one "who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord" (Lk. 1:45). It is precisely Mary's faith which marks the beginning of the new and eternal Covenant of God with man in Jesus Christ; this heroic faith of hers "precedes" the apostolic witness of the Church, and ever remains in the Church's heart hidden like a special heritage of God's revelation. All those who from generation to generation accept the apostolic witness of the Church share in that mysterious inheritance, and in a sense share in Mary's faith.
Elizabeth's words "Blessed is she who believed" continue to accompany the Virgin also at Pentecost; they accompany her from age to age, wherever knowledge of Christ's salvific mystery spreads, through the Church's apostolic witness and service. Thus is fulfilled the prophecy of the Magnificat: "All generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name" (Lk. 1:48-49). For knowledge of the mystery of Christ leads us to bless his Mother, in the form of special veneration for the Theotokos. But this veneration always includes a blessing of her faith, for the Virgin of Nazareth became blessed above all through this faith, in accordance with Elizabeth's words. Those who from generation to generation among the different peoples and nations of the earth accept with faith the mystery of Christ, the Incarnate Word and Redeemer of the world, not only turn with veneration to Mary and confidently have recourse to her as his Mother, but also seek in her faith support for their own. And it is precisely this lively sharing in Mary's faith that determines her special place in the Church's pilgrimage as the new People of God throughout the earth.
28. As the Council says, "Mary figured profoundly in the history of salvation.... Hence when she is being preached and venerated, she summons the faithful to her Son and his sacrifice, and to love for the Father." For this reason, Mary's faith, according to the Church's apostolic witness, in some way continues to become the faith of the pilgrim People of God: the faith of individuals and communities, of places and gatherings, and of the various groups existing in the Church. It is a faith that is passed on simultaneously through both the mind and the heart. It is gained or regained continually through prayer. Therefore, "the Church in her apostolic work also rightly looks to her who brought forth Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin, so that through the Church Christ may be born and increase in the hearts of the faithful also."
Today, as on this pilgrimage of faith we draw near to the end of the second Christian Millennium, the Church, through the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, calls our attention to her vision of herself, as the "one People of God...among all the nations of the earth." And she reminds us of that truth according to which all the faithful, though "scattered throughout the world, are in communion with each other in the Holy Spirit." We can therefore say that in this union the mystery of Pentecost is continually being accomplished. At the same time, the Lord's apostles and disciples, in all the nations of the earth, "devote themselves to prayer together with Mary, the mother of Jesus" (Acts 1:14). As they constitute from generation to generation the "sign of the Kingdom" which is not of his world, they are also aware that in the midst of this world they must gather around that King to whom the nations have been given in heritage (cf. Ps. 2:8), to whom the Father has given "the throne of David his father," so that he "will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will he no end."
As we approach the third year of our exploration of prayer and the Rosary, we welcome the voices of Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC, and a return guest, Fr. Chris Alar, MIC both of whom are collaborating on new parts of this global mission to teach others about Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Rosary, Marian Apparitions, Holy Souls, and the Message of Divine Mercy in our times.
For Season 3 of the Rosary Hour Podcast, along with return guest, Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, and Fr. Elias Mary Mills, the apostles broadcasting for this podcast help to begin our conversation on “Joy” during our Christmas Countdown which teaches in 2024 the “O Antiphons”.
What does it mean to be a beloved son and daughter of God?
SEASON 3: WE WELCOME BACK FR. ANTHONY GRAMLICH, MIC
We welcome Fr. Anthony back to our show as he develops our understanding of “The Secret of Joy” from his desk as the Assistant Rector of the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy.1 The Marians are the guardians of the Diary of St. Faustina, the Image of the Divine Mercy, and the Message of Divine Mercy. On September 29, 2022, Father Anthony’s humble video teaching his favorite book "The Secret of the Rosary"? reached 10,000 hits by the Presentation of Our Lady at the Temple on November 21, 2024.
Click below to read Fr. Anthony’s favorite story in the book by St. Louis Marie de Montfort held by Fr. Anthony in this video, and it can be downloaded as a free PDF here:
SEASON 3: CURATOR & SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
Season 3 content is directed and curated from the Portuguese Way of St. James on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Portugal by author of “The Secret of Joy”, Fr. Nuno Rocha, who walks us through ten questions on Joy that each guest will explore.
On November 18, 2024, Padre Nuno led a special Vespers Mass at Igreja Lapa for Holy Souls and shares a short excerpt from Psalm 121 as the cantor leading his congregation and choir in prayer and exploring for us this question of how to praise God through song. (Click here or watch the YouTube video “Dies Irae” below.)
This musical conversation that will be part of the 42 days of prayer and Christmas Countdown Advent Consecration Journey that features Compline and the prayer of the Psalms with the Rosary, led by Amelia and Zosia from November 21 to January 1st. All are welcome.
Sign-up your friends / family anytime before January 1, 2025 below:
This prayer camino will explore the Sacred Heart of the baby Jesus as developed by Pope Francis in his latest encyclical which we provide as a free Audio Podcast for Chapter 1 below.
ON SANCTITY
DIARY ENTRY #3: DAY OF WRATH - DIES IRAE: THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
UNDERSTANDING SANCTITY: JUBILEE 2025
In the 2025 Jubilee Year, Amelia invites Antonia Salzano Acutis to assist The Rosary Hour Podcast in understanding “Sanctity and the Secret of Joy” as she answers the questions by Radio Maria USA Rosary co-leader under the Spiritual Direction of Fr. Nuno Rocha, and with the support of Fr. Anthony Gramlich and Fr. Chris Alar.
THE SCAPULAR
As a follow-up to Season 2, Amelia will release her updated video from an interview on the Brown Scapular with Fr. Elias Mary Mills, FI who tells his scapular Miracle story about his father to teach us about the silent consecration of this sacramental in this earlier post.
SEASON 3: DIARY ENTRIES IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
Diary Entry #3: “Dies Irae: The Moment of Truth” explained by Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton with Vespers led by Padre Nuno Rocha and the Lapa Choir
Diary Entry #2: “De Profundis” explained by Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton with Vocation Story in 9-day novena for the Holy Souls
About Fr. Thad Lancton, MIC
Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton, MIC, is a Marian of the Immaculate Conception in the United States of America. The Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary is a fraternal community of consecrated life in the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the devotion to Mary Immaculate, praying for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and service to the Church. The Marian Fathers have also be entrusted with spreading the Message and Devotion to the Divine Mercy. Father Thaddaeus seeks to spread these devotions through his podcasts, video reflections, and books.
https://thaddaeusmic.com
DIARY ENTRY #1: “True Joy”, A preface to “The Secret of Joy” by Fr. Chris Alar, MIC in new October 11, 2024 video with the support of Fr. Thaddaeus Lancton and Fr. Nuno Rocha.
WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE HERE:
OTHER MULTILINGUAL PRAYER PROJECTS ON THE ROSARY
FOR PORTUGUESE READERS: “THE SECRET OF JOY”
THE DIARY OF PRAYER, odiario.substack.com | “THE SECRET OF JOY”
Editor-at-large, Fr. Nuno Rocha (Portugal)
OCTOBER 2024 NEWS:
SPOTLIGHT#1
ACN PORTUGAL
18 OCTOBER ROSARY FOR PEACE
On October 23, AIS FOUNDATION reported on social media that 1.135.945 children in the world prayed the Rosary with 20,225 signed up in Portugal.
In the effort to spread the message of the Rosary in Portuguese, the Rosary Hour Podcast has created a newsletter with the Spiritual Direction of Padre Nuno Rocha entitled: “The Diary of Prayer” to inspire the prayer of the Rosary through deepening our understanding of the “Joy” in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.
We invite our readers to visit “The Diary of Prayer” (odiario.substack.com) for news in Portugal and invite pilgrims to learn how-to-pray the Rosary in Portuguese this Advent 2025 with new materials as we enter the Jubilee 2025 on December 24, 2025.2
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FOOTNOTES
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light.
9 That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name.
13 Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Fr. Nuno has authored an e-book that will be featured throughout Season 3 of this newsletter and our official YouTube Channel which houses archives of our time learning from various guests to The Rosary Hour Podcast, an online prayer group that has come together to explore the “Why” behind our prayers. Fr. Anthony’s focus on the 3rd Joyful Mystery, the Nativity, will help inspire those who wish to help young children and families pray the Rosary for the First time.
NOTE: The following website houses our free e-books that have been translated by Travessa da Senra House Press from the original Portuguese into Italian, German, French, and English and later Korean and Polish - https://odiario.substack.com.
