FR. GRUNER--R.I.P.

I just heard about this today, but this is about someone worth remembering. A true soldier for the Truth, and a true son of Mary.

Father Nicholas Gruner,
May 4, 1942 — April 29, 2015

The Management Team of the Fatima Center sadly announces the death of Father Nicholas Gruner, who passed away suddenly this evening (April 29). Father died at his office, working to his last breath on the goals to which he dedicated his 38 years in the priesthood — the promotion of the Message of Fatima, especially the release of the full Third Secret and the Consecration of Russia to Our Lady's Immaculate Heart.

Details concerning the visitation and funeral for Father will be announced in the upcoming days. For now, in your charity, please pray for Father and for his Apostolate, which will continue to seek to bring his life's work to a successful conclusion.

Nobody, but nobody, did more to promote Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal, and her message than Fr. Nicholas Gruner, the 'Fatima Priest'. He knew more about Fatima than anyone I can think of. He was so humble and gracious when talking to anyone. We went to a conference a few years ago where Fr. Gruner was also there. This priest was in the Confessional pretty much the entire time when he wasn't scheduled to speak.

One thing of our involvement with him will be this: At the conference mentioned above, we took our daughter's wedding dress with us, gave it to Father, and his ladies who work for him accepted it and made a Cape for the Fatima statue which Father would take around the world. The dress has been to more places than I can even think of, or will ever go. So, if you see the statue with a cape on it, think of us. Prayers are always accepted.

The world has lost a great crusader for the eternal Truth and for the Mother of Jesus, Mary. Will we get another to try to fill these shoes? Only time will tell, if we have any left.

I'll bet you anything that Mary opened her arms to greet this crusader, another son of hers; one who fought for her for 38 years. Fr. Gruner, requiescat in pace

St. Catherine of Siena

SAINT CATHERINE of SIENA
Virgin
(1347-1380)

Catherine, the daughter of a humble Christian tradesman, was raised up to be the guide and guardian of the Church in one of the darkest periods of its history, the fourteenth century. As a child, prayer was her delight. She would say the "Hail Mary" on each step as she mounted the stairs, and was granted in reward a vision of Christ in glory. And He revealed to her the secrets of Christian perfection. When only seven years old she made a vow of virginity, afterwards enduring bitter persecution for refusing to marry.

Her parents persisted long in their refusal to allow her to enter religious life, her only ambition; but she made a kind of spiritual and penitential convent cell in her heart's depths, and there she found her Beloved and conversed with Him each day. At the age of fifteen she was permitted to enter the Third Order of Saint Dominic, but continued to reside in her father's house, where she united a life of active charity to the prayer of a contemplative Saint. Our Lord bestowed on her His Heart in exchange for her own, gave her Communion with His own hands, and imprinted on her body the marks of His wounds. She had asked Our Lord that these be not visible (as some stigmatics had them), so Our Lord made them a golden color. However, she experienced the pain just the same as Our Lord had.

From this obscure home the seraphic virgin was taken by Providence to defend the Church's cause. Her life became a continuing miracle. Armed with Papal authority and accompanied by three confessors, she traveled through Italy, reducing rebellious cities to the obedience of the Holy See, and winning hardened souls to God. In the sight of virtually the whole world she sought out Gregory XI at Avignon, brought him back to Rome (after 60 years), and by her letters to the kings and queens of Europe made good the Papal cause. She was the counselor of Urban VI, and sternly rebuked the disloyal cardinals who took part in electing an antipope.

Long had the holy virgin foretold the terrible schism which began before she died. Day and night she wept and prayed for unity and peace. But in spirit she saw the entire city of Rome full of demons, who were tempting the people to revolt and even to slay the Vicar of Christ. With intense earnestness Saint Catherine begged Our Lord to prevent this enormous crime. Their seditious temper was subdued by her prayers, but they vented their rage by scourging the Saint herself, who gladly endured all for God and His Church. She died in Rome in 1380, at the age of thirty-three years old, the same as Our Lord.


Our beloved Abbot Gueranger has a prayer at the end of his thoughts on St. Catherine. He is asking for prayers for Italy, but the rest of it is quite applicable for these days.

"...Pray, too, for unhappy Italy, which was so dear to thee, and which is so justly proud of its Saint of Siena. Impiety and heresy are now permitted to run wild though the land; the name of thy Spouse is blasphemed; the people are taught to love error, and to hate what they had hitherto venerated; the Church is insulted and robbed; faith has long since bee weakened, but now its very existence is imperiled. Intercede for thy unfortunate country, dear Saint! oh! surely, it is time to come to her assistance, and rescue her from the hands of her enemies. The whole Church hopes that thou mayest effect the deliverance of this her illustrious province: delay not, but calm the storm which seems to threaten a universal wreck!"


This seraphic Saint Catherine willingly sacrificed the delights of contemplation to labor for the Church and the Apostolic See. How deeply do the troubles of the Church and the consequent loss of souls afflict us? How often do we pray for the Church and the Pope? This is especially needed these days.

Some things never change!

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. ”

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone momuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

“Wait for that wisest of all counselors, Time.”

“Those who can truly be accounted brave are those who best know the meaning of what is sweet in life and what is terrible, and then go out, undeterred, to meet what is to come.”

“Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.”

"Grief is felt not so much for the want of what we have never known, as for the loss of that to which we have been long accustomed.”

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

“We cultivate refinement without extravagance and knowledge without effeminacy; wealth we employ more for use than for show, and place the real disgrace of poverty not in owning to the fact but in declining the struggle against it. Our public men have, besides politics, their private affairs to attend to, and our ordinary citizens, though occupied with the pursuits of industry, are still fair judges of public matters; for, unlike any other nation, regarding him who takes no part in these duties not as unambitious but as useless, we Athenians are able to judge at all events if we cannot originate, and instead of looking on discussion as a stumbling-block in the way of action, we think it an indispensable preliminary to any wise action at all.”

“Time is the wisest counsellor of all”

“Just because you do not take an interest in politics...does not mean that politics won't take an interest in you.”

"Those who are politically apathetic can only survive if they are supported by people who are capable of taking action."

"It is more of a disgrace to be robbed of what one has than to fail in some new undertaking."

"Fishes live in the sea, as men do on land: the great ones eat up the little ones."

"Your empire is now like a tyranny: it may have been wrong to take it; it is certainly dangerous to let it go."

About bureaucrats: "Perhaps they were sometimes necessary lest a nation become constipated, but one must always remember that they were only feces, with a smelly function."



The above quotes were by Pericles, who was born in 495BC. Some things never change! Go figure.

Pericles (/ˈpɛrɪkliːz/; Greek: Περικλῆς Periklēs, pronounced [pe.ri.klɛ̂ːs] in Classical Attic; c. 495 – 429 BC) was arguably the most prominent and influential Greek statesman, orator and general of Athens during the Golden Age— specifically the time between the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. He was descended, through his mother, from the powerful and historically influential Alcmaeonid family.

Pericles had such a profound influence on Athenian society that Thucydides, a contemporary historian, acclaimed him as "the first citizen of Athens".[1] Pericles turned the Delian League into an Athenian empire, and led his countrymen during the first two years of the Peloponnesian War. The period during which he led Athens, roughly from 461 to 429 BC, is sometimes known as the "Age of Pericles", though the period thus denoted can include times as early as the Persian Wars, or as late as the next century.

Pericles promoted the arts and literature; it is principally through his efforts that Athens holds the reputation of being the educational and cultural center of the ancient Greek world. He started an ambitious project that generated most of the surviving structures on the Acropolis (including the Parthenon). This project beautified and protected the city, exhibited its glory, and gave work to the people.[2] Pericles also fostered Athenian democracy to such an extent that critics call him a populist.

St. Paul of the Cross

Today is the day we read and think about another great Saint who professed and delivered Christ on the Cross and in His Blessed Sacrament. It seems to me, when reading about him, that he was another Padre Pio, but this time for those in the 18th century. I'm going to quote just part of today's history of him, taken from 'The Liturgical Year', by our blessed Abbot Gueranger:

'...The fire of the love of god burnt so in his heart that his garments often seemed to be scorched, and two of his ribs raised. He could not restrain his tears, particularly when saying Mass, and he was often rapt in ecstasy and raised into the air, while his face shone as with light from heaven. Sometimes when he was preaching, a heavenly voice was heard prompting him, and at others his words became audible at the distance of several miles. He was distinguished for the gifts of prophecy, of speaking with tongues, of reading the heart, and of power over evil spirits, over diseases, and over the elements. Though Popes regarded him with affection and veneration, he looked upon himself as an unprofitable servant upon whom devils might well trample. He persevered in his austerities until extreme old age, and died at Rome on the day he had himself foretold (October 18, 1775), after having received the Last Sacraments and the consolation of a heavenly vision. He left the spirit of his teaching as an inheritance to his disciples in the beautiful exhortations he made to them on his death-bed. Pope Pius IX enrolled him among the Blessed, and after renewed signs and wonders proceeded to his Canonization.'


People like him are what we are all to strive for, in passing on the Eternal Truth to those unknowing and less fortunate. Only God can convert them, with the help of our Blessed Mother, Mary.


Quotes from St. Paul of the Cross:

"If, during life, we have been kind to the souls in purgatory, God will see that help will not be denied us after death."

"Let us throw ourselves into the ocean of His goodness, where every failing will be cancelled, and anxiety turned into love."

"The Rosary ought to be recited with great devotion because one is speaking with the Holy Virgin."

Fr. Rutler's column

I remember serving this priest back in the probably early 90's. He's a very good priest. Maybe it is because he is also a convert, from Anglicanism, or 'the church of England'.

FROM THE PASTOR
April 26, 2015
by Fr. George W. Rutler


The restoration of Grand Central Terminal took several laborious years. It was saved from demolition in reaction to the barbaric destruction of the grand Pennsylvania Station, an aesthetic tragedy paralleling the vandalism of liturgical renovators around the same time. The new and unloved Penn Station insults the aesthetic culture just as do many churches built in that period.

The ceiling of Grand Central retains a small untouched patch to show the contrast with what it looked like before the cleaning. So too, we need an historical sense to appreciate the contrast between civilization before and after Christ changed the world. He contrasts the world redeemed and unredeemed in his imagery of the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for his sheep” versus the wolf that “attacks and scatters the sheep.” The contrast is vivid again today, in the saints who follow the Good Shepherd and the evil people who terrorize humanity as wolves.

Often, the wolves do not look like wolves at all. It is easy to spot a terrorist, but most moral degenerates can disguise themselves well. Some wolves are sociopaths with such characteristics as superficial charm, few close friends, unsettling obliviousness to danger, lack of empathy with suffering people while claiming to feel their pain, chronic lying, manipulation by habitual laughter and feigned cheerfulness, and a restless ego. Although they have no “concern for the sheep,” their anti-social skills paradoxically help them attain high places in society, supported by the very sheep they would devour. In contrast, the Good Shepherd “is one who lays down his life for his sheep.”

Wolves can fool the sheep, scattering and dividing them through flattery (Psalms 5:10; 78:36; Proverbs: 28:23, 29:5). It is significant that the same Apostle who justly boasted that he flattered no man (1 Thess. 2:5) warned against wolves who disguise themselves in sheep's clothing by perverting the truth (Acts 20:28-31).

Putting aside the tendency to nostalgia, there certainly is enough evidence to warrant a fear that our culture is being seduced by wolfish leaders into a new barbarism as the end of a cycle of civilization. The innovative philosopher of history, Giambattista Vico, described the pattern: “Men first feel necessity, then look for utility, next attend to comfort, still later amuse themselves with pleasure, thence grow dissolute in luxury, and finally go mad and waste their substance.” The new barbarism would be worse than the old, in the words of Churchill in 1940: “. . . a new Dark Age, made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.” He also warned that the worst enablers of social vandalism are not wolves in sheep’s clothing, but sheep in sheep’s clothing. Ignorant of the difference between sin and virtue, they naively “waste their substance” and welcome wolves while deaf to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

BEWARE OF THOSE IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING!, especially those within the walls of the Church.

3rd Sunday after Easter

The reading of the GOSPEL for this Sunday(John XVI. 16‑22.) At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: "A little while, and now you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father." Then some of his disciples said one to another: What is this that he saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father?" They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he speaketh. And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask him, and he said to them: "Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see me: and again a little while and you shall see me. Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you now indeed have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice: and your joy no man shall take from you."

What is the meaning of Christ's words: A little while and you shall not see me; and again a little while and you shall see me?

St. John Chrysostom applies these words, which Christ spoke to His apostles a few hours before His passion, to the time between the death of Jesus and His Resurrection; but St. Augustine, to the time between the Resurrection and the Ascension, and then to the Last judgment at the end of the world, and he adds: "This little while seems long to us living, but ended, we feel how short it is." In affliction we should console ourselves by reflecting, how soon it will terminate, and that it cannot be compared with the future glory, that is awaiting eternally in heaven him who patiently endures.

Why did our Saviour tell His disciples of their future joys and sufferings?

That they might the more easily bear the sufferings that were to come, because we can be prepared for suf­ferings which we know are pending; because He knew that their sufferings would be only slight and momentary in comparison with the everlasting joy which awaited them, like the pains of a woman in giving birth to a child which are great indeed, but short, and soon forgotten by the mother in joy at the birth of the child. "Tell me" says St. John Chrysostom, "if you were elected king but were obliged to spend the night preceding your entrance into your capital city where you were to be crowned, if you were compelled to pass that night in much discomfort in a stable, would you not joyfully endure it in the expectation of your kingdom? And why should not we, in this valley of tears, willingly live through adversities, in expectation of one day obtaining the kingdom of heaven?"

Enlighten us, O Holy Spirit! that we may realize that this present life and all its hardships are but slight and momentary, and strengthen me that we may endure patiently the adversities of life in the hope of future heavenly joys.


CONSOLATION IN TRIALS AND ADVERSITIES
You shall lament and weep. (John XVI. 20.)

That Christian is, most foolish who fancies that the happiness of this world consists in honors, wealth, and pleasures, while Christ, the eternal Truth, teaches the contrary, promising eternal happiness to the poor and oppressed, and announcing eternal affliction and lamentation to those rich ones who have their comfort in this world. How much, then, are those to be pitied who as Christians believe, and yet live as if these truths were not for them, and who think only how they can spend their days in luxury, hoping at the same time to go to heaven where all the saints, even Christ the Son of God Himself and His Mother, have entered only by crosses and sufferings.

And, we know, that God Almighty will not send us anything which He knows that we cannot bear. He is testing us and strengthening us all the while.


NOTE: I'm sorry, I messed up with the earlier version of this post! A little better now, I hope.

Cardinal Sarah

The Christians in the continent of Africa are dying daily. These people are dying for the Faith, not just someone's twisted beliefs. One Cardinal Sarah, is asking for some true Doctrine to start coming out of the Vatican. He doesn't want 'pap' anymore; he has laid down the gauntlet to the resident of Rome.

Rorate Caeli issues the news of Cardinal Sarah openly warning Francis & Co. about the heresy of detaching the Magisterium from pastoral practice.

His words are brutally clear, and I quote them here again. The emphasis is, I think, Rorate’s.

“The idea that would consist in placing the Magisterium in a nice box by detaching it from pastoral practice — which could evolve according to the circumstances, fads, and passions — is a form of heresy, a dangerous schizophrenic pathology. I affirm solemnly that the Church of Africa will firmly oppose every rebellion against the teaching of Christ and the Magisterium.”


He probably will be chastised just like Cardinal Burke was. I mean, "How DARE anyone defend the Church, its Tradition, its Dogma, and all that other nonsense?"


Robert Sarah (born 15 June 1945) is a Guinean priest and Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed as Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Francis on 23 November 2014.[1] He previously served as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.

St. Mark

Today is the day for St. Mark, the Evangelist. He was like a secretary to St. Peter. His Gospel could almost be called St. Peter's, if you ask me, because it has in it things that presume someone actually saw happen (Peter). Anyway, he is called the 'Lion', who is beside the Man (St. Matthew), the 'Ox' (St. Luke), and the 'Eagle' (St. John). His was the first Gospel to be written. His Gospel is also the shortest (like Peter's letters), but with a punch, like the others. The Old Testament has four main representatives: Isaias, Jeremias, Ezechiel, and Daniel. The New Testament also has four: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, who were to make known to the world the life and teachings of God's divine Son. St. Mark fulfills that role of the Lion, for he starts out his Gospel with the preaching of John the Baptist, whose office as precursor of the Messias had been foretold by Isaias, where he spoke of the voice of one crying in the wilderness--as the Lion that makes the desert echo with his roar. He was also a Martyr, but not til after building a Church at Alexandria, and converting many. I believe that it was his house where the Apostles met in Jerusalem, as well as to where the Last Supper took place, giving us the Holy Eucharist. He is one of the 'Four' living creatures who stand before the Throne of the Apocalypse, and are listed in Ezechiel (1:10-14).

Learn from Saint Mark's Gospel to keep the image of the Son of man ever before your mind, and to ponder every syllable which fell from His lips.

NOTE: If we say the 'Litany of the Saints' today, we may earn a plenary indulgence of 10 years. We can ALL use this. Please pray it:


THE LITANY OF THE SAINTS


The Litany of the saints is one of the oldest Catholic prayers still in use. It was prayed in earlier forms in the procession of St. Mamertus, the Bishop of Vienna, in the fifth century, and in St. Gregory the Great’s Litania Septiformis ("sevenfold procession") of the clergy and the faithful, which followed a terrible spate of floods and disease in Rome in 590. Its stature is such that it is one of only six litanies authorized for use in public services by the Holy See.

The Litany of the Saints is often recited or sung in a shorter form than the one given below (which is itself an abridged version!) on All Saints Day (naturally enough!). It is a moving appeal for help from many of our greatest saints, as well as for divine protection.

The Litany of the Saints is also often a special part of both the Easter Vigil (the mass in which those who have received instruction in our faith are baptized) and Ordination Masses for priests, deacons, and bishops, as well.

It can be prayed alone or in a group setting. (As in a church service, the group responds to a leader with the italicized words below. Each response in the Litany of the Saints is repeated after each line until a change appears.)

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. (repeat after each line)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Ghost,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Holy Mary, pray for us (repeat after each line)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Gabriel,
St. Raphael,
All you holy angels and archangels,
All you holy orders of blessed spirits,
St. John the Baptist,
St. Joseph,
All you holy patriarchs and prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas,
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Thaddeus,
St. Matthias,
St. Barnabas,
St. Luke,
St. Mark,
All you holy apostles and evangelists,
All you holy disciples of our Lord,
All you holy innocents,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
St. Vincent,
SS. Fabian and Sebastian,
SS. John and Paul,
SS. Cosmas and Damian,
SS. Gervase and Protase,
All you holy Martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas,
All you holy bishops and confessors,
All you holy doctors,
St. Anthony,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
All you holy priests and levites,
All you holy monks and hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cecilia,
St. Catherine,
St. Anastasia,
All you holy virgins and widows,
All you holy men and women, saints of God, intercede for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, deliver us, O Lord. (repeat after each line)
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From a sudden and unprovided death,
From the deciets of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and all ill-will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquakes,
From plague, famine and war,
From everlasting death,
By the mystery of Thy holy incarnation,
By Thy coming,
By Thy nativity,
By Thy baptism and holy fasting,
By Thy Cross and Passion,
By Thy Death and burial,
By Thy holy Resurrection,
By Thine admirable Ascension,
By the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete.
On the day of judgment.
We sinners, we beseech Thee, hear us (repeat after each line)
That Thou wouldst spare us,
That Thou wouldst pardon us,
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy Holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all ecclesiastical orders in holy religion,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian peoples,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to ring back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service,
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors from eternal damnation,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, Son of God,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father, etc. (inaudibly)

V. And lead us not into temptation
R. But deliver us from evil.

The Litany of the Saints reminds us of a moving line about them from one of the Eucharistic prayers to God the Father said at Mass: “May their merits and prayers gain us Your constant help and protection.”

Our Lady of Saturdays

This is Our Lady of Mercy



Saturdays always bring us back to Mary, our Blessed Mother. Before taking possession of the Church, which was to be proclaimed before all nations on the day of Pentecost, the God-Man made a worthy prelude to this kingly possession by uniting Himself with her, who is so deservedly styled the Mother and representative of the human race. This was Mary! Of the family of David, Abraham, and Shem; immaculate, from the first moment of her existence, as were our first parents when they came from their Creator's hands; and destined for the grandest honor which could be conferred on a mere creature; Mary was, during her sojourn here on earth, the inheritance and co-operatrix of the Incarnate Word: she was the Mother of all the living. She, in her single person, was what the Church, collectively, has been from the day of its foundation. Her office of Mother of God surpasses all her other glories; still, we must not overlook, but on the contrary, admire and love them.

Following is another hymn, taken from the ancient Churches of Germany, and we celebrate her Seven Joys.

Rejoice, O Virgin, Star of the Sea, dearest Spouse of Christ! for the angel of our salvation announced to thee an exceeding great joy. cleanse us from our sins, O Virgin Mother! and speak to our heart of the joys that never end.

Rejoice, O spotless Mother! in that thou didst conceive of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth thy Child, as the star emits its ray. Grant that we may ever be fruitful in works of salvation. Take these barren hearts of ours, and by thy merciful prayers make them fertile.

Rejoice, O beautiful Lily! at the adoration and gifts paid by the Magi to thy new-born Babe. O happy Mother! pray that we may ever imitate them, and give to God what their gifts signified.

Rejoice, O Mother! at the praises spoken by Simeon, when, at thy presenting the Child in his arms. Grant, we beseech thee, that we may serve thy Son with purity and earnestness of heart.

Rejoice, and with all thy soul's power be glad at thy Son's rising from the grasp of death. Mercifully obtain for us that we may rise from our sis, and have our hearts set free from the pressure of its many vices.

Rejoice in that thou hadst the happiness to see thy Son ascend into heaven, where He is seated on His Father's throne. Grant that at the end of the world we may without fear welcome His return.

Rejoice, O Virgin of virgins! who after thy life's course was run, wast raised up by thy sweet Jesus above the stars. Grant that we miserable creatures may be raised from our sins, and after this miserable life be led to our true country. Amen.

St. George

Have you noticed that in our liturgical year, we are shown the lives who have been involved in the entire life of Christ? From the Magi, to the Apostles, to all involved in His death, the year gives us these prime examples of heroism to try to emulate. After the Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are given many martyrs who gave their lives for this same Person and His teachings. Today is such a person, St. George. He is often seen slaying a dragon or saving a damsel in distress, and is considered the patron saint of Christian soldiers. It was often wondered if he was a person at all, or maybe just a myth, used to inspire those being lead to their death. But, he is listed in the annals of early Christian writing. He was being tortured, and while he was, the wife of the emperor saw his bravery and also converted, and following this was her death.

Saint George was born in Palestine of Christian parents, towards the close of the third century. In early youth he chose a soldier's life, and soon obtained the favor of Diocletian, who advanced him to the grade of tribune. But when the emperor began to persecute the Christians, George rebuked him at once for his cruelty, sternly and openly, and announced his resignation. Having foreseen that the words he would say might bring about his death, he had first distributed his wealth and clothing to the poor.

"Young man," Diocletian said to him, "think of your future!" "I am a Christian," George replied, "and nothing in this world is the object either of my ambition or my regret. Nothing can shake my faith." He was subjected to a long series of torments, and finally beheaded.

Saint Bruno wrote: "What shall I say of fortitude, without which neither wisdom nor justice is of any value? Fortitude is not of the body, but is a constancy of soul; with it we are conquerors in righteousness, patiently bearing all adversities, and in prosperity are not puffed up. Fortitude is never conquered, or if conquered, is not fortitude."


I would like to end with the words of St. Paul, when he wrote to the Ephesians:

'Take unto you the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice, and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. In all things taking the shield of Faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of the hope of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.'

I would like, if anyone is allowed, to see my funeral, and hear the people there say: "He kept the Faith."

Wear your sacramentals and pray the Rosary, as well as any other prayers you do. We need all the heavenly help we can get.

St. Anselm

SAINT ANSELM
Archbishop of Canterbury
(1034-1109)

Today is the day we honor yet another Bishop and Doctor of the Church. He was a martyr, also, at least in desire and in merit too. When we think about Anselm, we picture to ourselves a man in whom are combined the humility and meekness of the cloister (since he was a monk), and with the zeal and courage of the episcopal dignity; a man who was both a sage and a saint; a man whom it was impossible not to love and respect. We need more like him today, if you ask me. I like his writings. He puts things so simply, yet with a force to be reckoned with, just as our Lord did. As Bishop, his whole life was spent in fighting for the liberty of the Church. Though gentle as a lamb by nature, he was all energy for this great cause. He used to say: "Christ would not have His Spouse be a slave; there is nothing in this world that God loves more than the liberty of His Church." There was a time when the Son of God allowed Himself to be fettered with bonds in order that He might loosen us from the chains of our sins; but now that He has risen in triumph from the dead, He wills that His Spouse should be, like Himself, free.

As our beloved Abbot Gueranger states: 'St. Anselm would have abominated all such theories such as progress and modern society; he knows that there is nothing on earth equal to the Church; and when he sees the world convulsed by revolutions; he knows that all comes from the Church having been deprived of her rights. One of these is that she should not only be recognized, in the secret of our conscience, as the one only True Church, but that, as such, she should be publicly confessed and outwardly defended against every opposition or error. Jesus, her divine Founder, promised to give her all nations as her inheritance; He kept His promise, and she was once the queen and mother of them all. But nowadays, a new principle has been asserted, to the effect that the Church and all sects must be on an equal footing as far as the protection of the State goes. The principle has been received with acclamation, and hailed as a mighty progress achieved by modern enlightenment: even Catholics, whose previous services to religion had endeared them to our hearts and gained our confidence, have become warm defenders of the impious theory.'

Keep in mind that these books (The Liturgical Year) were written over a hundred years ago. Seems like nothing changes, doesn't it? We have leaders today who spit out this same nonsense to us; this tripe; and expect us to say: "Yum"! Don't eat this tripe, and don't drink the grape-flavored drink(cruel-aid).

Saint Anselm of Canterbury - More Quotes (exercising your mind):

'I acknowledge, Lord, and I give thanks that you have created your image in me, so that I may remember you, think of you, love you. But this image is so obliterated and worn away by wickedness, it is so obscured by the smoke of sins, that it cannot do what it was created to do, unless you renew and reform it. I am not attempting, O Lord, to penetrate your loftiness, for I cannot begin to match my understanding with it, but I desire in some measure to understand your truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this too I believe, that "unless I believe, I shall not understand." (Isaiah 7:9)'

"I have written the little work that follows . . . in the role of one who strives to raise his mind to the contemplation of God and one who seeks to understand what he believes."

"My God, I pray that I may so know you and love you that I may rejoice in you. And if I may not do so fully in this life let me go steadily on to the day when I come to that fullness . . . Let me receive That which you promised through your truth, that my joy may be full."

"God often works more by the life of the illiterate seeking the things that are God's, rather than by the ability of the learned seeking the things that are their own."

"No created being has anything from itself. For how could a thing which does not exist from itself have anything from itself? Moreover, if there is not anything except the One Who has created and the things created by Him, it is clear that nothing at all can exist except the One Who has created and what He has created."
De Casu Diaboli I. 1085-90.


"[The Devil] freely lost the will which he had. And just as he received the possession of it for as long as he had it, so he was able to receive the permanent keeping of what he deserted. But because he deserted, he did not receive. Therefore, that which he did not receive to keep because he deserted it, he did not receive not because God did not give it, but, rather, God did not give it because he did not receive it."
De Casu Diaboli III. 1085-90.

"Then, since [Satan] cannot be called just or unjust merely because he wills happiness or merely because he wills what is fitting (for he would will these of necessity), and since he neither can nor ought to be happy unless he wills to be happy and wills justly, it is necessary for God to make both wills so agree in him that he wills to be happy and wills justly.."
De Casu Diaboli XIV. 1085-90.

"Since we believe that God is truth, and since we say that truth is in many other things, I would like to know whether in whatever things it is said to be we ought to affirm that truth is God. For in your Monologion, by appealing to the truth of a statement, you too demonstrate that the Supreme Truth has no beginning and no end:"
DeVeritate I. 1080-86.

"By whose evil will it is committed (concipitur), it ought not to be. In this way, then, the Lord Jesus ought not to have undergone death because He alone [among men] was innocent; and no one ought to have inflicted death upon Him; nevertheless, He ought to have undergone death because He wisely and graciously and usefully willed to undergo it."
DeVeritate VIII. 1080-86.


"Let us see, then, how extensive the truth of signification is. For there is a true or a false signification not only in those things which we ordinarily call signs but also in all the other things which we have discussed. For since someone should do only what he ought to do, then by the very fact that someone does something, he says and signifies that he ought to do it. Now, if [morally speaking] he ought to do what he does, he speaks the truth. But if [morally speaking] he ought not [to do what he does], he speaks a lie."
DeVeritate IX. 1080-86.

"0 Lord: my heart is made bitter by its own desolation; sweeten it by Your consolation. I beseech You, 0 Lord, that having begun in hunger to seek You, I may not finish without partaking of You. I set out famished; let me not return still unfed."
Prologion, I. 1077/78.

"To what was I aspiring?, for what do I sigh? I sought after good things and, behold, [here is] turmoil. I was striving unto God but collided with myself."
Prologion, I. 1077/78.

"So even the Fool is convinced that something than which nothing greater can be thought is at least in his understanding; for when he hears of this [being], he understands [what he hears], and whatever is understood is in the understanding. But surely that than which a greater cannot be thought cannot be only in the understanding. For if it were only in the understanding, it could be thought to exist also in reality."
Prologion, II. 1077/78.

"Hence, something than which a greater cannot be thought exists so truly that it cannot even be thought not to exist. And You are this , 0 Lord our God. Therefore, 0 Lord my God, You exist so truly that You cannot even be thought not to exist. And this is rightly the case. For if any mind could think of something better than You, the creature would rise above the Creator and would sit in judgment over the Creator; something which is utterly absurd. Indeed, except for You alone, whatever else exists can be thought not to exist. Therefore, You alone exist most truly of all and thus most greatly of all; for whatever else exists does not exist as truly [as do You] and thus exists less greatly [than do You]. Since, then, it is so readily clear to a rational mind that You exist most greatly of all, why did the Fool say in his heart that God does not exist? Why , except because [he is] foolish and a fool!"
Prologion, III. 1077/78

"Yet, it is also just that You punish those who are evil. For what is more just than for those who are good to receive good things and for those who are evil to receive bad things? But, then, how is it just for You to punish those who are evil and likewise just for You to spare them? Do You justly punish them in one respect and justly spare them in another? For when You punish those who are evil, it is just because suits their merits. But when You spare them, it is just, not because [sparing them] suits their merits but because it befits Your goodness. For in sparing them, You are just in Yourself but are not just from our viewpoint, even as You are merciful from our viewpoint but are not merciful in Yourself. For in saving us whom You could justly damn, You are just not because You requite us as we deserve but because You do what befits You as supremely good, even as You are merciful not because You experience any emotion but because we experience the effect [of Your mercy]. So, then, without inconsistency, You both punish justly and spare justly."
Prologion, X. 1077/78.

"How vast that Truth is in which resides everything that is true and outside of which there is only nothing and what is false! How immense that Truth which beholds in one spectrum all created things and beholds by whom, through whom, and in what manner [all things] were created from nothing! What purity, what simplicity, what assurance and splendor are present there! Surely, [these] surpass what can be understood by any creature."
Prologion, XIV. 1077/78.

"Amidst Your blessedness and light, 0 Lord, You are still hidden from my soul. Therefore, my soul still dwells in darkness and in its own unhappiness. For it looks in all directions but does not see Your beauty. It listens but does not hear Your harmony. It fills its nostrils but does not smell Your fragrance. It tastes but does not savor Your succulence. It feels but does not detect Your softness. For in Your ineffable manner, 0 Lord God, You have these [features] within You; and You have bestowed them, in their own perceptible manner, upon the things created by You. But the senses of my soul have been stiffened and deadened and impaired by the old-time infirmity of sin."
Prologion, XVII. 1077/78.


"Therefore, since it is certain that if compared with one another all good things are either equally or unequally good, it is necessary that all things are good through something which is understood to be identical in different goods; although at times, ostensibly, some things are said to be good through something else."
Monologion, Chapter one. 1075/76.

"Just as something has been found to be supremely good inasmuch as all good things are good through some one thing which is good through itself, so it follows necessarily that something is supremely great inasmuch as whatever things are great are great through some one thing which is great through itself. I do not mean great in size, as is a material object; but that the greater the better or more excellent it is; as in the case of wisdom. Now, since only what is supremely good can be supremely great, it is necessary that something be the greatest and the best, i.e., the highest, of all existing things"
Monologion, Chapter two. 1075/76.


"But to question whether or not [the rational soul] will enjoy Supreme Beatitude endlessly would be very foolish. For while enjoying this Beatitude, [the soul] cannot be tormented by fear or deceived by a false security. Nor having experienced the need of this Beatitude can [the soul] keep from loving it. Nor will Supreme Beatitude forsake [a soul] which loves it. Nor will there be anything more powerful which will separate it and the soul against their wills. Therefore, any soul which once begins to enjoy Supreme Beatitude will be eternally happy."
Monologion, Chapter seventy. 1075/76.

"[And, most clearly, this Spirit is the one] from whom alone good fortune is to be hoped for, to whom alone flight from adversity is to be taken, and of whom alone supplication is to be made for anything whatsoever. Truly, then, this Spirit not only is God but is the only God; ineffably Three and One."
Monologion, Chapter eighty. 1075/76.


Our beloved Abbot Gueranger ends with this:

'Obtain for us, O holy Doctor, that 'our Faith,' like thine, 'may seek understanding.' Nowadays, there are many who blaspheme what they know not (Jude 10); but there are many also who know little or nothing of what they believe. Hence arise a deplorable confusion of ideas, compromises are made between Truth and error, and the only True doctrines are despised, scouted, or at least undefended. Pray to our heavenly Father, O Anselm, that He would bless the world with holy and learned men, who may teach the path of Truth, and dispel the mists of error; that thus the children of the Church may not be led astray.'

Like I said at the beginning, these books were written over a hundred years ago, but seem to be written today, which is experiencing so much turmoil.

And, please pray for my life-long friend Rick, who has his birthday today. Pray for his conversion. He won't know what hit him!

Second Sunday after Easter-Good Shepherd

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, the 2nd Sunday after Easter. Jesus is our good Shepherd. He says: "I know my sheep and my sheep know me." However, He is invisible to us unless we have been given a special grace. But, He left us the road we need to follow to reach our goal, and that is to be with Him and His Mother and all the saints in heaven. That road is the One, Holy, CATHOLIC, and Apostolic Church. He has left Peter, the first Pope, in charge of it, along with his successors until the end of time. Jesus told Peter: "Feed my lambs, fed my lambs, and feed my sheep."

The lambs are us. The sheep are the older and wiser ones, the leaders of His Church. They are suppose to teach the Truth which comes through Jesus to Peter, all of the Popes, the Cardinals, the Bishops, and then to the rest of us. If they fail and do NOT teach us what the Apostles taught, they are wrong, PERIOD! These last 50+ years we have seen a departure from the original intent of Jesus. Our 'sheep' seem to be making a new church which strongly resembles the protestant churches; thus, not teaching what they ought. We are told: "All churches have a little of the truth, and when we put them altogether, we have the total truth." As I have said before, this is a huge 'PANTLOAD!'

Jesus did NOT found 100,000+ churches, He founded ONE Church. We need to really and sincerely study what the Apostles taught to get to our goal. However, we have the Church to tell us the Truth lest we stray from it. We need to read the 'Syllabus of Errors' which was written by Pope Pius IX, about 150 years ago. He anathamatizes a lot of what has been going on in the Church the past 50+ years. Well worth the read. Get busy!

You know, St. Paul withstood Peter to his face on an error he was promoting (about having to be circumcised to be saved); Peter saw his error and corrected it. Sometimes we need to confront our leaders when they are wrong to help them. Because, as in my bio, if we don't say something, we are guilty of promoting the same errors. We don't want that.

Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, have mercy on us.

Saturday of our Lady

I'm going to, as I often do, let our beloved Abbot Gueranger, bring us into this day:

'This being Saturday, let us once more think of Mary, and of the joy she feels at the Resurrection of her Son. She had been His companion in His sufferings; there was not one that she had not endured, and suffered as far as a mere creature could suffer: so, too, there is not a single glory or gladness of the Resurrection in which she is not now made to participate. It was meet that she, to whom God had granted the grace and merit of sharing in the work of the Redemption, should take her part in the prerogatives which belong to her Jesus, now that He is risen. Her soul is raised to a higher state of perfection; grace loads her with new favours; her actions and sentiments become more than ever heavenly.

She was the first to receive a visit from Jesus after His Resurrection--the first, consequently, to receive from Him His own new life. Can we be astonished at her receiving it when we remember that every Christian, who, being purified by his having compassionated with Jesus in His Passion, unites Himself afterwards with holy Church, in the sublime mystery of the Pasch, becomes a sharer in the life of his risen Lord? This transformation, which in us is weak, and often, alas! of short duration, was perfect in Mary, for her high vocation and her incomparable fidelity deserved that it should be so; of her, then, far more truly than of us, it may be said that she was indeed risen in her Jesus.

The thought of these forty days, during which Mary still possesses her divine Son on this earth, reminds us of those other forty of Bethlehem, when we paid our affectionate homage to the young Virgin-Mother who fed her divine Babe at her breast; we heard the angels singing their Gloria, we saw the shepherds and the Magi; all was exquisite sweetness. What mainly impressed us then was the humility of our Emmanuel; we recognized Him as the Lamb that had come to take away the sins of the world; there was nothing that betokened the Mighty God. What changes have happened since that dear time?! What sorrows have pierced Mary's heart before her reaching this blissful season of Pascal joy! The sword foretold by Simeon is now, indeed, sheathed, yea, broken forever, but oh! how sharp and cruel have been its thrusts! Well may Mary now say with the Psalmist: According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy comforts, O Lord, have given joy to my soul! (Ps. 96,19) The Lamb, the gentle little Lamb, has become the Lion of the tribe of Juda; and Mary, the Mother of the Babe of Bethlehem, is equally the Mother of the glorious Conqueror!'


I want to end with a Sequence which was used in the Churches of Germany, celebrating the Seven Joys of our Blessed Mother, of which the Resurrection was one of the grandest.

O Virgin! Temple of the Trinity! the God of all goodness and mercy, being pleased with the loveliness of thy purity, is announced as having to be born of thee. The message is brought thee by the angel who hails thee 'full of grace'. Thou askest how? and thou art told. Thou consentest: and the King of glory instantly becomes incarnate in thy womb.

We beseech thee by this Joy, that we may deserve to receive mercy from this King, be protected by Him, and, thus protected, be admitted into the land of the living.

The second Joy is that thou, the Star, givest birth to the Sun, as the Moon emits its ray. This birth injures thee not; thou remainest a Virgin as before. As a flower loses not its beauty by sending forth its fragrance; so neither losest thou the bloom of thy Virginity by giving birth to thy Creator.

O Mary, kind Mother! be to us the way that leads to thy Son; and, by thy second Joy, graciously intercede for us, that we be converted from our sins.

A star tells thee of thy third Joy. Thou seest a star resting over thy Child, the Magi adoring Him, and offering their varied gifts. The star expresses Unity; three Kings, Trinity; the gold signifies purity of soul; the myrrh, chastity of body; the incense, adoration.

O Mary, Star of the Sea! pray for us, that we may be cleanses from our sins, enriched with virtue, and united with thee in the happiness and bliss of the heavenly Country.

The fourth Joy, O holy Virgin! was given thee, when Jesus rose from the tomb, on the third day. By this Mystery, faith is strengthened, hope restored, and death put to flight; and thou, O full of grace, hadst thy share in effecting these wonders. The enemy is conquered: he is imprisoned, and loses his power. Man, who had been made captive, is set free, and raised from earth to heaven above.

Do thou, therefore, O Mother of our Creator! pray hourly for us, that, by this Joy, we may be associated with the choirs of the heavenly citizens, after this life's labours are over.

Thou didst receive thy fifth Joy, O Mary! when thou wast present at thy Son's Ascension into heaven. Then didst thou clearly know that He whose Mother thou wast was thy Creator. His Ascension shows us the path whereby we are to ascend to heaven. Let us then, who dwell in this miserable world, arise, and follow this path.

We beseech thee, by this Joy, to pray that we may never be made subject to Satan's power; but that we ascend to heaven, where, with thee and thy Son, we may rejoice for all eternity.

The sixth Joy was when the Holy Ghost descended, in the form of fiery tongues, from heaven, strengthening, defending, fill, cleansing, and inflaming the Apostles. The fire was given in tongues, that man, who owed his perdition to a tongue, might be saved by such fire; and that he who, at the beginning, had been defiled by sin, might by fire be purified.

We pray thee, O Virgin! by this holy Joy, intercede for us to thy Son, that He pardon us our sins, now in this our exile, lest there be found guilt upon us at the great judgement.

Jesus invited thee to the seventh Joy, when He called out of this world to heaven, placed thee on thy throne, and honoured thee with special favours. Thus is honour given to thee, such as none of the blessed in heaven enjoy; not can any mortal attain to the perfection of virtue, unless by thine intercession he receive the safeguard of virtue.


O Virgin Mother of Mercy! give us to feel the proofs of thy loving intercession, which will preserve us from sin, and lead us to eternal joys, in the company of the Blessed.

O Virgin most pure! we beseech thee, by these thy Seven Joys, pray that we may be purified from our sins; and, being made fruitful in good works, lead us, O fruitful Mother, to the blissful joys of heaven. Amen.

Spiritual Communion?

After 33 years of becoming Roman Catholic, I am still learning things. Yeah, I know, go figure! Anyway, I came to an epiphany today with help from a book I am now reading. It is called: "Spiritual Combat, by Lorenzo Scupoli, a priest who lived 1530-1610. The first edition came out in 1589 in Venice. It was translated into English in 1899, and is available from SOPHIA INSTITUTE in New Hampshire. St. Francis de Sales called this book 'golden', and his favorite, and carried a copy with him at all times. Well worth the reading if you should decide to obtain a copy.

Anyway, I am reading a chapter where he speaks of receiving 'Spiritual Communion'. I have used this on Sundays when I am unable to go to Mass for whatever reason. However, Mr. Scupoli suggests that we ask for It every hour of the day. I never even thought of doing this, and I can't think of why I didn't. Can you imagine of going to the Eucharist unworthily? Well, I'm thinking; if we do a Spiritual Communion during the day, wouldn't it help us not to do the things we do during the course of the day? Whatever we think, whatever we say, and whatever we do would be impacted if we thought of receiving Him spiritually. Would we be worthy to receive Him at any moment of the day?

Mr. Scupoli remarks: '...we may receive our Lord spiritually at every hour and at every moment. And nothing but negligence or some other fault on our part can deprive us of this privilege. Spiritual Communion may even be more advantageous to us and acceptable to God than many sacramental Communions, when the latter are received with imperfect dispositions. As often, then, as you shall dispose yourself and prepare for spiritual Communion, you will find the Son of God ready to give Himself with His own hands to you for your spiritual food.

By the way of preparation, turn your thoughts to Him for this end. And, after a short examination of your failings, mourn with Him over your offenses, and, with all humility and Faith, beseech Him that He would voushsafe to enter into your poor soul with some fresh gift of grace, to heal it and fortify it against the enemy.

When about to do violence to yourself and to mortify some appetite, or to do some act of virtue, do all with the motive of preparing your heart for your Lord, who is continually demanding this of you. Then turn to Him and invite Him with earnestness to come with His grace to heal you and deliver you from your enemies, to the end that He alone may possess your heart. Or else, calling to mind your last sacramental Confession, say with enkindled heart, "When, my Lord, shall I again receive Thee?"

But if you desire to prepare yourself, and spiritually communicate in a more orderly manner, on the evening before, address all mortifications, acts of virtue, and every other good work to this end, that you may spiritually receive your Lord. And in the morning, consider what great happiness and benefit the soul gains by worthily receiving the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar (for in it lost virtue is regained, the soul is brought back to its first beauty and receives the fruits and merits of the Passion of the Son of God). And consider how pleasing it is to God that you receive it and possess these blessings, so that you may inflame your heart with a great desire to receive it to give Him pleasure.

When this desire is enkindled within you, turning to Him, say, "Inasmuch as it is not granted to me, Lord, today to receive Thee sacramentally, grant, O uncreated Goodness and Power, that I---every fault having been pardoned and healed---may now worthily receive Thee spiritually, every hour and every day, and provide me with fresh grace and strength against all my enemies, particularly against that one upon which, for Thy pleasure, I am making war."'


The above is just a part of this chapter, but it made me stop and think, about for the numerous times I could have been doing this and didn't. Let us together start receiving Him spiritually, and thanking Him for everything He has given, and beg Him to help us not to offend Him anymore. After all, He died for each one of us individually.

Mr. Scupoli ends with this: 'then, in a strain of thankfulness for the gifts and favors that the Lord has bestowed on you during that day, acknowledge Him as the Doer of all good, and return thanks to Him for having rescued you from so many open enemies and from so many more hidden ones, for having given you good thoughts and occasions of virtue, and for all other benefits that you may not have known, even though you received them.'

"CatholicTradition.org" has this online in its entirety, if you don't wish to purchase a copy.

St. Justin Martyr

I know that this Saint's day was yesterday, but I was distracted; thinking about mowing grass, as well as going to a bowling banquet, where my team was the Champion of the league. However, better late than never, I offer this little writing concerning Saint Justin Martyr. This is what can happen when we are really trying to learn the Truth of God. He is always willing to impart His infinite Wisdom to those who are sincere in their endeavors. Once Justin has learned the Truth, he feels the need to impart this Wisdom to everyone, even to the leaders of the world. This is called an Apology; to learn the Truth and pass it on. (Note: an 'apology does NOT mean we are apologizing for anything, but rather explaining) This thought process, in turn, cost Justin his head. But, by doing this, he gained his eternal reward. God rewards the willing ones.


One thing he said upon being arrested and questioned about his beliefs, said: "The right doctrine which we Christian men do keep with godliness is this: that we believe that there is one God, the Maker and Creator of all things, both those which are seen and those which bodily eyes do not see; and that we confess the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who was of old foretold by the Prophets, and Who is to come to judge all mankind."

St. Justin was born of heathen parents at Neapolis in Samaria, about the year 103. He was well educated, and gave himself to the study of philosophy, but always with one object, that he might learn the knowledge of God. He sought this knowledge among the contending schools of philosophy, but always in vain, till at last God himself appeased the thirst which He had created. One day, while Justin was walking by the seashore, meditating on the thought of God, an old man met him and questioned him on the subject of his doubts; and when he had made Justin confess that the philosophers taught nothing certain about God, he told him of the writings of the inspired prophets and of Jesus Christ Whom they announced, and bade him seek light and understanding through prayer. The Scriptures and the constancy of the Christian martyrs led Justin from the darkness of human reason to the light of Faith. In his zeal for the Faith he travelled to Greece, Egypt, and Italy, gaining many to Christ. At Rome he sealed his testimony with his blood, surrounded by his disciples. "Do you think," the prefect said to Justin, "that by dying you will enter heaven, and be rewarded by God?" "I do not think," was the Saint's answer; "I know." Then, as now, there were many religious opinions, but only one thing certain: the certainty of the Catholic faith. This certainty should be the measure of our confidence and our zeal.

We have received the gift of Faith with little labor of our own. Let us learn how to value it from those who reached it after long search, and lived in the misery of a world which did not know God. Let us fear, as St. Justin did, the account we shall have to render for the gift of God.


Our beloved Abbot Gueranger has a prayer to this Saint in today's writing, and I'm going to put pieces of it here:

'Thou wast born in the kingdom of darkness, but thou didst early seek to break the chains of falsehood which bound thee like so many others. Thou didst love Wisdom even before thou didst know her, and she too had chosen thee. (Ecclus. iv, 18) But, she will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a body subject to sins. (Wis. i,4) Many men seek to hide their self-love under the beautiful name of Philosophy, and to find in her an excuse for all their vices; but thou didst seek for knowledge out of a desire to know and love the Truth and her laws. This purity of heart and mind brought thee near to God and made thee worthy to meet in the ways of life the living Wisdom whom thou art now enjoying in the full light of eternity...'

Apparently, after the Vatican Council I, the same problems with vain people emerged; those who thought they knew what was best for themselves. Our Abbot continues: 'It is hardly becoming for such men to reproach the Church with despising reason. On the contrary, the Church has but lately, in the Council, emphasized and exalted the mutual help rendered by Faith and reason in leading men to God, and she casts out of her fold those who deny to human reason the power to affirm with certainty the existence of God our Lord and Creator. When seeking to define in these days the respective value of Faith and reason, without either separating or confusing them, the Church had but to listen to the testimony of Christian philosophers in all centuries, beginning with thee (Justin), for their works, which complete one another, are full of this doctrine...Christian champions may not rest satisfied with a toleration extended equally to Christ and satan. They must cry with thee, even when fresh violence is threatened: "Our cause is just, for we, and we alone, speak the Truth."'


St. Justin is considered the most important of the second century apologists, and is an outstanding model for lay apostles of today. His life was devoted to the task of harmonizing the wisdom of the world with those greater riches revealed in the true Faith.

He is the Patron Saint of: apologists, lecturers, orators, philosophers, and speakers.

Quote:

"We call this food Eucharist, and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration [has received baptism] and is thereby living as Christ enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both Flesh and Blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nurtured, is both the Flesh and the Blood of that incarnated Jesus.”

~ St. Justin Martyr, First Apologia (# 66)

St. Justin Martyr, please pray for us in our endeavors to propose the eternal Truth to those who seemingly are not listening.

Amorality rules!

The beeeotch is back; as if she ever left. She is throwing her multiple hats into the ring for presidency of the US. It wouldn't surprise me if she made it, since we have already had the greatest congame and abuse of the Constitution since its inception. We have someone in there right now who was NOT even eligible, running and ruining the world, and no one seems to bat an eyelash! This time, the seemingly only 'libtard' in the race has announced her pant-suited waddle for that same seat! I say the 'only' because, have we heard of anyone else running? The media has already made up their collective mind!

However, I must say this: Whoever votes for or supports anyone who is for abortion in any way has incurred a MORTAL SIN for their soul in the eyes of God, therefore making them ineligible to receive heaven. So-called Catholics are in danger of losing their souls with their misguided endeavors. All will be in mortal sin, but Catholics more so, since they should know better. And, it they don't, shame on them! And, shame on the teachers who taught them their error. If these 'catholics' go to Holy Communion, they have incurred yet another mortal sin on their soul. Think about how many politicians who call themselves 'catholic' are running a huge risk. They think they are of the non-stick variety.

The other party doesn't seem to have anyone worthy either. They are all two-faced! The 'Tea Party' at least have morals; but even they have been infiltrated with some 'liberal' ideas by some.

It looks like we will get a 'golden swirly' once again. But, we are getting what we deserve, and it is because people have given in to immorality and rejected the only ONE Who can help us. If it wasn't for His Mother holding back His arm, we would just be crumbs at the bottom of the toaster!

Please say NO to this poor wreck of a person.

LOW SUNDAY--Quasimodo Sunday

This Sunday is called 'Low Sunday.' It is apparent that this name signifies the octave of the Easter celebrations, and because it is on a lower scale than the Highness of last Sunday. We hear about 'Doubting' Thomas. He didn't believe the Apostles when they said they had seen our Lord Jesus, he just didn't believe them. Jesus wouldn't do a miracle for Herod, and He won't do one now just to make us believe. The following Sunday, Thomas did see and then believed. Jesus told him: "Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed. blessed are they who have not seen and have believed."

According to our beloved Abbot, Gueranger:
'Such is the great Truth, spoken by the lips of the God-Man: it is a most important counsel, given, not only to Thomas, but to all who would serve God and secure their salvation. What is it that Jesus asks of His disciple (Thomas)? Has He not heard him make profession that now, at last, he firmly believes? After all, was there any great fault in Thomas' insisting on having experimental evidence before believing in so extraordinary a miracle as the Resurrection? Was he obliged to trust to the testimony of Peter and the others, under penalty of offending his divine Master? Did he not evince his prudence, by withholding his assent until he had additional proofs of the truth of what his brethren told him? Yes, Thomas was a circumspect and prudent man, and one that was slow to believe what he had heard; he was worthy to be taken as a model by those Christians who reason and sit in judgement upon matters of faith. Jesus is merciful, and has condescended to the weakness of His disciple as to accept the condition on which alone he declares that he will believe: now the disciple stands trembling before his risen Lord...This stubbornness, this incredulity, deserves a punishment: the punishment is, to have these words said to him: "Thomas! thou hast believed, because thou hast seen!"

Then was Thomas obliged to believe before having seen? Yes, undoubtedly. Not only Thomas, but all the Apostles were in duty bound to believe the Resurrection of Jesus even before He showed Himself to them...'

(I myself have often wondered about what Thomas received as a punishment, as it were. He wasn't present on Easter Sunday evening, when the others had Jesus breathe on them and give them the power to forgive or bind sins by the Holy Spirit. Did he, as a kind of punishment, have to wait until Pentecost to receive these gifts? Just wonderin')

Our belief has not been perfect at all times. After hearing about an Apostle, Thomas, let us strive to do better. As our beloved Abbot states: 'Let us go to our Jesus, and say to Him: 'Thou art my Lord and my God! But alas! I have many times thought and acted as though thou were my Lord and my God in some things, and not in others. Henceforth I will believe without seeing; for I would be of the number of those whom thou callest blessed!'

NOTE TO SELF:
We believe first, and then we see things more clearly. It's like our Blessed Mother in her Magnificat, when she states: "My soul magnifies the Lord". If we look closer at her, maybe we can see clearer things concerning her son, Christ.

My Lord and my God, help my unbelief.



Also, on this, which is called a Greater Double rite; it is such a solemn day, that NO feast, however great, is supposed to be kept on it. 'Mercy Sunday'? Could it be that JP2 bypassed the Church Canons and history when he started this, just as he did when he started the 'Luminous' mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of our Blessed Mother Mary. I think she knew what she was doing and how she wanted it said; far better than the Holy Father; when she asked for this devotion to begin in the 13th century. JPII knows better now, wherever he ended up, doesn't he?

We used to participate in this Novena. However, upon reading that NO feast can be held in place of 'Low Sunday' no matter how great we are told it is, I began to wonder if this novena was all that good. NOTE!: all of these intentions which are prayed for during this novena are prayed for on Good Friday. Well, they USED to be. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the prayers for the conversion of the Jews are conveniently missing in the novena. The prayers during this novena are, basically, good. We desperately need to pray for all to convert; and come to the entire Truth, throughout the world.

I guess we are to accept them as they are, instead of fulfilling our Lord's command to convert them and everyone else on the planet. Maybe we should all get together and sing 'Everything's Beautiful'. Maybe this would satisfy our Lord?! The perpetrators will find out some day when they go before the Divine Judge as to whether they have served Him well or not. Final thoughts: GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!

Easter Saturday

The seventh day of the gladdest of weeks has risen upon us, bringing with it the memory of the Creator's rest, after the six days of creation. It also reminds us of that other rest, which this same God took in the tomb; like a warrior, who, when sure of the victory, calmly reposes before the final combat with the enemy. Our Jesus slept His rest in the sepulchre, after permitting death to vanquish Him: but when He awoke by His Resurrection, what a victory over the tyrant! Let us, today, visit this Holy Sepulchre and venerate it: it will speak to us of Him we love, and make or love the warmer. Here, we shall say to ourselves, here rested our dear Master, after He had died for us! Here was the scene of the glorious victory, when He arose again, and this, to, for us!

We think about this sepulchre today and every day, and the prayers for today sum it up for us.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre--Jerusalem


The CAPITULA:

O Christ, the Son of God, thou rest of our souls, Who didst observe the repose of the Sabbath by resting in the tomb, that thou, Who on this day didst heretofore rest from all the work of thy creation, mightest also on the same rest in the sepulchre; hereby truly keeping holy that day, whose evening is the beginning of our first day of the Sabbath, which is likewise the eighth day; that thou, Who commanded light to shine forth out of darkness, mightest, by thy Resurrection, appear in the flesh: so direct the course of our lives in the path of all holiness, that in these seven days of the world's duration, on each of which the Lamb is slain and the Pasch is celebrated for us, we may live in such wise as to secure our salvation, and may daily be found worthy to celebrate the true Pasch, pure from the leaven of malice: that thus, by a holiness pleasing to thee, we may so rest on this day from all our works, that we may deserve to receive the glory of the Resurrection, on the eighth, that is, the eternal day.


I also found in the propers of this day another hymn concerning the Holy Sepulchre, comparing it to the Virginal womb of our Blessed Mother:

Be glad, my soul, and sing the wonders of the glorious sepulchre, whence came thy Christ, as, heretofore, from the womb of His Virgin Mother. Thus was it foretold by the truthful prophets.

He was conceived in the pure womb of a Virgin Mother; so, too, He was buried in a tomb, wherein no other man had been placed; from both He comes the glorious Jesus, as Infant first, and then as man.

The Mother, after long ages of hope, brings Him forth created in mortal Flesh; the tomb, though none had hoped it, restores Him clad in immortality: Mary wrapped Him in swathing-bands; the sepulchre held Him in the winding-wheet.

He is born, for the world's salvation, from the womb of His Mother; He rises from the tomb, after our salvation has been wrought: the Mother nursed Him for the Cross; the tomb, for glory.

O thrice holy sanctuary! beautified with the Blood of the Lamb of God! let earth, and sea, and heaven, venerate thee. How strange to call that a sepulchre, whence life was born!

Glory and honour be, for ever, to the most high God! To the Father, Son, and Holy Paraclete, one praise and power, for everlasting ages. Amen.



And, lastly, let us turn to the Blessed Mother, for this is her day. Let us congratulate her upon the Resurrection of her divine Son, in the words of this devout sequence, taken from the ancient missals of the churches of Germany:

Give praise, O Mother, to thy risen Jesus, Who reigns triumphant over the prince of death. Cease thy mourning:for Jesus, the fruit of thy womb, is restored to life, and visits thee.

His death was thy cross; His Passion, the sword that cruelly pierced thy Heart: but now, sing a hymn of joy, and be glad, because of His Resurrection.

He was crucified; but now He is risen from the tomb, and has taken thee to His heavenly court: pray to Him for us, we beseech thee, that we may rise from our sins to everlasting joy. Amen.

Easter Friday

The following is totally from The Liturgical Year, by the Abbot Gueranger, which is from the 1920's, but published in 1949. This man has given us a treasury of devotions, as well as something for every day of the year. Even has the saints we honor on their days, according to the 'Old' calendar. This calendar has soooo much more than the 'new', and is a better way to learn about the Faith that comes to us from Jesus and the Apostles. All should try to get this 15 volume set, if at all possible. This Abbot has to be a saint, for he has given so much. Anyway, here goes:


'This is the sixth day of the creation. Upon it, the hand of the Son of God formed the body of man out of the slime of the earth, into which He breathed a living soul. This was the creature that was to be the King of the visible creation. A simple command of the divine Word had sufficed to call form the earth all the animals that live upon it; but when, towards the close of this great day, the Creator said: "Let us make man to Our image and likeness," He did more than merely command, He seems to have deliberated: He deigned to become the artificer of His work. Let us adore this His sovereign goodness towards our race, and ever gratefully honour the Friday of each week, as the day whereon the Son of God completed the work He began on the Sunday by the creation of Him Who was to be Master and Lord of the world. Nor is this the only mystery that should make Friday dear to us. It was on this same day that the divine Word, having taken upon Himself the flesh He Himself had made, died upon the Cross, that He might save His rebellious and lost creature man. O sacred day! Day that didst witness both our creation and our redemption! Thou speakest to us of the Son of God, and of His love for us, even more sweetly than of His power! Let us express all this by reciting the following devout prayer, which the Mozarabic Liturgy uses on the Friday of Easter Week:


CAPITULA (a collection of short, isolated statements of Doctrine organized by topic)

O God, Son of God, Who, in the sixth age of the world didst, by thy Blood, redeem man Whom thou hadst formed out of nothing, on the sixth day, and who, though created in goodness, fell into evil, but has now risen regenerated unto what is more perfect; grant that we may so truly prize the mystery of our redemption, that we may forever glory in thy death and Resurrection: and that thou, Who, in the time of our salvation, didst succour the world and conquer our death by thine own, mayst deliver us from the eternal damnation of the Judgement.



Today let us hearken to the Church of Armenia celebrating the Resurrection. (Let's also remember this area of the world during the strife which is occurring there these days) For thirteen centuries she has sung the following stanzas, which is from the Charagan, which is a hymn book. The sentiment is the same as we find expressed in other Liturgies; but there is, moreover, the style peculiar to the Armenian character. The reader will be pleased with the fragrance of antiquity which he will find in these verses, whose vigorous and solemn lyric beauty surpasses that of the liturgical compositions of the Greek Church.


Today, the immortal and heavenly Bridegroom rose again from the dead! To thee the glad tidings, O Church, His spouse on earth! Bless thy God, O Sion, with a joyous voice.

Today, the ineffable Light of light enlightened thy children. Be thou enlightened, O Jerusalem! for Christ, thy Light, has risen!

Today the darkness of ignorance is dispelled by the triple light: and the light of knowledge has risen upon thee, it is Christ rising again from the dead.

Today is our Pasch, by the sacrifice of Christ; let us keep the feast with gladness, being renewed from the oldness of sin: and let us say: Christ hath risen again from the dead!

Today a bright angel came down from heaven, struck the guards with fear, and said to the holy women: "Christ hath risen again from the dead!

Today the great tidings were given to our first parent, Adam: Arise, thou that sleepest! Christ, the God of our fathers, hath enlightened thee."

Today the tidings told by her daughters, who brought their perfumes to the tomb, sounded in the ears of Eve: "We have seen Him risen, Who is thy resurrection, Christ, the God of our fathers."

Today the angels came down from heaven, saying to men: "The Crucified hath risen, and hath raised you up with Himself."

Today, O Christ, by thy holy Resurrection, thou didst change the mournful Pasch of Israel into the Pasch that saves souls.

Today thou, O Lamb of God, didst give us thine own saving Blood for the blood of irrational lambs that were slain.

Today, in place of the ransom of the first-born, thou, the first-fruits of life among them that sleep, the first-born among the dead--didst redeem the captives.

Today the angels of heaven rejoice together with men; and coming down from heaven, they say to the world: "Be glad! today Christ hath risen again from the dead!"

Today the angel that sat upon the rock and kept guard spoke with a loud voice to the holy women that had come with their spices, and bade them be messengers to the disciples: "Be glad! today Christ hath risen again from the dead!

Today, he that is the Rock of Faith, and John, the beloved, ran to Jesus' sepulchre, and said, when they saw it: "Christ hath risen again form the dead!"

Today let us also be bright in the joy of this feast. God is reconciled with us; let us embrace each other with love, and say with one voice: "Christ hath risen again from the dead!"'