Monday, October 31, 2005
Why call yourself "Moneybags"?

I have been asked a lot why I call myself "Moneybags" for a screenname. First off, I don't do this for greed as some would think. The idea for my screenname was a result of Monopoly. I love the boardgame, so I planned on calling myself "Pennybags". However, since I like to be original, I changed it to "Moneybags".

Also, when I was very young I enjoyed playing the video game Spyro. And one of the characters on the game was named Moneybags. That was what caused me to take my original idea of Pennybags and turn it into Moneybags.

I hope I cleared up any questions, and I hope you enjoy the blog!

Note: This was my original username on the blog.
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Pro-life Alito nominated to Supreme Court

Well, it's official that in the US, Samuel A. Alito Jr., has been nominated to the US Supreme Court and is enthusiastically supported by pro-life groups. To read the press release by the National Pro-life Action Center, visit this Washington Post article.

Let's remember to thank God for giving us a pro-life nominee that will not only stand up for the unborn but all peoples that are unfortunate.

Also, as Catholic Fire pointed out, if Alito is confirmed then five Catholics would be on the bench and represent a majority (Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy, & Alito). And, if each one of them stood up for the Catholic beliefs on abortion, stem cells, euthanasia, etc our society would be so much closer to living by God's standards as He commanded us not to sin.

Alito is known for his decision in our particular case as noted by Wikipedia:

"He is known for his conservative judicial views. In one of his most cited decisions, he was the sole dissenter in Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1991. In that case, he voted to uphold a Pennsylvania law that required women to tell their husbands before having an abortion, noting that the law allowed certain exceptions such as an abusive spouse. The Supreme Court struck down the law in 1992." (SOURCE)

Again, the issue here isn't at all like some think - taking away womens' rights. The issue lies in protecting the rights of the unborn child that it may have the ability for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Let's pray Alito is nominated and stands up for the rights of all citizens so that no one is left behind to die but all are treated equally.

Image Source: In the Public Domain (same Wikipedia article)
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Sunday, October 30, 2005
November: A Month to Pray for the Souls in Purgatory


I wanted to post today on November, which is the traditional month to especially pray for the souls in purgatory. I have outlined here a few past posts of mine that I'd like to share that could answer questions on purgatory. The recent Synod of Bishops in Rome spoke on many recommendations and one of which is to make homilies more apologetic (defending the Catholic faith). So, I would like to pass on these links to defend the faith and teach it and I hope others at their blogs will mention this month. These poor souls need our prayers since they can't pray for themselves in purgatory; let us pass on the word to pray, pray, and pray for them.
"The holy souls are eager for the prayers of the faithful which can gain indulgences for them. Their intercession is powerful. Pray unceasingly. We must empty Purgatory!" -- St. Padre Pio.
From Catholic Education:
One pain that is likely in store for most of us is the frustration that will come from the awareness that the living have the ability to grant tremendous relief by offering fasts, alms, prayers, i.e., The Rosary, The Act of Reparation, The Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, The Stations of the Cross, and The Sacrifice of the Mass, etc., in suffrage for us, but are not doing so because they don’t realize they have this power to help us, nor that there is a spiritual treasury of the Church available for them to relieve us, nor that we even need their help, because we did not pass on to them these enduring truths of the faith.
Indulgence:
To gain a Plenary Indulgence form noon Nov. 1 until midnight Nov. 2, visit the church, pray for the Holy Souls and also for the intentions of the Holy Father. On All Soul's Day and for a week afterward, a Plenary Indulgence for the Holy Souls is granted for a visit to the cemetery with devotion and prayer for the dead. All through November, you can gain partial indulgence every day you visit the cemetery and pray for the dead.

Source
Ideas for this November:
Other Recommended Posts:
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Begin Prayer for Souls in Purgatory

Today I am beginning a special 7-day long prayer for the poor souls in purgatory especially with All Saints Day and All Souls Day approaching. St. Padre Pio repeatedly called for prayers and prayed for the souls in purgatory as did many of our holy Pontiffs and saints of centuries past. Purgatory is a Catholic Dogma and a required belief of the faith.

Our Lord once appeared to St. Gertrude and gave her a prayer for the souls in purgatory, and He promised that every time it was said that 1,000 souls would escape from purgatory.

Prayers for Each Day

Preparatory Prayer

My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. (FROM THE RACCOLTA)

(Here say the prayer for the day)

0ur Father

Our Father in Heaven, Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women; and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Eternal Rest

Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Concluding Prayer

Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, Whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Sunday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring him into Your glory, where he may praise and bless You forever. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.

Monday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who is nearest to his entrance into Your glory, that he may soon begin to praise You and bless You forever. Amen.

Tuesday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, particularly that soul who is in greatest need of our prayers, in order that he may no longer be delayed in praising You in Your glory and blessing You forever. Amen.

Wednesday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed on the streets of Jerusalem, while He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially the one who is richest in merits in Your sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which he is destined, he may praise You triumphantly and bless You forever. Amen.

Thursday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Body and Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus, which He Himself, on the night before His Passion, gave as meat and drink to His Beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His Holy Church to be the Perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, most of all, that soul who was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that he may praise You therefore, together with Your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Your glory forever. Amen.

Friday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Jesus Your Divine Son did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred hands and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders You from admitting him quickly to the possession of Your glory, where he may praise You and bless You forevermore. Amen.

Saturday

O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the sacred side of Your Divine Son Jesus in the presence and to the great sorrow of His Most Holy Mother, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who has been the most devout to this noble Lady, that he may come quickly into Your glory, there to praise You in her, and her in You, through all the ages. Amen.

The St. Gertrude Prayer:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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What Does it Mean to Be a Saint?

I heard this story once from my parish's pastor, and it is a true story.

One time in a religious education class the instructor asked her students, "What does it mean to be a saint?" One girl raised her hand and said, "I know the answer; I learned this from the stained glass windows in church - to be a saint means to let the light shine through."

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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Friday, October 28, 2005
Miers Was Not Catholic

According to an article found via the Roman Catholic blog, Harriet Miers was never even Catholic when we all read that she was indeed a Catholic. I'm glad that after past evidence of her possibly being pro-choice and now this news, that another person will be nominated.
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Christ-Haunted Blog

It seems that the blog, Christ-Haunted is down in readers. It's a very good blog and one of my favorites to browse through.
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Thursday, October 27, 2005
What book of the Bible are you?

You are Leviticus


You are Leviticus.


Which book of the Bible are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
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Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Blog Maintenance

I wanted to clean out my blog and was looking for suggestions on making it more user friendly. For example, do you think I have too many links in the sidebar? Which ones would you cut out?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions
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Pro-life Victory!

In response to a past post of mine on a Missouri pro-life law, I wanted to update everyone. Recently a bill became law in Missouri stating that abortion facilities have admitting privileges at a local hospital 30 miles from the center in case of a botched abortion. Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit, but they have now withdrawn the lawsuit and the abortion clinic in Springfield, Missouri is closed!

(Read More)
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Mary As Co-Redemptrix


Co-Redemptrix in Scripture

Regarding the specific use of the title of “Co-Redemptrix,” theologians have asserted this unique role of our Blessed Mother for centuries even though it has not been dogmatically defined as the Assumption or the Immaculate Conception were infallibly defined by the Vicar of Christ.

As recorded in the Gospel, the Archangel Gabriel spoke to the Blessed Virgin Mary:

“And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God” (Luke 1:35-37).

By this address to the Virgin Mary, the Archangel showed Her the sign that nothing is impossible with God as has been shown through St. Elizabeth’s conception of St. John the Baptist. And our Blessed Mother replied with insurmountable humility and wisdom in such a way that deserves repeating both now and forever: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38) 

This radical humility is essentially the cornerstone of the Gospel. Without humility, there would be no Savior. He chose to dwell among us and humble Himself to suffer hunger, thirst, work, and the Cross. Mary also humbled herself in such a radical way by allowing Christ to take her body and turn it into the Ark of the New Covenant, where the greatest of all treasures would be kept. This is preciously one reason Mary is given the title Co-Redemptrix because she consented to be the Mother of God, but it is also because Mary plays a pivotal role in Christ’s sufferings and death.

In no way, however, does the title of Co-Redemptrix mean that Mary was equal to God as she also needed a Savior. As expressed with certainty and clarity in the Collect Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christ saved His mother from sin before her conception:

O God, Who, by the Immaculate Conception of the virgin, didst prepare for Thy Son a worthy habitation, we beseech Thee, that as Thou didst preserve her from every stain by the foreseen death of this Thy Son, so Thou wouldst grant that we also being cleansed from guilt by her intercession, may come to Thee. Through the same our Lord.

St. Maximilian Kolbe, addressing this important point, affirms the Blessed Virgin Mary as Co-Redemptrix while asserting, contrary to the false claims of Protestants, her inferiority in comparison with God Himself:

“The title of Co-redemptrix applied to Mary never places her on a level of equality of with Jesus Christ, the divine Lord of all, in the saving process of humanity’s redemption. Rather, it denotes Mary’s regular and unique sharing (although subordinate and dependent) with her Son in the saving work of redemption for the human family. 

“The Mother of Jesus participates in the redemptive work of her Son, who alone could reconcile humanity with the Father in His glorious divinity and humanity. Because of her intimate and unparalleled sharing in the mysterious work with the divine Redeemer, both at the Incarnation (cf Lk 1:28) and at the work of redemption at Calvary (cf Jn19:26), Mary has merited the Church title, ‘Co-redemptrix’ which literally means, ‘with the Redeemer.’”

The Popes on Mary as Co-Redemptrix

While the title "Coredemptrix" first received Papal sanction under Pope St. Pius X, by his approval of its use in a decree of the Congregation of Rites concerning the feast of the Seven Dolors (A.A.S., Vol. 41, 1908, p. 409), centuries of tradition affirm the Blessed Virgin Mary’s role as Co-Redemptrix (i.e., working with the Redeemer) to bring about the world’s salvation.

Pope St. Pius X explains, "from this common sharing of sufferings and will, She merited to become most worthily the reparatrix of the lost world, and so the dispensatrix of all the gifts which were gained for us by the death and blood of Jesus. ... since She was ahead of all in holiness and union with Christ, and was taken up by Christ into the work of human salvation, She merited congruously, as they say, what Christ merited condignly, and is the chief minister of the dispensation of graces (Ad diem illum, Feb. 2, 1904).

His successor, Pope Benedict XV, teaches, "With Her suffering and dying Son She suffered and almost died, so did She surrender Her mother's rights over Her Son for the salvation of human beings, and to appease the justice of God, so far as pertained to Her, She immolated Her Son, so that it can be rightly said, that She together with Christ has redeemed the human race" (Admodum probatur, June 20, 1917).

The Sources of Catholic Dogma, Denzinger, plainly states: “In the decree of the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office (section on indulgences), Sunt quos amor, June 26, 1913 (AAS 5 (1913) 363), he [Pope Benedict XV] praises the custom of adding to the name of Jesus the name of ‘His Mother, our coredemptor, the blessed Mary’; cf. also the prayer enriched by the Holy Office with an indulgence, in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is called ‘coredemptress of the human race’ (Jan. 22, 1914; AAS 6 [1914] 108).”

And after the death of St. Pius X, Pope Pius XI continued to affirm Mary as Co-Redemptrix throughout the years:

“The Virgin participated with Jesus Christ in the very painful act of the redemption” (Explorata res, 1923).

“And now lastly may the most benign Virgin Mother of God smile on this purpose and on these desires of ours; for since she brought forth for us Jesus our Redeemer, and nourished Him, and offered Him as a victim by the Cross, by her mystic union with Christ and His very special grace she likewise became and is piously called a reparatress [Co-Redemptrix]” (Miserentissimus Redemptor, 1928)

“[Mary became the Mother of Jesus] in order that she might become a partner in the redemption of the human race” (Auspicatus profecto, 1933)


The Theological Certainty of Mary as Co-Redemptrix:

Fathers Iesu Solano and J.A. de Aldama in Sacrae Thologiae Summa IVa "On the Incarnate Word; On the Blessed Virgin Mary" affirm, after considering the Scripture and Tradition surrounding our Lady the certainty of this title:

“That Mary cooperated with the work of the Redemption, at least mediately, is a matter of faith.

“That she also cooperated immediately is a doctrine more in conformity with the quoted texts of the Holy Pontiffs. Indeed these texts, taken together as a whole, signify the constant teaching for a century of the Roman Pontiffs proposed to the whole Church more clearly with the passage of time for they are not unaware of the disputes of theologians over this matter.

“That the title of Co-redemptrix is used rightly is certain; and it is not licit to doubt about its suitability.”

Simply put, those who claim that Mary should not be given the title of Co-Redemptrix gravely error and cause scandal to the entire Church. For such errors, I suggest offering a prayer of reparation
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Newly Canonized Saints

Note: For an updated list of the recent canonizations, please click here.

Józef Bilczewski
Gaetano Catanoso
Zygmunt Gorazdowski
Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga
Felix of Nicosia

These people are, like all other saints, true role models showing us that belief in Christ and following his Church is essential to Heaven. Follow the Church's teachings on all Dogmas and matters of faith including birth control, stem cell research, euthanasia, salvation, grace, the Sacraments, and all other issues.

"Wrong is wrong, even if everyone else is doing it. Right is right, even if no one else is doing it."- St. Augustine

Image Source: Photo believed to be in the Public Domain
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Monday, October 24, 2005
Summary on the Synod Final Update

I haven't followed the Synod too closely, but I wanted to post a summary of some Synod news for readers. This Synod is a three week assembly on the Eucharist and the first synod under Pope Benedict XVI during what better time than during the end of the Year of the Eucharist.

Note: Links below are to the National Catholic Reporter. I do not endorse all - even most - of the content.

1. Priest shortage is first concern (10/3)
2. Topic of Divorced/Remarried Catholics takes center stage (10/5)
3. The environment and social justice emerge as topics (10/6)
4. Outreach to Latin Mass Catholics (10/15)
5. How is Jesus present in the Eucharist? (10/17)
6. Day of Reflection and Adoration (10/17)
7. Draft on 50 propositions presented (10/18) (287 propositions originally submitted)
8. No changes on Church discipline recommended (10/18)
9. 50 Propositions released (10/22)
10. End of the Synod (10/23)

Year of the Eucharist ends (10/23)

This Sunday the Year of the Eucharist formally ended, but I pray that love for Christ truly present (Body, blood, soul, and divinity) in the Holy Eucharist might not end. For continued information on the Eucharist visit the Year of the Eucharist Website. Also, at the closing Mass for the Year of the Eucharist, Pope Benedict XVI officially declared five individuals as saints. Read Our Holy Father's homily

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me. In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me. For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord. Therefore are there many infirm and weak among you, and many sleep" (1 Cor. 11:23-30).
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World Catholic Population: 2003

 
With statistics now out for 2003, the Catholic population grew by 15 million and on all continents but Europe where it fell be slightly over 200,000. I pray the Church grows and all Christians become united in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church one day. Only through prayer and example can we make Christ's prayer in the Garden true: "...That they might be one."
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Sunday, October 23, 2005
Living Rosary


Today is World Mission Sunday and a day centered on living our lives for God as the Mass readings today illustrate the two greatest commandments.

At Mass this Sunday I was very happy to participate in a Rosary service called the "Living Rosary". I was originally told to lead the Rosary, but another person decided to be the leader a few days ago instead of me. Overall, it went beautifully. The event began as a tribute to Mary and a close to the Year of the Eucharist during the 6th and 7th grade religious education classes' annual Mass. Through the living Rosary a person comes to represent each bead of the Rosary and he/she takes a rose and stands around the Church after each prayer. After the CCD (religious ed.) students each took one rose and gathered around the Church, members of the congregation slowly rose from their pews to join them; at the end I also was in the circle around the church with a rose all praying the Rosary to Our Blessed Mother. At the end both old and young alike stood together making a circle around the Church praying the Rosary.

I admit that I was there nearly 2 hours (this being my second Mass for the day), but it was an amazing spiritual experience.

Image Source: Believed to be in the public domain
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Update on a Lost Rosary

Well, it's been one week since someone took my Rosary from Mass along with a prayer booklet of mine. I thank everyone for their prayers, but I have not found it. After Mass today I talked with several people from Father to the ushers to the cantor. All were very hurt that such a thing happened and I truly appreciate their support. I hope that whoever does have it is using it since I doubt I can ever find it.

After Mass, Father said he wanted me to take a Rosary he found to make up for mine. It is very, very nice and has turquoise beads and a medal of St. Patrick that says, "Pray for us". I thanked him deeply for such a great Rosary, and the cantor also wants to bring me a Rosary - this one from Fatima. Now I'm trying to find the same prayer booklet of St. Padre Pio themed on the Eucharist online because Father has offered to order it for me.

Thanks for all of your prayers. I'll keep everyone posted on my Rosary.

God bless
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Saturday, October 22, 2005
Don't Support "Save Lids to Save Lives"

The program "Save Lids to Save lives" on Yoplait Yogurt containers should not be supported. The money donated goes to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and I was going to send some lids away because for every lid $0.10 goes to the foundation. However, I did some research and discovered this Foundation is a supporter of abortion.

"The Komen Foundation took in $153 million in 2003, and much of it probably went to finance good causes. But in 2003 the foundation also donated $475,000 to Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion provider" (Source: Toronoto Free Press).

Update: According to LifeNews in December 2006, the Susan G. Komen foundation gave more donations to Planned Parenthood.

As Catholics and Christians or even people of other faiths that value life from God, we must not support abortion in any way. Abortion, no matter what way you look at it, ends with death - death not in accordance with God's time but with our own. Abortion should be considered murder, and I can not send away anything to any foundation financing, even in part, such a horrible cause.

January 2012 Update: The National Office (not affiliates) have at least temporarily suspended donations to Planned Parenthood.
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Friday, October 21, 2005
Are Saints Alive?

God is the God of the living. As Matthew 22:32 says: " 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.'" Our souls never die or "sleep" but after death, we are judged. Those that enter Heaven live in joy forever. These are saints. Also, when Moses and Elijah appeared at Jesus' transfiguration, were they not alive in God or were those simply manifestations that Jesus called forth? It's clear they were alive.

After a whole chapter describing the ancient people of faith in Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12:1 goes on to say, "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses..." What possible interpretation can anyone give but that those who have died are aware of us and are watching us?

We worship Christ as God's Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord's disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples! (Martyrium Polycarpi, 17: Apostolic Fathers II/3,396.)

The Dying St. Dominic to his brethren: "Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life."
Some also claim that praying the presence of statues of saints is wrong, but God commanded the people in the Old Testament to create icons when he told them to make gold statues of angels in Exodus 25. We just pray in their presence to remind us of them as we would look at a photograph of someone. Believe me, I do not and will never pray to a statue! Look to Numbers 21:8 and 1 Kings 6:18
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Saintly Discussion Topic: St. Teresa of Jesus

The winner in our poll for the next saintly topic was St. Teresa of Jesus (also called St. Teresa of Avila) who is a Doctor of the Church and a Carmelite. We recently celebrated her feast day on Oct. 15th. She was the first woman to be declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970 and in 1660 she was canonized a saint by Pope Gregory XV.

One part of her life:
Much of St. Teresa's life was plagued by illness. In 1538 it appears she suffered from malaria when her father took her from the convent and placed her under doctors care. Despite of this she remained ill and undertook experimental cures by a woman in the town of Becedas. These methods left her in a coma for three days and not able to walk for three years. It was during this time of illness and convalescence that she took to daily mental prayer, which led to her experiences with mystical prayer. She credited her recovery to St. Joseph. (SOURCE)

I think she shows us what many saints do is that it is not what happens to us in the beginning that makes us a saint but what we do about it. We are all called to be saints and the only way we do is if we trust in the Cross and pray that our actions show that God's will, not our own will, may be done.

She is the patron saint of bodily ills, headaches, lacemakers, laceworkers, loss of parents, opposition of Church authorities, people in need of grace, people in religious orders, people ridiculed for their piety, sick people, sickness, Spain

"My Lord, if you did not cover Your Greatness, who would dare to come to You so often to join a soul so full of misery with Your ineffable Majesty? May you always be blessed, O my God! The Angels, all creatures praise you for having adjusted Your mysteries to our weaknesses, so that we may enjoy Your riches without terrifying us with Your great power. Poor and fragile creatures that we are, we would never have dared approach you."(St. Teresa of Jesus)

Let's try and follow her advice: "You ought to make every effort to free yourselves even from venial sin, and to do what is most perfect," because as Christ, Our Lord and God, taught, all sin is wrong and we should rather take away our hand than have be sent eternally away from His love. Even if you believe so or not, it is His love that consumes us and makes us whole.

Image Source: Believed to be in the public domain, title unknown
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It's Friday, the Day of Our Lord's Passion

With today being Friday I plan to pray the Stations of the Cross. But, since today is also a day of remembering Mary's sorrows it is an appropriate day to pray Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Remember, today is a day of penance.

Image Source: Believed to be in the public domain, title unknown
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Thursday, October 20, 2005
John Henry Cardinal Newman

John Henry Cardinal Newman may become England's first canonized saint after the Reformation. A miracle attributed to him was revealed by a 60 year-old deacon whose spine was healed after prayers for Cardinal Newman's intercession.

"We can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe." -- Cardinal Newman

Source: Catholic World News, 'Beatification soon for Cardinal Newman?' (October 20, 2005)
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Tuesday, October 18, 2005
The Immaculate Conception


As we look at the Hail Mary we see part of the Archangel Gabriel’s address in the exclamation: “full of grace." Grace is defined as a supernatural gift from God’s infinite goodness given by God to His sinful people for their eternal salvation. Mary is addressed as “full of grace” which shows that she must be in complete favor of God to have earned the fullness of God’s grace. This particular instance is a special one, in which God chose Mary to be conceived sinless to make her a house for God to dwell within.

Both Jesus and Mary are perfect although for different reasons; Jesus is God and therefore is without sin and therefore must be perfect. This is shown through Magesterium teachings, scripture, and definition. Sin, which is defined as “distancing oneself from God,” can not have any part in God because it is impossible for God to be distancing Himself from Himself. Mary, though, is perfect, but she was made perfect and preserved from sin by Her Son, who is eternal and preserved her before He became flesh.

In fact, the traditional collect prayer from the Mass of the Immaculate Conception well summarizes this: "O God, by foreseen merits of the death of Christ, You shielded Mary from all stain of sin and preserved the Virgin Mother immaculate at her conception so that she might be a fitting dwelling place for Your Son. Cleanse us from sin through her intercession so that we also may come to You untainted by sin. Through Our Lord."

Some point to the second line of the Magnificat with Mary proclaiming, "And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior," stating the use of "savior" means Mary could not be free from sin. The answer, of course, is that Christ did save Mary  - He simply chose to save her prior to her birth - the difference in methodology in no way detracts from the outcome of the act.

The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which was not infallibly defined until 1854 but believed long beforehand, states, "The most holy Virgin Mary was, in the first moment of her conception, by a unique gift of grace and privilege of almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ the Redeemer of mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin." 

While they did not use the phrase "Immaculate Conception," the Early Church honored the Blessed Virgin Mary as sinless since her conception. For instance, St. Ephrem (306-373 AD) wrote alluding to Mary’s sinlessness: "You and Your mother are the only ones who are totally beautiful in every way. For in You, O Lord, there is no stain, and in Your mother no stain." Hippolytus wrote in 235 AD: “He was the ark formed of incorruptible wood. For by this is signified that His tabernacle was exempt from putridity and corruption.” And Origen wrote in 244 AD: “This Virgin Mother of the Only-begotten of God, is called Mary, worthy of God, immaculate of the immaculate, one of the one.” And there are many other such instances. The dogmatic proclamation in 1854 by Pope Pius IX merely ended a debate that had arisen in the past centuries - fueled often by the protestants.

Once again, it makes perfect sense that the Mother of God does not have sin upon her soul because Christ Himself must dwell within her. In truth, Mary is essentially important to the Christian life as the Mother of Christ and as our Mother, who Christ gave to us through His disciple John (cf. John 19:26-27).

We, as Christians, believe God is the perfect goodness, and likewise, we believe sin is the absence of goodness, where God is the perfect goodness. Therefore, I can conclude that sin is evil and a lack of God’s saving grace, even if only momentary, but a clear distance from God remains because we are not perfect like He. It is through our first sin that we lose our innocence and must work towards salvation as all people must do apart from those exceptions including the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose radiant light kept pulsing harmoniously from her soul through the grace of God, Most High.


Scripture attests to the Immaculate Conception as well though I feel it initially fundamental to dispute a common claim among other faiths that Catholics are in opposition to scripture on this matter. They state Romans 3:23 which reads, “For all have sinned, and do need the glory of God,” however this verse only shows that all are subject to the stains of original sin on the soul. Remember that Christ chose to save His mother from this sin in order to come into the world, but I also see it as a deep reverence for His mother in accordance with the fourth Commandment: “Honor thy mother and father.” It is quite clear that Christ showed great love for His mother already, and He showed even more through the Coronation and Assumption, which I will address at length further into this book.

Moreover, Romans 3:23 uses the English word “all” in place of the Greek word “PAS”, which was not the absolute that “all” encompasses today. I think this further highlights how even the best of translations are nothing compared to the original scriptures. This word taking the English term “all” is also seen in Matthew 3:5-6 and Luke 2:1 to name a few others where it is not the absolute that we see it meaning. For example, Matthew 3:5-6 states, “At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.” I certainly do not believe that the entire region went to the Jordan River including those that did not believe in the faith. I view it much more probable that a great majority went out, not everyone; it is clear that the word “PAS” meant a “just about everyone there is, but maybe not literally everyone,” better than it did “all”.

Furthermore, I feel it essential to state that Martin Luther, the man that began the Lutheran Church and broke away from the original Catholic Church, still held a great devotion to Mary including a belief in the Immaculate Conception: "It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary's soul was effected without original sin; so that in the very infusion of her soul she was also purified from original sin and adorned with God's gifts, receiving a pure soul infused by God; thus from the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin."

Further knowledge of the Christian faith continues to disprove the use of Romans 3:23 to be used against the Immaculate Conception. We as Christians believe Christ was free from sin but the verse does not even say “all but Christ”. We also believe that the mentally disabled and infants cannot commit actual sin, even though the verse does not specifically state this fact. Simply, Romans 3:23 must be translated using correct Greek and there would be no remote opportunity to oppose Magesterium teachings in that instance. I, though, do not see the point in tearing down the teachings of the Catholic Church concerning Mary as it is through Mary that we have a powerful intercessor and loving Mother that spares nothing from her children.

Onward, scripture does word the words "Immaculate Conception." Sacred scripture nevertheless holds vast information on Mary, but we must not just read the words but meditate on each and every statement as a truth given to us by God. The Bible begins with the book of Genesis, an account of creation and the fall, and this is the first place that Mary is referenced. In Genesis 3:15 it states, “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel."

This verse is the first verse that references to mankind’s Redeemer since Jesus Christ came to destroy sin, Satan, and death. 1 John 3:8 further says, “The Son of God appeared that He might destroy the works of the devil,” who came into being through a love for men that far excesses our senses, where one would come to die for all of us while still enemies. This “enmity” in Genesis 3:15 is not between the man and the serpent but the woman and the serpent. Church teachings are that this is in reference to Mary, the one to come and destroy the serpent because of allowing Our Lord to take flesh within her.

Also, it is critical to reverberate the Magesterial teachings of Christ being the Second Adam. We all know that through Adam and Eve sin entered the world and it was through Christ, one man, that sin left the world by his death on the Cross. Yet, just as Eve assisted Adam in losing the faith by offering him the apple, Mary offered Christ her body to come and become man and assisted in bringing Our Lord to us. Out of all people Christ chose Mary as His mother and has given her to us as well; how breathtaking. Christ is called the Second Adam since creation was renewed through Him, and Mary is the new Eve who works alongside Our Lord.

We also know that the only one that can bear the sins of the entire world is God because He is both human and divine and any action of His, whether in his divine or his human nature, is of infinite value. This is how dying one death ended all of our eternal deaths. We could pay the price for sin, but that would be eternal death; instead, Christ chose to free us from the punishment that we deserve out of a love so fervent that He would humble himself to death even death on a cross.



Back to the verse in Genesis, we see reference to Christ by God’s statement that refers to the woman’s offspring. Some translations of the Bible use the word “seed” instead, but the main motive is still intact. This claim that through the women would be offspring, namely Our Savior is quite revolutionary. We already know that God knew of the need for a savior in the beginning, so in this verse, He speaks of Adam and Eve’s offspring, which would include Christ.

This conservation to the women that she would bear offspring, rather than to the man, shows that through a woman Our Savior, who the entire world resides inside, would be born. While scripture does refer to her offspring it also alludes to Christ, who has freed the entire human race through His sacrifice on the Cross where we become part of Him in dying so that we may also see the Resurrection. The entire human race was relying on Christ’s sacrifice, which is alluded to in the book of Genesis although not directly because the people of the Old Testament would not have understood.

Continuing with the verse in Genesis, a special relationship is seen between the woman and the serpent, and this relationship is one with enmity. “Enmity” is certainly an intense, powerful word beyond hatred and defined as “deep-rooted hatred”. We see by looking back to Genesis 3:15 that God Himself will place this enmity between the serpent (Satan) and Mary, who is the second Eve. It is clear that Mary is to be the personal enemy of Satan not Christ. Christ came to destroy the devil’s evil works, but God chose to make Mary as Satan’s personal enemy.

From the beginning, God had a plan for everyone with all of us able to reach Heaven if we chose, and Our Lord chose to save Mary from sin. This also put the enmity between Mary and Satan because Mary had no sin and was perfect and clearly saw the wrongdoings of the devil; she hated them because she was completely in God’s favor. We as sinners can fall into sin, but Mary was preserved from original sin and remained sinless in life, which made her Satan’s personal enemy.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly reveals, “Throughout the Old Covenant the mission of many holy women prepared for that of Mary. At the very beginning there was Eve; despite her disobedience, she receives the promise of a posterity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living. By virtue of this promise, Sarah conceives a son in spite of her old age. Against all human expectation, God chooses those who were considered powerless and weak to show forth his faithfulness to his promises: Hannah, the mother of Samuel; Deborah; Ruth; Judith and Esther; and many other women. Mary "stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from him. After a long period of waiting the times are fulfilled in her, the exalted Daughter of Sion, and the new plan of salvation is established."

Mary had a special purpose, and this purpose was to become the Mother of God and help us achieve our salvation. She cannot save us, but her constant motherly presence pleads continually for our souls.

God is in possession of eternity, the simultaneous and complete possession of infinite life. For him, all things are as in the present (see: Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, Book V)

Resources:
  1. Catholic Encyclopedia: Immaculate Conception
  2. Catholic Encyclopedia: Original Sin
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Catholic Comp. Project one: The Immaculate Conception

I have written a rather long but, in my opinion, sufficient explanation of the Immaculate Conception Dogma, which states that Mary was conceived free from sin. If anyone would like to read this please just ask though it is about 3 pages long.

This is the first Catholic Composition Project, a project looking to add scripture and support to help those new to the faith understand and have a one-stop-shop for information. I'd like any help I can on getting references from the CCC for the Immaculate Conception, links to good sites on it, or quotes by saints.

God Bless
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St. Luke the Evangelist


Feast (1969 Calendar): October 18
Double of the II Class (1955 Calendar): October 18

Today is the feast day of St. Luke, the patron saint of physicians, surgeons, goldsmiths, painters, and bachelors. He wrote the Gospel according to St. Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible. His name literally translates to "bringer of the light." According to tradition, he also "painted" the first icon. In fact the two most important icons in the world are attributed to him: "Salus Romani Populi" which is the Roman Icon at St Mary Major, and Our Lady of Częstochowa, which was the Byzantine Icon in Constantinople. The icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa was later brought to Jasna Gora which is the largest Marian shrine in the world. Also of note, Częstochowa is believed to be written on the table the Holy Family used in Nazareth.

St. Luke was born a pagan in Antioch in c. 74 AD and possibly was a slave. He was one of the first converts. St. Luke met St. Paul at Troas and evangelized Greece and Rome with him. During Paul's two years in prison, St. Luke stayed in Rome. St. Luke died a martyr.

"According to tradition, he was an artist, as well as a man of letters; and with a soul alive to all the most delicate inspirations, he consecrated his pencil to the holiest use, and handed down to us the features of the Mother of God. It was an illustration worthy of the Gospel which relates to the divine Infancy; and it won for the artist a new title to the gratitude of those who never saw Jesus and Mary in the flesh. Hence St. Luke is the patron of Christian art."- Excerpted from The Liturgical Year, Abbot Gueranger O.S.B.

St. Luke Day As a Former Holy Day of Obligation

The first catalog of Holy Days comes from the Decree of Gratian in c. 1150 AD, which shortly thereafter gave way to the Decretals of Pope Gregory IX in 1234, which listed 45 Holy Days. In 1295, Pope Boniface VIII enacted the decretal Gloriosus, which "commanded that each of the feasts of the twelve apostles, four evangelists, and four doctors of the Church be celebrated as an officium duplex" (The Cambridge History of Medieval Canon Law by Anders Winroth and John Wei).

In 1642, His Holiness Pope Urban VIII issued the papal bull Universa Per Orbem which mandated the required Holy Days of Obligation for the Universal Church to consist of 34 days as well as the principal patrons of one's one locality (e.g. city and country). Those days were the Nativity of Our Lord, the Circumcision of Our Lord, the Epiphany of Our Lord, Monday within the Octave of the Resurrection, Tuesday within the Octave of the Resurrection, Ascension Thursday, Monday within the Octave of Pentecost, Tuesday within the Octave of Pentecost, Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, the Finding of the Holy Cross, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Dedication of St. Michael, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, St. Andrew, St. James, St. John (the December feast day), St. Thomas, SS. Philip and James, St. Bartholomew, St. Matthew, SS. Simon and Jude, St. Matthias, St. Stephen the First Martyr (the December feast day), the Holy Innocents, St. Lawrence, St. Sylvester, St. Joseph, St. Anne, and All Saints.  

Ultimately Universa Per Orbem helped bring more uniformity to the Church since some parts of the Catholic world observed even more holy days of double precept (i.e., mandatory attendance at Mass and rest from servile work). One of those former days which kept in some places as the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. 

For instance, in modern-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, which were included in the ecclesiastical province of Mexico, the feasts were regulated by the Third Council of Mexico in 1585, as American Catholic Quarterly Review states: 

"In these parts besides those already mentioned, the faithful observed as holy days of obligation St Fabian and St Sebastian (January 20th), St Thomas Aquinas (March 7th), St Mark (April 25th), St Barnabas (June 1), the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin (July 2), St Mary Magdalene (July 22), St Dominic (Aug 4), the Transfiguration (Aug 6), St Francis (Oct 4), St Luke (Oct 18), St Catharine (Nov 25), the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin (Dec 18). 

Things to Do (Excerpted from Catholic Culture):
  • Read the Acts of the Apostles. St. Luke accompanied St. Paul on his missionary journeys — we could spiritually adopt a missionary and accompany him or her with our prayers.
  • St. Luke depicted Mary vividly in words. Learn and pray the three precious canticles preserved for us by him — the Benedictus, the Magnificat, and the Nunc Dimittis.
  • Pray for doctors and those who care for the sick through the intercession of St. Luke, patron of physicians.
  • Foods this day to honor St. Luke would include some beef dishes, as he is the patron of butchers. So perhaps a nice cut of steak would be in order? For dessert, bake some raisin Banbury Tarts to evoke the festivals of England on this day, or a cake in the shape of a book with decorations of a calf or ox for this evangelist.
  • Today is also known as "Sour Cakes Day" in Scotland because baked cakes were eaten with sour cream in Rutherglen.
  • This day is also "St. Luke's Little Summer," a period of summerlike days that occur around October 18 (like the term "Indian Summer," which officially occurs between Nov 11-20), named to honor the saint's feast day. In the past, St. Luke's Day was not observed by the secular world as much as St. John the Baptist's Day (June 24) and Michaelmas (September 29), so to keep in the forefront, St. Luke gives us some golden days before the cold of winter.
Prayer:

Let holy Luke, Thine Evangelist, we beseech Thee, O Lord, intercede for us, who for the glory of Thy name ever bore in his body the mortification of the cross. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
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Boycott of American Girl

American Girl has recently come under fire and for good reason: it is in support of gay marriage and abortion rights. Until they stop funding and/or supporting directly or indirectly abortion and gay marriage I will not buy any of there products and encourage others to do the same.

More Information: Pro Life Action
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Monday, October 17, 2005
St. Ignatius of Antioch


Double (1954 Calendar): February 1
III Class (1962 Calendar): February 1
Memorial (1969 Calendar): October 17

Today the Church remembers St. Ignatius of Antioch, who was a martyr in early Rome c. 100 AD. He was devoured by animals instead of denouncing the Faith. St. Ignatius was a convert from paganism and lived a life of holiness. Legend says that St. Ignatius of Antioch was the infant Jesus held in the Gospel of Mark Chapter 9.

St. Ignatius of Antioch succeeded Peter as the Bishop of Antioch. In 107 AD, St. Ignatius of Antioch used the term "Catholic Church" for the first time, which described the universal Church established by Jesus Christ. In c. 107 AD, St. Ignatius of Antioch died as a martyr. Before his martyrdom, he wrote many letters like the one below. He is also an Apostolic Father.

Traditional Matins Reading (quoting St Jerome's "On Ecclesiastical Writers"):

Ignatius was the third Bishop of the Church of Antioch, St Peter the Apostle being the first. During the persecution under Trajan, he was condemned to be devoured by wild beasts, and was sent in chains to Rome. During this voyage, which was made by sea, he had to stop at Smyrna, where Polycarp, the disciple of St John, was Bishop. From this city, he wrote several Epistles: one to the Ephesians, a second to the Magnesians, a third to the Trallians, a fourth to the Romans. When he had left Smyrna, he addressed an Epistle to the Philadelphians and Smyrneans, and one to Polycarp himself, recommending to him his Church of Antioch. It is in this last-named Letter that he quotes from the Gospel which I have lately translated a passage bearing testimony to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I cannot pass by this mention of so great a man, without citing a few sentences from the Epistle which he wrote to the Romans. ‘ From Syria,' he says, ' even unto Rome, I am fighting with wild beasts, both by sea and land, both night and day, for I am fastened to ten leopards, I mean to the soldiers who have care of me. When I show them a kindness, they grow more brutal. Their injuries are my instruction, but I am not thereby justified. I long for the wild beasts that are prepared for me, which I heartily wish may rush upon me and torture me and devour me, and not be afraid to touch me, as has happened with other Martyrs. Nay, if they refuse to approach me, I will make them come on, I will rush upon them, that so they may devour me. Pardon me, my little children: I know what is for my own welfare.

‘Now do I begin to be a disciple of Christ, and care for nothing in this world, that so I may find Jesus. Let fire, or the cross, or wild beasts, or the breaking of my bones, or the cutting me to pieces, or the shattering of my whole body, yea, all the tortures of the devil—let them all come upon me, only let me enjoy my God.' When he was sentenced to be devoured by wild beasts, and heard the roaring of the lions, his impatience to suffer made him exclaim: ‘I am the wheat of Christ; let me be ground by the teeth of wild beasts, that I may become the pure bread.' He suffered in the eleventh year of Trajan's reign. His Relics are at Antioch, in the Cemetery outside the Daphne Gate.

Prayer:

Look down upon our weakness, almighty God; and since the weight of our own deeds bears us down, may the glorious intercession of Blessed Ignatius, Thy Bishop and Martyr, protect us. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal


Writing by St. Ignatius:

I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God's wheat and bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God.

No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sake is my one desire.

The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God's side. Believe instead what I am now writing to you. For though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has been crucified, and there is no yearning in my for any earthly thing. Rather within me is the living water which says deep inside me: "Come to the Father." I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world I want only God's bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish.

Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man would, but as one who knows the mind of God.
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Should I Attend Mass?

If you ask yourself that question than read this site. Part of it: "For every Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death (revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the Great)."

Mary once told her faithful servant Alain: "My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary, He would die for them as many times as they've heard Masses."

Image Source: Believed to be in the public domain
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Sunday, October 16, 2005
Not a Normal Sunday: Lost Rosary

Today was scheduled to be a normal Sunday where I just go to Mass and not have to participate. So, I brought my rosary and a great St. Padre Pio prayer book with prayers to the Eucharist (one of the litany of the Blessed Sacrament, my favorite litany.) About 5 minutes before the start of Mass, Father came over to me and said the lector had not showed up, so he asked if I could lector since I am a lector some Sundays.

I served as a lector on shorthand notice. But, after Mass I went back to my first pew and found out that my Rosary and prayer book were taken by someone. I haven't found them yet and only can pray I ever will. Please say a prayer that I might get these back. That was a very special Rosary, and I don't think I can ever replace that prayer book.
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Saturday, October 15, 2005
Free Prayer Cards


I sent away for these prayer cards of Pope John Paul ll and Pope Benedict XVI and only had to include a self-addressed stamped envelope. I printed the form out and just filled it in and mailed it away. I recently got the prayer cards and liked them very much, so I thought others here may also want to send away for them.


And if you are looking for beautiful holy cards, please remember to check out "Holy Cards for Your Inspiration."
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St. Teresa of Avila

"Let nothing trouble you, let nothing make you afraid. All things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains everything. God alone is enough." -- St. Teresa of Avila

Memorial (1969 Calendar): October 15
Double (1955 Calendar): October 15

Today the Church remembers and celebrates the life of St. Teresa of Avila (also called St. Teresa of Jesus). St. Teresa was born on March 28, 1515, in Spain, and she loved Our Lord since her youth. St. Teresa would even play "hermit" in her garden. At the age of 12, St. Teresa's mother died, and she prayed for Our Blessed Mother Mary to be her new mother. St. Teresa was very weakened by a serious illness in her youth, and she was healed through the intercession of St. Joseph. At 17 she left home and entered a religious order but her father would not accept it initially. Finally, after seeing the conviction in his daughter, he consented to her entering the consecrated life.

St. Teresa was soon ill again, and she never fully recovered. During this time of spiritual growth, St. Teresa received many visions approved as authentic following examinations by Dominicans and Jesuits, including Saint Francis Borgia.

She founded a reformed convent after thinking her current one was too lax in the rule. She suffered much along with St. John of the Cross for this long work of restoring the primitive Rule. 

St. Teresa was a mystic and a great writer, who wrote the Interior Castle.

On October 4, 1582, St. Teresa of Avila died in the arms of her secretary and close friend Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew. Her body is incorruptible. She was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. While a great saint, we should not consider her a Doctor of the Church.

Traditional Reading at Matins:

The virgin Teresa was born at Avila in Spain, of parents illustrious for nobility and virtue. She was brought up by them in the fear of God; and while still very young, she gave admirable promise of her future sanctity. While reading the acts of the holy martyrs, she was so enkindled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, that she ran away from home, resolved to cross over to Africa, and there to lay down her life for the glory of Jesus Christ and the salvation of souls. She was brought back by her uncle; but her heart still burned with the desire of martyrdom, which she endeavored to satisfy by alms-deeds and other works of piety, weeping continually to see herself deprived of that happy lot. On the death of her mother, she begged the Blessed Virgin to be a mother to her; and she gained her request, for, ever afterward the Mother of God cherished her as a daughter. In the twentieth year of her age, she joined the nuns of St. Mary of Mount Carmel; and spent eighteen years in that monastery, enduring severe illnesses and many trials. While she was thus courageously battling in the ranks of Christian penance, she was deprived of the support of heavenly consolations, in which the saints usually abound even on this earth.

She was adorned with angelic virtues, and her charity made her solicitous not for her own salvation alone, but for that of all mankind. Inspired by God, and with the approbation of Pius IV, she restored the Carmelite rule to its primitive severity, and caused it to be thus observed first by the women and then by the men. The all-powerful blessing of our merciful God was evident in this work; for, though destitute of all human aid, and moreover opposed by many of the great ones of the world, the virgin was able, in her poverty, to build thirty-two monasteries. She wept continually over the blindness of infidels and heretics and offered to God the voluntary maceration of her body to appease the divine anger, on their behalf. Her heart burned like a furnace of divine love; so that once she saw an angel piercing it with a fiery dart, and heard Christ say to her, taking her hand in his: Henceforward, as my true bride, thou shalt be zealous for mine honor. By our Lord’s advice, she made the exceedingly difficult vow, always to do what she conceived to be most perfect. She wrote many works, full of divine wisdom, which arouse in the minds of the faithful the desire of their heavenly country.

Whereas Teresa was a pattern of every virtue, her desire of bodily mortification was most ardent; and in spite of the various maladies which afflicted her, she chastised her body with hairshirts and iron chains, scourged herself with sharp disciplines or with bundles of nettles, and sometimes rolled among thorns. She would often speak thus to God: O Lord, let me either suffer or die; for she considered that as long as she was absent from the fountain of life, she was dying daily and most miserably. She was remarkable for her gift of prophecy and was enriched to such a degree by our Lord with his divine favors, that she would often beg him to set bounds to his gifts, and not to blot out the memory of her sins so speedily. Consumed by the irresistible fire of divine love rather than by disease, after receiving the last Sacraments, and exhorting her children to peace, charity, and religious observance, she expired at Alba, on the day she had foretold; and her most pure soul was seen ascending to God in the form of a dove. She died at the age of sixty-seven, in the year 1582, on the Ides of October according to the corrected Roman calendar. Jesus Christ was seen present at her death-bed, surrounded by angels; and a withered tree near her cell suddenly burst into blossom. Her body has remained incorrupt to the present day, distilling a fragrant liquor; and is honored with pious veneration. She was made illustrious by miracles both before and after her death; and Gregory XV enrolled her among the saints.

Prayer:

Graciously hear us, O God our Savior, and grant that as we rejoice in the festival of blessed Teresa, Thy Virgin, so we may be nourished by her heavenly teaching, and grow in loving devotion towards Thee. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
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Thursday, October 13, 2005
Looking for a Miracle?

Then today could be your day. Today is October 13 and the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima in 1917, which was witnessed by thousands. It is truly an amazing miracle.

Read on the Miracle and visit the photo source
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The Miraculous Medal

The Miraculous Medal is a devotion to the Virgin Mary called the "Miraculous" Medal for the many miracles associated with those that wear it. It is one of my favorite medals to wear.

The Miraculous Medal came to the world through an Apparition of the Virgin Mary to Catherine Labouré in Paris, France in 1830. In Mary's second apparition, she asked that "a medal should be struck in this image. The people wearing it will receive my indulgence and those who piously say this short prayer will enjoy my very special protection".

One of the most famous conversions due to the miraculous medal was that of Alphonse Ratisbonne, an anti-Catholic Jewish banker. He received a vision of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. After his conversion, he became a priest and worked for the conversion of the Jewish people.

Click here to read Fr. John Hardon's testimony of a miracle brought about in front of him because of the Miraculous Medal. 

English Translation of the Traditional Prayer Said by the Priest to Bless the Miraculous Medal:

The priest who is to bless the sacred medal of the Immaculate Conception, vested in surplice and white stole, says:

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.

Almighty and merciful God, who by the many appearances on earth of the Immaculate Virgin Mary were pleased to work miracles again and again for the salvation of souls; kindly pour out your blessing + on this medal, so that all who devoutly wear it and reverence it may experience the patronage of Mary Immaculate and obtain mercy from you; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

The priest sprinkles the medal with holy water, and presents it to the person, saying:
Take this holy medal; wear it with faith, and handle it with due devotion, so that the holy and immaculate Queen of heaven may protect and defend you. And as she is ever ready to renew her wondrous acts of kindness, may she obtain for you in her mercy whatever you humbly ask of God, so that both in life and in death you may rest happily in her motherly embrace.

All: Amen.

The priest continues:

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Our Father (the rest inaudibly)

P: And lead us not into temptation.

All: But deliver us from evil.

P: Queen conceived without original sin.

All: Pray for us.

P: Lord, heed my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, who willed that your Mother, the blessed Virgin Mary conceived without sin, should become illustrious through countless miracles; grant that we who ever seek her patronage may finally possess everlasting joys. We ask this of you who live and reign forever and ever.
All: Amen.

AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL

Virgin Mother of God, Mary Inmmaculate, we dedicate and consecrate our selves to thee under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. May this Medal be for each one of us a sure sign of thy affection for us and a constant reminder of our duties toward thee. Ever while wearing it, may we be blessed by thy loving protection and preserved in the grace of thy Son. O most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior, keep us close to thee every moment of our lives. Obtain for us, thy children, the grace of a happy death; so that, in union with thee, we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever. Amen.

V. O Mary, conceived without sin,
R. Pray for us who have recourse to thee. ( 3 times.)
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Do You Want to Save Someone's Life?

Well, Priests for Life has a new brochure called You can save someone's life today (PDF file). Please pass along the information inside especially pregnany numbers. If you can't read that here is a HTML version.

Abortion is not a choice; it is murder. If you are pregnant don't think you don't have other options. God created us all to live in happiness, and only He has the right to take life being the Creator of Life. What if Mary hadn't had Jesus? Think about how much of a saint any unborn child can become. Trust in God and know that abortion is death. God is calling all to life. Trust in Him since He believed in you to the death.

Carenet/Heartbeat 1-800-395-HELP
Crisis Pregnancy Helpline 1-888-4-OPTIONS
Birthright 1-800-550-4900
National Life Center 1-800-848-LOVE
Bethany Christians Services 1-800-238-4269

Image Source: Believed to be in the public domain, source unknown
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Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Catholic Composition Project - Please Participate

I don't know about everyone else, but I really enjoy forums and reading and posting at them. Usually all of them are Catholic forums and my favorite questions asked are those of people trying to understand the Catholic faith. It is indeed a great gift to aid another in their journey to Christ, and God calls each of us to serve Him. I choose to serve Him by spreading the Gospel.

So, I'm commonly asked questions about the faith and try to answer them although if I could create one post on each topic here including links for more information and references from the CCC and Bible along with the Church's position and teachings this could be extremely valuable to spreading the Church to others. John Paul ll said, "How can they believe if they have not heard?" I'm hoping others will join me in working together this way to spread the Christ to others.

Would anyone care to do this? Do you think it's a good idea?

(I'm unsure on the first topic to cover although I'd like to do it on devotion to Mary or the saints and why we pray to them)
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Tuesday, October 11, 2005
A Daily Gospel Reading

I'd like to make this blog more open to conversation like a forum, so would anyone care to participate in a reading of the Gospel? I will post the Gospel (if not daily at least a few times a week) and I'll post a commentary on the text. This will help us correct error in interpretation draw upon the Word of God, who is the person of Jesus Christ, during the day.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain, Priest chanting the Last Gospel at a Tridentine Mass
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Rediscover the Angelus Prayer


The word "Angelus" comes from the Latin "Angelus Domini" meaning "Angel of the Lord". This is a prayer of the Church said three times a day at 6 AM, Noon, and 6 PM. The present-day form of the Angelus traces back to 1560 and is a prayer composed of a short sentence followed by a response and then followed by a Hail Mary. It is an excellent prayer reminding all of Christ's Incarnation the gift of Himself - born to come, to die, and to save. The Church also blesses this devotion with indulgences.

The Angelus is prayed three times daily and is said year long except during Easter Time (From Easter Sunday until the end of the Octave of Pentecost) when the Regina Coeli is prayed. Traditionally, the Angelus is prayed while kneeling except on Sundays and Holy Days when it is prayed standing with a genuflecting (bowing on one knee) during the statement: "And dwelt among us".

If you are praying in a Group the leader saying the "V" parts and you say the "R" part, but if you are praying alone you will pray all parts.

The Prayer:

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary…

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary…

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

V. Let us pray.

R. Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Monday, October 10, 2005
Let Us Unite Ourselves With Christ

In the agony of the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ knew that He was to be mocked, tortured, beaten, deprived of friendship, and killed; yet His love remained. And in His agony, knowing His coming brutal death, He cried out in prayer. Read the 17th Chapter of the Gospel of John.

Let us pray with this prayer I found in a Catholic prayer book:

God our Father, it is your purpose to bring the whole of creation into unity with you. Give us the grace to further this aim and to live out your truth on earth. Bring all your people closer to one another and unite us in the sharing of your good news. Come, Holy Spirit, and help us to join into one community of believers. Amen

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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