The 95th Theses: Which points were condemned?

It remains that, while Martin Luther did try to correct some corruption in some Church officials, he is a heretic. And as such, the doctrine of Lutheran churches and other protestant denominations teaches heresy.

When Martin Luther nailed his 95th Theses to a church door, he was breaking from the Church that was founded on the apostles. Numerous heretics had emerged before, but, unfortunately, Martin Luther's errors remain.

Now, not all of his 95 points were condemned. However, some of those that were condemned are as follows:

* Baptism does not clean a child's sins
* Fear of death means imperfect charity and purgatory as punishment.
* Penance (contrition, confession, and satisfaction) is untrue, unbiblical.
* Contrition makes a person more of a sinner.
* It is impossible to confess sins.
* A priest cannot absolve your sins unless you believe he has.
* A layperson can, if necessary, absolve your sins.
* A person does not need to show contrition to a priest.
* Faith alone makes one worthy of the Eucharist.
* A person must take both body and blood at communion.
* The Church cannot grant indulgences.
* Excommunications are not something to be feared.
* The pope is not the vicar of Christ.
* The Church has no right to decide upon faith or morals.
* Weakening the Church's councils is desirable.
* Good works are sins.
* You cannot be certain when you are sinning.
* We can have no effect on souls in purgatory, nor know anything about it.
* The Church is greedy.

From online:

Theologically the main differences between Luther's thought and the Church's teaching revolved around Sola Fide (Faith Alone). He did not accept the Church's authority and believed that all men could be saved simply through faith. Unfortunately for most people, I think Sola Fide is one of the least understood terms in all of theology.

On the surface it seems like Luther is saying that all you have to do is believe that Christ is God and that he sacrificed himself for the sins of all humanity; if you believe this, then you are saved. When in fact if you analyze his thought carefully you will find that his main difference is not whether good works play a role in your salvation, but whether good works are a result of your salvation. He contends that a saved person will of course carry out good works and that these are the result of grace from God and not our own doing.

So, in a nutshell: Luther believed that a person simply needed to honestly believe in Jesus to be saved, and that all of the other institutions, sacraments, traditions, etc. were unimportant compared to that.

To me, the funny thing about this is that the Catholic Church probably agrees to a certain extent that faith is HUGELY important compared to the rest of it. And, that once you have true faith, following the Church is just a logical next step. I don't think there is a single Catholic out there that believes that he can go to Church each Sunday and go through the motions without honestly loving Jesus and expect to be saved. We don't just love Him, we ADORE Him, we love everything about Him and what He created. And He created this Church so we love our Church too and we follow her teachings.

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St. Ignatius of Loyola

Memorial (1969 Calendar): July 31
Greater Double (1955 Calendar): July 31

St. Ignatius of Loyola was born a Spaniard of a noble family at Loyola in 1491; he was the youngest of twelve children. He eventually joined the military in 1517 and served as a Captain until May 20, 1521, when a cannonball fractured his left leg and nearly crippled him. Following this near-death experience, St. Ignatius of Loyola began to learn to read. And he began to read pious books, which enkindled a fire in his heart to love and serve Jesus Christ. The only books available to him during his recovery were The Golden Legend, a collection of lives of the saints, and the Life of Christ by Ludolph the Carthusian. In turn, he began to focus his life on Christ.

St. Ignatius of Loyola traveled to Montserrat, where he hung up his arms before an altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Virgin of Montserrat and prayed the entire night. He was transformed from a man of war into a soldier for the Kingdom of God. And, St. Ignatius served Christ for many, many years and saved thousands of souls.

He then left for Manresa and gave his noble garments to a beggar. In sackcloth, he stayed in Manresa in a cave and lived off of bread and water given to him as alms. He had turned away everything of the world and humbled himself to grow in holiness. St. Ignatius fasted every day except Sundays. He also slept on the ground and himself with iron disciplines. He was a man of penance, who, during his time in Manresa, received revelations by the Lord. There, he wrote his Spiritual Exercises, even though he was a man without formal education.

St. Ignatius again humbled himself and realized that he needed a formal education in order to save more souls. St. Ignatius began to study grammar with children. In 1523, he journeyed to the Holy Land to convert Muslims. And, through it all, his zeal to save souls never abated. He lived for the salvation of souls. St. Ignatius accept sufferings, beatings, imprisonment, and numerous other trials in order to save souls.

In 1528 he began studying theology in Barcelona and Paris. On March 14, 1534, he received his degree in Theology. St. Ignatius was joined by nine men, who had taken their degrees in Arts and Theology. This was the foundation of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), which St. Ignatius would establish soon after in Rome. On August 15, 1534, he formed the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus. He added along to the traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, a vow for missions. The Society of Jesus was approved by Pope Paul III in 1541 and again approved by following pontiffs and councils.

St. Ignatius soon sent St. Francis Xavier to Indies to proclaim the Gospel. He sent people all around the entire world to preach the Truth and in so doing declared a new war - a war against paganism, superstition, and heresy. He never used the term "Jesuit" surprisingly. The term originated as an insult by his opponents, but today it is used with pride by the Society of Jesus.

Throughout history, God has raised up saints and prophets in times of need. In those times when heretics rose up, God raised up defenders of the truth. And God rose up St. Ignatius of Loyola to preach the truth in an era that was tainted by the lies of Martin Luther and other heretics.

St. Ignatius focused on piety. He wanted to spread piety throughout the entire earth. So, St. Ignatius worked to open schools for piety, increase the beauty of the sacred buildings, and increase the frequency of sermons and of the Sacraments. In Rome, St. Ignatius founded the German College, orphanages, and refuges for women of evil life and for young girls. St. Philip Neri and others saw St. Ignatius's countenance shining with heavenly light.

Finally, after 65 years on earth, St. Ignatius of Loyola died on July 31, 1556. In less than 50 years, he along with his companion St. Francis Xavier, would be canonized. Today the Society of Jesus has over 500 universities and colleges, 30,000 members, and teaches over 200,000 students each year.

Source: The Liturgical Year, Abbot Gueranger O.S.B.

Prayer:

O God, Who to spread the greater glory of Thy name, didst by means of blessed Ignatius, strengthen the Church militant with a new army: grant that with his help and through his example we may so fight on earth as to become worthy to be crowned with him in heaven. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Indulgence for August 2nd

What is Portiuncula? The following is an excerpt from Major Life of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure.

" The Portiuncula was an old church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God which was abandoned . Francis had great devotion to the Queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to live there constantly in order to repair it. He heard that the Angels often visited it, so that it was called Saint Mary of the Angels, and he decided to stay there permanently out of reverence for the angels and love for the Mother of Christ.

He loved this spot more than any other in the world. It was here he began his religious life in a very small way; it is here he came to a happy end. When he was dying, he commended this spot above all others to the friars, because it was most dear to the Blessed Virgin.

This was the place where Saint Francis founded his Order by divine inspiration and it was divine providence which led him to repair three churches before he founded the Order and began to preach the Gospel.

This meant that he progressed from material things to more spiritual achievements, from lesser to greater, in due order, and it gave a prophetic indication of what he would accomplish later.

As he was living there by the church of Our Lady, Francis prayed to her who had conceived the Word, full of grace and truth, begging her insistently and with tears to become his advocate. Then he was granted the true spirit of the Gospel by the intercession of the Mother of mercy and he brought it to fruition.

He embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars."

Today the chapel of Portiuncula is situated inside the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels roughly 5 km from Assisi, Italy.

The Indulgence:

"The Portiuncula indulgence is the first plenary indulgence that was ever granted in the Church. There were indeed indulgences at all times, but they were only partial, and only a partial remission of the temporal punishments could be obtained by them. But, as already remarked, he who gains the Portiuncula indulgence is freed from all temporal punishments and becomes as pure as after holy baptism. This was also the reason why Pope Honorius was astonished when St. Francis petitioned for the confirmation of this indulgence, for such an indulgence, up to that time, bad been entirely unknown. It was only after he had come to the conviction that Jesus Christ himself wished it, that he granted the petition of the saint and confirmed the indulgence" (Source)

August 2nd is the feast of Portiuncula. A plenary indulgence is available to anyone who will

1. Receive sacramental confession (8 days before of after)

2. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass on August 2nd

3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a pray of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope.

Please tell every Catholic person you know that remission of the punishment for all sins committed from the day of baptism to the reception of the indulgence is available.

More Information:

If you want to read more about the feast of Portiuncula, please visit this website: Catholic Under the Hood.

Fr. Seraphim Beshoner is a third order Franciscan priest who does the podcast, Catholic Under the Hood, and he recently discussed this feast on one of his shows. Please check it out and pass the word along to everyone.

May the Merciful Jesus fill your heart with His gentle peace!

Note: An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. More information can be found at Indulgences.

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Pray for Laura Figeroa

Please pray for this woman. Just like St. Gianna Molla, she is the example that all women should follow. As Blessed Mother Teresa has said, abortion is never necessary because it is "pure killing".

A prayer campaign has been launched for a mother in Argentina who was stricken with cancer but refused to have an abortion to spare her life. Laura Figeroa is in the terminal stage of her illness, a brain metastasis that is considered irreversible.
Figeroa could have had an abortion so she could obtain chemotherapy to address her cancer, but she refused to take the life of her unborn child to save her own.

Two weeks ago, Figeroa gave birth to her son, Pedro, who was born early at 27 weeks into the pregnancy. Pedro weighed just 2.4 pounds and was immediately placed in intensive care and struggles with kidney and heart problems.

Now the Catholic weekly “Cristo Hoy” in Argentina is launching a prayer campaign for mother and child.

Read more...

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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US Catholic Population Statistics: 2005

US Catholic Population: 69,135,254 (rose by 1.3 million)

Number of students in Catholic high schools: 680,000 (drop by 13,000)

Number of students in Catholic elementary schools: 1.76 million (drop by 84,000)

Number of teachers in Catholic schools: 173,000 (drop by 8,000)

Number of high school students enrolled in parish religious education programs: 729,000 (drop by 26,000)

Number of Elementary students in religious education: 3.5 million (drop by 81,000)

Number of students in Catholic colleges and universities: 764,000 (drop by 9,000)

Church-recognized marriages: 212,000 (drop by 11,000)

Confirmations: 630,000 (drop by 15,000)

First Holy Communions: 833,000 (drop by 40,000)

Infant baptisms: 943,000 (drop by 34,000)

Adult baptisms and receptions into the Church: 154,000 (same as the previous year)

Priestly Ordinations: 438 (drop by 29)

Number of priests in U.S. dioceses and religious orders: 42,271 (drop by 1,151)

Number of permanent deacons: 14,995 (drop by 32 - the first time the number has dropped since Vatican II in the 1960s)

Number of new parishes opened: 46

Number of Catholic hospitals: 573 (drop by 8)

Number of patients helped at Catholic hospitals: 84.7 million (rose by 2.5 million)

Source Statistics: The-Tidings.com\

Image Source: Francis Cardinal Spellman, Pre-Vatican II

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Financial Crisis - Lack of Nuns

The Church desperately NEEDS nuns (those that live in cloistered communities) and religious sisters (those that don't live in cloistered communities). Religious sisters are excellent teachers and help the Church tremendously not only in teaching but in making altar bread and various other areas. The sacrifice of prayer of nuns certainly brings us many graces.

Article via Yahoo News article:

Though billions of dollars have been salted away, there still remains an unfunded future liability of $8.7 billion for current nuns, priests and brothers in religious orders. The financial hole is projected by a consulting firm to exceed $20 billion by 2023.

...

In some ways, religious orders face the same problem as many governments: increasing numbers of older retirees need benefits, but there are fewer workers to support them. America's younger workers pay now for the Social Security benefits of seniors, while younger religious support their older generations by caring for them.

Sisters, who make up 82 percent of retirees, are especially vulnerable.

Between 1965 and 2005, their numbers plummeted from 179,954 to 68,634, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.

With far fewer younger novices being recruited, the majority of sisters are now more than 70 years old, the retirement office's new survey said. Even though sisters usually work until age 75, caring for the retired population is a huge task.

...

Some religious orders are financially healthy, but Fries' office reckons that only 4 percent of current sisters are adequately funded for their retirement needs. Typically, the problem is worst in smaller orders.

Religious orders are totally independent from dioceses in administration and finance. But they often serve in schools and other parish or diocesan institutions, so bishops and parishioners naturally feel a responsibility to help.

The religious orders' plight first gained national attention with a 1985 Wall Street Journal article by John Fialka. Contacted by fellow Catholics who offered donations, Fialka helped organize SOAR (Support Our Aging Religious), which pioneered in fundraising and last year received $1.4 million to aid retirees.

The U.S. bishops then followed suit, sponsoring their first annual collection in 1988 under the new retirement office, co-sponsored with three organizations of women's and men's orders.

The annual December collection was scheduled to cease next year, but at their June meeting the bishops agreed to extend the program another 10 years. Also, the retirement office plans to increase training for orders on how to manage investments, buildings and other assets.

Hundreds of orders have been forced to sell off assets to cover expenses

If you are considering a vocation as a nun or as a religious sister, please pray about it. We desperately need you! Please pray for vocations. And, pray for traditional vocations - people that will actually wear a real habit and remain faithful to Rome.

In addition, please see my well known post entitled "Nuns Should Wear the Habit."

Image Source: Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus

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Ordinations at the Abbey of Le Barroux

Here are images from the ordinations this month in June 2006 at the Abbey of Le Barroux (France).

Image Source: Richard L'Ollivier

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Words of Inspiration: July 30, 2006

"We need to be someone for the naked who not only lack clothing but mercy."

"We need to be someone for the destitute who not only lack a roof over their heads, but who are deprived of having someone who cares, someone to belong to."

Blessed Mother Teresa

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The St. Michael the Archangel Prayer

Short Version:

Saint Michael, Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And you, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

Background Information:

One day after Mass and in a Conference with the Cardinals, Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) fell down and received a vision of hell. Physicians ran to him to find no pulse; they feared that he had died. Yet, he opened his eyes only a few minutes later and screamed, "Oh what a horrible picture I was permitted to see!" In his visions, legions of devils flew from the depths of hell to cause destruction to the Church and damn souls. Suddenly St. Michael the Archangel appeared and fought the devils back into the abyss of hell. Following this, Pope Leo XIII created a prayer in honor of St. Michael.

Full version:

This original prayer was taken from The Raccolta, 1930, Benzinger Bros., pp. 314-315. The Raccolta is a collection of the official prayers which carry indulgences of the Catholic Church.

Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in "our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in high places" (Ephes., VI, 12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of the dragon, "the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan," bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit "so that he may no longer seduce the nations." (Apoc. XX.2)

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints, we confidently undertake to repulse the attacks and deceits of the devil.

PSALM 67: God arises, His enemies are scattered and those who hate Him flee before Him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence of God.

V. Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee bands of enemies.
R. He has conquered, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the offspring of David.

V. May Thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us.
R. As great as our hope in Thee.

(at the "+" make the sign of the Cross)

We drive you from us, whoever you may be, unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions, assemblies and sects; in the Name and by the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ, + May you be snatched away and driven from the Church of God and from the souls made to the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Divine Lamb. + Most cunning serpent, you shall no more dare to deceive the human race, persecute the Church, torment God’s elect and sift them as wheat. + The Most High God commands you. + He with whom, in your great insolence, you still claim to be equal, "He who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim., 11.4). God the Father commands you. + God the Son commands you. + God the Holy Ghost commands you. + Christ, God’s Word made flesh, commands you. + He who to save our race outdone through your envy, humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death" (Phil, 11,8); He who has built His Church on the firm rock and declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Her, because He will dwell with Her "all days even to the end of the world" (St. Mat., XXVIII,20). The sacred Sign of the Cross commands you, + as does also the power of the mysteries of the Christian Faith. + The glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you. + She who by her humility and from the first moment of her immaculate Conception, crushed your proud head. The faith of the Holy Apostle Peter and Paul and of the other Apostles commands you. + The blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession of all the Saints command you. +

Thus, cursed dragon, and you, diabolical legions, we adjure you by the living God, + by the true God, + by the holy God, + by the God "who so loved the world that He gave up His only Son, that every soul believing in Him might not perish but have life everlasting" (St. John, III); stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out to them the poison of eternal damnation; stop harming the Church and hindering her liberty. Begone, Satan, inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man’s salvation. Give place to Christ in whom you have found none of your works; give place to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church acquired by Christ at the price of His Blood. Stoop beneath the all-powerful Hand of God; tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy and terrible Name of Jesus, this Name which causes hell to tremble, this Name to which the Virtues, Powers and Dominations of Heaven are humbly submissive, this Name which the Cherubim and Seraphim praise unceasingly repeating: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the God of Armies.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. May the Lord be with thee.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. God of Heaven, God of earth, God of Angels, God of Archangels, God of Patriarchs, God of Prophets, God of Apostles, God of Martyrs, God of Confessors, God of Virgins, God who has power to give life after death and rest after work, because there is no other God than Thee and there can be no other, for Thou art the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, of whose reign there shall be no end, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy glorious Majesty and we beseech Thee to deliver us by Thy power from all the tyranny of the infernal spirits, from their snares, their lies and their furious wickedness; deign, O Lord, to grant us Thy powerful protection and to keep us safe and sound. We beseech Thee through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord.
That Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and liberty, we beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy Church, we beseech Thee to hear us.

(Holy water is sprinkled in the place where we may be.)

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Who May Say This Prayer?

“The Holy Father (Pope Leo XIII) exhorts priests to say this prayer as often as possible, as a simple exorcism to curb the power of the devil and prevent him from doing harm. The faithful (laity) also may say it in their own name, for the same purpose, as any approved prayer. Its use is recommended whenever action of the devil is suspected, causing malice in men, violent temptations and even storms and various calamities. It could be used as a solemn exorcism (an official and public ceremony in Latin) to expel the devil. It would then be said by a priest, in the name of the Church and only with a Bishop’s permission" (Angelus Press 1962 Daily Missal).

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Protestants, Looking for Information on Catholicism?

Please see these posts for information on Catholicism:

• Frequently Asked Questions on Catholicism
• Recommended Reading and Websites

Image Source: Pope Pius XII, Believed to be in the Public Domain

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St. Martha

Memorial (1969 Calendar): July 29
Semidouble (1955 Calendar): July 29

Today is the feastday of St. Martha, virgin. She was the sister of Mary of Bethany (Mary Magdalene) and Lazarus. Jesus stayed in the house of Marthra, Mary and, Lazarus, his friends at Bethany when he was in Judea. Their house was 2 miles from Jerusalem. We read of three visits in Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-53, and John 12:1-9.

St. Martha is remembered for the kindness and hospitality she showed to Jesus Christ when He visited her. In Luke 10:23-42, Jesus reminds Martha that the most important thing is to listen to Him! She is busy serving Our Lord while Mary is contemplating. Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:38-42). Through Martha's example, we learn how importantlistening to God is. Serving God is extremely important, but it shouldn't take away from praying and contemplating. Prayer must be first!

St. John writes one thing of Martha when Jesus came there later to share a meal with the three: "Martha served." Remember that Jesus said the least will be the greatest. We should seek not to be in charge and control; but rather, we should seek to serve others. For through serving others, we serve Jesus Christ Himself.

According to a legend, After Our Lord's Ascension into Heaven, Martha, her brother and sister, Marcella her handmaid, and Maximin, one of the seventy two disciples of our Lord, and other Christians were placed on a boat without sails or oars. They were left for dead but God guided the boat to Marseilles. It was their preaching and the miracle that converted many of the people of Marseilles and Aix to believe in Jesus. Lazarus was made Bishop of Marseilles and Maximin of Aix.

St. Martha withdrew from the group along with several women. They lived in a remote area without men in a spirit of purity. St. Martha foretold her death years in c. 80 AD before it ever occurred. Her body lies at Tarascon, and it is still venerated today.

Source: Catholic Culture

Prayer:

Hear us, O God, our Savior: and as we rejoice in the feast of blessed Martha, Thy Virgin, so we may learn a filial devotion to Thee. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Novena Prayer:

"St. Martha, I resort to thy protection and aid and as a proof of my affection and faith I offer this light which I shall burn every Tuesday. Comfort me in all my difficulties and through the great favor thou didst enjoy when the Savior was lodged in thy house,. Intercede for my family that we may always hold God in our hearts, and that we may be provided for in all our necessities, I ask, St. Martha, to overcome all difficulties as thou didst overcome the dragon at thy feet."

As a Novena, this may be said for nine Tuesdays with the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.

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May Priests Still Wear the Cassock?

YES! In fact, it is even recommended!

Longer Answer:

Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University.

Q: I know of priests who wear their cassock on Sunday but do not wear it in public. Why is this? Are there guidelines that priests have to wear a cassock in church but not outside? — J.G., Stone Mountain, Georgia

A: The use of a cassock (or soutane), an ankle-length garment, worn by clerics and choristers, remains common in some parts of the world while in others it has almost disappeared or, as our reader points out, is reserved for liturgical functions.

A priest's cassock is usually black although white is sometimes used in tropical climates. Bishops and some other honorific prelates wear a purple cassock. A cardinal's cassock is red. These colored cassocks are usually reserved for liturgical functions, however, and both bishops and cardinals typically don a black cassock with colored buttons, trimmings and sash indicating the wearer's hierarchical status.

The Pope's cassock is white, a custom that arose after St. Pius V (1504-1572), a member of the Order of Preachers, continued to wear his Dominican habit even after his elevation to the papacy in 1566.

According to canon law (Canon 284) clergy are required to don some form of worthy ecclesiastical dress according to the norms of the bishops' conference and legitimate local customs.

Thus, while there is ample scope for different forms of clerical garb, a priest should be readily identifiable by his external presentation, unless some grave external circumstances, such as the legal prohibition of clerical dress, makes the ecclesiastical law impossible to practice.

In the United States, the official norms ask that priests generally use the black clerical suit and collar although nothing prevents the use of the cassock. All the same, the custom of largely reserving the cassock for "in house" use within the church, rectory or seminary is fairly long-standing in the United States and predates the Second Vatican Council.

In Poland, and some other Central European countries, the sight of a priest in cassock is still quite common, occasionally even while engaged in leading youth groups and pilgrimages.

In the Vatican, the use varies. Many priests prefer to use the clerical suit for daily chores and reserve the cassock for formal meetings; others retain the habitual use of the cassock.

In fact, until April, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger could be observed almost daily as he walked across St. Peter's Square from home to office and back again, dressed in a simple black cassock.

Within the liturgy, the cassock may be used along with a surplice (a white large-sleeved loose-fitting garment worn over the cassock and reaching almost to the knees, usually made of linen or cotton and sometimes decorated with lace) in carrying out most rites in which an alb is not prescribed. This would include, for example, the celebration of baptisms, Benediction, and weddings outside of Mass.

However, the expanded role attributed to the alb as a universal liturgical vesture has diminished the use of the cassock and surplice both for priests and for others such as acolytes who often used it to serve Mass.

© Innovative Media, Inc.

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Vacation Bible School

This week I have posted very little because I was a teacher at vacation Bible school at a nearby parish, and I was busy most of the day teaching. The Bible School is a joint project between the Catholic Church and the nearby Presbyterian Church. So, I thought both Catholics and Presbyterians. I taught 1st through 4th grades. And, it was a lot of fun.

Monday we talked about Ruth and being loyal. Tuesday was about King David and being true to oneself. Wednesday we focused on Queen Esther and Pope John Paul ll, and we talked about being brave. I really made sure I talked about Pope John Paul ll so the Presbyterian children would know about him. One little girl said that he was Jewish... I'm just so glad that I was there to help them in the truth. Thursday we talked about the four fisherman that became disciples. And today I had to act out St. Paul's conversion on the Road to Damascus. We talked about being changed, and I talked most of the class about how Jesus turned the violence he endured into a Resurrection and victory. I wanted the children to know that the Cross wasn't the only thing that He endured. I wanted them to know about the Garden of Gethsemane, the Scourging, the Carrying of the Cross, etc.

And, overall, I really think they learned a lot. I'm so glad to have helped make a difference. And, I can tell you that it is so easy to talk with children. They don't result to insulting language. They are not like anyone that I talked with online. Why? Because their minds are open! They want to seek and follow God. And, that's what I'm so happy about. They are just so ready to learn and follow God. They do through Bible verses at me that are twisted or interpreted incorrectly. They are ready for God.

I am hopeful that through my work and the work of others, these children will be converted to the one, saving faith - Catholicism (i.e. Can non-Catholics be saved?)

I can only think of Our Lord's own words: "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14)

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Distractions During Prayer

Distractions During Prayer

Brother John Raymond - Community of the Monks of Adoration 12/12/93: "Many people complain of distractions during prayer. One must not think that this is only a problem for people of today. Shakespeare writes the following for one of the characters in his plays: My words rise up, My thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts seldom to Heaven go.

What is a distraction? Let me describe some. I start praying perhaps by meditating on a Mystery of the Rosary. I am thinking about the Presentation in the Temple while praying the Hail Mary when all of a sudden I am thinking about a baseball game, what's for lunch or what I'm going to do the next day. Now if I did not mean to think these distracting thoughts then my prayer has not been in vain. Remember that prayer is not an intellectual exercise but a conversation or a desire for a relationship with God. Still, many people would like to have less distractions during prayer. Here are some suggestions that might help.

When you realize during prayer that you are no longer in the Presence of God but have wandered somewhere else then throw the distraction out. But one must do this gently and not with violence. A violent return to prayer can be a bigger distraction than what one is trying to throw out. The spiritual writers of old used to advise that one simply brushed distractions away as if they were annoying flies. This is a good analogy for the problem. I know that when I am talking to someone and a fly takes a great interest in me I am only momentarily distracted from the conversation. But let a bee instead of a fly landed on me and we have a totally different story. The conversation with the other person would be abruptly stopped while I tried to avoid being stung. My total concentration would be on the bee and not on the person I was talking to for some time. So treat distractions lightly and don't worry about them.

Another technique to overcome annoying distractions is to make them part of one's prayer. For instance I remember once while praying the Rosary being distracted by thoughts of my sick cousin. Instead of throwing this out I began to pray for my cousin. Even a distraction as unrelated as a baseball game still involves people who could use one's prayers. Mention these people to Jesus and ask Him to help them. Jesus told Sister Mary of the Holy Trinity, a Poor Clare, concerning distractions to "use them by praying for what is presented to you."

Health and environment do effect the number of distractions one has during prayer. Being sleepy or tired causes the mind to wander much more easily. Other factors such as not eating properly, tension, worries, etc. can lead to a very distracting time. I remember being told once to pray now while one is healthy because it is almost impossible to do so when you are sick. A bad headache can make just thinking, let alone praying, a very challenging task. If possible try to minimize these problems. If you can't then pray about them or pray for the grace to pray with them.

In passing I must say that our present world environment is not conducive to prayer. Our minds are overwhelmed with images from the television, sounds from the radio, horror stories from the newspapers, etc. The media feeds our minds with many thoughts for distraction during prayer. These things whether we like it or not become impressed upon our minds. They make it difficult for one to raise one's mind to God."

St. Therese of Avila, a Doctor of the Church called the Doctor of prayer, taught that most of the problem one has during prayer is related to what one does when one begins to pray. She really emphasizes the importance of beginning prayer by placing oneself in the Presence of God. Another term for this recollection. This fancy term means nothing more than collecting your thoughts. Give yourself time to settle down to prayer. Breathe deeply, find the best position, forget about what you were doing a few minutes before, etc. Don't begin your prayer already distracted. In whatever way is best for you, maybe a picture of Jesus, imagining Him before you or by another method place Him before you.

There is a Saint to pray to for help in this area. The French Carmelite nun Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity said before she died that when she was in Heaven she would help people to be recollected.

Finally, consider praying out loud when distractions are really bad - if you are alone. This technique is especially helpful while doing what is called "conversational prayer," that is talking to God. By praying out loud at least if you get so distracted - and stop praying - you'll notice it!"

Image Source: Altar Boy Society at St. Anthony of Padua

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European Union - Embyronic Stem Cell Research

There has been a lot of talk during the past few weeks concerning the European Union forcing its member states to fund embryonic stem cell research. Remember, that this research destroys embryos and has proven useless.

Well, Monday, July 24, 2006, the European Union made a compromise that the Catholic Church is upset about still. Now, "The Monday vote would make sure that the EU does not directly pay for embryonic stem cell research but member nations would be free to use EU science funds they receive to pay for it in their own countries."

In its Wednesday issue, the L'Osservatore Romano condemned the effort to find a compromise between funding the research, which involves the destruction of days-old unborn children, and pro-life concerns about taking human life. The paper said the EU is condoning "a macabre illicit trade." Expanding on the Vatican's response to the vote, Bishop Elio Sgreccia, head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, told Vatican Radio that the vote violated a "primordial right" to life and authorized "the use of a human being on the basis of 'I kill you in order to gain benefits for others.'" "To not be opposed to research that is destructive and inherently violent" is "an act of serious inconsistency," he said.

Source: LifeNews

Concerning the Compromise:

The compromise means that some money from the EU's $65 billion science budget will fund some embryonic stem cell research over the 2007-2013 period that it covers. But it also includes consessions to nations oppose to embryonic stem cell research that the funding would not go to pay for destroying human embryos but rather for research on existing embryonic stem cells or on research conducted after the destruction of human life has taken place. A coalition of nations, led by Germany, had been working to block any funding for embryonic stem cell research and appeared to be on the verge of winning the debate. However, Finland, which holds the EU presidency this year, proposed the compromise and Slovenia, one of the members of the coalition, reversed its position and supported it.

Source: LifeNews

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A Prayer for a Deceased Priest

O God, Thou didst raise Thy servant, N., to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, according to the Order of Melchisedech, giving him the sublime power to offer the Eternal Sacrifice, to bring the Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ down upon the altar, and to absolve the sins of men in Thine own Holy Name. We beseech Thee to reward his faithfulness and to forget his faults, admitting him speedily into Thy Holy Presence, there to enjoy forever the recompense of his labors. This we ask through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Please pray for...

I ask you to please pray for Monsignor DeBlanc, who recently died at the age of 91. Please also pray for these priests who have died: Fr. Andrea Santore (murdered in 2006), Fr. McKenna, Fr. Reitmeyer, Fr. Eusebio Ferrao (murdered in 2006), and Bishop Luigi Locati (murdered in 2005).

Image Source: Unknown, Believed to be in the Public Domain

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St. Joachim and St. Anne

Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne (1969 Calendar): July 26
St. Anne: Double of the II Class (1955 Calendar): July 26
St. Joachim: Double (1955 Calendar): August 16

Sts. Joachim and Anne are the parents of Mary, the Mother of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. They were privileged to be the grandparents of Jesus Christ.

What we know about the Blessed Virgin Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne, comes from Protoevangelium Jacobi (The Gospel of James). It is not part of the Bible, but the document, which was written c. 170 AD gives insight into the life of Mary and her parents. Joachim was a prominent and respected man, however, he had no children, and he viewed this as a punishment from God. In an answer to his prayers, he and Anne, his wife, were given the daughter Mary, who was conceived without sin. She remained sinless, ever-virgin, and was the Mother of God. Their prayers were answered greater than they could have ever imagined!

There is a great Shrine to St. Anne in Canada - Ste. Anne de Beaupre. It is a site of constant miracles. Cripples have entered the Shrine on crutches and left by walking through the door because they were completely healed. Another Shrine is Ste. Anne d'Auray in Britanny, France. There is also a church of St. Anne in Jerusalem, and the church is believed to have been built on the location where Sts. Joachim and Anne lived.

The feast of St. Anne was made a holy day of obligation under Pope Gregory XV who reigned from 1621 to 1623 as Dom Gueranger relates: "Gregory XV, after having been cured of a serious illness by St. Anne, had ranked her feast among those of precept, with the obligation of resting from servile work." The Feast of St. Anne was listed as a Holy Day in Pope Urban VIII's 1642 Universa Per Orbem, and it remained as such in some places like Quebec for some time.

Patronage of St. Anne: against poverty; barren; broommakers; cabinetmakers; carpenters; childless couples; equestrians; grandmothers; grandparents; homemakers; housewives; lace makers; lace workers; lost articles; miners; mothers; old-clothes dealers; poverty; pregnancy; pregnant women; horse riders; seamstresses; stablemen; sterility; turners; women in labour; Brittany; Canada; France; Quebec; archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan; diocese of Norwich, Connecticut; Santa Ana Indian Pueblo; Taos, New Mexico.

Collect:

O God, Who didst vouchsafe to bestow upon blessed Anne such grace, that she was found worthy to become the mother of her who brought forth Thine only-begotten Son: mercifully grant that we who celebrate her festival, may be helped by her intercession with Thee. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

In the Protoevangelium of James, St. Joachim is described as a rich and pious man of the house of David who regularly gave to the poor and to the temple.  However, as his wife was barren, the high priest rejected Joachim and his sacrifice, as his wife's childlessness was interpreted as a sign of divine displeasure. Joachim consequently withdrew to the desert where he fasted and did penance for forty days. Angels then appeared to both Joachim and Anne to promise them a child. Joachim later returned to Jerusalem and embraced Anne at the city gate. The cycle of legends concerning Joachim and Anne were included in the Golden Legend and remained popular in Christian art until the Council of Trent restricted the depiction of apocryphal events.

No liturgical celebration of Saint Joachim was included in the Tridentine Calendar. It was added to the General Roman Calendar in 1584, for celebration on March 20, the day after the feast day of Saint Joseph. In 1738, it was transferred to the Sunday after the Octave of the Assumption of Mary. As part of his effort to allow the liturgy of Sundays to be celebrated, Pope Pius X transferred it to August 16, the day after the Assumption, so that Joachim may be remembered in the celebration of Mary's triumph.  It was then celebrated as a Double of the 2nd Class, a rank that was changed in 1960 to that of 2nd Class Feast.

Dom Guaranger on the Feast of St. Joachim:

From time immemorial the Greeks have celebrated the feast of St. Joachim on the day following our Lady's birthday. The Maronites kept it on the day after the Presentation in November, and the Armenians on the Tuesday after the Octave of the Assumption of the Mother of God. The Latins at first did not keep his feast. Later on it was admitted and celebrated sometimes on the day after the Octave of the Nativity, September 16, sometimes on the day following the Conception of the Blessed Virgin, December 9. Thus both East and West agreed in associating St. Joachim with his illustrious daughter when they wished to do him honour.

About the year 1510, Julius II placed the feast of the grandfather of the Messias upon the Roman Calendar with the rank of double major; and remembering that family, in which the ties of nature and of grace were in such perfect harmony, he fixed the solemnity on March 20, the day after that of his son-in-law, St. Joseph. The life of the glorious patriarch resembled those of the first fathers of the Hebrew people; and it seemed as though he were destined to imitate their wanderings also, by continually changing his place upon the sacred cycle.

Hardly fifty years after the Pontificate of Julius II the critical spirit of the day cast doubts upon the history of St. Joachim, and his name was erased from the Roman breviary. Gregory XV, however, re-established his feast in 1622 as a double, and the Church has since continued to celebrate it. Devotion to our Lady’s father continuing to increase very much, the Holy See was petitioned to make his feast a holiday of obligation, as it had already made that of his spouse, St. Anne. In order to satisfy the devotion of the people without increasing the number of days of obligation, Clement XII in 1738 transferred the feast of St. Joachim to the Sunday after the Assumption of his daughter, the Blessed Virgin, and restored to it the rank of double major.

On August 1, 1879, the Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, who received the name of Joachim in baptism, raised both the feast of his glorious patron and that of St. Anne to the rank of doubles of the second class.

Patronage of St. Joachim: fathers, grandfathers, grandparents

Collect:

O God, Who of all Thy Saints didst choose the blessed Joachim to be father to the Mother of Thy Son: grant, we beseech Thee that we who honor his festival, may evermore experience his patronage. Through the same our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Note: No commemoration is made of the octave of the Assumption under the 1954 rubrics (common octaves are not commemorated on doubles of the I or II class).

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Visit to Conception Seminary College

Hello, everyone! Blessings and peace in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord!

Last week I returned from visiting Conception College Seminary in Missouri, USA. I enjoyed spending time with the Benedictine monks and visiting the minor basilica. Overall, during my visit I've realize how important prayer truly is, even though I am not completely supportive of some of the aspects of the seminary there.

While there, I purchased a copy of Christian Prayer, which contains the complete Liturgy of the Hours. I have been praying the Liturgy of the Hours at Lauds (morning), Vespers (evening), and Compline (night) ever since I left the monastery. While at the monastery, I prayed with the monks at Lauds, daytime prayer, Mass, Vespers, and Compline. It was so beautiful to hear them chanting the Liturgy, equating to the best part of my experience there. And, it was so wonderful to see men in full habit walking around and bearing witness to the Faith of the Universal Church.

Grace and peace!

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St. James the Greater, Apostle

Apostle Saint James the Greater" by El Greco, 1606, oil on canvas, Museo del Greco, Toledo, Spain

Feast (1969 Calendar): July 25

Double of the II Class (1955 Calendar): July 25

Today we celebrate the Feastday of St. James. He is called St. James the Greater in order to distinguish him from the other St. James, who was the author of the Epistle of St. James and another disciple of Our Lord. He is called "the Greater" simply because he became a disciple before the other James. According to some historians and legends, St. James the Greater may have been a cousin to Jesus. However, it is certain that St. James the Greater, who we remember today, was the brother of John and son of Zebedee.

James, John, Peter, and Andrew were all fishermen in Bethsaida, on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Our Lord called to Simon Peter and Andrew and said, "Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men" (Mt. 4:19). And, then Our Lord turned to James the Greater and his brother John, and both of them instantly left their nets and followed Our Lord.

St. James the Greater, along with Peter and John, was one of the few that witnessed Our Lord's Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and Our Lord’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane before His passion.

And while St. James abandoned Our Lord during His Passion along with the other disciples, he repented and returned to the faith. And, not only that, but he went out and proclaimed the Gospel. According to legend St. James went to Spain and evangelized there for seven years. St. James and St. John asked Our Lord to be at His right hand in Heaven, and Our Lord said they would be with Him in a far more different and wonderful way than they could have expected.

St. James the Greater died a martyr for Jesus. He was killed by the sword by the order of King Herod Agrippa in c. 44 AD, and his martyrdom is the only one of the apostles that are recorded in the Bible (Acts 12:2). He was the first apostle to be murdered for the faith.

Each year on July 24, many people make a pilgrimage to St. James of Compostela in Spain, the 3rd largest shrine in all of Christendom. According to legend, his body was taken by angels when he was murdered, and it was sailed in an unattended boat to Spain where a massive rock closed around it. In the ninth century, a star in the sky revealed the location of the tomb of St. James, and that was were the Shrine was built. Below the altar rests the remains of St. James the Greater. Some people do not believe the remains are truly his; however, Pope Leo XIII in 1884 in Omnipotens Deus accepted the authenticity of the relics at Compostela. As the feast of all of the other apostles, the Feast of St. James was in times past a holy day of obligation.

Excerpt from Dom Gueranger's Liturgical Year:

LET us, today, hail the bright star which once made Compostella so resplendent with its rays that the obscure town became, like Jerusalem and Rome, a centre of attraction to the piety of the whole world. As long as the Christian empire lasted, the sepulchre of St. James the Great rivalled in glory that of St. Peter himself.

Among the saints of God, there is not one who manifested more evidently how the elect keep up after death an interest in the works confided to them by our Lord. The life of St. James after his call to the apostolate was but short; and the result of his labours in Spain, his allotted portion, appeared to be a failure. Scarcely had he, in his rapid course, taken possession of the land of Iberia, when, impatient to drink the chalice which would satisfy his continual desire to be close to his Lord, he opened by martyrdom the heavenward procession of the twelve, which was to be closed by the other son of Zebedee. O Salome, who didst give them both to the world, and didst present to Jesus their ambitious prayer, rejoice with a double joy: thou art not repulsed; He who made the hearts of mothers is thine abettor. Did He not, to the exclusion of all others except Simon His Vicar, choose thy two sons as witnesses of the greatest works of His power, admit them to the contemplation of His glory on Thabor, and confide to them His sorrow unto death in the garden of His agony? And to-day thy eldest-born becomes the first-born in heaven of the sacred college; the protomartyr of the apostles repays, as far as in him lies, the special love of Christ our Lord.

But how was he a messenger of the faith, since the sword of Herod Agrippa put such a speedy end to his mission! And how did he justify his name of son of thunder, since his voice was heard by a mere handful of disciples in a desert of infidelity?

This new name, another special prerogative of the two brothers, was realized by John in his sublime writings, wherein as by lightning flashes he revealed to the world the deep things of God; it was the same in his case as in that of Simon, who having been called Peter by Christ, was also made by Him the foundation of the Church; the name given by the Man-God was a prophecy, not an empty title. With regard to James, too, then, eternal Wisdom cannot have been mistaken. Let it not be thought that the sword of any Herod could frustrate the designs of the most High upon the men of His choice. The life of the saints is never cut short; their death, ever precious, is still more so when in the cause of God it seems to come before the time. It is then that with double reason we may say their works follow them; God Himself being bound in honour, both for His own sake and for theirs, to see that nothing is wanting to their plenitude. As a victim of a holocaust, He hath received them, says the Holy Ghost, and in time there shall be respect had to them. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge nations, and rule over peoples; and their Lord shall reign for ever.[1] How literally was this divine oracle to be fulfilled with regard to our saint!

Nearly eight centuries, which to the heavenly citizens are but as a day, had passed over that tomb in the north of Spain, where two disciples had secretly laid the apostle's body. During that time the land of his inheritance, which he had so rapidly traversed had been overrun first by Roman idolaters, then by Arian barbarians, and when the day of hope seemed about to dawn, a deeper night was ushered in by the Crescent. One day lights were seen glimmering over the briars that covered the neglected monument; attention was drawn to the spot, which henceforth went by the name of the field of stars. But what are those sudden shouts coming down from the mountains, and echoing through the valleys? Who is this unknown chief rallying against an immense army the little worn-out troop whose heroic valour could not yesterday save it from defeat? Swift as lightning, and bearing in one hand a white standard with a red cross, he rushes with drawn sword upon the panic-stricken foe, and dyes the feet of his charger in the blood of 70,000 slain. Hail to the chief of the holy war, of which this Liturgical Year has so often made mention! Saint James! Saint James! Forward, Spain! It is the reappearance of the Galilean fisherman, whom the Man-God once called from the bark where he was mending his nets; of the elder son of thunder, now free to hurl the thunderbolt upon these new Samaritans, who pretend to honour the unity of God by making Christ no more than a prophet.[2] Henceforth James shall be to Christian Spain the firebrand which the Prophet saw, devouring all the people round about, to the right hand and to the left, until Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place in Jerusalem.[3]

And when, after six centuries and a half of struggle, his standard bearers, the Catholic kings, had succeeded in driving the infidel hordes beyond the seas, the valiant leader of the Spanish armies laid aside his bright armour, and the slayer of Moors became once more a messenger of the faith. As fisher of men, he entered his bark, and gathering around it the gallant fleets of Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Albuquerque, he led them over unknown seas to lands that had never yet heard the name of the Lord. For his contribution to the labours of the twelve, James drew ashore his wellfilled nets from west and east and south, from new worlds, renewing Peter’s astonishment at the sight of such captures. He, whose apostolate seemed at the time of Herod III to have been crushed in the bud before bearing any fruit, may say with St. Paul: I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, for by the grace of God I have laboured more abundantly than all they.[4]

[1] Wild. iii. 6-8.
[2] Battle of Clavijo, under Ramiro I, about 845.
[3] Zach. zii. 6.
[4] 2 Cor. xii. 11, and 1 Cor. xv. 10.

Prayer:

Be Thou, O Lord, the Sanctifier and Protector of Thy people: so that defended by the aid of Thine Apostle James, they may please Thee in their manner of life, and serve Thee in peace of soul. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Words of Inspiration: July 25, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa: "We too must be: the Light of Charity, the Truth of Humility, the Life of Sanctity"

Image Source: Images in the Public Domain. If you are interested in obtaining all of the images of this series in high resolution, please click here to visit my post to obtain them.

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Prayer to Jesus in the Tabernacle

O Divine Savior!

I thank Thee for having perpetuated Thy humble, obedient, self-sacrificing and recollected silence of Nazareth in the tabernacle. How Thy example puts me to shame! Forgive me for my bold, self-seeking, and superficial talkativeness.
Teach me to understand the words: "In silence and in hope shall your strength be." (Is. 30, 15)

Prayer Source: Unknown

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A Prayer of Supplication to the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Purgatory is real! Please pray this Prayer of Supplication to the Poor Souls in Purgatory.

O holy souls, as one truly devoted to you, I promise never to forget you and continually to pray to the Most High for your release. I beseech you to respond to this offering which I make to you, and to obtain for me, from God, with Whom you are so powerful on behalf of the living, that I may be free from all dangers of souls and body.

I beg both for myself and for my relations and benefactors, friends and enemies, pardon for our sins, and the grace of perseverance in good, whereby we may save our souls. Obtain for us peace of heart; assist us in all our actions; succor us promptly in all our spiritual and temporal needs; console and defend us in our dangers.

Pray for our Holy Father, the Pope; for the exaltation of Holy Church; for peace between nations; for Christian rulers; and for tranquility among peoples; and grant that we may one day all rejoice together in Paradise. Amen.

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St. Bridget of Sweden

Optional Memorial (1969 Calendar): July 23
III Class (1962 Calendar): October 8
Double (1954 Calendar): October 8

St. Bridget of Sweden was a member of the Franciscan Third Order for laypeople and was born 1303 and died July 23, 1373. Her mother was Birger Persson, governor and provincial judge (Lagman) of Uppland, and of Ingeborg Bengtsdotter, and her father was extremely affluent too. While St. Bridget was still unborn, her mother was saved from shipwreck for Bridget's sake.

St. Bridget received careful religious education and while seven years old, she displayed remarkable illuminations. At the age of 10, St. Brigid listened to a homily on Our Lord's passion. The next night she saw Jesus on the Cross covered with blood, and He spoke to her. This is one of her first visions from Jesus that she was privileged to receive throughout her life. St. Bridget could never speak of the Passion of Our Lord without tears.

In 1315 her mother died, so St. Bridget was cared for by her aunt. At the age of 13, she married Ulfo Gudmarsson, a prince of Nericia, and they had eight children, one of whom was St. Catherine of Sweden. Her husband was a very pious man. Over the years St. Bridget continued to grow in holiness and was soon well known far and wide. She educated children and cared for the poor and sick. St. Bridget even set apart a house for their reception. In an act of humility that we all can learn from, St. Bridget would wash their feet and even kiss them. Her humility recalls the humility of Jesus in washing the disciples feet.

In the early 1340's, Ulfo and Bridget journeyed to Compostella to visit the tomb of the apostle St. James, but during the journey her husband became gravely ill. St. Dionysius appeared to St. Bridget at night and foretold his recovery and other future events. Ulfo became a Cistercian monk. However, Ulfo soon became ill and died in 1344 in the Cistercian monastery of Alvastrâ.

After this, St. Bridget heard Christ calling her in a dream to live more austere life, so she devoted herself entirely to Christ. She founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior; she erected a double monastery for monks and nuns at Vadstena. Nearly the rest of her life was lived in Rome where she worked for the return of the Popes from Avignon. Upon her return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, St. Bridget was struck by a fever and suffered from illness for a whole year. She died on July 23, 1373. Our Lord revealed the date of her death to her in a previous vision.

St. Bridget received many visions from Our Lord during her life. In one of these appearances, He revealed a set of prayers that would honor His injuries during the Crucifixion. The Lord said to her: "I received 5480 blows on My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys with the following Prayers (which He taught her) for a whole year. When the year is up, you will have honored each one of My Wounds."

Promises

According to a publication that was published about the prayers, Our Lord made 21 promises to St. Bridget that He said apply to the one who recites the 15 prayer for a whole year. However, some of them may be against Church teachings. So, please don't say these prayers just for the promises. Say them to honor Our Lord's sufferings.

1. I will deliver 15 souls of his lineage from Purgatory.

2. 15 souls of his lineage will be confirmed and preserved in grace.

3. 15 sinners of his lineage will be converted.

4. Whoever recites these Prayers will attain the first degree of perfection.

5. 15 days before his death I will give him My Precious Body in order that he may escape eternal starvation; I will give him My Precious Blood to drink lest he thirst eternally.

6.15 days before his death he will feel a deep contrition for all his sins and will have a perfect knowledge of them.

7.I will place before him the sign of MY Victorious Cross for his help and defense against the attack!

8. Before his death I shall come with My Dearest Beloved Mother.

9. I shall graciously receive his soul, and will lead it into eternal joys.

10. And having led it there I shall give him a special draught from the fountain of My Deity, something I will not for those who have not recited My Prayers.

11. Let it be known that whoever may have been living in a state of mortal sin for 30 years, but who will recite devoutly, or have the intention to recite these Prayers, the Lord will forgive him all his sins.

12. I shall protect him from strong temptations.

13. I shall preserve and guard his 5 senses.

14. I shall preserve him from a sudden death.

15. His soul will be delivered from eternal death.

16. He will obtain all he asks for from God and the Blessed Virgin.

17. If he has lived all his life doing his own will and he is to die the next day, his life will be prolonged.

18. Every time one recites these Prayers he gains 100 days indulgence.

19. He is assured of being joined to the supreme Choir of Angels.

20. Whoever teaches these Prayers to another, will have continuous joy and merit which will endure eternally.

21. There where these Prayers are being said or will be said in the future God is present with His grace.

Private Revelation

Like all private revelation since the death of the Last of the Apsotles, these visions and promises do not have to be believed by anyone. The Church, in her authority, declares them worthy of belief, but a Catholic does not have to believe them in order to remain a Catholic.

Pope Benedict XV said:

"The approbation of such revelations implies nothing more than, after mature examination, it is permissible to publish them for the unit of the faithful. Though they don't merit the same credence as the truths of religion, one can, however, believe them out of human faith, conforming to the rules of prudence by which they are probable, and supported by sufficient motives that one might believe in them piously."

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Prayer of the Chalice

 

Father, to Thee I raise my whole being, a vessel emptied of self. Accept Lord, this my emptiness, and so fill me with Thyself-- Thy Light, Thy Love, Thy Life-- that these precious gifts may radiate through me and over- flow the chalice of my heart into the hearts of all with whom I come in contact this day, revealing unto them the beauty of Thy Joy and Wholeness and the Serenity of Thy Peace which nothing can destroy.

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Doing Your Best

It's been very clear to me after I visited a Benedictine monastery, that everyone is a sinner. No one is worthy of the great glory of God. It is beyond mercy and compassion for anyone to be granted clemency. But, Our God is mercy and loving beyond all words. He is the truth, the Way, and the Light. And as He said, no one shall come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

If we reject Jesus, we reject salvation. Mankind can do nothing to please God or boast of. It is through the mercy of God that He accepts our prayers and our works and sufferings when we offer them to Him in prayer. It is mercy itself for Our Innocent God to look upon us, the very men that crucified Him by our own wickedness.

When I returned from my retreat in the monastic community, I was sad to look at the world. We have people that go around supporting abortion, artificial contraception, embryonic stem cell research, and the list goes on. These actions are mortal sins - they destroy the life within us. And, then I log on to the Internet and see the typical hedonistic news focusing on fashion, money, and health. Then I read someone's comment on a Catholic forum, where he states he's leaving the Church.

To Protestants that I've argued with:

I hope you realize that I have never condemned anyone intentionally. I only want Our Lord's prayer to be answered:

Lord, I pray. I ask you to pray for me. Pray for us. I pray that all may be one. I pray that all may be one. Father, may they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in You. May they be one that the world will believe that you sent me. I gave them some glory you gave me so that they may be one just as you and I are one: I in them and You in me, so that they may be completely one that the world may know that you sent me, and that I love them as you love. I made you to known to them and will continue to do so, in order that the love you have for me may be in them and so that I also may be in them (John 17: 21-26).

I hope you realized that this verse was the foundation for everything I've ever argued with any Protestant about. I don't want discord and arguing, but I have to remember that Our Lord also said He came not to bring peace but the sword (Matthew 10:34). I just want everyone to be united in the same Eucharist, the same Confirmation, and the same Sacraments. The Catholic Church, which I firmly believe, teaches that Protestant Sacraments, other than baptism and sometimes marriage, are invalid. The Church (The Magesterium) teaches this because it has the Spirit of the Lord to guide it in its teachings.

Peace and joy are not something just for Heaven. They exist now in the Eucharist at the Catholic Mass. I have just wanted the whole world to experience the source of mercy in the Eucharist. I want the whole world to fall down and praise Our Lord and make reparation of the wickedness of the world. How sad that thousands are led astray each day by the lies of the devil. He comes as an angel of light to bring discord. He did that with Martin Luther and others. Martin Luther set out to reform indulgences, which was a great thing. But, he became corrupted and essentially sought to change Christianity to his liking.

The Pope at that time only rejected around 21 of the 95 parts of Martin Luther's Theses. Right after Martin Luther formed his own church, the Catholic Church reformed itself in the Catholic Reformation.

I just want people to follow Jesus Christ and not Martin Luther. I want everyone to follow the complete truth of Christianity, which is in the Church. I came from Lutheranism. I know what it teaches, and I know that while some parts are true, some parts are wrong. It's not a matter of opinion either. Jesus Christ's opinion is the only one that matters. And in Matthew 16:18-20, he gave St. Peter the keys to the Church with the power to forgive sins in John 20:21-23. He promised that the devil would never prevail against His Church.

I know that Our God will listen us and have mercy on us all. I just wish the whole world would unite in one Church as Our Lord prayed before His brutal passion. That's all I have wanted all this time. If I have brought anyone grief or upset anyone, forgive me. I only want the best for others and for Our God.

Please see these posts for information on Catholicism:

• Frequently Asked Questions on Catholicism
• Recommended Reading and Websites

Image Source: Jesus and the Centurion by Veronese, 16th Century

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Pope Benedict XVI Visits Switzerland

On Tuesday, July 18, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI made an unannounced visit to Switzerland. He visited a kennel of St. Bernard dogs and a monastery too. His vacation will end July 28, 2006.


AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, Arturo Mari

AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, Arturo Mari

AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, Arturo Mari

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Fasting for Peace in the Middle East

Pope Benedict XVI is calling on all mankind to join in praying and fasting for peace in the Middle East today, especially for Israel and Lebanon.

Image: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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