Happy Michaelmas!

"Michaelmas" is pronounced "MICKel-mus" is one of the 4 English Quarter Days

Today is also one of the 4 English "Quarter Days," days which fall around the Equinoxes or Solstices and mark the beginnings of new natural seasons ( i.e., Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall) and which were used in medieval times to mark "quarters" for legal purposes, such as settling debts.  Debt collection was forbidden certain times of the year such as during the Octave of Christmas.

The other days like this are Lady Day (the Feast of the Annunciation) on March 25, the Feast of St. John on June 24, and Christmas on December 25.

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Rosary Novena for the Defense of the Family

The following is taken from the recent SSPX Newsletter.  Let us join our prayers for this intention:

Approaching rapidly is the October 2014 Extraordinary Meeting of the Synod of Bishops: “Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization”. This Synod will be held from October 5-19 and potentially has the grave danger of undermining the Church's doctrinal and moral teachings on marriage and family issues.

To counteract this danger, the USA District Superior, Fr. Jurgen Wegner, is asking everyone to join in a rosary novena for the defense of the family:

I request that all pastors dedicate at least three sermons in October and November to the fundamental truths about marriage. I request also that you invite all the faithful to join us in a novena of rosaries from September 29th to October 7th. We will offer our rosaries for the defense of the family. Please encourage everyone to pray the 15 decades of the rosary."

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Bishop Morlino vs. Holy Wisdom Monastery

While this story is slightly dated, it’s worth repeating here for those who are in or around the Madison Area.  The “Holy Wisdom monastery" has rightfully been made off limits to all priests of the Diocese.  This place, as the following article indicates, is ripe with the fruits of discord and heresy.  

If you notice in the comments to the article on the website of The Wisconsin State Journal that many people are condemning Bishop Morlino for his actions.  Some are pledging support for the heretics, some of whom still falsely call themselves “Catholic.”  This is a good reminder that the enemies of Christ are always at work to sow discord (e.g. Luke 16:8)

Bishop Robert Morlino is continuing to put more distance between the Madison Catholic Diocese and Holy Wisdom Monastery, a former Catholic monastery on the outskirts of Madison that is now a non-Catholic ecumenical retreat center. 

In the latest development, Morlino is now prohibiting priests in the diocese from “attendance or participation at all events held at Holy Wisdom Monastery and all events sponsored or co-sponsored by Holy Wisdom Monastery or the Benedictine Women of Madison,” according to a March 7 letter to priests leaked to the State Journal. 

... 

In 2000, the monastic Catholic sisters at the site welcomed a Protestant woman to live with them, a move that led them to seek independence from the Catholic Church. The Vatican approved their request in 2006. The monastery is now managed by the Benedictine Women of Madison, an ecumenical community led by Sister Mary David Walgenbach, who is Catholic. 

Morlino’s action highlights a longstanding beef some Catholics, especially those who are more tradition-minded, have with the monastery. The monastery’s worship services, they say, retain so many elements of a Mass that unsuspecting Catholics could be duped into thinking the services are valid representations of Catholic teaching. This is especially worrisome, they say, because the worship services diverge from church doctrine in profound ways, such as allowing women to preach and embracing the relationships of gay couples. 

“Holy Wisdom Monastery is perhaps best known among local Catholics for substantive rejection of the Catholic faith, so I would think priests or sisters should know they are not sending a good message if they attend events there,” said Elizabeth Durack of Madison, who attends the Cathedral Parish in Downtown Madison and has been vocal in encouraging “faithful Catholics” not to attend activities at the monastery. 

... 

Morlino, in his letter to priests, said it was his duty “to protect the integrity and unity of the faith.” There “is a grave potential for scandal and confusion among the faithful, owing to Holy Wisdom Monastery’s status as a former Catholic monastery,” he wrote. 

Read more: The Wisconsin State Journal 

Please remember to support Traditional Catholic charities (check out the Top 10 Charities for Traditional Catholics).  We must all work diligently in order to safeguard the Faith that is under attack from outside and inside the Holy Church.

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Book Review: AA 1025: The Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle

Back in the 1960s the memoirs of a secret Communist agent were discovered by a French nurse named Marie Carre while attending to an auto accident in which the agent was killed. In his briefcase was found a set of biographical notes which she kept and read, and then decided to publish because of their extraordinary content. The end result is a little book entitled, AA 1025---The Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle, which reveals the sentiments and plans of this Communist who had deliberately entered the priesthood (along with over a thousand others) with the intention of subverting and destroying the Catholic Church from within. The following excerpt is taken from his notes:

"It was during those days that I launched on the market the program that would allow Catholics to be accepted by Protestants... I prophesied with assurance the suppression of Latin, of priestly vestments, of statues and images, of candles and prie-dieu (so that they could kneel no more). And I also started a very active campaign for the suppression of the Sign of the Cross. This Sign, and also genuflections, are all ridiculous customs. I also prophesied (and we were then in 1940) the disappearance of altars, replaced by a completely bare table, and also of all the crucifixes, in order that Christ be considered as a man, not as a God. I insisted that Mass be only a community meal, to which all would be invited, even unbelievers... I searched for the means of suppressing the Pope. I consoled myself by hoping that we would surely succeed in making him look foolish."

Over the past few days I finished this book and it is alarming what has happened in the past 50 years that the Communist, atheistic agents sought:

• Emphasis on "the Lord's Supper" instead of "The Sacrifice"
• The use of the Mass in vernacular
• The abandonment of the High Altar for a bare table
• Communion in the Hand
• Less use of the phrase "Real Presence"
• Communal Penance sessions
• A New Canon that specifically included removing the reference to Christ's "Holy and Venerable hands"
• Elimination of the talk of indulgences
• A shift to the focus of the rights of man instead of the rights of God
• The abandonment the original schema for Vatican II developed by Traditionalists like Archbishop Lefebvre
• And much more

This short book is a testament that evil is real and in our midst and that the enemy can hide behind a facade of holiness, when in fact they seek to subvert the Church and create one world religion focused on man.  The best thing that we can do to resist this is to always hold true to the Traditions of our Fathers and reject all novelties.  The Communists would frequently mask their evil behind seemingly good intentions; but they knew that the consequence of their work would ultimately be detrimental to the Faith.

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The Martyred Bishops of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church United with Rome

A few years ago I received a copy of "The Martyred Bishops of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church United with Rome" by Peter-Michael Preble.  This week I was able to get around to reading the book.

It is a very quick read - only 79 total pages.  The book itself begins with presenting an overview of the persecution inflicted upon the Church by the Communists in Romania.  For those unfamiliar, the Communists had a false council called in which the Union with Rome from 1700 was allegedly broken.  In so doing, the Romanian Catholics would be forced to accept the puppet Orthodox Church that served the Communists.  But to legitimize this, the Communist regime needed a bishop of the Catholic Church to "convert."

"The Martyred Bishops of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church United with Rome" presents the story of each of the bishops who, refusing to convert to the Orthodox-Communist sect, won the crown of martyrdom.  Some died while in prison.  Others were shot in the head.  Others died while in exile.  But all won the glorious crown of martyrdom. 

The book itself is a straight-forward and easy read.  You really feel connected with the Bishops whose zeal for the Truth and for the Catholic Church allowed them all to suffer with heroic courage.  One part that truly resonated with me was the following:

In prison the bishops, priests felt moments of indescribable joy.  They knew their heart was with God, whom they loved above all.  This grace renewed their courage and perseverance in following Christ, who "For the sake of the joy which lay before Him, endured the cross, heedless of its shame" (17)

I only wish the book ended with a history of what occurred in the years after Communism fell. Overall the book was inspiring and I am happy to recommend it.

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Massive Outpouring of Reparation for the "black mass" in Oklahoma City

It is simply outrageous that public space was used for a blasphemous mockery of the Catholic Religion. God is not mocked.  He will conquer.  The Immaculate Heart of our Lady will triumph.

The act of reparation hosted by the local Archbishop for the public satanic "black mass" was well attended in Oklahoma City. At 3:00 PM thousands of Catholics gathered at St. Francis Church for a holy hour, which included a procession and Benediction. About 1,200 people prayed at the Civic Center from 4:45 to 7:00 PM, as the "black mass" was perpetrated against God. At the end of the final rosary, a rainbow appeared over the skyline of Oklahoma City, it was a heavenly reminder of Our Lady's victory over Satan referenced in Genesis. "She shall crush his head." 

Taken from the SSPX Website:

Catholics of Tradition responded with extraordinary generosity to the calling of a crusade of reparation against the Satanic Black Mass in Oklahoma City. With only 9 days for notice and planning, 6 priests, 7 seminarians, a group of Franciscan sisters and almost 1,000 lay faithful from across the country converged on Oklahoma City on September 21.

A Solemn Mass was offered by Fr. Daniel Themann in a ballroom filled past capacity and with hundreds of faithful pouring out into the hotel foyer watching the Mass on live video feed. In his sermon, Fr. Themann reminded the faithful that a good soldier is motivated not by the hatred of that which is in front of him but by the love of that which is behind him. Condemning the Satanic blasphemy permitted by civil authorities to occur in the Civic Center, he also reminded the faithful of how each of us has also offended God. He echoed Fr. Wegner’s call for reparation.

Following Mass, the crowds moved through the hotel in profound silence to march to the gates of the Civic Center. Despite a predicted 80% chance of torrential rain, a blazing sun beat down on the procession as it wended its way through the city with the fifteen decades of the rosary and the Christus Vincit reverberating across town. The Knights and Honor Guard from St. Mary’s, Kansas led the column and a choir from La Salette Boys Academy from Olivet, Illinois sang the Mass and acted as gracious ushers.

Humanly-speaking such a result from Fr. Wegner’s call to arms would have been impossible in so short a time. Faithful came in a spirit of reparation from Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, and Pennsylvania with some chapels organizing chartered buses to make the trip.

Following the Mass and Rosary procession of reparation, the U.S. District provided lunch to the participants in the Sheraton Hotel where the Mass had been sung and in a local restaurant as the crowd exceeded the capacity of the hotel. The response of Tradition demonstrates how God can use even the most base and repulsive evil act to manifest His greatness. The clergy and faithful of the U.S. District joyfully served as His instrument in manifesting His omnipotence over the tiny forces of evil pathetically attempting to mock His power.

 For those unfamiliar with this whole issue, Fox News provides some details:

Protesters far outnumbered attendees of a Satanic 'black mass' held in Oklahoma City Sunday.

The Oklahoman newspaper reported that between 40 and 50 people attended the ritual, which was held in a small theater in the basement of the Oklahoma City Civic Center. The ceremony was led by Adam Daniels, a self-proclaimed Satanist, who had said that his group would tone down the ritual's more decadent elements to comply with state law.

Daniels told the Tulsa World prior to the ceremony that he would include a ritual denouncing Jesus Christ and stomp and spit on a wafer representing the Communion host. He added that private rituals conducted by his group featured sex, urine, and nudity.

Meanwhile, about 1,200 Roman Catholics crowded into St. Francis of Assisi Church to hear a holy hour prayer service led by Archbishop Paul S. Coakely. Those who couldn't get into the sanctuary filled an adjacent gym and cafeteria area, while approximately 400 others gathered outside to hear the service piped through speakers.

Coakley told attendees in his homily that Oklahoma City had been targeted by "dark forces," but noted that as Christians "we know that Christ conquered Satan. The war has been won, Christ has conquered, though skirmishes will continue until Christ comes to reign forever."

The service was followed by a procession to the Civic Center, where protesters from around the region had gathered to demonstrate against the Satanic ritual. Security had been stepped up for the event and Oklahoma City Police told KOKH-TV that someone had called in a bomb threat during the service. The Oklahoman reported that one woman was arrested after she knelt in front of one of the entrances to the Civic Center and refused to leave.  [May she be praised for her actions to defend our Lord.  She is the modern day Veronica from the Via Dolorosa]

Despite the outrage over the service, city officials said they would not block the ritual from going forward because the Civic Center is a public building.

Image Sources: SSPX Website

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363 Cardinals and Bishops Who’ve Said the Latin Mass Since Summorum Pontificum

His Excellency, the Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago says the Traditional Mass, the Mass of the Ages
NOTE: THIS IS AN UPDATE TO MY PRIOR POST FROM 2012.

CLARIFICATION: THIS LIST CONTAINS BISHOPS WHO HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT THE TRADITIONAL MASS, PRESIDED AT THE THRONE, ADMINISTERED SACRAMENTS (E.G. CONFIRMATION) IN THE TRADITIONAL RITE, ETC.  IT DOES NOT MEAN EVERYONE OF THESE BISHOPS HAS SAID THE TRADITIONAL MASS.

Since the Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI was put into effect in 2007 the following Bishops and Cardinals have celebrated the Immemorial Mass of All Ages. The Spanish blog Acción Litúrgica has compiled the following list.  H/T to The Eponymous Flower.

Some past articles of this blog covered the celebration of these Masses.  In those instances, I have linked the item below to the post with news, photos, and/or video of that Mass.

GERMANY: Cardinal Brandmüller (President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Historical Sciences).  Bishop Ackermann  (Bishop of Trier), Bishop Dick (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Cologne), Bishop Hanke (Bishop of Eichsttät), König (Auxiliary Bishop of Paderborn), Bishop Mixa (Bishop of Augsburg),  Ostermann (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Münster), Overbeck (Bishop of Essen), Zdarsa (Bishop of Augsburg), and Ziegelbauer (Auxiliary Bishop of Augsburg) .

ARGENTINA: Baseotto  (Bishop Emeritus Military of Argentina), Fenoy (Bishop of San Miguel), Laise (Bishop Emeritus of San Luis) and Sánchez Sorondo (Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences).

AUSTRALIA: Cardinal Pell (Archbishop of Sydney). Archbishops Coleridge (Archbishop of Brisbane), Hart (Archbishop of Melbourne), Hickey (Archbishop of Perth) and Wilson (Archbishop of Adelaide). Bishops Elliot (Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne), Grech (Bishop of Sandhurst, +2010), Jarrett (Bishop of Lismore), Long (Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne), Mathys (Bishop of Armidale), Porteus (Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney), Prowse (Bishop of Sale) and Tomlinson (Bishop of Sandhurst).

AUSTRIA: Cardinal Stickler (Archivist Emeritus of the Vatican, +2007). Bishop Laun (Auxiliary Bishop of Salzburg).

BELGIUM: Archbishop Leonard (Archbishop of Brussels and Primate of Belgium). Bishop Harpigny (Bishop of Tournai).

BENIN: Bishop N'Koue (Bishop of NATITINGOU).

BRAZIL: Archbishops Pena (Archbishop of Niterói, Emeritus in 2011), Rezende Dias (Archbishop of Niterói), Taveira Correa (Archbishop of Belem do Pará) and Tempesta (Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, created cardinal in 2014). Areas raffle Bishops (Bishop Apostolic Administration of St. John Vianney Marían), Bergamin (Bishop of Nova Iguaçu), Canindé Palhano (Bishop of Senhor do Bomfim), Costa Souza (Auxiliary Bishop of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro), Da Silva ( Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Fortaleza), Da Silva Brito (Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro) Forge Peace (Bishop of Campos dos Goytacazes), Homem De Castro (Auxiliary Bishop of Rio de Janeiro), Fontes de Matos (Bishop of Palmira dos Indios ) Guimarâes Gomez (Bishop Emeritus of Campos dos Goytacazes) Gouvêa Matosso (Bishop of Nova Friburgo), Marchiori (Bishop of Apucarana), Monteiro Guimarães (Bishop of Garanhuns), Lopes de Faria (Bishop Emeritus of Diamantina, +2009) Paixao (Auxiliary Bishop of Salvador-Bahía), Pestana Filho (Bishop Emeritus of Annapolis, +2011), Romer (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Rio de Janeiro), Silva Matthes (Bishop Emeritus of Franca), Sivieri (Bishop of Propriá-Sergipe) Soares da Costa (Auxiliary Bishop of Aracaju) Stringhini (Bishop of Franca, now Bishop of Mogi das Cruzes), Ubiratan Lopez (Bishop of Itaguaí).

CANADA: Cardinals Collins (Archbishop of Toronto) and Lacroix (Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada). Archbishops Roussin (Archbishop of Vancouver, Emeritus in 2009), Miller (Archbishop of Vancouver), Prendergast (Archbishop of Ottawa). Bishops Blais (Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec), Daniels (Bishop of Grand Falls), Fabbro (Bishop of London, Ontario), LaRocque (Bishop Emeritus of Alexandria-Cornwall, Ontario),   Lemay (Auxiliary Bishop of Quebec [Now Bishop of Amos]).

CHILE: Cardinal Medina Estévez (Prefect Emeritus of Worship). Archbishop Piñera Carvallo (Archbishop Emeritus of La Serena). Duarte Garcia de Cortazar Bishops (Bishop of Valparaíso), Gleisner Wobbe (Auxiliary Bishop of La Serena), and González Errazuriz (Bishop of San Bernardo).

CHINA: Cardinal Tong Hon (Bishop of Hong Kong), Cardinal Zen (Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong).

COLOMBIA: Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos (em. President of the Ecclesia Dei Commission) Bishops Hurtado López (Bishop of Girardot) and Ramírez Gómez (Bishop Emeritus of Garzón, President of the Ecclesiastical Court).

CROATIA: Bishop Pozaic (Auxiliary Bishop of Zagreb).

DENMARK: Bishop Kozon (Bishop of Copenhagen).

ECUADOR : Bishop Pine Castle (Auxiliary Bishop of Portoviejo).

SLOVAKIA: Bezák Archbishop (Archbishop of Trnava).

SLOVENIA: Cardinal Rode (Prefect for Consecrated Life).

SPAIN: Cardinal Cañizares Llovera (Prefect for Divine Worship), Martínez Sistach (Archbishop of Barcelona), Herranz Casado (President Emeritus of the Council for Legislative Texts), and Navarrete Cortés (Rector Emeritus of the Pontifical Gregorian University, +2010). Archbishops Rodríguez Plaza (Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain), and Ureña Pastor (Archbishop of Zaragoza). Bishops: Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru (Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts) Cases Andreu (Bishop of Canarias), Fernández González (Bishop of Córdoba), Iceta Gavicagogeascoa (Bishop of Bilbao), Martínez Camino (Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid and Secretary the Spanish Episcopal) Conference and Yanguas Sanz (Bishop of Cuenca).

UNITED STATES: Cardinals Baum (Major Penitentiary Emeritus), Burke (Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura), DiNardo (Archbishop of Galveston-Houston), Egan (em. Archbishop of New York), Foley (Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, + 2011), George (Archbishop of Chicago), Levada (Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Emeritus in 2012), O 'Malley (Archbishop of Boston) and Wuerl (Archbishop of Washington). Archbishops Apuron (Archbishop of Agana), Aquila (Archbishop of Denver), Brown (Titular Archbishop of Aquileia and Papal Nuncio in Ireland), Brunett (Archbishop of Seattle, Emeritus in 2010), Carlson (Archbishop of Saint Louis), Coakley (Archbishop of Oklahoma), Di Noia (Vice President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei), Hugues (Archbishop Emeritus of New Orleans), Kurtz (Archbishop of Louisville), Lucas (Archbishop of Omaha), Myers (Archbishop of Newark), Nienstedt ( Archbishop of Sain Paul and Minneapolis), Pilarczyk (Archbishop Emeritus of Cicinnati), Sartain (Archbishop of Seattle), Vigneron (Archbishop of Detroit) and Wenski (Archbishop of Miami). Bishops Backer (Bishop of Birmingham), Bambera (Bishop of Scranton), Barber (Bishop of Oakland), Barres (Bishop of Allentown) , Bevard (Bishop of Saint Thomas), Blair (Bishop of Toledo, Ohio), B oyea (Bishop Lansing), Bruskewitz (Bishop of Lincoln, now emeritus), Burbidge (Bishop of Raleigh), Caggiano (Bishop of Bridgeport), Callahan (Bishop of LaCrosse), Conley (Auxiliary Bishop of Denver, now Bishop of Lincoln), Conlon ( Bishop of Jolliet) Cordileone (Bishop of Oakland, appointed Archbishop of San Francisco in 2012), Cotta (Auxiliary Bishop of Sacramento), Cummins (Bishop Emeritus of Oakland), D'Arcy (Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend), Dewane (Bishop of Venice), Di Lorenzo (Bishop of Richmond), DiMarzio (Bishop of Brooklynn), Doran (Bishop of Rockford, Emeritus in 2012), Elizondo (Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle), Etienne (Bishop of Cheyenne), Farrell (Bishop Dallas), Finn (Bishop of Kansas City), Foley (Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham), Foys (Bishop of Covington) Gainer (Bishop of Lexington, appointed Bishop of Harrisburg in 2014), García (Bishop of Monterey), Gelineau ( Bishop Emeritus of Providence), Hanchon (Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit), Hermann (Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis), Hying (Auxiliary Bishop of Milwaukee), Hurley (Bishop of Grand Rapids), Jugis (Bishop of Charlotte), Keleher (Bishop Emeritus Kansas City), Kicanas (Bishop of Tucson), Libasci (Bishop of Manchester), Loverde (Arlington Bishop), Madera Uribe (Bishop Emeritus of Fresno), Matano (Bishop of Burlington, in 2014 Bishop of Rochester), McFadden ( Bishop of Harrisburg, +2013), McManus (Bishop of Worcester), Morlino (Bishop of Madison), Mulvee (Bishop Emeritus of Providence), Murphy (Bishop of Rockville Centre), Nevares (Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix), O'Connell ( Bishop of Trenton), Olmsted (Bishop of Phoenix), Paprocki (Bishop of Springfield, Illinois), Parkes (Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee), Perry (Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago), Provost (Bishop of Lake Charles), Reiss (Auxiliary Bishop Detroit), Rhoades (Bishop of Harrisburg, now Fort Wayne-South Bend), Rice (Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Louis), Ricken (Bishop of Green Bay), Sample (Bishop of Marquette, now Bishop of Portland), Serratelli ( Bishop of Paterson), Silva (Bishop of Honolulu), Slattery (Bishop of Tulsa), Timlin (Bishop Emeritus of Scranton), Tobin (Bishop of Providence), Waltersheid (Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh), and Van Johnston (Bishop of Springfield, Missouri).

PHILIPPINES: Archbishops Argüelles (Archbishop of Lipa), Lagdameo (Archbishop of Jaro), and Palma (Archbishop of Cebu). Escaler Bishops (Bishop Emeritus of Ipil), De Gregorio (Administrator of the Prelature of Batanes) Hobayan (Bishop Emeritus of Cazarman), Tobias (Bishop of Novaliches) and Vergara (Bishop of Pasig).

FRANCE: Cardinal Barbarin (Archbishop of Lyon), Ricard (Archbishop of Bordeaux) and Ving-Trois (Archbishop of Paris and President of the French Episcopal Conference). Archbishops Aubertin (Archbishop of Tours), Bacque (Nuncio in Holland), Carré (Archbishop of Montpellier), Cattenoz (Archbishop of Avignon), D'Ornellas (Archbishop of Rennes), Le Gall (Archbishop of Toulouse), Madec (Archbishop Emeritus Toulon), Maillard (Archbishop of Bourges), Thomazeau (Archbishop of Montpellier, retired in 2011) and Wintzer (Archbishop of Poitiers). Aillet Bishops (Bishop of Bayonne), Aumonier (Bishop of Versailles), Bagnard (Bishop of Belley-Ars), Batut (Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon), Beau (Auxiliary Bishop of Paris), Benoît Gonnin (Bishop of Beavois, Noyon and Senlis), Boivineau (Bishop of Annecy), Bonfils (Bishop Emeritus of Apostolic Administrator of Nice and Ajaccio), Brouwet (Auxiliary Bishop of Nanterre, appointed Bishop of Tarbes-Lourdes in 2012), Castet (Bishop of Luçon), Centene (Bishop Vannes), De Dinechin (Auxiliary Bishop of Paris), De Germay (Bishop of Ajaccio), De Kerimel (Bishop of Grenoble), Delmas (Bishop of Angers), Dubost (Bishop of Evry), Dufour (Bishop of Limoges) Fikart (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Paris), Fort (Bishop of Orleans), Gaschignard (Bishop of Aire and Dax), Ginoux (Bishop of Montauban), Fréchard (Bishop Emeritus of Auch), Gaidon (Bishop Emeritus of Cahors, +2011) Guillaume (Bishop Emeritus of Saint-Dié), Herbreteau (Bishop of Agen), Kalist (Bishop of Limoges), Kratz (Auxiliary Bishop of Strasbourg), Le Bègue Germiny (Bishop of Blois), Lebrun (Bishop of Saint-Etienne ), Mathieu (Bishop of Saint-Dié), Nahmias (Auxiliary Bishop of Paris, now Bishop of Meaux), Pansard (Bishop of Chartres), King (Bishop of Frejus-Toulon), Riocreux (Bishop of Pontoise), Scherrer (Bishop Laval) and Séguy (Bishop Emeritus of Autun).

GABON: Mvé Engone Archbishop (Archbishop of Libreville). Bishop Madega Lebouankenham (Bishop of Mouila).

EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Bishop Nsué Edjang (Bishop of Ebebiyin).

HAITI: Gayot Archbishop (Archbishop Emeritus of Cap-Haitien, +2010).

HUNGARY: Bishops Farhat (Nuncio to Austria) and Lajos Varga (Auxiliary Bishop of Vác).

ITALY: Cardinal Antonelli (Archbishop of Florence, retired in 2008), Bagnasco (Archbishop of Genoa), Bartolucci (Choirmaster Emeritus of the Sistine Chapel), Caffarra (Archbishop of Bologna), De Paolis (Prefect of Economic Affairs), Piovanelli (Archbishop Emeritus of Florence), Poggi (Librarian Emeritus of the Holy See, +2010), Scola (Archbishop of Venice). Archbishops Accerbi (Prelate of the Order of Malta), Appignanesi (Archbishop Emeritus of Potenza), Bassetti (Archbishop of Perugia, created cardinal in 2014), Berloco (Apostolic Nuncio in Belgium), Betori (Archbishop of Florence), Boccardo (Archbishop of Spoleto-Norcia), Brugnaro (Archbishop of Camerino-San Severino), Crepaldi (Archbishop of Trieste), De Magistris (Major Penitentiary Emeritus), Fisichella (Titular Archbishop of Vicohabentia and President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization ), Molinari (Archbishop of L'Aquila), Negri (Archbishop of Ferrara) and Pozzo (Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei and Titular Archbishop of Bagnoregio). Bishops Ambrose (Bishop of Piacenza), Cancian (Bishop of Città di Castello), Cerrato (Bishop of Ivrea), Fisichella (President of the Pontifical Academy for Life), Giovanetti (Bishop of Fiesole, retired in 2010), Giusti (Bishop Livorno), Lambiasi (Bishop of Rimini), Miglio (Bishop of Ivrea, now Archbishop of Cagliari), Mistrorigo (Bishop emeritus of Treviso), Oliveri (Bishop of Albenga-Imperia), Rabitti (Bishop of Ferrara), Raspanti (Bishop Acireale), Ravignani (Bishop Emeritus of Trieste), Reali (Bishop of Porto-Santa Rufina), Scanavino (Bishop of Orvieto), Sciacca (Secretary to the Government of the Vatican State, now Deputy Secretary of the Apostolic Signatura), Sigismondi (Bishop Foligno), Tardelli (Bishop of San Miniato), Zenti (Bishop of Verona) and Zuppi (Auxiliary Bishop of Rome).

IRELAND: Martin (Archbishop of Dublin). Bishop Magee (Bishop of Cobh) and Moriarty (Bishop Emeritus of Kildare and Leighlin).

KAZAKHSTAN: Bishop Schneider (Auxiliary Bishop of Astana).

LIECHTENSTEIN: Haas Archbishop (Archbishop of Vaduz).

LITHUANIA: Bishop Bartulis (Bishop of Siauliai).

MEXICO: Cardinal Sandoval Iñiguez (Archbishop Emeritus of Guadalajara). Archbishop Suárez Inda (Archbishop of Morelia). Bishops González González (Auxiliary Bishop of Guadalajara) and Gutiérrez Valencia (Auxiliary Bishop of Guadalajara).

MONACO: Archbishop Barsi (Archbishop of Monaco).

NIGERIA: Cardinal Arinze (Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship). Ochiagha Bishops (Bishop Emeritus of Orlu), and Tochukwu Ukwuoma (Bishop of Orlu).

NEW ZEALAND: Bishop Basil Meeking (Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch).

NETHERLANDS: Bishop Punt (Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam), and Van Burgsteden (Bishop Emeritus of Haarlem-Amsterdam).

PARAGUAY: Bishop Livieres (Bishop of Ciudad del Este).

POLAND: Cardinal Dziwisz (Archbishop of Krakow) and Nycz (Archbishop of Warsaw). Archbishops Golebiewski (Archbishop of Wroclaw, Emeritus in 2013), and Zycinski (Archbishop of Lublin, + 2011). Bishops Balcerek (Auxiliary Bishop of Poznań), Cieslik (Auxiliary Bishop of Koszalin-Kolobrzeg), Czaja (Bishop of Opole), Depo (Bishop of Zamosc-Lubaczow, since 2012 Archbishop of Czestochowa ), Dziuba (Bishop of Lowicz) Gorny ( Bishop of Rzeszów, Emeritus in 2013), Malysiak (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Krakow), Mizinski (Auxiliary Bishop of Lublin), Pieronek (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Sosnowieck), Rys (Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow), Stobrawa (Auxiliary Bishop of Opole) , Szkodon (Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow) and Watroba (Bishop of Rzeszów) .

PORTUGAL: Faria Bishop (Bishop Emeritus of Funchal).

PUERTO RICO: Bishops Corrada del Rio (Bishop of Mayagüez), and Torres Oliveira (Bishop Emeritus of Ponce, +2012).

UK: Cardinal O'Brien (Edinburgh Archbishop and Primate of Scotland, retired in 2013). Archbishops Conti (Archbishop of Glasgow), Longley (Archbishop of Birmingham), McDonald (Archbishop Emeritus of Southwark) and Stack (Archbishop of Cardiff). Bishops Arnold (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, London), Brain (Bishop of Salford), Brainey (Bishop of Middlesbrough), Campbell (Bishop of Lancaster), Cunnigham (Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle), Davies (Bishop of Shewsbury), Doyle (Bishop of Northampton), Drainey (Bishop of Middlesbrough), Egan (Bishop of Portsmouth), Gilbert (Bishop of Aberdeen), Hopes (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, London), Kenney (Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham), McGough (Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham), McMahon (Bishop of Nottingham), Moran (Bishop of Aberdeen), Pargeter (Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham), Sherrington (Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, London), and Williams (Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool).

CZECH REPUBLIC: Bishop Baxant (Bishop of Litomerice).

RUSSIA: Archbishop Pezzi (Archbishop of the Diocese of Mary Mother of God).

SINGAPORE: Archbishop Goh Seng Chye (Archbishop of Singapore).

SRI LANKA: Cardinal Ranjith (Archbishop of Colombo).

SWITZERLAND: Bishops Farine (Auxiliary Bishop of Lausanne), Genoud (Bishop of Lausanne and Fribourg, +2010), Huonder (Bishop of Chur) and Perisset (Nuncio in Germany).

Bishops of the Society of St. Pius X: Fellay, De Galarreta, Tissier de Mallerais and Williamson.

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Litany to the Old Testament Saints

For Private Devotion Only.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

God of Abraham,
Have mercy on us.

God of Bethel,
Have mercy on us.

Mighty One of Jacob,
Have mercy on us.

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Have mercy on us.

God Almighty,
Have mercy on us.

God the Most High,
Have mercy on us.

Archangel Michael,
Pray for us.

Archangel Gabriel,
Pray for us.

Archangel Raphael,
Pray for us.

All you holy angels and archangels,
Pray for us.

Noah,
Pray for us.

All you holy people before the flood,
Pray for us.

Abraham,
Pray for us.

Isaac,
Pray for us.

Jacob,
Pray for us.

Joseph,
Pray for us.

All you holy patriarchs,
Pray for us.

Aaron,
Pray for us.

All you holy priests,
Pray for us.

Moses,
Pray for us.

Joshua,
Pray for us.

All you holy leaders,
Pray for us.

David,
Pray for us.

All you holy kings,
Pray for us.

Job,
Pray for us.

Tobit,
Pray for us.

All you holy men,
Pray for us.

Sarah,
Pray for us.

Rebecca,
Pray for us.

Rachel,
Pray for us.

Miriam,
Pray for us.

Deborah,
Pray for us.

Ruth,
Pray for us.

Hannah,
Pray for us.

Judith,
Pray for us.

Esther,
Pray for us.

All you holy women,
Pray for us.

Samuel,
Pray for us.

Jeremiah,
Pray for us.

Ezekiel,
Pray for us.

Daniel,
Pray for us.

Malachias,
Pray for us.

Elijah,
Pray for us.

Elisha,
Pray for us.

Isaias,
Pray for us.

All you holy prophets,
Pray for us.

Abel,
Pray for us.

Eleazar,
Pray for us.

Ananias,
Pray for us.

Azarias,
Pray for us.

Misael,
Pray for us.

All you holy martyrs and heroic witnesses,
Pray for us.

All you holy men and women, Old Testament saints of God,
Make intercession for us.

Be merciful,
Spare us, O Lord.

Be merciful,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all evil,
O Lord, deliver us.

From all sin,
O Lord, deliver us.

From breaking Your Commandments,
O Lord, deliver us.

From falling away from the Faith,
From doubting Your Word,
O Lord, deliver us.

From denying Your Name,
O Lord, deliver us.

From fear of proclaiming Your Name,
O Lord, deliver us.

From lack of sincere repentance,
O Lord, deliver us.

From losing hope,
O Lord, deliver us.

From fear of fraternal correction,
O Lord, deliver us.

From doubt of Your Power,
O Lord, deliver us.

From all false desires,
O Lord, deliver us.

From lack of zeal in Your service,
O Lord, deliver us.

We sinners,
We implore You, hear us.

That we continue to walk by faith,
We implore You, hear us.

That we witness to You regardless of human respect,
We implore You, hear us.

That we grow in love for Your Holy Word,
We implore You, hear us.

That we appreciate the blessing of having children,
We implore You, hear us.

That we overcome evil by the power of good,
We implore You, hear us.

That we who have more respond more,
We implore You, hear us.

That the Jewish nation will recognize You,
We implore You, hear us.

That all non-Christians will come to the Light,
We implore You, hear us.

That You would give eternal rest to the faithful departed,
We implore You, hear us.

That You would grant my special intention,
We implore You, hear us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fr. Goffine in "The Church's Year" for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

See the Mass readings for this Sunday by clicking here.

The Introit of the Mass is a fervent prayer; which may be said in every necessity and adversity:

INTROIT Bow down thine ear, O Lord; to me, and hear me: save thy servant, O my God, that hopeth in thee: have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to thee all the day. Give joy to the soul of thy servant: for to thee, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul. (Ps. 85) Glory, etc.

COLLECT Let Thy continued pity, O Lord, cleanse and defend Thy Church: and because without Thee it cannot abide in safety, govern it ever by Thy gift. Through, etc.

EPISTLE (Gal. 5:25, 26; 6:1-10) Brethren, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be made desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, and if a man be overtaken in any fault, you, who are spiritual, instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ. For if any man think himself to be something, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let everyone prove his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another. For every one shall bear his own burden. And let him that is instructed in the word, communicate to him that instructeth him, in all good things.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption: but he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting. And in doing good, let us not fail: for in due time we shall reap, not failing. Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

EXPLANATION This epistle is taken, like that of the Sunday before last, from the epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians, in which St. Paul shows them the insufficiency of the Jewish law, and that they can only be saved by a lively faith in Christ, but now he admonishes them to the performance of good works. You now live, he tells them, in the Spirit, that is, the Holy Ghost animates your heart by His grace, enlightens, confirms, and inflames you, admonishes and teaches you, impels your heart to do good; you must, therefore, also regulate your external conduct accordingly, and in particular devote yourself to the practice of humility and charity, as the foundations of a truly spiritual life. Humility must teach and move you to think little of yourself, to avoid vain glory, and not to confide in your own strength.

But charity should impel you to be meek and compassionate to all, even sinners, to correct them charitably, and lead them back to the path of virtue; since he who is harsh to the erring, despises and treats them roughly, is often permitted by God to fall into the same, nay, even into greater sins. Particularly you must show your charity one for another, that one bears the burdens of the other: that you bear the faults and imperfections of others just as patiently as you wish others to bear with your own imperfections; thus you will fulfil the law of Christ, which commands us to love our neighbor; you will prevent many sins which are occasioned by considering yourself perfect, raising yourself above others, criticizing their failings, and causing disturbance. True glory consists in knowing ourselves, our faults and evil inclinations, and in eradicating them.

Be grateful to those who instruct you in the word of God, and give to them willingly of your earthly possessions. What you sow, you shall reap; if you only follow the dictates of the flesh, do not mortify yourself, do not correct your failings, and indulge your sinful appetites, you will one day reap death, destruction and damnation, whereas, on the contrary, if you follow the dictates of the Holy Ghost, you will reap of the Spirit of life.

Let us obey this doctrine, for it is of interest to us, and impress deeply on our heart that without mortification of body and soul we cannot be saved.

ASPIRATION O, St. Paul! beg of God the grace for me, that I may always walk in humility, and the love of my neighbor, particularly in bearing with his imperfections and failings, and thus fulfil the law of Christ in this as in all things.

GOSPEL (Luke 7:11-16) At that time, Jesus went into a city called Naim: and there went with him his disciples, and a great multitude. And when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only, son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a great, multitude of the city was with her. Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, said to her: Weep not. And he came near, and touched the bier. And they that carried it stood still. And he said: Young man, I say to thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on them all; and they glorified God, saying: A great prophet is risen up amongst us, and God hath visited his people.

Why did Christ show compassion to this widow?

To convince us that God takes sorrowful and destitute widows under His protection; and is to them a consoler and helper; and to teach us to do the same. Woe, therefore, to those who oppress them and cause them to weep. The tears and cries of widows will ascend to God, who will terribly punish the injuries inflicted upon them. (Exod 22:22, 23)

Christ had still other reasons for compassion, for He saw in this deceased youth the death of sinners, and in the afflicted mother the pain which the Church experiences at the spiritual loss of so many of her children. Should this not also awaken our sympathy since it was the principal cause which moved our Savior to compassion. If we are faithful children of our mother, the Church, it is impossible for us not to share her sorrow, and we would surely not be her children, if we could contemplate without sorrow the multitude who daily die the death of sin, and thus separated from the living body of Christ, hasten to eternal destruction. O let us with the Church unceasingly, ask Jesus, that He raise sinners from their spiritual death, enlighten those in error so that all recognize the truth, find, and walk the path Which leads to life !

Why did Christ say to the widow: Weep not?

He wished to moderate her excessive sorrow, and to teach us that we should not mourn for the loss of our relatives, like the heathens who have no hope of resurrection to eternal life. (Thess. 4:16) Resignation to the will of God, with prayer and good works, will be of more use to the dead than many tears.

What else do we learn from this gospel?

That no one, however young and healthy, will escape death, wherefore we should always be prepared to die.

Instruction concerning death

IF there were locked up in prison several hundred persons, on whom sentence of death had irrevocably been pronounced, yet who knew not the day or hour of their execution; if one after the other, and often he who least expected it, were taken out to be executed; would not each one's heart tremble, whenever the prison door opened? Now the irrevocable sentence of death is pronounced on us all; we are all locked up in our bodies, as in a prison; (Ps. 114:8) one after the other is called hence, yet we do not regard it. We live as though we could live forever; we think only of the body, but for the soul nothing is done, except that we load it with sins and vices.

Is this rational? The body will be food for worms, but the soul (without knowing when) will travel into the house of eternity, to which place she must bring treasures of good works, in order to live happy for ever. Who would, therefore, be so foolish as to care only for the body during life, and neglect the salvation of the soul?

O man, says St. Francis of Sales, (Phil. part 1, chap. 13.) represent to yourself in lively colors, that at your death the world will cease to exist with respect to you. In that last hour the pleasures, the vanities, the riches, the honors, the friendships, and all that was dear to you, will disappear before your eyes as so many shadows. O fool that I am! you will then say, for what trifles and fooleries have I lost all! On the contrary, piety, good works, penance, etc., will appear pleasant to you, and you will exclaim: O, why did I not travel on this blessed road! Then the sins which you now consider as mere trifles, will seem to you like mountains, and all that you thought you had accomplished as, great things, with regard to piety, will seem to you very little.

What terrible fear will then seize your soul, when she must travel alone into the bottomless abyss of eternity which, as St. Bernard says, devours all possible, imaginable ages, and of which St. Gregory says, that we can easier say what it is not than what it is. What terrors will befall her, when she must appear before the tribunal of that God whom she never really loved and honored in her life-time and before whom she must now give the strictest account, and hear an irrevocable and just sentence!

Should not these thoughts make an impression upon you? How can you escape this terrible future? By living now, as you would wish to have lived at the hour of death. Die daily with St. Paul by crucifying the flesh and its lusts and by voluntarily withdrawing your heart from the world, its pomps and vanities, before death will do this by violence.

RESOLUTION O world! because I cannot know the hour, in which I must leave you, I will not be attached to you. O you dear friends and relatives, you, too, I will in future love only with a holy inclination, directed to God, which will not cease with death, but remain forever. O Lord! help me, that I may die totally to myself and the world, and live only for Thee, and partake of eternal happiness.

Instruction on the ceremonies used at funerals

"Behold, a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother, and a great multitude of the city was with her." (Luke 7:12)

Of these people who accompanied the funeral of the youth, we should learn to pay the last honors to the dead, and follow their bodies to the grave. This is a meritorious work, one pleasing to God, if it be not performed from vanity and self-interest, but for love of God and the deceased, with the charitable intention of assisting him by prayers. Therefore those do very wrong, who from worldly motives either omit this good work entirely, or during the funeral procession indulge in idle talk and deny the deceased even a short prayer.

Why is a cross carried before the corpse?

By this is indicated that the deceased during life professed Christ, died believing in Him, and hoping for resurrection through Him.

Why are lighted candles carried before the bier?

To represent the desire of the Church that the deceased through the grace of God may be received into eternal light. This custom is very ancient; wax-candles and torches, together with prayer and great solemnity were made use of at the burial of St. Cyprian who was beheaded for Christ's sake, in the year 258 after Christ. (P. Theodorici Ruinart, Acta Martyrum: Acta SS. Firmi et Rustici)

Why are the coffin and the grave sprinkled with holy water?

In order, as St. Thomas of Aquinas (Lib. iii. art. 21.) remarks, to implore God, on account of the prayers which the Church says when she blesses the water, that the souls of the faithful may be cleansed from all stains, and may receive consolation and refreshment in the tortures which they may still have to suffer.

Why are the body and the grave incensed?

By this the Church indicates that the deceased by his Christian vocation was a good odor of Christ (II Cor. 2:14, 15), and admonishes the faithful that their prayers should ascend like incense to heaven for the deceased.

Why are psalms and other sacred canticles sung?

This is done to remind us of the teaching of St. Paul, (I Thess. 4:12) not to be excessively sorrowful for the loss of the deceased, like the heathens who have no hope of eternal life. We also signify, thereby, that we congratulate the dead for the peace which they now enjoy. (Apoc. 14:13) This custom, as St. Jerome shows, (Ep. 53) is derived from the apostles, who interred St. Stephen, singing psalms and hymns of praise.

Why are the bells rung?

To invite the faithful to the funeral and to pray for the dead who, during lifetime, was called very often by the same bells, prayed with and for us during religious worship, and who is not separated from us by death.

Why are the bodies of the faithful buried with the head towards the East, and those of the priests towards the West?

The faithful are buried towards the East, whence the sun rises, to indicate, that they are waiting for Christ who is called the Orient from on High, (Luke 1:78) and whose voice they will hear at the end of the world, when He calls them to the resurrection; the priests towards the West, as a sign that on the day of judgment they will be placed opposite to the souls confided to them, to give an account of their charge and to bear judgment for or against them.

Why is a cross or monument erected aver the grave?
To show that the deceased was a follower of Christ, the Crucified, to admonish the passers-by to pray for him, and to remind us of the solemn moment of death.

Why is the body laid in consecrated ground?

This is done through reverence for the bodies of the dead which are, by baptism, temples of the Holy Ghost; to show that, even in death, they still belong to the communion of that holy Church, in which they were embodied during life by baptism, and to which they clung in faith even until death; to inspire the surviving with a holy fear lest they profane graves.

Why is the solemn funeral service of the Church denied to heretics?

Because they would not belong to the Church during life, and despised the holy customs and prayers of the Church for the dead. How should the blessing and prayer of the Church be useful in death to one who despised them during life.

Why does not the Church permit criminals and suicides to be buried on consecrated ground?

In order to express her horror for the crimes perpetrated by them, and to deter the faithful from committing similar actions.

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Cardinal George Will Be Succeeded by Bishop Blase Cupich

BREAKING NEWS: Cardinal George Replacement Will Be Succeeded by Blase Cupich of the Diocese of Spokane, Washington.

Three pieces of immediate interest to this blog's readers:

1. Back in 2002, Bishop Cupich severely restricted the Latin Mass community in his diocese of Rapid City by locking them out of their Church during the Triduum.  Source: Rapid City Journal

2. Bishop Cupich had in Spokane prohibited priests and others from praying outside of abortion clinics and severely hurt the pro-life cause.  Source: The Orate Fratres

3. He has not celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass.

4. He has destroyed architectural treasures that were financed and built by Catholic immigrants who willingly gave their treasures to the Church - only to have their buildings destroyed in the name of modernism (example: Seminary Chapel of St. Turibius Destroyed by Blase Cupich)

Prayers are very much in order.

While some may praise Bishop Cupich’s appointment, I’m skeptical.  The Catholic Church is not a democracy.  We believe the Church to be God’s instrument on earth, although led by imperfect people.  Committed Catholics like me want a traditional Church to take root in Chicago.  We want the Latin Mass.  We want traditional doctrine.  We want charitable works to help the poor, marginalized, and sinners.  I pray that Bishop Cupich be a force for what is truly good – not another modernist who waters down Catholic Dogma to make friends.

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Pray for the Ordination of Rev. Mr. Jamey Rigi

The USA District Office is happy to announce the forthcoming priestly ordination of Rev. Mr. Jamey Rigi at Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls, Idaho on September 20th, Ember Saturday. Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais will perform the ordination during the celebration of a solemn Pontifical Mass.

The faithful are cordially invited to attend this important occasion in the life of our priestly society and further details will be announced in the near future. In the meantime, please keep deacon, Mr. Jamey Rigi, in your prayers.

Extending now to 589 priests (and then 590 as of September 20th), the Society of St. Pius X continues to push forth fruit as a living branch of the Roman Catholic Church.

Source: SSPX.org

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September Ember Day Fast Reminder

Although Ember Days are no longer considered required in mainstream Roman Catholicism following Vatican II, they can - and should - still be observed by the Faithful. In fact, many Traditional priests encourage the Faithful to observe the days. Ember Days are set aside to pray and/or offer thanksgiving for a good harvest and God's blessings. If you are in good health, please at least fast during these three days and pray the additional prayers. Remember the words from the Gospel: "Unless you do penance, you shall likewise perish" (Luke 13:5).  Ember Days are days of fasting and partial abstinence.

Be sure to check out the Ember Day Manual if you are unfamiliar with this devotion.

Ember Days this September: September 17, 19, & 20.

From New Advent:

Ember days (corruption from Lat. Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence. They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday, and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross). The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy. The immediate occasion was the practice of the heathens of Rome. The Romans were originally given to agriculture, and their native gods belonged to the same class. 

At the beginning of the time for seeding and harvesting religious ceremonies were performed to implore the help of their deities: in June for a bountiful harvest, in September for a rich vintage, and in December for the seeding; hence their feriae sementivae, feriae messis, and feri vindimiales. The Church, when converting heathen nations, has always tried to sanctify any practices which could be utilized for a good purpose. At first the Church in Rome had fasts in June, September, and December; the exact days were not fixed but were announced by the priests. The "Liber Pontificalis" ascribes to Pope Callistus (217-222) a law ordering: the fast, but probably it is older. Leo the Great (440-461) considers it an Apostolic institution. When the fourth season was added cannot be ascertained, but Gelasius (492-496) speaks of all four. This pope also permitted the conferring of priesthood and deaconship on the Saturdays of ember week--these were formerly given only at Easter. 

Before Gelasius the ember days were known only in Rome, but after his time their observance spread. They were brought into England by St. Augustine; into Gaul and Germany by the Carlovingians. Spain adopted them with the Roman Liturgy in the eleventh century. They were introduced by St. Charles Borromeo into Milan. The Eastern Church does not know them. The present Roman Missal, in the formulary for the Ember days, retains in part the old practice of lessons from Scripture in addition to the ordinary two: for the Wednesdays three, for the Saturdays six, and seven for the Saturday in December. Some of these lessons contain promises of a bountiful harvest for those that serve God.

From Catholic Culture:

Since man is both a spiritual and physical being, the Church provides for the needs of man in his everyday life. The Church's liturgy and feasts in many areas reflect the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, fall and winter). The months of August, September, October and November are part of the harvest season, and as Christians we recall God's constant protection over his people and give thanksgiving for the year's harvest.

The September Ember Days were particularly focused on the end of the harvest season and thanksgiving to God for the season. Ember Days were three days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) set aside by the Church for prayer, fasting and almsgiving at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the year. The ember days fell after December 13, the feast of St. Lucy (winter), after the First Sunday of Lent (spring), after Pentecost Sunday (summer), and after September 14 , the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (fall). These weeks are known as the quattor tempora, the "four seasons."

Since the late 5th century, the Ember Days were also the preferred dates for ordination of priests. So during these times the Church had a threefold focus: (1) sanctifying each new season by turning to God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving; (2) giving thanks to God for the various harvests of each season; and (3) praying for the newly ordained and for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

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Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother

This meditation is offered today in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Richard of St. Victor says: “In martyrs, the intensity of their love mitigated their sufferings, but with Mary it was different; the more she loved, the more she suffered, and the greater was her martyrdom.” To her was wanting that great support which the martyrs enjoyed in their sufferings.

During their torments, they directed their inward gaze toward Our Lord, by whose grace and love they were strengthened and consoled. The flames of the love of Jesus cooled the fires of torture, softened the strokes of the scourges, and blunted the sharpness of the sword. But in her anguish, where could Mary turn her gaze as she stood beneath the Cross? Upon Jesus? Ah, it was precisely the sight of her divine Son that caused her the most intense suffering. Her one consolation at the sufferings of her Son was the knowledge that through His death we would be redeemed.

She offered her Son willingly for our salvation; yes, the sacrifice she made in union with Him was so great that St. Alphonsus says, “Two hung upon one Cross.” St. Thomas wrote that omnipotence itself could not invent a “greater greatness.” It was necessary that Mary’s sorrows should correspond to her holiness, for the sufferings and tribulations of the saints always keep pace with their sanctity.

The picture of Mary filled with sorrow on Calvary teaches us that on earth pain is the twin sister of love.

– “Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother”

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Indulgences for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Note: All is taken from the Raccolta

Chaplet of the Five Wounds

At the prayer of the Congregation of Discalced Clerks of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ here in Rome, in the Retreat of SS. John and Paul, Pope Leo XII, of holy memory, by a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated Dec. 20, 1823, granted the following Indulgences to all the faithful who, being contrite of heart, shall say with devotion the Chaplet of the Five Wounds of our Divine Redeemer, Jesus Christ, at the same time meditating upon them.

i. An indulgence of one year, to be gained once a day by saying this chaplet.

ii. A plenary indulgence (besides the above partial Indulgence) three times a year, that is on any one Friday in March, on the Feast of the Invention, and of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, or on any one day in the octave of these feasts, to all who shall have practised the devotion of saying this Chaplet at least ten times each month provided that on the aforesaid day, being truly penitent, having confessed and received the Holy Communion, they shall pray according to the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff. The Sovereign Pontiff Pius IX., by a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated August 11, 1851, extended this Plenary Indulgence to the feasts of this Nativity, Circumcision, and Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ, the feasts of His Most Holy Name, Easter Sunday, the Ascension, Corpus Christi, and the Transfiguration, or any one day in the octaves of these feasts, on the same conditions as above.

iii. An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines to all who shall say this Chaplet from Passion Sunday to holy Saturday inclusive; and the plenary indulgence, when they fulfil the Paschal precept. The condition of gaining all these Indulgences is, that the Chaplet used should be blessed by the most reverend the Father-General of the said Congregation, or by some other priest of the Congregation to whom the General has communicated the faculty received by him in virtue of the above-named decree; after they have been blessed, they cannot be sold or lent, or given away to others, &c., for the purpose of communicating to them the Indulgences, according to the general decrees of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated Feb. 6, 1657, June 5, 1721, and Feb. 9, 1820.

This chaplet consists of five sets, of five beads each; and at each one of these beads, in memory of the Five Wounds of Jesus Christ, one Gloria Patri is to be said; and at the end of each set of five, one Ave Maria is added in devotion to our Lady's sorrows.

Prayers to the Five Holy Wounds

Pope Pius VII., by a Rescript of time S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated Sept. 29, 1807, granted -

i. The indulgence of 100 days, daily, to all the faithful who shall devoutly recite the following prayers to the Five Sacred Wounds of Jesus Christ.

ii. The plenary indulgence, besides the above partial Indulgence, twice a year, - that is, on the two feasts, first, that of the Invention (May 3), and, secondly, that of the Exaltation, of the holy Cross (Sept. 14), - to all who shall say these prayers at least ten times a month, if, after having Confessed and Communicated on the above-named feast, they shall visit a church, and pray there according to the mind of the Sovereign Pontiff.

iii. The indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines, daily, to those who say these prayers from Passion Sunday to Holy Saturday, inclusive. Plenary on Easter Day, if, after Confession and Communion on that day, they should visit and pray as aforesaid.

THE PRAYERS.

Act of Contrition.

As I kneel before Thee on the cross, most loving Saviour of my soul, my conscience reproaches me with having nailed Thee to that cross with these hands of mine, as often as I have fallen into mortal sin, wearying Thee with my monstrous ingratitude.  My God, my chief and most perfect Good, worthy of all my love, for the many blessings Thou hast ever bestowed upon me; I cannot now undo my misdeeds as I would most willingly; but I will loathe them, grieving greatly for having offended Thee who art Infinite Goodness!  And now, kneeling at Thy feet, I will try at least to compassionate Thee, to give Thee thanks, to ask of Thee pardon and contrition; wherefore with heart and lips I say:

To the first Wound, of the Left Foot.

Holy wound of the Left Foot of my Jesus!  I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer.  I thank Thee for the love whereby Thou wast wearied in overtaking me on the way to ruin, and didst bleed amid the thorns and brambles of my sins.  I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, in atonement for my sins, all which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.

Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

To the Second Wound, of the Right Foot.

Holy wound of the Right Foot of my Jesus!  I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the bitter pain which Thou didst suffer.  I thank Thee for that love which pierced Thee with such torture and shedding of blood in order to punish my wanderings and the guilty pleasures I have granted to my unbridled passions.  I offer the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray unto Thee for grace to weep over my transgressions with burning tears, and to enable me to persevere in the good which I have begun, without ever swerving again from my obedience to the commandments of my God.

Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.


To the Third Wound, of the Left hand.

Holy wound of the Left Hand of my Jesus!  I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the bitter pain which Thou didst suffer.  I thank Thee for having, in Thy love, spared me the scourges and eternal damnation which my sins had merited.  I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray Thee to teach me how to turn to good account my span of life, and bring forth in it worthy fruits of penance, and so disarm the justice of God, which I have provoked.

Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

To the Fourth Wound, of the Right Hand.

Holy wound of the Right Hand of my Jesus!  I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the bitter pain which Thou didst suffer.  I thank Thee for Thy graces lavished on me with such love, in spite of all my most perverse obstinacy.  I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray Thee to change my heart and its affections, and make me do all my actions in accordance with the will of God.

Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

To the Fifth Wound, of the Sacred Side.

Holy wound in the side of my Jesus!  I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the cruel insult Thou didst suffer.  I thank Thee, my Jesus, for the love which suffered Thy side and heart to be pierced, that so the last drops of blood and water might issue forth, making my redemption to abound.  I offer to the Eternal Father this outrage, and the love of Thy most holy Humanity, that my soul may enter once for all into that most loving Heart, eager and ready to receive the greatest sinners, and never more depart.

Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.

Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Saviour crucified.

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