Terri Schiavo - the one-year anniversary

Today is the one-year anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo, who starved to death because her husband didn't love her. This is the reality that comes with euthanasia - good people die and life and death are placed in man's hands instead of God's.

Priests for Life offers the following prayer:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know that life is always a good,
and that it never loses its value
when it is beset by weakness or injury.
Lord, thank you for the life of Terri.
Even in her suffering and death
She revealed Your glory
and truth that life is always sacred.
As I remember Terri, I also commit myself
to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Via Dymphna's Well

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St. Stephen of Mar Saba

Today we remember St. Stephen of Mar Saba, the nephew of St. John Damascene. This young saint was introduced to monastic life at the age of 10 by St. John Damascene. Later on in life, St. Stephen asked his superior at the monastery if he would be permitted to live a hermit's life of prayer. The answer - he could except on weekends when he was needed as a counselor.

St. Stephen was a highly spiritual and prayerful saint although he also valued periods of quiet prayer and contemplation. During those times of prayer he would place a sign on his door: "Forgive me, Fathers, in the name of the Lord, but please do not disturb me except on Saturdays and Sundays."

St. Stephen of Mar Saba died in 794 AD. One biographer of him wrote, "Whatever help, spiritual or material, he was asked to give, he gave. He received and honored all with the same kindness. He possessed nothing and lacked nothing. In total poverty he possessed all things."

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Stational Church for March 31, 2006

Today's Stational Church at the the Church of St. Eusebius

The Roman Martyr-Priest, Eusebius, whom the Arian Emperor Constantius II had imprisoned for seven months in the priest's own home so that he might slowly starve to death, is today our leader to the blessed Christ for whose Divinity Eusebius died and won eternal life.Two weeks from today, we shall celebrate the Lord's life-giving death—the source of our resurrection and life. Christ's death is the Sacrament of all sacraments.

All the Christian mysteries flow from this main-spring: "the mystery of new life" "out of water and the Holy Spirit;" restoring or healing life in the tribunal of God's mercy; the reception of the Bread of Life at the Lord's Table; as well as the great "come forth" on the last day (from our tombs as Lazarus was called from his tomb). These and all other mysteries of our Faith are rooted in the death of the Lamb of God.

Let us pray: O God, who renews the world by Thine ineffable sacraments, grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy Church may profit by Thy eternal institutions, and not be lacking in temporal help. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Source: St. John Cantius Parish

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Lenten Prayer 1

Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts. Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins. Lead us back to the way of holiness. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep safe in all its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores. Amen.

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Catholic Church in France and Germany

Earlier in the year I was very pleased to read that the world Catholic population has increased by 1.1%! This is substantial.

In more recent, though equally joyful news, the Catholic Church remains highly frequented in Germany and France. Over the past year I've heard numerous reports of secularism taking over these two countries on CNN, so I was glad to finally have statistics. And the results are good for the Church. We just have to pray that more people in Europe practice the Catholic faith.

These are some of the statistics for France:

In France the poll showed that the Catholic Church remains by far the most important institution. Figures coming from the French Bishops Conference, a recent poll from the CSA institute and the daily LeMonde newspaper, show that 62 % of the population considers itself Catholic, 12 % say they are somewhat practicing and 35% are non-practicing. Half of French children are currently baptized, and about 18,826 adults and children over 7 years old were baptized in 2001. (Source)

In addition to this, there are over 24,000 priests and 100 bishops in France. Germany, likewise is showing a strong Catholic population benefiting from the election of Benedict XVI to the papacy.

Yet, the largest question remains as to whether these self-described "Catholics" are truly Catholic in the sense of Tradition.

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Stational Church for Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church Station —Church of Sts. Sylvester and Martin in Rome

Near this church the penitents used to pass through one of the most infamous of places, near the crossroads of Mercury and the Serbian walls, where there was the merulana necropolis (cemetery). That was where pagan Rome left the bodies of slaves and criminals to rot in the open, until the Christians built a chapel with the aim of venerating the Christian martyrs.Two weeks from today, the Church will celebrate the mystery of the living and life-giving Bread, the first source of life and health. "For he that eats this Bread shall have life everlasting." "And unless you eat this Bread you shall not have life in you."

Preceded by two stational saints, the first Confessors, who were given public veneration in the Church—St. Sylvester and St. Martin—we will go to God's altar, to the Mystery of Life, to Him who will say also to us:" I say to thee, arise!"

Let us pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who are chastised by fasting, may rejoice with holy devotion, and that our earthly affections being weakened, we may, more easily understand the things of heaven. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Source: St. John Cantius Parish

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Why do Catholics Light Prayer Candles?

Click here to browse some religious candles for sale!

Why Do Catholics Light Candles?

In the lighting of candles, we remember and truly live the words of Our Lord: "I am the Light of the World." In the lighting of candles we not only pray, but our prayers become smaller symbols of the One Light of Christ. In burning candles, our prayers rise up to Heaven day and night; prayers for the saint's intercession are also common because of their friendship with God in Heaven. Saints are powerful intercessors. The lighting of candles has been observed since the era of the early martyrs.

The Church's traditional Blessing of Candles which can be said by any Catholic priest highlights the importance and role of prayer candles: "O Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light who enlightenest every man that cometh into this world: pour forth Thy blessing † upon these candles, and sanctify † them with the light of Thy grace, and mercifully grant, that as these lights enkindled with visible fire dispel the darkness of night, so our hearts illumined by invisible fire, that is, by the splendor of the Holy Spirit, may be free from the blindness of all vice, that the eye of our mind being cleansed, we may be able to discern what is pleasing to Thee and profitable to our salvation; so that after the perilous darkness of this life we may deserve to attain to neverfailing light."

"St. Anthony Messenger" September 2003, Page 26 provided a great reflection on the purpose of Catholic votive candles:

The Sight of burning votive candles -real or electronic - is common in most Catholic churches. The candles are usually placed before statues of saints or at shrines. But how did this tradition get its start?

According to A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals, by Ann Ball (Our Sunday Visitor Books), the practice of lighting candles in order to obtain some favor probably has its origins in the custom of burning lights at the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs. The lights burned as a sign of solidarity with Christians still on earth. Because the lights continually burned as a silent vigil, they became known as vigil lights.

Vigil Lights (from the Latin vigilia, which means "waiting" or "watching") are traditionally accompanied by prayers of attention or waiting. Another common type of candle offering is the votive light. Such an offering is indicative of seeking some favor from the Lord or the saint before which the votive is placed.

Lighting a candle is a way of extending one's prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered.

After the 9/11 tragedy, lit candles figured prominently in a televised concert affirming the power of goodness over the darkness of evil. The symbolism was similar to the Catholic custom of lighting candles as a form of prayer.

Cost of a Prayer Candle?

I own several votive candles and nearly all churches have votive candles. Some churches ask for only a $1 donation to light one so they can purchase another, while some require up to $10. This is just to help them purchase new candles. Please realize it is a "donation", not an obligation; if you don't have the money, you will still be able to light a candle. There are many churches and Cathedrals over the Internet that will even light candles there for you if you send in a donation to cover the cost of the candles.

Click here to browse some religious candles for sale!

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St. Augustine

“Before Thine eyes, O Lord, we bring our sins, and compare them with the stripes we have received. If we examine the evil we have wrought, what we suffer is little, what we deserve is great. What we have committed is very grievous, what we have suffered is slight. We feel the punishment of sin, yet withdraw not from the obstinacy of sinning. Under Thy lash our inconstancy is visited, but our sinfulness is not changed. Our suffering soul is tormented, but our neck is not bent. Our life groans under sorrow, yet amends not in deed. If Thou spare us, we correct not our ways; if Thou punish, we cannot endure it. In time of correction we confess our wrongdoing; after Thy visitation we forget that we have wept. If Thou stretchest forth Thy hand, we promise amendment; if Thou witholdest the sword, we keep not our promise. If Thou strikest, we cry out for mercy; if Thou sparest, we again provoke Thee to strike.”

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Stational Church for Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church is at the beautiful Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

At one time, a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Paul in this Lenten penitential procession took on an exceptional character in view of the riches of doctrinal teaching, which has come down to us from the Apostle to the Gentiles.

For this reason, it used to happen, that in this particular Lenten Station, the Pope carried out a "third scrutiny" for the baptismal candidates—that is, for those catechumens, who wanted to be baptized in water.In this church, at the tomb of this great convert-exemplar, the catechumens, turning westward—towards darkness—renounced Satan, his pomps and his works. Then, turning eastward—towards the light—they pledged their loyalty to Christ and His Church.

Here at the tomb of the Apostle, who was "the salt of the earth," the catechumens received a morsel of salt. Accipe sal sapientiae—Receive the salt of wisdom! Receive the taste for the doctrine of God. Hereafter, speak no longer the language of the flesh, but let your conversation be heavenly.
Let us pray: O God, who grantest to the just the reward of their merits, and to sinners pardon through their fasts, have mercy on Thy suppliant people, that the confession of our guilt may enable us to obtain the forgiveness of our sins. Through Christ, Our Lord.Amen.

(Source: St. John Cantius Parish)

Here is some good information on this Basilica, the third major basilica of Rome:

Tourists visiting the third major basilica of Rome, San Paolo Fuori Le Mure (St. Paul outside the Walls). The "walls" refers to the Aurelian Wall, built by Marcus Aurelius in the 3rd Century as a bulwark against barbarian invasion. The place where the basilica is situated is called, "Tre Fontane" (The Three Fountains). Legend has it that three springs emerged from the spot where St. Paul's head hit the ground after he was beheaded during the First Great Persecution under the emperor Nero. The statue depicts St. Paul holding the sword with which he was beheaded. (Fordham)

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Remembering Terri

Friday is the one-year anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death, and it is saddening that many states have not passed laws to protect the disabled. Terri Schiavo was not in a vegetative state and she was not in a coma. Terri Schiavo was disabled and her cruel husband allowed her to die. Today Michael Schiavo, her husband, is remarried.

Michael Schiavo has just released a very immature book whose purpose was to "settle some scores" with Terri's family. Remember, her family was the one that wanted to take care of Terri. They wanted to take her under their care and pay for every expense. Michael Schiavo didn't want what was best for Terri, he wanted to get remarried!

I'm happy to say that there is an alternative book that has just came out, this one by Terri's own family, the family that loved her. It's called A Life that Matters: the legacy of Terri Schiavo - a lesson for us all.

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