Words of Inspiration: September 22, 2006

"That is why Jesus made himself bread
to satisfy our hunger for God.
See the humility of God.
He also made Himself the hungry one
to satisfy our hunger for God
through our love, our service.
Let us pray that none of us will be unfaithful.
Let us pray for our poor people.
They are also hungry for God."

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Support for the Holy Father

REUTERS/Paul Hanna (SPAIN)

REUTERS/Paul Hanna (SPAIN)

The Pope has apologized SEVERAL times and has said that he meant to "explain that religion and violence do not go together, but religion and reason do." Pope Benedict XVI has invited envoys from Muslim nations to visit him at his summer residence for talks on Islam. He is being so kind to those that insult him and burn his image in protests. Pray for the Pope!

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Pray the Liturgy of the Hours in Latin!

Please consider the resources below to pray the Traditional (pre-Vatican II) Breviary in Latin.

Print Resources:

1. Breviarium Romanum ex decreto ss. concilii tridentini restitutum By Pars Hiemalis
2. Breviarium Romanum Ex Decreto SS Concilii Tridentini Restitutum S. PII V Pontificis Maximi (Jussu Editum Aliorumque Pontificum Cura Recognitum PII Papae X Auctoritate Reformatum Editio II Juxta Typicam Vaticanam Amplificata I, Pars Hiemalis)
3. Learning the New Breviary by S. J. Bernard A Hausmann.  The title word "new" is rather misleading today, as it actually refers to the new code of rubrics promulgated in July 1960 for the traditional Roman Breviary. In this handy, concise and easy-to-read book, Fr. Hausmann leads the reader step by step through each of the 8 canonical hours, their contents, special particulars, and how they are said, all the while providing important tips on how to recite the Divine Office with a correct liturgical spirit. An indispensable book for any Catholic who would like to become better acquainted with the traditional Roman Breviary, the Church's liturgical treasure that in connection with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass forms the Church's official daily prayer. 
4. A Short Breviary for Religious and the Laity By Monks of St. John's Abbey

Electronic Resources:

1. Breviary.net
2. Divinum Officium (Latin for "Divine Office)

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Words of Inspiration: September 21, 2006

"True obedience is a genuine act of love.
Obedience makes us practice the other virtues.
It likens us to martyrs,
for it is a much greater martyrdom to persevere
in obedience all through life
than to die in a moment by a stroke of the sword."

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Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino for Success in Examinations

This powerful prayer is very effective in examinations. It has to be said before appearing in the examination. There are two variants to this prayer. Both the prayers are equally effective. You can choose any one of these:

First Prayer

O Great St. Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

Through Christ our Lord.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us.

Amen.

Second Prayer

O St. Joseph of Cupertino who by your prayer obtained from God to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. Grant that I may like you succeed in the (here mention the name of Examination eg. History paper I ) examination.

In return, I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

O St. Joseph of Cupertino pray for me
O Holy Ghost enlighten me
Our Lady of Good Studies pray for me
Sacred Head of Jesus, Seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me.

Remember, when you succeed in the exams then you should thank St. Joseph of Cupertino. And if you would like a prayer card you can use and include in your books, find a great option here.

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Blog Banner Ads: "I Support the Pope"

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The Miracle of St. Januarius Occurs!

From Catholic World News:

Sep. 19 (CWNews.com) - The familiar "miracle of St. Januarius"-- the liquefaction of the blood of the 4th-century martyr-- occurred once again in Naples on the saint's feast day, September 19.

Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, newly installed as the Archbishop of Naples presided for the first time at the celebration of the city's patron saint, who died in the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. A vial containing the preserved blood of the martyr was brought into the sanctuary. After the Gospel was read, the cardinal told the congregation that "the blood is starting to melt." The announcement drew warm applause.

According to a popular tradition, the liquefaction is a sign of assurance that the year will be free from disasters. (One of the rare years in which the miracle did not occur was 1939, the year that saw the beginning of World War II.)

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St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata

Double (1954 Calendar): September 17

Commemoration (1962 Calendar): September 17

Today, September 17th is the Commemoration of the Impression of the Sacred Stigmata which St. Francis, received on his hands, feet, and side at Mount Alverina in Etruria while in the midst of his St. Michael's Lenten fast.

St. Bonaventure in the Life of St. Francis writes the following account:

“On a certain morning about the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross [September 14], while Francis was praying on the mountainside, he saw a Seraph with six fiery and shining wings descend from the height of heaven. And when in swift flight the Seraph had reached a spot in the air near the man of God, there appeared between the wings the figure of the a man crucified, with his hands and feet extended in the form of a cross and fastened to a cross. Two of the wings were lifted above his head, two were extended for flight and two covered his whole body"

Thomas of Celano, writing within a few years of St. Francis’ death in 1229 AD, also described what happened:

“....the marks of nails began to appear in his hands and feet, just as he had seen them slightly earlier in the crucified man above him. His wrists and feet seemed to be pierced by nails, with the heads of the nails appearing on his wrists and on the upper sides of his feet, the points appearing on the other side. The marks were round on the palm of each hand but elongated on the other side, and small pieces of flesh jutting out from the rest took on the appearance of the nail-ends, bent and driven back. In the same way the marks of nails were impressed on his feet and projected beyond the rest of the flesh. Moreover, his right side had a large wound as if it had been pierced with a spear, and it often bled so that his tunic and trousers were soaked with his sacred blood.”

Prayer:

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, when the world was growing cold, in order to enkindle in our hearts the fire of Thy love, didst renew the sacred makers of Thy Passion on the body of blessed Francis: mercifully grant, that with the aid of his merits and prayers we may ever bear our cross, and bring forth worthy fruits of penance: Who livest and reignest.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Prayers Needed for the Holy Father

During Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Germany, he quoted a medival text that of Manuel II Paleologus, one of the last Christian emperors, who said - while Constantinople was under threat from Muslim forces - the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad were “evil and inhuman”. Manuel II also accused Muhammad of “spreading faith by the sword." As a result, huge demoninstrations against the Holy Father have begun. Seven churches, two this morning, in the West Bank and Gaza were burned and a nun was murdered at a children's hospital! Your prayers are desperately needed!

The Holy Father apologized for his comments causing such violence. Pray that no further death or destruction will come out of this. Pray that those who resorted to violence will repent.

The Holy Father said: “These words were in fact a quotation from a medieval text which do not in any way express my personal thought. I hope that this serves to placate souls and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect.”

Image Source: AFP/Daniele Colarieti

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Prayer to Jesus Crucified

Behold, my beloved and good Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech you to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a most firm desire of amendment; while with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and mentally contemplate your five most precious wounds, having before my eyes that which David the prophet long ago spoke about you, my Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones" (Ps 22:17-18).

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