National De-Lurker Week

Created by Paper Napkin to encourage readers who are too shy to leave a comment to speak up, De-Lurker Day has been extended to an entire week. That way everyone has a chance to work up the courage to speak up. And this is National De-Lurker Week!

So please just leave me a line or so in the comment box below. How long have you been reading my blog? Or what is your favorite book, movie, or TV show? Or what is the weather like today where you are? I'm not picky.

God Bless all of you

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Prayers for friends of mine

Someone that I know is having a very quick surgical procedure done tomorrow. I would appreciate your prayers for this person - that everything will go well. Also, the man that used to serve as a deacon for a parish I went to has died. Please say a prayer for his soul. His name was Deacon John S.

Thank you for your prayers.

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Pope Pius XI opens Holy Door in 1925

Above is an image of Pope Pius XI opening the Holy Door in St. Peter's in 1925.

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Mother Teresa on Communion in the Hand

Ever since reading this comment by Mother Teresa around the time that I was confirmed, I have decided to only receive Holy Communion on the tongue. The priests hands are the only ones that should touch the Eucharist and sacred vessels like the chalice.

From St. Thomas Aquinas:

"Out of reverence towards this sacrament, nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest's hands, for touching this sacrament. Hence it is not lawful for anyone else to touch it except from necessity, for instance, if it were to fall upon the ground, or else in some other case of urgency" (Summa Theologica, III, Q. 82, Art. 3).

Mother Teresa's words:

When Mother Teresa was asked by Fr. George Rutler, "What do you think is the worst problem in the world today?" she replied without a moment’s hesitation: "Wherever I go in the whole world, the thing that makes me the saddest is watching people receive Communion-in-the-hand."

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Words of Inspiration: January 11

"Don’t let the many snares of this infernal beast frighten you. Jesus, who is always with you, and who will fight with and for you, will never permit you to be tricked and overcome" (St. Padre Pio).

"Many souls go to Hell because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them" (Our Lady of Fatima).

Reminder: Did you pray your Morning Offering today?

Image Source: Blessed Giles of Assisi levitating.

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Prayer for Final Exams

I imagine most of my readers have noticed that I have posted much less this week than typically. It is simply because I have finals this week. Next week I hope to again continue my frequent postings!

Also, I have been having some trouble lately with an online Catholic forum because of my love for the Tridentine Mass and the Traditions of the Church. I would appreciate your prayers for the improvement of this situation.

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.

Image Source: Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium

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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The Tridentine Mass in the Diocese of San Jose

There is great news for Catholics that feel particularly attached to the 1962 Tridentine Liturgy. As a proud Catholic, who loves the Tridentine Liturgy, I am very happy for those Catholics in the Diocese of San Jose. The following is via PerpetualHelp.org:

CANONICAL ESTABLISHMENT:

Bishop Patrick J. McGrath has decreed the canonical establishment of the Oratory of the Chapel of Our Mother of Perpetual Help on 1298 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, California for the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of San Jose who are attached to the rituals in use in 1962 effective January 1, 2007. The Oratory is entrusted to the pastoral care of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.

Bishop McGrath formally welcomes the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest into the Diocese of San Jose.

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Prayer for the Week of Christian Unity

[Please prepare to say this prayer daily during the Week of Christian Unity which is January 18-25]

English:

May they all be on as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that the world may come to believe that you have sent me.

R. You are Peter

V. And it is upon this rock that I will build my Church.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: I leave peace with you; it is my own pace that I give you; look not upon our sins but upon your Church's faith, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. You who live and reign forever and ever.

R. Amen.

Latin:

Ut omnes unum sint, sicut tu Pater in me et ego in te; ut mundus credat quia tu me misita.

R. Tu es Petrus.

V. Et super hanc petram dificabo ecclesiam meam.

V. Oremus: Domine Iesu Christe, qui dixisti Apostolis tuis: pacem relinquo vobis, pacem mean do vobis ne rspicias peccata nostra, sed fidem Ecclesie tuae, eamque secundum voluntatem tuam pacificate et coadunare digneris. Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.

R. Amen

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Saint for the Year 2007 Updates

I am continuing to get Saint for the Year Requests. It is amazing! There have been exactly 708 requests already for 2007! I am working extremely hard to email people back, and most people do let me know they receive their message. If you do not give me an email address or a blog url, then please see my Results Page to find your saint. Then comment on that page giving your name/screenname to let me know that you have received the results.

If you have requested a saint over 2 weeks ago but have not yet received a reply, then please email me again. I have a list of requests I am still trying to take care of, though, and they are from the past two weeks.

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The Baptism of the Lord

Today the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord, recalling the glorious event in the River Jordan. For more information on this feast as well as on Baptism, see my post from last year.

Collect:

Almighty, eternal God, when the Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, you revealed him as your own beloved Son. Keep us, your children born of water and the Spirit, faithful to our calling. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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