Pope Benedict XVI: All Saints and All Souls Day

All Saints Day Mass:


AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito
"To be holy it is not necessary to accomplish extraordinary acts nor possess exceptional gifts. It is simply necessary to serve Jesus, to listen to him and to follow him without losing courage faced with difficulties" (Benedict XVI's homily on the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, 2006)

All Souls Day:

Pope Benedict XVI prayed before the tombs of several of his predecessors.


AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano


AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano


AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano

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Words of Inspiration: November 4, 2006

Archbishop Fulton Sheen:

“Our modern world has produced a generation of rich politicians who talk love of the poor, but never prove it in action, and a brood of the poor whose hearts are filled with envy for the rich and covetousness of their money. The rich who are humble help rather than use the poor to pave their way to power.”

Blessed Mother Teresa:

"Silence gives us a new outlook on everything. We need silence to be able to touch souls. The essential thing is not what we say but what God says to us and through us. Jesus is always waiting for us in silence. In that silence, He will listen to us; there He will speak to our soul, and there we will hear His voice."

St. Padre Pio:

"In order to aim at perfection it is necessary to do everything possible to please God, to try to avoid even the smallest fault, and to do everything else with more generosity."

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UN tried to stop Nicaragua's abortion vote

UN tried to stop Nicaragua's vote, which banned abortion completely.

Washington, D.C. –– A United Nations (U.N.) committee on women’s rights sent a belligerent letter to Nicaraguan politicians prior to their historic vote last week to ban abortion. Yet these U.N. officials have been virtually silent on the well-corroborated case of a powerful Sandinista leader and former president accused of sexually molesting his stepdaughter.

“Nicaraguans held a massive rally – 200,000 strong, led and filled by women – in support of an abortion ban,” said Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America (CWA). “Yet radical feminists and U.N. officials tried to bully Nicaraguan leaders into cancelling the vote. This extraordinary interference contrasts sharply with their silence and utter failure to help seek justice for Zoilamerica Navaez, the stepdaughter of one of the most famous Nicaraguan politicians and Sandinista leader. [More]

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Calling all Apologetics: Visit Lapsed Catholic Forum

I came across the Lapsed Catholic Forum a few weeks ago, and these people certainly need the Gospel proclaimed to them. They have fallen from the Faith, and I think it is our responsiblity to help those weak in faith. Please visit the forum if you can and help spread the Truth of Jesus Christ.

"True Faith cannot be found outside the Church" (Singulari Quidem and Singulari Quandem, Encyclical of Pope Pius IX)

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First Friday

Today is the First Friday of November. Because today is the first Friday of the Month, many Catholic parishes will have special Masses today for the First Friday Devotion.

Beginning on December 27, 1673, through 1675, Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque asking her to receive Him in Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month and to meditate on His passion from 11:00 PM to 12:00 midnight each Thursday. He also revealed to her twelve promises for all who are devoted to His Sacred Heart; he asked for a Feast of the Sacred Heart to be instituted in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque with twelve promises for those devoted to His Most Sacred Heart.

Promises for those devoted to the Sacred Heart:

1. "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life."
2. "I will establish peace in their homes."
3. "I will comfort them in their afflictions."
4. "I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death."
5. "I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings."
6. "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy."
7. "Tepid souls shall grow fervent."
8. "Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection."
9. "I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored."
10. "I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts."
11. "Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out."
12. "I promise thee in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

Pro-life Action:

MarchTogether.com has a monthly Call for Life in which pro-lifers are urged to call their elected officials and voice their support for the dignity of life. Today, being the first Friday, is this month's Call for Life.

For more information on the First Friday Devotion, please see The Miracle of the Rosary Mission. Please remember to pray for the unborn today and make an act of reparation to Our Lord. Remember, it was on Friday that Our Lord died and all Fridays in the year are days of penance (Canon 1250 - 1253)

Prayer of Reparation:
O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.

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November Rosary Intentions

Here are Pope Benedict XVI's intentions for the month of November:

General: "That, everywhere in the world, an end be put to all forms of terrorism."

Mission: "That through the effort of believers, together with the living forces of society, the new and old chains which prevent the development of the African continent may be broken."

Remember to pray for Pope Benedict XVI's health and safety this month:

Spread the word! Please post this graphic on your blog and let your readers know that they can post it on their blogs too! Fellow friends in Christ, between November 28th and December 1st Pope Benedict XVI will be journeying to Turkey. At this time in history, the Holy Father desperately needs our prayers. And the Rosary has been called the most powerful prayer after the Mass. At Fatima, Mary asked all mankind to "say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of [World War I]." And, concerning herself, she said, "I am the Lady of the Rosary."

Start praying the Rosary for the Pope today! I will frequently post reminders about this on my blog for the next month.

Devotion to the Most Holy Rosary

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Three Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory

Prayer I:

I adore Thee, O most Precious Cross, which has been adorned with the tender, delicate and venerable Hands and Feet of our dear Lord Jesus Christ,and imbued with His Precious Blood. I again adore Thee, O Holy Cross, for lover of my Lord and God, Jesus Christ.

Prayer II:

O merciful God, take pity on those souls who have no particular friends and intercessors to recommend them to Thee, who,
either through the negligence of those who are alive, or through length of time are forgotten by their friends and by all. Spare them, O Lord, and remember Thine own mercy, when others forget to appeal to it. Let not the souls which Thou hast created be parted from thee, their Creator. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Prayer III:

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, remembering the promise of the Resurrection, I humbly and sincerely offer these prayers and Masses for (Mention your intentions here ...) and all the departed. With joy, I thank You for what we shared in this earthly life.
With hope, I pray this offering will help them on their journey to the fullness of life and happiness with You in Heaven. Purify them from all that is not holy so they may dwell in the mystery of Your perfect love forever. With blessed anticipation,
I look forward to the coming age, when, with Your grace, I shall be united with them again in Paradise.

Say 1 of each prayer...

OUR FATHER ...
HAIL MARY ....
GLORY BE .....

May the souls of the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

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All Souls Day

Today is the day after the Solemnity of All Saints and is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day). This feast, dating back to the 11th Century, is a time to remember all of the faithfully depart and pray that they are now in the grace of God. God certainly is Love and He is mercy. The only thing we can do is trust in Him and pray for our loved ones.

In the middle of the 11th century, St. Odilo, the abbot of Cluny (France), said that all Cluniac monasteries were to offer special prayers and sing the Office for the Dead on November 2, the day after the feast of All Saints. The custom spread from Cluny and was adopted throughout the entire Roman Catholic Church. Now the entire Church celebrates November 2nd as All Soul's Day.

Indulgence:

The faithful, as often as they visit a church or public oratory, or even a semi-public oratory (if they may lawfully use the same), in order to pray for the dead on the day on which the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed is celebrated (November 2nd) or on the Sunday immediately following, may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls detained in Purgatory, on condition of confession and Communion, and the recitation six times during each visit of Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff(June 25, 1914)

The faithful who during the period of eight days from the Commemoration of All Souls inclusive, visit a cemetery in a spirit of piety and devotion, and pray, even mentally, for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, on each day of the Octave, applicable only to the dead.

Raccolta Source

Also, a Mass said for a person during life or death is worth immense value because the Mass is the memorial of Jesus Christ's sacrifice of the Cross. Mary, in one apparition, once told someone that Our Lord would die for us again as many times as we have heard Mass. The Mass is extremely important.

Join me this day by visiting cemeteries in your area and there praying the Rosary or the Office of the Dead. And take advantage of the ability to visit a church today and pray the prayers (as mentioned above) for the Poor Souls.  You may leave the church for a few minutes and go back in to repeat the prayers, and continue this as many times as possible on November 2nd.  Take advantage of this (the toties quoties indulgence) and help the Poor Souls.

Please pray with your whole heart and mind this following prayer, which Our Lord promised St. Gertrude would free 1,000 souls from purgatory.

Eternal Father,I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,for sinners everywhere,for sinners in the Universal Church,those in my own home and within my family.Amen.

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This week: All Saints and All Souls Day, Indulgences

Today is the Eve of All Saints Day (Halloween), and tomorrow is the 1st Class Feast of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation for many countries. So, please remember to attend Holy Mass tomorrow. Failure to attend Mass without a good reason is a mortal sin.

Also, there are many indulgences available starting tomorrow, and some apply only to the souls in purgatory. Help the suffering souls! Gain indulgences for them. Please see the follow posts for important information concerning the approaching holy days, All Saints Day and All Souls Day.

• Indulgences
• Purgatory
• All Saints Day
• All Souls Day

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"The Monastery": Episode 2

So, last night at 9 PM Central Time, I sat down and watched episode 2 of "The Monastery" on TLC. I was disappointed. Over the summer I spent a few days in retreat with Benedictine monks, and found it such a spiritual oasis. "The Monastery" doesn't portray the true serenity of a monastery. Plus, it would have been much better if the reality-TV quality was greatly reduced. It would definitely have made a good 1-2 hour documentary instead of a reality TV series drawn out over the course of several weeks.

I was also ashamed at the conduct of some of the men when they actually stole liquor from the monks. Plus Jon's "lapsed-Catholic Syndrome" is annoying honestly. He grew up in the Faith and just because he's seen disaster as a pandemic and the like, he feels that God doesn't exist. Preposterous! All of the disasters in the world result from our sins. God is good. And Jon said the Psalms portray God as vengeful. Again, preposterous! Some of the psalms talk about God's rightful judgments, but many of them talk about God's wonder and beauty. Look to the very often cited Psalm 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd". In the words of St. John: "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

It's not a very good program.

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Saints Behaving Badly Book Review

I have just finished reading Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil-Worshippers Who Became Saints by Thomas J. Craughwell. The book was sent to me a few weeks before its release as a galley in order for me to review for Double Day Publishing. I have been extraordinarily busy these past few months, so I have finally just finished the book.

When I did have a chance to read the book, it went very quickly. I overall enjoyed the book. Each chapter was on a different saint, and the book went into great detail on the saint's sinful life before his/her conversion. It illustrates true accounts of the power of conversion over the centuries. The only thing I would have liked to see better in the book was a basic definition of a saint. A saint is someone that is now in Heaven, and I would have liked that to be more clearly stated.

So, if you'd like to learn more about the sinful lives of saints like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Patrick, Venerable Matt Talbot, St. Olga, St. Christopher, and many others before their conversions, this is your book! I have to admit that it was a good read and overall a very good book.

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Election Day Novena

Today is the beginning of the Election Day Novena, which lasts until November 6th. Please join me in praying this.

Our Father. . .
Hail Mary. . .
Glory be. . .

Lord, into your hands do we commend our country during this time of election. Be with those who vote, be with those who work the polling stations, be with those who count the votes, certify the elections, and all who are involved with the process. Lord, we pray that in our choosing, we may reflect your choice and that our country be in your hands, now and forever, Amen.

O Most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, intercede with him for us that we be granted the favor which we petition for so earnestly in this novena…O Mother of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.

- that the hand our Our Father guide our country during this upcoming election,

- that those who would disrupt and disturb the heritage of freedom and truth be restrained,

- that the hand of God guide, direct and determine our leaders this election cycle and always.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

St. Thomas More, adorer of Christ’s Passion, who put prayer before all else, devoted husband and father, defender of the Church, perfect model of friendship, impervious to all bribery, committed to the common good, who reverenced civil and Divine law, civil judge of unimpeachable integrity patron of those who hold public office, pray for us now at this critical time of election, where so much is at stake, where the lives of the unborn and those most vulnerable hang in the balance, where the lives of the downtrodden and defenseless against the terrorist are most at risk. Pray for us, St. Thomas More, martyr for the truth, that with this election, we may draw ever closer to the way God would have our country governed.

Little Souls, children unborn, holy innocents, ripped from your mothers’ wombs and now in the hand of our loving Lord, pray for us now, that the election may go to the one most likely to help stem the holocaust of souls of the most vulnerable, the one most likely to be the champion of life and set our nation on the right track.

Amen.

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Transalpine Redemptorists Video

I found this wonderful 17-minute video posted on Fifty Sophomoric Summers. It is about the Transapline Redemptorists in Scotland.

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Nicaragua Votes to Ban All Abortions

I am very pleased to write that Nicaragua has just voted to make abortions illegal in all instances. While instances of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is threatened are horrible, the child NEVER deserves to die. The child deserves a chance at life!

From LifeNews:

The national legislature in Nicaragua approved a measure today [October 26, 2006] that would prohibit abortions in all circumstances. It would make the country's abortion law stronger than other pro-life nations in South America and put it on par with 34 nations that make abortions always illegal. Unlike pro-life laws in the United States, the measure puts in place prison sentences for women, who are normally considered a second victim in an abortion. The bill mandates sentences of six to 30 years in prison for women who undergo an abortion and for anyone who does an abortion. Fifty-nine lamakers voted for the new abortion ban, nine abstained from voting and another 29 legislators did not attend the vote. The legislation now heads to President Enrique Bolanos for his signature. He initially requested the bill and is expected to sign it soon. Current law in Nicaragua prohibits most abortions but allows them in cases of rape or incest and when the mother's life is directly at risk from the pregnancy...

Prayer to end abortion:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I 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!

Prayer Source: Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life

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Words of Inspiration: October 29, 2006

I wonder if protestants like Martin Luther heard of this quotation?

“If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.” (St. Augustine)

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Sts. Jude and Simon

Feast (1969 Calendar): October 28
Double of the II Class (1955 Calendar): October 28

Today is the Feastday of Sts. Simon and Jude Thaddaeus, Apostles, who both preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia. St. Jude is the author of a short Epistle in the New Testament.

St. Jude Thaddaeus was the son of Cleophas and the woman named Mary who stood with the Blessed Virgin Mary at the foot of the Cross as Our Lord was redeeming the world. St. Jude is the brother of St. James the Lesser. St. Jude is reported to also be a relative to Jesus. He was a preacher in Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia with St. Simon the Apostle. He also is remembered as a Healer and Exorcist, who could exorcise pagan idols, causing the demons to flee and the statues to crumble.

Like all of the other 11 faithful Apostles except St. John the Evangelist, St. Jude was martyred. He was beaten with a club and beheaded. His relics are in the Vatican. However there is kept a relic of the arm of St. Jude in Chicago, Illinois.

For more on the lives of all the Apostles, pick up a copy of "The Twelve: Lives and Legends of the Apostles" on paperback or as part of the online course on the Apostles, which includes a Certificate of Completion.

Patronage: desperate situations; forgotten causes; hospital workers; hospitals; impossible causes; lost causes, diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida

St. Simon called Simon the Cananaean or Simon the Zealot was also an apostle of Jesus Christ. Not much is known about him outside of the account in the New Testament. He did evangelize with St. Jude in Egypt and Mesopotamia, and several places claim to have been the site of his martyrdom.

Patronage: curriers; sawmen; sawyers; tanners

Prayer:

O God, Who, through Thy blessed Apostles Simon and Jude, hast brought us to the knowledge of Thy name, grant that we may celebrate their everlasting glory by advancing in good works, and that we may advance in good works by celebrating their glory. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Updates on my life

I really enjoy blogging about the Catholic Church, but at times I feel it is necessary to post something more about myself to make this blog more personal. So, I wanted to update my readers. So far my application to enter the seminary is going extremely well. In just a few weeks I will be going on a vacation and visiting another seminary in a different state. I will certainly be posting on this when I return. I would appreciate your prayers.

But, most importantly, I ask for all of your prayers for a family member of mine. In the past I have turned to my blog readers for prayers, and I was astonished each time by the great amount of support. And, my prayers have always been answered when I posted them on this website. I thank you so much for offering up your prayers for my own intentions. If you ever need prayers, please feel free to ask me.

Right now, though, I ask you to pray for a family member of mine. This person will be going to a simple surgery next month and will undergo some examinations. Please pray that my family member doesn't have any serious conditions like cancer. Please pray the the Lord heals and blesses this person.

I thank you so very much for your prayers!

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A Prayer for November

This wonderful prayer was emailed to me by a faithful reader of this blog. Remember, November is dedicated to the Holy Souls, and please realize there are many indulgences available in November:

A PRAYER FOR NOVEMBER

Grant, O Lord, that my own heart may be
touched, as yours is, at the passing of
all souls into eternal life.

In great confidence, I pray for all my
friends and loved ones who are no
longer here on this journey of faith.

When I am sad at the death of those
who were close to me, may my sadness
be firmly supported by my faith that life
is merely changed not ended, that those
I love are still with me though unseen.

May You, Lord Jesus Christ, welcome
me and all those for whom I pray, into
eternal life at the moment pleasing
to You.

Saint Therese, intercede for me.

Saint Therese, strengthen my faith.

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Light a Virtual Candle

I highly suggest visiting Gratefulness.org and lighting a virtual prayer candle. As a webmaster, I can create my custom entrance page so that all of my readers will be able to see the same message. So, please visit the website by clicking on the image above.

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Indulgences for the Rosary Explained

An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin, of which the guilt has already been forgiven (through Confession). It is not permission to sin nor a pardon of any future sins. Indulgences don’t forgive sins because it only removes the temporal punishment of forgiven sins. It does not remove the possibility of lapses into sin.

A universal indulgence is granted anywhere in the world while a local indulgence applies to only a specific place or area. A perpetual indulgence is one that may be gained at any time while a temporary indulgence only is available for certain times, for example, like certain indulgences for the Holy Souls in November.

A plenary indulgence is the complete remission of the temporal punishment of sin. Temporal punishments only “cancel out” a certain amount, of which only God knows. If more temporal punishment remains, more indulgences or time in purgatory (which is also biblical) is required in order to reach the perfection of Heaven. I highly suggest that you read The Raccolta: A Listing of Indulgences if you are looking for specific prayers.

Please also realize that many older documents like holy cards and prayer books would have a certain length of time printed on them. For example, a prayer could say it is a 300 day partial indulgence. However, realize that time does not exist in purgatory or Heaven or hell. The Church has never taught that if such a prayer was said, the person would get 300 days off of purgatory time. An indulgence is only reduced as God sees fit. In order to clarify this very complicated matter, the Church just stopped putting a length of time on partial indulgences following Vatican II in 1969. The dates corresponded only to early Church practices. Since it was so misunderstood, it was changed to allow people to understand it better.

For an indulgence to be granted, a person must be in the state of grace by the completion of the indulgence. The person must also want to gain the indulgence. Conditions for plenary indulgences are more difficult; the individual also must go through Sacramental Confession and Eucharist within seven days as well as saying prayers for the Pope (Apostles Creed, 1 Our Father, and any other prayers). The person must also relinquish all attaches to all sins – even venial sins. If a person does not meet the plenary criteria but meets the criteria for a partial indulgence, the individual will obtain the partial indulgence. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day unless the person is in danger of death.

Indulgences for the Rosary:

Plenary: Prayed privately or in common before the Blessed Sacrament (exposed or in the Tabernacle)

Partial: Praying using a blessed Rosary

Plenary: Prayed in Church, family group, or religious community. Prayed vocally and all five decades continuously. One must meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary. If it is publicly recited, the mysteries must be recited.

Remember to pray for the deceased. We can gain indulgences not for a living person but rather for a deceased person!

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