The Advent Journey is Started

Image Source: Mass in Advent via Lost Lambs Blog

Our journey into Advent has begun and we are on our path, but this is the most difficult phase. It is so easy to sin, but realize how much each sin hurt God. God died on the cross! He died for our sins, each one worthy of unbearable pain and He rose again for us. We too shall rise again. Let the peace of Christ be with all of us. Remember that Christ's words - after all of His pain - to his disciples were "Peace be with you."

Make time for penance and extra prayer this Advent along with Eucharistic Adoration. During this season of Advent let us also forgive those around us. Let us grow in love. "For whom is Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament? For me; because He loves me!" (St. Peter Julian Eymard).

Prayer:

O God, Who dost gladden us by the yearly expectation of our redemption, grant that we, who now joyfully receive Thine only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, may also without fear behold Him coming as our Judge, even the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son: Who with Thee liveth and reigneth.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal (Collect of Christmas Eve)

Read more >>

St. Nicholas

Optional Memorial (1969 Calendar): December 6
Double (1955 Calendar): December 6

Today is the feastday of St. Nicholas, the model of the modern-day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was from the 4th Century and was Bishop of Myra. The many churches built to honor him and the stories about him are all testimonials to his holiness. St. Nicholas is best remembered for his compassion towards the poor. Born at Patara in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor, he became bishop of Myra and became known for his zeal and piety. He was present at the Council of Nicaea and condemned the heresy of Arianism.

In one story, St. Nicholas saved three unjustly incarcerated officers one time, and at another time, he saved three boys from death. St. Nicholas helped one man, who couldn't pay the dowries for his three daughters by throwing gold through the window of the home. He did it several times and each was done secretly until the last time when he threw the gold in the home. The man inside saw him and was overjoyed in thanking him.

St. Nicholas is an example of a man living a life for Christ Jesus, Our Lord and God. He did great actions but we too must do the same. We don't have to go throw gold in windows or anything like that, but we too are called to be a saint. A saint is simply defined as a person in Heaven and we all are called to this joy. Imagine being in the greatest joy, the presence of Our Lord, for all eternity. That is what was made possible on through the Cross and Resurrection. Don't just believe in Jesus, but follow Him! "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26)

Traditional Matins Reading:

Nicholas was born of a noble family at Patara, in the province of Lycia. His birth was the fruit of his parents’ prayers. Evidences of his great future holiness were given from his very cradle. For when he was an infant, he would take his food only once on Wednesdays and Fridays, and then not till evening; whilst on all other days he frequently took the breast: he kept up this custom of fasting during the rest of his life. Having lost his parents when he was a boy, he gave all his goods to the poor. Of his Christian kindheartedness there is the following noble example. One of his fellow-citizens had three daughters; but being too poor to obtain them an honourable marriage, he was minded to abandon them to a life of prostitution. Nicholas having come to know the case, went to the house during the night, and threw in by the window a sum of money sufficient for the dower of one of the daughters; he did the same a second and a third time; and thus the three were married to respectable men.

Having given himself wholly to the service of God, he set out for Palestine, that he might visit and venerate the holy places. During this pilgrimage, which he made by sea, he foretold to the mariners on embarking, though the heavens were then serene and the sea tranquil, that they would be overtaken by a frightful storm. In a very short time the storm arose. All wore in the most imminent danger, when he quelled it by his prayers. His pilgrimage ended, he returned home, giving to all men example of the greatest sanctity. He went, by an inspiration from God, to Myra, the metropolis of Lycia, which had just lost its bishop by death, and the bishops of the province had come together for the purpose of electing a successor. Whilst they were holding council for the election, they were told by a revelation from heaven, that they should choose him who, on the morrow, should be the first to enter the church, his name being Nicholas. Accordingly, the requisite observations were made, when they found Nicholas to be waiting at the church door: they took him, and, to the incredible delight of all, made him the bishop of Myra. During his episcopate, he never flagged in the virtues looked for in a bishop; chastity, which indeed he had always preserved, gravity, assiduity in prayer, watchings, abstinence, generosity, and hospitality, meekness in exhortation, severity in reproving.

He befriended widows and orphans by money, by advice, and by every service in his power. So zealous a defender was he of all who suffered oppression, that, on one occasion, three tribunos having been condemned by the emperor Constantine, who had been deceived by calumny, and having heard of the miracles wrought by Nicholas, they recommended themselves to his prayers, though he was living at a very great distance from that place: the saint appeared to Constantine, and looking angrily upon him, obtained from the terrified emperor their deliverance. Having, contrary to the edict of Diocletian and Maximian, preached in Myra the truth of the Christian faith, he was taken up by the servants of the two emperors. He was taken off to a great distance and thrown into prison, where he remained until Constantine, having become emperor, ordered his release, and the saint returned to Myra. Shortly afterwards, he repaired to the Council which was being held at Nicæa; there he took part with the three hundred and eighteen fathers in condemning the Arian heresy. Scarcely had he returned to his see, than he was taken with the sickness of which he soon died. Looking up to heaven, and seeing angels coming to meet him, he began the psalm, ‘In thee, O Lord, have I hoped;' and having come to those words, ‘Into thy hands I commend my spirit,’ his soul took its flight to the heavenly country. His body, having been translated to Bari in Apulia, is the object of universal veneration.

Patron: against imprisonment; against robberies; against robbers; apothecaries; bakers; barrel makers; boatmen; boot blacks; boys; brewers; brides; captives; children; coopers; dock workers; druggists; fishermen; grooms; judges; lawsuits lost unjustly; longshoremen; maidens; mariners; merchants; murderers; newlyweds; old maids; parish clerks; paupers; pawnbrokers; perfumeries; perfumers; pharmacists; pilgrims; poor people; prisoners; sailors; scholars; schoolchildren; shoe shiners; spinsters; students; thieves; travellers; unmarried girls; watermen; Greek Catholic Church in America; Greek Catholic Union; Bari, Italy; Fossalto, Italy; Duronia, Italy; Portsmouth, England; Greece; Lorraine; Russia; Sicily

Prayer:

O God, Who didst adorn the blessed Bishop Nicholas with countless miracles: grant, we beseech Thee, that by his merits and prayers we may be delivered from the flames of hell. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Read more >>

Live Each Day for God During Advent

"No matter how good food is, if poison is mixed with it, it may cause the death of him who eats it. So it is with conversation. A single bad word, an evil action, an unbecoming joke, is often enough to harm one or more young listeners, and may later cause them to lose God's grace" (St. John Bosco)

Especially during this Advent try and live each day for God. Jesus Christ, Our God, came to save us; He died our death because He loved us without reservation. We must accept our sufferings and crosses (Luke 9:23) and go on realizing that one day God will wipe away every tear from our eyes if we love Him (Rev. 21:4).

What must we do to enter Heaven? First, Heaven is the greatest joy. Hell is the opposite; it is the loneliness place on earth. Hell if for those that hate Our Savior and reject Him, so they are sent to the one place that God is not present - Hell. It is the loneliness of our soul that is the worst punishment in Hell. And the honest truth is that if someone commits one mortal sin and doesn't repent before death, the soul will go to hell. So, repent of your sins, go to Confession, and believe all the Church teaches.

"If anyone says that a man who is justified and however perfect is not bound to observe the commandments of God and the Church, but only to believe, as though the Gospel were a bare and absolute promise of eternal life without the condition of obeying the commandments, let him be anathema" (Council of Trent, Canon 20 on Justification).

"A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (Jesus's words in John 13:34, Douay Rheims).

Read more >>

Catholics and Genetic Engineering

I would like to especially thank one reader of this blog, who sent me an email directing me to a great site on Catholics and bio-engineering called Mary meets Dolly. I have been giving speeches on embryonic stem cell research, so this help is a great help.

Remember, Catholics can not support this procedure because embryos die as a result!

No one has benefited from embryonic stem cells as opposed to a myriad of benefits to adult stem cells.

Read more >>

Second Sunday in Advent

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness" (Isaias 11:1-2, Douay Rheims)

This week our focus shifts to the theme of peace while we continue to prepare for the Nativity of Our Lord. Today we light the second candle and realize that as we draw closer to Christ we draw closer to the Only Truth, the Way. He is our only Way into His peace. I suggest praying Psalm 79 after lighting the second candle.

Some people think for themselves. They hope in themselves and see such injustices as abortion as acceptable. They can't understand others and put themselves in the place of the unborn. These people manipulate their strength and deceive themselves. Who gives life? God alone! We were all once embryos and would you have wanted to die? Our Lord died for us while we were still enemies and from grace (Romans 5:8).

May this Second Sunday help you focus on God's peace in your life.

Traditional Propers:

INTROIT
Isaias 30:30
People of Sion, behold the Lord shall come to save the nations: and the Lord shall make the glory of His voice to be heard, in the joy of your heart. -- (Ps. 79. 2). Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. V.: Glory to the Father . . . -- People of Sion

COLLECT - Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way of Thine only-begotten Son: that through His coming we may attain to serve Thee with purified minds. Who liveth and reigneth, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God . . .

EPISTLE
Romans 15:4-13
Brethren, What things soever were written, were written for our learning: that, through patience and the comfort of the Scriptures, we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind and with one mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honor of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: but that the Gentiles are to glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to Thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to Thy Name. And again He saith: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with His people. And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and magnify Him, all ye people. And again, Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and He that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing: that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.

GRADUAL
Psalms. 49: 2,3,5
Out of Sion, the loveliness of His beauty: God shall come manifestly. V.: Gather ye together His Saints to Him, who have set His covenant before sacrifices. Alleluia, alleluia. V.: (Ps. 121. 1) I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go unto the house of the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Matthew 11: 2-10

At that time, when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to Him: Art thou He that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus, making answer, said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them: and blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in Me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my Angel before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee.

OFFERTORY
Psalms 89: 7,8
Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life, and Thy people shall rejoice in Thee: show us, O Lord, Thy mercy, and grant us Thy salvation.

SECRET - Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the prayers and sacrifices of our humility: and where we lack pleading merits of our own, do Thou, by Thine aid, assist us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son . . .

PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION
Baruch 5: 5; 4:36
Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that cometh to thee from Thy God.

POST COMMUNION - Filled with the food of spiritual nourishment, we humbly entreat Thee, O Lord, that by our partaking of this Mystery, Thou wouldst teach us to despise the things of earth, and to love those of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son . .

Image Source: Photo believed to be in the Public Domain

Read more >>

Embryonic Stem Cell Speech

My speech went over extremely well on the account of little notice before the event. I presented it several times yesterday to a wide audience, and it was generally well received. I will be continuing to present my speech over the course of the next few months, so please keep me in your prayers.

Thanks

Read more >>

Wish me well

I'm going to be presenting a speech tomorrow on stem cell research and how adult stem cells are the true source of value. Please pray for me that I might do well.

God Bless

Read more >>

Prop. 73 is back

November 2006 Update: Unfortunately, it again failed in the elections

Prop. 73, the abortion notification law that failed slimly in the California election last month, is back! It has been submitted to the Attorney General to appear on the Nov. 7th ballet next year. (Read the story)

Also, I found this through Catholic Fire, which is another great Catholic blog. I encourage readers here to check out that site.

Read more >>

Prayers for the Unborn

The United States Supreme Court is considering a law in New Hampshire that requires parental notification prior to an abortion except to save the life of the mother. I strongly support the law and wish it was even parental permission with no except. Abortion is plain murder. There is no way around it. I support the law because it will help limit abortions.

Why must the unborn constantly be murdered in today's world? Abortion has killed 4,000 unborn children a day. In vitro fertilization has also killed 6 million embryos.

Please pray the Rosary or a prayer that this law might be kept in place. Parental notification laws have brought down abortions. Stand up for life!

Image Source: At Prayer by Edwin Longs den Long

Read more >>

Have you ever been asked, "Why are you still Catholic?"

Well, if your answer is yes I encourage this article: Hope and Serenity among Thorns. Just click on the link and I hope you enjoy the article.

Read more >>