Stational Church for the Friday in the Third Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church is at the Church of St. Lawrence in Lucina

For the second time this week, the chaste Deacon Lawrence is our processional leader to the Savior of the world. Last Sunday, we knelt at his tomb and heard his encouraging words: "walk as children of the light …"

Today, we are making our pilgrimage to the church containing a large portion of the gridiron on which this holy Deacon made his last and most perfect oblation to God.It was during the forty years passed in the desert that Moses and Aaron asked God to bring from the rock-a figure of Christ-"a spring of living water," so that all the people could quench their thirst. During these forty days of Lent, the Church asks Christ to give us the living water about which he spoke to the woman of Samaria near Jacob's well-the water, which quenches our thirst forever. This water is our faith in Jesus. It is grace.

It is the blood, which flows from the wounds of the Savior, and which through baptism, penance and the other sacraments, purifies our souls, and gushes forth into eternal life, of which it assures us a share.

Let us pray: Show me, O Lord, a toke for good; that they, who hate me may see and be confounded because Thou, O Lord, hast helped me and hast comforted me. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

(Source: St. John Cantius Parish)

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Words from Mother Teresa for Lent

Remember these words this Lent:

Blessed Mother Teresa -

"Who Is Jesus to Me? Jesus is the Hungry to be fed. Jesus is the Thirsty to be satiated. Jesus is the Naked to be clothed. Jesus is the Homeless to be taken in. Jesus is the Sick to be healed. Jesus is the Lonely to be loved. Who Is Jesus to Me? Jesus is the Love to be loved. Jesus is the Joy to be shared. Jesus is the Sacrifice to be offered. Jesus is the Peace to be given. Who Is Jesus to Me? Jesus is the Word to be spoken. Jesus is the Truth to be told. Jesus is the Way to be walked. Jesus is the Light to be lit. Jesus is the Life to be lived."

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Stational Church of March 23, 2006

Today we continue the Stational Churches of Lent. Today's Station is the Basilica of Sts. Cosmas and Damian.

"This church, made from two pagan temples, holds the bodies of the holy martyrs, Cosmas and Damian, who were put to death during the Diocletian persecution. The sick came in crowds to visit the tomb of these two brothers, doctors by profession, imploring them to restore their health. 

"The "unsalaried" physicians, Cosmas and Damian, devoted time and talents to the service of the poor and the sick, so that, by curing the infirmities of the body without remuneration, they might more easily win immortal souls for Christ. Today, the Divine Physician will again come and refresh you. He carries with him the divine antidote, the Eucharistic medicine for the healing of our infirmities. 

"Let us pray: May the blessed solemnity of Thy saints, Cosmas and Damian, magnify Thee, O Lord, by which Thou hast both granted eternal glory to them and assistance to us by Thy ineffable providence. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen. " 

(Source: St. John Cantius Parish)

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Why Is the Pope Called "Holy Father"?

Holy Father is not an official title of the Pope. As of this year, the Pope's official titles are "Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God." Traditionally, the Pope also has the title "Patriarch of the West."

The early Church even used the expression "Holy Father" to refer to other holy members of the Church at the time. St. Augustine wrote, "I beseech you to convey my respectful salutation to the holy father Alypius, worthy of all esteem" (cf. Letter LXXXI). And St. Athanasius wrote in the Life of St. Anthony: "the life and conversation of our holy Father, Antony: written and sent to the monks in foreign parts by our Father among the Saints, Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria." Both of these saints lived before 400 AD, so the origin of this expression is quite ancient.

Consequently, the custom was adopted to refer to the Pope as "Holy Father" as well. As the Catholic Education center writes: "On the part of the faithful, a filial, loving relationship, which recognizes in the one so addressed or spoken to, a mission of spiritual fatherhood, expressing that of God toward us, in the threefold charge confided to the Church of preaching the Good News of salvation, of sanctifying the believers, and of gathering together the dispersed children of God. This is a special and supreme responsibility of the Pope in the Church’s threefold mission of teaching, governing and sanctifying, as Prophet, Priest, and Shepherd."

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The Stational Church for Wednesday in the 3rd Week of Lent

Today's Station is at the Chuch of St. Sixtus in Rome:

The St. Sixtus Stational Church is located on the Appian Way and is a parish church dating to the fifth century. It was in this church that the catechumens were presented to the Church by their sponsors. Their names were written on tablets of ivory covered in leather, which were read at the Commemoration of the Living. After the Collect of the Mass, the catechumens received the initial parts of the Baptismal ceremony, viz. the rites of exsufflation, of the sign of the cross, of the imposition of hands and that of the salt.

In an age, which makes light of God's commandments, it is of special importance that the faithful be uncompromising in the observance of the "ways of life." Let us be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world," as our holy leader Sixtus was in the third century. We invite this holy pontiff to precede us to the altar and to ask for us "that we, who seek the grace of God's protection, may serve Him with a quiet mind.

Let us pray: Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that disciplined by wholesome fasting, and abstaining from all vices, we may more easily gain forgiveness. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

(Source: St. John Cantius Parish)

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Pray for the Repose of Carolina's Soul

Please pray for the soul of Carolina. I got this email this morning:

I ask today that you remember my dear Aunt Carolina Miruzzi, who, at the age of 91 years, was received into the arms of Jesus this very morning. She was given the grace of a happy and peaceful death, with her entire remaining immediate family at her bedside. She was unique among women, long-suffering and without complaint. May her graces shine down on us all.

Bernadette

In paradisum deducant te Angeli: in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem.

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A Eucharistic Miracle Has Occurred

A reader of my blog just emailed me about news article on a possible Eucharistic miracle from our time. Actually, this miracle occurred in Dallas on March 19th, 2006, last Sunday, the feast day of St. Joseph!

The Eucharist is host turned visibly into the Body and Blood of Christ. This may be declared one of many such miracles. But, don't let this seem too miraculous for you, because the same host that became visible Blood is the same Jesus we receive at each Mass. This Eucharistic host is no different other than in appearance from the ones we have received. This is the beauty of Jesus' words: "This is my Body...for this is my Blood..." (Matthew 26:26-28)

In the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem - "Since He Himself has declared and said of the bread: This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any more?

Not sure what the Eucharist is? Then read my post: The Eucharist

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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Update on the South Dakota Abortion Ban

November 7, 2006: South Dakota Residents did not approve the law by a roughly 45-55%. It is a sad day. But the pro-life movement will move on!!

Since Governor Rounds signed the landmark abortion ban into law March 6, 2006, a fund has already been created to defend it in court. As of Monday, March 20, 2006, $7,157 dollars had been collected. In addition, an unnamed donor has pledged to contribute $1 million dollars to defend it in court.

This is fabulous news. LifeNews also reports that there appears to be no severe blow to South Dakota's tourism industry because of the law either. Tourism is the second largest industry in South Dakota with 2005 bringing in $809 million. Pro-abortion activists have promised to boycott travel to South Dakota if Governor Rounds signed the bill. However, there appears to be no effect. On the contrary, many people are now going to South Dakota because they support this ban on the cruelty of abortion.

Image Source: LifeNews

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Meditations for March 21, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa - "Believe in Jesus trust in Him with blind and absolute confidence because He is Jesus. Believe that Jesus and Jesus alone is life and sanctity is nothing but that same Jesus intimately living in you; then His hand will be free with you.Give yourself unswervingly, conforming yourself in all things to His holy will. Love Jesus generously.Love Him trustfully, without looking back and without fear. Give yourself fully to Jesus. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness."

Padre Pio - "Yes, I love the Cross, the Cross alone; I love it because I see it always on Jesus' shoulders" (Letters I, p. 377).

Everyone:

We are nearly half-way through Lent. How has it gone for you? Has it been penitential and spiritually rejuvenating? Please continue to pray along the stational churches each day and meditate each day on the passion of our Lord. For the God of Glory didn't just love us enough to be born among us; instead, He opened us His arms and died to ransom us too.

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Today's Stational Church: March 21, 2006

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Prudentiana.

The church of St. Prudentiana, on the Viminal Hill, was one of the most venerated places for Roman Christians. St. Prudentiana lived here with her sister, St. Praxedes. Here, St. Peter received hospitality and the first Christians often assembled. Today, this church stands rather forgotten because it was closed for a very long time.

We turn to St. Prudentiana on this day. May she obtain for us by her powerful prayers:1. The grace of mutual forgiveness, so that we may be able to say in truth: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us"—Not seven times, but seventy times seven.2. The grace also of true love for our glorious Lord and for each other. Prudentiana shows us the way. Where charity and love reign, there is God. Christ will then be in our midst. And He shall be the Savior, Lord and King of our hearts and our home.

Let us pray: May the effect of our redemption be applied unto us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by means of your grace, ever restraining us from human excesses and conducting us to the gift of salvation. Through Christ, Our Lord.Amen.

(Source: St. John Cantius Parish)

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