Stational Church for April 3, 2006

Today's Stational Church is at the Church of St. Chrysogonus

We are branches of Christ, the Vine. As such, we share in His life, share in His joys, and must share also in His sufferings, and thus—as the Apostle so boldly put it—make up in our own body what is yet wanting in the sufferings of Christ, the Head. This we shall do gladly in these holy Passion days. Our mortifications, our self-discipline, our temptations, our trials from within and from without, all our sufferings, we will unite with Christ's Blessed Passion. They will then be lifted out of their own smallness and will share in the greatness and efficacy of His sufferings. He will suffer in us and we in Him.

We humbly ask St. Chrysogonus, in whose Roman home we observe today's mysteries of redemption, that he would accompany us to "the Lord of Hosts, the King of Glory."

Let us pray: O God, hear my prayer. Give ear to the words of my mouth. Save me, O Lord, by Thy name and in Thy power deliver me. Through Christ, Our Lord.Amen.

Source: St. John Cantius Parish

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John 11:25-26

With Lent approaching I wanted to start posting scripture here relating to Christ's death and our salvation.

Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live:And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou this? John 11:25-26

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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Philippines Update

Update: Keep praying!

In mid-January I posted about a bill in the Philippines (HB 3773) that would create a law similar to China requiring a "two child per family limit." The bill is highly opposed by the majority of the country and the Catholic Church; the Philippines is 87% Catholic.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo just announced that she will veto any legislation approved by lawmakers that would legalize abortion in the Philippines. She called this her "best birthday gift" to Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, the chairman of the Philippines Catholic Bishops Conference.

President Arroyo of the Philippines said that bill "pave[s] the way for the kind of human rights nightmare that is already in China, with its coercive sterilization and contraception practices."

I commend Arroyo, a practicing Catholic, for standing up for the truth - that human life is worthy of dignity. Thanks be to God for this great news.

Visit The Filipino Family Fund for more information and a petition against this dangerous bill

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An Offering of the Precious Blood for Souls

O my God, I beg of Thee, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, through the merits of the Precious Blood offered to Thee in every Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, to grant that, this day, one sinner may be converted, one mortal sin be averted, one soul in doubt be converted to truth, one soul about to die in sin receive the grace of repentance and a happy death, and the deliverance of that soul in Purgatory which is nearest Heaven. I wish, by this offering, to console the Heart of Jesus in Agony for souls lost through the teaching of error against the true Church of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer excerpted from Schouppe, Father F.X., Purgatory: Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints. Rockford: TAN, 1991. "Appendix 3: Prayers for the Poor Souls", pp. 413-427. Imprimatur, Nihil Obstat.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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The Pope's April Prayer Intentions

Please join me in praying for Pope Benedict XVI's prayer intentions for April:

General: That the individual, social and political rights of women may be respected in every nation.

Missionary: That the Church in China may carry out its evangelizing mission serenely and in full freedom.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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Stational Church for April 1, 2006

Today's Stational church is St. Nicholas in Carcere

This Station is at a church built on the ruins of three pagan temples and consecrated to St. Nicholas. It is called in carcere because in ancient times it had been a dungeon—a prison devoid of light.

Water, food and light are indispensable for the maintenance and up-building of our natural life. Sacred Water, Sacred Food and Sacred Light are indispensable for the maintenance and up-building of our supernatural life.

1. "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he can not enter into the Kingdom of heaven."
2. "Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you shall not have life in you."
3. "I am the Light of the world. He that follows Me walks not in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Catechumens and Faithful both were deeply impressed while listening to the Gospel of "The Light of the World" read in today's stational church, which is over a dark dungeon. There criminals were held in confinement, deprived of light, liberty and the joys of life. A man in mortal sin walks in darkness. The light of Christ is not in Him. He sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. With God's help, we must free ourselves during the remaining days from all darkness.

St. Nicholas—lead us today to Him, who by Sacred Water has made us His living branches, to Christ Jesus, our Divine Food and Holy Light.

Let us pray: Mercifully compel our rebellious wills and make them subject to Thee, O Lord. We ask this Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Source: St. John Cantius Parish

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Terri Schiavo - the one-year anniversary

Today is the one-year anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo, who starved to death because her husband didn't love her. This is the reality that comes with euthanasia - good people die and life and death are placed in man's hands instead of God's.

Priests for Life offers the following prayer:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know that life is always a good,
and that it never loses its value
when it is beset by weakness or injury.
Lord, thank you for the life of Terri.
Even in her suffering and death
She revealed Your glory
and truth that life is always sacred.
As I remember Terri, I also 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!

Via Dymphna's Well

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St. Stephen of Mar Saba

Today we remember St. Stephen of Mar Saba, the nephew of St. John Damascene. This young saint was introduced to monastic life at the age of 10 by St. John Damascene. Later on in life, St. Stephen asked his superior at the monastery if he would be permitted to live a hermit's life of prayer. The answer - he could except on weekends when he was needed as a counselor.

St. Stephen was a highly spiritual and prayerful saint although he also valued periods of quiet prayer and contemplation. During those times of prayer he would place a sign on his door: "Forgive me, Fathers, in the name of the Lord, but please do not disturb me except on Saturdays and Sundays."

St. Stephen of Mar Saba died in 794 AD. One biographer of him wrote, "Whatever help, spiritual or material, he was asked to give, he gave. He received and honored all with the same kindness. He possessed nothing and lacked nothing. In total poverty he possessed all things."

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Stational Church for March 31, 2006

Today's Stational Church at the the Church of St. Eusebius

The Roman Martyr-Priest, Eusebius, whom the Arian Emperor Constantius II had imprisoned for seven months in the priest's own home so that he might slowly starve to death, is today our leader to the blessed Christ for whose Divinity Eusebius died and won eternal life.Two weeks from today, we shall celebrate the Lord's life-giving death—the source of our resurrection and life. Christ's death is the Sacrament of all sacraments.

All the Christian mysteries flow from this main-spring: "the mystery of new life" "out of water and the Holy Spirit;" restoring or healing life in the tribunal of God's mercy; the reception of the Bread of Life at the Lord's Table; as well as the great "come forth" on the last day (from our tombs as Lazarus was called from his tomb). These and all other mysteries of our Faith are rooted in the death of the Lamb of God.

Let us pray: O God, who renews the world by Thine ineffable sacraments, grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy Church may profit by Thy eternal institutions, and not be lacking in temporal help. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Source: St. John Cantius Parish

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Lenten Prayer 1

Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts. Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins. Lead us back to the way of holiness. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep safe in all its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores. Amen.

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