Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Coming One-Year anniversary

(Moved to the top) Thank you for everyone that has written to me so far. It is deeply appreciated!

Original Post: Hello, everyone!

I wanted to ask a favor of any of you that have read my blog before. It doesn't matter if you comment all the time or if you have never commented before. This month is the one-year anniversary of my blog, and I want to find out if it has impacted people. I put this site together for Jesus Christ. It wasn't for me; it wasn't for popularity. It was all for Jesus and His Church.

Since day one, this has been my inspiration to continue: "There are not one hundred people in this world who dislike Catholicism, but there are millions who dislike what they mistakenly believe Catholicism to be." - Archbishop Fulton Sheen

If you wouldn't mind, I would appreciate you write me a note on how this blog has impacted your life. Was it the prayers, news, perspective, etc. from my articles that impacted your faith? Has your involvement in your parish changed remotely because of this blog?

I thank you all for this amazing year!

If you would, as some of these may be more personal than others, email me your thoughts. Please email me here:

acatholiclife[at]gmail[dot]com

Just replaced [at] with @ and [dot] a period.

I've had such a wonderful time on this blog that I want this to continue for at least another year. We are near the one-month away point for the anniversary, so please send in your comments before the end of June.

Thank you, all!
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Devotion to the Sacred Heart

"Let us remember that the Heart of Jesus has called us not only for our own sanctification, but also for that of other souls. He wants to be helped in the salvation of souls" (St. Padre Pio)

It is vitally important to not only meditate on the Sacred Heart of Jesus during June, the Month of the Sacred Heart, but also throughout the whole year.

When did devotion to the Sacred Heart begin?

Devotion to the Sacred Heart was approved for specified dioceses by Pope Clement XIII in 1765 and extended to the whole Church by Pope Pius IX in 1856. Pope Leo XIII dedicated the whole world to the Sacred Heart in 1899.

History of Liturgical Devotion & Papal Writings on Sacred Heart
  • 1765: Pope Clement XIII approved the Feast of the Sacred Heart for the bishops in Poland and for the Roman Archconfraternity of the Sacred Heart
  • 1856: Pope Pius IX extends the Feast of the Sacred Heart to the Universal Church
  • 1899: Pope Leo XIII writes Annum Sacrum saying in part: "In that Sacred Heart all our hopes should be placed, and from it the salvation of men is to be confidently sought." He conscrates the human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 1899, calling it "the greatest act of my pontificate."
  • 1928: Pope Pius XI writes Miserentissimus Redemptor (On Reparation To The Sacred Heart)
  • 1932: Pope Pius XI writes Caritate Christi Compulsi on the Sacred Heart as a remedy for the world's disorders
  • 1956: Pope Pius XII writes Haurietis Aquas on true devotion to the Sacred Heart.
See here for more information on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.
Devotions to Honor the Sacred Heart:
Our Lord also made 12 promises to St. Margaret Mary for those that are devoted to His Sacred Heart.
  1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
  2. I will give peace in their families.
  3. I will console them in all their troubles.
  4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
  5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
  6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
  7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
  8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
  9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.
  10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
  11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
  12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at the last hour.
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54-day Rosary Novena

...I'm half way there!

Yesterday I completed day 27 - that was three Novenas of Rosaries asking for God's grace through Mary. I was praying for myself, my family, and for all of the people that ask me prayers online. I already know that 2 of my prayers that I have really been praying for have been answered! God is great!

Today and for the following 26 days, I will be praying three Novenas of Rosaries in thanksgiving for all prayers answered. I know that several people wanted to join me in praying this Novena when I posted about it. Please remember to start focusing on thanksgiving when you pray your Rosary now. If you are still praying this, please let me know. I'd just like to see how many people are still doing this novena - called the Double Great Novena.

Keep praying!!!
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Novena to St. Anthony: Day Three

Prayer:

O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart . (State your intention)

You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (State your intention) which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.)

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY THREE

O purest St. Anthony, who through your angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine Child Jesus, to hold him in your arms and press him to your heart. I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me. O glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena (State your intention). O great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request.

One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.
Saint Anthony, pray for us!
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Monday, June 5, 2006
St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

“Saint Boniface Felling Donar’s Oak” by Johann Michael Wittmer (1861)

Simple (1955 Calendar): June 5
Memorial (1969 Calendar): June 5

Today the Church remembers St. Boniface, bishop and martyr. He was born around 680 AD into a Saxon family and performed missionary in Germany from 719 AD, when Pope Gregory II requested thusly, until the saint's death in c. 755 AD. Baptized with the name Winfrid, the saint received his early education in a Benedictine monastery in Exeter. In his teen years, he was sent to a monastery at Nursling in Hampshire, where compiled the first-ever dictionary of Latin grammar. At the age of 30, St. Boniface was ordained as a priest.

In 716 AD he began missionary work in the area of present-day Northern Holland. Declining the offer to become Abbot of Nursling, St. Boniface went to Rome in 719 and was commissioned by Pope Gregory II to be a missionary to Germany. At that point, he was given the name "Boniface" meaning "meaning maker of good". In his missionary work, St. Boniface was assisted by Saint Albinus, Saint Abel, and Saint Agatha. During his mission in Germany, St. Boniface destroyed idols and pagan temples and built churches on the sites to erase the false worship and establish the worship of the True God. In 722, St. Boniface was consecrated as a bishop.

Much of Germany had very little knowledge of true Christianity. The clergy there was corrupt and far too many people believed in heresies and errors in the truth. St. Boniface became bishop of Mainz and did amazing things for the Church in Germany by helping to spread the Faith. He also evangelized Holland where he and 52 of his new flock, including Saint Adaler and Saint Eoban were martyred in 755 AD. He is known as "The greatest Englishman of all time".

In Saxony, Boniface encountered a tribe worshipping a Norse deity in the form of a huge oak tree. Boniface walked up to the tree, removed his shirt, took up an axe, and without a word he hacked down the six foot wide wooden god. Boniface stood on the trunk, and asked, "How stands your mighty god? My God is stronger than he." Conversions began.

Traditional Matins Reading:

Boniface, formerly called Winfrid, was a native of England, born towards the end of the seventh century. From his very childhood, he turned away from the world and set his heart upon becoming a monk. When his father tried in vain to divert him from his wishes by the beguilements of the world, he entered a monastery, where under blessed Wulphard he was instructed in all virtuous discipline and every kind of knowledge. At the age of twenty-nine years he was ordained priest, and became an unwearied preacher of the word of God, wherein he had a special gift, which he used with great profit to souls. Nevertheless, his great desire was to spread the kingdom of Christ, and he continually bewailed the vast number of barbarians, who were plunged in the darkness of ignorance and were slaves of the devil. This zealous love of souls increased in him in intensity day by day, till having implored the divine aid by prayers and tears, he at last obtained the permission of the Prior of the monastery to set out for Germany.

He sailed from England with two companions and reached the town of Dorestadt in Friesland. On account of a great war then raging between Radbod, king of the Frieslanders, and Charles Martel, his preaching was without fruit: so he returned to England, and to his former monastery, the government of which, against his will, he was forced to accept. After two years, he obtained the consent of the Bishop of Winchester to resign his office, and he then went to Rome, that by the Apostolic authority he might be delegated to the mission for converting the heathens. When he arrived at the City, he was courteously welcomed by Gregory II, who changed his name from Winfrid to Boniface. He departed thence to Germany and preached Christ to the tribes in Thuringia and Saxony. Radbod, King of Friesland, who bitterly hated the Christian name, being dead, Boniface went a second time among the Frieslanders, and there, with his companion St Willibrord, preached the Gospel for three years with so much fruit, that the idols were hown down, and countless churches arose to the true God.


Saint Willibrord urged him to accept the office of bishop, but he refused, so that he might the more instantly toil for the salvation of unbelievers. Advancing into Germany, he reclaimed thousands of the Hessians from diabolic superstition. Pope Gregory sent for him to Rome, and after receiving from him a noble profession of his faith, consecrated him a bishop. He again returned to Germany, and thoroughly purged Hesse and Thuringia from all remains of idolatry. On account of such great works, Gregory III advanced Boniface to the dignity of archbishop, and on the occasion of a third journey to Rome, he was invested by the Sovereign Pontiff with the powers of legate of the Apostolic See. As such, he founded four bishoprics and held divers synods, among which is especially to be remembered that of Lessines held in Belgium, in the diocese of Cambrai, at which time he made great efforts to spread the faith among the Belgians. By Pope Zachary he was named Archbishop of Mainz, and by command of the same Pope, he anointed Pepin king of the Franks. After the death of St Willibrord, he undertook the government of the Church of Utrecht, at first by the ministry of Eoban, but afterwards, being released from the care of the Church of Mainz, he established his see at Utrecht. The Frieslanders having again fallen back into idolatry, he went once more to preach the Gospel among them, and while he was busied in this duty he won the palm of martyrdom, being slain by some impious barbarians, who attacked him together with his fellow-bishop Eoban, and many others, on the river Born. In accordance with his wish expressed during life, the body of St Boniface was carried to Mainz and buried in the monastery of Fulda, of which he had been the founder, and which he has rendered illustrious by numerous miracles. Pope Pius IX ordered his Office and Mass to be extended to the universa Church.

The Litany of St. Boniface:

For private use only

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.
Queen of the Apostles, Pray for us.

Saint Boniface, Pray for us.
Apostle of Germany, Pray for us.
Worthy successor of the Apostles, Pray for us.
Worthy disciple of Saint Benedict, Pray for us.
Ornament of the Catholic Church, Pray for us.
Thou light, shining for the conversion of pagan nations, Pray for us.
Thou light, shining like the sun, Pray for us.
Thou great benefactor of many nations, Pray for us.
Thou zealous preacher of the Gospel, Pray for us.
Thou unwearied laborer in the vineyard of the Lord, Pray for us.
Thou founder of the Catholic Church in Germany, Pray for us.
Saint Boniface, our Father, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, teacher of truth and virtue, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, extirpator of heathenism, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, destroyer of heresy, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, great bishop and model of missionaries, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, protector of missions, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, founder of many monasteries, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, powerful advocate with God, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, who didst work many miracles, Pray for us.
St. Boniface, great Martyr of faith, Pray for us.

That God may preserve and confirm us in our holy Catholic religion, Pray for us.
That God may grant us the grace to walk piously and faithfully before Him, Pray for us.
That God may humble the enemies of His Church, Pray for us.
That God may grant the grace of True Faith to all heretics and infidels, Pray for us.
That God may give us that spirit with which thou didst serve Him, Pray for us.
That God may restore the Faith to the whole of Germany, Pray for us.
That God may raise up zealous missionaries to convert all pagans and heretics, Pray for us.
That the Holy Spirit may enlighten all missionaries, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Pray 1 Our Father for the conversion of sinners

Let Us Pray: Merciful God, Who hast shown compassion to so many heathen nations through Thy faithful servant St. Boniface, we humbly pray Thee to revive and preserve that Faith which he preached in Thy holy Name, that we may receive Thy revelation with a faithful heart, and so regulate our lives as to gain the Heavenly Kingdom, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Preserve and increase, we beseech Thee, O God, the faith of Thy children, and lead back to the True Fold all those who have been separated or have separated themselves from it, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Ecclesiae Fastos:
We were very glad, therefore, to hear that those countries which owe a special debt of gratitude to St. Boniface intend to make the twelfth centenary of the martyrdom of this shining glory of the Benedictine order an occasion of special rejoicing and public prayer.

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XII ON ST. BONIFACE JUNE 5, 1954
In Hac Tanta:
In these dark times, the memory of St. Boniface, who brought salvation to Germany twelve centuries ago, is a ray of light and a messenger of hope and joy. We commemorate the ancient union of the German people with the Apostolic See. This union planted the first seeds of faith in your country and helped them grow. After the Roman See entrusted Boniface with this legation, he ennobled it by the exceptional glory of his deeds and, finally, by the blood of martyrdom.

Encyclical of Pope Benedict XV promulgated on May 14, 1919.
Prayer:

O God, Who didst vouchsafe by the zeal of blessed Boniface, Thy Martyr and Bishop, to call a multitude of peoples to the knowledge of Thy name: grant, in Thy mercy, that as we keep his solemn feast so we may also enjoy his protection. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
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Why does Evil Exist?

This is question submerged in Theology and can be very complicated to answer coherently. That's why I'm trilled to have read Harrison's post on evil. It looked at evil from the perspectives of St. Iranaeus and St. Augustine. It is well worth your time.

Read the post.


Just remember that God can work good our of an evil. For it was through the Crucifixion of God that the world was redeemed and made whole again.
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Fulton J. Sheen: The Study of World Religions


Last week I watched my first episode of Archbishop's Fulton J. Sheen's Emmy award winning program, Life is Worth Living. It was a very popular show during the 1950's. Well this program was on Comparing world religions and Archbishop Sheen beautifully attacked the notion that Christianity is false and really just changes in pagan beliefs. He said this theory is based on two false assumptions.
  1. Resemblances imply Imitations
  2. Primitive causes Original

For the first, he used the example of paintings in an art gallery. Many paintings use the same combination of colors but that doesn't mean they were all painted by the same artist. And so just because in some pagan forms of culture there were legends of a Resurrection of a false "god" doesn't mean that is why we believe Jesus Christ rose from the grave. Everything has resemblences to other things but that doesn't mean they all are based from the same source.

For the second assumption, Archbishop Sheen looked at Napoleon. Now, his name is also written as Napolio. He said that is broken into two parts: Ne/apolio. He is the "new Apollo". Apollo, the "god" of the sun, in mythology had three sisters and two wives just like Napoleon. The Sun is weaker in the North or the South? It is weaker in the North and Waterloo was in the North. Therefore, Sheen, said that Napoleon never existed - he was based entirely on Apollo.

You see how people always think they have to go back to primitive beliefs concerning religion? But, they don't in any other field. Do we go back to the witchdoctors to learn more about medicine? No, and we don't need to do that with religion.

So how do we find the True Faith?

This was the best part of the program I think. Archbishop Sheen says we must line them all up. We must look at each belief from Christianity to Taoism to Judaism to Islam, etc. And learn what each one teaches. But, we must test them. And the test is this: "If one of you is the Truth surely people were expecting you."

Who among all of the world religion founders had a pre-announced birth and a foretold death? Which one was expected by the people? Surely the Messiah of the World and the Truth would be expected by someone. And, Archbishop Sheen says only one of them could step forward from the line and pass the test - Jesus Christ, God-made man. For only He is the Truth. For He foretold his death numerous times. His birth was pre-announced all the way back to the times of the prophets of Israel. Only Jesus Christ is Lord - only He is the way, the truth, and the Life. And, He is real. For Christianity is not a "religion of the book". It is not a dead one of the story of God who came for us and Ascended before we were born.

Christianity is a religion of love - the story of Our God that loved us so much He came and died our rightful deaths - a belief system not based on an ideal or a notion but a person! The same person enthroned in each Tabernacle in the Eucharist across the entire world. Jesus Christ is real and only He is to be worshipped, adored, and loved. And, if we, like the first apostles, must lay down our life of the faith, so be it. For Jesus Christ already laid down His life for us. For only He is continuing to perform miracles in the world that modern medicine cannot explain. The power of prayer is greater than any other power in the entire world. The number of miracles, Eucharistic miracles, and apparitions are so long that a whole blog could not house them all. Simply, believe the Gospel, believe Jesus Christ, and believe His Church.

So if you were hear someone claiming Christianity is based solely on paganism, remember these points from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

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Younger Priests Are More Traditional

When I was reading Enormous Prayers: A Journey into the Priesthood, I came across some statistics that I wanted to share on my blog. According to a Times survey, priests under the age of 35 only account for 6% of all priests. However, according to the survey, 40% of them are very conservative/traditional priests. This is more than double the percentage of priests over 35 that are traditional.

Do you think this is true?

As someone desiring to serve as a priest, I can tell you that I am a very traditional person under the age of 35. And I can also say that many of the younger priests I know are traditional. I, for one, plan on using incense in the Masses that I celebrate as well as incorporating some Latin. I think people need to see our history. Children today are never brought into contact with the Latin Mass – the Mass that existed for centuries. I think they should at least be exposed to this Mass sometime in their lives.

Source: Enormous Prayers: A Journey into the Priesthood (page 41)
Image Source: June 2006 FSSP Ordinations/NLM

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Words of Inspiration: June 5, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa:

"Anyone is capable of going to Heaven. Heaven is our home. Dying is not the end, it is just the beginning. Death is a continuation of life. This is the meaning of eternal life; it is where our soul goes to God, to be in the presence of God, to see God, to speak to God, to continue loving Him with greater love. We only surrender our body in death - our heart and our soul live forever."

Image Source: Jesus Returning the Keys to St. Peter by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, 1820
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Novena to St. Anthony: Day Two

Prayer:

O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart . (State your intention)

You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (State your intention) which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.)

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY TWO

O miracle-working St. Anthony, remember that it never has been heard that you left without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to thee, O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. O eloquent preacher of the divine mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention) .

(One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony).

Saint Anthony, pray for us!
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