Today I sat down and added a lot of information to my post on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I did this in hopes that it will be a good resource to educate non-Catholics. I would appreciate any feedback on the editions to that page.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Today I sat down and added a lot of information to my post on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I did this in hopes that it will be a good resource to educate non-Catholics. I would appreciate any feedback on the editions to that page.
With today being New Years Eve, it's time for me to reflect on my Catholic Resolutions for 2006 and make mine for 2007. As I posted about last year...
2006 Catholic Resolutions:
1) Pray the Morning prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours each weekday
2) Pray the Rosary at least once a week
3) Visit other Catholic churches around me and meet other priests and people
4) Read the entire Bible in 1 year
5) Read the readings for Mass each morning
2006 Resolution Results:
1) This is the one that I focused most on, and I've exceeded beyond my previous goal. This past June I purchased "Christian Prayer", which made praying the Liturgy of the Hours so easy. Now I do not just pray Morning Prayer but also Evening Prayer and sometimes Night Prayer. With my desire to become a priest, this was a great preparation, so I'm excited that I've exceeded on this goal. I've kept a calendar where I wrote each time I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. After I purchased "Chrisitian Prayer", one can see how much more I can pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Now I can leave the computer screen and pray outside, in the chapel, etc. I will certainly keep praying morning and evening prayer each day now.
2) I did fairly well with this. I didn't pray the Rosary very often during Autumn this year because of classes, but I prayed it last week. In the summer I prayed it each day especially when I started my 54-day Rosary this past year. It was a great success! Overall, I would say that I succeeded in this Resolution
3) I did an excellent job with this. On the Feastday of St. Blase I visited a beautiful church near me. This past June I was honored to spend time at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Missouri. In November I toured the Cathedral in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is the most beautiful church I've ever seen. Even this past Christmas, I assisted as an altar server at midnight Mass. I definitely succeeded in this Resolution
4) I was able to read all of the First five books of the Old Testament (The Pentateuch), but I didn't get any further than that. Perhaps I should try this again in 2007.
5) I did a decent job at this Resolution especially over the summer. With classes that began in September, I was unable to keep doing this. But, thankfully the daily Mass readings are now on podcasts. I downloaded it to I-Tunes a few weeks ago and listened to them everyday that I didn't get a chance to go to Mass. I've did a good job with this Resolution.
2007 Catholic Resolutions:
1) Finish my application process to enter a seminary, get accepted by my diocese, and start at a college seminary in the fall of 2007.
2) Pray the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget each day or as often as possible
3) Find and purchase a Traditional Catholic Prayer Book and a 1962 Roman Missal
4) Attend my first Tridentine Mass
5) Seek to grow spiritually and avoid all of the sins that I have committed often in the past
6) Read classic spirituality books including "Story of a Soul
" by St. Therese of Lisieux
7) Read all of the New Testament
I hope my readers will also create Catholic Resolutions, not just New Years Resolutions.
Read more >>
2006 Catholic Resolutions:
1) Pray the Morning prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours each weekday
2) Pray the Rosary at least once a week
3) Visit other Catholic churches around me and meet other priests and people
4) Read the entire Bible in 1 year
5) Read the readings for Mass each morning
2006 Resolution Results:
1) This is the one that I focused most on, and I've exceeded beyond my previous goal. This past June I purchased "Christian Prayer", which made praying the Liturgy of the Hours so easy. Now I do not just pray Morning Prayer but also Evening Prayer and sometimes Night Prayer. With my desire to become a priest, this was a great preparation, so I'm excited that I've exceeded on this goal. I've kept a calendar where I wrote each time I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. After I purchased "Chrisitian Prayer", one can see how much more I can pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Now I can leave the computer screen and pray outside, in the chapel, etc. I will certainly keep praying morning and evening prayer each day now.
2) I did fairly well with this. I didn't pray the Rosary very often during Autumn this year because of classes, but I prayed it last week. In the summer I prayed it each day especially when I started my 54-day Rosary this past year. It was a great success! Overall, I would say that I succeeded in this Resolution
3) I did an excellent job with this. On the Feastday of St. Blase I visited a beautiful church near me. This past June I was honored to spend time at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Missouri. In November I toured the Cathedral in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is the most beautiful church I've ever seen. Even this past Christmas, I assisted as an altar server at midnight Mass. I definitely succeeded in this Resolution
4) I was able to read all of the First five books of the Old Testament (The Pentateuch), but I didn't get any further than that. Perhaps I should try this again in 2007.
5) I did a decent job at this Resolution especially over the summer. With classes that began in September, I was unable to keep doing this. But, thankfully the daily Mass readings are now on podcasts. I downloaded it to I-Tunes a few weeks ago and listened to them everyday that I didn't get a chance to go to Mass. I've did a good job with this Resolution.
2007 Catholic Resolutions:
1) Finish my application process to enter a seminary, get accepted by my diocese, and start at a college seminary in the fall of 2007.
2) Pray the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget each day or as often as possible
3) Find and purchase a Traditional Catholic Prayer Book and a 1962 Roman Missal
4) Attend my first Tridentine Mass
5) Seek to grow spiritually and avoid all of the sins that I have committed often in the past
6) Read classic spirituality books including "Story of a Soul
" by St. Therese of Lisieux7) Read all of the New Testament
I hope my readers will also create Catholic Resolutions, not just New Years Resolutions.
I suggest praying this each day
O Mary, Immaculate Mother of Jesus, we beseech thee, offer to the Eternal Father the Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, to prevent at least one mortal sin from being committed somewhere in the world today. Amen.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
I ask for your prayers for the repose of the soul of Fr. Carlo Ly (1925 - 2006), who was said to be a very holy priest.Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
Image Source: Photo of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Believed to be in the Public Domain
If you don't know what an indulgence is or how to get one, please view my Indulgences post.
December 31 Indulgence: A PLENARY INDULGENCE is granted when the Te Deum is recited publicly on the last day of the year. Otherwise a partial indulgence is granted to those who recite the Te Deum in thanksgiving.
January 1 Indulgence: A PLENARY INDULGENCE is granted when the Veni, Creator Spiritus is recited on the first of January or Pentecost.
Read more >>
December 31 Indulgence: A PLENARY INDULGENCE is granted when the Te Deum is recited publicly on the last day of the year. Otherwise a partial indulgence is granted to those who recite the Te Deum in thanksgiving.
January 1 Indulgence: A PLENARY INDULGENCE is granted when the Veni, Creator Spiritus is recited on the first of January or Pentecost.
With the Christmas and New Years Celebrations, I have not been able to recently contact the person who is kind enough to pull the saints for the Saint for the Year Devotion. I appreciate everyone's patience. I hope to have more results in the next few days. Thank you for understanding.
Also, this is my 2000th post to this blog! This is a terrific milestone!
Read more >>
Also, this is my 2000th post to this blog! This is a terrific milestone!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Simple (1955 Calendar): April 17Pope St. Anicetus was the 11th pope, who reigned from c. 154 - c. 167 AD. St. Anicetus' papacy was marked by a conflict with the Christians under St. Polycarp of Smyrna, who wanted to celebrate Easter three days after Passover. The Church since the time of St. Peter had instead always ensured the celebration of Easter would be on a Sunday. To alleviate the situation, Pope St. Anicetus allowed the Christians under St. Polycarp to celebrate Easter their way. They continued to do so until the Council of Nicea, which suppressed such practices.
Pope St. Anicetus also forbade priests from having long hair because the Gnostics at this time were characterized by their long hair. It was a decree that allowed the faithful to recognize the difference between the Gnostics and true Christians.
Also in the papacy of St. Anicetus, Montanism
was finally condemned. It was a heresy of the time with many differences with Catholicism - Catholicism is the original and true form of Christianity. Most notable of all the adherents to Montanism was Tertullian
, the famous Early Christian writer who fell into such heresy later in his life.
Also in the papacy of St. Anicetus, Montanism
was finally condemned. It was a heresy of the time with many differences with Catholicism - Catholicism is the original and true form of Christianity. Most notable of all the adherents to Montanism was Tertullian, the famous Early Christian writer who fell into such heresy later in his life.
Pope St. Anicetus died in c. 167 AD and his feastday is April 17.
Prayer:
Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd, and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of blessed Anicetus, Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, who Thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. Through our Lord.
Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
Prayer:
Look forgivingly on Thy flock, Eternal Shepherd, and keep it in Thy constant protection, by the intercession of blessed Anicetus, Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, who Thou didst constitute Shepherd of the whole Church. Through our Lord.
Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents and the 4th Day of Christmas. It is a great time to start a novena for the unborn. For more information on today's feastday, see my post from last year.
"Jesus calls the poor and simple shepherds by means of angels to manifest Himself to them. He calls the learned men by means of their science. And all of them moved interiorly by grace hasten to adore Him. He calls all of us with divine inspirations and He communicates Himself to us with His Grace. How many times has He not lovingly invited us also? And with what promptitude have we replied? My God I blush and am filled with confusion at having to reply to such a question" (St. Padre Pio)
PS: I would like to ask all readers to pray for a special intention of mine. God knows what it is. I would appreciate your prayers. Thank you.
Read more >>
PS: I would like to ask all readers to pray for a special intention of mine. God knows what it is. I would appreciate your prayers. Thank you.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
I have just read and greating enjoyed "Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei
" by Scott Hahn, which is about Opus Dei. Opus Dei is currently the only personal prelate of the Church. Opus Dei's spiritual foundation is divine filiation, the theological term is based off of 1 John 3:2 meaning "We are God's children". Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is also God Himself. Yet, through divine filiation we have a share in His sonship. We share not an eternal sonship like Jesus but rather one created by the grace of God through our baptism.
Page 17 states the central concept very well: "This seems paradoxical: the finite contains the infinite. But it is God Himself who made this possible, by assuming human flesh in Jesus Christ. In doing so, He humanized His divinity, but He also divinized humanity, and thus sanctified - made holy - everything that fills up a human life: friendship, meals, family, travel, study, and work."
Thus, Opus Dei is about the sanctification of all aspects of our daily lives. Through a deep prayer like that includes the Mass, Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, etc along with doing all things in great love, we grow closer to God. For Jesus taught us an example to follow, and we should realize that He too worked continuously to proclaim the Gospel. Work is something that can be made holy.
Read more >>
" by Scott Hahn, which is about Opus Dei. Opus Dei is currently the only personal prelate of the Church. Opus Dei's spiritual foundation is divine filiation, the theological term is based off of 1 John 3:2 meaning "We are God's children". Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is also God Himself. Yet, through divine filiation we have a share in His sonship. We share not an eternal sonship like Jesus but rather one created by the grace of God through our baptism.Page 17 states the central concept very well: "This seems paradoxical: the finite contains the infinite. But it is God Himself who made this possible, by assuming human flesh in Jesus Christ. In doing so, He humanized His divinity, but He also divinized humanity, and thus sanctified - made holy - everything that fills up a human life: friendship, meals, family, travel, study, and work."
Thus, Opus Dei is about the sanctification of all aspects of our daily lives. Through a deep prayer like that includes the Mass, Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, etc along with doing all things in great love, we grow closer to God. For Jesus taught us an example to follow, and we should realize that He too worked continuously to proclaim the Gospel. Work is something that can be made holy.
This book is highly recommended to those interested in Opus Dei. I have read both positive and negative things on Opus Dei. Please do not base all of your opinions about the organization solely on this book. Several books concerning Opus Dei have already been added to the comment box below by readers. I suggest reading other books on the subject before coming to a conclusion on the organziation.
Note: This book has a Nihil Obstat by Reverend Michael F. Hull, STD, Censor Librorum. It has an Imprimatur by Most Reverend Robert A. Brucato.
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