Stational Church: Saturday in the Second Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church is the Basilica of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter.  For information on this devotion, see the Stational Churches of Lent Homepage. I will post on each Stational Church for Lent. Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

This Station is in the basilica founded by St. Helen on the Via Lavicana, in which were buried the bodies of St. Marcellinus, priest, and St. Peter, exorcist, martyred at Tome during the Diocletian persecution. Their names are mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass.

May today's stational saints, not brothers in the flesh, but in spirit, obtain for us the gift of gratitude both for our holy calling—God's free gift—as well as for the grace of conversion, our homecoming to the Father. For the remainder of our life may "the unspotted law of the Lord, which converts souls, and the testimonies of our faithful Lord fill us with such wisdom that we shall show forth the glory of God, and declare the works of His hands."

Let us pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, a saving virtue to our fast; that the chastisement of the flesh, which we have taken upon us may bestow new life to our souls. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

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Raymond Arroyo to sign books on March 15

I have recently received Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality edited by Raymond Arroyo, and I hope to being reading it soon. Raymond Arroyo will be signing books in DC on March 15, 2007. Father Neuhaus will be there, and EWTN will be taping the event. If anyone attends, I would be very interested in hearing about the event.

Book Discussion will begin at 7 PM with book signing to follow by Raymond Arroyo and Father Neuhaus.

Location:

Pope John Paul ll Cultural Center
3900 Harewood Road, NE
Washington, D.C.

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Fr. Lawrence Novak's Christmas Mass Homily

Fr. Lawrence Novak (SSPX) gave an excellent homily at Christmas Mass in 2004. His main theme applies to Lent as well. Christmas and Lent are very similar - namely, Our Lord came down from Heaven to go to the Cross. Even as a child, Our Lord knew that He was to mount that Cross for our salvation. The theme of the homily is simply thus: "He came to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay"

   

 Parts from that Mass:

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Stational Church: Friday in the Second Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Vitalis. For information on this devotion, see the Stational Churches of Lent Homepage. I will post on each Stational Church for Lent. Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

Mother Church points today to the "Great Friday" on which our High Priest and Redeemer obtained for us eternal redemption. She takes us today to the church of St. Vitalis—father of the holy martyrs, Gervase and Protase. For his loyalty to Christ, St. Vitalis was first buried up to the waist in an old cistern and then stoned to death.

Here at the altar of this martyr — his name means "full of life" — Holy Mother Church directs our attention to the life-giving death of the Savior. In four weeks we will celebrate the life-begetting Passion of Christ. Pointing to this great mystery, the Church prays that we continue to prepare for it; that the holy fast may chasten us and make our hearts pure, so that when the vintage time of the Paschal solemnity arrives, the divine householder may not be obliged to say: "I looked that my vineyard should bring forth grapes, and it has brought forth thorns."

May St. Vitalis, who drank so abundantly of the sacred winepress of the Lord's Passions, accompany us today to the Eucharistic Banquet in which this most Holy Passion is rendered present and the fruits thereof applied to our souls. Here all of us will become "Vitales"—living members of Christ—the Fountain of all life and holiness. 

Let us pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that cleansed by this holy fast, we may be brought by Thee with pure hearts to the holy season, which is to come. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

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Tridentine Mass in Saint Louis, Missouri

Several weeks ago, I posted that the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest will offer Solemn High Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis on March 7, 2007. I am happy to report that Rome of the West has pictures posted of the Mass!

View the photos.

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Sister Sara Butler Now Against Womens' Ordination

This is an excerpt from The Journal News. Above all, Catholics cannot believe that women should be ordained because it is not possible (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis).

Polls generally show that 50 percent to 60 percent of Roman Catholics in the United States believe that women should be eligible for the priesthood.

Sister Sara Butler understands this impulse - because she once felt the same way. In 1978, she headed a task force of the Catholic Theological Society of America that came out in support of female priests.

But as she continued her work as an increasingly prominent theologian, her thinking began to change. Now, in a new book - "The Catholic Priesthood and Women: A Guide to the Teaching of the Church" - she attempts to explain the underpinnings of the all-male priesthood to doubters and skeptics who think the way she used to.

"The tradition is traced to the will of Christ, not to decisions made by the church," Butler said last night at St. Joseph's Seminary, where she has taught for four years.

The church's teachings must be better explained, she said, because many Catholics see the all-male priesthood as a symbol of patriarchal power and sexism, and many more who stay silent are probably befuddled.

"Their confidence in the church's teaching authority has been badly eroded," she said.

Several hundred priests, nuns, seminarians and lay visitors greeted Butler with sustained applause, a measure of their respect for her and their approval of the church's position.

Critics of the all-male priesthood were in short supply.

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Vocation Retreat: Brothers of Saint John

Situtated in Princeville, Illinois, the Brothers of Saint John are opening their doors to young men interested in experiencing the monastery from March 30 - April 1, 2007. Visit their website and click on "Events" to see the option to download the flyer about this Vocation Retreat.

Here is what I received in email:

The Brothers would like to open our doors to young men who are interested in having a weekend experience in a monastery. We will welcome them to join our rhythm of prayer, fraternal charity, silence and study (search for truth)... The weekend monastic experience begins with vespers at 5:30 pm Friday the 30th of March and concludes on Sunday, April 1st. Space in the cloister is limited. If you are interested you may call Br. John Luke at (309) 385-1193 ext 216. Come and see!

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Updates on Me and My Vocation

I wanted to post an update on my vocation and information on some things that I have done lately.

Last Monday night I attended another discernment meeting for the priesthood sponsored by my diocese. With Eucharistic Adoration, Dinner, Vespers, and a spiritual talk, it was enjoyable. I am still certain that I want and am being called to serve as a priest, and I enjoy attending the meetings each month. At the end of this month I will complete another important step to becoming an official seminarian - the final step. Hopefully I can be an official seminarian for my diocese in April. All prayers are very much appreciated!

In addition, I have proudly completed one of my 2007 Catholic Resolutions by purchasing a 1962 Catholic Missal. I have been searching for one for months, and I recently found one available through the Internet for only $35. I was very excited when I received it on my doorstep today. I must say - it is a wonderful missal. For information on this missal, check out Our Lady of the Rosary Library. Now I hope to find a parish sometime in the future and attend my first Tridentine Mass!

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Video: Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

Please take note how traditional the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist (in Ann Arbor, MI) are. It seems that the only convents experiencing growth are traditional ones that wear the traditional habits. I especially was amazed at the beautiful high altar visible in the last parts of the film.

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Stational Church: Thursday in the Second Week of Lent

Santa Maria in Tratevere, Rome Italy (c) A Catholic Life Blog 2016

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Mary in Trastevere. For information on this devotion, see the Stational Churches of Lent Homepage. I will post on each Stational Church for Lent. Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

In the heart of Transtiber, in a beautiful Romanesque square stands the church of St. Mary. On the spot of this church, shortly before the birth of Christ, oil gushed out of the ground. Mary carried Christ "the Anointed One" (reference to the oil) in her arms.

The Mother of God is today's stational leader to Christ, the Light of the world. We fly to your patronage, Holy Mother of God. Do present our humble prayers to Him, whom you did bring forth, the King that rules heaven and earth. Help us, good Mother, that He may keep us away from the broad road, which leads to darkness and perdition and take us on the narrow but sure way to eternal light and life.

It is Thursday, four weeks from the great Eucharistic Thursday. May today's Eucharistic action give us light to see the right way and strength to follow it. And Christ is the "Way," and Mary, our leader to this "Way"—Per Mariam ad Jesum!

Let us pray: Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the help of Thy grace, that being duly intent on fasts and prayers, we may be delivered from enemies of soul and body. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

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