Stational Church: Saturday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Nicholas in Carcere.  Dom Gueranger writes, "This Saturday, in the early ages of Christianity, was called Sitientes, from the first word of the Introit of the Mass, in which the Church addresses her catechumens in the words of Isaias, and invites them that thirst after grace, to come and receive it in the holy Sacrament of Baptism. At Rome, the Station was originally in the basilica of Saint Laurence outside the walls; but it was found inconvenient, on account of its great distance from the city; and the church of Saint Nicholas in carcere, which is within the walls, was selected for to-day’s Station."

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 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.

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Mexico City: Will it allow abortion?

May 29, 2007: The law is going to Mexico's Supreme Court. So far, 180 legal abortions have taken place in Mexico City.

May 9, 2007 Update: Pope would deny communion, not excommunicate Catholic politicians who support abortion rights.

April 29, 2007 Update: Unfortunately, the bill has become law but a group of Catholic attorneys is planning to take the law to court.

April 25, 2007 Update: Pro-life groups prepare to protest when abortions begin in Mexico City.

April 24, 2007 Update: Unfortunately, city lawmakers have voted to support abortion. The bill legalizes abortion within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. The vote was 46-19 with one absentee. Lord, have mercy!

April 6, 2007 Update: Mexico Catholic Bishop says that Lawmakers Who Back Abortion will be Excommunicated.

Original Post: This post will be dedicated to the issue of abortion in Mexico City. I will post updates as they become available.

The local legislature in Mexico City is attempting to legalize all abortions within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and open the door to the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug. The Catholic Church is strongly opposing and working to defeat this proposal (LifeNews).

Please pray!

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Baptism: New vs. Old Rite

I recently bought a 1962 Missal of the Tridentine (Latin) Mass. I absolutely love it! The Missal includes so many sections including evening/morning prayers, Mass readings for the entire year, and information on the Sacraments. I personally was interested in seeing how the sacraments have changed since Vatican II, and Baptism has changed greatly.

To see the comparison of Sacrament Baptism in the Old and New Rites, see Fr. Carota's Page

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Sancta Maria

As we progress through Lent, let us not forget to pray the Rosary each day like Mary requested of all peoples when she appeared in Fatima.

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis!

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Lenten Prayer

O Jesus, it is not the heavenly reward you have promised which impels me to love you; neither is it the threat of hell that keep me from offending you. It is you, O Lord, it is the sight of you affixed to the Cross and suffering insults; it is the sight of your broken body, as well as your pains and your death. There is nothing you can give me to make me love you. For even if there were no heaven and no hell I would still love you as I do. Amen.

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Stational Church: Friday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Eusebius. His feast day is kept on the Vigil of the Assumption on August 14th. 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:

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.

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Daniel C. Maguire

Daniel C. Maguire hopefully will now stop teaching his heretical assertions. Finally, Roman Catholic bishops in the United States have declared two pamphlets by the "Catholic" theologian as “false teaching” because he argues that abortion, contraception and same-sex marriage are morally permissible. The pamphlets, “The Moderate Roman Catholic Position on Contraception and Abortion” and “A Catholic Defense of Same-Sex Marriage”, are simply heresy.

Let us pray for an end to all heresy! O Lord, through thy passion, thou hast redeemed the world. Misere Nobis!

Source: New York Times

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Archbishop Flynn bars Mass at Gay Symposium

Archbishop Harry Joseph Flynn from March 27, 2009. Photo taken by Gaia Octavia Agrippa

Amazing! I didn't think he would do this! I truly am delighted after reading this news:

People with a homosexual orientation are children of God, not outcasts, Archbishop Harry Flynn explained, and Catholics are called to love gay people unconditionally; but the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis said he was compelled to bar a national organization that ministers to homosexual Catholics from celebrating the Eucharist during its March 16 to 18 meeting in Minneapolis.

“Although I recognize the sincerity of the efforts made by New Ways Ministry to serve lesbian and gay persons, on many occasions this group has openly contested aspects of the fullness of Catholic teaching in this area,” the archbishop noted in a written statement following the event.

The Catholic Spirit

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Periucundum est Catholicum esse

"Periucundum est Catholicum esse" is Latin for "It's cool to be Catholic". I just recently read about a new non-profit Catholic organization called Catholici Sumus.

Currently Catholici Sumus is selling wristbands embossed with "Periucundum est Catholicum esse". It is the organization's hope that these wristbands will become a way for Catholics to evangelize. Importantly, every time someone inquires about the purple band (the color of penance), it opens the door for dialogue and evangelization. This can be a excellent opportunity to talk about the Catholic faith. Their vision is to distribute thousands of these wristbands, leading to millions of daily opportunities to share/spread the Faith.

The leader of this new organization said that he is outraged by our society mocking Christian values. Furthermore, he states that there are many misinformed Catholics, a ‘lost generation’ from the 60’s and 70’s that was not properly taught the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This band is a small step to help catechise the lost sheep of the Flock of Christ.

For more information, please visit the website of Catholici Sumus.

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Friday: Abstain from Meat

O King of Glory, have mercy on us sinners!

Today is Friday, the day we commemorate Our Lord's passion and death. It was our own sins that condemned Our Glorious Lord to death - death on a Cross. As Catholics, we are bound to abstain from meat today. Willingly ignoring the law of fasting and abstinence is seriously sinful! It was on this day of the week that Our Glorious Redeemer died for us. Please, never forget this, especially at 3 o'clock, the hour that He died. At 3 o'clock attempt to pray the 3 o'clock Mercy Prayer. Please remember Our Lord's love and repent today.

For the rules on fasting and abstinence, please see my post on the topic.

Today is a great day to pray the Stations of the Cross. Please join me in praying the Stations of the Cross. Remember, it was on this day that He gave up His life all for you.

Prayer to the Glorious Cross:

I adore You, O glorious Cross, which was adorned with the Heart and Body of my Savior Jesus Christ, stained and covered with blood. I adore You, O Holy Cross, out of love for Him, Jesus, who is my Savior and my God.

(Pope Pius IX declared that reciting this prayer five times on Friday will free five souls from Purgatory and 33 souls by reciting it on Good Friday. This prayer should be recited before a crucifix with a contrite heart and praying a few minutes for the Pope).

Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified:

My good and dear Jesus, I kneel before you asking you most earnestly to engrave upon my heart a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm resolve to make amends. As I reflect upon your five wounds, and dwell upon them with deep compassion and grief, I recall the words the prophet David spoke long ago concerning yourself: they have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones!

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