Thursday, April 12, 2007
Yahoo Answers

Today I especially was calling on the intercession of St. Dominic, whose Order especially engages in teaching, as I embarked on a new project. I realize that knowledgable and faithful Catholics must spread the Faith. And with the Internet, we have another means of spreading it! I journeyed over to Yahoo Answers today and began answering questions on Catholicism, Rosary praying, artificial contraception, etc.

I am encouraging some of my faithful Catholic readers to spend a few minutes on Yahoo Answers searching for questions to answer each day. It is quick and easy. Unfortunately, many people that either hate or do not believe in Our Lord are answering the questions. I feel that in such a place where people come for answers, faithful Catholics should be teaching.

St. Dominic, ora pro nobis!
Read more >>
Thursday in the Octave of Easter


"Blessed are those who have not seen but believed" (John 20:29)

Scripture Readings for Today (1962 Propers of the Mass):

LESSON Acts 8:26-40.

In those days, an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying: "Arise, go towards the south, to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem into Gaza": this is desert. And rising up, he went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch, of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge over all her treasures, had come to Jerusalem to adore. And he was returning, sitting in his chariot and reading Isaias the prophet. And the Spirit said to Philip: "Go near and join thyself to this chariot." And Philip running thither, heard him reading the prophet Isaias. And he said: "Thinkest thou that thou understandest what thou readest?" Who said: "And how can I, unless some man shew me?" And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

And the place of the scripture which he was reading was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter: and like a lamb without voice before his shearer, so openeth he not his mouth. In humility his judgment was taken away. His generation who shall declare, for his life shall be taken from the earth?" And the eunuch answering Philip, said: "I beseech thee, of whom doth the prophet speak this? Of himself, or of some other man?" Then Philip, opening his mouth and beginning at this scripture, preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water. And the eunuch said: "See, here is water: What doth hinder me from being baptized?" And Philip said: "If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest." And he answering, said: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And they went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch. And he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took away Philip: and the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found in Azotus: and passing through, he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

GRADUAL Ps. 117:24, 22-23
This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
V. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the work of the Lord, and is wonderful in our eyes.

Alleluia, alleluia!
V. Christ, who created all things and who has had compassion upon the human race, is risen.

SEQUENCE
May you praise the Paschal Victim,
immolated for Christians.
The Lamb redeemed the sheep:
Christ, the innocent one,
has reconciled sinners to the Father.

A wonderful duel to behold,
as death and life struggle:
The Prince of life dead,
now reigns alive.
Tell us, Mary Magdalen,
what did you see in the way?

"I saw the sepulchre of the living Christ,
and I saw the glory of the Resurrected one:
The Angelic witnesses,
the winding cloth, and His garments.
The risen Christ is my hope:
He will go before His own into Galilee."
We know Christ to have risen
truly from the dead:
And thou, victorious King,
have mercy on us.
Amen. Alleluia.

GOSPEL John 20:11-18.

At that time, Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. They say to her: "Woman, why weepest thou?" She saith to them: "Because they have taken away my Lord: and I know not where they have laid him."

When she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing: and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith to her: "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" She, thinking that it was the gardener, saith to him: "Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him: and I will take him away." Jesus saith to her: "Mary." She turning, saith to him: "Rabboni" (which is to say, Master). Jesus saith to her: "Do not touch me: for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God." Mary Magdalen cometh and telleth the disciples: "I have seen the Lord; and these things he said to me."

Reflection:

Our Easter celebrations continue as we celebrate Easter Thursday. Today is another day of endless joy and a day to pray the Regina Coeli.

For today's meditation, I have chosen to post sections of the Catechism of St. Pus X. The Catechism was composed in 1905 under Pope St. Pius X, and it still applies today because the Catholic Faith is changeless.

Catechism of St. Pius X:

1 Q: What are we taught in the Fifth Article: He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead?

A: The Fifth Article of the Creed teaches us that the Soul of Jesus Christ, on being separated from His Body, descended to the Limbo of the holy Fathers, and that on the third day it became united once more to His Body, never to be parted from it again.

2 Q: What is here meant by hell?

A: Hell here means the Limbo of the holy Fathers, that is, the place where the souls of the just were detained, in expectation of redemption through Jesus Christ.

3 Q: Why were not the souls of the Holy Fathers admitted into heaven before the death of Jesus Christ?

A: The souls of the holy Fathers were not admitted into heaven before the death of Jesus Christ, because heaven was closed by the sin of Adam, and it was but fitting that Jesus Christ, who reopened it by His death, should be the first to enter it.

4 Q: Why did Jesus Christ defer His own resurrection until the third day?

A: Jesus Christ deferred His own resurrection until the third day to show clearly that He was really dead.

5 Q: Was the resurrection of Jesus Christ like the resurrection of other men who had been raised from the dead?

A: No, the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not like the resurrection of other men who had been raised from the dead, because He rose by His own power, while the others were raised by the power of God.
Read more >>
Photo: Altar of Repose



Read more >>
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Prayer Requests from Various Blogs

Let us remember these prayer requests at Mass.
  • For Bobby's health via A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
  • For Nathanael in his exams
  • For The Divine Lamp, whose father passed away on Easter Monday
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
Read more >>
Pope Benedict XVI's Holy Week in 2007

Below is a post on Pope Benedict XVI's Holy Week in 2007.

Holy Thursday


AP Photo/Plinio Lepri



AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito


Good Friday


AFP/POOL/Danilo Schiavella


REUTERS/Maurizio Brambatti-Pool


REUTERS/Maurizio Brambatti-Pool



AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito



AFP/Christophe Simon


Holy Saturday


REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito



REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN)



Giampiero Sposito/Reuters


Easter Sunday


AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia


On Easter Sunday, he also gave the Urbi et Orbi Address.
Read more >>
The Transformation of the Altar


FSSP transform a modernistic free-standing altar into a very beautiful High Altar. The church that this took place in is in France and is now operated by the Fraternity of St. Peter.
Read more >>
The Joy of the Priesthood

Although I have not yet read this book, I was interested if anyone else has read the book. I have already read several reviews of this book, which highly praise it.

Written by Fr. Stephen Rossetti, the book is highly appropriate because he has been the president of the St. Luke Institute in Silver Spring, MD, which is a residential program for treating clergy and religious men and women suffering from mental problems. In an era when consecrated life is highly frowned upon, Fr. Rossetti clearly has seen some of the lowest points in the lives of consecrated men and women. However, Fr. Rossetti offers this book with practical advice for priests on how to spread the Truth of Jesus Christ. It is a means of offering hope to priest. In addition, Catholics are able to understand the challenges and joys of priestly life through this book.

In a positive note, of the 368 residents of the St. Luke Institute treated between 1985-2004, over 95% have not relapsed.
Read more >>
Wednesday in the Octave of Easter


"He is not here. He has risen" (Luke 24:6)

Easter Wednesday is traditionally the day every so many years when the Pope would consecrate the Agnus Dei Sacramental

Scripture Readings for Today (1962 Propers of the Mass):

LESSON Acts 3:13-15, 17-19.

In those days, Peter opening his mouth, said: "The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus, whom you indeed delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released. But you denied the Holy One and the Just: and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. But the author of life you killed, whom God hath raised from the dead: of which we are witnesses. And now, brethren, I know that you did it through ignorance: as did also your rulers. But those things which God before had shewed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out."

GRADUAL Ps. 117:24, 16

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.
V. The right hand of the Lord has exercised power; the right hand of the Lord has lifted me up.

Alleluia, alleluia!
V. Luke 24:34. The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Peter.

SEQUENCE
May you praise the Paschal Victim,
immolated for Christians.
The Lamb redeemed the sheep:
Christ, the innocent one,
has reconciled sinners to the Father.

A wonderful duel to behold,
as death and life struggle:
The Prince of life dead,
now reigns alive.
Tell us, Mary Magdalen,
what did you see in the way?

"I saw the sepulchre of the living Christ,
and I saw the glory of the Resurrected one:
The Angelic witnesses,
the winding cloth, and His garments.
The risen Christ is my hope:
He will go before His own into Galilee."
We know Christ to have risen
truly from the dead:
And thou, victorious King,
have mercy on us.
Amen. Alleluia.

GOSPEL John 21:1-14.

At that time, Jesus shewed himself to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And he shewed himself after this manner. There were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples.

Simon Peter saith to them: "I go a fishing." They say to him: "We also come with thee." And they went forth and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing.

But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus therefore said to them: "Children, have you any meat?" They answered him: "No."
He saith to them: "Cast the net on the right side of the ship; and you shall find." They cast therefore: and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter: "It is the Lord." Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the ship (for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes.

As soon then as they came to land they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith to them: "Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught." Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus saith to them: "Come and dine." And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: "Who art thou?" Knowing that it was the Lord. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them: and fish in like manner. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.

Reflection:

Below is the Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom. It is a good meditation for us as we continue our celebration of Easter. Remember Easter is an 8-day celebration like Christmas. In addition, let us contemplate the sheer joy that the followers of Jesus must have heard when told these words: "He is not here. He has risen."  And today is another day to pray the Regina Coeli.

Sermon of St. John Chrysostom:

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!
Read more >>
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Month of the Eucharist


April is dedicated to the Most Holy Eucharist. Above all, one post cannot express the necessary sentiments of joy in regards to the Holy Eucharist, which is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Below are a few of the many posts on my blog dedicated to the Holy Eucharist as well as prayers. Let us pray the Litany in Reparation to Our Lord in the Eucharist this month.

Prayers:
Information:
Read more >>
Catholic Carnival 114

Catholic Carnival 114 is now available on Profound Gratitude.
Read more >>


Copyright Notice: Unless otherwise stated, all items are copyrighted under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. If you quote from this blog, cite a link to the post on this blog in your article.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links on this blog are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, for instance, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made by those who click on the Amazon affiliate links included on this website. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”