St. Thomas the Apostle

Today according to the 1969 Calendar of Saints is the feastday of St. Thomas the Apostle. I highly encourage others to read my previous post on St. Thomas. In particular, I would like to share this story:

While in India, St. Thomas witnessed a group of people desperately trying to remove a post from the earth. With ease, St. Thomas removed it and thrust it back into the ground saying that water shall never again pass the point. Atop the post now stands Santhome Cathedral. And, quite miraculously, when the Tsunami of 2004 hit and destroyed much of the buildings in Chennai, the water stopped at the steps of the Cathedral. The miracle of St. Thomas is still alive.

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Daily Prayer Schedule

Greetings and peace!

Since I am not yet in the seminary and am able to utilize much of my free time for prayer, I have devised a daily schedule. I follow these prayer times daily unless I happen to be working at the time of the prayer. However, for the most part, I am able to pray most of my prayer schedule daily.

• 7:30 AM Lauds in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel
• 8:00 AM Rosary in the church during Eucharistic Adoration
• 8:30 AM Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• 9:00 AM Terce in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel
• 12 Noon Sext
• 3:00 PM None
• Sunset Vespers
• 9:00 PM Compline

I really like this current schedule because I am able to pray all of the daytime offices: Terce, Sext, and None. If I arrive at the Adoration Chapel early I spend extra time in prayer for the end of abortion and for the poor souls in purgatory. Below is a copy of a prayer that I really enjoyed praying today. I ask everyone reading this blog to pray it.

Prayer to Jesus Christ:

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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Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

For those who follow the pre-Vatican II Calendar of the Saints, today is the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to the 1955 Calendar, today is a Double of the II Class. The Faithful who use the 1962 Calendar also celebrate the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary today.

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Examination of St. Paul's Tomb Begins

Since Pope Benedict XVI recently declared that the Year of St. Paul would take place from June 2008 - June 2009, I would like to share this exciting news story from Catholic World News:

Pope Benedict XVI has approved an examination of the tomb of St. Paul, located in the Roman basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, the Kath.net news service reports.

The German-language news service reports that the Pope has given the green light for a plan to examine the interior of the tomb located beneath the altar of the ancient basilica, using an endoscopic probe.

Last December an archeologist announced the discovery of a large marble sarcophagus in excavations under the altar of the basilica, marked with a marble slab that read: "St. Paul, apostle." Although the basilica was built on the site of St. Paul's martyrdom and burial, the exact location of his tomb had been lost to history after a fire early in the 19th century. Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, the archpriest of the basilica, conceded that while the sarcophagus is marked as that of St. Paul, there is no certainty about the contents of the tomb. Having removed debris and plaster that surrounded the site, archeologists now plan a careful examination of the interior.

A similiar news story is available from WorldNetDaily.

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Be Pro-Life on Facebook

Finale: SUCCESS!



Original Post:

From an email:

Please send this email out to all your friends. You can vote to abolish abortion in Canada on Facebook's Great Canadian Wish List at the link below. You'll need to establish a free account on Facebook, if you don't already have one. Please get the word out as the "pro-choice" wish is gaining ground on us. The final winner will be announced on Canada Day : July 1st. Just log in below and add your support to the Abolish Abortion group.

http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb

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Pewsitter.com

I received the following email from Pewsitter. This seems like a very worthwhile project. Just select a diocese at the top of the webpage by clicking on "Diocesan news". I strongly hope that some of my readers will suggest news and help Pewsitter.com.

The Email:

Pewsitter.com is a unique Catholic news web site that was launched earlier this year. We are based in the U.S. and the preponderance of news on the site is from the U.S, we do feature Catholic related news from around the world.

The news on the site comes from two sources. The main source is from the conventional secular and Catholic press. We scour the news every day and put on Pewsitter those stories about the Catholic Church, faith, religion and the important moral and spiritual struggles of the day.

The second news source is the Catholic lay faithful. The concept behind the site is to enlist an army of "pewsitters" to be the eyes and ears for Pewsitter - hence the name. By submitting newsworthy items to Pewsitter, the laity can help shape and influence the Church and be a powerful force for positive change.

Pewsitter's initial focus will be on the national and international news on its home page. Its mid term objective is it to feature the Catholic news of the day within each of the 189 Catholic dioceses throughout the U.S

We would very much appreciate your assistance in getting the word out about Pewsitter. Here are several ways in which you can help us:

Place a link to our site, from your site, in a prominent place

Send an email to any opt-in email lists that you might have, encouraging other
faithful Catholics to go to the site and to begin to use it.

Volunteer to assist us with this endeavor

Keep us in your prayers.

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Blogging Addicition Quiz

70%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Via Catholic Fire

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The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Double of the I Class (1955 Calendar): July 1

Today, according to the Traditional Catholic Calendars of 1962 and previous, is the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This Feast, like so many others, has fallen victim to the post-Vatican II Church's novelties.

Fr. Johann Evalgelist Zollner (1883) relates the following:

"On this day, the Church celebrates the feast of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. This feast, which had been celebrated in some dioceses since the fifteenth century, on Monday after Trinity Sunday, was extended by Pope Pius IX. over the whole Christian world, and its celebration prescribed for the first Sunday of July. The time of persecution and suffering had already begun for the Sovereign Pontiff. Compelled by a revolution to leave Rome, he repaired to Gaeta, in the kingdom of Naples, where he lived in exile for seventeen months, till April, 1850. Here it was that on the tenth day of August, 1849, he instituted the feast of the Precious Blood. That most sacred blood is the price of our Redemption, and is poured out daily in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, whence it flows into the channels of the seven Sacraments, as an atonement for our sins and for our sanctification. For, as in Egypt, God was propitiated by the blood of the paschal lamb, the type and figure of the true Lamb of God, so He is propitiated by the blood of his Son, the true Paschal Lamb, which speaketh better than Abel's. Herein is the strongest evidence of the infinite love of Jesus Christ, who not only once, but seven times, shed his precious blood amidst the most cruel sufferings for our salvation. Let this seven-fold shedding of the precious blood be the subject of our present meditation.

1. The first shedding of blood was at His Circumcision
2. The shedding of blood in the garden of Olives
3. Jesus is scourged. The four Evangelists narrate that Jesus was Scourged
4. Jesus shed His blood the fourth time, when he was crowned with thorns
5. Jesus shed his blood the fifth time, carrying the cross
6. Jesus shed his blood the sixth time, when He was crucified
7. The seventh and last time Jesus shed His blood was when His side was opened

"Thus Jesus shed His precious blood seven times, and the price of these seven sheddings of blood is found in the seven Sacraments, by which we are cleansed from sin and sanctified. These seven sheddings of blood remind us also of the three Theological and the four Cardinal virtues; also of the seven virtues opposed to the seven deadly or capital sins, which are infused into us by baptism; also of the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, which we receive in confirmation, and finally of the seven days of the week, which we should dedicate to the service of God. The covenant between God and the Israelites was sealed with blood. The new covenant was sealed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The covenant between God and men is sealed again as many times as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered to God. Assist, whenever you can, at the tremendous Sacrifice of the Mass, and frequently receive holy communion."

See my post: Devotions for the Precious Blood for more information. In particular, the entire month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood, making this the ideal month to pray the many devotions mentioned in that article.

+ The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ +

Today we celebrate the feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This feast was instituted in 1849 by Pope Pius IX and was raised to the rank of a double of the first class by Pius XI on the occasion of the nineteenth centenary of our Savior's death.

We are reminded of the scene of Calvary and of the blow from the lance which pierced our Savior's side. The liturgy today is at pains to emphasize the meaning and tremendous significance of this fact in relation with our salvation. The Gospel and the Epistle are concerned with our Redemption, affected by the Blood and the love of our Savior.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The Son's love was so great that He gave His very life. No greater love is there than to give one's very life for the ones that he loves.

Not only did our Lord sacrifice His very life, but He so arranged that this sacrifice would continue to the end of time. He daily offers Himself up in an un-bloody manner in the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Here upon the holy altar Our Lord makes Himself present under the appearances of bread and wine through the miracle of transubstantiation. Here too the sacrifice is complete. Christ is made present and then destroyed for our salvation.

St. Paul to the Corinthians says: "The chalice of benediction which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? And the bread which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord?"

We were not present to witness the awesome bloody sacrifice of God in atonement for our sins. We did not stand beneath the cross to receive the last drops of His precious blood upon our souls. Yet, we are still able to receive these same graces. We are able to follow our Lord spiritually to Calvary every time we assist at Mass.

It took great courage, conviction, and even more so, love to follow our Lord to Calvary. There were not many who had this love, conviction or courage. The majority of the Apostles were found wanting in this area. They had much to fear from a worldly point of view. They did not wish to receive the same fate as their Master. We have a much easier path to follow. Our Lord remains hidden, but is present nonetheless. He invites us to participate in this sacrifice, and we now have nothing to fear from the world. Perhaps the worst that we will receive today from the world is mockery, ridicule and scorn; but even this is rare in the worldly indifference of today.

Not only is our path easier to follow because we do not have to fear the physical persecution of the world, but it is also much more intimate. In the Sacrifice of the Mass, we are able to unite our sacrifices with Christ's and we are able to receive Him into our own bodies and souls.

He comes to us the living Christ (Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity). He comes to us in a manner that will not frighten or shock us, hidden under the appearance of bread and wine. He makes Himself very docile to us and allows us not only to approach Him but even to consume Him. In this manner, we are able to unite ourselves with Him, and He with us.

This is the most precious time -- the time of Communion. The all powerful and all merciful God becomes the guest of our very bodies and souls. Here is the point where Heaven and earth meet, and all that is in disorder is easily righted.

Christ is truly our guest, but we are the beneficiaries of His benevolence. He wishes for us to receive Him so that He may give to us. The words of St. Francis ring most truly in Holy Communion: "It is in giving that we receive."

May we truly realize the words from today's Post-communion: "We have been admitted, Lord to the Holy Table, and we have drawn water with joy from the fountains of the Savior; may His Blood be for us, we pray, a fountain of water springing up to eternal life. Who being God lives and reigns."

Prayer:

Almighty and everlasting God, Who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son to be Redeemer of the world, and dist vouchsafe to be appeased by His Blood: grant, we beseech Thee, that (by our solemn service), we may so venerate the Price of our redemption, and by its power be so defended from the evils of this present life on earth, that we may enjoy its fruit for evermore in heaven. Through the same our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary Closes

An excerpt from The News Tribune:

For more than a century, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary has prepared teenage boys for the priesthood, largely unchanged as the city transformed around it from gritty industrial center to modern metropolis.

But another kind of change finally caught up with Quigley.

The 102-year-old seminary, a Gothic-style building in a tony Chicago shopping district, closed this month because of a shrinking student body that has seen just one graduate ordained in the past 17 years.

Another seminary closes in our country and people are asking why there are few vocations. People can't figure out why no one wants to be a priest. The answer is rather apparent - there is no obvious honor in the priesthood. Honestly, without seeing the glory of a priest at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Tridentine Rite I would most likely not be entering a seminary this year. Returning to the Traditions of the Church including altar rails, Rogation Days, Latin Masses, women wearing head coverings, Rosaries in Latin, etc. will bring countless vocations to the Church.

In the 1950s, there was a plethora of vocations to the holy priesthood. Today, few men enter the priesthood and liberal seminaries are slowly drying up. I pray that the greater use of the Tridentine Mass will be allowed. I know that through its usage, vocations will begin to soar.

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Traditional Propers: Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

Vestments: Green

INTROIT
Psalms 26: 7-9
Hear, O Lord, my voice with which I have cried to Thee: be Thou my helper, forsake me not, nor do Thou despise me, O God, my Savior. -- (Ps. 26. 1). The Lord is my light, and my salvation, whom shall I fear? V.: Glory to the Father -- Hear, O Lord, my voice . . .

COLLECT - O God, who hast prepared for them that love Thee such good things as pass understanding: pour into our hearts such love towards Thee, that we, loving Thee in all things, and above all things, may obtain Thy promises which exceed all that we can desire. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .

EPISTLE
1 Peter 3: 8-15
Dearly beloved, Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble; not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this you are called, that you may inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him decline from evil and do good; let him seek after peace, and pursue it: because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and His ears unto their prayers, but the countenance of the Lord against them that do evil things. And who is he that can hurt you, if you be zealous of good? But if also you suffer anything for justice' sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled: but sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts.

GRADUAL
Psalms 86: 10, 9
Behold, O God our protector, and look upon Thy servants. V.: O Lord God of hosts, give ear to the prayers of Thy Servants.

Alleluia, alleluia. V.(Ps. 20. 1). In Thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly. Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Matthew 5: 20-24

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Except your justice abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother: Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say: Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee, leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother; and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.

OFFERTORY
Psalms 15: 7, 8
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: I set God always in my sight; for He is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

SECRET - Be merciful, O Lord, to our humble pleading: and favorably receive these offerings of Thy servants and handmaidens, that what each of us has offered to the honor of Thy Name, may profit us all unto salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who . . .

PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

COMMUNION
Psalm 26: 4
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

POST COMMUNION - Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, that we whom Thou hast fed with the heavenly Gift, may be cleansed from our hidden sins and delivered from the snares of our enemies. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .

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