Whit Embertide

The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Pentecost Sunday are known as "Whit Embertide". Traditional Catholics still observe fasting and abstinence during the Whit Embertide. These three days are one of the four occasions when Ember Days occur in the Liturgical Year.

If you are in good health, please join me by fasting and abstaining from meat these days. These days are special days not only to pray for a good harvest but also pray for priestly vocations and the newly ordained. They are days of prayer, fasting, and charity.

Whit Embertide for this year, 2009 AD: June 3, June 5, and June 6.

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Devotion for June: Sacred Heart of Jesus

During the month of June, the Church honors in a special manner the Most Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, during this month, watch A Catholic Life for prayers, devotions, and reflections on the Sacred Heart of our Lord.

Beginning on December 27, 1673, through 1675, Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque asking her to receive Him in Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month and to meditate on His passion from 11:00 PM to 12:00 midnight each Thursday. He also revealed to her twelve promises for all who are devoted to His Sacred Heart; he asked for a Feast of the Sacred Heart to be instituted in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque with twelve promises for those devoted to His Most Sacred Heart.

Promises for those devoted to the Sacred Heart:

1. "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life."
2. "I will establish peace in their homes."
3. "I will comfort them in their afflictions."
4. "I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death."
5. "I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings."
6. "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy."
7. "Tepid souls shall grow fervent."
8. "Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection."
9. "I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored."
10. "I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts."
11. "Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out."
12. "I promise thee in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

Below is a list of previous posts in honor of the Sacred Heart, which are worthy of reading again during this time.

• Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
• Home Enthronement to the Sacred Heart
• Devotion to the Sacred Heart
• Daily Offering to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Dying 
• Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

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Book Giveaway: The Evolution of God by Robert Wright

Original Post:

A Catholic Life is pleased to have been given a copy of "The Evolution of God" by Robert Wright, which I am currently reviewing for Hachette Book Group. Please check back in within the next few days because A Catholic Life will be hosting a giveaway of several copies of Professor Wright's new book. Participants will be asked to complete a quiz, which will require searching through previous posts on my blog in order to obtain the answers.

If you are interested, bookmark this blog page as I will update this particular post with information on how to enter within the next few days.

Note: This book giveaway does not constitute A Catholic Life's support for this text and/or the author.

Check back in shortly!

Update: Giveaway Begins!

A Catholic Life has (5) five available copies of "The Evolution of God" available to US/Canada residents only who submit a valid mailing address (no P.O. Boxes).

These copies will be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis. To enter, successfully complete the following quiz by searching through previous posts on my blog. Answers must be submitted to acatholiclife [at] gmail [dot] com. In the subject line enter "Book Giveaway". Include your mailing address in the email.

Have fun!

Quiz:

1) What is the motto of A Catholic Life? To whom is this quotation attributed?

2) What post of mine was featured on Spirit Daily in 2007, which increased my page views that day to 12,071?

3) What is the date that I started my time at the diocesan college seminary? What date did I leave the seminary after a period of discernment?

4) What date did the First Pontificial Nuptial Mass using the Tridentine Mass since Vatican II take place? [Note: I posted a video by Quis Non Amantem on this]

5) What is your favorite post on A Catholic Life? How long have you been a reader of the blog?

Update (June 2, 2009 3:00 PM CDT): 4 Copies Remain!

Update (June 3, 2009 Midnight CDT): 3 Copies Remain!

Update (June 4, 2009 7:00 AM CDT): 3 Copies Remain! The Book Giveaway will end at 7:00 AM tomorrow, June 5, 2009!

Update (June 4, 2009 10:30 PM): 2 Copies Remain!

This Contest is now closed. Thank you to all that have participated.

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Trailer of the film "The Cardinal"

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Aristotle's Children by Richard E. Rubenstein

I recently had to read "Aristotle's Children" by Richard E. Rubenstein for a Medieval Philosophy course at my university. The text was read chapter by chapter throughout the semester, and overall, Rubenstein clearly achieves his goal of outlining the development of Aristotelian thought. Chapters focus on topics such as Aristotle himself, the condemnation of Peter Abelard by St. Bernard, the deep tensions and confrontations between the Franciscans and Dominicans at the University of Paris, St. Thomas Aquinas, the rise of modern Philosophers such as Hobbes, and many others in between these.

While Rubenstein does paint both St. Bernard and another saint in less than saintly light - even portraying them as the antagonists at times, Rubenstein does offer a very easy-to-read and understandable outline of the spread of Aristotelian Philosophy from its origin through its period of being hidden from the Western World and only accessible by the Arabs ultimately up to the time of the modern philosophers. This is a good read for those not accustomed to reading complicated philosophical texts.

If you would like an interesting read and a good guide to the spread of Arisotetlian philosophy, while remembering to remain objective as you read it, then this would be a very good choice.

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Pentecost Sunday at Old St. Patrick's Oratory

As part of my Pentecost Photo Submission Request, the above photos are from Christopher M. of the blog Lost Lambs. These photos are taken at Old St. Patrick Oratory, under the care of the Institute of Christ the King.

Old St. Patrick Oratory
P.O. Box 414237
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-4237

Schedule

Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM and 10:15 AM
Weekday Mass: 6:00 PM
Saturday Mass: 9:00 AM

Confession Times: 30 minutes before Holy Mass.

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Joliet Latin Mass Community reaches 100 Families Mark

This is fantastic news. Pray for this Latin Mass Community and all Latin Mass Communities. As we approach 2 years after Summorum Pontificum, we see a clear increase in the number of Tridentine Masses offered around the world. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

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Beati Quorum Via

A beautiful hymn!

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Wishlist Updated

I just updated my wish list and am looking for several books for this Fall 2009 Semester - all of which are either Accounting, Management, or Microeconomics texts. I will gladly accept used books if anyone has any available.

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Another Tridentine Mass Video

This FSSP Mass again illustrates the beauty of Liturgy, as the highest form of worship. Not only is Latin - now a dead language - set aside solely for the glorification of our Lord, but all of the movements, garments, and objects in use at the Mass are reserved solely for the worship of God.

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