A Catholic Life

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

This summer, as stated in my Blogger profile, I am living in the Chicago area. Last Saturday I had the privilege of traveling into Downtown Chicago and visiting Loyola University of Chicago, the site of the the Sacred Music Colloquium, which is currently taking place. It was there that I had the opportunity to visit and spend several hours with a long-time reader of my blog who is in attendance. Two other friends of mine are also in attendance at this Colloquium.

If any other readers of my blog are also in the Chicago area this summer, please send me an email so that we can attempt to meet, preferably over lunch.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Read more >>

Vigil of St. John the Baptist

As June 24th approaches, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the last of the prophets, similarly advances. Along with solely the sinless Blessed Virgin Mary and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church remembers the birth of St. John the Baptist. Together, the Church only liturgically celebrates these three holy births.

In the Traditional Catholic Calendar, June 23 is the Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. From the propers of the Mass for June 23, the Introit occupies a place of importance, expressing comfort and hope:

Fear not, Zachary; thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John; and he shall be great before the Lord, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb; and many shall rejoice at his birth. V. (Ps. 20: 2) In Thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Fear not, Zachary...

Please see my post from last year and attempt to participate in the ancient tradition of a Bonfire this evening.

Read more >>

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Website of the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart

I have added a link to the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart to the sidebar, as this organization seems to be part of the goal of A Catholic Life, namely the Restoration of Traditionalism.

Image Source: Pictures of the Pontifical Low Mass on June 18, 2009 at the Church of the Holy Innocents celebrated by Bishop Fernando Rifan.

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI leads a Mass during a visit to Padre Pio at Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Giovanni Rotondo. He prayed before the exhumed body of St. Padre Pio and the Mass was said in the presence of his sacred relics.

Image Source (1): Getty Images
Image Source (2): AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito
Image Source (3, 4, 5): (AP Photo/Andreas Solaro, Pool)

Read more >>

Feastday of St. Aloysius Gonzaga

Today the Church remembers the holy saint, St. Aloysius Gonzaga. See my previous post dedicated in honor to this saint for a brief biography, an appropriate read for his feastday.

"Well done, good servant, faithful in little things, enter into the joy of your Lord" (Antiphon 2, Lauds, Common of a Confessor not a Bishop, 1962 Breviary)

Prayer:

O God, The Giver of heavenly gifts, Who in the angelic youth Aloysius dist unite a wonderful innocence of life with an equal spirit of penance: grant through his merits and prayers, that we, who have not followed his innocence, may imitate his penance. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

Read more >>

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates the Mass in Honor of the Sacred Heart, Vespers

Image Source (Images 1, 2): AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito
Image Source (Images 3, 4, 5): REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito (VATICAN RELIGION)
Image Source (Images 6, 7): Getty Images

Read more >>

Friday, June 19, 2009

Jade Music: 99 Essential Chants

A Catholic Life is proud to again support the efforts of Jade Music in the promotion of sacred and holy music. I have attended beautiful Masses with outstanding orchestras as well as simple, elegant Gregorian Chant at St. Agnes Parish (St. Paul, Minnesota) for example. And, I am proud to continue promoting sacred music. In the past I have reviewed Anthology: Chants and Polyphony from St. Michael's Abbey, Into Great Silence: Office of the Night, Marriage of the Heavens and the Earth, Into Great Silence: Soundtrack, Oliver Messiaen: Never Before Released.

A Catholic Life is pleased to again promote this new offering by Jade Music!

Hi there, Exciting news! On Saturday June 20, one day before Father's Day, we are offering 99 Essential Chants for 99 cents on Amazon.com. The selection includes chant music from around the world that we have been collecting and distributing over the last 20 years! Our first effort with Amazon.com released a few months ago, 99 Perfectly Relaxing Songs, charted #28 on the Billboard Top 200. The entire bundle of 99 Chants is available for 99 cents on June 20 - a perfect gift for Father's Day. Please find our PR below and attached. Also attached is the cover art. I'm happy to answer any questions. Sincerely, Stefan

Please visit Amazon.com for purchasing information. In addition, below is the Press Release about this exciting new offer. View the Press Release They are right now priced at $5.99 but tomorrow lowered to $0.99. Visit the link below on Saturday and take advantage of this outstanding offer!

Read more >>

Years for Priests

Today, June 19, 2009, begins the Year for Priests, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, the Curé d'Ars.

In the Vatican, festivities will begin at 17:30 (11:30am, Eastern Standard Time) with the arrival of the Relics of the Saint Curé D’Ars. Pope Benedict will then preside over Vespers at 18:00 (12:00pm, EST). This event will be televised on EWTN (USA), Salt + Light TV (Canada), or any other network that picks up the live feed from Centro Televisivo Vaticano (Vatican TV).

If possible, attend mass on this day and pray for the Pope's intentions on the occasion of the opening of this joyful time!

Here is a prayer you can pray daily for all priests throughout the world:

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,
Keep them, for they are Thine -
Thy priests whose lives burn out before Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart;
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure -
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember, Lord,
They have no one but Thee,
Yet they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

Our Father... Hail Mary...

Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for them.

Imprimatur: +D. Cardinal Dougherty, Archbishop of Philadelphia.

Related Posts:

Read more >>

World Day of Prayer for Priests

Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and as such, it is also recognized as the World Day of Prayer for Priests. Remember to pray for priestly and religious vocations today in a most earnest manner, and pray for the sanctification of our clergy. Worthy of special notice, today marks the beginning of the Year for Priests (June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010), which has been chosen by Pope Benedict XVI himself, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney. A special indulgence for priests and one for the faithful is also available this year:

For the faithful, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on the opening and closing days of the Year for Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean-Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.

To obtain the indulgence the faithful must attend Mass in an oratory or Church and offer prayers to "Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to his heart."
The conditions for the faithful for earning a plenary indulgence are to have gone to confession and prayed for the intentions of the Pope.

Source: Zenit

In honor of today being the World Day of Prayer for Priests, please see the following past posts related to today.

Related Posts:

Prayer for Priestly Vocations:

O Lord, God of power and majesty, you said that the harvest is great but the laborers are few. Send forth, we beseech thee, laborers into your vineyard to forgive sins, celebrate the Eucharist, baptize, and above all make us a people worthy of thee. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Image Source 1: Unknown
Image Source 2: Believed to be in the Public Domain, Priests from 1932

Read more >>