Storkie Express

I just wanted to take a minute and point out the advertisement in the sidebar for Storkie Express, which is especially relevant at this time of year.  As the Solemnity of Easter draws closer, we draw closer to First Communions and the celebrations of the Sacrament of Baptism.

Please consider Storkie Express for both Baptism and Communion invitations.  I have found their products to be truly special - a perfect invitation for a once-in-a lifetime occassion.

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Babies and Limbo

I received this question from a friend of mine and I was hoping that others could offer their input on this issue in the comments section.  I have written on the Limbo of the Infants previously which I highly recommend reading [read it now]!

I was listening to Traditional Catholic Radio and they said that unbaptized babies go to Limbo and if we didn't believe that then the consequences would be accepting ecumenism because if unbaptized babies go to heaven so also could unbaptized Muslims. I have a problem with this in that these babies committed no sins whereas these other people have committed sins and are therefore punished for the sins that they commit. Can you perhaps shed some light on this? I am trying to reason through it and right now it doesn't make sense.

God Bless

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Gifts for Communion and Confirmation

 

With the Easter Vigil approaching, I am always reminded of my entrance into the Church at the Vigil in 2004. It was one of the most memorable nights in my life.

I wanted to make everyone aware of these excellent gift ideas if you know of someone that is receiving the Holy Sacraments of First Communion or Confirmation.  Please feel free to share your ideas as well, since it can be difficult to find high-quality and authentically Catholic items for sale.

Confirmation Gift Bible: Douay Rheims Version
First Communion Gift Bibles: Douay Rheims Version

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American Abbeys that Record Their Own Chant?

Hello there,

I am reaching out to you with a completely different matter - not to announce the release of an album or to share the latest news of a current success.

I am reaching out to see if you know of the next project we should be working on. Jade Music has created a reputation for producing and releasing high-quality Gregorian Chant albums. Now we are looking for the next Gregorian Chant album to produce and release.

A couple of years ago, we established a relationship with the Norbertine Fathers of Orange County, CA, when we heard that they had made private recordings in their church for archival purposes. The recordings were of such high quality and beauty that we decided to re-master them in the studio and distribute them domestically and abroad.

If you know of an American abbey that has recorded its own chant without making it available to a larger audience, I look forward to hearing from you; and don't hesitate to spread the word among family and friends.

Warm regards,
Stefan

Stefan Karrer
Head of Jade Music U.S.
Jade Music / Milan Entertainment, Inc.
3630 Tacoma Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90065
Phone: (818) 849-3349
Fax: (818) 849-3341
stefan[at]jade-music.com
http://www.jade-music.com/
www.youtube.com/jademusic54

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FSSP Consecrates New Chapel of Sts. Peter and Paul at FSSP Seminary in Denton

On 3rd March 2010, the new church of Sts. Peter and Paul was consecrated at the FSSP seminary of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Denton Nebraska. Below are some photos of the consecration. Please click on them for larger images.

Update: View the videos here!

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Lenten Embertide

Although Ember Days are no longer considered required in mainstream Roman Catholicism following Vatican II, they can - and should - still be observed by the Faithful. In fact, many Traditional priests encourage the Faithful to observe the days. Ember Days are set aside to pray and/or offer thanksgiving for a good harvest and God's blessings. If you are in good health, please at least fast during these three days and pray the additional prayers. Remember the words from the Gospel: "Unless you do penance, you shall likewise perish" (Luke 13:5)

Ember Days this Lent: February 24, 26, & 27

From New Advent:

Ember days (corruption from Lat. Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence. They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday, and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross). The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy. The immediate occasion was the practice of the heathens of Rome. The Romans were originally given to agriculture, and their native gods belonged to the same class.

At the beginning of the time for seeding and harvesting religious ceremonies were performed to implore the help of their deities: in June for a bountiful harvest, in September for a rich vintage, and in December for the seeding; hence their feriae sementivae, feriae messis, and feri vindimiales. The Church, when converting heathen nations, has always tried to sanctify any practices which could be utilized for a good purpose. At first the Church in Rome had fasts in June, September, and December; the exact days were not fixed but were announced by the priests. The "Liber Pontificalis" ascribes to Pope Callistus (217-222) a law ordering: the fast, but probably it is older. Leo the Great (440-461) considers it an Apostolic institution. When the fourth season was added cannot be ascertained, but Gelasius (492-496) speaks of all four. This pope also permitted the conferring of priesthood and deaconship on the Saturdays of ember week--these were formerly given only at Easter.

Before Gelasius the ember days were known only in Rome, but after his time their observance spread. They were brought into England by St. Augustine; into Gaul and Germany by the Carlovingians. Spain adopted them with the Roman Liturgy in the eleventh century. They were introduced by St. Charles Borromeo into Milan. The Eastern Church does not know them. The present Roman Missal, in the formulary for the Ember days, retains in part the old practice of lessons from Scripture in addition to the ordinary two: for the Wednesdays three, for the Saturdays six, and seven for the Saturday in December. Some of these lessons contain promises of a bountiful harvest for those that serve God.

From Catholic Culture:

Since man is both a spiritual and physical being, the Church provides for the needs of man in his everyday life. The Church's liturgy and feasts in many areas reflect the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, fall and winter). The months of August, September, October and November are part of the harvest season, and as Christians we recall God's constant protection over his people and give thanksgiving for the year's harvest.

The September Ember Days were particularly focused on the end of the harvest season and thanksgiving to God for the season. Ember Days were three days (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) set aside by the Church for prayer, fasting and almsgiving at the beginning of each of the four seasons of the year. The ember days fell after December 13, the feast of St. Lucy (winter), after the First Sunday of Lent (spring), after Pentecost Sunday (summer), and after September 14 , the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (fall). These weeks are known as the quattor tempora, the "four seasons."

Since the late 5th century, the Ember Days were also the preferred dates for ordination of priests. So during these times the Church had a threefold focus: (1) sanctifying each new season by turning to God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving; (2) giving thanks to God for the various harvests of each season; and (3) praying for the newly ordained and for future vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

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Do You Recognize These Latin Mass Photos?

A reader of A Catholic Life would like to know where these Latin Mass photographs were taken.  Do you recognize the priest, the location, or the website where these photographs were posted?

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Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Christ

Oh loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I a miserable sinner, salute an worship the most scared wound of Thy shoulder, on which Thou did bear Thy heavy cross, which tore Thy flesh and lay Thy bones as to inflict an anguish greater than any other wound of Thy most blessed body. I adore Thee, oh Jesus most sorrowful. I praise and glorify Thee, and give thanks fully to Thee for the most holy and sacred and painful wound. Beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain, and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy cross to be merciful to me on towards heaven along the way of Thy cross.
In Jesus' name (make request Amen to all.

Image: Christ Carrying the Cross by Jheronimus Bosch, 1510

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A Universal Lenten prayer (Attributed to Pope Clement XI)

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.

I trust in you: strengthen my trust.

I love you: let me love you more and more.

I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning,

I long for you as my last end,

I praise you as my constant helper,

And call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom,

Correct me with your justice,

Comfort me with your mercy,

Protect me with your power.

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;

My words: to have you for their theme;

My actions: to reflect my love for you;

My sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

I want to do what you ask of me:

In the way you ask,

For as long as you ask,

Because you ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding,

Strengthen my will,

Purify my heart,

and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins

And to resist temptation in the future.

Help me to rise above my human weaknesses

And to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my Lord and my God,

And see myself as I really am:

A pilgrim in this world,

A Christian called to respect and love

All whose lives I touch,

Those under my authority,

My friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,

Greed by generosity,

Apathy by fervor.

Help me to forget myself

And reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning,

Courageous in taking risks.

Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer,

Temperate in food and drink,

Diligent in my work,

Firm in my good intentions.

Let my conscience be clear,

My conduct without fault,

My speech blameless,

My life well-ordered.

Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.

Let me cherish your love for me,

Keep your law,

And come at last to your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing,

That my true future is the happiness of heaven,

That life on earth is short,

And the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death

With a proper fear of judgment,

But a greater trust in your goodness.

Lead me safely through death

To the endless joy of heaven.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen

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Tridentine Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington DC: April 24, 2010

The Paulus Institute invites you to participate in an historic liturgical event in honor of Pope Benedict XVI, under the theme of “The Spirit of the Liturgy.”

We have arranged to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Pope Benedict’s inauguration with a Pontifical Solemn Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington DC, April 24, 2010, at 1 pm. The Mass will be celebrated by a prince of the Church, the Vatican prelate Darío Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos. His Eminence is President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei and served under both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

The Mass will be offered in the Extraordinary Firm (Traditional Latin Mass), as encouraged by Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict. It will be the first such Mass said at the High Altar of the Shrine in nearly half a century. The priests of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter will assist at the Mass.

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