Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy St. Valentines Day to all!
On the Traditional Catholic Calendars, today is a day to Commemorate St. Valentine, priest and martyr.
Today, although many don't realize it, St. Valentine's Day is based on the life of St. Valentine, a Roman martyr who was beheaded in c. 269-273 AD. Emperor Claudius II declared that unmarried men were potential soldiers, so he outlawed marriage. However, St. Valentine abhorred his outrageous action and continued to marry young couples. Claudius attempted to convert St. Valentine to paganism, but St. Valentine resisted and attempted to bring Claudius to the Church and Jesus Christ. For this, the Emperor had St. Valentine beheaded.
In prison, he helped the imprisoned soon-to-be martyrs. The jailer saw that Valentine was a man of learning, so he brought his daughter, Julia, to Valentine for lessons. Julia was a young girl, who had been blind since her birth. During the lessons, St. Valentine would read to her about the history of Rome. And, he taught her about God. The following is an account of St. Valentine that was emailed to me:
"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day.After her healing, the jailer too was converted to Christianity.
"Yes, my child, He hears each one."
"Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"
"God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him," Valentinus said.
"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe! I do!" She knelt and grasped his hand.
They sat quietly together, each praying. Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell. Radiant, Julia screamed, "Valentinus, I can see! I can see!"
"Praise be to God!" Valentinus exclaimed, and he knelt in prayer.
On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, "From your Valentine." His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. On each February 14, Saint Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love, and devotion are exchanged around the world."
Prayer:
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God: that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of blessed Valentine, Thy Martyr, may, through his intercession, be strengthened in the love of Thy name. Through our Lord.
Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
Monday, February 13, 2012
Our Lady Immaculate Church (SSPX), Oak Park, IL
I have just returned from my week-long retreat at the SSPX Our Lady of Sorrows Retreat Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The time was one of great consolation and some of the greatest graces that I have yet received.
The retreat took place from February 6 - 11th although most of us arrived on Sunday evening prior. Starting Monday morning we were fed three excellent meals a day and we lived in humble, though still very comfortable conditions. The 80 degree weather certainly helped the experience (since I'm always a fan of escaping the 30 degree weather in Chicago).
Each day consisted of rising at 6:15 with optional Prime at 6:45. Morning prayers followed at 7:00 AM and Mass was usually said at 7:30 (except for a special High Mass Wednesday evening said after each of us made our general Confessions in the morning). The day consisted of approximately 5 - 6 conferences using the St. Ignatian model. Each conference helped explain the mysteries of the Ignatian Spiritual exercises, and we then meditated on the mysteries for 20 minutes. There was a daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament as well. Compline was prayed together each evening at 8:30 PM and then all returned to their rooms.
The time was kept in prayerful silence and each of us maintained a contemplative and prayerful state of soul. Yet even in the silence, one could feel the charity towards our neighbor. Truly, this is how traditional communities like the Benedictines in Silver City live! With the Spiritual Exercises and frequent prayers - along with daily reception of the Most Holy Sacrament - it was one of the greatest sources of graces in my life. In our general confessions, as we confessed all of the sins of our lives, I could not help but feel unbelievably sorrowful and humble in the presence of Almighty God. Our Lord has given us through His Incarnation, Life, Passion, and Death an inexpressable and unrepayable model and source of grace. I have updated my 2012 Catholic Resolutions in light of my retreat.
If you have never attended an Ignatian Retreat, you simply must attend one of these. You can be certain that the Sacraments of the SSPX are licit and valid (unlike those in the Novus Ordo) and you can also be certain that they maintain true doctrine (unlike so-called "indult" Traditional Masses that still teach religious liberty, ecumenism, and other false doctrines).
And I must also mention that Bishop Fellay even joined us for lunch on Monday. He was in town for Confirmations the previous day. What an example of grace! Just his very presence was a source of hope for the Church. The Church is in Her passion. She is suffering even to this day unlike anything She has ever suffered and few remain faithful to her. Yet, just like our Lord in His Passion, those around us don't see the divinity in the suffering. Few people on Calvary saw in the Dying Savior the Divinity of the Second Person of the Godhead. And few today see through the modernist Church and her sins to the Catholic Church founded by Christ and still keeping the True Faith and the True Mass.
Deo Gratias for the SSPX! Sign up for a retreat and/or please get a copy of "Christian Warfare." This was the copy of the book that we used for all the prayers and Spiritual Exercises for the week.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Likewise, violet vestments are worn, except on feasts, from Septuagesima Sunday until Holy Thursday. As during Advent and Lent, the Gloria and Te Deum are no longer said on Sundays. The readings at Matins for this week are the first few chapters of Genesis, telling of the creation of the world, of Adam and Eve, the fall of man and resulting expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and the story of Cain and Abel.
In the following weeks before and during Lent, the readings continue to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. The Gospel reading for Septuagesima week is the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
Click here for Septuagesima Sunday's Mass Propers.
In the following weeks before and during Lent, the readings continue to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. The Gospel reading for Septuagesima week is the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
Click here for Septuagesima Sunday's Mass Propers.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds: I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people: In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 115
More information on the retreats through the retreat house are available here: Retreats through the SSPX.
If you would like for me to pray for your intentions during this time, please either comment below with your intentions or email them to me no later than Saturday. I will bring all of these intentions with me and keep them in prayer.
Friday, February 3, 2012
"Ok people "stop the presses" on the Susan G. Komen controversy. I have been on the phone with pro-leaders all day and this story is really "fluid" as they say here in D.C. This is what I am hearing. The Komen Foundation has said they will only honor the existing contracts they have for this year while revising grant applications for next year. However, it is there intention NOT to fund Planned Parenthood after their existing contracts with them expire. This is a fascinating story in which I am asking of you to diligently be praying about. I will keep you updated. Blessings."
Original Post (January 31): January The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has finally decided to stop its funding of Planned Parenthood, thus allowing for Catholics to support this organization in good conscience. However, while we can fund Susan G. Komen for the Cure, we can not fund any of their affiliates. Below is what their Connecticut affiliate stated:
The decision regarding the funding of Planned Parenthood was made by Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Headquarters. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut enjoys a great partnership with Planned Parenthood, and is currently funding Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. We understand, and share, in the frustration around this situation. We hope that any investigation prohibiting Planned Parenthood from receiving Komen grants is promptly resolved.Send a Letter/Email
Please take a few moments and send an email to news@komen.org thanking them for their decision. A sample letter is below:
To whom it may concern:
I wish to express my deepest gratitude for Susan G. Komen for the Cure for de-funding Planned Parenthood. As a Catholic unable in conscience to support an organization that in any way funds the largest abortion provider in the world, I have been unable to donate to your organization. Now I can at last in good conscience donate to your work and participate in your Save Lids to Save Lives Campaign. Please realize that if you resume any form of donations to Planned Parenthood, I will immediately end my support for your organization.
Sincerely,
Name
Egeria, whose writings date from c. AD 380, attests to a Feast of the Presentation in the church at Jerusaelm forty days after Christmas. In 542, Emperor Justinian introduced the feast to the entire Eastern Roman empire in thanskgiving for the end to a horrible pestilence afflicting Constantinople. Pope St. Gregory the Great (590 - 604) brought the Feast to Rome. Later, Pope Sergius (687 - 701) introduced the procession to the Candlemas service. The procession on this day is one of the most picturesque features of the Western Liturgy. The blessing of candles came into common use throughout the Western World in the 11th Century.
Symbolism in the Liturgy
The blessing of the candles (one of three principle blessings of the liturgical year, the others being that of the blessing of Palms on Palm Sunday and the blessing of Ashes on Ash Wednesday), is given by a priest vested in a cope. Standing at the epistle side of the altar, the priest chants 5 prayers before sprinkling the candles thrice with holy water. The candles are then incensed.
The symbolism of the candles is described by Dom Prosper Guéranger, OSB, in his "Liturgical Year":
The mystery of today's ceremony has frequently been explained by liturgists, dating from the 7th century. According to Ivo of Chartres, the wax, which is formed from the juice of flowers by the bee, always considered as the emblem of virginity, signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, who diminished not, either by His conception or His birth, the spotless purity of His Blessed Mother. The same holy bishop would have us see, in the flame of our Candle, a symbol of Jesus who came to enlighten our darkness. St. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking on the same mystery, bids us consider three things in the blessed Candle: the wax, the wick, and the flame. The wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord; the wick, which is within, is His Soul; the flame, which burns on top, is His divinity.
Next, the celebrant distributes the candles to the clergy and the laity whilst the choir sings the Nunc dimittis. As the faithful take the blessed candle from the hand of the priest while kneeling at the Communion rail, they first kiss the candle (since it is a sacramental) and then the hand of the priest (which represents the hand of Christ). During the mass, the candles are lighted and held during the reading of the Gospel and then again from the Canon of the Mass to the Communion of the Priest.
There follows the distribution of candles with a profession and the chanting of anthems. The Cross goes first, followed by the clergy and the celebrant. The faithful walk behind the celebrant carrying their newly blessed and lit candles. The Church bells ring out in joy.
Recall the first of the five prayers of Blessings for the Candles:
O Holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, who hast created all things out of nothing, and by Thy command hast caused this liquid to become perfect wax by the labor of bees: and who, on this day didst fulfill the petition of the righteous man Simeon: we humbly entreat Thee, that by the invocation of Thy most holy Name and through the intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin whose feast is today devoutly observed, and by the prayers of all Thy Saints, Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bless + and sactify + these candles for the service of men and for the health of their bodies and souls, whether on land or on sea: and that Thou wouldst hear from Thy holy heaven, and from the throne of Thy Majesty the voices of this Thy people, who desire to carry them in their hands with honor, and to praise Thee with hymns; and wouldst be propitious to all that call upon Thee, whom Thou hast redeemed with the precious Blood of Thy Son; Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
A procession reminds us that our whole life on earth is a homeward pilgrimage to Heaven. The Candlemas procession represents the entry of Christ the Light of the World, into the Temple of Jerusalem. It reminds us that the baptized faithful must walk as children of Light. As St. Paul declares: "For you were darkness before, but now light in the Lord. Walk then as children of the light." And our Lord said, "Yet a little while, the light is among you. Walk whilst you have the light, that darkness overtake you not. Whilst you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be children of the light" (John 12:35-36).
Thus, the Candlemas procession also symbolizes our entrance into the eternal light of Heaven - the Church bells and chants during the procession make us think of the heavenly experience which will be our reward for the blood, sweat, and tears of the earthly journey (cf. Apocalypse 22:3-5).
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Update: To the reader that has sent me the candles, thank you! They arrived in the mail today - just in time for them to be blessed for Candlemas! I will remember you in my prayers as I enter my retreat next week
As many of you are aware, I pray the Divine Office each day at my home Altar. Well, my current votive candles of the Sacred Hearts are nearing the end of their useable life. A quick search of Amazon.com revealed some cheap but nice votive candles for St. Jude.
If anyone is willing to purchase two of these from my Wishlist for me, I'll gladly offer my prayers (Rosary and the Divine Office) for one day for your intentions.
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As many of you are aware, I pray the Divine Office each day at my home Altar. Well, my current votive candles of the Sacred Hearts are nearing the end of their useable life. A quick search of Amazon.com revealed some cheap but nice votive candles for St. Jude.
If anyone is willing to purchase two of these from my Wishlist for me, I'll gladly offer my prayers (Rosary and the Divine Office) for one day for your intentions.
BLESSING OF CANDLES
on the Feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
God, almighty and all-mild, by your Word alone you created the manifold things in the world, and willed that that same Word by whom all things were made take flesh in order to redeem mankind; you are great and immeasurable, awesome and praiseworthy, a worker of marvels. Hence in professing his faith in you the glorious martyr and bishop, Blaise, did not fear any manner of torment but gladly accepted the palm of martyrdom. In virtue of which you bestowed on him, among other gifts, the power to heal all ailments of the throat. And now we implore your majesty that, overlooking our guilt and considering only his merits and intercession, it may please you to bless + and sanctify + and impart your grace to these candles. Let all men of faith whose necks are touched with them be healed of every malady of the throat, and being restored in health and good spirits let them return thanks to you in your holy Church, and praise your glorious name which is blessed forever; through Christ our Lord.
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