Summary of Confessions by St. Augustine

Today the Church celebrates the holy feast of St. Augustine, bishop and Confessor!

At Hippo in Africa, the birthday of St. Augustine, bishop and famous doctor of the Church. Converted and baptized by the blessed bishop Ambrose, he defended the Catholic faith with the greatest zeal against the Manicheans and other heretics, and after having sustained many other labours for the Church of God, he went to his reward in heaven. His relics, owing to the invasion of barbarians, were first brought from his own city into Sardinia, and afterwards taken by Luitprand, king of the Lombards, to Pavia, where they were deposited with due honours.

Source: Pre-1960 Martyrology

CatechismClass.com is pleased to offer St. Augustine's classic Confessions summarized in an easy-to-read and shortened format. 

In approximately 8 pages we summarize this spiritual classic because we realize that you have many responsibilities and do not have time to read all of the great classics.  But with the book summarizes of CatechismClass.com you can still learn about the Catholic Faith and study the ancient texts of our Faith with ease any time of the day!

Click here to read more and see a preview of this product!

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Institute of Christ the King Purchases Limerick Church

From the Press Release:

With the help of numerous friends from Ireland, the United States and Continental Europe, the Church of the Sacred Heart at the Crescent in Limerick, also known as the Jesuit Church after its first builders and long-term occupants, was recently purchased by a young priestly community called the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. The church and adjacent building, sold to a developer some years ago, had stood vacant for six years and was in danger of falling into ruin. Therefore many people from Limerick and other parts of Ireland were happy to help this Institute bring the Church of the Sacred Heart and its residence back to life.

....

In Limerick, the Institute of Christ the King, supported by many local residents and a large group of friends in Ireland and abroad, intends to restore the Church of the Sacred Heart to its original purpose as a vibrant spiritual and cultural centre and a beautiful place of worship through a dynamic and open community life as a spiritual family. However, this will require a careful historical restoration before the Church may be opened once again to the greater public.

The Institute of Christ the King celebrates the classical Roman Liturgy, the Latin Mass, in its Extraordinary Form according to the liturgical books promulgated by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962. This liturgy, promoted by Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI in various documents, attracts today an ever greater number of people, especially young adults, students and families. The Institute is accustomed to see a lively family of faithful in its churches and wishes to bring the uplifting beauty of sacrality and genuine culture to all.

This beautiful church at the Crescent is still today a special architectural jewel, and many deplored its closing and long-term vacancy.  The Institute of Christ the King, which has a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly desires to reopen this church for the benefit of all, in close collaboration with the local civil and ecclesiastical authorities. In this way, yet another sign of a brighter future will again come alive in Limerick.

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More About Fatima and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Taken from the book "More About Fatima and the Immaculate Heart of Mary" - Rev. Fr. V. Montes De Oca, C.S.Sp.

Chapter IX
THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
The Children's Comments

Lucy relates that on June 13th, 1917, after speaking at length about her Immaculate Heart, Our Lady of Fatima again stretched forth her hands, throwing on the children the rays of that immense light in which they saw themselves as if immersed in God . . . The Blessed Virgin held in her right hand a Heart surrounded by thorns, which pierced it from all sides. The seers understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, afflicted by all the sins of the world, which demanded penance and reparation. "It seems to me," said Lucy, "that on that day, the purpose of the light was to pour into us a special knowledge and love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as on other occasions it infused into us the knowledge and love of God, and the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. From that day, indeed, we experienced a more ardent love for the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Francis  had observed that this supernatural light, that the Blessed Virgin threw on them and on the world, seemed to come from her Heart. He afterwards asked Lucy: "Why did the Blessed Virgin hold a Heart in her hand throwing on the earth this great light which is God? You were with the Blessed Virgin in the light that went down to the earth, while Jacinta and I were in that which went up to heaven!"

"It is because you and Jacinta will soon go to heaven", said Lucy, "while I shall remain some time longer on earth with the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

"Is it the Blessed Virgin who explained to you the meaning of the two beams of light?"

"No, I saw it in the light that she put into our breasts." "That is right," interposed Jacinta, who followed the conversation, "I saw it also."

Jacinta seems to have received "a special light to understand intimately and in detail the meanings of these heavenly revelations." Before leaving for the hospital in 1919, she said to Lucy: "I am going soon to heaven. You will remain still on earth to make known to men that the Lord wishes to spread in the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When you have to speak about it, you will no longer have to hide yourself! Proclaim openly to the whole world that:

"It is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary that God wishes to grant us His graces!"

"It is from this Immaculate Heart that we must ask for them!"

"The Heart of Jesus wishes the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated with His own!"

"It is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary that peace must be asked, because it is to that Heart that the Lord has confided it."

"How I love the Immaculate Heart of Mary! It is the Heart of Our Heavenly Mother!"

"Oh! if only I could put into all hearts the fire I feel in my own, which makes me love the Hearts of Jesus and Mary so much!" Besides, the best commentary on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of
Mary is that left us by the children in the admirable example of their lives. After the revelations, indeed they were true models of devotion and reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They loved this Immaculate Heart ardently, they invoked it constantly, they spoke about it enthusiastically, and they multiplied sacrifices to console it and to make reparation for all the blasphemies and offences that cause it to suffer.

PRACTICES OF DEVOTION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART

We have already spoken of penance and the daily Rosary so much recommended by Our Lady of Fatima. We give now the three principal practices of devotion for which she has asked in honour of her Immaculate Heart; the First Saturday of the month, the Five First Saturdays and the Consecration.
They bear a marked similarity to the practices now so widespread in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

1. The practice of the First Saturdays consists of the following exercises, performed with the intention of consoling the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and making reparation to it for all the outrages and blasphemies of which it is the object on the part of ungrateful Christians: 1, the Rosary; 2, Communion of Reparation.

2. For the practice of the Five First Saturdays. In addition to the two exercises already mentioned, the following two are added on the first Saturday of five consecutive months: 3.  go to confession; 4. keep the company of the Immaculate Heart of Mary by meditating for a quarter of an hour on the mysteries of the Rosary. These two must be offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart. .The meditation may be on one or several mysteries.

3. Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As is known, Our Lady asked that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and Lucia, the surviving seer has explained that She wants the Pope and all the bishops of the world to do this on one special day. If this is done She will convert
Russia and there will be peace. . .

AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, and tender Mother of men, in accordance with thy ardent wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate to thee myself, my brethren, my country, and the whole human race.

Reign over us and teach us how to make the Heart of Jesus reign and triumph in us, and around us, as It has reigned and triumphed in thee. Reign over us, dearest Mother, that we may be thine in prosperity and in adversity, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, in life and in death.

O most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Virgins, watch over our minds and hearts and preserve them from the deluge of impurity which thou didst lament so sorrowfully at Fatima. We want to be pure like thee. We want to atone for the many crimes committed against Jesus and thee. We want to call down upon our country and the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity.

Therefore, we now promise to imitate thy virtues by the practice of a Christian life without regard to human respect.

We resolve to receive Holy Communion on the First Saturday of every month (or often if not possible every First Saturday) and to offer thee five decades of the Rosary each day, together with our sacrifices, in the spirit of reparation and penance. Amen.

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Book Review: Running with God Across America

I was recently given the opportunity to review Running with God Across America by Jeff Grabosky.  Before I share my thoughts, here is an excerpt:

What makes a person undertake a solo and unsupported 3,700 mile run across the United States? For Jeff Grabosky, it begins four years prior to his crossing with a series of tragic events. Jeff prays his way through his darkest days, and the prayers are answered – in a remarkable way. Jeff responds to the call on his heart to run across America to encourage people to pray. Jeff prays for thousands of prayer intentions sent to him from all over the world as he averages well over a marathon per day. The story of the transcontinental journey takes you through a wide variety of challenges on the road, in his mind, and in his heart. 

I initial chose to review this book because of the connection of exercise in my life.  Those who know me, know that I have been working to improve my health and fitness this year.  As part of that goal, I have been running nearly a 5K every day, in addition to other physical activities.  So, I chose this book because of my connection with running.

But what I found in this book was far more than the text of one man's amazing and awe-inspiring 3,700 mile across the United States.  I saw one man's dedication to prayer that surpasses that of most people.  Indeed, innocence of heart is a goal for all of us and Mr. Grabosky shows his dedication to a  mission of prayer more so than to simply running the equivalent of a marathon everyday for over 5 months.  The book does more than simply describe the physical dangers and perils of his journey - it shows the driving force behind his pilgrimage.

How many people would be willing (or physically able) to run the distance he ran without God's good grace?  And indeed, we know that no one can do anything aside from the grace of God (cf. John 15:5).  In the same respects, we read in 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain."  And so if so many run and practice with such dedication for an earthly prize (e.g. the Olympics), than why can we not all run with the same rigor and innocence of Mr. Grabosky to further spread the Gospel, bring about conversions, make reparation for sins, and bring out the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ?

I do recommend this book as an inspiring story of motivation and endurance.  It numbers 235 pages and it is not a challenging read.  I read the book over the course of two weeks while on my stationary bicycle, adding an extra challenge to help me better relate to his physical demands as I was reading the text.

Copies are available on Amazon.com.

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Archbishop Fulton Sheen on the Assumption of our Lady

"Mary becomes the first human person to realize the historical destiny of the faithful as members of Christ's mystical Body, beyond time, beyond death, and beyond judgement. Mary always seems to be the Advent of what is in store for man. She anticipates Christ for nine months, as she bears Heaven with her; She anticipates His passion at Cana and His Church at Pentecost. Now in the last great Doctrine of the Assumption, she anticipates heavenly glory, and the definition comes at a time when men think of it least." Archbishop Fulton Sheen (World's First Love, 1952)

A Blessed Feast of the Assumption to all of you.  Today is a Holy Day of Obligation for all Catholics.  Also keep in mind that prior to 1955, the Assumption was a Double of the I Class with a Common Octave.  Let us celebrate the Assumption of our Lady for the next week up through August 22nd -  the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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SSPX Franciscan Vows and Habit-Taking Ceremonies

This year's vows and habit-taking ceremonies were preceded by a retreat given by Fr. Nicholas Pfluger, the SSPX's First Assistant to the Superior General. This occasion of August 2nd marks several wonderful milestones in the life of these consecrated religious:

• One sister made her permanent vows (the second now for the community),
• 2 postulants received the habit of novices,
• one sister made her first vow,
• two others renewed their vows.

Deo Gratias!  Photos and descriptions of this most special occasion are available on the website of the Society of St. Pius X.

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RefTagger: Now Available for Catholic Bloggers

I'm pleased to announce that RefTagger is now available for Catholics. I've taken advantage of their inclusion of the Douay Rheims Scriptures to install the RefTagger code on A Catholic Life.

RefTagger is a free tool for bloggers that replicates Logos’ rollover and reference features. Want to see what I mean? With RefTagger enabled, when you hover your cursor over the passage, a box appears revealing the beginning of the excerpt. Click “more” to open the reading on Biblia.com. All I had to do was type that reference into my blog post!  See here for an example: Matthew 20:20–28

RefTagger works well with Blogger, WordPress, Movable Type, Drupal, Joomla!, and other sites, and incorporating it into your blog is an unbelievably simple process (even for the least tech-savvy among us). Simply select your “online Bible version” (I recommend “Douay-Rheims”) and any other settings you want in our online form, then copy and paste the JavaScript that’s automatically provided. Not sure where to paste the JavaScript? RefTagger can help with that, too.

Once RefTagger is installed on your site, you’re covered. It pro- and retroactively links every Bible reference on your blog. Worry free and labor free. Don’t bother typing out Bible verses anymore—with RefTagger, a reference is more than enough.

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Sermons in Honor of St. John Vianney

According to the 1962 Roman Catholic Calendar, today (August 8) is the Third Class Feast of St. John Mary Vianney.  As a side note, in the 1954 Calendar (still in use by some Traditional Catholics), the Feastday of the saint, with a rank of Double, is not until tomorrow (August 9).  And to complicate matters, in the Novus Ordo 1969 Calendar, St. John Vianney's feastday falls on August 4th, which is traditionally the Feast of St. Dominic.

From “Saints to Remember from January to December,” by the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

This glorious parish priest was born in eastern France, three years before the French Revolution broke out. He was a simple farmer’s boy. He received his first Holy Communion secretly in a barn when he was thirteen years of age. He later began studies or the priesthood. Because of the simple innocence of his mind, he found it very hard to pass the seminary examinations. His great devotions were to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Blessed Lady. After months of prayer to Our Blessed Lady, he finally obtained the favor of being ordained a priest in 1815. He got encouragement to pursue his vocation to the priesthood at the tomb of Saint John Francis Regis. He was first made an assistant pastor at Ecully, and later a pastor at the little village of Ars. He stayed there for forty-one years, until he died. He is always referred to as the Cur’e of Ars. So great was his sanctity that people from all over Europe came to see him. He used to spend from sixteen to eighteen hours in the confessional every day. Heads of the State, army officers, university professors, bishops and priest, all went to him for direction. Toward the end of his life, nearly 20,000 pilgrims visited him every year. Pope Pius XI proclaimed him the patron of all parish priests. He was one of the most loved priests in the history of the Catholic Church. Everyone remembers him either as siting in the confessional or kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament or before an image of Our Blessed Mother, always with the rosary beads in his hand.

In honor of the Feastday of this patron saint of priests and champion of Christ, please send some time reading some of his many sermons.  They are recorded below:

• Catechism on Communion
• Catechism on Confession
• Catechism on Frequent Communion
• Catechism on Hope
• Catechism on Impurity
• Catechism on Prayer
• Catechism on Pride
• Catechism on Salvation
• Catechism on Sin
• Catechism on Suffering
• Catechism on the Blessed Virgin
• Catechism on the Cardinal Virtues
• Catechism on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• Catechism on the Holy Spirit
• Catechism on the Love of God
• Catechism on the Prerogatives of the Pure Soul
• Catechism on the Priesthood
• Catechism on the Real Presence
• Catechism on the Sanctification of Sunday
• Catechism on the Word of God
• On Anger
• On Avarice
• On Death
• On Envy
• On Gluttony
• On Grace
• On Lust
• On Paradise
• On Prayer
• On Pride
• On Salvation
• On Sin
• On Sloth
• On Temptations
• On the Last Judgment
• On the Love of God
• Sermon on Purgatory

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Purpose of the Transfiguration of Christ

Transfiguration by Giovanni Gerolamo Savoldo, 16th century 

Each year on August 6^th the Church recalls and celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we recall Christ's divinity showing forth on Mount Tabor. This event foreshadowed the glorious Resurrection and Ascension of Christ that would occur after His death on the Cross.

The Transfiguration wasn’t in and of itself the greatest part of this mystery, but what is even greater is that Christ humbled Himself and hid His immense glory while on earth.

As Our Blessed Lord ascends Mount Tabor and is transfigured before His closest disciples, there appears to Him both Moses and Elijah -- symbolizes the Law and the Prophet, surrounding the Son of Man. The radiance of Jesus in the presence of Moses refers to Moses' radiance in the presence of the Lord.  St. James the Greater, along with Peter and John, was one of the few that witnessed Our Lord's Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor, the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and Our Lord’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane before His passion.

As the beginning of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s section on the Transfiguration states: “Three important scenes of Our Lord’s life took place on mountains.  On one, He preached the Beatitudes, the practice of which would bring a Cross from the world; on the second, He showed the glory that lay beyond the Cross; and on the third, He offered Himself in death as a prelude to His glory and that of all who would believe in His name” (Life of Christ by Fulton J. Sheen, p. 158, © 1970)

The following commentary is excerpted from the Navarre Bible Commentary:

2-10. We contemplate in awe this manifestation of the glory of the Son of God to three of His disciples. Ever since the Incarnation, the divinity of our Lord has usually been hidden behind His humanity. But Christ wishes to show, to these favorite disciples, who will later be pillars of the Church, the splendor of His divine glory, in order to encourage them to follow the difficult way that lies ahead, fixing their gaze on the happy goal which is awaiting them at the end. This is why, as St. Thomas comments (cf. "Summa Theologia", III, q. 45, a. 1), it was appropriate for Him to give them an insight into His glory. The fact that the Transfiguration comes immediately after the first announcement of His passion, and His prophetic words about how His followers would also have to carry His cross, shows us that "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).

What happened at the Transfiguration? To understand this miraculous event in Christ's life, we must remember that in order to redeem us by His passion and death our Lord freely renounced divine glory and became man, assuming flesh which was capable of suffering and which was not glorious, becoming like us in every way except sin (cf. Hebrew 4:15). In the Transfiguration, Jesus Christ willed that the glory which was His as God and which His soul had from the moment of the Incarnation, should miraculously become present in His body. "We should learn from Jesus' attitude in these trials. During His life on earth He did not even want the glory that belong to Him. Though He had the right to be treated as God, He took the form of a servant, a slave (cf. Philippians 2:6)" (St. J. Escriva, "Christ Is Passing By", 62). Bearing in mind WHO became man (the divinity of the person and the glory of His soul), it was appropriate for His body to be glorious; given the PURPOSE of His Incarnation, it was not appropriate, usually, for His glory to be evident. Christ shows His glory in the Transfiguration in order to move us to desire the divine glory which will be given us so that, having this hope, we too can understand "that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).

To continue reading, please see my prior post on the Transfiguration and consider the online course through CatechismClass.com on the Life of Christ, using Fulton Sheen's text as one of its many resources.

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Novena for the Assumption Starts Today

Please join me in praying this novena daily from August 6 - 14 in preparation for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven [read about this exciting, holy observance].

See the Following Posts:

Assumption Novena: Day One
Assumption Novena: Day Two
Assumption Novena: Day Three
Assumption Novena: Day Four
Assumption Novena: Day Five
Assumption Novena: Day Six
Assumption Novena: Day Seven
Assumption Novena: Day Eight
Assumption Novena: Final Day

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