As reported by LifeSiteNews, this year a record number of over half a million individuals marched on Washington DC against the horror of abortion and taking a stand for life and justice.
This year's March marked the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, since
which an estimated 55 million babies have been killed by abortion in
America.
While accurate estimates of the number of attendees at the march are
hard to come by, organizers had said in the days leading up to the event
that all signs pointed to a record-breaking crowd. Hotels in the D.C
area sold out far in advance of when they normally do, and organizers
installed two jumbotrons just to ensure that all marchers could get a
glimpse of what was happening on the stage.
Last year's march was estimated at around 400,000 participants, likely
putting this year's at the half million mark, or even beyond. The
popularity of the event could be seen on social media, with the March
for Life trending on Twitter for a time in the early afternoon, and
Facebook exploding with photos and status updates from attendees.
What few organizations report is that after the March for life, Juventutem organized a Pontifical Requiem Latin Mass at St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church for all the mothers and babies who have died from abortions. The Pontifical Requiem Mass was said by His Excellency Auxiliary Bishop Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Starting with First Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday on Saturday evening, the Alleluia now ceases to be said until we proclaim our Lord's resurrection! At first Vespers of Septuagesima Sunday, two alleluias are added to the closing verse of Benedicamus Domino and its response, Deo gratias, as during the Easter Octave. Starting with Compline, the word Alleluia is no longer said until the Easter Vigil and the proclamation of the Lord's Resurrection!
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)
Priest: Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, grant unto all Thy servants, but especially to the people of our own nation, the grace of being fully united to Thee in Thy Church. O Divine Redeemer, of Whom the prophet sang "all the kings of the earth shall adore Him and all the nations shall serve Him," extend Thy Kingdom over the entire human race, but especially over our own beloved country. Grant in Thy mercy that the people of our land may be converted to Thee, and humbly and lovingly serve Thee. This we ask, O Savior, through the intercession of Thy Immaculate Mother, the benevolent patroness and protectress of our country. People: Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Priest and People: Most Holy Virgin, who wast pleasing to the Lord and became His Mother, Immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look down kindly upon us poor sinners. We now implore thy powerful patronage for all the people of our beloved land. The wicked serpent, against whom the first curse was hurled, continues fiercely to attack and ensnare the unhappy children of Eve. O Blessed Mother, our Queen and our advocate, who crushed the head of the enemy from the very first moment of thine existence, receive from us the prayers which we implore thee to present at the throne of God. Pray that we may never fall into the snares laid out for us, and that we may all arrive at the port of salvation. May the Church and Christian society, now in so many dangers, sing once again the hymn of deliverance, of victory, and of peace. Amen.
Priest: Our Lady of the Atonement intercede for us.
People:That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, "That all may be one."
Prayer to Saint John the Baptist
Priest: O most zealous messenger of God, Saint John the Baptist, while thou didst work no miracles on others, thou didst draw after thee crowds, to prepare them to receive Our Savior worthily and to listen to His heavenly teaching. This thou didst do sole!y by the example of thy holy life and the practice of every good work. Pray that we also may receive the grace to lead many souls to God, but, above all, the souls of those who are still outside the One Fold in our own beloved country. People: Amen.
III Class (1962 Calendar): January 26 Memorial (1969 Calendar): February 23
Today the Church celebrates the sainthood of St. Polycarp, a 2nd-century bishop of Smyrna. Saint Jerome wrote that Polycarp was a disciple of John the Apostle and that John had ordained him bishop of Smyrna.The churches of Asia Minor recognized Polycarp’s leadership and chose him representative to Pope St. Anicetus on the question of the date of the Easter celebration.
Pope St. Anicetus was the 11th pope, who reigned from c. 154 - c. 167 AD. St. Anicetus's papacy was marked by a conflict with the Christians under St. Polycarp, who wanted to celebrate Easter three days after Passover. The Church since the time of St. Peter had instead always ensured the celebration of Easter would be on a Sunday. To alleviate the situation, Pope St. Anicetus allowed the Christians under St. Polycarp to celebrate Easter their way. They continued to do so until the Council of Nicea, which suppressed such practices.
According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him. The Acts of Polycarp’s martyrdom are the earliest preserved reliable account of a Christian martyr‘s death. With St. Clement of Rome and St. Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp is regarded as one of three chief Apostolic Fathers. The sole surviving work attributed to his authorship is his Letter to the Philippians.
An excerpt from the account of his martyrdom:
Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice from heaven, saying, "Be strong, and show yourself a man, O Polycarp!" No one saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul] sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, "Have respect to your old age," and other similar things, according to their custom, [such as], "Swear by the fortune of Cæsar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists." But Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with groans he looked up to heaven, said, "Away with the Atheists." Then, the proconsul urging him, and saying, "Swear, and I will set you at liberty, reproach Christ;" Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?"
Butler's Lives of the Saints (Lives Of The Saints By Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. Edition) provides us a profound meditation:
St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of St. John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate Marcion met St. Polycarp at Rome, he asked the aged Saint if he knew him. “Yes,” St. Polycarp answered, “I know you for the first-born of Satan.” These were the words of a Saint most loving and most charitable, and specially noted for his compassion to sinners. He hated heresy, because he loved God and man so much. In 167, persecution broke out in Smyrna. When Polycarp heard that his pursuers were at the door, he said, “The will of God be done; ” and meeting them, he begged to be left alone for a little time, which he spent in prayer for “the Catholic Church throughout the world.” He was brought to Smyrna early on Holy Saturday; and, as he entered, a voice was heard from heaven, “Polycarp, be strong.” When the proconsul besought him to curse Christ and go free, Polycarp answered, “Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He never did me wrong; how can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?” When he threatened him with fire, Polycarp told him this fire of his lasted but a little, while the fire prepared for the wicked lasted forever. At the stake he thanked God aloud for letting him drink of Christ’s chalice. The fire was lighted, but it did him no hurt; so he was stabbed to the heart, and his dead body was burnt. “Then,” say the writers of his acts, “we took up the bones, more precious than the richest jewels or gold, and deposited them in a fitting place, at which may God grant us to assemble with joy to celebrate the birthday of the martyr to his life in heaven!”
Prayer:
O God, who gladdens us each year by the feast of Your blessed Martyr bishop Polycarp, mercifully grant that we who celebrate his birthday may also enjoy his protection. through Our Lord . . .
Priest: Let us pray. O God, Who dost manifest Thy mercy and compassion towards all peoples, have mercy upon the Jewish race, once Thy Chosen People. Thou didst select them alone out of all the nations of the world to be the custodians of Thy sacred teachings. From them Thou didst raise up Prophets and Patriarchs to announce the coming of the Redeemer. Thou didst will that Thine only Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior, should be a Jew according to the flesh, born of a Jewish maiden in the Land of Promise. Listen to the prayers we offer Thee today for the conversion of the Jewish people. Grant that they may come safely to a knowledge and love of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah foretold by their Prophets, and that they may walk with us in the way of salvation. People: Amen.
Prayer of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
Priest and People: God of all goodness and Father of mercies, we beseech Thee, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and by the intercession of the Patriarchs and holy Apostles, to cast a look of compassion upon the children of Israel, that they may be brought to the knowledge of our only Savior, Jesus Christ, and may partake of the precious fruits of the Redemption. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Amen.
Prayer to Saint Paul
Priest:
O holy Apostle Paul of Tarsus, from thy glorious place in heaven, look down upon the race thou didst love so well. True it is that many of them remained deaf to thy ringing words of truth, and that some of them even stirred up persecution against thee and thy fellow believers, but thou wert so devoted to thy people that thou didst will to become a castaway for the sake of their conversion. Now that thou art glorious in heaven, obtain for thy brethren the grace of repentance and conversion, so that they may finally take their rightful place in the great family of the
Catholic Church. People: Amen.
The Society of St. Pius X will be consecrated to St. Joseph, protector of the Church.
The theme of this year’s Pentecost Pilgrimage from Chartres to Paris will be: “Go to Joseph”.
In Paris on January 6, during the conference he gave for Courrier de Rome’s 11th congress, Bishop Bernard Fellay officially announced that he would consecrate the Society of St. Pius X to St. Joseph, protector of the Church, on March 19, 2013, in Econe.
In the Pentecost Pilgrimage’s preparatory Doctrinal and Spiritual Booklet, this quote taken from the Mystery of St. Joseph’s Paternity by Fr. Daniel-Joseph Lallement shows how appropriate this consecration is:
We are living in a time when man wishes to seek satisfaction by feverishly filling himself with earthly things. St. Joseph, a man of God, the man of the Virgin Mary, is the antithesis of materialism. He will be given as a sure remedy for humanism and materialism. But let us understand things from yet another point of view: in the secret designs of Providence, humanism and materialism will be an opportunity to manifest the glory of St. Joseph.
(…)
Dare I add that among the forgotten goods that God prepares beyond the disasters of humanism and materialism, is the glorification of St. Joseph: disgusted with themselves and tired of earthly food, men will turn to the poor man of God.
As the prayer of the Litany of St. Joseph says:
May we deserve to have as our intercessor in heaven him whom we venerate as our protector on earth!
Priest: Let us pray. O Jesus, Good Shepherd, look down benignly upon
the great and noble English nation. Converted to Thee through the labors
of St. Augustine and his companions, it was for many centuries rich in
fruits of faith and sanctity. So devoted was this nation to Thy holy and
Immaculate Mother that it was known throughout Christendom as the
"Dowry of Mary." When it was separated from Thee in cruel fashion, many
hundreds of its people willingly shed their blood in testimony of their
loyalty to Thee and Thy Church. O Loving Shepherd of souls, recall this
great nation once more to the unity of Thy Church, and grant peace of
soul to all those now separated from Thy flock. People: Amen.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Priest and People: O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and our own
most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England, thy
Dowry, and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee. Through thee
it was that Jesus our Savior and our Hope was given unto the world; and
He has given thee to us that we might hope still more. Plead for us thy
children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross, O
sorrowful Mother. Intercede for our separated English brethren, that
they may be united with us in the One True Fold. Pray for us all, dear
Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see
and praise God together with Thee in our heavenly home. Amen.
Priest: Our Lady of the Atonement intercede for us. People: That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son, "That all may be one."
Priest: O Glorious Martyrs of England, Saint Thomas More, Saint John
Fisher and thy companions, who, to sustain the voice of the Supreme Head
of the True Church against the decrees of your rulers, didst willingly
and courageously suffer death, pray now that the great nation to which
thou didst belong may once more return to the bosom of the Church from
which it was so cruelly wrested. People: Amen.
"Atheism in legislation, indifference in matters of religion, and the pernicious maxims which go under the name of Liberal Catholicism are the true causes of the destruction of states; they have been the ruin of France. Believe me, the evil I denounce is more terrible than the Revolution, more terrible even than The Commune. I have always condemned Liberal Catholicism, and I will condemn it again forty times over if it be necessary" (Pope Pius IX)
Mass in this video is of the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany at the Institute St. Philipp Neri in Berlin.
Note: Today is an ideal day to refresh our knowledge on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, specifically on how divorce is never allowable for a Catholic. Divorce, simply put, does not exist as no legal divorce can ever break the seal of marriage which God has put together.
Vestments: Green
INTROIT Psalm 65:4
Let all the earth adore Thee, O God, and sing to Thee: let it sing a psalm to Thy Name, O Most High. -- (Ps.65. 1, 2). Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to His Name: give glory to His praise. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- Let all the earth adore Thee . . .
COLLECT - O almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things both in heaven and on earth: mercifully hear the prayers of Thy people, and grant us Thy peace in our time. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, They Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost . . .
EPISTLE
Romans 12: 6-16
Brethren, Having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us: either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith; or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine; he that exhorteth, in exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with carefulness; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good: loving one another with the charity of brotherhood: with honor preventing one another: in carefulness not slothful; in spirit fervent: serving the Lord: rejoicing in hope: patient in tribulation: instant in prayer: communicating to the necessities of the Saints: pursuing hospitality. Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that rejoice, weep with them that weep: being of one mind one towards another: not minding high things, but consenting to the humble.
GRADUAL
Psalm 106: 20, 21
The Lord sent His Word, and healed them: and delivered them from their destruction. V.: Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to Him: and His wonderful works to the children of men.
LESSER ALLELUIA - Alleluia, alleluia. V.:(Ps 148:2) Praise ye the Lord, all His Angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts. Alleluia
GOSPEL John 2: 1-11
At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the Mother of Jesus saith to Him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come. His Mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. Now there were set there six water-pots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus said to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, and saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine: and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
OFFERTORY
Psalm 65: 1, 2, 16
Shout with joy to God, all the earth: sing ye a psalm to His Name: come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great things the Lord hath done for my soul, alleluia.
SECRET - Hallow, O Lord, these our oblations: and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
PREFACE (Preface of the Most Holy Trinity) - It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:
COMMUNION John 2: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
The Lord saith: Fill the water-pots with water, and carry to the chief steward. When the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, he saith to the bridegroom: Thou hast kept the good wine until now. This first miracle did Jesus in the presence of His disciples.
POST COMMUNION - May the working of Thy power, we beseech Thee, O Lord, be increased in us: that quickened by the divine Sacraments, we may be prepared by Thy grace to obtain that which they promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
After much anticipation, the long-awaited trailer for Archbishop Lefebvre: A Documentary has been released. For those unfamiliar with the true story behind the saintly Archbishop, please read Marcel Lefebvre. As the project website mentions:
To begin with, the life of Archbishop Lefebvre paints a fascinating
story of a contemporary churchman born to a French Catholic family who
abandoned all to become an African missionary. From a simple missionary
he was appointed a bishop by Pope Pius XII, named Apostolic Delegate to
French speaking Africa, and was elected the Superior General of the Holy
Ghost Fathers, at the time the world’s largest missionary
congregation. He was also named to the Preparatory Commission for the
Second Vatican Council by Pope John XXIII, and played an active role in
that same Council, to say nothing of the post-conciliar period. The full
story of this man’s life has never before been told through the medium
of film.
Because it is scarcely possible to describe the
history of the Church in Africa without mentioning him, or to describe
accurately the Second Vatican Council and its aftermath without
discussing his role, we decided it was time to create a documentary that
captured the life of this defining churchman.
We are convinced that the objective and timely
approach to this subject is one which will interest Catholics across the
theological, political, and social spectrums, especially as it includes
archival photographs and video footage rarely seen before. On top of
this, the creators of the documentary traveled the globe to interview
many of the bishops, priests, and lay faithful who knew or crossed paths
with Archbishop Lefebvre, including interviews with his remaining
siblings about his childhood. The story has never before been told in
this way, or with this wealth of first-hand information.
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Matthew is a Third Order Dominican from Chicago and an expert on Catholicism, with an emphasis on Traditional Fasting. He has written for "A Catholic Life" since 2005. Matthew is a Certified Catechist and is a speaker available to address your next parish or Catholic conference gathering. Matthew spends his leisure time traveling, teaching, writing, and enjoying Catholic culture. He is also a writer for "Catholic Family News" and "The Fatima Center." Please contact Matthew directly regarding advertising requests for A Catholic Life or in regard to speaking engagements.
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