8th Blog Anniversary

Today is the proud 8th anniversary of A Catholic Life.  It's hard to imagine that this blog has been around for 8 years now.  As I look back, it's been with me through so much in life: from my years in high school through all of college and seminary and now several years while I work to promote catechesis.  Plenty has changed in me through these 8 years as I have growth in knowledge and grace (indeed all by the grace of God). I've published an ebook and a paperback (715 pages) in this time and have helped lead the charge to restore Traditional Catholic Culture.  I've grown from a Novus Ordo seminarian-to-be into a committed Traditional Catholic and defender of the Mass of All Times.   As I look back I see the importance this blog has had in spreading the annual Saint for the Year Devotion and the mission it has taken to help restore all things in Christ.

I am thankful for very much over these years including your readership.  I pray that some of you have been readers for many, many years.  Some of you are likely newer readers and I pray that you will follow this blog far into the future.

The mission of A Catholic Life was never founded for monetary purposes or for individualistic pursuits or vain hobbies.  It was founded to serve as a conduit to help spread the Catholic Faith to as many souls as possible.  Today, it's mission is still the same.  Thank you for supporting this blog.

Ad multos annos!

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Feast of St. Ephrem the Syrian

Double (1955 Calendar): June 18

Today Holy Mother Church calls to mind St. Ephrem of Syria.

According to legend, St. Ephrem may have been the son of a pagan priest. He was brought to the faith by Saint James of Nisibis and baptized at age 18.  St. Ephrem helped to evangelize Nisibis, Mesopotamia.  He may have attended the Council of Nicaea in 325.

He was a renowned Deacon and Preacher, who had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 363 Nisibis was ceded to Persia and a great persecution of Christians began, and Eprem led an exodus of the faithful to Edessa, where he founded a theological school. He wrote homilies, hymns and poetry (see his Lenten Prayer). It was he who helped introduce the use of hymns in public worship.

St. Ephrem helped fight Gnosticism and Arianism by his writings, including poems and hymns. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1920.

Traditional Matins Reading:

Ephraem was of Syrian descent and son of a citizen of Nisibis. While yet a young man he took himself to the holy bishop James, by whom he was baptized, and he soon made such progress in holiness and learning as to be appointed master in the school of Nisibis in Mesopotamia. After the death of the bishop James, Nisibis was captured by the Persians, and Ephraem went to Edessa, where he settled first among the monks in the mountains. Later, to avoid the company of those who flocked to him, he adopted the eremitical life. He was made deacon of the church of Edessa, but refused the priesthood out of humility. He was rich in all virtues and strove to acquire piety and religion by the following of true wisdom. He placed all his hope in God, despised all human and transitory things, and was ever filled with the earnest desire of those which are divine and eternal.

He was led by the Spirit of God to Caesarea in Cappadocia, where he saw Basil, the mouthpiece of the Church, and they obtained benefit from their mutual intercourse. In order to refute the many errors which troubled the Church at that time, and to expound the mysteries of Jesus Christ, he wrote many books in the Syrian tongue, almost all of which have been translated into Greek. St Jerome bears witness that he attained such fame that his writings were read publicly in the churches after the reading from the Holy Scriptures.

On account of his works, so full of the light of heavenly doctrine, he was greatly honored even during his lifetime as a Doctor of the Church. He composed a poem in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints for which he was called by the Syrians the Harp of the Holy Ghost. He was noted for his great and tender devotion towards the immaculate Virgin. He died, rich in merits, at Edessa in Mesopotamia, on the fourteenth of the Kalends of July, in the reign of Valens. Pope Benedict XV, at the instance of many Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, abbots, and religious communities, declared him by a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites to be a Doctor of the Universal Church.  

Collect:

O God, You added glory to the Church by the brilliant learning and outstanding merits of Your blessed confessor and doctor Ephrem. Defend Your Church against the dangers of sin and error, through the intercession of this saint. Through our Lord . . .

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Traditional Mass Propers: 4th Sunday after Pentecost

Dom Gueranger writes of this Sunday: "The fourth Sunday after Pentecost was called, for a long period, in the west, the Sunday of mercy, because, formerly, there was read upon it the passage from St. Luke beginning with the words: ‘Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.’ But, this Gospel having been since assigned to the Mass of the first Sunday after Pentecost, the Gospel of the fifth Sunday was made that of the fourth; the Gospel of the sixth became that of the fifth; and so on, up to the twenty-third. The change we speak of was, however, not introduced into many Churches till a very late period; and it was not universally received till the sixteenth century."

INTROIT
Ps. 26:1, 2
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Mine enemies that have troubled me have themselves been weakened and have fallen. Ps. 26:3. If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT - Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the world may be regulated in its course by Thy governance for our peace, and that Thy Church may with tranquil devotion rejoice. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE
Rom. 8:18-23
Brethren: I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity: not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope. Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain, even till now. And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.

GRADUAL
Forgive us our sins, O Lord. lest the Gentiles should at any time say, "Where is their God?" V. Help us, O God, our Savior; and for the honor of Thy Name, O Lord, deliver us.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. Ps. 9:5 O God, who sittest upon the throne, and judgest justice, be Thou the refuge of the poor in tribulation. Alleluia!

GOSPEL
Luke 5:1-11
At that time, when the multitudes pressed upon Jesus to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth, And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets. And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting, he taught the multitudes out of the ship. Now when he had ceased to speak, he said to Simon: "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught." And Simon answering said to him: "Master, we have laboured all the night and have taken nothing: but at thy word I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they enclosed a very great multitude of fishes: and their net broke. And they beckoned to their partners that were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came and filled both the ships, so that they were almost sinking. Which when Simon Peter saw, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was wholly astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so were also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus saith to Simon: "Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men." And having brought their ships to land, leaving all things, they followed him.

OFFERTORY
Ps. 12:4-5
Enlighten mine eyes, that I never sleep in death, lest at any time mine enemy say, "I have prevailed against him."

SECRET Accept our oblations, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and be appeased by them, and mercifully compel even our rebel wills to turn to Thee. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION
Ps. 17:3
The Lord is my firmament, and my refuge, and my deliverer, my God is my helper.

POST COMMUNION - May the Mysteries which we have received, we beseech Thee, O Lord, purify us, and fulfill their purpose by defending us. Through our Lord . . .R. Amen.

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Pray for the Repose of the Soul of Leona Karlheim

Leona Karlheim, longtime member of Queen of Peace Parish and a devoted member of their Latin Mass community, passed away this week. A traditional Latin requiem Mass will be offered this Saturday (Jun 15) at 11 am at Queen of Peace. You are kindly requested to keep Leona and her family in your prayers.

In paradisum deducant te Angeli …May the angels lead thee into paradise …

ATTON — KARLHEIM – Leona M., 87, Patton, passed away June 11, 2013, at Altoona Hospital. Born Nov. 21, 1925, in Patton, daughter of Amandus J. and Mary (Dunagan) Karlheim. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Regina Strittmatter and Marguerite Kuntzman; and brothers, William in infancy, Ralph and Leo. Survived by daughter, Mary Wilson, Patton; grandchildren, James, Stephanie and Erin; great-grandchildren, Ryan, Justin and Christopher; brother, James Karlheim; sister, Bertha Karlheim; and numerous nieces and nephews. From her teen years into her adult years, she was the organist, pianist and choir director at St. George’s church, Patton. The priest, Father Basil, amplified her organ playing, which was a worship gift from God, and was heard as far as Carrolltown and St. Boniface. She worked in the offices of the coal mines and also continued helping with the family’s Clover Hill Dairy. In the 1950s, she went to National Chiropractic College in Chicago, Ill. Upon graduation, she chose to remain in Illinois until she returned to Patton in her later years and joyfully volunteered at her parish, Queen of Peace, Patton. At Leona’s request, there will be no visitation. There will be a Solemn High Requiem Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Patton, by Benedictine Fathers. Committal, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Patton. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the family

Image Source

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Friday Penance Reminder

O Lord, Our God, have mercy on us sinners!

Today is Friday, the day in which we commemorate Our Lord's passion and death. It was our own sins that condemned our glorious Lord to death on Good Friday - death on a Cross. As Catholics, we are still bound to either abstain from meat or rather to do some act of penance each Friday in the entire year. It was on this day of the week that our glorious Redeemer died for us. Please, never forget this, especially at 3 o'clock, the hour that He died. At 3 o'clock attempt to pray the 3 o'clock Mercy Prayer. Please remember Our Lord's love and repent today.

Code of Canon Law:

Can. 1249 All Christ's faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.

Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The Episcopal Conference can determine more particular ways in which fasting and abstinence are to be observed. In place of abstinence or fasting it can substitute, in whole or in part, other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.

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The Long Forgotten Prayer to the Emperor in the Exultet of Easter

Image: Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor

Until 1955, the Exsultet ended with a long prayer for the Holy Roman Emperor:

Respice etiam ad devotissimum imperatorem nostrum [Nomen] cujus tu, Deus, desiderii vota praenoscens, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae tuae munere, tranquillum perpetuae pacis accommoda, et coelestem victoriam cum omni populo suo.

Look also upon our most devout Emperor [Name], the desires of whose longing you, O God, know beforehand, and by the inexpressible grace of your kindness and mercy grant him the tranquility of lasting peace and heavenly victory with all his people.

The head of the Holy Roman Empire alone could be prayed for with this formula, and the resignation in 1806 of the prerogatives of that position by Emperor Francis II of Austria, left that position unfilled thereafter, so that the prayer was in practice not used.  And so, after 1804, the prayer actually ended with the immediately preceding petition for the members of the Church:

Precamur ergo te, Domine: ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum, et devotissimum populum: una cum beatissimo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. quiete temporum assidua protectione regere, gubernare, et conservare digneris.

However, by the decree Imperii Galliarum of 10 September 1857, Pope Pius IX allowed Emperor Napoleon III of France to be prayed for in the Exsultet from 1858 to 1870, not with the formula reserved for the Holy Roman Emperor, but only by adding "necnon gloriosissimo Imperatore nostro N." to the preceding petition, which became:

Precamur ergo te, Domine: ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum, et devotissimum populum: una cum beatissimo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. necnon gloriosissimo Imperatore nostro N. quiete temporum assidua protectione regere, gubernare, et conservare digneris.

In 1955 Pope Pius XII added a phrase to the prayer for the members of the Church and definitively removed the prayer for the Holy Roman Emperor, replacing it with a generic prayer for the civil authorities inspired by the prayer for the Emperor:

Precamur ergo te, Domine: ut nos famulos tuos, omnemque clerum, et devotissimum populum: una cum beatissimo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N. quiete temporum concessa, in his paschalibus gaudiis, assidua protectione regere, gubernare, et conservare digneris. Respice etiam ad eos, qui nos in potestate regunt, et, ineffabili pietatis et misericordiae tuae munere, dirige cogitationes eorum ad iustitiam et pacem, ut de terrena operositate ad caelestem patriam perveniant cum omni populo tuo.

We beseech Thee therefore, O Lord, that Thou wouldst grant peaceful times during this Paschal Festival, and vouchsafe to rule, govern, and keep with Thy constant protection us Thy servants, and all the clergy, and the devout people, together with our most holy Father, Pope N...., and our Bishop N.... Have regard, also, for those who reign over us, and, grant them Thine ineffable kindness and mercy, direct their thoughts in justice and peace, that from their earthy toil, they may come to their heavenly reward with all Thy people.

Pope Leo III restored the Western Roman Empire, when he crowned Charlemagne Roman Emperor on Christmas Day, in 800 A.D. In 962 A.D, Pope John XII restored the Roman Empire again, when he crowned Otto Ist Emperor. The actual term “Holy Roman Empire” dates from 1254 A.D.

The Encyclical Quas Primas states that “not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honour and obedience to Christ”, and adds: “nor is there any difference in this matter between the individual and the family or the State; for all men, whether collectively or individually, are under the dominion of Christ”. As a consequence, the Catholic Faith must be the “State Religion”. The State professes it, and encourages its development, while it restrains as much as possible the circulation of errors by virtue of a “tolerance” adapted to the necessities of social peace and public order (restrictions on public worship for false religions and on errors of all kinds, and hence restriction imposed upon the use of mass media): this issue pertains to the virtue of prudence.

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Holy Hour Novena of Reparation for Vocations

Holy Hour Novena of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Neglect of and Negligence in Priestly and Religious Vocations

The holy hour is divided into three parts:

1. The first 30 minutes: Prayer of Intention and Prayers of Gratitude to God
2. Next 30 minutes: Prayers of Reparation to the Sacred Heart
3. An additional 3-5 minutes: Prayers of Petition
The holy hour can be done during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, in front of the tabernacle, or at home for the home bound (If possible, the preferred time is between the hours of 9 pm and 5 am because this is when our Lord is most offended.)

This holy hour should be prayed once a week for nine consecutive weeks. Click here for a printable version of this novena.

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St. John of San Facundo

Today the Holy Church celebrates the Feast of St. John of San Facundo (1419 - 1479).

Born the oldest son of John Gonzalez de Castrillo and Sancia Martinez, John was raised in a pious and well-to-do family. He was educated by Benedictines at Fagondez abbey at Sahagun. John was ordained in 1445 and held several benefices in the diocese of Burgos, Spain.

Unlike many of his class who took their vocation as a profession, John felt a true call to service and a holy life, and he gave most of the proceeds from his benefices to the poor. Following a grave illness and major surgery, he became an Augustinian canon at Salamanca, joining on June 18, 1463, and making his final profession on August 28, 1464. He became the Novice-master in the order.  St. John would later become the prior of the order in Salamanca in 1471.

He is noted for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament; during Mass, he often saw the Host surrounded by light and sometimes had visions of the bodily form of Christ at the moment of consecration. His devotion, and his visions, often led to some very lengthy Masses. He was reported to levitate during his prayers. St. John could read hearts in confession, and became a sought-after spiritual director. He was a great preacher whose sermons helped change social conditions in Salamanca. His sermons against sinful living conditions, and in support of the rights and dignity of workers brought him the opposition of some local leaders. A duke at Alba de Tormes hired assassins to stop him, but they recognized John’s holiness, and would not touch him, confessed to him, and asked forgiveness. The duke later fell ill and was healed by John’s prayers. Some local women, however, were not so concerned; when he preached against wasting resources on extravagant fashions, some of them threw stones at him in the street.

Miracles were attributed to Father John’s intervention, before and after his death. One occurred in Salamanca when a small child fell into a well. The locals made every effort but could not orchestra a rescue. They sent for Father John who went to the scene, laid his waistband on stone wall of the well, and prayed that the waters return the child. The well water rose to ground level, floating the child to safety.

He died on June 11, 1479, possibly from poisoning.  He was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII on October 16, 1690.  Let us seek out his intercession this day and always.

Collect:

O God, you are the author of peace and the source of love who conferred on Your blessed confessor John the wondrous gift of being able to reconcile enemies. May his merits and prayers root us in Your love so that we may never be tempted to separate ourselves from You. Through our Lord . . .

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Do SSPX Catholics Lose the Faith? A Rebuttal of Jeffrey Mirus

I would like to suggest the article written by Mr. Riddle for Angelus Press. It is quite good and serves as a worthy rebuttal for an article highly (and unjustly) critical of the Society of St. Pius X. I quote:

In an article that no objective reader would call fair or just, Jeff Mirus posts the apparent reflections of a young lady who grew up as a Catholic whose family received the sacraments from the priests of the Society of Saint Pius X. In addition, it seems the young lady went to a school administered by the same Society, it appears, for all of her education (at least her pre-collegiate education). Mirus begins with a note that while negative anecdotal evidence can be found about any person or group, this “seems fairly typical and dovetails with a very real canonical, theological, and pastoral situation.” With no separate explanations, the reader may ask exactly on what basis this seems “fairly typical” to Dr. Mirus, or what the exact nature of the “very real canonical” situation is – a precision he refused to offer in his response to Mr. Chris Jackson of The Remnant. 

As someone raising six children in St. Mary’s, Kansas – the largest Society community in the United States – and who grew up in a conservative Catholic family, later attending Christendom College – an institution Mr. Mirus helped found – I think I can bring a unique perspective to bear in examining the possible veracity of the young lady’s assertions. Her words will be italicized; my response will be in normal font.

Continue Reading...

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Catholicism in Birmingham

While down in Birmingham, Alabama two weeks ago, I stopped by the headquarters of EWTN and the Cathedral of St. Paul.  I wanted to share a few of the images from the trip in this brief post.

Cathedral of St. Paul (Birmingham)

EWTN

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