Ss Soter and Caius

SemiDouble (1955 Calendar): April 22

Pope St. Soter succeeded Pope St. Anicetus as the head of the Holy Catholic Church in 167 and served as the Vicar of Christ until his martyrdom in 175 AD.

We possess a fragment of an interesting letter addressed to him by St. Dionysius of Corinth, who writes: "From the beginning it has been your custom to do good to all the brethren in many ways, and to send alms to many churches in every city, refreshing the poverty of those who sent requests, or giving aid to the brethren in the mines, by the alms which you have had the habit of giving from old, Romans keeping up the traditional custom of the Romans; which your blessed Bishop Soter has not only preserved, but has even increased, by providing the abundance which he has sent to the saints, and by further consoling with blessed words with brethren who came to him, as a loving father his children. Today, therefore, we have kept the holy Lord's day, on which we have read your letter, which we shall always have to read and be admonished, even as the former letter which was written to us by the ministry of Clement" (Eusebius, Church History IV 24).

The Roman Breviary reading during Matins writes: "He ordered that consecrated virgins should not touch the sacred vessels and palls, nor act as thurifers in the church. He also decreed that all Christian should receive the body of Christ on Holy Thursday, except those forbidden to do so by grave sin."

St. Caius served as the holy pontiff from December 17, 283, until April 22, 296.  The Roman Breviary writes: "Caius was a Dalmatian, of the kindred of the emperor Diocletian. He decreed that these several orders and grades of honor in the Church should lead up to the episcopate, namely: doorkeeper, lector, exorcist, acolyte, subdeacon, deacon, and priest. Fleeing from the cruelty of Diocletian towards the Christians, he hid himself for some time in a cave; then... received the crown of martyrdom together with this brother Gabinus and was buried in the cemetery of Callistus."

Like all the Vicars of Christ in the first centuries, Sts. Soter and Caius were constant in uniting their sufferings to those of the Divine Redeemer and "in Him bore much fruit".

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The Great Pardon Pilgrimage of Le Puy

A fascinating article from SSPX.org in one of these special years of grace when Good Friday falls on the Feast of the Annunciation:

Since the 10th century, whenever Good Friday falls on March 25th, the Church celebrates the Jubilee of Forgiveness of Our lady of Le Puy, also called Our Lady of the Annunciation. Several popes in succession have confirmed this as a time of grace.

This year, the feast of the Annunciation fell on Good Friday and was transferred to April 4, the first available date after Easter. From April 9 - 10 Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, and fellow pilgrims went on a pilgrimage to the picturesque town of Le Puy-en-Velay in central France. The town, perched in the midst of Massif Central Mountains, contains many notable monuments including the Cathedral of Notre-Dame du Puy (dedicated to Our Lady of the Annunciation), the statue of Our Lady of France, and the chapel of St. Michael of Aiguilhe.

The ­­­town dates from the 4th century when a chapel was erected and blessed by the angels. It became the Episcopal See during the 6th century. The pilgrimage itself came much later, at the turn of the millenium, when wild imaginations flared up about the end of the world. In 992 the feast of the Annunciation coincided with Good Friday and rumor had it that it was a sign of the end times. Pilgrims from far and wide flocked to the church of Le Puy and invoked the protection of the Mother of God who had previously granted many blessings and miracles. This initial movement gave rise to the bishop granting a Great Pardon on all future years when the same occurrence would take place. This year, 2016, is one of these very rare occasions.

It is interesting to note that in 1095 Pope Urban II preached the first Crusade at the Cathedral at Le Puy, as well as at the church of Vezelay. In 1096, within its walls, the Salve Regina resounded for the first time from the lips of Adhémar, the bishop of Le Puy, who was the Pontifical Legate of the first Crusade. The cathedral has also been a rallying point of many petitions of saints. St. Joan of Arc’s parents went there imploring Mary’s assistance for Joan’s mission. Mr. Olier, the founder of the Sulpicians, discovered his vocation here and inspired one of his followers, St. Louis de Montfort, in his total consecration to the Virgin. This year marks the 300th anniversary of St. Louis’s death (1673-1716).

It was here that the Pope requested urgently the recitation of the midday Angelus for the conversion of the Muslims, who at that time were at the gates of Vienna. Why the Angelus? Because it is the appropriate remedy to that pernicious doctrine of a God so unique in His being that He is only one as a Person, and not the Holy Trinity, Whose second Person, the Son, became incarnate in the Virgin’s womb. And God knows that, today, the Muslim peril has long passed the city gates and is threatening the citadel.

May Our Lady of the Annunciation obtain the conversion of the infidels to Her divine Son.

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Feast of St. Anselm

"No one will have any other desire in heaven than what God wills, and the desire of one will be the desire of all; and the desire of all and of each one will also be the desire of God" (St. Anselm, Letter 112).

Double (1955 Calendar): April 21

As the Roman Martyrology states of him: "At Canterbury, England, St. Anselm, bishop, confessor, and doctor of the Church, renowned for sanctity and learning." Dom Gueranger writes in the Liturgical Year: "A monk, a Bishop, a Doctor of the Church—such was the Saint whose feast comes to gladden us on this twenty-first day of April. He was a martyr, also, at least in desire, and we may add, in merit too—for he did enough to earn the glorious palm. When we think of Anselm, we picture to ourselves a man in whom are combined the humility and meekness of the cloister with the zeal and courage of the episcopal dignity; a man who was both a sage and a saint; a man whom it was impossible not to love and respect."

In a great example to modern men, St. Anselm shows us all the path to repentance.  Despite being indifferent toward religion at a young age, by age 15 St. Anselm wanted to enter a monastery.  He was refused though due to the strong resistance from his father.  And so ensued years of worldly living and disregard for the Faith.

Then twelve years later, he returned to his earlier desire to be a monk and entered the monastery of Bec in Normandy.  Three short years later he was elected prior and 15 years afterward he became the abbot by unanimous consent.

Despite an early life that was wasted, St. Anselm would go on to receive the title "Father of Scholasticism" and earn the reputation for sanctity and learning.  As a monk, St. Anselm was admired for his skill in teaching and the virtue of patience.  Through his leadership, the monastery of Bec became an influential center of learning and theology.

One of St. Anselm's greatest works was Cur Deus Homo (Why God Became Man).  Please consider reading more on St. Anselm's doctrine of the Atonement as well as a philosophical analysis of the soundness of his ontological argument to better understand his work and the lasting impact of his writings.

At the age of 60, St. Anselm was appointed as the Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 1093; however, King William Rufus refused to cooperate in Anselm's reform of the Church.  St. Anselm fled into voluntary exile and returned in 1100 upon the death of King Rufus.  Rufus' brother, Henry I, became king, and Anselm spent another three years in exile after their un-reconcilable differences regarding the investiture of England's bishops.  As the kings encroached more and more on the matters under the jurisdiction of the Church, St. Anselm suffered much in defense of Holy Mother Church.

St. Anselm also worked strongly against the slave trade and for the protection of the poorest of people. He obtained from Westminster a resolution prohibiting the sale of human beings.  St. Anselm died in the year 1109 AD.  He is a Doctor of the Church.

Collect:

O God, may blessed Anselm intercede for us in heaven as he once instructed Your faithful on earth and directed them in the way of eternal salvation. Through Our Lord . . .

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Why Should I Go To Mass Every Day?

From the Pieta Prayer Book:

For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death (Revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the Great).

St Padre Pio, the stigmatic priest, said, the world could exist more easily without the sun than without the Mass.

The Cure' d' Ars, St. Jean Vianney said, if we knew the value of the Mass we would die of joy.

A great doctor of the Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable than many after it.

"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."   (Pope Benedict XV).

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord, "How can I thank you?"  Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS."

The Blessed Virgin Mary once told Her faithful servant Alain:  "My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary He would die for them as many times as they've heard Masses."  (Page 107, last paragraph of "Explication Du Saint Sacrifice De La Messe" parle R.P. Martin de Cochem Friere - Mineur Capucin.)

"Jesus, Mary, I Love You, Save Souls"

For more information see: A Primer on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

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Faithful Catholics Express Grave Concerns over Amoris Laetita

Guest Post by David Martin

On EWTN’s April 14, World Over Live program hosted by Raymond Arroyo, canon law expert Fr. Gerald Murray and Robert Royal, Catholic author and president of the Faith and Reason Institute, expressed serious concerns over Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetita, and sympathized with concerns that many Catholics are having about the "problematic" parts of the document.

For example, in Paragraph 3, Francis says that "not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the Magisterium... Each country or region, moreover, can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs."

In other words, each country or region can decide for itself which doctrines, laws, and disciplines it will adopt according to the whims of the people. This disagrees with tradition. The Church is universal so that its laws and teachings apply equally in all places and in every age. It is man that must change to conform to God, but God never changes. His unchanging doctrine and rule of law constitute the highest good for all peoples, so that any altering of the rule shows insensitivity and negligence, and contributes to the detriment of the people.

If we have a church today that is divided, confused, and out of grace, it is precisely because of this relaxation of the rule. Catering to the people and allowing secular influence into the Church is the plan of the Freemasons to destroy the Catholic Church.

It all started at Vatican II with the introduction of cultural diversity, i.e. changes of discipline, introduction of vernacular, where "active participation of the faithful" now became the focus. For example, in Article 37 of the Concilium it states that "the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity" but rather "respects the genius and talents of the various races and peoples" and even studies with sympathy "these people's way of life," so that "she admits such things into the liturgy itself." The end result today is a Church divided, and a general falling away from God.

Note that the Church before the Council was united and whole. It was unthinkable that the Church would even consider giving Communion to those living in adultery, but now the Church sanctions this in defiance of it's own teachings. Amoris Laetitia permits some divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion with no stipulation to live as brother and sister. (Paragraph 300, note 336) Footnote 351 to Article 305 explicitly states that the "help" offered by the Church to those living in adultery can "in certain cases... include the help of the sacraments." That is, the Church helps adulterers by giving them Communion.

This not only breaks with the Church's centuries old discipline on the reception of Communion, but constitutes a change of doctrine, since altering the discipline now proclaims to the Church that adultery is no longer a mortal sin.

The pope in Amoris Laetita says that the Eucharist "is not a reward for the perfect," so who then are the beneficiaries of this reward? The Eucharist is a reward, not for the perfect, but for those striving to "be perfect, as also your heavenly father is perfect." (Mt. 5:48) It is divine medicine for the contrite, and must be merited. It is not a formality for the casual, the lukewarm, and the ungrateful.

But especially, the Holy Eucharist is not for adulterers or those who flirt with the same sex. Jesus said, "Give not that which is holy to dogs." (Mt. 7:6) Concerning those that are divorced and civilly remarried, St. Paul warns, "Know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ." (Ephesians 5:5)

According to the Apostle, the reception of the Holy Eucharist by such persons is a sacrilege, and works to their condemnation. (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) What manner of insanity is this that benched Catholics are now permitted to approach the Eucharist while their souls are degraded with sin of a mortal nature? Is Rome deliberately attempting to send these souls to Hell? Where is the mercy, Your Holiness? Your mission is to admonish and instruct souls about the proper reception of Communion, not to Protestantize them.

We pray that Pope Francis will repose confidence in the tradition of the Apostles that was passed on by his predecessors of the Petrine Office. And we pray he not listen to the rebellious spirits loosed "in the high places." (Ephesians 6:12) To long has Kasper the unfriendly ghost been haunting the Church with his weird ideas, too long have the spooks of modernism been springing their surprises on the faithful. We don't need these "gods of surprises," but we need the One True God Who never surprises His people with respect to how we are to approach Him in the Blessed Sacrament. If the Church today is in darkness, it is because the sins of the church are standing between God and his people, courtesy of our high clergy that make no effort to cure the flock of this moral leprosy.

We pray that Francis will show true mercy on souls by leveling with them and passing on to them the good things of tradition that have proved fruitful, remembering the exhortation of St. Paul: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thess. 5:21)

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Francis defends Judas, Whacks the High Priests

 

Guest Post by David Martin

Pope Francis is not happy with his good bishops. For the past several months he has showed irritation toward Vatican conservatives who oppose his synodal proposals that we show more openness to homosexuals and civilly remarried Catholics. It seems he has been on a rant by constantly lashing out against traditional cardinals whom he compares to the "doctors of the law" that "are closed to the prophecies and the lives of persons," though he does this indirectly through little digs that surface in his homilies.

His morning homily at the Vatican Casa Santa Marta on April 11 was no exception to this. Therein he defended Judas as the "poor man," while lamenting that "the doctors of the letter" had no compassion on him. "It hurts when I read that small passage from the Gospel of Matthew, when Judas, who has repented, goes to the priests and says: ‘I have sinned' and wants to give... and gives them the coins. ‘Who cares! - they say to him: it’s none of our business!’ They closed their hearts before this poor, repentant man."

First of all, it's important to note that there was no contrition in Judas' repentance. Were it otherwise, he would have gone directly to Jesus and apologized to him. He rather went and hung himself with a halter, which was an act of final impenitence—a mortal sin. Revelation has it that he is now one of the demons of Hell who tempt the faithful on earth, something God would never permit had he truly been innocent and contrite.

And whereas the chief priests were most wicked, they were not inhumane to Judas, because Judas was not seeking their forgiveness or understanding. Judas simply returned the money to them because he didn't want to bear the blame of the Crucifixion; he couldn't face up to what he did. It was an attempt to wash his hands. Like Pilate, he knew of Jesus' innocence, so he said, 'look to it yourself, I don't want your money.'

One cannot help to note, too, how Francis laments so deeply the hardness of heart wherewith the high priests behaved toward Judas, yet he says nothing of the cruelty and hardness that they demonstrated toward the Son of God whom they were about to kill. Where in the Church's history was it said or taught that the high priests were evil because they were mean to Judas?

The pope's homily on April 11 came on the heels of his widely criticized Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia issued on April 8, wherein he confirms the proposals of the October 2014-15 Synods on the Family that the Church be open to the lives of unrepentant gays and adulterers. Francis' thrust is that we accept them into the Church as they are, but this unfortunately blesses sin before the faithful—something that God will never ratify. "Woe to the world because of scandals?" (Mt 18:7)

As expected, Amoris Laetitia breaks with 2000 years of tradition by permitting some divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion with no stipulation to live as brother and sister. (Paragraph 300, note 336) Footnote 351 to Article 305 explicitly states that the "help" offered by the Church to those living in adultery can "in certain cases... include the help of the sacraments." That is, the Church helps adulterers by giving them Communion.

This not only breaks with the Church's centuries old discipline on the reception of Communion, but constitutes a change of doctrine, since altering the discipline now proclaims to the Church that adultery is no longer a mortal sin.

But it also defies the warning of St. Paul to those who approach the Blessed Sacrament while in serious sin. "Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord... For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself." (1 Corinthians 11: 27-29)

From the onset the pope's focus was never about admitting Communion to gays and adulterers, but about integration. The "liturgical, educational, pastoral, and institutional" roles advocated by the October 2015 Synod were outlined by the pope two years ago, as we read in the Dec. 8, 2014 issue of CNS: "Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church must consider various ways to integrate the divorced and civilly remarried in the life of the church—not merely allowing them to receive Communion, but letting them serve as Eucharistic ministers and godparents."

These attempts are futile. The path to integration has already been laid out through holy tradition. Those living in sin simply need to renounce their lifestyle and partner, and go to confession, so that their integration will be complete. Now they can be reinstated into the Church and even receive Communion, so that the Eucharist will now help them, and not condemn them as St. Paul warns.

But allowing irregular couples into the Church as they are only sustains their offense, so that they remain separated from God and unable to be saved should they die without repentance. It deceives them, and deceives the faithful, which is no charity.

True charity means converting the wayward, that they might leave their unhappy state and be joined with Christ in His Church, but Francis sees this as an imposition. Jesus cleansed the lepers that they might be liberated from their affliction, yet Francis leaves the morally afflicted in their leprosy to suffer, and then calls it love and mercy.

Love is in the faithful keeping of God's laws, as expressed by Christ: "If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) Yet, Francis expresses irritation over tradition-minded Catholics who faithfully keep the law, comparing them to the hypocritical Pharisees and high priests who followed the law to "the letter." Let us not forget that the Pharisees were not the teachers of the law, but were apostates that had completely left the Jewish law, evidenced by their sorcery, their child abuse, and their murder of the Messiah who gave them the law. The Pharisees never obeyed God's law, but only pretended to. It was their pretense and hypocrisy that irked Our Lord.

Alluding to our traditional bishops, the pope on April 11 spoke of these callous high priests, saying that all that mattered to them "were the laws, so many words and things they had built." What is implied is that the holy doctrines and traditions of the Catholic Faith are just "traditions of men" which today's Pharisaic conservatives have built up for themselves. Has Francis not considered that he is the Pharisee persecuting these holy men?

The pope said: "History tells us of many people who were judged and killed, although they were innocent: [were] judged according to the Word of God, against the Word of God. Let’s think of witch hunts or of St. Joan of Arc, and of many others who were burnt to death, condemned because according to the judges they were not in line with the Word of God." 

Francis seems to think that the Cardinal Burkes and good bishops are the "judges" who persecute the innocent—whom he holds to be the poor gays, Judases, and adulterers—because they don't adhere to their own "stiff-necked" version of the Word of God. He overlooks the fact that all the martyrs through the centuries, and without exception, were the staunch Catholics who adhered strictly to the laws, doctrines, and tradition of the Faith, so much so, that they chose to die rather than compromise one point of tradition. We speak of those tough and holy bishops, virgins, hermits, and fighters for Heaven who absolutely refused to change with the times. This is why they were saints.

Francis has forgotten that in every case, without exception, it was the left-wing dissident Catholics, heretics, Marxists, infidels, adulterers, homosexuals, i.e. the enemies of tradition, that inflicted this persecution upon the Catholics. This persecution has now reached unprecedented heights.

We today are witnessing the re-crucifixion of Christ; the Mystical Body is truly passing through its Passion. It is a reply of the Crucifixion as the scribes and high priests of the new order go about stirring up the people against Jesus and His traditions. Sorrowfully, we see Francis at the helm persecuting the innocent while praising the names of the martyrs, which calls to mind the Pharisees who pretended to honor the memory of the prophets, but who were "the sons of them that killed the prophets." (Mt. 23:31)

We've seen the replay of the Crucifixion; now we need a replay of Damascus. Jesus cries out today, saying, "Francis, Francis, why do you persecute me?" We pray he will open his heart and recognize who his true friends are—the Bishop Schneiders, Cardinal Burkes, and Cardinal Sarahs—that he may open his eyes and see their genuine love for God's people, evidenced by their tireless efforts to bring the pure waters of tradition to the thirsting flock.

May Francis do likewise. May he open his eyes and understand that if he loves souls, he will labor with all his will to bestow on the people the treasures of the Catholic Faith in all its facets—the knowledge of Heaven, the saints, the mystics, the miracles, the dogmas, the laws, the Tridentine Mass—that they be enriched and edified like no other people on earth.

And may he likewise deign to reach out and extend the beauties of the Faith to all peoples, that they may leave their particular ideas, miseries, idols, and religions, and be joined with Christ in the bosom of His Church. The jewels of sacred tradition were not to be hoarded, but shared. What greater mercy can the pope show for poor sinners than by enriching them with the glories of the One True Faith!

Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered, "You know that I love thee." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." We pray that Francis will embrace the Church's mission to convert the world, and not see this as "competition" or the pompous flaunt of Pharisaic peacocks that want to fan their ostentatious feathers. May he see it rather as the Church's mission of mercy, as given to us by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/04/11/pope_francis_warns_against_those_who_judge_with_closed_hea/1221870

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Friday Penance: Still Required in Eastertide

Abstinence Required In Pascaltide

Friday is the day in which we commemorate Our Lord's passion and death. As Catholics, we are still bound to abstain from meat each Friday of the entire year, not just in Lent. This is required during the season of Pascaltide. This is affirmed even in the modern 1983 Code of Canon Law - all Fridays of the entire year are days of penance (with few exceptions). There can be no doubt that Catholics must be informed that Friday abstinence is not to be confided to Lent only. Failing to observe Friday penance is a mortal sin, as affirmed by multiple pontiffs.

Abstinence on Easter Friday

How should we treat abstinence specifically on Friday in the Octave of Easter (i.e. Easter Friday)? The 1917 Code of Canon Law stipulated that the requirement to abstain from meat (i.e. Friday penance) was required each and every Friday of the year unless that particular Friday was a Holy Day of Obligation outside of Lent: 

"On [Sundays] or feasts of precept, the law of abstinence or of abstinence and fast or of fast only ceases, except during Lent, nor is the vigil anticipated; likewise it ceases on Holy [Saturday] afternoon" (1917 Code, Canon 1252 § 4). [Translation taken from THE 1917 OR PIO-BENEDICTINE CODE OF CANON LAW in English Translation by Dr. Edward Peters]

Easter Friday is not a feast of precept (i.e., a Holy Day of Obligation), and neither is any Friday in the Pascal Season between Easter Sunday and Trinity Sunday. The 1917 Code of Canon Law outlined the rules of fasting and abstinence in Canons 1250-1254. Before 1917, even Holy Days of Obligation outside of Lent required explicitly papal dispensation or else Friday abstinence would be observed even on days of precept.

The 1983 Code and the myriad of weakening dispensations offered in the 20th century has led to a continual decline in penance and devotion. Due to the errors and ambiguities in the 1983 Code, it must be rejected, and the older Code must be used. One of these issues is the unprecedented novelty of solemnities like Easter Friday breaking the immemorial tradition of Friday abstinence. The notion of day's liturgical rank abrograting abstinence has no basis in Church practice prior to 1983. 

It is essential for all Roman Catholics to continue abstaining from meat even on Easter Friday.

Conclusion

Friday abstinence is still the Catholic practice throughout Eastertide, and it is the Church's Law. Let us not be so keen to forget our Lord's sacrifice on the Cross. Pray and do penance on this and all Fridays. It is after all, on Friday that our Blessed Lord redeemed us. Let us never forget His Sacrifice on that first Good Friday.

Want to learn more about the history of fasting and abstinence? Check out the Definitive Guide to Catholic Fasting and Abstinence.

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Pilgrimage to Rome: Part I

I would like to thank everyone who sent in suggestions and helpful advice to me as I traveled to Rome for Holy week.  A few weeks ago I shared my itinerary, and with most plans, I didn't stick to it.  Fortunately, I ended up visiting far more places than even I had planned.  Sometimes breaking from the plan is for the better.

I was able to visit such a number of holy places (nearly 25 different basilicas) and I prayed for the intentions of all of my readers while there.  I also visited Florence and had a brief trip to Pompeii.

I am now safety back in the United States after being able to visit some of the most sacred relics: the Holy Stairs, all 4 of the Holy Doors, relics of the True Cross, the tombs of Ss Peter and Ss Paul, the chains of both of those saints, the crib in which our Lord was born, the Pillar of Flagellation, some pieces of the Crown of Thorns, the sign that hung above our Lord on the cross, the bodies/tombs of many saints including St. Philip Neri, St. Helena, Blessed Fra Angelico, St. Pius X, St. Catherine of Siena, the head of St. Agnes, the skull of St. Valentine, and so much else.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of my experiences and photos from this trip.  Please stay tuned!

Here are some of the photos as part of a very small preview of what is to come:

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Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer

Today is the feast of the great Dominican missionary St. Vincent Ferrer. Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419) was a great Spanish Dominican missionary and master of souls. It is estimated that through the labors of St. Vincent, over 25,000 Jews were brought into the Church.  He also brought in numerous converts among the Islamic Moors.

In addition to carrying on an inspired apostolate in Spain, he preached to thousands of persons in France, Switzerland, and Italy. By his preaching and miracles, he converted thousands of sinners and heretics. He pleaded so eloquently for penance that he was known as the "Angel of the Judgment." He raised over 30 people from the dead.

The Roman Martyrology says of him: "At Vannes in Brittany, St. Vincent Ferrer, of the Order of Preachers, and confessor. He was mighty in word and deed, and converted many thousands of infidels to Christ."

Dom Gueranger writes, "To-day, again, it is Catholic Spain that offers one of her sons to the Church, that she may present him to the Christian world as a model and a patron. Vincent Ferrer, or, as he was called, the angel of the judgment, comes to us proclaiming the near approach of the Judge of the living and the dead. During his lifetime, he traversed almost every country of Europe, preaching this terrible truth; and the people of those times went from his sermons striking their breasts, crying out to God to have mercy upon them—in a word, converted."

The traditional Matins lessons:

Vincent was born at Valencia, in Spain, of respectable parents. He showed the gravity of old age, even when quite a child. Considering within himself, as far as his youthful mind knew it, the dangers of this dark world, he received the Habit in the Order of Preachers when he was eighteen years of age. After his solemn profession, he diligently applied himself to sacred studies, and gained, with much applause, the degree of doctor of divinity. Shortly after this, he obtained leave from his superiors to preach the word of God. He exposed the perfidy of the Jews, and refuted the false doctrines of the Saracens, but with so much earnestness and success, that he brought a great number of infidels to the faith of Christ, and converted many thousand Christians from sin to repentance, and from vice to virtue. God had chosen him to teach the way of salvation to all nations, and tribes, and tongues; as also to warn men of the coming of the last and dread day of judgment. He so preached, that he struck terror into the minds of all his hearers, and turned them from earthly affections to the love of God. 

His mode of life, while exercising this office of apostolic preaching, was as follows: he every day sang Mass early in the morning, delivered a sermon to the people, and, unless absolutely obliged to do otherwise, observed a strict fast. He gave holy and prudent advice to all who consuited him. He never ate flesh meat, or wore linen garments. He reconciled contending parties, and restored peace among nations that were at variance. He zealously laboured to restore and maintain the union of the seamless garment of the Church, which, at that time, was rent by a direful schism. He shone in every virtue. He was simple and humble, and treated his revilers and persecutors with meekness and affection. 

Many were the signs and miracles which God wrought through him, in confirmation of the holiness of his life and preaching. He very frequently restored the sick to health, by placing his hands upon them. He drove out the unclean spirits from the bodies of such as were possessed. He gave hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, sight to the blind. He cured lepers, and raised the dead to life. At length, worn out by old age and bodily infirmities, after travelling through many countries of Europe, and reaping an abundant harvest of souls, this untiring herald of the Gospel terminated his preaching and life at Vannes, in Brittany, in the year of our Lord 1419. He was canonized by Pope Calixtus III.

This noble Dominican is an example for us all.  Please read the story of his noteworthy life at Nobility.org by clicking here. And for more information, the book "The Angel of Judgment" is a must-read.

Collect:

O God, who didst vouchsafe to glorify Thy Church by the merits and preaching of blessed Vincent, Thy Confessor: grant to us Thy servants that we may be taught by his example, and delivered by his patronage from all adversities. Through our Lord . . .

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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March 25th: The Most Important Day in Human History (3 Times Over)

Note: This article is taken from Society of St. Vincent Ferrer.

(1) Creation - According to very ancient sources, March 25th is the day of creation. Contrary to the false science and errors of evolution, Scripture and Tradition teach that God created instantaneously (simply by speaking) and out of nothing. There are also traditions that relate March 25th was the day on which Adam and Eve were created and therefore also the day on which Adam and Eve committed the Original Sin.

(2) Incarnation - It was on this same calendar day that Jesus Christ assumed our human nature. March 25th is the day of the Mysteries of the Annunciation and Incarnation. On this day, God sent the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary and she gave her fiat. As we well know, Christ was then born nine months later, on Dec 25th.

(3) Crucifixion - We read in the Roman Martyrology that March 25th is also the day on which St. Dismas, the good thief, died. This corroborates the ancient and venerable tradition that Our Lord was crucified on March 25th. In other words, the calendar date of the original Good Friday was March 25th. St. Irenaeus explains that it is eminently fitting that on the same day which the fallen angel seduced the virgin Eve, so on that day the archangel Gabriel spoke the words of salvation for all mankind to the Virgin Mary. He adds that on the same day that mankind was lost on account of the fruit of the forbidden tree, so on that day Christ hangs on the tree of the Cross and wins salvation for mankind. 

St. Irenaeus is the most prolific writer among the early Church Fathers. He was the spiritual son of St, Polycarp, who in turn was ordained and taught by St. John the Apostle. He emigrated from the East to Lyon (Gaul or France), advised several popes, was consecrated a bishop, fought against numerous heresies, and was ultimately martyred for the Faith. The popes of his day considered him a most reliable source for Apostolic Tradition and on that basis accepted his counsel on several important matters. Thus, in the writings of St. Irenaeus, we have a very important and trustworthy witness; and we are in direct contact with the traditions taught by the Apostles themselves. (In fact, St. Irenaeus writes that it is an apostolic tradition that Our Lord was conceived on March 25th) Those interested can read a bit more about this from Dom Guéranger's The Liturgical Year for March 25, linked here.

We have writings from a number of other Fathers and Doctors of the Church who convey this tradition, including St. Augustine, St. Clement of Alexandria, St. Cyprian, and St. Maximus the Confessor, 

Once again, in this 2016th year of Our Lord, Good Friday will fall on March 25th. This is rather singular since it will only happen twice in this entire century. The other occurrence was in 2005, just a few weeks before Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI. This means in all likelihood, most of us will never again by alive on a Good Friday that falls on March 25. (It will take 141 years for it to happen again. Incidentally, this 141 year gap will be the longest such gap in several centuries. For example, Good Friday fell on March 25th three times during the 20th century, but all prior to 1933.)

(4) Other Events. Traditions that come to us from antiquity also claim that many other key events in salvation history occurred on March 25th. For example: Cain slaying Abel, Melchisedech offering bread and wine in the presence of Abraham, Abraham's offering of Isaac, and the Crossing of the Red Sea. If this subject interests you, The Lepanto Institute has an article that goes into more detail and it can be read HERE.

Let us consider the providence of God behind these remarkable events and respond by cooperating as much as we possibly can with His grace.

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