Vigil of Ss Simon and Jude

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Vigil (1954 Calendar): October 27

While October 28th is the Feast of Ss Simon and Jude, Apostles, October 27th is the Vigil of these two saints. It is an ideal day to fast and abstain as it used to be a required fasting and abstinence day in some of the original colonies.

The following information on the liturgical celebration taken from St. Lawrence Press was written on a year when their vigil fell on a Monday. Keep in mind that the ferial Office can be any weekday - it is not necessarily Monday as stated below.

The Vigil of SS Simon and Jude is of simple rite and its liturgical colour is violet.  This day was kept prior to the 1962 Missal so those Catholics still worshipping according to the 1954 Calendar, will observe today as the Vigil of Ss. Simon and Jude.

The Office is largely taken from the ferial Office of Monday but the lessons at Mattins and the collect are proper to the Vigil. At Mattins the ferial invitatory, Venite, Exsultemus Domino, is sung and the Office hymn is Somno refectis artubus. The nine antiphons and psalm divisions for Monday are sung followed by the versicle Psallite Domino etc and its response Et confitemini etc. As the lessons for the Vigil contain a Gospel after the Absolution, Exaudi, Domine etc., the first blessing is Evangelica lectio etc. The Gospel fragment is from St. John and the homily is taken from the writings of St. Gregory. The Te Deum is not sung. The second scheme of Lauds for Monday is sung beginning with the antiphon fragment Ecce veniet. After the antiphon on the Benedictus has been repeated the ferial preces are sung, with the choir kneeling. After the collect of the Vigil the Suffrage of the Saints is sung.

At Prime a fourth psalm is added, that displaced by the Miserere at Lauds, Psalm 46, Omnes Gentes. The chapter is that sung on ferial days, Pacem et veritatem etc. The Dominical and ferial preces are sung, both sets are sung with the choir kneeling. At the other Horae Minores the short set of ferial preces are sung, again the choir kneeling.

Mass is sung after None. Following the normal rules for Vigils four candles are placed on the altar, unlike two on ordinary ferial days. The deacon and sub-deacon wear violet dalmatic and tunicle, not folded chasubles. The chant for the Mass is ferial, the second collect is Concede nos, and the third for the Church. Being a 'kneeling day' all in choir kneel for the orations and from the Sanctus to the response after Pax Domini. As there is no Gloria , following the usual rule, Benedicamus Domino is sung as the dismissal.

Source: St. Lawrence Press

Collect:  

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that even as we anticipate the glorious festival of Thy apostles Simon and Jude, so they, in imploring from Thy majesty thy blessings for us, may anticipate our prayers.

Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us!

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A Combat Rosary for Spiritual Warfare

A few years ago I met a man after Mass in San Antonio, TX who gave me a combat Rosary.  This Rosary is often given to soldiers.  It is truly a "manly" Rosary that does not break, does not get tied up, and has beads that fit well between a man's fingers (which are bigger than a womans).  In fact, I still use this combat rosary in the car as I drive.  Whereas my previous Rosaries were prone to knot up, the Combat Rosary has for two years never failed me.

Here is a short excerpt from the card that came with it:

The Ranger Rosary Story by Wayne Laugesen (National Catholic Reporter) excerpts:

Unfortunately, many of the standard rosaries distributed by chaplains don’t hold up so well in combat situations, because of weak strings or chains. They come in pastel pinks and blues, which clash against the tough exteriors of Navy SEALS, Army Rangers and trench-hardened Marines.

So Ristaino invented what a growing number of soldiers consider the mother of all rosaries—the Ranger Rosary, an ultra-tough model that comes in a variety of military colors. The beads are strung on what the military classifies as 550 cord: a tough, lightweight rope that connects soldiers to their parachutes.

The handmade rosaries are popular among soldiers, and military chaplains are requesting them faster than volunteers participating in the Ranger Rosary project can turn them out.

“While we have considerable numbers of other rosaries that have been very generously donated to us, I would like to assure a supply of the Ranger Rosaries here at Kirkuk, if possible, due to their advantages for the combat conditions in which our troops, especially our soldiers, find themselves,” wrote Father Pat Travers, a chaplain at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in northeastern Iraq, in a formal request for more Ranger Rosaries.

Ristaino, a father of 11, was inspired to invent the Ranger Rosary while attending the Marine Corps officer candidate school in 1985. He and other candidates were learning to “keep pace” as part of a land navigation course.

...

He sat on the idea until the late 1990s, when several of his children began learning to make mission rosaries under the instruction of volunteers from the Legion of Mary.

Ristaino got most of his children involved in making Ranger Rosaries, and many of their fellow students at St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis joined in. Catholic elementary-school students began making them, as did young adults who attended Theology on Tap. The Rosary Guild at St. Mary’s Parish in Annapolis began coordinating the rosary-making efforts of various groups, and soon several hundred rosaries were made and shipped to military chaplains for distribution in Bosnia.

Today, parish organizations, schoolchildren, rosary guilds and a variety of other Catholic organizations and individual volunteers throughout the United States are making hundreds of rosaries for distribution in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

To learn more and request a Combat Rosary for yourself or someone, please write to combatrosary@yahoo.com

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The Last Words of 25 Saints

The last words of St. Anthony of Padua were, "I see my Lord."

UCatholic has published a list of the last words of 25 saints.  May this page be a meditation for us as we prepare to soon celebrate the Feast of Christ the King and All Saints/All Souls Day.  

Meditation: 

• Are we in the state of grace and thus prepared for our death?  
• Will we hear our Lord's words of encouragement, "Well done My good and faithful servant" or will we hear, "Depart from me.  I do not know you."
• Do we sufficiently imitate the lives of the saints so that we may die like them in holiness?

All you saints and angels who see God, pray for us!  Pray for our salvation.  Pray for our deeper conversions!  Pray for us to make reparation for sins and console our God who is much offended.  Kyrie eleison!

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Prepare for Halloween the Catholic Way

 

Image Source: CBCP News

Halloween, to a Catholic known as the Vigil of All Saints, is a day to be rescued from the pagan-inspired customs of our world today and restored to what it is. 

Part of our responsibility as Catholics is to spread the Faith to a world that has turned away from its Christian roots and embraced the idolatry of paganism, modernism, liberalism, communism, socialism, hedonism, and materialism.

What can we do?  One thing we can do is distribute Sacramentals on Halloween in addition to candy!

Think about passing out various items including:

▪ Aluminum Ball Chains
▪ St. Benedict Medals
▪ Guardian Angel Medals
▪ St. Michael Medals
▪ Gospel Holy Cards
▪ St. Michael Holy Cards
▪ St. Benedict Holy Cards

St. Paul Street Evangelization is offering many of these items at low prices for the purpose of distributing them far and wide.  And many of these items are available for sale in bulk from Amazon.com for low prices.

Take this opportunity to evangelize and be a witness for the Gospel.

I also recommend the article, Hallowe'en & All Souls Day customs taken from The Catholic World, November 1930, found by clicking here.

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Immaculate Heart of Mary: Refuge of Sinner

Listed in the Missal as a "Mass in Some Places" for October 20th is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Refuge of Sinners.

What does this feastday mean? The description for this feastday in the Angelus Press Missal summarizes:

The Heart of Mary is the divinely-appointed Refuge of sinners. "O God," exclaims St. Alphonsus, "how great shall be the remorse of the damned Christian in thinking that, during life, he could have saved his soul with so much facility be invoking  the intercession of this Mother of mercy; that he had not done so; and that there shall be no more time to do it."  "Perhaps," says St. Bonaventure, "we are in doubt whether Mary will hear us when we address our prayers to her.  No, Mary does not refuse, and never has refused, pity and aid to any sinner who has invoked her intercession."

That section is especially rich in meaning; I have read it a few times and encourage you to do the same.  May we never seek to ask often the Mother of God to pray for us and for our salvation.  It's easy for us to pray for what we want and need in that moment.  But we must remember to 1. pray daily (and often in the day) and 2. to pray for our salvation.

The Propers for Today's Mass:

Introit: Ps lxxxv: 1

Thou, O Lord, art compassionate and merciful, patient and of much mercy, and true. O look upon us and have mercy on us; save the children of Thine handmaid, the Mother of Thy Son, the Queen of all the world. (Ps.) Incline Thine ear, O Lord, and hear me; for I am needy and poor. Glory be.... Thou, O Lord....

Collect:

O God most kind, Who as a salvation for sinners and a refuge for the miserable, didst will the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the Mother of Thine only Son and the distributor of His graces; grant, we pray, that while celebrating the memory of this most loving Mother’s Heart, we may obtain for sinners the grace of conversion, and for all the faithful an abundance of heavenly gifts. Through the same our Lord....

Epistle: Ecclesiasticus xxxvi: 1, 13-19

Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and show us the light of Thy mercies. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that there is no God besides Thee, and may declare Thy great works: and Thou shalt inherit them as from the beginning. Have mercy on Thy people, upon whom Thy name is invoked: and upon Israel, whom Thou hast raised up to be Thy firstborn. Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which Thou hast sanctified, the city of Thy rest. Fill Sion with Thine unspeakable words, and Thy people with Thy glory. Give testimony to them that are Thy creatures from the beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke in Thy name. Reward them that patiently wait for Thee, that Thy prophets may be found faithful: and hear the prayers of Thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over Thy people, and direct us into the way of justice,

Gradual:

O Virgin Mother, do not forget when in the presence of the Lord to speak to Him in our favor, so that he may turn from us His anger. Remember the days of thy lowliness, invoke the Lord, speak to the King in our favor, and deliver us from death.

Allelúja: Esther vii: 3, 4

Allelúja. Allelúja. If I have found favor in Thy sight, give me my people for which I request, for they are given up to be destroyed and to perish.

During Septuagesima and Lent: Tract: Proverbs viii: 32-35

Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. v. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. v. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:

During Paschaltide: Allelúja: Esther vii: 3, 4

Allelúja. Allelúja. If I have found favor in Thy sight, give me my people for which I request, for they are given up to be destroyed and to perish. Allelúja. (ibid. 2) What is thy petition that it may be granted thee? and what wilt thou have done: although thou ask the half of my kingdom, thou shalt have it. Allelúja.

Gospel: John ii: 1-11.
The Continuation of the Holy Gospel
according to John:

And the third day, 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 waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith 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:

Out of love for Thy Mother, turn not away from us, O Lord, Thy mercy: but be pleased with the sacrifice we offer Thee today, for those who put their trust in Thee are never deceived.

Secret:

O Lord, our Redeemer, Whose death we commemorate in this sacrifice, by its merits and the prayers of Thy most loving Mother Mary, look kindly upon those who have offended Thee, that they may be converted from their wrong paths, serve Thee in penance, and thus be delivered from eternal damnation: Who livest and reignest...
 

Preface of the Blessed Virgin “in veneration.”

Communion:

Queen of the world, most loving Mary ever Virgin, obtain for us by thy prayers peace and salvation, thou who didst bring forth Christ the Lord, the Savior of all.

Postcommunion

O God, Who hast left us in this holy Table a help so precious for our mortal life: forget not Thy mercies, we pray; receive kindly the prayers which the blessed Virgin Mary with all her heart continually pours forth for sinners, and deign to bring them back to the path of righteousness and peace: Who livest and reignest....

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Clinton Campaign Plotting Against the Catholic Church

Guest Article By David Martin

The Clinton campaign is openly discussing how the Catholic Church needs to be further infiltrated with progressive ideology to "foment revolution" that will advance their radical agenda. A newly leaked email shows Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, discussing this infiltration with left-wing activist Sandy Newman. http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/wikileaks-podesta-left-wing-activist-plot-catholic-spring/

"There needs to be a Catholic Spring, in which Catholics themselves demand the end of a Middle-Ages dictatorship and the beginning of a little democracy and respect for gender equality in the Catholic Church," Sandy Newman, president and founder of Voices for Progress, writes to Podesta in an email titled "Opening for a Catholic Spring?"

In response, Podesta assured Newman that he and his progressive cronies have already created organizations explicitly designed to infiltrate the Catholic Church with progressivist ideology. "We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this," he said. Note that Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good is funded by left-wing socialist George Soros who is known for funding civil violence aimed at bringing down America.

This report about Hillary's campaign plans to incite revolution among Catholics reveals all the more the contempt that globalists have for the Catholic Church. It is a centuries-old battle between Lucifer and God which is coming to a head, and providence has it that America is to be the stage-set for the final dramatic act. It is hoped that the Church in America can rise up at this time to assist its prospective leader in making America great again.

The powers that be that are warring against Trump and America are the members of the Illuminati, a satanic secret society founded by Talmudists Adam Weishaupt and Mayer Rothschild in 1776. Unbeknownst to the general public, the members of this cabal labor secretly for Lucifer under the pain of death, and as such, are known among themselves as Luciferians. Their objective from the beginning is to abolish Christianity and to enslave man under the tyranny of a communistic one-world government run by a small financial elite.

Hillary, Obama, and Soros are pawns of this cult. It is no secret that Hillary from her early years was enamored with the late Saul Alinsky, whose famous book Rules for Radicals—a favorite of Hillary's—was dedicated to the devil.

Hillary is also a member of the inner sanctum of the infamous Rothschild cabal wherein she and Lynn Forester de Rothschild have a long history of "adoring" Satan together. Wikileaks Reveal Clinton Ties To Rothschilds And Occult Cabal

Their assignment for the elite masters is to crumble America through moral and economic collapse, since they know the U.S. is the only nation left on earth that can act as a mighty dam to hold back the rising tide of globalism. They know that when America the Beautiful finally caves in with moral decay—most especially through the rampant abortions and LGBT agenda that Hillary is pushing—America the Beautiful will fall. The plan is to ignite the fuse of revolution and bring about a state of emergency that will provide U.N. "Peace Keeping Forces" with an excuse to step in with martial law—a plan that Putin has been watching closely.

Already news has leaked that the Kremlin has issued an order requiring all Russian students studying abroad to return to Russia immediately, even if it means cutting their education short. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-10-11/russian-government-officials-told-immediately-bring-back-children-studying-abroad  Commentators have questioned what this could mean, but when we consider Hillary's long-time alliance with Putin and how she and President Clinton used their positions to supply Russia with $billions and top secret military information, the picture begins to clear up. Russia may want to spare their young-blood from what is about to break out in the west.

It is no secret that Hillary is a Putin lackey who has been executing his design to bring revolution to America. If Putin plays the "Christian" and publicly "laments" America's fall to corruption and revolutionary attitudes, it's because he is concealing his own fingerprints.

Needless to say, America is about to enter upon a pivotal moment of its history when religious leaders need to act decisively to get the right man into office. Guiding America onto a better path is not a political issue, but a moral one. If the bishops of America are not bold enough to admonish Catholics to vote for Donald Trump, they can at least sound the horn about Hillary's pro-death agenda and her work to corrupt Catholic teaching and morals.

If Pius XII ordered German Catholics not to vote for Nazi officials, why can't Francis and his bishops order Americans not to vote for the Feminazi among us? If the American bishops are against Hillary and the American Holocaust she advocates, let them prove it. We have an outstanding pro-life candidate who is ready to go to bat for America, so let the Church in America endorse him, lest his enemy take office and put the Church and the people in chains.

http://www.mrctv.org/blog/released-emails-show-clinton-allies-plotting-catholic-spring

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Martin Luther Admitted to Conversations with the Devil

Martin Luther was a pertinacious heretic and is responsible for a great deal of damage and destruction to the Church, the glory of God, and countless souls. A recent article in the Latin Mass magazine which details how Martin Luther actually admitted to having many discussions with the devil himself!!! In fact, many of the arguments he got against the Holy Mass came from the devil himself, and this is found in his own writings. There is clearly a great deal of ignorance on this subject.

Read and pass on this important article:


H/T St. Vincent Ferrer Foundation

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Our Lady of the Pillar: October 12th

The Feast of Our Lady of the Pillar appears in the Missal as a Mass in some places and congregations for October 12th. The celebration of the Office and Mass for the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, observed on October 12, was granted to all of Spain by Pope Clement XII in 1730. As the date coincides with the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, the Blessed Virgin Mary was later named the Patroness of the Hispanic World.

As summarized in the Angelus Press 1962 Daily Missal: "The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Saragossa is one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in Spain.  Whilst praying there at the feet of the miraculous statue, the good Father Chaminade was apprised by divine revelation that he was destined to found the Society of Mary."

The following is taken from SalveMariaRegina.info:

Among the Twelve Apostles, three were chosen as the familiar companions of Our Blessed Lord, and of these St. James the Greater was one. He alone, together with St. Peter and his brother St. John, was admitted to the house of Jairus when the dead girl was raised to life. They alone were taken up to the high mountain apart, and saw the face of Jesus shining as the sun, and His garments white as snow; and these three alone witnessed His fearful agony in Gethsemane. What was it that won St. James a place among these three? Faith—burning, impetuous and outspoken, but which needed purifying before the "Son of Thunder" could proclaim the Gospel of Peace. It was St. James who demanded fire from Heaven to consume the inhospitable Samaritans, and who sought the place of honor next to Christ in His Kingdom. Yet Our Lord, in rebuking his presumption, prophesied his faithfulness to death. Indeed when St. James was brought before King Herod Agrippa, his fearless confession of Jesus Crucified so moved the public prosecutor that he declared himself a Christian on the spot. Accused and accuser were hurried off together to execution, and on the road the latter begged pardon of the Saint. The Apostle had long since forgiven him, but hesitated for a moment whether to publicly accept as a brother one still unbaptized. God quickly recalled to him the Church's Faith, that the blood of martyrdom supplies for every Sacrament, and embraced his companion with the words, "Peace be with thee." Together then they knelt for the sword, and together received the crown.

But before all this, in the years after the Ascension of Our Lord, all the solicitude of our great Mother and Lady was centered upon the increase and spread of the Holy Catholic Church, the consolation of the Apostles, disciples and the other faithful, and in defending them from the persecution and assaults prepared by the infernal dragon and his hosts. Before Our Blessed Lady departed from Jerusalem to take up her abode in Ephesus, She ordered and arranged many things, both by herself and her holy Angels, to provide for the needs of the Church in Her absence. The most effectual service She could render was Her continual prayer. She offered special prayers for St. James the Greater, as She knew this Apostle would be the first to shed his blood for Christ.

On the fourth day before leaving for Ephesus, Our Blessed Lady asked Our Lord: "Lord, what dost Thou command me to do? What dost Thou desire of me?" Repeating these words, She saw her Divine Son descending in Person, with all His court to visit Her. The humble and devout Virgin worshiped Him in deepest reverence from the inmost of Her purest soul. Our Lord replied to Her petition: "My most beloved Mother... I am attentive to Thy petitions and holy desires and they are pleasing to Me. I shall defend My Apostles and My Church, and I shall be their Father and Protector, so that It shall not be overcome, nor the gates of Hell prevail against It (Matt. 18:18). It is necessary for My glory that the Apostles labor and follow Me to the Cross and to the death I have suffered for the whole human race. The first one to imitate Me is My faithful servant, James, and I desire that he suffer martyrdom in this city of Jerusalem. I desire that thou go to Zaragoza, where he is now, and command him to return to Jerusalem. But before he leaves that city, he is to build a church in Thy name." After expressing her sincerest gratitude to her Divine Son, She asked that She be permitted to promise the special protection of Her Divine Son and that this sacred place shall be part of Her inheritance for the use of all who call with devotion upon Her Son's Holy Name, asking Her to intercede for them. Our Divine Lord promised His holy Mother that all She asked would be fulfilled according to Her will and power at this sacred Shrine.

Apparition of Our Lady of El Pilar 

At the command of Our Lord, a great number of Angels placed Her on a throne formed by a resplendent cloud, and proclaimed Her Queen and Mistress of all creation. The purest Mother, borne by Seraphim and Angels, departed body and soul for Zaragoza in Spain. St. James was lost in exalted prayer when the Angels placed the throne of their Queen and Lady within sight of the Apostle and his disciples. The Angels bore with them a small column hewn of marble or jasper, and a small image of their Queen. Seated on Her throne on the cloud, She manifested herself to St. James. The Apostle prostrated himself and in deepest reverence venerated the Mother of his Creator and Redeemer. At the same time he was shown the image and the pillar in the hands of some of the Angels. The loving Queen gave him Her blessing and said, "My son James, this place, the Most High and Omnipotent God of Heaven has destined to be consecrated by thee upon earth for the erection of a church and house of prayer, where, under My patronage and name, He wishes to be glorified and magnified, where the treasures of His right hand shall be opened up for all the faithful through My intercession, if they ask for them in true faith and sincere piety. This column, with My image placed upon it, shall be a pledge of this truth and of My promise. In the church which thou shall build for Me, it shall remain and be preserved until the end of the world. Thou shalt immediately begin to build this church, and after thou hast completed it, thou shalt depart for Jerusalem."

At the Queen's command, the holy Angels set up the column, and upon it the sacred image, in the same place where they now stand. St. James, together with the holy Angels celebrated the first dedication of a Church instituted in this world under the name and title of the great Mistress of Heaven and earth. Our Apostle gave most humble thanks to his Blessed Mother Mary and asked for special protection of this Spanish kingdom, and particularly of this place consecrated to Her devotion and name. Our heavenly Mother granted him all his requests, gave him Her blessing, and was carried back to Jerusalem.

A multitude of miracles have been wrought at the Shrine of Our Lady of El Pilar, but the following stands pre-eminent both for splendor and authenticity. Let those who impugn the devotion to Our Blessed Lady know that it stands on record that by means of it a man recovered, at this Church in Zaragoza, one of his legs which had been amputated. His name was Miguel Juan Pellicer, aged at that time 19 years, and born at Calanda, a town of Aragon and the home of his parents. One day the young man, being in the service of his uncle, Diego (James) Blasco, at Castellon de la Plena, in Valencia, fell out of a wagon and broke his leg. He was taken to the hospital at Valencia, and after many remedies had been tried in vain, he was taken to the great hospital at Zaragoza, where he was placed under the care of Juan d'Estanga, a celebrated surgeon.

The young man had a great devotion to Our Lady of El Pilar, and when he was taken to Zaragoza, he first received the Sacraments at Her Church. When the surgeon was obliged to amputate his leg—a finger's breadth below the knee—Miguel invoked the Blessed Virgin with great fervor. When the wound had begun to heal, he dragged himself to Her image to offer up thanks and place his whole life in Her hands; and when, afterwards, he suffered intense pain in the sore limb, he used to go to the Church of El Pilar and anoint the stump with the oil from one of the lamps which burned before Her. He did this consistently, and for two years was known by everybody to frequent the Church of Our Blessed Lady, sometimes imploring Her aid, sometimes begging the charity of the passers-by.

Miracle of Calanda 

In 1640 he returned to Calanda, and used to beg for his support. On March 29, 1641, after having exhausted himself cutting grass, he hung up his wooden leg, and went to bed. Later that night his mother entered his room, and was amazed to see two feet in her son's bed. At first she thought one of the soldiers quartered in the town had got into the house, and ran to tell her husband. But when Miguel's father arrived, he saw it was his son, and awoke him. The son cried out on awakening, "I dreamt that I was in the chapel of Our Lady of El Pilar, where I was anointing my stump with the oil of the lamp!" The father instantly answered, "Give thanks to God, my son. His Holy Mother has restored you your leg." Miguel did not know it till then.

News of the event immediately spread all over the town, and the same night all the inhabitants came to witness the miracle. The next day a large crowd accompanied him to the church to render thanks, and all beheld him with two legs, who, the day before, was known to have but one. The young man was conducted to Zaragoza, and judicially examined. An advocate was named, witnesses were examined, the question was debated, and at length, on April 27, 1641, the most illustrious Lord Pedro Apaolara, Archbishop of Zaragoza, pronounced that the fact was true, and that it surpassed all natural powers. The verdict was also signed by the Prior of St. Cristina, the Vicar-General, the Archdeacon, the senior professor of canon law, and several other professors and provincials of Religious Orders.

To these testimonies may be added that of Jerónimo Brizius (quoted by the Bollandists in Acta Sanctorum, vi, p. 118), who made the following declaration: "By order of Sr. Gabriel de Aldamas, Vicar-General of Madrid, I have read the publication regarding the astounding miracle wrought by Our Lady of El Pilar. I know that it is true. In the first place, I knew the young man at Zaragoza, where, deprived of one leg, he used to ask alms at the door of the Church of the Virgin; and I afterwards saw him at Madrid, whence His Majesty had sent for him, walking on his two feet. I saw the mark which the Blessed Virgin left to attest to the incision; and the other Fathers of this royal College of the Society of Jesus saw it, like myself. I knew the parents of the young man, who were assisted by the Canons of Our Lady of El Pilar. I also knew the surgeon who made the amputation. Dated, Madrid, at the College of the Society of Jesus, March 12, 1642."

Collect:

Almighty and eternal God, who in the most glorious Mother of Thy Son hast wondrously given us a heavenly protectress, mercifully grant us perpetual protection through her aid whom we devoutly honor under the special title of Our Lady of the Pillar. Through the same . . .

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10 Practical Tips When Interacting with Muslims

The following advice is presented from Fr. Patrick Laroche's October 8th talk at the 2016 Angelus Press Conference. Fr. Lacroche is part of the ongoing mission to Lebanon, where he labors first hand for conversions to the Holy Catholic Faith:

Today, the Muslims are in our own lands in the West. Secular society is incapable of integrating them, and quite a few young Muslims eventually turn radical. But there are many Muslims who ask about the Catholic Faith, especially when they meet fervent Christians. In his book, Islam and Terrorism, Mark Gabriel, professor Al-Azhar University of Cairo, who converted to Christianity, gives 10 practical pieces of advice for converting Muslims.

1.     Use the Word of God, because Muslims respect holy books. The Gospels in particular are the best starting point.
2.     Pray without ceasing; what touches hearts is God’s grace.
3.     Be to the Muslims a true friend: dedicate time for them and help them with their problems.
4.     Raise questions which may help them question their way of life, e.g., are you sure that God pardons your sins? May I show you what the Bible says about it?
5.     Listen with attention. This is simply courtesy.
6.     Speak openly of your faith, without excuses, and bring up in particular the theme of sin and its consequences.
7.     Prepare your arguments, but do not go for discussions which humble or harass your Muslim listeners.
8.     Never manifest any scorn towards Mohammed or the Quran.
9.     Respect the customs and sensibilities of the Muslims. For instance, if you invite one of them to your home, do not offer them pork or alcohol.
10.     Persevere. The Muslims raise many questions when confronted by the Gospel. It is through humility and friendly words that we can open their hearts.

This being said, we should always thank God for the grace of faith: it is great gift of God that is not given to everybody. Secondly, let us thank God that we know His love. Moreover, conversions, and especially those of Muslims, are not at all impossible, but are obtained through prayers and sacrifices. It is the law of the communion of Saints. As Our Lord said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him” (John 6:44).

Only God can move the human heart and lead others to conversion. But usually God the Father is waiting for our prayers in order to give this grace that people understand who the true God is and begin to regret their sins. This is the grace of conversion. God is watching after the SSPX's apostolate in order to give the grace of illumination: This means God will not usually reveal directly the Faith, but work indirectly through us as His instruments.

Let us also better understand the words of Our Lady of Fatima: “Pray, pray much. Do sacrifices for the sinners: indeed many souls are going to hell, because there is nobody who sacrifices oneself for them.” St. John saw Our Lady with the crescent under her feet. I think this means the Islamic world, and the Virgin Mary will conquer it if we are her instruments.

Image & Text Source: SSPX

Also Recommended: Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholics: 100 Questions and Answers 

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The Feast of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Double of the II Class (1954 Calendar): October 11

Many Catholics may forget that January 1st to Traditional Catholics is known as the Feast of the Circumcision.  While the feast does recall the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is the Feast of the Motherhood of Mary on October 11th that is actually specifically for the honor of our Lady, the Mother of God.

The dogma of the Divine Motherhood was defined by the Council of Ephesus in 431. In his encyclical proclaiming the present feast, which commemorated the 15th centenary of the council, Pope Pius XI especially requested that we pray to Mary for the return of the separated Churches of the East. For these Churches had united with the Pope and the whole Church at Ephesus in proclaiming her to be Mother of God, and to this day they retain a deep devotion to her. Mary is their Mother, also, for in becoming Mother of our Redeemer she became the spiritual mother of all men.

Let us then on this day pray to our Blessed Mother to bring about an end to the great schism and crush the heresies in this world.  May all who are separated from the Church of our Lord be reunited in the Ark of Salvation - the Holy Catholic Church.  

Collect:

O God, You willed that Your Word should become incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the time of the angel's announcement. We firmly believe that Mary is truly the Mother of God. We pray that her powerful intercession with You may help us. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord . . .

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