Mother Teresa Wisdom: March 3, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa -

"Christ must be the light that shines through you, and the people looking at you must see only Jesus."

"You have a challenge from Jesus to meet: He has shed the light, and you will take His light and lighten every heart you meet."

Read more >>

Cardinal Antonio Cañizares

The new Cardinal-elect from Toledo, Spain, Antonio Cañizares recently sat down for an interview.

Here is just a small portion:

"Q: A cardinal is he who sheds his blood for the Pope. What does this mean in the present-day context?

Archbishop Cañizares: To be a cardinal is reflected in the [red] color that implies giving witness with the Pope of the faith unto death, if necessary. It is to give witness of the living God and, with Peter, to confess that Jesus Christ is the only Savior, the only hope for the whole of humanity.

It implies living with the Pope, servant of servants, in a life of service and full commitment without any reservations, to spend oneself and exhaust oneself for the hard works of the Gospel, to lose one's life so that the world will believe.

It is to serve in communion, in unbreakable unity with the Successor of Peter; it is to defend the dignity of the injured and poor man, to give him to Jesus Christ.

It is a very beautiful mission, a grace to be able to be associated with the Holy Father in his ministry of confirming the faith, in his ministry of concern for all the Church and of love for all, with that love of which Benedict XVI has spoken to us so beautifully in his encyclical."

Read more on Zenit

Photo Source

Read more >>

Papal Title "Patriarch of the West" Dropped

In what appears to be an effort to bridge the differences between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, Pope Benedict XVI has dropped the papal title "Patriarch of the West."

Vatican, Mar. 01 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI has dropped one of the traditional titles of the Roman Pontiff. Evidently hoping to eliminate one possible obstacle to ecumenical progress with the Orthodox world, the Holy Father has renounced the title "Patriarch of the West."

The Catholic News Service writes more...

I hope it is evident that the Pope is not just the Patriarch of the West but of the whole Universal Church - He is the Successor of the Chief of the Apostles, St. Peter, and is the leader of the flock of Jesus Christ.

The Pope's other titles remain the "Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of (Peter) the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, and Servant of the Servants of God."

Read more >>

Words of Inspiration: March 3, 2006

Padre Pio: "Don’t be upset when you are unable to meditate, receive Communion or carry out all the pious practices. In the meantime, try to make up for this in different manner, by keeping yourself united to Our Lord with a loving will, with ejaculatory prayers and Spiritual Communions."

Read more >>

Lent: A time to Rekindle our Devotions

"Upon first entering the church, there is a fire, a fervency, a desire to serve God in this new place that burns brightly; however, as they fuel for that fire tends to be sparse it is of short duration. Soon, from whatever cause, the fire has died down and is banked, the embers are rarely stirred beneath their fine white covering of ash. Such a faith provides a certain warmth and glow, but not the all-consuming blaze that the Lord would like of us.

"Lent is a time to consider how to move once again toward that intimacy, toward an all-out conflagration rather than a simple house-warming fire. It is a time of renewal--not of hardship. The hardships of Lent are incidentals that receive entirely too much of our attention. Fasting, Prayer, and Alms are not strange entities to pull out only at this season--rather they are constants.

Lent is a time to consider all of our activities and to integrate them into the one goal of serving the Lord. "

From An Invitiation to Intimacy

Today let us begin and end the day in prayer. There is no set prayer, rather, let all prayers we say be from the heart. Remember today the image of true love - the Cross. Ask our Lord how much He cares and loves you. And what does He do? He opened up His arms and died for us so that you might have life and be able to live with Him for all eternity.

Today let us offer our abstience from meat up in prayer for those who are starving and hungry and will go to bed without any food. And let our prayers be for them and for all believers and non-believers that we might all grow in a deeper love for the One True Love - Our Savior, Crucfied.

Prayer to Our Lord Jesus Crucified:

Heavenly Father; in the holy name of your Son Jesus, crucified for my sins, and in the Love of the Holy Spirit, I come very humbly before you, with sorrow for my sins. Through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which I live as I receive Him in the Holy Eucharist.

Lord Jesus crucified; I humbly speak to you, in the Presence of Mary our Blessed Mother. I acknowledge that you suffered so much for me and for all, and that we are indebted to you forever. Lord Jesus; I appreciate very much your sufferings for me and for the rest of humanity. I thank you for saving me through your crushing pain, through your many wounds, through your tiredness and agony and through your Precious Blood shed with so much pain and love for us; through your difficulty to breath, through your sweat and tears, through your merciful patience, through every effort that you made and through your total offering for my sins and for the sins of the whole world.

Lord I complain sometimes when I have a little misfortune, a wound or when I am sick or tired, rejected, despised or prosecuted. But you were covered through your entire body with painful wounds; you were pierced with pain by the crown of thorns, you were stripped of your flesh by the scourging, you were insulted with terrible blasphemies, you were spat upon, you were humiliated, you were inflicted new wounds upon your wounded shoulder by the crushing weight of the cross, you were inflicted more wounds upon your wounds by the brutal stripping of your garments, you were pierced painfully by the nails on the cross, you were hanged upon the cross to bleed painfully to death, you suffered asphyxiation as you found it very painful to breathe, and yet your physical agony was only part of your suffering compared to your spiritual agony because you are God, and your holy soul was sorrowful unto death as you surrendered your life in exchange for our eternal life.

You saw the ingratitude of men for your great sacrifice, and you suffered for the pride of our sins, for the aggressiveness of those whom you created with so much love, for the hatred of men who always receive all your love if only they come to you. My Lord Jesus crucified, I come humbly before you, everlasting fountain of healing and life, Powerful source of our Resurrection, food for our souls in the Holy Eucharist, eternal refuge of Divine Light, gate to the Majesty and Glory of the Father and our only hope and salvation.

Divine Merciful Lord, I pray and beseech on behalf of all humanity for your Mercy and compassion, for your healing and blessings and for our Salvation. O, Precious treasure from Heaven, you who are hidden to the proud, fill my heart with humility and purity that I may be worthy to receive the promises of everlasting life in your Glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord into your Sacred Heart I place my heart united to all my needs and desires, I present humbly my petitions, please deign to listen to my plea, embrace me with your love, respond to my soul, look at me your child who comes attracted by your love.

My Lord Jesus; In your crucified body I reverently place my sinfulness, my sicknesses and those of the people that I pray for; since you bore our diseases and infirmities, since you endured our sufferings and paid for our sins. Please dissolve them in your mercy; grant me these petitions in your holy name and in the name of your sorrowful mother, my mother. Amen.

Read more >>

The End of Abortion in Mississippi

The Day is coming when abortion will end! Following South Dakota, Missisippi has introduced a bill in its legislature that will ban virtually all abortions in the state. The only exception is for the life of mother. Governor Barbour of Mississippi has said that although the bill doesn't include exceptions for incest and rape, he will sign it:

"It hasn't gotten to my desk yet. When one gets there, we'll find out, and I suspect I'll sign it."

Update: The Legislature has added exceptions in cases of rape and incest. Although the Catholic Church does not approve of any exceptions because all life is sacred, I do hope this will become law. We need to limit and outlaw abortions - children deserve life.

This is wonderful news. The day is coming when all abortions will be illegal. I have a dream that one day this holocaust of the innocent might end and we will all sit down at the table of brotherhood. Since 1973, over 46 million unborn children have been murdered in the name of privacy and choice. It's time for our society in the twenty-first century to change this. The time has arrived. Let us pray, pray, and pray. Let us also support Gov. Barbour and hope that this bill and the similar measure in South Dakota will become law and survive the courts.

Missouri, the third state, has proposed a measure that would ban abortions with the same exception. This measure however, would be placed before the voters in November and decided upon by them.

Sen. Jason Crowell, the measure's sponsor, said: "The time has come for us to outlaw abortion. The time has come for these decisions to be made in these deliberative bodies, not by nine men and women who wear black robes."

Read more >>

The Holy Father on Ash Wednesday

The Holy Father's audience given at the Ash Wednesday Mass is available online now. Here is only a segment of it:

"Today we begin our Lenten journey, when the Church invites us to ponder Christ's saving work, to live out more deeply the reality of our Baptism and to draw rich nourishment from sacred Scripture. Above all, we are to relive with Jesus the 40 days he spent in the desert, praying and fasting, in preparation for his public mission. We join him in a spiritual journey, we follow him on the road to Calvary, and after the mystery of the Cross, we experience the joy of his Resurrection.

"This day is marked by the solemn distribution of ashes. Two Scripture passages are used to accompany the rite. The first, "remember that you are dust and to dust you will return" (John 3:19), urges us to place our hope in God alone. The second, "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel" (Mark 1:15), directs us to set out on the path of spiritual renewal, rejecting evil and drawing life from Christ's saving truth.

"The theme of my Lenten Message for this year is the Gospel text: "Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity." We too are called to be attentive to the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters as part of our Lenten observance. Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, may we be purified and renewed, as we prepare to celebrate the great feast of Easter."

Read more >>

55 Democrats sign "Statement of Principles" supporting abortion

Recently a group of 55 Catholic Democrats from the House of Representatives signed a "Statement of Principles." This Statement states that they "agree with the Catholic Church about the value of human life and the undesirability of abortion, we do not celebrate its practice." However, these lawmakers are doing nothing else than playing politics. The Catholic Church was the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It will not be swayed by these Catholics who claim they can be pro-choice and Catholic - that is heresy.

Catholic League president William Donohue commented, "The House Catholic Democrats who signed this statement - and 17 of them did not - are trying to convince the public, and especially Catholics, that one can be a good Catholic and differ with the Catholic Church on abortion."

These are the 55 Democracts:

Rosa L. DeLauro

David R. Obey
Wm. Lacy Clay
Hilda L. Solis
James R. Langevin
Bart Stupak
Anna Eshoo
Bill Pascrell
Betty McCollum
Gene Taylor
Raul M. Grijalva
Carolyn McCarthy
John B. Larson
Ed Pastor
Joe Baca
William Delahunt
Tim Ryan
Silvestre Reyes
Mike Thompson
Linda T. Sanchez
Charles A. Gonzalez
Xavier Becerra
Diane Watson
Michael H. Michaud
Nydia Velazquez
Jim Marshall
Frank Pallone
John T. Salazar
James P. McGovern
George Miller
Tim Holden
James L. Oberstar
Dale E. Kildee
Patrick J. Kennedy
Cynthia McKinney
James P. Moran
Michael Capuano
Richard E. Neal
Mike Doyle
Peter A. DeFazio
Maurice Hinchey
Dennis A. Cardoza
Joseph Crowley
Jim Costa
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Loretta Sanchez
Robert Brady
Marty Meehan
Grace Napolitano
Luis V. Gutierrez
Jose Serrano
Stephen Lynch
Edward J. Markey
Nancy Pelosi
Lane Evans

Read their "Statement" here. Let us pray that these Catholics will one day embrace the Church again and realize that one cannot be pro-choice and Catholic.

Read more >>

The Glorious Sacrament

"Yesterday on approaching the Most Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes." St. Gemma Galgani

The blogger at lDymphna's Well posted these words, and I was blown away by their validity. In the Eucharist we have the True Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We have the most supreme gift to the human race - Our Lord Himself. Last night I went to Mass for Ash Wednesday, and it left a profound impact on my soul. Right before the consecration, when the bread and wine become Jesus Christ, the priest began, "On the night He was betrayed..."

Wow. Think about that. It was on the night that He knew He was to be betrayed and condemned to death that He gave each of us this gift - the ability to receive Him. But what tears me apart is seeing people receive Him in mortal sin. These people will say "Well, this sin (there are many that could apply) isn't a mortal sin. Why can the Church decide this?" So they rationalize their sins and receive Our Lord's precious Body in a state of sin. How horrible! Our Lord is still continually offended and insulted each day in this Sacrament, but in this Sacrament of Love he gives us to Himself. He gives us the highest gift. We must examine our consciences before receiving him!

Those who rationalize their sins, and claim a serious sin is infact not serious, act like those who stood beneath the Cross. The call out to the Church "Come down from there and we will believe" just as people called out to Christ. But neither Christ nor His Catholic Church will come down and change the firm rules of our faith. Our faith is set in stone. As Pope Benedict XVI articulated, "A mature faith is not one that follows the waves of fashion and the latest novelty."

So to those like the Catholic Democrats who signed the recent document thinking that think they can change the Church, you are wrong. To those who receive Christ in a state of mortal sin, stop now. I beg you in the words of St. Paul:

"Wherefore 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. But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice" (1 Cor 11:27-28).

And to those of you who do not believe in the Real Presence and view the Eucharist as a symbol:
"The bread and wine are not a foreshadowing of the body and blood of Christ—By no means!—but the actual deified body of the Lord, because the Lord Himself said: ‘This is my body'; not ‘a foreshadowing of my body' but ‘my body,' and not ‘a foreshadowing of my blood' but ‘my blood'" (St. John Damascene).

Lent is about changing our ways and repenting. Stop sinning, I beg you for each sin tore through Our Savior. Each mortal sin crucified our Savior. Instead, repent and believe. As my priest said last night as ashes were placed on my forehead, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."

More information on the Eucharist can be found through my post, The Eucharist.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

Read more >>

Check out "Journey to Spirituality"

Mike from "Journey to Spirituality" has added a great addition to his blog - a calendar. He is adding the links to the daily scripture readings and will be adding links to his commentary on the calendar soon. I think it's a great idea and something to check out over the next few weeks.

Read more >>

Prayers Needed for Governor Rounds, Abortion to be Stopped

We have begun the long penitential season of Lent. I am asking my fellow Catholics to please prayerfully offer to God your sufferings in reparation for our sins and those of the whole world as well as for the Holy Father and the souls in purgatory.

However, Governor Rounds of South Dakota needs prayers. He is debating whether to sign a piece of legislation that would ban all abortions in the state. This bill has passed the South Dakota Senate and House and is awaiting his action. If signed, Planned Parenthood is planning to immediately file suit, and this case will likely wind up at the Supreme Court.

Gov. Rounds says that many other governors have expressed interest in such legislation including the state of Washington.

Abortion advocates are urging abortion-supporters to boycott South Dakota tourism if the bill is signed. South Dakota depends heavily on its $2 billion tourism industry.

Please offer your prayers and penance up to God for Gov. Rounds to have the courage to sign this bill into law. Please, for the sake of the unborn, the greatest holocaust in our history.

Also, please write to Governor Rounds asking him to sign this bill into law. You can contact him by visiting the Governor of South Dakota website and clicking on "Contact the Governor" in the left-hand menu.

Image Source: Believed to be Life News

Read more >>

The Purpose of Lent

"In these days of Lent, I think of the fact that everything that is born in nature needs preparation, even if it is fundamentally hidden. Thus it is for the seed in the earth, so it is for the fetus in the mother's womb, so it is for the known and unknown stars and planets that have lived for infinite generations, and of which we have received news, particularly in the last century.

"When we speak of Lent, we speak of preparation so that the life in us can be recovered -- or much more -- so that the life in us can be welcomed. The life of Christ risen, his Spirit which is given to us at Easter, needs to find hospitality in us. This is the meaning of the silence and the prayers that is recommended by the Church in this time. This is the meaning of fasting, which is closely related to prayer and silence. That our eyes may not be closed, that our senses may not be dulled.

"This is the meaning of the alms that are asked of us. That our life may not be built on what is secondary and fleeting, but that it may find in Jesus the only richness that does not end, the richness that gives light and weight to every tiny thing. In this way, in our hands, instead of the sad object that will be destroyed, everything becomes an icon of the beauty of the Savior."

Monsignor Massimo Camisasca

Read more >>

Ash Wednesday Prayer

Note: Please also see all of the prayers of the Traditional Mass on Ash Wednesday by clicking here.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, the all-holy one, who gives us life and all things. As we go about our lives, the press of our duties and activities often leads us to forget your presence and your love. We fall into sin and fail to live out the responsibilities that you have entrusted to those who were baptized into your Son.

In this holy season, help us to turn our minds and hearts back to you. Lead us into sincere repentance and renew our lives with your grace. Help us to remember that we are sinners, but even more, help us to remember your loving mercy.

As we live through this Ash Wednesday, may the crosses of ashes that mark our foreheads be a reminder to us and to those we meet that we belong to your Son. May our worship and prayer and penitence this day be sustained throughout these 40 days of Lent. Bring us refreshed and renewed to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter.

We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Source: The Passionsists - St. Paul of the Cross Province

Read more >>

Ash Wednesday: Rules for Fasting & Abstinence; Traditional Mass Propers; Prayer for Ashes

Ash Wednesday: Abstinence & Fasting

This is a day of mandatory abstinence and fasting. All Catholics aged 14 or older must abstain from meat on this day, as per the current 1983 Code of Canon Law. In the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the law of abstinence began at age 7. Since it is worthwhile to teach children the importance of this law, we should have our children begin to observe this even before the law explicitly commands it.

What is forbidden by the law of abstinence? All meat. Meat is considered to be the flesh and organs of mammals and fowl. Also forbidden are soups or gravies made from them. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and shellfish are permitted. Eggs are presently allowed.

Additionally, as per the 1983 Code of Canon Law, anyone between 18 and up until 60 years of age is also bound to fast on Ash Wednesday. In the earlier 1917 Code, the fast began at age 21 and continued until a person turned 60. On this day one, normal-sized meal and two smaller snacks (called collations) that do not equal the normal meal are allowed. No indulging at a buffet at night to make up for the meals you could not eat during the day.

Eating between meals, however, is prohibited although fruit juices and milk are allowed. Milk was added only in the recent centuries and the Church had asked that those who do consume milk on fasting days offer some additional prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father for doing so.

These rules are much more lenient than in centuries past. If you can, truly make your fasting a sacrifice. In times past, the faithful would try to eat nothing at all on Ash Wednesday.

See: Fasting & Abstinence Rules

Ash Wednesday: Sacred Liturgy

Today's Mass embodies the spirit of Lent. All are reminded to be sorry for sin and to do penance, but not in a spirit of showy sadness or of inward despair. Rather, let the sincere and humble prepare with inner joy to celebrate their baptism in Christ. By living their baptismal promises, they enter more deeply into Christ's suffering. Knowing God's desire to forgive, t heal, and to share with all men His own divine life, we discipline our passions gladly and with confidence in victory. God gives grace for every Lenten restraint. Therefore everyone should receive the blessed ashes, both as a means of grace and as a reminder to do penance unobtrusively, for personal sins and for the sins of all mankind.

Before the Mass, the celebrant vested in alb, purple stole, and cope, goes up to the altar for the blessing of the ashes.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ASHES

The celebrant stands and receives ashes on his head; he then distributes them to the clergy and the congregation, who kneel before him. He admonishes each one as he places ashes on his head:

Remember, man, that you are dust, and into dust you shall return.

THE MASS

INTROIT
Sap. 11:24, 25, 27

You are merciful to all, O Lord, and hate none of the things that You have made. When men repent, You overlook their sins and pardon them; for You are the Lord our God. Ps. 56:2. Have pity on me, O God, have pity on me, for my soul trusts in You. V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT

O Lord, may the faithful begin the solemn season of fast with fitting piety, and may they continue through to its end with unwavering devotion. Through our Lord . . .

LESSON
Joel 2:12-19

Now, therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and mourning. And rend your hearts, and not your garments and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bridal chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's ministers, shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathens should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people. And the Lord answered, and said to his people: Behold I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them: and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

GRADUAL
Ps. 56:2, 4

Have pity on me, O God, have pity on me, for my soul trusts in You. V. He has sent from heaven, and saved me; He has made them a reproach who trample upon me.

TRACT
Ps. 102:10; 78:8-9

O Lord, repay us not according to the sins we have committed, nor according to our iniquities. V. O Lord, remember not our iniquities of the past; let Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are being brought very low. (All Kneel.) V. Help us, O God our Savior, and for the glory of Your name, O Lord, deliver us; and pardon us our sins for Your name's sake.

GOSPEL
Matthew 6:16-21

At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, "And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.
"Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through, and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON
Ps. 29:2-3

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have upheld me, and have not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, I cried out to You and You have healed me.

SECRET

O Lord, make us truly fit to offer these gifts with which we commemorate the institution of this blessed Sacrament. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Ps. 1:2-3

He who meditates on the law of the Lord day and night shall bring forth his fruit in due season.

POSTCOMMUNION

O Lord, may this Sacrament which we have received make our fasting an acceptable offering to You and a healthful remedy to our souls. Through our Lord . . .

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE

O Lord, look with mercy upon those who worship before Your majesty. May Your heavenly aid always strengthen those who have feasted upon Your divine Sacrament. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and rules with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Read more >>

Pro-life Success: Pro-lifers May Not Be Sued Under RICO

I just heard about this on Yahoo News, and I found this article on Catholic Fire:

Washington, DC - Feb 28, 2006 The United States Supreme Court issued an unanimous ruling today finally clearing pro-life protesters of a 20-year old suit brought by NOW under the Federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) laws. Joseph Scheidler, a long- time pro-life activist from Chicago, took the lead in defending the case on behalf of over 20 defendants, including Operation Rescue.

In an historic third trip to the nation’s highest court, Justice Stephen Breyer issued the unanimous opinion clearly stating that the case is over and that pro- lifers may not be sued under RICO. This decision also puts an end to a nationwide injunction against the protesters.“We are very excited to finally see this case put behind us once and for all,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “This is a victory not only for pro-lifers, who can now exercise their First Amendment rights to speak out about abortion without fear of a RICO suit, but it is also a victory for the women and babies who are entering our nation’s abortion mills, who now will have greater access to more information and practical assistance that can help them spare the lives of their pre-born children.”

Read Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life's Reaction

“The proper response to this ruling is to increase our peaceful, legal presence at killing centers everywhere, without fear of ridicule, false arrest, or persecution."

"Killing centers" - he couldn't be more true...

Read more >>

Mardi Gras Prayer

Today is Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Today is the traditional day to make reparation to the Holy Face for the sins of Mardi Gras. Click here to learn more.

Fat Tuesday Prayer:

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for it is from your goodness that we have this day to celebrate on the threshold of the Season of Lent.

Tomorrow we will fast and abstain from meat. Today we feast. We thank you for the abundance of gifts you shower upon us. We thank you especially for one another. As we give you thanks, we are mindful of those who have so much less than we do. As we share these wonderful gifts together, we commit ourselves to greater generosity toward those who need our support.

Prepare us for tomorrow. Tasting the fullness of what we have today, let us experience some hunger tomorrow. May our fasting make us more alert and may it heighten our consciousness so that we might be ready to hear your Word and respond to your call.

As our feasting fills us with gratitude so may our fasting and abstinence hollow out in us a place for deeper desires and an attentiveness to hear the cry of the poor. May our self-denial turn our hearts to you and give us a new freedom for generous service to others. We ask you these graces with our hearts full of delight and stirring with readiness for the journey ahead. We ask them with confidence in the name of Jesus the Lord.

(Source)

Read more >>

My Lenten Schedule

This is my daily prayer schedule for the Holy Season of Lent. I'm hoping that some of you readers will be able to join me in praying and reading this Lent.

Morning:

Wake up and say the Guardian angel prayer
Listen to the daily Mass readings (if I can't go to Mass)
Pray Morning Prayer (Lauds)

Throughout the Day:

Go to Mass (if possible)
Meditate and reflect on the passion and death of Our Savior
Read The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (2 links each day)
Read the segments of the Early Church Fathers

Evening:

Pray Evening Prayer (Vespers)
Pray special prayers for the poor, sick and the souls in purgatory

Above all I'm trying to become holier and reflect more deeply on the passion and death of Our Savior for me. This realization of the ultimate love compels us to serve one another, so I will be emailing and talking this entire season about the importance of the Catholic faith. Throughout the entire season I will be giving up all sweets and "good food" while performing other voluntary acts of penance. I hope to contribute to many other good Catholic and pro-life organizations. I'll also be praying the Stations of the Cross every Friday.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

Read more >>

Prayer, Prayer, and Prayer: Lent Begins

"Pray for the wicked, pray for the lukewarm, pray even for fervent souls, but pray especially for the Supreme Pontiff, for all the Spiritual and temporal needs of Holy Church, our most tender Mother. A special prayer for all those who are working for the salvation of souls and for God’s glory" (St. Padre Pio).

Lent starts tomorrow! Let us attempt to pray each day in reparation for our sins and for sinners around the world. Lent must include daily prayer for the Holy Father, the poor, the souls in purgatory, and others that are in need. Lent is about shifting the spotlight from ourselves to others in the name and love of Christ.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we are now in the holy season of Lent. We begin to realize anew that these are the days of salvation, these are the acceptable days. We know that we are all sinners. We know that in many things we have all offended Your infinite majesty. We know that sin destroys Your life in us as a drought withers the leaves and chokes the life from the land, leaving an arid, dusty desert. Help us now, Lord, in our feeble attempts to make up for past sin. Bless our efforts with the rich blessing of Your grace. Make us realize ever more our need of penance and of mortification.

Help us to see, in our ordinary difficulties and duties, in the trials and temptations of every day, the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities. Every day we are so often reminded in field and wood, in sky and stream, of Your own boundless generosity to us. Help us to realize that You are never outdone in generosity, and that the least thing we do for You will be rewarded, full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and flowing over. Then we shall see, in our own souls, how the desert can blossom, and the dry and wasted land can bring forth the rich, useful fruit that was expected of it from the beginning. Amen.

Prayer Source:

THE RURAL LIFE PRAYERBOOK

Imprimi Potest
Leo J. Burns, S.J.
Provincial
Wisconsin Province
Milwaukee, Wis., 17 October 1955

Imprimatur
Fr. Eduardus Caelestinus, O.P.
Episcopus Desmoinen
Des Moines, Iowa, 13 February, 1956

Written and Compiled by
Alban J. Dachauer, S.J.
In cooperation with
The National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Drawings by Tom Chouteau

Published by
The National Catholic Rural Life Conference
4625 Beaver Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50310-2199

Copyright, 1956
National Catholic Rural Life Conference

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

Read more >>

A Trip to Israel

Here was a joke that couldn't apply better to this world today...

A Jewish businessman in Chicago sent his son to Israel for a year to absorb the culture. When the son returned, he said, "Papa, I had a great time in Israel. By the way, I converted to Christianity.""Oy vey," said the father. "What have I done?"He took his problem to his best friend. "Ike," he said, "I sent my son to Israel, and he came home a Christian. What can I do?""Funny you should ask," said Ike. "I too, sent my son to Israel, and heal so came home a Christian.." Perhaps we should go see the rabbi. So they did, and they explained their problem to the rabbi."Funny you should ask," said the rabbi.. "I, too, sent my son to Israel,and he also came home a Christian. What is happening to our young people?" And so they all prayed, telling the Lord about their sons. As they finished their prayer, a voice came from the heavens: "Funny you should ask," said the voice. "I, too, sent my son to Israel...."

Read more >>

Prayer Request from Fatima, NJ

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

I received this prayer request in my Inbox, and I ask you to please say a prayer for this man's soul.

Please say a special prayer formy dad. He passed away 7 months ago today. I always thought it would get easier with time, but not a day goes by that I don't cry for him. Maybe it's because of the horrible pain I saw him go through... I truly believe my father lived his purgatory on earth. For the last six months of his life, he was semi-comatose due to an overdose of anesthesia given him for a simple out patient procedure. He was left paralyzed and couldn't communicate to us, but could see and hear us and feel pain. I tried to put myself in his position and couldn't fathom it...like being locked up in your own body! He would look me right in the eye when I would speak to him and start crying and I never felt more helpless. He ended up with these horrific bed sores on his back which eventually led to his death. He died a week before his 65th birthday. I hope and pray that he's at peace with God. Please help me ask God to let him know how much he is loved and missed.

Thank you all and God Bless,

Fatima - NJ

Image Source: Photo of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Believed to be in the Public Domain

Read more >>