The DaVinci Solution

This Friday is the theatrical release of the DaVinci Code, a book filled cover to cover with lies. This book goes beyond the realm of fiction - it attacks Jesus Christ. Some of the lies taught by this book include Jesus Christ not being divine, Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene, and Opus Dei monks killing people to keep secrets of the Church.

These are all lies and Dan Brown, the author, did not just write this fiction for entertainment. I have read parts of an interview where Dan Brown has said his claims about the Catholic Church are true. What a liar! Here is part of that interview:

When appearing on “The Today Show,” host Matt Lauer asked him, “How much of this is based on reality in terms of things that actually occurred?” Dan Brown but responded: “Absolutely all of it. Obviously, there are - Robert Langdon is fictional, but all of the art, architecture, secret rituals, secret societies, all of that is historical fact.” (Source)

Tomorrow is the first viewing of the new film of the DaVinci code at the Cannes Film Festival. And, coincidentally, tomorrow is the anniversary of the beatification of Opus Dei's founder, St. Josemaría Escriva. In the DaVinci Code, Dan Brown claims this religious group of monks in the Catholic Chruch is a secret order willing to kill people to keep secrets! What a lie!

First, there are no Opus Dei monks! Opus Dei is made of priests and lay people. It was founded by St. Josemaría Escriva in 1928 and approved by the Holy See in 1947. The name is Latin for "Work of God". Currently, there are 80,000 members worldwide and 3,000 in the United States. Opus Dei is open for anyone to join, and anyone may leave. They are not a secret group with but a religious group serving the Church similar to Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, et cetera. In the United States only one parish is run completely by members of Opus Dei and that is in Illinois at St. Mary of the Angels. Opus Dei is about making daily life holy, and if you read their website, you will see how truly wonderful it is.

Now, I've heard several options on how to combat the heresies in this book. The first I heard is to ignore it. But, as Cardinal John Newmann said, as long as good people do nothing then evil shall flourish. We can't ignore this.

What I recommend are the other two options. First, if you can, attend a prayerful protest outside of a theater. There are several near me, and I will be praying that the people who see this movie will not believe such lies! Second, I recommend the Othercott! Go the movies this Friday and Saturday, but see a different movie. Hollywood only cares about money so give the Da Vinci Code a blow by giving your cash to another movie. Over the Hedge is going to be released this weekend too, and it's a good children's movie. I recommend going to see it.

We also must work to counter the false claims from this movie. I recommend several books by Amy Welborn to use in disputing the numerous lies taught in this book. They can be viewed online at her website. I also recommend the DVD, The Da Vinci Delusion, which is available online for sale.

I also highly recommend the United State's Conference of Catholic Bishop's own site to Decode DaVinci. It's called Jesus Decoded.

Please, above all, join me in prayer as I pray in reparation for the blasphemies commited by this heretical book. Please also sign a petition against this movie [now defunct].

An Act of Reparation and Consecration to the Sacred Heart

O Most Merciful Heart of Jesus, Divine Mercy-seat, for Whose sake the Eternal Father has promised that He would always hear our prayers! I unite myself to Thee in offering to Thine Eternal Father this poor and needy heart of mine, contrite and humbled in His Divine presence, and desirous of making complete reparation for the offenses that are committed against Him, especially those which Thou dost continually suffer in the Holy Eucharist, and more particularly those which I myself have unhappily so often committed. Would that I could wash them away with my tears, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, and blot out with my own heart's blood the ingratitude wherewith we have repaid Thy tender love. I unite my sorrow, slight as it is, with the mortal agony which caused Thy sweat to become as drops of blood in the Garden of Olives at the very thought of our sins. Do Thou offer it, dear Lord, to Thine Eternal Father in union with Thy Sacred Heart. Render Him infinite thanks for the manifold blessings which He constantly showers upon us, and let Thy love supply for our want of thankfulness and remembrance. Grant me the grace always to present myself in a spirit of deepest reverence before the face of Thy Divine Majesty, in order thus to repair in some measure the irreverences and outrages which I have dared to commit before Thee; grant also, that from this day forth, I may devote myself with all my might to drawing, both by word and example, many souls to know Thee and to experience the riches of Thy Heart. From this moment I offer and dedicate myself wholly to propagating the honor due to Thy most sweet Sacred Heart.

I choose It as the object of all my affection, and desires, and from this hour forevermore I set up in It my perpetual abode, thanking, adoring and loving It with all my heart, inasmuch as It is the Heart of my Jesus, Who is worthy to be loved, the Heart of my King and sovereign Lord, the Bridegroom of my soul, my Shepherd and Master, my truest Friend, my loving Father, my sure Guide, my unfailing protection and my everlasting blessedness. Amen.

Act of Consecration

My loving Jesus, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and to make reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I give Thee my heart, and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee; and with Thy help I purpose to sin no more.

Prayer to the Immaculata

O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst make ready a
fitting habitation for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that Thou Who didst keep her clean from all stain by the precious death of the same Thy Son, foreseen by Thee, mayest grant unto us in like manner to be made clean through her intercession and so attain unto Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen (Roman Missal).

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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Catholic Carnival is up!

The Catholic Carnival is up. Please check it out!

Image Source: Used with Permission

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Clinton Asked to Use Abortion to Kill the Poor

It was just recently uncovered that Bill Clinton received a frightening letter when he was planning to promote Ru-486, the abortion drug. So far seven women have died from this drug. Back when Bill Clinton was the President, the husband of the woman who was the lead attorney in the Roe v. Wade case wrote to him to urge him to use abortion to kill poor Americans!

The letter was dated January 6, 1992, and the author specifically asked him to "start immediately to eliminate the barely educated, unhealthy and poor segment of the country."

Readers, this is more than just "reproductive rights" this is genocide! People all over the world are dying in the Holocaust of the unborn, and Bill Clinton was asked to use this drug to kill the less than desirable people in society. This is an outrage!

Source: Life News

Abortion must end! But it will only end if you and I start praying each and everyday for its end. I have faith in God that it will end, but we need to pray. Lives are dying each day. Pray.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, in Your love for us, protect against the wickedness of the devil, those helpless little ones to whom You have given the gift of life.
Touch with pity the hearts of those women pregnant in our world today who are not thinking of motherhood.

Help them to see that the child they carry is made in Your image - as well as theirs - made for eternal life.

Dispel their fear and selfishness and give them true womanly hearts to love their babies and give them birth and all the needed care that a mother can give.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Via Prayer for the Helpless Unborn

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Words of Inspiration: May 15, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa:

"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. "

St. Padre Pio:

"May the Mother of Jesus, and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing."

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Parish Priest: Father Michael McGivney and American Catholicism

I just finished an excellent 5-star book, "Parish Priest: Father Michael McGivney and American Catholicism" by Douglas Brinkley and Julie M. Fenster. I'm not an avid reader, but this book was easy to read and captivating since page one. The book traces the life of Fr. Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, along with his impact on those around him. The book also looks at how the Catholic Church was assaulted by prejudice in the 1800s.

It was a great read, and it was very informative and inspiring. I had no idea the Knights of Columbus had such a hard time at the beginning. At the time of Fr. McGivney's death in 1890, there were 6000 members. Those were nearly all men from Connecticut. Today, the Knights of Columbus is made up of 1.7 million men from the US, Canada, Philippines, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam, and Saipan. Currently, they are expanding into Poland.

In 1997, Daniel A. Cronin, the archbishop of the Hartford Diocese, officially began the canonization process for Fr. McGivney. He is currently at the first step in sainthood as he has been given the title of "Servant of God."

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Say an Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be. )

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Repose of the Soul of Mary Reilich & T.O.'s Cousin, Tom

Please pray for souls of the following people who have died recently:

1. Mary Reilich - she worked diligently to create a calendar for priests. Each day was a different priest (active or retired), and people were to pray for that priest that day. She was a daily communicant and always carried a Rosary with her. We lost someone truly special on this earth, but I'm sure she'll continue her work from Heaven. Please pray for her.
2. T.O.'s cousin, Tom, who passed away last Saturday morning. Pray for his family too as they struggle with this obvious loss

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam;
ad te omnis caro veniet.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Image Source: All Soul's Day Mass, Transalpine Redemptorists, Used with Permission

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Pope Benedict XVI Meets with Hugo Chavez

Pope Benedict XVI recently met with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. Venezuela is neighbor to Colombia. Colombia's law previously outlawed abortion in all cases. But, the day Chavez met with the Holy Father (last Thursday) was the day that a Colombian court ruled abortion may be permitted in rare circumstances.

Chavez said the 35 minute meeting was overall "very positive" and called it "the beginning of a new era in the relationship between the Catholic hierarchy and the Venezuelan Government." Chavez claims to be a Catholic, but he has frequently criticized the Church. He was gone so far to call the Church's leadership a "tumor".

Let us pray that Colombia will reverse its decision in order to stop the culture of death from spreading.

Source: LifeNews

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Pop Can Tabs for Charity

I've been planning to post about this for a long time now, but I have never got around to it. I have a few minutes to spare, so I wanted to know if my blog readers could help me.

For the past few years I've been saving pop cans. I take them to a recycling center near me and in addition to helping the environment, I get a little bit of money in return. Well, I also have been saving the pop can tabs from the cans. I probably have several hundred if not over a thousand pop tabs now since I started this a couple of years ago.

I was hoping someone knows of a charity that could benefit from these pop can tabs. I know the Ronald McDonald society uses them, but I really wanted to contribute to a Catholic or at least faith-based charity. Do you know of any charities that will accept pop can tabs?

Thanks!

Update: I have found a charity now.

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Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. In honor of this memorial, I created the above image. I ask you to do only one thing - answer Mary's call to pray the Rosary. She asked us to pray it each day. Even if you don't like the Rosary, please make time to say it once today.

Read more on the apparitions at Fatima

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Victory for Life in Britain

The culture of life won another battle today when the British House of Lords defeated a bill to legalize assisted suicide. The vote was 148-100 to defeat the bill. If passed into law, it would have allowed physicians to prescribed lethal drugs to patients that only have less than 6 months to live. Right now, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland and the state of Oregon allowed assisted suicide.

Assisted suicide remains a mortal sin, and it is a non-negotiable meaning that Catholics can not support it while still claiming to be Catholic.

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Final day of the Novena to Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the last day of the Novena to Our Lady of Fatima. Even if you have not prayed this Novena yet, please pray the below prayer.

Novena Prayer:

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with a sincere love of this devotion, so that by meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in it, we may gather the fruits and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, and this favor that I so earnestly seek.... (State your request here...) which I ask of you in this novena, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor, and for the good of all people. Amen

(Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be three times each)

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Remember Our Lady This Weekend

This Sunday is Mother's Day and my parish is having a special May Crowning of Mary. I'm sure it will be beautiful. Is anyone else going to a May Crowning this Sunday? 

Tomorrow is also the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. Read up on this wonderful series of apparitions from 1917!

St. Padre Pio: "May Mary adorn your soul with the flowers and the fragrance of ever new virtues and place her maternal hand on your head. Always stay close to this heavenly Mother, because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of eternal splendors in the Kingdom of dawn." 

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The Praises of God Most High by St. Francis of Assisi

Thou art the Holy Lord, the Only God, who works miracles (Ps. 76:15) Thou art strong, Thou art great (cf. Ps 85:10), Thou are the Most High, Thou art King Eternal, Thou Holy Father (cf. Jn 17:11) King of Heaven and earth. (Mt 11:25)

Thou art three in one Lord, God of gods (cf Ps 135:2), Thou art Good, all good, Highest Good, Lord God living and true. (cf. 1 Thes 1:9). Thou art Love, Charity; Thou art Wisdom, Thou art humility, Thou art patience (Ps 70:5), Thou art Beauty, Thou art gentleness; Thou art security, Thou art quiet, Thou art joy; Thou art our Hope and Joy, Thou art justice, Thou art temperance, Thou art all our riches unto sufficiency.

Thou art Beauty, Thou art gentleness, Thou art Protector (Ps 30:5), Thou art our guard and defender, Thou art fortitude (cf. Ps 42:2), Thou art refreshment. Thou art our Hope, Thou art our Charity, Thou art our Sweetness, Thou art our eternal Life: Great and admirable Lord, God Omnipotent, merciful Savior.

Amen.

Image Source: Mass on the Assumption, Transalpine Redemptorists, Used with Permission

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The Rites of the Catholic Church

The following article is from EWTN (with some edits. 

A Rite represents an ecclesiastical, or church, tradition about how the sacraments are to be celebrated. Each of the sacraments has at its core an essential nature which must be satisfied for the sacrament to be confected or realized. This essence - of matter, form and intention - derives from the divinely revealed nature of the particular sacrament. It cannot be changed by the Church. Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium, tells us what is essential in each of the sacraments (2 Thes. 2:15).

When the apostles brought the Gospel to the major cultural centers of their day the essential elements of religious practice were inculturated into those cultures. This means that the essential elements were clothed in the symbols and trappings of the particular people, so that the rituals conveyed the desired spiritual meaning to that culture. In this way the Church becomes all things to all men that some might be saved (1 Cor. 9:22).

There are three major groupings of Rites based on this initial transmission of the faith, the Roman, the Antiochian (Syria) and the Alexandrian (Egypt). Later on the Byzantine derived as a major Rite from the Antiochian, under the influence of St. Basil and St. John Chrysostom. From these four derive the over 20 liturgical Rites present in the Church today.

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A Church is an assembly of the faithful, hierarchically ordered, both in the entire world - the Catholic Church, or in a certain territory - a particular Church. To be a sacrament (a sign) of the Mystical Body of Christ in the world, a Church must have both a head and members (Col. 1:18). The sacramental sign of Christ the Head is the sacred hierarchy - the bishops, priests and deacons (Eph. 2:19-22). More specifically, it is the local bishop, with his priests and deacons gathered around and assisting him in his office of teaching, sanctifying and governing (Mt. 28:19-20; Titus 1:4-9). The sacramental sign of the Mystical Body is the Christian faithful. Thus the Church of Christ is fully present sacramentally (by way of a sign) wherever there is a sign of Christ the Head, a bishop and those who assist him, and a sign of Christ's Body, Christian faithful. Each diocese is therefore a particular Church.

The Church of Christ is also present sacramentally in ritual Churches that represent an ecclesiastical tradition of celebrating the sacraments. They are generally organized under a Patriarch, who together with the bishops and other clergy of that ritual Church represent Christ the Head to the people of that tradition. In some cases a Rite is completely coincident with a Church. For example, the Maronite Church with its Patriarch has a Rite not found in any other Church. In other cases, such as the Byzantine Rite, several Churches use the same or a very similar liturgical Rite. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church uses the Byzantine Rite, but this Rite is also found in other Catholic Churches, as well as the Eastern Orthodox Churches not in union with Rome.

Finally, the Church of Christ is sacramentally present in the Universal or Catholic Church spread over the entire world. It is identified by the sign of Christ our Rock, the Bishop of Rome, Successor of St. Peter (Mt. 16:18). To be Catholic particular Churches and ritual Churches must be in communion with this Head, just as the other apostles, and the Churches they founded, were in communion with Peter (Gal. 1:18). Through this communion with Peter and his successors the Church becomes a universal sacrament of salvation in all times and places, even to the end of the age (Mt. 28:20).

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Western Rites and Churches

Immediately subject to the Bishop of Rome, the Supreme Pontiff.

ROMAN (also called Latin)

The Church of Rome is the Primatial See of the world and one of the five Patriarchal Sees of the early Church (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem). Founded by St. Peter in 42 AD it was consecrated by the blood of Sts. Peter and Paul during the persecution of Nero (63-67 AD). It has maintained a continual existence since then and is the source of a family of Rites in the West. Considerable scholarship (such as that of Fr. Louis Boyer in Eucharist) suggests the close affinity of the Roman Rite proper with the Jewish prayers of the synagogue, which also accompanied the Temple sacrifices. While the origin of the current Rite, even in the reform of Vatican II, can be traced directly only to the 4th century, these connections point to an ancient apostolic tradition brought to that city that was decidedly Jewish in origin.

After the Council of Trent, it was necessary to consolidate liturgical doctrine and practice in the face of the Reformation. Thus, Pope St. Pius V imposed the Rite of Rome on the Latin Church (that subject to him in his capacity as Patriarch of the West), allowing only smaller Western Rites with hundreds of years of history to remain. Younger Rites of particular dioceses or regions ceased to exist.

• Roman - The overwhelming majority of Latin Catholics and of Catholics in general. Head of this and the other Roman Rites is the Bishop of Rome. [The true form of the Roman Rite is the Tridentine Mass as codified by Pope St. Pius V and the Council of Trent with various editions. The 1962 Tridentine Mass, the 1954 Mass, etc belong to this. However, most Catholics today are only familiar with the New Mass of Paul VI created in 1969. The New Mass (i.e. the Novus Ordo Mass) is not the full expression of the Roman Rite has made inherent shortcomings].

- Anglican Use - Since the 1980s the Holy See has granted some former Anglican and Episcopal clergy converting with their parishes the faculty of celebrating the sacramental rites according to Anglican forms, doctrinally corrected. [This is not a distinct rite, per see].

• Mozarabic - The Rite of the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) known from at least the 6th century, but probably with roots to the original evangelization. Beginning in the 11th century it was generally replaced by the Roman Rite, although it has remained the Rite of the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain, and six parishes which sought permission to adhere to it. Its celebration today is generally semi-private.

• Ambrosian - The Rite of the Archdiocese of Milan, Italy, thought to be of early origin and probably consolidated, but not originated, by St. Ambrose. Pope Paul VI was from this Roman Rite. It continues to be celebrated in Milan, though not by all parishes.

• Bragan - Rite of the Archdiocese of Braga, the Primatial See of Portugal, it derives from the 12th century or earlier. It continues to be of occasional use.

• Dominican - Rite of the Order of Friars Preacher (OP), founded by St. Dominic in 1215.

• Carmelite - Rite of the Order of Carmel, whose modern foundation was by St. Berthold c.1154.

• Carthusian - Rite of the Carthusian Order founded by St. Bruno in 1084.

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Eastern Rites and Churches

They have their own hierarchy distinct from the Latin Rite, system of governance (synods) and general law, the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches. The Supreme Pontiff exercises his primacy over them through the Congregation for the Eastern Churches.

ANTIOCHIAN

The Church of Antioch in Syria (the ancient Roman Province of Syria) is considered an apostolic See by virtue of having been founded by St. Peter. It was one of the ancient centers of the Church, as the New Testament attests, and is the source of a family of similar Rites using the ancient Syriac language (the Semitic dialect used in Jesus' time and better known as Aramaic). Its Liturgy is attributed to St. James and the Church of Jerusalem.

WEST SYRIAC

• Maronite - Never separated from Rome. Maronite Patriarch of Antioch. The liturgical language is Aramaic. The 3 million Maronites are found in Lebanon (origin), Cyprus, Egypt, Syria, Israel, Canada, US, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

• Syriac - Syriac Catholics who returned to Rome in 1781 from the monophysite heresy. Syriac Patriarch of Antioch. The 110,000 Syriac Catholics are found in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Canada and the US.

• Malankarese - Catholics from the South of India evangelized by St. Thomas, uses the West Syriac liturgy. Reunited with Rome in 1930. Liturgical languages today are West Syriac and Malayalam. The 350,000 Malankarese Catholics are found in India and North America.

EAST SYRIAC

• Chaldean - Babylonian Catholics returned to Rome in 1692 from the Nestorian heresy. Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans. Liturgical languages are Syriac and Arabic. The 310,000 Chaldean Catholics are found in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and the US.

• Syro-Malabarese - Catholics from Southern India using the East Syriac liturgy. Returned to Rome in the 16th century from the Nestorian heresy. Liturgical languages are Syriac and Malayalam. Over 3 million Syro-Malabarese Catholics can be found in the state of Kerela, in SW India.

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BYZANTINE

The Church of Constantinople became the political and religious center of the eastern Roman Empire after the Emperor Constantine built a new capital there (324-330) on the site of the ancient town of Byzantium. Constantinople developed its own liturgical rite from the Liturgy of St. James, in one form as modified by St. Basil, and in a more commonly used form, as modified by St. John Chrysostom. After 1054, except for brief periods of reunion, most Byzantine Christians have not been in communion with Rome. They make up the Orthodox Churches of the East, whose titular head is the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Orthodox Churches are mostly auto-cephalous, meaning self-headed, united to each other by communion with Constantinople, which exercises no real authority over them. They are typically divided into Churches along nation lines. Those that have returned to communion with the Holy See are represented among the Eastern Churches and Rites of the Catholic Church.

ARMENIAN

Considered either its own Rite or an older version of the Byzantine. Its exact form is not used by any other Byzantine Rite. It is composed of Catholics from the first people to convert as a nation, the Armenians (N.E. of Turkey), who returned to Rome at the time of the Crusades. The liturgical language is classical Armenian. The 350,000 Armenian Catholics are found in Armenia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Ukraine, France, Romania, United States, and Argentina. Most Armenians are Orthodox, not in union with Rome.

BYZANTINE

• Albanian - Albanian Christians, numbering only 1400 today, who resumed communion with Rome in 1628. Liturgical language is Albanian. Most Albanian Christians are Albanian Orthodox.

• Belarussian/Byelorussian - Unknown number of Belarussians who returned to Rome in the 17th century. The liturgical language is Old Slavonic. The faithful can be found in Belarus, as well as Europe, the Americas and Australia.

• Bulgarian - Bulgarians who returned to Rome in 1861. Liturgical language is Old Slavonic. The 20,000 faithful can be found in Bulgaria. Most Bulgarian Christians are Bulgarian Orthodox.

• Czech - Czech Catholics of Byzantine Rite organized into a jurisdiction in 1996.

• Krizevci - Croatian Catholics of Byzantine Rite who resumed communion with Rome in 1611. The liturgical language is Old Slavonic. The 50,000 faithful can be found in Croatia and the Americas. Most Croatians are Roman (Rite) Catholics.

• Greek - Greek Christians who returned to Rome in 1829. The liturgical language is Greek. Only 2500 faithful in Greece, Asia Minor (Turkey) and Europe. Greek Christians are almost all Orthodox, whose Patriarch is the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople.

• Hungarian - Descendants of Ruthenians who returned to Rome in 1646. The liturgical languages are Greek, Hungarian and English. The 300,000 faithful are found in Hungary, Europe and the Americas.

• Italo-Albanian - Never separated from Rome, these 60,000 Byzantine Rite Catholics are found in Italy, Sicily and the Americas. The liturgical languages are Greek and Italo-Albanian.

• Melkite - Catholics from among those separated from Rome in Syria and Egypt who resumed Communion with Rome at the time of the Crusades. However, definitive union only came in the 18th century. Melkite Greek Patriarch of Damascus. Liturgical languages are Greek, Arabic, English, Portuguese and Spanish. The over 1 million Melkite Catholics can be found in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Canada, US, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina and Australia.

• Romanian - Romanians who returned to Rome in 1697. The liturgical language is Romanian. There are over 1 million Romanian Catholics in Romania, Europe and the Americas. Most Romanian Christians are Romanian Orthodox.

• Russian - Russians who returned to communion with Rome in 1905. The liturgical language is Old Slavonic. An unknown number of the faithful in Russia, China, the Americas and Australia. Most Russian Christians are Russian Orthodox, whose Patriarch is the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

• Ruthenian - Catholics from among those separated from Rome in Russia, Hungary and Croatia who reunited with Rome in 1596 (Brest-Litovsk) and 1646 (Uzhorod).

• Slovak - Byzantine Rite Catholics of Slovakian origin numbering 225,000 and found in Slovakia and Canada.

• Ukrainian - Catholics from among those separated from Rome by the Greek Schism and reunited about 1595. Patriarch or Metropolitan of Lviv. Liturgical languages are Old Slavonic and the vernacular. The 5.5 million Ukrainian Catholics can be found in Ukraine, Poland, England, Germany, France, Canada, US, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. During the Soviet era Ukrainian Catholics were violently forced to join the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Their hierarchy, which continued to exist outside the homeland, has since been re-established in Ukraine.

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ALEXANDRIAN

The Church of Alexandria in Egypt was one of the original centers of Christianity since, like Rome and Antioch, it had a large Jewish population which was the initial object of apostolic evangelization. Its Liturgy is attributed to St. Mark the Evangelist and shows the later influence of the Byzantine Liturgy, in addition to its unique elements.

• Coptic - Egyptian Catholics who returned to communion with Rome in 1741. The Patriarch of Alexandria leads the 200,000 faithful of this ritual Church spread throughout Egypt and the Near East. The liturgical languages are Coptic (Egyptian) and Arabic. Most Copts are not Catholics.

• Ethiopian/Abyssinian - Ethiopian Coptic Christians who returned to Rome in 1846. The liturgical language is Geez. The 200,000 faithful are found in Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Jerusalem.

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54 Day Rosary Novena

The "54-day Rosary Novena" is an uninterrupted series of Rosaries in honor of Our Lady, revealed to the incurably sick Fortuna Agrelli by Our Lady of Pompeii at Naples in 1884. For thirteen months Fortuna Agrelli had endured dreadful sufferings and torturous cramps; she had been given up by the most celebrated physicians.

On February 16, 1884, the afflicted girl and her relatives commenced a novena of Rosaries. The Queen of the Holy Rosary favored her with an apparition on March 3rd. Mary, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, held the divine Child on her lap, and in her hand a Rosary. The Virgin Mother and the holy Infant were clad in gold-embroidered garments. They were accompanied by St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. The throne was profusely decorated with flowers; the beauty of Our Lady was marvellous. Blessed Virgin said: "Child, thou has invoked me by various titles and hast always obtained favours from me. Now, since thou hast called me by that title so pleasing to me, 'Queen of the Holy Rosary,' I can no longer refuse the favour thou dost petition; for this name is most precious and dear to me. Make three novenas, and thou shalt obtain all."

Once more the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to her and said, Whoever desires to obtain favours from me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The Novena consists of five decades of the Rosary each day for twenty-seven days in petition; then immediately five decades each day for twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, whether or not the request has been granted. The meditations vary from day to day. On the first day meditate on the Joyful Mysteries; on the second day the Sorrowful Mysteries; on the third day the Glorious Mysteries; on the fourth day meditate on the Luminous mysteries; and so on throughout the fifty-four days.

Please join me as I start this Novena today.

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Words of Inspiration: May 10, 2006

"The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved."

"The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."

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Evening Prayer / Vespers

Jesus Christ my God, I adore you and thank you for all the graces you have given me this day. I offer you my sleep and all the moments of this night, and I ask you to keep me from sin. I put myself within your sacred side and under the mantle of our Lady. Let your holy angels stand about me and keep me in peace. And let your blessing be upon me. Amen.

~By St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)

Video: Fr. Lang and Dr. Laurence Hemming assist in the Incensation of the Altar at the Magnificat in the Solemn Vespers of the Exultation of the Cross. Merton College Chapel, Oxford University. CIEL 2006 Conference. Note: Vespers is the Church's official Evening Prayer for each day in the Year. For a listing of each day's Vespers, consult a Breviary.

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Andrea Clark has Died

I'm sure you remember my several posts on Andrea Clark, the woman whose ventilator was scheduled to be removed because of the hospital's ethics committee. Thankfully, the hospital reversed its decision. However, Andrea Clark has just died following a long series of complications from an open heart surgery. I'm just thankful that her final days were peaceful and that she was able to receive the care she need up to the very end.

Please pray for her soul.

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

Image Source: All Souls Day by William Bouguereau

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Pope Benedict XVI on Contemplation

Communion and contemplation belong together: a person cannot communicate with another person without knowing him. Love or friendship always carries within it an impulse of reverence, of adoration. Communicating with Christ therefore demands that we gaze on him, allow him to gaze on us, listen to him, get to know him. Adoration is simply the personal aspect of Communion.

(Pope Benedict XVI)

Image Source: Wikipedia

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Pope Benedict XVI Ordains 15 Men

Today is the 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, and it is also the day when Pope Benedict XVI ordained 15 men at St. Peter's Basilica to the holy priesthood. Please pray for the these men, who answered the call of Christ.

Here is part of Pope Benedict XVI's midday address:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday, in which the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is observed, I have had the joy of ordaining in St. Peter's Basilica 15 new priests of the Diocese of Rome.

Together with them, I think of all those that, in all parts of the world receive priestly ordination at the same time. In thanking the Lord for the gift of these new priests at the service of the Church, we put them in Mary's hands, while invoking her intercession so that the number will grow of those who accept Christ's invitation to follow him on the path of the priesthood and consecrated life.

This year, the theme of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is "Vocation in the Mystery of the Church." In the message I have addressed to the entire ecclesial community for this occasion, I recalled the experience of Jesus' first disciples that, after meeting him on the lake and in the villages of Galilee, were captivated by his attractiveness and love.

The Christian vocation always implies renewing this personal friendship with Jesus Christ, which gives meaning to one's life and makes it available for the Kingdom of God.

The Church lives from this friendship, nourished by the word and the sacraments, holy realities entrusted in a particular way to the ministry of bishops, priests and deacons, consecrated by the sacrament of holy orders. For this reason, as I underlined in the same message, the mission of the priest is irreplaceable and, although in some regions there is a lack of clergy, there is no doubt that God continues to call adolescents, youths and adults to leave all to dedicate themselves to the preaching of the Gospel and the pastoral ministry.

© Copyright 2006 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]

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