Pope Benedict XVI is calling on all mankind to join in praying and fasting for peace in the Middle East today, especially for Israel and Lebanon.Image: Believed to be in the Public Domain
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Pope Benedict XVI is calling on all mankind to join in praying and fasting for peace in the Middle East today, especially for Israel and Lebanon.Image: Believed to be in the Public Domain
Saturday, July 22, 2006
If you are ever to follow the Lord, you must pray. Prayer, Silence, and obedience must be the foundation of our daily activities. Every action, prayer, and suffering should be offered up to God in prayer for the salvation of the world. All daily activities should be conducted peacefully and generally in silence. Of course conservation is great and should be valued, but silence should be also for silence is the language of God. And we must all be obedient to those in authority over us - our priests, bishops, and elected officials.New visitors, please look through my archives and especially the "Catholic Categories" section of my blog. There you will find important Catholic information.
I am going to take a slight break from blogging in order to focus on prayer. Through blogging, I too often want people to read my writings - it can be a stumbling block for humility. There are so many other great Catholic blogs, I know that my readers will still be able to find information elsewhere. Let me make it clear that I will continue to blog, however, I plan on doing it much less frequently. So please don't completely leave my blog. I will continue to post but not everyday.
Above all, I want to serve the Lord and fully understand where I am to go as a priest - either a monastery or work as a diocesan priest. I am going to post this schedule that was emailed to me. I hope to try and live it each day. I will of course try to pray the Liturgy of the Hours - at least Lauds and Vespers each day.
A Rule of Life
For Those Who, Living in the World, Aspire after Perfection
By Father Michael Muller, C.Ss.R.
In the Morning
1. Rise at affixed hour, for example, six o'clock; do not remain longer in bed without a reasonable motive.
2. As soon as you awake, offer your heart to God, make the sign of the Cross, and dress yourself quickly and modestly. Then, on your knees, say three "Hail Marys," in honor of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to obtain a great purity of body and soul.
3. Say your morning prayers, and make a meditation during half, or at least a quarter of an hour. It is better to say short prayers - "Our Father" and "Hail Mary," - or to say your prayers going to or at your work, than to say no prayers at all.
4. Hear Mass, if it is possible.
During the Course of the Day
5. Read a spiritual book for at least a quarter of an hour.
6. Say your beads, if possible, with the rest of the household.
7. Pay a visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the church if you can do so. N.B. - For these three last exercises you can choose whatever time will
least interfere with your daily occupations.
8. Frequently make short ejaculatory prayers, above all at the beginning and end of your actions. Employ chiefly acts of the love of God, such as these: My dear Jesus, I love Thee ... I wish very much to love Thee ... make me love Thee more and more, etc.
9. Practice the mortification of the eyes, of the ears, and of the tongue, by sometimes refraining from looking, hearing, or saying things, which, though not dangerous, are useless, in order to be able more easily to abstain from what is dangerous, or even bad.
10. Seize carefully every opportunity of suffering any little pain, contradiction, or humiliation, for the love of God. In every such occasion submit yourself to the will of God, saying: O my God, this is Thy Will; may Thy holy Will be done!
11. At your meals deprive yourself in part or entirely of some little thing you are fond of; and never completely satisfy your appetite.
12. Do not eat between meals without necessity.
13. Fly idleness, bad company, and every occasion of sin, especially those in which chastity is in danger.
14. In temptations, especially those of impurity, make the sign of the Cross, if you are alone; and say in your heart, Jesus and Mary, help me. If the temptation still continues, do not be troubled, but pray with greater earnestness, saying, My dear Jesus, I would rather die than offend Thee.
15. If you have the misfortune to commit a sin, so not give way to trouble, even though the sin be grievous, but make immediately a good act of contrition, with a firm purpose not to fall again, and to confess it as soon as possible.
In the Evening
16. At a fixed hour, for example, nine o'clock, say your night prayers, and make your examination of conscience; recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, and then read over the subject of the next morning's meditation.
17. Having said, on your knees, the three "Hail Marys," as in the morning, undress yourself with all modesty, and be careful to remain always decently covered in bed, and to preserve a modest posture.
18. Until you fall asleep, occupy your mind with the subject of the tomorrow's meditation, or with the remembrance of death, or some other pious thought.
19. Choose a good [Traditional] Confessor, in whom you have confidence; open your heart to him without reserve, and be guided by his advice; do not quit him without strong reason.
20. Go to confession once a week, and receive the Holy Communion as often as your director judges proper. (Note: This was before Pope St. Pius X's decree encouraging frequent and daily communion.)
21. Attend sermons and instructions as often as you can, endeavoring always to apply them to yourself, and to draw some practical resolution from them; enter some pious confraternity, with the sole view of attending to the interest of your soul.
22. If your health will permit, fast on every Saturday, and on the eves of the Feasts of the Blessed Virgin. At least perform in Her honor some little act of mortification on those days, according to your state of health and your occupations. Nourish in your heart a tender devotion towards the Blessed Virgin, and address to Her from time to time this fervent prayer: My
good Mother Mary, help me to love your divine Son Jesus with all my heart. Wear the scapular, and at least the miraculous medal.
Observation
As this rule of life does not of itself impose any obligation under pain of sin, no one must be alarmed if he cannot follow it in every thing. Let each one take that which is in accordance with the duties of his state of life, which ought always to be attended to in preference to any exercises of piety which are not of obligation. Thus let each one do what he can, but cheerfully, and for the love of God.
-----------------
Taken from A Familiar Explanation of Christian Doctrine, 1875
(out-of-print), by Father Michael Muller, C.Ss.R.
Last Wednesday, President George W. Bush thankfully vetoed HR 810, which would have required American taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research. The House of Representatives was thankfully unable to overturn the veto.
However, the next day, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized $150 million in taxpayer funds for a loan to the state's stem cell research agency (1). Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, for the second time, issued an executive order directing $5 million in state taxpayer funds to pay for embryonic stem cell research (2)
Read more >>
However, the next day, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized $150 million in taxpayer funds for a loan to the state's stem cell research agency (1). Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, for the second time, issued an executive order directing $5 million in state taxpayer funds to pay for embryonic stem cell research (2)
Double (1955 Calendar): July 22
Today the Church remembers the life of St. Mary Magdalene, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. According to the Latin Rite in the Roman Catholic Church, Mary Magdalene is mentioned in Lk 7:36-50, Lk 10:38-42, and Jn 20:11-18. The Catholic Church believes these references all refer to Mary Magdalene. As the article "A Retrieval of the Traditional View of Mary Magdalene From the Fringes of Theology" summarizes, after carefully and thoughtfully analyzing the Scriptures and historical evidence:
Thus retrieved, Mary Magdalene shines forth once more as the one who loved much (Luke 7:47), the one from whom seven demons were cast out (Luke 8:2), the one who grasped the one thing necessary (Luke 10:42), the one who moved the God-Man to tears (John 11:33–35), the one who did a beautiful thing for Him (Mark 14:6), the one whose deed would be proclaimed throughout the world (Mark 14:9), and the one who first saw the Risen Lord and believed (John 20:18).
The New Liturgical Movement writes:
From the time of St Gregory, the Western Church accepted that Mary Magdalene was also the sinful woman who anoints Christ’s feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee, as recounted in Luke 7, 36-50, the Gospel for her feast. This connection was probably made from the words that immediately follow this passage, or at least reinforced by them, Luke 8, 1-3. “And it came to pass afterwards, that he travelled through the cities and towns, preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God; and the twelve with him: And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary who is called Magdalen, out of whom seven devils were gone forth, And Joanna the wife of Chusa, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered unto him of their substance.” (Mark 16, 9 also refers to the seven devils.)
Because of her faith and repentance, she was privileged to be the first person after the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus appeared to after His Resurrection (John 20:1-18).
What about the Da Vinci Code?
The Da Vinci Code - while a work of fiction is considered factual by the author - teaches that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus, the mother of Jesus’ child, a participant at the Last Supper, His prophetic successor and a priestess. These claims have absolutely no support in Church Tradition or Holy Scripture. All references to "gnostic gospels" add nothing to the debate since these "gospels" were rejected from the official canon of Sacred Scripture because they were heretical and lacked apostolic authorship. Hence these claims are utterly void of any truth whatsoever and are condemned.
Prayer:
May we be helped by the intercession of blessed Mary Magdalen, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Who in answer to her prayers didst raise her brother Lazarus to life after he had been dead four days: Who livest and reignest.
Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Hello, everyone!
I'm currently writing from the library of a Benedectine Monastery that I am visiting. It is quite an experience to be here and share in praying the Liturgy of the Hours. It's so wonderful to hear the Divine Office chanted each day. I've also finally saw the Liturgy of the Hour's book, "Christian Prayer," on sale here, so I had to purchase it. I've been looking for an affordable copy for weeks.
It is wonderful praying and glorifying God with such holy men and women (I visited a nearby Benedictine convent too). But, experiencing the Order of St. Benedict has helped me learn something important - I can't change non-Catholics. This blog has been my creation to spread the Gospel of Truth to every one that reads it - to the entire world. I have poured week's worth of time into this project. However, people still come here claiming there is no flaw in salvation by the Protestant view of "Faith-alone" or "Scripture alone". They deny the Real Presence and support such evil as abortion. But, here I see that prayer must be the center of daily life. It was so amazing seeing Mass concelebrated by 10 priests! I realize that my life must not center on this blog or on converting others. It must center on prayer.
I, of course, will continue to blog, but I plan on blogging much less frequently. I plan to pray the Divine Office and study history and theology more. I was put on this earth to love and know God and to be with Him for all eternity. I have to focus 100% on prayer. After all, I cannot change cold hearts no matter how hard I try - only Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord and God, can do that. So, I pray that all of you are well. And I pray especially for all non-Catholics that they might come into the flock of Christ and experience the great peace I felt in this Basilica and chapel. I plan on going the Seminary and living here for four years.
Glory to Our God! I'll write more when I return from my vacation.
Read more >>
I'm currently writing from the library of a Benedectine Monastery that I am visiting. It is quite an experience to be here and share in praying the Liturgy of the Hours. It's so wonderful to hear the Divine Office chanted each day. I've also finally saw the Liturgy of the Hour's book, "Christian Prayer," on sale here, so I had to purchase it. I've been looking for an affordable copy for weeks.
It is wonderful praying and glorifying God with such holy men and women (I visited a nearby Benedictine convent too). But, experiencing the Order of St. Benedict has helped me learn something important - I can't change non-Catholics. This blog has been my creation to spread the Gospel of Truth to every one that reads it - to the entire world. I have poured week's worth of time into this project. However, people still come here claiming there is no flaw in salvation by the Protestant view of "Faith-alone" or "Scripture alone". They deny the Real Presence and support such evil as abortion. But, here I see that prayer must be the center of daily life. It was so amazing seeing Mass concelebrated by 10 priests! I realize that my life must not center on this blog or on converting others. It must center on prayer.
I, of course, will continue to blog, but I plan on blogging much less frequently. I plan to pray the Divine Office and study history and theology more. I was put on this earth to love and know God and to be with Him for all eternity. I have to focus 100% on prayer. After all, I cannot change cold hearts no matter how hard I try - only Jesus Christ, my beautiful Lord and God, can do that. So, I pray that all of you are well. And I pray especially for all non-Catholics that they might come into the flock of Christ and experience the great peace I felt in this Basilica and chapel. I plan on going the Seminary and living here for four years.
Glory to Our God! I'll write more when I return from my vacation.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
I'll all packed and just getting ready to leave right now. I'll write more on Saturday. Please just keep me in your prayers.May God bless all of you!
Updates:
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Update (July 20, 2006): President George W. Bush vetos HR 810 and the House of Representatives by a 235 - 193 vote, fell short to override the veto. Source: CNN
The United States Senate approved HR 810, which would use our taxdollars to fund embryonic stem cell research, on a 63-37 vote. You should see how your Senators voted. Thankfully, President George W. Bush is expected to veto the bill, and it is unlikely the House and Senate will get the needed 2/3 majority to override the veto.
On to the pro-life bills, the United States House of representatives by a 273-154 vote failed to pass the Santorum-Specter bill, lacking the necessary 2/3 majority to send a bill to the President urging the federal government to find alternative ways to obtain embryonic stem cells without destroying human life. On to the good news - The House of Representatives approved a ban on the practice of fetal farming on a 425-0 vote. It will soon become a crime to create, acquire, or traffic in tissue specifically derived from a human embryo created and grown for tissue harvesting. The Senate previously approved it unanimously.
President George W. Bush is expected to sign the ban on fetal farming into law, and he has promised to veto HR 810. I ask you to contact President Bush and just ask him to veto the bill. Thankfully the President is acting on his morals - embryonic stem cell research is always wrong.
Read more >>
The United States Senate approved HR 810, which would use our taxdollars to fund embryonic stem cell research, on a 63-37 vote. You should see how your Senators voted. Thankfully, President George W. Bush is expected to veto the bill, and it is unlikely the House and Senate will get the needed 2/3 majority to override the veto.
On to the pro-life bills, the United States House of representatives by a 273-154 vote failed to pass the Santorum-Specter bill, lacking the necessary 2/3 majority to send a bill to the President urging the federal government to find alternative ways to obtain embryonic stem cells without destroying human life. On to the good news - The House of Representatives approved a ban on the practice of fetal farming on a 425-0 vote. It will soon become a crime to create, acquire, or traffic in tissue specifically derived from a human embryo created and grown for tissue harvesting. The Senate previously approved it unanimously.
President George W. Bush is expected to sign the ban on fetal farming into law, and he has promised to veto HR 810. I ask you to contact President Bush and just ask him to veto the bill. Thankfully the President is acting on his morals - embryonic stem cell research is always wrong.
Everyone,
I'm going on a vacation. I'm going to leave tomorrow, Wednesday July 19, 2006, and I will not be blogging until this coming Saturday when I return. This vacation is for my discernment; I will be staying with a group of Benedictine Monks. When I return I should have a better idea where I am called to go.
Please keep me in your prayers. I will not be answering any email until then, so my email will be sending out an automatic vacation response to everyone that emails me while I'm gone.
Have a blessed week!
Read more >>
I'm going on a vacation. I'm going to leave tomorrow, Wednesday July 19, 2006, and I will not be blogging until this coming Saturday when I return. This vacation is for my discernment; I will be staying with a group of Benedictine Monks. When I return I should have a better idea where I am called to go.
Please keep me in your prayers. I will not be answering any email until then, so my email will be sending out an automatic vacation response to everyone that emails me while I'm gone.
Have a blessed week!
Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.Remember Jesus didn't come to intentionally bring disorder. His message was one of love and redemption and for that His own people crucified Him. We all see it - sinners enjoy the darkness for the "...people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works were evil" (John 3:19). It is our responsibility to take up all of our Crosses and sufferings and follow after Our Lord anyway. It is our obligation to serve Him if we are to be graced with eternal life. This reading shows us that we must follow Our Lord - we are not saved by Faith-alone. We all must serve Our Lord no matter what obstacles lie in our path - look at the Example of the Martyrs.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward.
And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink
because he is a disciple— amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns.
Matthew 10:34-11:1
My priest told this story in a homily before. There was a young woman that felt the deepest calling to become Catholic; however, her father hated Catholicism and forbid her to convert. But she followed Our Lord anyway. Finally, a few years later, he began to speak to her again. But, more than that, she then felt Our Lord's calling to become a nun. Her father said that if she entered a convent, he would never visit her - she would never see him again if she did. But she followed Our Lord anyway. Finally, years later, the father came to the convent and sat in the guest area waiting for his daughter. The conversation he had with the nuns there truly opened his mind and he began to respect Our faith.
We have to remember that not everyone will accept the message of Jesus. But, no matter what anyone else says, we must accept and follow Our Lord.
Image Source: Christ Cleansing the Temple by Bernardino Mei
Archbishop Raymond Burke of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, a wonderful Traditional priest, has been a member to the Apostolic Signatura (the Church's highest administrative law court, 1983 CIC 1445).Image Source: Wikipedia
Pope Benedict XVI is currently on a short vacation in Les Combes, France. It is the summer residence for the Pope. Pope Benedict XVI arrived there on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, and planned to spend an 18-day vacation.
Some photos of the Holy Father in Les Combes:
REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (ITALY)
AP Photo/Antonio Calanni
Read more >>
Some photos of the Holy Father in Les Combes:
AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, HO
"Please pray for Monsignor DeBlanc who passed away. He was 91 years old and the most loving priest. He has done so much for the parish. He was retired and wrote many books. He loved people and helped so many. He would always call them 'My Angels.' Keep him in your prayers."
Monday, July 17, 2006
I received the following email, which I want to pass on to all of my readers.
Read more >>
I wanted to let you know that Faith & Values Media, the nation's largest coalition of faith groups dedicated to media production, distribution and promotion, has launched a free video-on-demand (VOD) feature through its online service FaithStreams.com. On the site, visitors will be able to search video content from dozens of faith groups and religious organizations encompassing Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions in the U.S.I am a user of Youtube as well as Google's video-on-demand features. As a user of video-on-demand, I'm very glad to see that Faith & Values Media has launched their own service.
In today's LifeSiteNews report, here are some of the horrifying articles that I read. Please pray for the conversion of sinners and an end to evil.- Lord of the Rings Profits Used to Support Embryonic Stem Cell Research
- Dutch Court Approves Pedophile Political Party
Image Source: L'Excommunication de Robert le Pieu
THANKS BE TO GOD!
Just last week I posted about a Kansas abortion clinic that was bought and now being used by pro-lifers. Then I posted about an Omaha one that closed and then about an abortion mill that closed in Missouri. Now I have another one to post about!
On June 1, 2006, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo blessed a former abortion mill and consecrated it as a new chapel of the Holy Innocents. The Holy Innocents are mentioned in the New Testament - those children murdered by Herod as he looked to kill the Child Jesus.
“In the tradition of the early church, pagan temples were turned into holy spaces,” Bishop Kmiec said. “We have done the same thing here today.” This new chapel is the on-site chapel of a Catholic radio station, Holy Family Communications.
Source: LifeSiteNews
The Gospel of Life is winning! Please pray for the unborn and an end to the evil of abortion.
Read more >>
Just last week I posted about a Kansas abortion clinic that was bought and now being used by pro-lifers. Then I posted about an Omaha one that closed and then about an abortion mill that closed in Missouri. Now I have another one to post about!
On June 1, 2006, Bishop Edward U. Kmiec of Buffalo blessed a former abortion mill and consecrated it as a new chapel of the Holy Innocents. The Holy Innocents are mentioned in the New Testament - those children murdered by Herod as he looked to kill the Child Jesus.
“In the tradition of the early church, pagan temples were turned into holy spaces,” Bishop Kmiec said. “We have done the same thing here today.” This new chapel is the on-site chapel of a Catholic radio station, Holy Family Communications.
Source: LifeSiteNews
The Gospel of Life is winning! Please pray for the unborn and an end to the evil of abortion.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Greater Double (1955 Calendar): July 16
Commemoration (1962 Calendar): July 16
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel commemorates when Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, the superior general of the Carmelites, in Cambridge, England, on Sunday, July 16, 1251. The Carmelite Order was founded in the 1100s on Mount Carmel, the same place in the Holy Land mentioned in the Bible in 1 Kings 18:16-40. It was there that the prophet Elijah took his stand against the pagan prophets of Baal and Asherah by the power of God.
St. Simon Stock had appealed to Mary through prayer to help the new Carmelite order to overcome oppression. She appeared with the Brown Scapular and said to him:
The Church keeps the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16th. And to show just how important the Scapular is, she sanctions and encourages the promises of the Scapular. The Blessed Mother promised that whoever dies clothed in the Scapular will not suffer eternal fire. This promise though requires a few conditions on our part. It is not just a piece of magic where we seek to bend the will of God to us. Catholics do not believe in magic. But we do believe in the Scapular as a Sacramental through which we can receive God’s through if we have the right dispositions.
Requirements of the Brown Scapular:
There is also a promise called the Sabbatine Privilege that is also concerning the Brown Scapular.
It is piously believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave to Pope John XXII in a vision, that She will deliver Her faithful children who have worn the Scapular devoutly from purgatory soon after their death, notably the first Saturday after death. Her words to Pope John XXII: “As a tender Mother, I will descend into purgatory on the Saturday after their death, and will deliver them into the heavenly mansions of life everlasting.” This Sabbatine Privilege was promulgated and taught through the famous Bull Sacratissimo Uti Culmine (Sabbatine Bull) of Pope John XXII in 1322 and given definitive ratification in 1908 by the Holy See.
Requirements for the Sabbatine Privilege:
In May of 1957, a Carmelite priest in Germany published the unusual story of how the Scapular saved a home from fire. An entire row of homes had caught fire in Westboden, Germany. The pious inhabitants of a 2-family home, seeing the fire, immediately fastened a Scapular to the main door of the house. Sparks flew over it and around it, but the house remained unharmed. Within 5 hours, 22 homes had been reduced to ashes. The one structure which had the Scapular attached to its door. The hundreds of people who came to see the place Our lady had saved are eye-witnesses to the power of the Scapular and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Another Scapular story that bears repeating took place in 1845. In the late summer of that year, the English ship, "king of the Ocean" found itself in the middle of a wild hurricane. As wind and sea mercilessly lashed the ship, a Protestant minister, together with his wife and children and other passengers, struggled to the deck to pray for forgiveness and mercy, as the end seemed at hand. Among the crew was a young Irishman, John McAuliffe. On seeing the urgency of the situation, the youth opened his shirt took off his Scapular, and, making The sign of the Cross with it over the raging waves tossed it into the ocean. At that very moment, the wind calmed. Only one more wave washed the deck, bringing with it the Scapular which came to rest at the boy's feet. All the while the minister; a Mr. Fisher, had been carefully observing McAuliffe's actions and the miraculous effect of those actions. Upon questioning the young man, they were told about the Holy Virgin and Her Scapular. Mr. Fisher and his family were so impressed that they were determined to enter the Catholic Church as soon as possible, and thereby enjoy the same protection of Our Lady's Scapular.
One of the most extraordinary of all Scapular incidents took place right here in the United States. It happened around the turn of the century in the town of Ashtabula, Ohio, that a man was cut in two but a train; he was wearing the Scapular. Instead of dying instantly, as would be expected he remained alive and conscious for 45 minutes -- just enough time until a priest could arrive to administer the Last Sacraments. These, and other such incidents, tell us that Our Blessed Mother will take personal care of us in the hour of our death. So great and powerful a Mother is Mary that She will never fail to keep the Scapular contract, i.e. to see that we die in God's grace.
These are just some of the many miracles attributed to the Blessed Mother. There are many, many others attributed to the Brown Scapular.
In wearing the Scapular at all times we make silent petition for the Blessed Mother’s continual assistance. We share in all the prayers and good works of the Carmelite Scapular Confraternity throughout the world. Pope Pius XII often spoke of the Scapular. On the 700th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock, Pope Pius XII referred to the Scapular as “the sign of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”. The Scapular also represents the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ, which Mary helps us to bear. And finally, the pope continued, the Scapular marks us as one of Mary’s chosen children, and becomes for us (as the Germans call it) a “Garment of Grace”. St. Claude tells us, “Of all the pious practices which have inspired the faithful to honor the Mother of God, there is none so sure as that of the Scapular.
No other devotion has been confirmed by so many and such extraordinary miracles.” As we mentioned above, during the Scapular Anniversary celebration in Rome in 1951, Pope Pius XII told a very large audience to wear the Brown Scapular as a sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady asked for this consecration in the last apparition at Fatima, when She appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, holding the Brown Scapular out to the whole world. It was Her last moving appeal to souls to wear Her Scapular as a sign of consecration to Her Immaculate Heart.
Click here to browse various affordable Scapulars for sale.
Also, it’s important to realize that the Brown Scapular is only one of 17 different approved Scapulars. All of the other Scapulars have various requirements and promises. You would need to be enrolled in each of them as all have different prayers of enrollment.
Prayer:
O God, Who hast honored the Order of Carmel with the special title of Thy most Blessed Mother Mary, ever Virgin: mercifully grant, that we who celebrate her memory this day with solemn office, may be shielded by her protection and deserve to come to everlasting joys: Who livest and reignest.
Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
11. BLESSING AND INVESTITURE WITH SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL (1962 Rituale Romanum)
(Formerly reserved to the Order of Discalced Carmelites)
The person who is to receive the scapular is kneeling. The priest vested in surplice and white stole, says:
The antiphon, versicles, and the prayer "May Christ," etc., for all of which see below. Then he adds the following versicles and oration:
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: Blessed be the name of the Lord.
All: Both now and forevermore.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God and everlasting Father, who willed that your only- begotten Son be clothed in our mortal nature, we humbly beg you in your boundless goodness to let your blessing
flow out on this garment, which our holy fathers have sanctioned to be worn by those who renounce the world, in token of innocence and lowliness. Let it please you to endow it with such blessing, that he (she), who is to wear it, may likewise put on our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
All: Amen.
Then he says the prayer "We earnestly beg you," etc., see below; after which he sprinkles the habit with holy water. If only the habit is to be blessed, the blessing begins with the versicle Our help etc. (see above) and concludes with the aforementioned prayer "We earnestly beg you," etc.
As he invests the person with the habit he says: "Take, dear brother," etc. (see below); after which he adds:
Lord, hear our humble entreaties, and help this servant of yours, whom we enroll in the holy sodality of the Carmelites, to be ever constant and true to his (her) proposal, and to serve you in all holiness. Protect your servant, Lord, with the saving grace of peace; and as he (she) confides himself (herself) to the patronage of blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, let him (her) be safe from all adversaries.
Then he blesses the new member with the sign of the cross, using the prayer "May almighty God," etc., below.
He sprinkles the person with holy water; after which he adds:
By the delegated power which I enjoy, I receive you into the confraternity of the holy order of Carmelites, and enroll you as a partaker of all the spiritual benefits of this order; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel commemorates when Our Lady appeared to St. Simon Stock, the superior general of the Carmelites, in Cambridge, England, on Sunday, July 16, 1251. The Carmelite Order was founded in the 1100s on Mount Carmel, the same place in the Holy Land mentioned in the Bible in 1 Kings 18:16-40. It was there that the prophet Elijah took his stand against the pagan prophets of Baal and Asherah by the power of God.
St. Simon Stock had appealed to Mary through prayer to help the new Carmelite order to overcome oppression. She appeared with the Brown Scapular and said to him:
"Take, beloved son, this scapular of the order as a badge of my confraternity and for you and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant"Later that day, St. Simon Stock was called promptly by Lord Peter of Linton: "Come quickly, Father, my brother is dying in despair!" St. Simon Stock placed his large Scapular over the dying man and prayed that Mary would keep her promise. The man instantly repented of his sins and died in a state of grace. Blessed Pope Gregory X was buried wearing the Scapular, only 25 years after the vision. When his tomb was opened over 600 years later, the wool scapular remained perfectly intact and had not degraded in the least.
The Church keeps the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16th. And to show just how important the Scapular is, she sanctions and encourages the promises of the Scapular. The Blessed Mother promised that whoever dies clothed in the Scapular will not suffer eternal fire. This promise though requires a few conditions on our part. It is not just a piece of magic where we seek to bend the will of God to us. Catholics do not believe in magic. But we do believe in the Scapular as a Sacramental through which we can receive God’s through if we have the right dispositions.
Requirements of the Brown Scapular:
- The Scapular must hang over the shoulders with one side hanging in the front and the other side hanging in the back
- The Scapular must be made of 100% wool and be either square or rectangular
- One must be properly enrolled in the Brown Scapular. Any priest may say the prayers of enrollment in the Brown Scapular. But wearing the Scapular without the enrollment does not permit the wearer to receive the benefits of the Brown Scapular.
- One must wear the Scapular at all times. It may of course be taken off to bathe and swim. But the Brown Scapular is not just a devotion we pull out from time to time. It must, with only certain exceptions, be worn at all times.
Sometimes confusion arises on these requirements. Please refer to the website of the Sisters of Carmel for answers to common questions concerning the Scapular.
It is piously believed that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave to Pope John XXII in a vision, that She will deliver Her faithful children who have worn the Scapular devoutly from purgatory soon after their death, notably the first Saturday after death. Her words to Pope John XXII: “As a tender Mother, I will descend into purgatory on the Saturday after their death, and will deliver them into the heavenly mansions of life everlasting.” This Sabbatine Privilege was promulgated and taught through the famous Bull Sacratissimo Uti Culmine (Sabbatine Bull) of Pope John XXII in 1322 and given definitive ratification in 1908 by the Holy See.
Requirements for the Sabbatine Privilege:
- Wear the Brown Scapular Continuously (as mentioned above)
- To observe chastity according to one’s state in life
- Lastly, the daily recitation of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary or to abstain from meat on Wednesdays and Saturdays or with the permission of a priest say 5 decades of the Holy Rosary.
In May of 1957, a Carmelite priest in Germany published the unusual story of how the Scapular saved a home from fire. An entire row of homes had caught fire in Westboden, Germany. The pious inhabitants of a 2-family home, seeing the fire, immediately fastened a Scapular to the main door of the house. Sparks flew over it and around it, but the house remained unharmed. Within 5 hours, 22 homes had been reduced to ashes. The one structure which had the Scapular attached to its door. The hundreds of people who came to see the place Our lady had saved are eye-witnesses to the power of the Scapular and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Another Scapular story that bears repeating took place in 1845. In the late summer of that year, the English ship, "king of the Ocean" found itself in the middle of a wild hurricane. As wind and sea mercilessly lashed the ship, a Protestant minister, together with his wife and children and other passengers, struggled to the deck to pray for forgiveness and mercy, as the end seemed at hand. Among the crew was a young Irishman, John McAuliffe. On seeing the urgency of the situation, the youth opened his shirt took off his Scapular, and, making The sign of the Cross with it over the raging waves tossed it into the ocean. At that very moment, the wind calmed. Only one more wave washed the deck, bringing with it the Scapular which came to rest at the boy's feet. All the while the minister; a Mr. Fisher, had been carefully observing McAuliffe's actions and the miraculous effect of those actions. Upon questioning the young man, they were told about the Holy Virgin and Her Scapular. Mr. Fisher and his family were so impressed that they were determined to enter the Catholic Church as soon as possible, and thereby enjoy the same protection of Our Lady's Scapular.
One of the most extraordinary of all Scapular incidents took place right here in the United States. It happened around the turn of the century in the town of Ashtabula, Ohio, that a man was cut in two but a train; he was wearing the Scapular. Instead of dying instantly, as would be expected he remained alive and conscious for 45 minutes -- just enough time until a priest could arrive to administer the Last Sacraments. These, and other such incidents, tell us that Our Blessed Mother will take personal care of us in the hour of our death. So great and powerful a Mother is Mary that She will never fail to keep the Scapular contract, i.e. to see that we die in God's grace.
These are just some of the many miracles attributed to the Blessed Mother. There are many, many others attributed to the Brown Scapular.
"One Day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, I will save the world” (Words of our Lady to St. Dominic)
In wearing the Scapular at all times we make silent petition for the Blessed Mother’s continual assistance. We share in all the prayers and good works of the Carmelite Scapular Confraternity throughout the world. Pope Pius XII often spoke of the Scapular. On the 700th anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock, Pope Pius XII referred to the Scapular as “the sign of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”. The Scapular also represents the sweet yoke of Jesus Christ, which Mary helps us to bear. And finally, the pope continued, the Scapular marks us as one of Mary’s chosen children, and becomes for us (as the Germans call it) a “Garment of Grace”. St. Claude tells us, “Of all the pious practices which have inspired the faithful to honor the Mother of God, there is none so sure as that of the Scapular.
No other devotion has been confirmed by so many and such extraordinary miracles.” As we mentioned above, during the Scapular Anniversary celebration in Rome in 1951, Pope Pius XII told a very large audience to wear the Brown Scapular as a sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our Lady asked for this consecration in the last apparition at Fatima, when She appeared as Our Lady of Mount Carmel, holding the Brown Scapular out to the whole world. It was Her last moving appeal to souls to wear Her Scapular as a sign of consecration to Her Immaculate Heart.
Are there any friends who need to know about the scapular? Share this with them. Do you need to encourage any Catholics who were never enrolled to be enrolled? Do you know any Catholics who were enrolled long ago and no longer wear the Scapular. Consider buying them a Scapular. Even if they are not overly religious, they will likely never refuse a gift.
Click here to browse various affordable Scapulars for sale.
Also, it’s important to realize that the Brown Scapular is only one of 17 different approved Scapulars. All of the other Scapulars have various requirements and promises. You would need to be enrolled in each of them as all have different prayers of enrollment.
Prayer:
O God, Who hast honored the Order of Carmel with the special title of Thy most Blessed Mother Mary, ever Virgin: mercifully grant, that we who celebrate her memory this day with solemn office, may be shielded by her protection and deserve to come to everlasting joys: Who livest and reignest.
Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
(Formerly reserved to the Order of Discalced Carmelites)
The person who is to receive the scapular is kneeling. The priest vested in surplice and white stole, says:
The antiphon, versicles, and the prayer "May Christ," etc., for all of which see below. Then he adds the following versicles and oration:
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: Blessed be the name of the Lord.
All: Both now and forevermore.
P: Lord, heed my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard by you.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God and everlasting Father, who willed that your only- begotten Son be clothed in our mortal nature, we humbly beg you in your boundless goodness to let your blessing
flow out on this garment, which our holy fathers have sanctioned to be worn by those who renounce the world, in token of innocence and lowliness. Let it please you to endow it with such blessing, that he (she), who is to wear it, may likewise put on our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.All: Amen.
Then he says the prayer "We earnestly beg you," etc., see below; after which he sprinkles the habit with holy water. If only the habit is to be blessed, the blessing begins with the versicle Our help etc. (see above) and concludes with the aforementioned prayer "We earnestly beg you," etc.
As he invests the person with the habit he says: "Take, dear brother," etc. (see below); after which he adds:
Lord, hear our humble entreaties, and help this servant of yours, whom we enroll in the holy sodality of the Carmelites, to be ever constant and true to his (her) proposal, and to serve you in all holiness. Protect your servant, Lord, with the saving grace of peace; and as he (she) confides himself (herself) to the patronage of blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, let him (her) be safe from all adversaries.
Then he blesses the new member with the sign of the cross, using the prayer "May almighty God," etc., below.
He sprinkles the person with holy water; after which he adds:
By the delegated power which I enjoy, I receive you into the confraternity of the holy order of Carmelites, and enroll you as a partaker of all the spiritual benefits of this order; in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.All: Amen.
The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary began as an abridged version of the Common of the Blessed Virgin in the Divine Office. In the 10th century, it became widespread as a votive office, and in the 11th century was reorganized by St. Peter Damian. By the 12th century it was used throughout Europe and obligatory for all clergy. It was also popular among the laity. The obligation was lifted by St. Pius V in 1568. At the Council of Trent, the Little Office was de-emphasized in favor of the Divine Office (The Liturgy of the Hours), the prayer of the Church.After Trent, the Little Office became a devotional office, prayed by nonclerical religious. It was revised in 1952, with the addition of many new texts.
The traditional version of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary is available on Amazon.com.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
In the past few days, a growing number of Protestants have visited my blog. First and foremost, I have nothing against the people but rather the theology of Protestant denominations.Two of the greatest problems I have with Protestants is their belief in "Faith-alone" and "Scripture-alone". These are wrong - period. In addition to all of their Sacraments except Baptism and marriage in some cases being invalid, Martin Luther abolished the Mass, refused to believe in Purgatory, and denied the power of the saints' intercession for us, et cetera. Several Protestant comments were posted on my posts: What's wrong with Martin Luther, Gay Marriage Defeated, & Will All Catholic be saved.
Please pray that all Protestants will reunite with the Catholic Church so that we "might be one" as Our Lord prayed (John 17:21).
Image Source: Pope Pius XII
O Lord Jesus Christ, in union with that Divine intention with which Thou, whilst on earth, didst give praise to God through Thy most Sacred Heart, and which Thou dost still everywhere offer to Him in the Holy Eucharist, even to the consummation of the world, I, in imitation of the most sacred heart of the ever immaculate Virgin Mary, do most cheerfully offer Thee, during this entire day, all my thoughts and intentions, all my affections and desires, my words, and all my works, for those who are dying this day and have no one to pray for them. Amen
Friday, July 14, 2006
Image Source: Body of Pope Benedict XVSource: In Conversation With God Vol 4 by Francis Fernandez
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
