Read Aquinas on Islam:
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/12/27/thomas-aquinas-distrusted-islam/
Thanks, Pat!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Glory of Catholic Hungary
The last Coronation in Hungary took place on December 30, 1916 of
Blessed Charles von Habsburg and his wife Zita, 99 years ago. May they pray for us!
Rome Quotes
"In the midst of teaching at Hunter, I had begun devoting all my free time to the writings of Dietrich von Hildebrand. This eminent European philosopher had come to the United States, totally destitute, in December 1940 at the age of fifty-one. He arrived as a refugee, having been one of the most outspoken Catholic voices raised against Hitler and German National Socialism. From the moment I met him, and began reading his works, I was convinced that God had given him an exceptional religious and philosophical mission, and I knew that he was putting these talents to God's service. Like Socrates, he could truthfully say that he was devoting his life to the pursuit of truth."
-Lily Jourdain
-Lily Jourdain
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Getting Ready for Legal Euthanasia
We need more workshops like this to get ready. This is how it's done.
Hats off to the Archdiocese of Vancouver. The Catholic Church always leads the way. Further proof of Her divine constitution.
Rome Quotes
"My thesis: the dominant religion in the Philippines is not Roman
Catholicism, but Folk Catholicism. The former entails following the laws
and teachings of the Roman Church and is the religion of a tiny
minority. The latter is essentially all about miraculous healings,
financial help through divine providence (which seems to be the raison
d'etre of religion for the 'masa'), veneration of statues, and a very
real indifference to the hierarchy and the doctrines of Catholicism; the
Catholic Church's importance arises mainly from the fact that it is the
custodian of the images coveted by the 'masa'."
-Carlos A. Palad
-Carlos A. Palad
Catholic Culture: Kneeling While Praying
Bishop Sheen always said to spend half your holy hour on your knees. It is good advice.
Subscribe to FI: Faithful Insight
A fine publication for those especially without Internet access.
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Faithful Insight seeks to promote the culture of life through truthful news and views on faith, life, family and freedom from a faithfully Catholic perspective.
LifeSiteNews is without doubt one of the most positive initiatives in the Catholic Church today. Support them.
Rome Quotes
"Yes, universities can be nurseries of evil philosophies and hotbeds of revolutions."
-Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, PhD
-Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, PhD
Monday, December 28, 2015
Rome Quotes
"Norcia.... where going on a beer run means heading down to the local Benedictine Monastery!"
- C.A. Wells
- C.A. Wells
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Catholic Culture: Christmas Octave
Remember this is the octave, continue to celebrate!
The eight consecutive days afterward Christmas are a big celebration.
As a kid growing up at the church of St. Agnes in the city named for Saint Paul, located on the upper banks of the mighty Mississippi River, we had Solemn Mass at 10:00 a.m. each and every day of the octave. Needless to say, this was a big bonus for the spiritual and liturgical life of the parish.
Rejoice!
Catholic Culture: Feast of St. John Wine Blessing Day
on the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
At the end of the principal Mass on the feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, after the last Gospel, the priest, retaining all vestments except the maniple, blesses wine brought by the people. This is done in memory and in honor of St. John, who drank without any ill effects the poisoned wine offered to him by his enemies.
P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
All: Who made heaven and earth.
P: The Lord be with you.
All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.
If it please you, Lord God, bless + and consecrate + this vessel of wine (or any other beverage) by the power of your right hand; and grant that, through the merits of St. John, apostle and evangelist, all your faithful who drink of it may find it a help and a protection. As the blessed John drank the poisoned potion without any ill effects, so may all who today drink the blessed wine in his honor be delivered from poisoning and similar harmful things. And as they offer themselves body and soul to you, may they obtain pardon of all their sins; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Lord, bless + this creature drink, so that it may be a health- giving medicine to all who use it; and grant by your grace that all who taste of it may enjoy bodily and spiritual health in calling on your holy name; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit, come on this wine (or any other beverage) and remain always.
All: Amen.
It is sprinkled with holy water. If the blessing is given privately outside of Mass, the priest is vested in surplice and stole and performs the ceremony as given above.
Rome Quotes
"While all things were in quiet silence and the night was in the midst of her course, Thine almighty Word, O Lord, leaped down from heaven from Thy royal throne. Ps. 92, 1. The Lord hath reigned, He is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded Himself. Glory be to the Father."
-Introit Sunday Within the Octave of the Nativity of Our Lord
-Introit Sunday Within the Octave of the Nativity of Our Lord
A Place of Pilgrimage in the USA
St. Anthony chapel (containing 5,000 relics).
See here: http://saintanthonyschapel.org/
Thanks, Patrick!
See here: http://saintanthonyschapel.org/
Thanks, Patrick!
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Teach Your Kids to Make Angel Cookies
This is our family tradition for Christmas Eve.
Remember, no meat until midnight has always been a Catholic tradition, maintained by Pope St. John Paul II until the end of his earthly life!
This is a fine Christmas Eve recipe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiggs_dinner.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Perfect Gift Ideas for Catholics
Shhh, this is what yours truly got my wife.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Beautiful Liturgy in USA
Fr. Chris Smith, a convert to the Faith and graduate of the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, is a pastor in the USA and this is his fine parish!
http://www.sta12.com/pontificalconfirmation2015
http://www.sta12.com/pontificalconfirmation2015
"Long Live the Pope" Hymn for Church, School and Home
Rome Quotes
"The most striking characteristic of the age in which we are living is psychological suffering."
-Caryll Houselander
-Caryll Houselander
Monday, December 21, 2015
My Favorite Read on the Liturgy
Many Sunday mornings on train rides into Rome this was the reading that was done:
http://www.theliturgicalyear.org/theliturgicalyearpdfs.html
http://www.theliturgicalyear.org/theliturgicalyearpdfs.html
In Memoriam: Gertrude Marie Sonnen RIP (AD 1917 - 2015)
A faithful Catholic woman.
The Church is glorified in Her saints.
A special thank you to EWTN for bringing the faith to those aged saints who are unable to leave their homes.
When I was a young altar boy at the church of the Assumption in downtown Saint Paul, an old German parish constructed in the 1870s, what warmed my heart the most was to see my own kinsfolk in the pews. I would look out and see my family in the choir loft along with her and her husband faithfully in the pew. Her husband had served at the same altar many years before. They were married there in 1939.
When He, the "Expected of the Nations" came, He founded one Church which was to carry on His work till the end of the world. It is older Catholics that inspire younger ones. She dedicated many years of her life to laboring at a Catholic hospital, St. Joe's. Countless lives were touched by her grace. I was one of them.
In your charity, pray for the repose of her soul.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
Let us pray. O God, the Giver of pardon and Lover of man's salvation, we beseech Thee in Thy mercy to grant that our brethren, kinsfolk, and benefactors, who have passed out of this life may by the intercession of the blessed Mary ever Virgin and of all Thy Saints, partake of everlasting bliss. Through Christ of Lord. Amen.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
Let us pray. O God, the Giver of pardon and Lover of man's salvation, we beseech Thee in Thy mercy to grant that our brethren, kinsfolk, and benefactors, who have passed out of this life may by the intercession of the blessed Mary ever Virgin and of all Thy Saints, partake of everlasting bliss. Through Christ of Lord. Amen.
Age
98 Gert passed away peacefully on December 9, 2015. Gert was born to
August and Magdalena Heinisch on March 20, 1917. Gert is survived by her
sons Richard (Mary) and Daniel Sonnen; her daughters Nancy Sonnen, Mary
(Duane) Hanson, Ann Sonnen; ten grandchildren and many great
grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred; her
brother, August Heinisch; her daughter, Joan Sonnen; and her son, Tom
(Shelly) Sonnen. A memorial for Gert will take place on December 29th at
the Assumption Church in St. Paul. Condolences at 9:00 am, followed by
mass at 10:00 am. No memorials. All are welcome to attend and celebrate
her life. - See more at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=gertrude-marie-sonnen&pid=176962032#sthash.H5jCdr3Y.dpuf
Age
98 Gert passed away peacefully on December 9, 2015. Gert was born to
August and Magdalena Heinisch on March 20, 1917. Gert is survived by her
sons Richard (Mary) and Daniel Sonnen; her daughters Nancy Sonnen, Mary
(Duane) Hanson, Ann Sonnen; ten grandchildren and many great
grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred; her
brother, August Heinisch; her daughter, Joan Sonnen; and her son, Tom
(Shelly) Sonnen. A memorial for Gert will take place on December 29th at
the Assumption Church in St. Paul. Condolences at 9:00 am, followed by
mass at 10:00 am. No memorials. All are welcome to attend and celebrate
her life. - See more at:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/twincities/obituary.aspx?n=gertrude-marie-sonnen&pid=176962032#sthash.H5jCdr3Y.d
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Advent Music
Other great Advent hymns from the same hymnal include:
Hark, A Herald Voice Is Calling, O Come, Divine Messiah, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
Star Wars and the Soul's Upward Yearning
-Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J.
Thanks, Chris for the quote and cinema ticket!
http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/4454/the_reality_of_myth_and_the_force_of_star_wars.aspx
Prayer for the Conversion of Australia
O God, who has appointed Mary, Help of Christians, St. Francis Xavier and St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus, Patrons of Australia, grant that through their intercession , our brethren outside the Church may receive the light of faith, so that Australia may become one in faith under one Shepherd. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.
St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.
St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us.
Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.
St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.
St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us.
Iubilaeum Misericordiae: Oratio
Oremus.
Domine Iesu Christe, qui docuisti nos ut misericordes simus sicut Pater caelestis, atque dixisti nobis: quicumque te videt, videt et Patrem. Ostende nobis vultum tuum et salvi erimus. Conspectus enim tuus amore repletus liberavit Zacchaeum et Matthaeum ab avaritia; Adulteram et Magdalenam a felicitate in sola creatura posita; effecit ut Petrus fleret post proditionem, atque latroni paenitenti Paradisum promisisti. Fac ut quisque nostrum exaudiat verba, velut sibi dicta, quae Samaritanae dixisti: Si scires donum Dei! Tu vero es vultus visibilis Patris invisibilis, Dei qui omnipotentiam tuam parcendo maxime et miserando manifestas: fac ut Ecclesia sit vultus visibilis tui, Domini sui, surrecti et in gloria viventis. Voluisti ministros tuos infirmitate quoque indutos esse ut aeque compatiantur iis qui in tenebris ignorantiae ac erroris ambulant: fac ut quicumque unum ex iis ministris convenerit, se quaesitum, amatum peccatisque liberatum percipiat. Mitte Spiritum tuum et omnes unctione eius consecra ut Iubilaeum Misericordiae sit annus gratiae Domini et Ecclesia tua, viribus suis penitus renovata, laetum nuntium pauperibus afferat captivis et oppressis libertatem annuntiet et caecis visum restituat. Te rogamus per intercessionem Mariae, Matris Misericordaie, qui vivis et regnas cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Permissu Superiorum
Domine Iesu Christe, qui docuisti nos ut misericordes simus sicut Pater caelestis, atque dixisti nobis: quicumque te videt, videt et Patrem. Ostende nobis vultum tuum et salvi erimus. Conspectus enim tuus amore repletus liberavit Zacchaeum et Matthaeum ab avaritia; Adulteram et Magdalenam a felicitate in sola creatura posita; effecit ut Petrus fleret post proditionem, atque latroni paenitenti Paradisum promisisti. Fac ut quisque nostrum exaudiat verba, velut sibi dicta, quae Samaritanae dixisti: Si scires donum Dei! Tu vero es vultus visibilis Patris invisibilis, Dei qui omnipotentiam tuam parcendo maxime et miserando manifestas: fac ut Ecclesia sit vultus visibilis tui, Domini sui, surrecti et in gloria viventis. Voluisti ministros tuos infirmitate quoque indutos esse ut aeque compatiantur iis qui in tenebris ignorantiae ac erroris ambulant: fac ut quicumque unum ex iis ministris convenerit, se quaesitum, amatum peccatisque liberatum percipiat. Mitte Spiritum tuum et omnes unctione eius consecra ut Iubilaeum Misericordiae sit annus gratiae Domini et Ecclesia tua, viribus suis penitus renovata, laetum nuntium pauperibus afferat captivis et oppressis libertatem annuntiet et caecis visum restituat. Te rogamus per intercessionem Mariae, Matris Misericordaie, qui vivis et regnas cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Permissu Superiorum
Rome Quotes
"Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did."
-St. Max Kolbe
-St. Max Kolbe
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Tomb of Hernán Cortés in Mexico City: Iglesia de Jesús Nazareno (Attached to the Hospital de Jesus)
My explorer brother took this pic for me while scouting things out, just south of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Tomb located in the church of Jesus of Nazareth (attached to the hospital) in Mexico City.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hern%C3%A1n_Cort%C3%A9s
The "Sistine Chapel" of Mexico City
AD 2016: Election Year in America
Friday, December 18, 2015
The "Sistine Chapel" of Mexico City
This triumph is a fascinating mix of Gothic, Baroque and more.
A tour de force rich with symbolism and deep meaning.
The "Sistine Chapel" of Mexico City
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Meet the Oldest European
116 years of age.
The last living European born in the 1800s.
Born during the reign of Leo XIII, of blessed memory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Morano
The last living European born in the 1800s.
Born during the reign of Leo XIII, of blessed memory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Morano
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Rome Quotes
“The Catholic Church has a dignity far surpassing that of every merely
human society, for it was founded by Christ the Lord. It is altogether
fitting, therefore, that the language it uses should be noble, majestic,
and non-vernacular.”
Rome Quotes
"One October Sunday, my freshman year in college seminary, I went with
a couple new friends to St. Agnes Church, in St. Paul for Sunday Mass.
After the bell rang, and the seemingly interminable line of altar boys in cassocks and surplices processed out, followed by Deacons Jerry Builder and Harold Hughesdon and Father Michael Ince, in baroque vestments and birettas, to a chanted introit, the Mass began. After the penitential rite, the orchestra and the choir began this piece.
My heart soared and truly, my soul was transfixed. All that I had imagined, all that I had hoped for, all that, deep down, I knew I had been missing was here. Having grown up in a very liberal, liturgically deprived portion of the world, I had always hungered for the 'more' I just knew had to be there.
The glory of the Church - the reflected beauty of Jesus Christ - in the unearthly beauty of St. Agnes, supported by the strains of such magnificent music, and surrounded by others who truly, sincerely believed - I had found it. I was connected to a strain of faith that stretched back over the centuries and immersed in a beauty that made the beige and whitewashed pablum that had thus far been my experience fall away. Here was beauty. Here was God.
Happy birthday Ludwig van Beethoven. And thank you."
-Rev. Tim Ferguson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g-OlM169mo
After the bell rang, and the seemingly interminable line of altar boys in cassocks and surplices processed out, followed by Deacons Jerry Builder and Harold Hughesdon and Father Michael Ince, in baroque vestments and birettas, to a chanted introit, the Mass began. After the penitential rite, the orchestra and the choir began this piece.
My heart soared and truly, my soul was transfixed. All that I had imagined, all that I had hoped for, all that, deep down, I knew I had been missing was here. Having grown up in a very liberal, liturgically deprived portion of the world, I had always hungered for the 'more' I just knew had to be there.
The glory of the Church - the reflected beauty of Jesus Christ - in the unearthly beauty of St. Agnes, supported by the strains of such magnificent music, and surrounded by others who truly, sincerely believed - I had found it. I was connected to a strain of faith that stretched back over the centuries and immersed in a beauty that made the beige and whitewashed pablum that had thus far been my experience fall away. Here was beauty. Here was God.
Happy birthday Ludwig van Beethoven. And thank you."
-Rev. Tim Ferguson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g-OlM169mo
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Monday, December 14, 2015
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City
The most visited Marian shrine on the planet.
Grace and divine intervention at work.
Visit here with us.
Visit here with us.
Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption in Mexico City: Largest Cathedral in the Americas
A beautiful place to pray and a work of art. There is not one main altar, but actually, three.
