Happy Feast of St. Andrew - CHRISTMAS NOVENA BEGINS TODAY

November 30: Happy Feast of St. Andrew (CHRISTMAS NOVENA BEGINS TODAY)!

Today marks the last day of the liturgical year. St. Andrew is one of the last saints the Church commemorates on her calendar, and yet he was one of the first apostles called by Christ and one of the first martyrs to shed his blood for the Faith. We recall the words of Christ Himself, that the first shall be last. St Andrew is a heroic example of a life devoted to Jesus, and we ask him, as we come to the close of the old church year, for the gift of perseverance in the Faith for the year ahead.

The beloved Christmas Novena, also known as the St. Andrew Novena, begins today on his feast (Nov. 30) and ends on Christmas Day (Dec. 25). The novena is an excellent way to prepare your children for the coming of the Christ Child. The novena consists of saying the below prayer 15 times daily. The prayer should be familiar to every Catholic family.

The Saint Andrew Christmas Novena prayer:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

MPR Leftist False Gods Al Franken and Garrison Keillor Crumble and Fall

For years they have pointed the finger at the Catholic Church.  Under the guise of humor, they got away with murder.

As a native of Minnesota, the land of the smug DFL, I have to say how much I have enjoyed seeing the swamp drained the past year.   Apparently it wasn't such a quiet week in Lake Wobegon...and just wait until the count comes in.

All hail the great Minnesota pseud. Not! "Ah yes -- I'm no ordinary dirty old man. My alleged transgressions are more 'interesting' and 'complicated' than those of ordinary mortals. Pity me all you poor schlubs!"

Source:  https://apnews.com/a471efc6700f406c9d8ac2e5037cfe9b

It's a rare moment in history to see the "accusers" in the realm of media and politics getting a taste of their own medicine. I regret I have no word of wisdom for them except the one they regularly mete out to people like us, in their revolting pretense of social conscience and inclusiveness:

Matthew 7:1-3 "Judge not, lest ye be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?"

Catholic Historian Christopher Dawson on Complete Secularism

Love in the Heart of the Church: A New Monastery

Hymn Composed by the Great Catholic Church Musician of Paris: Mr. HENRI DE VILLIERS

Gregorian chants are a hit at this Nebraska seminary

Christus Rex Pilgrimage 2017 in Australia

Knights: Where to Order Your Formal Dress Wear (White Tie)

Ede & Ravenscroft in London, England, since 1689.  Located near the Royal Courts and the London School of Economics.  Great place to visit: https://shop.edeandravenscroft.com/collections/formal-dress.

Study in Rome!

I did.  The Church has need of you.  Take your pick. 

I studied hard and received Magna Cum Laude.

Study Thomism, Spiritual Theology, Canon Law, Dogmatic Theology, Fundamental Theology, Scripture, Liturgy, or you name it. 

Ask Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, to guide you.  There is a large fresco image of her inside the Angelicum.  Just look up.

Reminder to Parents: Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6)

These St. Nick cookies from Holland are great to give the kids.  You can find them at some ethnic and specialty food shops. 

Preserve Catholic customs in the home.  

Remember to tell your kids to put out their shoes the night before for St. Nick to drop treats in during the night.

Frank Cardinal Spellman (aka the Boss)

I can think of few people who did more to build up Catholic America, world peace, Catholic education, Catholic book publishing, the missions and much more.  Hopefully his cause for canonization will be put forward.  

 Quinquagesimo anno expleto ab obitu Emmi. ac Revmi. D.D. Francisci Iosephi tituli Sanctorum Ioannis et Pauli presbyter cardinalis Spellman, archiepiscopus metropolitanus Neo-Eboracensis et vicarius castrensis Civitatum Fœderatorum Americæ Septentrionalis, qui obiit Neo-Eboraci, die secunda mensis decembris anno salutis millesimo nongentesimo septuagesimo septimo, septuagesimo octavo ætatis suæ.

Gift Ideas from Venice: St. Mark of Venice Silk Tie

I forgot I had gotten this some years ago for my father-in-law.  He still wears it; must be a good sign!

Remember to Keep Christ in Christmas

It is that time of the year.  Just a friendly reminder.  The focus must be Jesus!

Norman Rockwell Rome Image

What the Tombs of Priests and Bishops Look Like in Latin

From the crypt of the Cathedral of Philadelphia.

Tomb of the Great Dennis Cardinal Dougherty

In 1941 he was the papal legate at the 9th National Eucharistic Congress in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

Tomb of the Great Polish-American Cardinal Krol

An old friend of Pope St. John Paul II. 

Tomb of Cardinal Foley in Philadelphia

An honor to pray here.  I think of all the times I greeted him in Rome.  He would always say to me: "I studied at the Angelicum."  I can still see him seated at the consistory when he was made Cardinal.  He always had a warm smile and a kind word.  May his memory be forever! 

Lourdes Centennial 1958 Standard 8mm Cine Film Home Movie

Where Knights Can Order White Leather Gloves

White cotton gloves do not hold up.  Consider white leather gloves made in England.

See here: https://www.chesterjefferies.co.uk/the-masonic/

Thanks, Tom!

Read My Latest Article on the FSSP Parish in Rome: Guido Reni's Spectacular Most Holy Trinity

https://bccatholic.ca/content/depicting-the-trinitys-theology-an-artistic-challenge

Händel: Ode for St. Cecilia's Day: What Passion Cannot Music Rise

Purcell - Ode for St. Cecilia's Day - "Hail, bright Cecilia!"

Lewis on Death

Blessed Solanus, Pray for Us!

Archbishop Gänswein Commemorates Summorum Pontificum - Vespers - Pilgrim...

Order of Malta Investiture

A great honor to be a Knight of Malta.  

That I, with chivalrous fidelity, may always be found worthy to cherish and defend the cross.

 https://bccatholic.ca/content/order-of-malta-has-vancouver-connection

Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Investiture with Cardinal Tisserant

Just last night I had a nice chat with Cardinal Tisserant's ex-secretary, now 90 years old.  I think Tisserant's cause for canonization should be proposed. 

Pulpit of St. Patrick's Cathedral Where Cardinal Pacelli Preached

Cardinal Pacelli at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York

Procession for Solemn High Mass in 1936.  Three years later he would be pope.  As Secretary of State, he has jurisdiction; therefore his cappa magna is outstretched. 

Arms of Venerable Pius XII in St. Patrick's Cathedral

Cardinal Spellman had this put here after upgrades to the sanctuary to honor the reigning Pontiff who had visited and celebrated Mass here just a few years before he was elected Pope. 

Tomb of Bishop Fulton Sheen in St. Patrick's Cathedral

The prie-dieu is from  Bishop Sheen's private chapel in NYC.  

It was donated to the cathedral by his cousin, Thomas (and wife Yolanda) Holliger. 

Where Bishop Fulton Sheen Lived in New York City

East 43rd Street at St. Agnes rectory, located near the UN and Grand Central Station. 

Home of Dr. Dietrich von Hildebrand in New Rochelle (from 1964-1977)

A lovely home at 43 Calton Road East.  DVH lived here until his death in 1977.  In fact, he passed away here, while laying in bed in the den.  I would like to see his cause for canonization proposed. DVH was a convert to the Faith and one of the very best Catholic philosophers of the twentieth century.  It would be nice to see this somehow preserved as a museum/library or meeting place for Catholic intellectuals.   

Home of Dr. Dietrich von Hildebrand in New York City (from 1941-1964)

A lovely home at 448 Central Park West, overlooking Central Park.  DVH arrived in the USA in 1940 as a destitute refugee after having fled the Nazis who were hunting him.  This was his first real home in the New World, which he maintained until he retired from teaching at Fordham Uni and accepted another position in New Rochelle.  I wish some good Catholic foundation could rent the flat and host DVH study days and cocktail parties here.     

Catholic Knighthood Exemplifies the Finest Ideals of Chivalry and the Best Traditions of Old Romance

Read of the "IX Worthies" here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Worthies

Catholic Gin: the BEST is Archangel Gin

This is our favorite gin: https://www.archangel-distilleries.co.uk/https://www.archangel-distilleries.co.uk/.

It is made in Norfolk, the land where the Royal family traditionally spends their Christmas at Sandringham House.  The water is from the enchanting little hamlet of Walsingham, which is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in the UK.  It is quite a lovely place to visit, especially in the autumn to admire the nature, the fall colours, seeing game birds everywhere, including grouse and pheasant, while hearing hunters and their dogs call in the distance. 

I have to say Archangel Gin is my absolute favorite gin.  In fact, I like it so much I drink it straight.