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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Saint Nimatullah Kassab Hardini

O Heavenly Father, the source of all holiness, You are glorified in your saints. You have bestowed grace upon Mar Nimatullah, so He forsake the world to live for You and with You in the solitude of the monastery.

O Lord Jesus, the Holy One of all saints, You have called Mar Nimatullah and filled Him with Your grace and blessing. So He could follow You on the harrow path of perfection and holiness. He followed Your path carrying His cross with joy, the cross of communal life, by which He was sanctified.

O Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of saints, You have inspired our patron Nimatullah, so that He became a monk and lived with His brethren in the monastery, where He educated them and managed all things wisely and prudently. He was ideal and encourager to Saint Charbel His disciple and many others.

We beseech You, O Holy Trinity, through Mar Nimatullah to enlighten the path of salvation before us, for You are the first and last aim. Bring us back to You so that we may renew the image and the likeness that You have installed in us.
We thank You and glorify You with our mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, of whom Mar Nimatullah was a devout, and with Yous saints, You who live and reign in holiness for ever, Amen!

Today is the feast of the very holy Maronite priest St. Nimatullah Kassab Hardini. He was a mentor to one of the great saints of Lebanon, Saint Charbel!
To read more about St. Hardini, click here.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Saint Lucy

Prayers to St. Lucy


Dear Saint Lucy, whose name doth signify the light, we come to thee filled with confidence: do thou obtain for us a holy light that shall make us careful not to walk in the ways of sin, nor to remain enshrouded in the darkness of error. We ask also, through thy intercession, for the preservation of the light of our bodily eyes and for abundant grace to use the same according to the good pleasure of God, without any hurt to our souls. Grant, O Lucy, that, after venerating thee and giving thee thanks for thy powerful protection here on earth, we may come at length to share thy joy in paradise in the everlasting light of the Lamb of God, thy beloved Bridegroom, Jesus. Amen


Monday, December 12, 2011

Our Lady of Guadalupe

My dear little son, I love you. I desire you to know who I am. I am the ever-virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life and maintains its existence. He created all things. He is in all places. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth. I desire a church in this place where your people may experience my compassion. All those who sincerely ask my help in their work and in their sorrows will know my Mother’s Heart in this place. Here I will see their tears; I will console them and they will be at peace.





--Mary to St. Juan Diego






Guadalupe Prayer by Pope St. Piux X

Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Mystical Rose,
make intercession for the holy Church,
protect the Sovereign Pontiff,
help all those who invoke thee in their necessities,
and since thou art the ever Virgin Mary
and Mother of the true God,
obtain for us from thy most holy Son
the grace of keeping our faith,
sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life,
burning charity
and the precious gift of final perseverance.
Amen.

La Oración a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Santa María de Guadalupe, Mística Rosa,
intercede por la Iglesia, protege al Soberano Pontífice,
oye a todos los que te invocan en sus necesidades.
Así como pudiste aparecer en el Tepeyac y decirnos: "Soy la siempre Virgen María, Madre del verdadero Dios", alcánzanos de tu Divino Hijo la conservación de la Fe.
Tu eres nuestra dulce esperanza en las amarguras de esta vida.
Danos un amor ardiente y la gracia de la perseverancia final. Amén.


Guadalupe Prayer

God of power and mercy,
you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac
with the presence of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.
May her prayers help all men and women
to accept each other as brothers and sisters.
Through your justice present in our hearts
may your peace reign in the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.


Thursday, December 8, 2011

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

It's hard to fathom, now, that we Dominicans were one of the biggest blocks to recognizing the Immaculate Conception. We were the last bastion until 1843 when we gave in!

Father, You prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of Your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by His death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in Your presence without sin.

You allowed no stain of Adam's sin to touch the Virgin Mary. Full of grace, she was to be a worthy mother of Your Son, Your sign of favor to the Church at its beginning, and the promise of its perfection as the bride of Christ, radiant in beauty. Purest of Virgins, she was to bring forth Your Son, the innocent lamb who takes away our sins. You chose her from all women to be our advocate with You and our pattern of holiness.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Michael Sean Winters: Catholic means Mormon

I almost feel sorry for Michael Sean Winters of the National Catholic Reporter. Is he really this clueless?


http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/bill-donohue-nimby-bigotry

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Sacrilege at it's Best!

Why do this in a Catholic church?

Thursday, August 11, 2011

A Bishops Attends A Mess

Last Saturday, a vacationing bishop had the misfortune to experience the disappointment of attending mass when the priest doesn't follow rubrics or prayers properly. This experience resulted in the good bishop becoming empathetic and devising a good theory why those seeking out the Extraordinary form is increasing!

Visit his blog where he shares his experience and thoughts attending mass while vactioning.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Saint Dominic

Today is the feast of St. Dominic on the Ordinary calendar!

Saint_Dominic

In St. Catherine of Siena's Diaglogue, God the Father said of St. Dominic:


My only-begotten Son devoted His whole life, all His acts, His teaching and His example to the salvation of souls. Dominic, my adopted son, had directed all his mind and all his efforts to saving souls from the snares of error and vice: that was the chief object which led him to plant and therefore I tell you that in all his acts he may be compared to My Begotten Son.


396px-SaintDominic
Memorare to St. Dominic

Remember, O most dear and holy Father St. Dominic, that, at the close of thy mortal career, thou didst raise thy pure hands to heaven and pray: “Holy Father, since by thy mercy I have ever accomplished thy will, and have kept and preserved those whom thou hast given to me, now I recommend them to thee : do thou keep them, do thou preserve them.'' Animated with unbounded confidence in thee. O tender Father, I cast myself at thy feet, beseeching thee to plead still for thy poor helpless children, to protect us amidst the dangers of om- earthly pilgrimage, to guard and keep us. Be mindful, O great Father, of the comforting assurance thou didst make in thy last moments to thy weeping brethren, promising that after death thou wouldst assist thy children.


A little child takes a long time to recognize its father. At last, however, the moment comes when it fixes its eyes upon the manly figure towards which its mother has persistently directed its attention, and says: "Daddy!" On the day when we made our Dominican profession we, too, recognized our Father St. Dominic. He is more truly our father than was ever our parent according to the flesh. St. Dominic is as far superior to our earthly father as the soul is superior to the body.
--- "The Veneration Due to Our Patriarch" by F.D. Joret, O.P.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Our Lady of America

The 4th of July seems more than appropriate to remember and/or learn about Our Lady of America. Visit the Our Lady of America website for good information, devotions, and news.

Our Lady of America

Friday, June 10, 2011

Blessed John Dominici

[from Short Lives of the Dominican Saints (public domain)]

Blessed John Dominici
was born at Florence about A.D. 1350. He was of humble parentage and imperfect education, and had, moreover, an impediment in his speech, so that his first application for admission into the Order of Saint Dominic was refused. He persevered in his request, however, and was received when about eighteen years of age. It was observed, that, in assuming the habit, he seemed to acquire a marvelous nobility of manner; his talents were found to be of the highest order, and he was soon held in great repute for his extraordinary eloquence. Earnestly desiring to devote himself to the ministry of the word, the special office of his Order, he implored the intercession of Saint Catharine of Siena that he might be delivered from the impediment of speech which had hitherto prevented him from preaching. His petition was granted; and from that time he became one of the most renowned preachers of the day; so much so, that, when Saint Vincent Ferrer was invited to preach at Florence, he excused himself on the plea, that, as the city possessed so eloquent an orator as Father John Dominici, there could be no need of him. Blessed John received yet another favour through the intercession of Saint Catharine; for, being at Rome in the Jubilee year and unable by reason of a bad foot to make the visits to the four Basilicas required for gaining the Indulgences, he had recourse to the Seraphic Virgin of Siena, whom he had seen in his youth, and was at once entirely delivered from his infirmity. He was intimately associated with her Confessors and other Fathers who had been her disciples, and he took a leading part in the reform of the Order set on foot by Blessed Raymund of Capua, who appointed him Vicar Provincial of the Roman Province. Later on, we find him endeavouring to restore regular life in the various important Convents of which he was successively superior, and founding a house of strict observance at Fiesole, near Florence, where he gave the habit to Saint Antoninus and to the two artists, Fra Angelico and Fra Benedetto. Blessed John was himself an artist of no mean talent and enriched the choral books of his Convent with beautiful miniatures. He rightly regarded art as a means of instructing the young and the ignorant in the truths of religion and of raising the mind to heavenly aspirations. With this view he greatly encouraged its cultivation both among the Friars and the religious women of the Order.


But Blessed John's title to the gratitude of the faithful in general is chiefly based on the important part which he had in the extinction of the great Schism of the West, which for nearly half a century had divided the allegiance of Christendom. Created Archbishop of Ragusa and Cardinal by Pope Gregory XII., he had a large share in the convocation of the Council of Constance, at which he assisted as that Pontiff's Legate. The great object of the Council was to obtain the resignation of all three claimants of the pontifical dignity, in order that the Fathers might then proceed to the valid election of one, to whose lawful claims none could offer opposition. Blessed John succeeded in inducing John XXIII. to offer his resignation on condition Pope Gregory should also resign. The anti-pope little knew that the holy Cardinal held the formal resignation of that Pontiff in his hand, and was thunderstruck when he immediately produced it. Then, laying aside his Cardinal's hat, Blessed John added these words: "And I, who came as that Pontiffs Legate, also renounce my dignity and my cardinalate;" and so saying he took his place among the Bishops. The Fathers of the Council insisted, however, on restoring him to his rank. The remaining anti-pope, Benedict XIII., better known as Peter de Luna, was deposed; and the Council proceeded to elect Odo Colonna, who took the title of Martin V. The vigor and disinterestedness shown by Blessed John at that crisis restored peace to the Church.

At the request of the Emperor, the holy man was now sent as Apostolic Legate to Hungary and to Bohemia, then much disturbed by the heretical followers of John Huss and Jerome of Prague. In this mission he did much to confirm the people in their adhesion to the true faith and to encourage them in offering a determined resistance to the encroachments of the Turks. Whilst thus engaged, he fell sick at Buda, and, strengthened by the holy Sacraments of the Church, piously fell asleep in the Lord on the 10th June, A.D. 1420, leaving behind him many learned writings. His tomb was desecrated by the Turks when they took and sacked Buda. He was beatified by Gregory XVI.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Second Coming Watch

or
False Prophet Follies

I'm taking a break from my recent fervent activity of the last few weeks attempting to defend Catholic orthodoxy in lengthy online discourses with a wide variety of "do-it-yourself" and "cafeteria Catholics." Throw in an occasional essay, too.

There are quite a few colorful characters out there shouting from the housetops the time of the second coming this 21 May 2011!

The worst [most ridiculous?] of these is without a doubt "Lord Ra-El." As much as I do not wish to give any type of promotion to such a combo of madness and blasphemy, his lunacy is best evidenced by letting it speak for itself. On his website you can find information written by his "apostolic line of Templar Knights" [oh, brother!] proclaiming him as the second coming of Jesus. "Proof" of his identity is provided by the careful manipulation and twisted interpretation of various Bible verses, old prophesies, and real or imagined coincidences.

Let's cut to the chase and expose him quick and painless. Actually, it's too easy. Without having to create a long exposition, all that is needed is two basic points:
  1. The Bible is clear that we can never know the exact time of Jesus' return. We have been told many times in Scripture, ...at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. rf. Matthew 24: 44, 2 Peter 3: 10, 1 Thessalonians 5: 2, Revelation 3: 3
  2. Jesus resurrected and has a glorified body. He will return in his glorified body. "Lord Ra-El" claims to be Jesus reborn from a woman. This is not how Jesus will return.
Darn, I'm going to miss the big announcement. I'll be at my Dominican regional conference most of the day. Oh well.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Sad Affair of Bishop Morris

The unfortunate situation with former Bishop Morris of Australia is still rearing it's ugly head in the Catholic "press."

"The National Catholic Distorter Reporter" ran a story on it today as the former Bishop is still publicly yelling "foul" and demanding public release of private Vatican reports neither the public or he, individually, have access rights to.

You can read NCR's article here.
It's been a while since I've wrote to them or replied to an article until now. The following is my response to the article appearing on their site:
This situation is very sad and should never have to happen to a successor of the Apostles. But if one is to be in place as an apostolic successor, the teachings of the Apostles must remain intact.

The situation is not really new; the Vatican has been trying to remove the Bishop for a few years. Bishop Morris, sadly, has a long history of conflict with the teachings of the Church and the Magisterium. This conflict was not limited to the "question" of priestly ordination for women (although it certainly is an important element of the situation). Even his simple but adamant call for "dialogue" concerning "women's ordination" is an in-your-face disdain for the Code of Canon Law: the casting of doubt on the Church's teaching of ordination (of women) is a transgression to be reprimanded. His actions very publicly showed contempt for "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis" by Pope John Paul II.

The visitation was his own doing; it was the result of his stubborn refusal to go to Rome when he was called there to account for himself. Before this, He was given many opportunities to correct his errors and more than once actually met with Vatican officials in-person...including one audience with the Holy Father himself!

For the last few years he was basically a squatter in the office of bishop as he refused to give his resignation when told to do so. His juvenile obstinacy forced the Vatican's hand in making it a publicly announced removal.

He was chosen as a successor to Christ's Apostles and more than anything else, we should be praying for him. Not only for his own soul which he has put in danger but all the souls that were put in his charge which he has also put in grave danger. All members of Christ's Mystical Body, down to the lowest of us, deserve our leaders and teachers to be true and help in saving our eternal souls, not contributing to their damnation. Bishop Morris was a shepherd leading his flock into a pit.

Mr. Brian Batty, O.P.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Divine Mercy Sunday

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

divine_mercy

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Divine_Mercy_icon

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Divine+Mercy

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Diocese of Worcester Does it Again!

The diocese trumpeted the availability of Confession every Tuesday evening at 7- 8:00 pm all during Lent. After attempting 4 different parishes, I came home disappointed, angry, sweaty and still in desperate need of confession.
Best response I got at a church this evening: Call the Chancery to schedule one. They expect me to trust them on that one?

Let this be another lesson for me in the folly of living one-and-a-half hours away from my regular church/pastor.