The Four Pillars

Saint Nimatullah Kassab Hardini

2011-12-14T14:45:00.016-05:00

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.

Saint Lucy

2011-12-13T13:35:00.009-05:00

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

Our Lady of Guadalupe

2011-12-12T11:21:00.014-05:00

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.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

2011-12-08T15:35:00.005-05:00

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.

Michael Sean Winters: Catholic means Mormon

2011-10-15T12:44:00.001-04:00

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

Sacrilege at it's Best!

2011-10-04T10:30:00.004-04:00

Why do this in a Catholic church?

A Bishops Attends A Mess

2011-08-11T12:32:00.005-04:00

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.

Saint Dominic

2011-08-08T10:47:00.026-04:00

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

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.

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.

Our Lady of America

2011-07-04T10:08:00.002-04:00

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.

Blessed John Dominici

2011-06-10T08:28:00.006-04:00

[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.

Second Coming Watch

2011-05-19T20:36:00.005-04:00

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:

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
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.

The Sad Affair of Bishop Morris

2011-05-10T17:13:00.014-04:00

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.

Divine Mercy Sunday

2011-05-01T09:46:00.004-04:00

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.

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

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

The Diocese of Worcester Does it Again!

2011-04-05T20:10:00.003-04:00

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.

Crisis of Faith it 'Till You Make it.

2010-11-04T21:36:00.006-04:00

Despite what the graphic in the left column of this blog says, it is not true that I pray the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office). I haven't prayed the Rosary, Divine Office or any other prayer in over 3 weeks now. I simply can't seem to make myself pray anymore. I don't know how much longer this "fake [faith] it till you make" act in going through the other Church motions can continue. I'm going to have to fall off the fence soon; who knows which side I'm going to land.

Help is Full!

2010-08-17T17:58:00.003-04:00

Apostolate

I'm totally dumbfounded that Catholic Charities in my diocese currently doesn't need volunteers! Apparently, other local Catholic orgs that want volunteers don't need them bad enough to return inquiry calls.

Post Acute Myocardial Infraction Musings

2010-08-05T08:54:00.004-04:00

The blog has once again been neglected due to my recent incidents (note the plural) of acute myocardial infration, otherwise known as heart attacks (sheesh!).

As most of the post heart attack fear and stress is slowly fading, there is the new fear of what impact this may have on my now 7 year (this month) struggle for any type of ordination in the Church. I often wonder where my priorities are - as I lay there embarrassingly exposed while they did my cardiac catheterization, all I thought about the entire time was if and how there was a possibility this would prevent me from ever becoming a priest. I decided on the table not to give up on life even if the only dream I have can no longer remain just a hope.

I've been ignoring people too, but now it's time to move back into Creation. Moving on, let's see what business we can get down to with prayer, study, community and apostolate!

Brian.

Saint John of Cologne

2010-07-09T12:31:00.010-04:00

Today we remember the Dominican martyr St. John of Cologne and the other 18 Martyrs of Gorkum, all priests and religious.

Previous to his martyrdom, all that we know of the life of St. John of Gorkum can be quickly told. He was a religious of his convent of Cologne who performed the duties of a parish priest in Holland, which was at that time engaged in a death struggle with the Spanish princes. The place and date of his birth are not known; those of his death will never be forgotten.

Anti Spanish and Protestant soldiers banded themselves into lawless armies of pirates, and, unpaid and disillusioned, foraged for themselves in the seaports, looking for plunder. Reproached by the clergy, they turned on the Church and one band of pirates laid siege to the city of Gorkum, capturing it after a struggle. For reprisal because of the city's determined defense they gathered all members of the clergy in Gorkum into one miserable prison and set about taking revenge on the priests for their own grievances against the Spanish crown. Hearing of the plight of these poor priests, John left the comparative safety of his parish and entered Gorkum in disguise in order to give whatever assistance he might. Several times he entered the city to dispense the sacraments, and to bring consolation to the priests who were being cruelly tortured. Eventually, he also was taken prisoner and subjected to torture.

Angered by the endurance of the priests, the pirates increased their abuses. Some of the religious were very old and infirm, but one and all, even to an aged Augustinian who was so weak he could barely stand, they bore their martyrdom with patience and sweetness for ten terrible days and nights. They were repeatedly asked to deny the Real Presence, and just as repeatedly refused, which brought on more and more dreadful tortures. Finally they were thrown into the hold of a ship, and they were taken to another city to be killed in the presence of a Protestant nobleman, a man noted for his hatred of Catholicism.

Eleven Franciscans, a Premonstratensian, an Augustinian and four secular priests suffered with John of Cologne the long anguish of protracted martyrdom. Two of the number had been far from exemplary in their lives, but by their heroic constancy at the hour of trial blotted out the stains that might otherwise have kept them out of heaven. But, sadly, there should have been twenty martyrs of Gorkum. One, who weakened and was released after he had denied the Real Presence, lived but twenty four hours to enjoy his wretched freedom. The other nineteen gloriously went to heaven.

The martyrs, after being exhibited to the curious townspeople (who paid to see the spectacle) and subjected to every manner of torture, were finally hanged in an old barn, amid the jeers of the mob. Stripped of their habits and made, like their Master, "the reproach of men and the outcast of the people," they benefitted by their Christ like sufferings and detachment and died a Christ like death.

Their bodies, mutilated both before and after death, were callously thrown into a ditch.

The scene of their martyrdom soon became a place of pilgrimage, where all the Christian world did reverence to the men who were so courageously obedient unto death. Accounts of several miracles, performed through the martyrs’ intercession and relics, were used for their beatification. Most of their relics are kept in the Franciscan church at Brussels to which they were secretly conveyed from Briel in 1616.

(Source : Dorcy, Marie Jean. St. Dominic's Family. Tan Books and Publishers, 1983, The Order of Preachers)

Painting depicting the Martyrs of Gorkum

Saint Vihn Son Ðo Yen (St. Vincent Yen)

2010-06-30T10:42:00.009-04:00

Today we remember St. Vincent Yen, one of the Martyrs of Vietnam, individually. The following is from Witnesses of the Faith in the Orient, Dominican Martyrs of Japan, China, and Vietnam translated by Sister Maria Maez, O.P.

This holy martyr was born in Tra-lu in the province of Nam-dinh in 1764. He was trained under the supervision of Bishop Ignatius Delgado, who ordained him a priest at the age of 40. He was appointed to the care of souls. His Calvary began right away. He was secretly denounced to the Mandarins, taken prisoner and made to carry a heavy cangue [yoke]. He spent a month in this condition until he was rescued by friends.

Vincent asked to be admitted to the Dominican Order and received the habit on 22 July 1807. His purity and considerate treatment of others was such that he won everyone’s respect. “His eyes, his whole facial expression was an eloquent testimony of his holiness.” Even the enemies who captured him remarked that they had taken a prisoner who “was a man with a most beautiful countenance.” It was no wonder that he was able to win over all those entrusted to his care.

Vincent was once again imprisoned on 8 June 1838; on the 11th, the Mandarins came together to judge him. The leading Mandarin, a good man of means and influence, resisted imposing the death sentence. He proposed to Father Yen to say that he was a doctor, not a priest. Vincent rejecterd this outright, saying: “I am not a doctor, I am a priest. My office is to offer sacrifices to God and to preach the faith of Jesus Christ for whom I am ready to die. I do not accept the offer for the price of a lie.” Seeing the constancy of the priest, they took the message to the Emperor, who dictated the sentence himself. “Do Yen, native of this Kingdom, principal teacher of the Religion of Jesus Christ, has followed a false religion and does not wish to abandon it. He is truly a dangerous fool and is deserving of suffering any abomination, because he does not wish to follow what he knows and what he should do. Let his head be cut off.”

The venerable old man of 74 walked erectly, calmly and with joy to his execution on 30 June 1838. He was beheaded for being a priest of the Religion and for teaching it to the people.

The Process of Beatification says that Vincent had a most gentle disposition, a happy face and limitless mercy, — that he was prudent, peaceful, very virtuous and that his life had been an edification to all.

Saint Basil the Great

2010-06-14T14:54:00.018-04:00

Today is the feast of the eminent Church Father and Doctor, St. Basil, according to the Extraordinary Calendar of the Latin/Western rite. He is only one of four saints given the designation of Great and the only one that was not a pope!

A great saint such as he has been well profiled and the sources about him are myriad. There is no need to "reinvent the wheel" here and give an underserving, poor summary of this great man of God. To learn more about him, start at the online Catholic Encyclopedia or the Patron Saints Index.

Prayer of St. Basil After Communion

We give Thee thanks, O Lord our God, for the Communion of Thy holy, pure, deathless and heavenly Mysteries, which thou hast given for the good, the hallowing, and the healing of our souls and bodies. Do Thou, O Sovereign of the world, cause this Communion in the Holy Body and blood of Thy Christ to nourish us in unashamed faith, sincere charity, ripe wisdom, health of soul and body, separation from all ills, observance of Thy Law, and justification before His awful Judgment Seat. O Christ our God, the Mystery of Thy Providence has been accomplished according to our ability. We have been reminded of Thy Death and we have seen a figure of Thy Resurrection; we have been filled with Thine Infinite Life, and we have tasted Thine inexhaustible joy; and we pray Thee to make us worthy of these things in the life to come, through the grace of Thine Eternal Father and of Thy holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and forever, eternally: amen.

Mass of St. Basil by Pierre Subleyras

O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all you necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity. --St. Basil the Great

Let us raise ourselves from our fall and not give up hope as long as we are free from sin. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. "Come, let us adore and prostrate ourselves and weep before him" (Psalm 95:6). The Word calls us to repentance, crying out: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will refresh you" (Matthew 11:28). There is, then, a way to salvation if we are willing to follow it. --from a letter of St. Basil's

Blessed Stephen Bandelli

2010-06-12T09:21:00.004-04:00

Stephen Bandelli was born into a noble family. Little is known of his early years except that he applied for admission to the Dominicans in his hometown and received the habit while still very young.

Stephen earned a degree in canon law and a master's degree in theology, and lectured at the University of Pavia. He was a man of superior intellect and a careful student. Tradition holds that he was "another Saint Paul," and that his sermons were effective in bringing many Christians to a more fervent life and many sinners back into the fold. Aside from this, one reads only the traditional assurances--that he was prayerful, penitential, had a spirit of poverty, was charitable, and was a model religious.

When Stephen died, he was buried in the Dominican church of Saluzzo. Many miracles were worked at his tomb, and the citizens of Saluzzo invoked him, in 1487, when the town was attacked by one of their neighbors. Their preservation was attributed to Stephen's intercession, as it was claimed that he had appeared in the sky above them while they were fighting. An annual feast was kept there in his honor for many years (Benedictines, Dorcy). source

Prayer

O God who, to recall the erring faithful to the way of salvation, didst make Blessed Stephen, Thy Confessor, an illustrious preacher of the Gospel, grant through his merits and intercession, that being freed from all sin we may ever run in the path of Thy commandments. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Poem "To The Sacred Heart"

2010-06-11T15:28:00.009-04:00

As June is the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I'm posting this short poem from the old American Dominican journal Dominicana. It from vol. 1 issue no. 4, 1900.

TO THE SACRED HEART
Edwin Anoelo Leman

I my heart have oft times given
..To the creature, but in vain;
Cold repulse has swiftly driven
..Back my thoughts to Thee again.
I discerned that Thou wert jealous,
..Even of such love as mine,
And wouldst have me to be zealous
..Only for Thy Heart Divine.

Bl. Diana, Bl. Cecilia, Bl. Amata

2010-06-08T11:36:00.005-04:00

Today is an optional memorial for Dominican nuns to remember Bl. Diana d’Andalò and Bl. Cecilia Caesarini. (That doesn’t mean we all can’t remember them!)

The marvelous cloistered nuns were the first branch of our Dominican family! Bl. Diana & Bl. Cecilia is among the earliest and both knew St. Dominic.

Both came from noble families of note: Bl. Diana's family were powerful nobles in Bologna (with her former title of Lady Diana) while Bl. Cecilia came from the ancient Caesarini noble family of Rome.

Bl. Diana was both beautiful and spoiled. Her life changed when she heard Blessed Reginald of Orleans preach. Becoming enamored with the Dominicans, she longed to start a life as a member of the new order but her family was firmly opposed. Meeting St. Dominic when he stopped in Bologna, she obtained his permission to start a community of sisters, with St. Dominic, himself, putting four of the brothers in that local community under obedience to assist the building of her convent. It wasn’t until after the death of St. Dominic that Bl. Diana was able to overcome the forceful resistance of her family not allowing her to enter religious life. Having a great correspondence with Blessed Jordan of Saxony, the Monastery of St. Agnes was built and she entered in 1223 and was its first prioress.

Bl. Cecilia was the youngest nun in the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Tempulo when St. Dominic was founding the Monastery of St. Sixtus in 1220. The Monastery of St. Sixtus was founded by combining various female communities with Bl. Cecilia’s being among them. She received the Dominican habit from St. Dominic. About 1223, she and some others sisters were sent to Bl. Diana’s new Monastery of St. Agnes. Bl. Cecilia became the new prioress.

From both of these blessed we have a fantastic legacy. Through Bl. Diana’s letters are long lost, she kept all her letters from Bl. Jordan of Saxony, giving us great insights to the early days of the Dominican family as well as both BB Jordan and Diana. Bl. Cecilia left us the only physical description we have of St. Dominic! Both women remained at the Monastery of St. Agnes for the remainder of their earthly lives.

Not to be forgotten is Blessed Amata. She was a nun at St. Sixtus with Bl. Cecilia also receiving the habit from St. Dominic. She was beatified in 1891 with Diana and Cecilia but was not included on the calendar because so little is known of her.

The book, St. Dominic's Family by Sr. Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P writes this about her:

Of Sister Amata, we know practically nothing, but that she was a good friend of St. Dominic, which should, after all, be enough to know about anybody. He, according to legend, gave her the name Amata--which means 'beloved'--and very probably he either sent her to the convent in the first place or was the means of her staying there at the time of the drastic reforms, when the nuns left St. Mary's trans Tiber and went to S. Sixtus. There was a Sister Amata from whom St. Dominic is said to have cast out seven devils, but it could hardly have been this one. The facts that he personally named her, and that she is buried with the other two, will have to be her title to honor.

Bl. Cecilia, Bl Diana, Bl. Amata
Let us pray:

Merciful Lord, we welcome in joy the feast of Blessed Diana and Blessed Cecilia. With the help of their prayers may devotion to truth and love for our brothers and sisters fill our hearts and our lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Peter the Martyr

2010-06-04T15:58:00.005-04:00

St. Peter the Martyr, also called St. Peter of Verona, is one of too many saints that no longer receive the remembrance that is greatly deserved. He is the Dominican protomartyr and the fastest papally canonized saint of the Church.

The Dominican Ordo for 2010 designates today as his memorial. His feast on the Extraordinary Calendar is 29 April. St. Catherine of Siena died on 29 April but was given the 30th because St. Peter the Martyr already had the 29th. In the “reformed” 1969 calendar, St. Peter the Martyr was bumped off the calendar by St. Catherine as she was moved back by one day.

St. Peter was born 1205 or 1206. The fact that he was born to parents that were heretical Cathars is proof of his divine love for truth and Orthodoxy. In such an atmosphere where his own family ridiculed his orthodoxy, his life was destined to be sacrificed for the faith!

He received the Dominican habit from St. Dominic, himself. He was a mystic that was visited by saints and angels, a gift for which he had to do penance for. On one occasion having celestial visitors in his cell, a passing monk heard female voices coming from his room. This led to his being accused of admitting females within the enclosure, to the great scandal of the house. The Saint said not a word in his own justification, but humbly accepted the severe penance imposed on him.

He became a very active and noted preacher in Northern Italy. His sermons were often complemented by miraculous signs of all kinds including casting out devils and healing the sick. Every day at the elevation of the Mass St. Peter prayed, Grant, Lord, that I may die for Thee, who for me didst die.

Pope Innocent IV made him inquisitor of Lombardy in 1232. It is said that wherever he appeared there was universal renunciation of errors and heresies. So great was his success to bringing those in error back to the Church that it’s no wonder the wrath of heretics was so violent towards him. He was attacked by assassins on the road between Milan and Como in 1252. His martyrdom had been mystically revealed to him and he approached happily. One of his assassins was so affected by the saint’s holy martyrdom that he entered the Order of Preachers, himself, and remained for forty years.

Saint Peter was canonized by Pope Innocent IV in the piazza outside the Dominican Church at Perugia, less than a year after his martyrdom.

Prayer

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we may imitate with due devotion the faith of Blessed Peter, Thy Martyr, who, for the extension of that same faith, was made worthy to obtain the palm of martyrdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Queenship of Mary

2010-05-31T13:25:00.004-04:00

It's the end of May when we celebrate Our Lady during her
Feast of the Queenship of Mary!

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God…that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Blessed Andrew Franchi, B.C.O.P

2010-05-30T08:40:00.002-04:00

Bl. Andrew Franchi's memorial day is today according to the Extraordinary calendar. 27 May was his day on the Ordinary calendar.

He was born in Pistoia, Italy, in 1335 and came from a noble family. He entered the Dominican order at the age of 14. He was in the order during the time of the Black Death and worked to bring back regular observance after the plague. He had served as prior in three different convents while still a young age.
As bishop of Pistoia, he was known for his preaching and austerity. He was a preacher of peace, devoted himself to the poor, and known for his devotion to the Infant Jesus, Mary, and the Three Kings.

He died 1401 and was declared Blessed by Pope Benedict XV in 1921.
He is one of the incorruptables!

Trinity Sunday

2010-05-30T08:18:00.005-04:00

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus,
qui dedisti famulis tuis, in confessione verae fidei,
aeternae Trinitatis gloriam agnoscere,
et in potentia maiestatis adorare Unitatem:
quaesumus; ut, eiusdem fidei firmitate,
ab omnibus semper muniamur adversis.

Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP on Liturgy

2010-05-26T14:21:00.008-04:00

Study

Thanks (said sarcastically) to one of my good friends, an Orthodox priest, a new personal phase of Fr. Aidan Nichols has entered my head.

Here's a great comment on the Liturgy he made during an interview.

Q. So you would see the Liturgy as playing a key role in divesting people of false ideas, especially in the Church?

A. Yes. It has to be Scripture and the Liturgy. Of course, the Liturgy is where Scripture, in a sense, comes most fully into its own, in the liturgical preaching and in the way in which the Liturgy is textured out of myriad biblical references.

But it has to be Liturgy that is not denatured so that it simply becomes an instrument of political correctness. Because in that case you’re losing precisely its power to challenge and transform the way people are when they arrive. If the function of the Liturgy is simply to affirm people in their secular identities or those aspects of decent living that are available through secular agencies, then I don’t see the Liturgy as having any special evangelical force. It must lift people up to something beyond their secular consciousness.

Translation of the body of our Holy Father St. Dominic

2010-05-24T11:14:00.016-04:00

24 May is the day the Order celebrates the feast of the translation of the body of St. Dominic.

By the urging of the Saint, himself, Dominic was given a simple burial in an unadorned church tomb, being placed in a simple wooden coffin. Although it was attested that "no spices or aromatical perfumes of any kind were placed therein," the spot very soon afterward began emanating a "sweet and penetrating perfume" filled the church. Miracles also followed and continuously increased.

Despite the discouragement of St. Dominic's friar brethren, the translation of his body to a new coffin for interment in a new tomb took place 12 years after his death on 24 May. When the flagstone of his simple tomb was removed, the strong perfumed aroma filled the entire church. It was during this event that another miracle took place:

Tradition says that during the translation of the relics of Saint Dominic de Guzman 1267, when the body was exposed to view, the head was seen to turn towards Blessed John [Vercelli]. Embarrassed, John moved to another part of the church, giving his place to a cardinal. The head of Saint Dominic was seen by all to turn again toward John.

The marble tomb St. Dominic's precious body was interred is greatly adorned, including 4 carvings by Michelangelo.

One of the angel candleholders by Michelangeo at St. Dominic's tomb

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. O Father, fulfil thy word, and help us by thy prayers.

The Ark of St. Dominic in Bologna, Italy

Pentecost Sunday - Suggestions

2010-05-23T17:28:00.004-04:00

Highly recommend this:

or this

Strongly discourage (except for entertainment)

and

Hymn to the Holy Spirit

O Fire, Spirit, Comforter, life of the life of all creation!
Holy are you, bringing thought alive in flesh.
Holy are you, anointing the lost and broken.
Holy are you, healing infected wounds.
O sacred breath, O loving fire,
O sweetness in the breast
and flooding of the heart with the fragrance of goodness.
O clearest spring in which it is seen
that God gathers in strangers and seeks the lost.
O breastplate of life and hope for the unity of all the members,
O sword-belt of honor:
Save the blessed.
Protect those who are imprisoned by the enemy.
Set them free! Divine power wants to save them.
O most mighty way, you are everywhere
—in the heights and on the earth and in all the depths.
You gather and reconcile all people.
Clouds flow from you, skies fly, stones take in moisture,
Rivers of water overflow and drench the earth in living green.
You continually teach scholars who rejoice in Wisdom's gifts.
Therefore, praise be to you!
You yourself are the sound of praise and the joy of life,
You are hope and the most powerful grace,
Giving the gift of life.

- Hildegard of Bingen (translation by Ellen Oak)

Saint Servatius

2010-05-22T09:04:00.017-04:00

Today the Order of Preachers remembers the feast day of Saint Servatius according to the Extraordinary Calendar. He was declared protector of the order in the 14th century.

"In the fourteenth century the Church and the Order of Preachers were suffering bitter persecution from the schismatical Emperor, Lewis of Bavaria. Learning that the General Chapter was convoked to meet in his dominions , at the city of Cologne, 1330, A.D., this prince secretly plotted the death of the capitular Fathers. They had just assembled, when Saint Servatius appeared in a dream to one of their number, a very holy religious, warned him of the danger which threatened himself and his brethren , and bade them to flee to Maestricht. This they accordingly did, thus escaping the snares which had been laid for them. And though their coming to Maestricht was wholly unexpected, God disposed the hearts of the inhabitants to receive them with the utmost kindness."

Prayer

Graciously hear these our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, while we offer to Thee in this soleminity of Blessed Servatius, Thy Confessor and Bishop, that as he deserved to do Thee worthy service, so, through his merits and intercession, Thou wouldst mercifully absolve us from all our sins. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Text and Prayer: A Sister of the Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena (1909). Short Lives of the Dominican Saints. London, United Kingdom: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & CO. LTD. Now in public domain.

The News That Hurts

2010-05-21T09:09:00.035-04:00

With an intense work project, studying, defining my personal apostolate and Spring cleaning in the house, I haven't allowed myself time to post regularly. So for today, here is just some slight commentary and links of some of the recent not-so-good Catholic news that has been bugging me this past week.

Apparently, God has had some fairly stealthy directives hidden in the Bible via the Commandments and previously suppressed Church teaching. Thanks to some feel-good "Catholic" scholars, we now know that workers' unions are close to being natural law and union busting is a "mortal sin." Click here to read about it.

Continuing proof that too many of today, particularly those that claim to be Catholic, no longer have any sense of the sacred: the Rainbow Sash homosexual movement announced plans to disrupt mass this coming Pentecost Sunday.
Have your say or object to whatever you please but in the proper venue! If they actually were the deserving Catholics they claim to be, they would never disrupt the Church's most sacred rite.

One can't help but be confused by the recent public comments from a Jesuit about some of Pope Benedict XVI's words to social workers during an audience with them in Portugal.
To quote Fr. James Martin, S.J., ...he [The Pope] stated that abortion and same-sex marriage, were "some of today's most insidious and dangerous threats" to the common good seemed oddly discordant. The equation of abortion, something that clearly is about a threat to life, with same-sex marriage, which no matter how you look at it, does not mean that anyone is going to die, is bizarre.
Beyond the fact that too many contemporary Jesuits are incapable of defending the Pope (no surprise), one would expect a magazine editor of America to correctly interpret a simple statement in context of Catholic teaching. Nowhere does the Holy Father equate abortion to same-sex marriage as the same thing materially. They are mentioned as two distinct evils that are equally dangerous (and murderous) spiritually.
Edited out the article was the fact that Fr. Martin went as far as to say that the Pope's statement went against the Gospel!

It's only a personal perception but is seems the recent meeting of 800 women religious leaders in Rome was failed damage control for the recent "inquisition" of the U.S. Apostolic Visitation. They released a declaration using their best "Spirit of Vatican II" newspeak (which has nothing to do with the true Vatican II). I suggest reading the declaration and commentary over at the Acts of the Apostasy blog. You must play the optional accompanied music for the best effect!

Don't get me started on the son-of-a-lesbian-couple-attending-Catholic-school fiasco in the Archdiocese of Boston.

As it is almost impossible now to escape any mention of the recent Arizona illegal immigration law in all mass media, individuals and groups from various levels of the Church are making sure they get their two-cents in. Their opinions represent both "sides" of the law. Not matter which "side" is taken, the more extreme of either often displays their ignorance of the bill itself. Anyone who vocalizes an opinion on it should at least read it first and then speak!

Here's a topic to discuss amongst yourselves: should a lesbian that decided she could be ordained a priest, and pretended to be one, be buried in the consecrated ground of a Catholic cemetery?

Mother Seton Prays Fervently

2010-05-05T13:52:00.006-04:00

This is my latest response to a news story. This one is in response to other commenters on "The Chronicle of Higher Education" concerning a small article about Seton Hall Univerity possibly canceling a same-sex marriage course prompted by the archbishop of Newark.

Seton Hall is the oldest DIOCESAN University in the country and is under the Archdiocese of Newark. Therefore it is under the Catholic teaching of the archbishop. The university, itself, publically self-identifies as a Catholic institution and states, "A university is Catholic in many ways: ...living Catholic values." The university is obligated to uphold Catholic teaching by its own declaration while the archbishop is doing his job as the primary teacher and sanctifier for his see.

Even if it wasn't a diocesan establishment, as a Catholic institution it requires a "professio fidei" under canon 833 of the current Canon Law. In the revised code of 1983, a "professio fidei" was extended to theologians and others who teach in faith and ethics "in any [Catholic] universities whatsoever" as well as priests, bishops, etc.

A "same-sex marriage course" at a Catholic college is not a bad thing in itself. However, if such a course is to be taught, it should be solely from the spiritual teaching of the Church.

If it were truly from an "academic perspective" or some people believe Seton Hall should adhere to their personal interpretation of a "'real' open academic institution," then the expectation should also be for a "'real' open academic" lecturer. The class professor, W. King Mott, is an openly homosexual man in a same-sex relationship; he called the Catholic Church "prima facie homophobic" and has publically stated Church teaching on marriage being between one man and one woman as "laughable." This is hardly an "open academic" situation. Sounds rather biased to me.

It's easy for modernist academics to put a chosen spin on Bible passages despite 2000 years of previous teaching descended from others much closer to the time. But let's not also forget that there was no word or concept to fully convey our current understanding of what we now call "homosexual."
There are a lot of things Jesus never mentioned! (He DID refer to the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, though.) You would have to disregard then entire New Testament save for the four Gospels if you “cherry-pick” to only believe something because "Jesus said it."

Saint Agnes of Montepulciano

2010-04-20T11:57:00.003-04:00

SAINT AGNES was born in Montepulciano, a neighborhood in Tuscany, c.1268. Not uncommon among many saints, St. Agnes showed great piety since childhood. While still very young she succeeded in convincing her parents to grant permission to enter a very strict monastery. After a few years she was sent to assist in the foundation of another monastery for the education of young girls at Procena. She became Abbess by a special dispensation from the Holy See when only fifteen! She was at Procena for 20 years (some sources say 17). By her own self-discipline, she lived on bread and water for fifteen years and slept on the floor with a stone for a pillow. Her great piety resulted in many signs and wonders: visually beautiful and fragrant flowers would spring up on the spot where she had prayed; she was sometimes showered with manna in the shape of little white crosses, witnessed by crowds; she was a visionary and t received Holy Communion from an angel's hand 10 times.

After her years at Procena the people Montepulciano requested her to establish a monastery. St. Agnes was unsure which rule to adhere in starting the new monastery, so she prayed and received her answer in a vision. From her vision of St. Augustine, St. Francis and St. Dominic she knew she was to begin a new community of woman according to the rule of St. Dominic. St. Dominic made known to her she was to start a community of virgins at Montepulciano on a hill which previously had the site of brothels.

It is said she was granted a warning of her purgatory before going to Heaven and mystical experiences on many consecutive Sundays when, shortly afterwards, she began her painful terminal illness.

Her sisters took her to the medicinal baths at Chianciano but they did not help her. However, while she was there, a miraculous hot water spring gushed (later named for her) and she miraculously brought a child back to life that had drowned there.
St. Agnes died when she was 49.

Another great female Dominican saint, St. Catherine if Siena, made a famous pilgrimage to St. Agnes’ tomb. St. Agnes’ incorrupt body lifted her foot for St. Catherine to kiss. St. Agnes was canonized AD 1726.

Let us pray...

O God who was ofttimes pleased to shed a heavenly dew over Thy Holy Virgin, Blessed Agnes, and to deck the places of her prayer with divers fresh blown flowers, mercifully grant that we, through her prayers, may be sprinkled with the unfailing dew of Thy blessing, and made fit to receive the fruits of immortality.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The incorrupt body of St. Agnes

3rd Annual Catholic Men's National Day of Prayer

2010-03-19T11:38:00.005-04:00

Today is the 3rd annual Men's National Day of Prayer.

It was originally conceived by Dan Spencer, founder of The St. Joseph Center of Kansas City.

It calls for men to pray...

For every man to heed Christ's call to personal conversion.
For every man to become a transformed disciple of Jesus.
For every Catholic man to fully actualize his vocational state of life calling.
For every married man to love his wife and children as Christ loved the Church.
For every ordained and religious man to serve Christ and His Church in accord with his specific vocation.
For every man to embrace, proclaim and exemplify the truth of the Gospel in his home, parish, workplace and community.

Learn more about this day of prayer at the NFCM site.

Tomorrow is the 10th annual Diocesan Catholic Men’s Conference for the Worcester, MA diocese which I will be attending!

Uh Oh, I'm Back

2010-03-19T09:07:00.003-04:00

Shame on me for letting myself be too pre-occupied to have posted the last couple of months. I've unintentionally dropped out of digital sight. Whether you think it's a good or bad thing, I'm back!

Pax et fides

2010-01-06T09:17:00.007-05:00

St. St. Dominic dedicated himself to promoting "pax et fides", "peace and faith", because without peace, the faith cannot flourish, and he described himself as pursuing this goal by "singing and gentleness, preaching, imploring and weeping" (cf. M.-H. Vicaire, O.P., St. Dominic and His Times, pp. 62 and nt. 7, 146, 147 and nt. 80)."

from Fr. Bartholomew de la Torre, O.P.

Saint Zdislava of Lemberk

2010-01-03T17:30:00.012-05:00

Today the Dominicans remember St. Zdislava of Lemberk a.k.a. Zdislava Berka and Zedislava Berkiana. She is one of the earliest of Dominican tertiaries (Lay Dominican). It wasn't until 1907 she was beatified by Pope St. Pius X. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995.

Born of a warrior race to noble parents, Zedislava lived in a fortified castle on the borders of Christendom, in an age when the fierce Mongol hordes were the world's worst menace. Her whole life was spent within the sound of clashing arms, and the moans of the dying. The gentleness and purity of her life stand out in surprising beauty against the dark background of a warlike and materialistic people.

Zedislava learned Christian charity early in life from her mother, who taught her not only the secrets of preparing medicinal herbs but also the healing balm of prayer. Going each day to the castle gate with alms and medicines for the poor and the wretched who crowded there for help, she was soon well acquainted with human misery. Cheerful, prayerful, and alert to see the sorrows of others, the child became a light of hope to the miserable. Because of her sweetness and natural charm, she was able to teach many lessons to those about her.

As a child, she is said to have fled from her home for a time to live as a hermit, but she returned to live a more normal life that included an early marriage to a soldier, the duke of Lemmberk, who, like her own father, was a rich nobleman in command of a castle on the frontier. The couple produced four children. Zedislava cared judiciously for her own family and lavished great care on the poor, especially the fugitives and victims of the Tartar invasions.

Her husband was a good man, but a rough and battle-hardened soldier who liked nothing better than the clash of swords. He may have treated Zedislava badly and he certainly tried his young wife's patience and obedience in a thousand ways. He insisted that she dress in her finest gowns and attend the long and barbarous banquets that pleased him so. (In return, she tried his patience because of her generosity towards the poor.)

Being of a retiring disposition and much given to prayer--and, moreover, having a family and a large castle to care for--she found this a real sacrifice. However, obedience and patience had been an important part of her training, and she taught herself to spiritualize the endless trials that would beset the mother of four children in a medieval fortress.

The Polish missionaries, Saint Hyacinth and Blessed Ceslaus, brought Zedislava the first knowledge of the new religious order which had begun but a few years before. Saint Dominic, a Spaniard, had met them in Italy, where he had gone to have his order approved. Begun in France, the Dominican Order was already international, and with the profession of Zedislava as the first Slavic Tertiary, its world-wide scope became apparent.

Enchanted with the possibilities of an order that allowed her to share in its benefits and works while caring for her family, Zedislava threw herself into the new project with enviable zeal. She encouraged her husband to build a hostel for the many poor pilgrims who came homeless to the gate. She visited the prisoners in the frightful dungeons, and used her influence to obtain pardons from the severe sentences meted out to them. She fed and cared for the poor, taught catechism to the children of the servants, and showed all, by the sweetness of her life, just what it meant to be a Christian lady and a Dominican Tertiary. On the occasion of a Mongol (Tartar) attack, when homeless refugees poured into the castle stronghold, her calm, invincible charity was a bulwark of strength to all.

With her own funds, Zedislava determined to build a church (Priory of Saint Lawrence) where God might be fittingly worshipped. As an act of zeal and penance, she herself carried many of the heavy beams and materials that went into the building. She did this at night so that no one would know of her hard work. Zedislava experienced visions and ecstasies during this time. She also received Holy Communion nearly every day in an age when this was not customary.

Her death came soon after the completion of the church. The mourning people who knelt by her deathbed could see evidence of her strong Christian virtues in the monuments she had left: her children, her church, and the inspiration of a saintly wife and mother. She consoled her husband in life and appeared to him in glory after death, which strongly encouraged his desire for conversion. Numerous miracles are ascribed to Saint Zedislava, including the raising of the dead to life, though Pope Pius X did not refer to these in his approval of the cultus given to her in her native country (Benedictines, Dorcy, Farmer).

First Saturday January

2010-01-02T09:51:00.006-05:00

Mary is the most sweet bait, chosen, prepared, and ordained by God, to catch the hearts of men. -- St. Catherine of Siena

Saint John Alcober

2009-12-30T11:05:00.013-05:00

Today is the feast of one of the Dominican martyrs of China, St. John Alcober.

Born at Gerona, Spain, in 1694. John Alcober was a good friend of Bishop St. Francis Serrano, who was a brother Dominican of the Granada monastery and a fellow martyr in Tonkin. The two had planned to enter the Chinese missions together, but problems with the ship marooned Father Alcober in Lorca. There he spent his time as a popular preacher. In fact, he was beginning to forget about going to China until the Lord reminded him one day. As he was preaching, he used the words, "How long, you sinners, will you remain hardened?" His crucifix reproached him, "And you, John--how long?"

Dominican Saints of China from the Dominican Priory in Avila

He sailed to Manila with 43 religious in 1726, and he finally made it to China in 1728, where he labored for 16 years in the province of Fo-kien. Here his life was very difficult; he had to hide in uncomfortable places, and, once, he was smuggled in a coffin to anoint a dying man. Sometimes disguised as a water seller, he moved about the city. Once, he was far from any shelter,and he climbed into a tree to spend the night. Piously intoning the Miserere before going to sleep, he was startled to hear another voice answering his, and, to his joy, realized his old friend Father Serrano was sitting in the same tree.

One of his last acts as a free man was to baptize a sick woman to whom Our Lady of the Rosary had appeared. The new Christian was so beautiful after her death that pagans crowded in to see her. Father Alcober's presence there led to his capture in 1746. Soon he found himself reunited in prison with Father Serrano and another priest, Francis Diaz. They were tortured to disclose the whereabouts of Bishop Peter Sanz, though the revealed nothing. The bishop and Father Joachim Royo, upon hearing of the capture of the other three, surrendered themselves in order to spare their brothers further suffering.

The five were dragged before the emperor in chains, and again subjected to torture. Bishop Sanz was beheaded, but the others languished in prison for another six months. Father Alcober wrote a letter to his brother, a Carmelite, saying that they were all in good spirits, but that they hoped it would end soon because they were eager to shed their blood. Here in prison, Father Serrano was appointed successor to Peter Martyr.

Late in November, these four was strangled in their cell at Futsheu during the night. This was the best way to fend off their apostolic work among the jailers and soldiers. When the executioners returned in the light of day to dispose of the bodies, they were horrified to note that the faces of the martyrs were not only serene, but shone with an unearthly radiance--a phenomenon indeed for someone who had died by strangulation. Afraid of being punished for not carrying out their duty, the executioners covered the faces of their victims, but the Christians followed them nonetheless to try to collect relics. The soldiers already knew there would be problems trying to dispose of the relics: Those of Bishop Sanz had resisted burning and various other kinds of destruction. For this reason, the persecuted Christians were able to retain the relics of the five martyrs.

He was strangled to death on October 28, 1748 at Fu-tsheu prison in Tonkin. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in AD 1893. He was canonized along with the other martyrs of China by Pope John Paul II in AD 2000.

Prayer

O God, who didst endow Thy blessed St. John Alcober with constancy and charity to preach the faith to heathen nations, grant us, we beseech Thee, through his example and intercession, to prevevere contantly in Thy faith. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessed Bonaventure Tolomei

2009-12-27T08:39:00.005-05:00

Today is the memorial of Bl. Bonaventure Tolomei. Even as a child he showed signs of divine favours, but as he grew up he ignored them. He led a wild, dissolute and even sacriligeous life as a young man; for four years he abandoned himself to a life of impurity and sacrilege. He eventually repented and came back to the Church, and did penance for his earlier life by all the important European shrines on foot. He then returned to Siena and joined the Dominicans. He died tending plague victims in Siena; his death in 1348 was of natural causes.

Saint Stephen

2009-12-26T18:00:00.028-05:00

Then the twelve calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. (Acts 6:2-5)

From this part of Acts of the Apostles we are introduced to St. Stephen. He was chosen as one of the original 7 deacons of the Church to work in the ministry of the Apostles.

By his faith, he was also a miracle worker along with being one of the earliest of preachers. It was in the name of his great faith and love that he was dragged outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned to death. He went to his death asking Jesus to forgive his killers.

From the last 2,000 years to infinity, he is one of the great standards for all mankind's witness to the Lord.

Ordination of St. Stephen by St. Peter

St. Stephen preaching at Jerusalem by Vittore Carpaccio

The stoning of St. Stephen by Bernado Daddi 1324

Prayer of Saint Stephen Martyr
Loving God, Saint Stephen was one of the first deacons in the Church. The Apostles ordained him with six others because they needed ministers who wouldoversee the needs of the poor and the widowed. His holiness was so evident that when he preached to his enemies, his face glowed brightly like an angel's. I ask him to pray for those who have been called to a life of service as ordained deacons. O Lord, help them to be a sign of Your love in their parishes and in the world where they live and work. Bless them with a vision of their ministry that stirs them to passion and tireless effort. Saint Stephen, pray for us. Amen. - Terry Anne Modica

Blessed Paganus of Lecco

2009-12-26T15:59:00.005-05:00

Today the Dominicans remember Bl Paganus of Lecco. Bl. Paganus was received into the Order by holy father St. Dominic himself. He was the successor St. Peter the Martyr. He also followed in St. Peter the martyr's footsteps beeing martyred by heretics in 1274. He served in the Order for 50 years.

Feast of Adam and Eve

2009-12-24T12:15:00.006-05:00

Today is the feast of Sts. Adam and Eve. The adoption of this feast by the Western Church is what started the tradition of the Christmas tree.

Read more about this at the online journal of the Slaves if the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Catholicism.org.

Blessed Margaret of Savoy

2009-12-23T14:04:00.002-05:00

Today is the Feast of Bl. Margaret of Savoy according to the Extraordinary liturgical calendar.

Margaret of Savoy, daughter of Duke Amadeo II, is one of three royal princesses who wore the Dominican habit and were beatified. In the 15th century, she was the glory of a family that has given several beati to the Church.

Born into the royal house of Savoy, Margaret grew up in a household in which piety and wealth were ordinary. Her own parents died when she was small, and she was educated by an uncle, who arranged an early marriage for her to the Marquis of Montferrat, Theodore Paleologus.

As queen of her fairly large domain, Margaret was the model of Christian rulers. She felt that it was her duty to exceed in charity and humility in the proportion that she was wealthier than those around her, and she devoted all of her time to God and to her neighbors. Her husband was a widower with two children, to whom she gave the greatest care. The hundreds of dependents on the large estates came to her for charity and instruction.

Disaster stuck Savoy several times in the years when she was wife and mother. Famine and plague came, making great demands on her time and her courage. Unhesitatingly, she went out to nurse the plague-stricken with her own hands, and she sent out food and clothing from her husband's stores until it was doubtful if anything would be left. After this crisis passed, war hovered over the kingdom, and she prayed earnestly that they would be delivered from the horrors of invasion.

In 1418, the marquis died. His young widow was one of the most eligible women in Europe. Margaret sorrowed for her husband, but she made it clear to her relatives that they need not plan another marriage for her, as she was going to enter a convent. In order to live a life of complete renunciation, she decided to found a convent of her own at Alba in Liguria that would follow the ancient rule of Saint Dominic. Accordingly, she took over a cloister which had fallen into ruin, having only a few poor inhabitants, and rebuilt it for Dominican use. She dedicated the house to St. Mary Magdalen.

There is one very delightful story told of her sojourn in the convent. When she had been there many years, she one day had a young visitor; he was the son of one of her step-children. Hunting nearby, he had killed a doe, and he brought her the motherless fawn to tend. It was a pretty little animal, and it soon grew to be a pet. One legend was that the fawn was able to go and find any sister she would name, and, for several years, the animal had free rein of the halls and cells of the sisters. Perhaps it was true, though, since the house confessor told her that the deer must go. She took it to the gate and told it to go. It fled into the forest, and returned only when Margaret was about to die.

Margaret attained a high degree of contemplative prayer. One time Our Lord appeared to her and asked her whether she would rather suffer calumny, sickness, or persecution. Margaret generously accepted all three. Her offer was taken, and for the remaining years of her life she suffered intensely from all three sorrows (Dorcy). It should be noted that Saint Vincent Ferrer influenced Margaret to join the Dominican tertiaries (Benedictines).

Blessed Adrian of Dalmatia

2009-12-21T12:32:00.003-05:00

Today is the memorial of Bl. Adrian of Damatia. There is not much knowledge available about this 13th century Dominican missionary who was martyred by Muslims. 27 companions were martyred with him and their names have been lost to us.

Mercifully hear, O lord, we beseech Thee, the prayers of Thy Church: that, all adversities and errors being done away, we may serve Thee with a pure and undisturbed devotions. Amen.

The Continually Expanding Insanity

2009-12-15T11:53:00.004-05:00

Jesus should not have anything to do with Christmas. You have mental health problems if you depitct Jesus dead on a cross!

This is the message a Massachusetts public school system is endorsing.
Taughton, MA, which has the official ironic nickname The Christmas City, has gone completely through the looking glass.

A special needs 8-year-old boy drew a stick-figure of the crucified Jesus when his teacher asked the children in class to sketch something that reminded them of Christmas. The boy made the mistake of actually drawing Jesus. The boy was sent home from school suspended and forced to undergo a psychological evaluation.

Here is the first place I learned of this.

Here is the local news story from the school's town.

Saint John of the Cross

2009-12-14T13:11:00.010-05:00

Today is the feast of St. John of the Cross on the Ordinary (novus ordo) Roman Calendar.

This incredible priest, poet, mystic, reformer and Church Doctor is THE greatest Carmelite saint alongside his co-reformer St. Theresa of Avila.

Visit the site of the best men's Carmelite community in the U.S. by clicking here!

And in the luck of night
In secret places where no other spied
I went without my sight
Without a light to guide
Except the heart that lit me from inside.
----- From his poem "The Dark Night of the Soul"

St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

2009-12-08T11:42:00.015-05:00

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

The Immaculate Conception by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Both the feast and doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was originally opposed by the Dominicans. Recognition of the feast goes back to the 7th century though it was not universal. Some speculate that the Church in Syria recognized it as far back as the 5th century!

It came to the Western Church from the East. It wasn't until 1476 that Pope Sixtus IV established it as a universal feast. Since the dogma was not officially defined, Catholics were not obliged to accept the dogma and this was reiterated by the Council of Trent. The Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined as a dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854 on the same ancient traditional date of the feast, December 8.

We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful.
----- Pope Pius IX, 1854, ineffabilis Dei

We must except the holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the subject of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin.
--- St. Augustine (On Nature and Grace, 42)

Immaculate Conception with Saints by Piero di Cosimo

In Praise of Mary Immaculate

You are all fair, O Mary;
the original stain is not in you.
You are the glory of Jerusalem,
the joy of Israel,
the honor of our people,
and the great advocate of sinners.
O Mary, Virgin most prudent,
Mother most merciful, pray for us;
intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Saint Anne conceiving the Virgin Mary by Jean Bellegambe

Prayer of Pope Pius XII
on the centenury of the Immaculate Conception dogma

Enraptured by the splendor of thy heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into thine arms, O Immacuate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in thy most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.

Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of sublime gifts with which God has filled thee, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of thy conception until the day on which, after thine assumption into Heaven, He crowned thee Queen of the Universe.

O crystal fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with thy heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of Hell!

O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness. In thy name, resounding harmoniously in Heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.

Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with thee, we may repeat before thy throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around thine altars: Thou art all-beautiful, O Mary! Thou art the glory, thou art the joy, thou art the honor of our people! Amen.

Taken from The Prayer Book, Father John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D., 1954.

Saint Ambrose

2009-12-07T10:05:00.013-05:00

Today is the feast of Saint Ambrose of Milan, one of the original 4 Church Doctors.

A marvelous quote of St. Ambrose should be particularly meaningful to Dominicans:

He who read much and understands much, receives his fill. He who is full, refreshes others. So Scripture says: “If the clouds are full, they will pour rain upon the earth."

Born to the Roman nobility. Brother of Saint Marcellina and Saint Satyrus. Educated in the classics, Greek, and philosophy at Rome, Italy. Poet and noted orator. Convert to Christianity. Governor of Milan, Italy.

When the bishop of Milan died, a dispute over his replacement led to violence. Ambrose intervened to calm both sides; he impressed everyone involved so much that though he was still an unbaptized catechumen, he was chosen as the new bishop. He resisted, claiming that he was not worthy, but to prevent further violence, he assented, and on 7 December 374 he was baptized, ordained as a priest, and consecrated as bishop. He immediately gave away his wealth to the Church and the poor, both for the good it did, and as an example to his flock.

Noted preacher and teacher, a Bible student of renown, and writer of liturgical hymns. He stood firm against paganism and Arians. His preaching helped convert Saint Augustine of Hippo, whom Ambrose baptized and brought into the Church. Ambrose’s preaching brought Emperor Theodosius to do public penance for his sins. He called and chaired several theological councils during his time as bishop, many devoted to fighting heresy. Welcomed Saint Ursus and Saint Alban of Mainz when they fled Naxos to escape Arian persecution, and then sent them on to evangelize in Gaul and Germany. Proclaimed a great Doctor of the Latin Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1298.

The title Honey Tongued Doctor was initially bestowed on Ambrose because of his speaking and preaching ability; this led to the use of a beehive and bees in his iconography, symbols which also indicate wisdom. This led to his association with bees, beekeepers, chandlers, wax refiners, etc.
source

St. Joseph Khang

2009-12-06T16:32:00.011-05:00

Today the Dominicans remember St. Joseph Khang, one of the Martyrs of Vietnam.

Catechist Joseph (Nguyen-duy-) Khang was born in the year 1832 in the Christian community of Cao-mai in the district of Tra-vi, province of Thai-binh. At age 16, after his father died, he said goodbye to his mother and entered the House of God with the intention of studying for the priesthood. The tempest of persecution that arose against the Christians changed all his plans. All the colleges and seminaries were closed.

The fate of catechist Joseph Khang was the same that befell Bishop Jerome Hermosilla with whom he was taken prisoner. His fidelity and constancy were admirable since he could have escaped. Nonetheless, he preferred to remain at the side of his master. He stated: “If the Bishop dies for the faith, so will I.” For, as the Latin poet said: “There is nothing than can be disturbed in the soul of the just man who is tenacious in his purpose,” especially if his fidelity is founded on a supernatural life.

Joseph was cruelly whipped several times and subjected to other tortures but he never let out a groan nor did he get depressed. On the contrary, he was always happy and peaceful, carrying himself with utmost dignity. He exhorted all with whom he came into contact to love God and venerate Mary, the Mother of Jesus, to whom he had a special devotion. Joseph received the habit of a Lay Dominican and accompanied Bishop Hermosilla for three years. As the Vietnamese so aptly say: “He was the hands and feet of his master, Bishop Hermosilla.”

Joseph received the palm of martyrdom by decapitation on 6 December 1861, a few days after his beloved bishop was beheaded. His apostolate as a catechist and his martyrdom are an honor to all Lay Dominicans in Vietnam.

First Saturday December

2009-12-05T08:52:00.006-05:00

Mary to Sr. Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart (Lúcia dos Santos):

Look, my daughter, at my Heart encircled by these thorns with which men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, strive to console me, and so I announce: I promise to assist at the hour of death with the grace necessary for salvation all those who, with the intention of making reparation to me, will, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the beads, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.

First Friday December

2009-12-04T11:31:00.001-05:00

Blessed Bernard and St. Lucy

2009-12-03T09:09:00.003-05:00

Today is the memorial of two little known Dominicans, Blessed Bernard of Toulouse and St. Lucy the Chaste.

Bl. Bernard was a Dominican who was martyred in 1320 by being sawed in half by Albigensians.

St. Lucy the Chaste was a French Dominican tertiary who died 1420 in Spain having followed the great Dominican saint Vincent Ferrer.

Blessed Christian of Perugia

2009-12-02T10:05:00.008-05:00

As it was missed yesterday, let's mention that yesterday was also the memorisl of Bl Christian of Perugia.

He was a contemporary of St. Dominic, being one of his first spiritual students. He helped to found the friary at Purugia, Italy that was established by Blessed Nicholas Palea. It was in Purugia that Franciscan writers record the famous meeting of St. Dominic and St. Francis.

Violence to Iraqi Christians Continues

2009-12-01T15:00:00.002-05:00

The church of St. Ephrem in the city of Mosul was completely destroyed by explosives today by extremists. After the destruction, the neighboring Mother House of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine was attacked. It is a great blessing that there have been no casualties.

As we pray for the the end of all wars and the poor people of Iraq, make special intentions for its Christians and the good sisters that were attacked today!
Read the story about this at AsiaNews.it.

Blessed John of Vercelli

2009-12-01T10:37:00.009-05:00

Blessed John of Vercelli was 5'8" tall. he had a pointed chin, blue eyes - standard Northern Italian features. Although he was lame, walking with a limp on his right side, he walked barefoot. He used a walking stick everywhere he went (it was his symbol). He took a vow not to ride any kind of transportation. If you laid every mile, end to end, that he walked during the last nine years of his life, he walked around Europe three times!

Bl. John entered the Order of Preachers in the 1230. He was the sixth Master General of the order. The preaching from Bl. Jordon of Saxony led him to the order and John received the habit from him. He studied in Bologna and was ordained there in 1229, becoming a noted preacher. In 1232 he established a priory in Vercelli.

He had a great gift of peace-making and was sent to reconcile various conflicts in his day, such as conflicts between Venice & Genoa and France & Castile. This was a very difficult period with many heresies and bands of robbers. It was during this time the great Saint Peter the Martyr (aka of Verona) was killed by heretics.

He was commissioned by the pope to draw up the Schema for the Second Ecumenical Council of Lyons in 1274. This council would lay the groundwork for the founding of the Holy Name Society still in existence! It was also at that council he met the future Pope Nicholas IV; they would later be called together using John's great peace-keeping skills to help in a dispute involving King Philip III of France.

He personally knew many great saints & blesseds that were his contemporaries: St. Albert the Great, St. Thomas Aquinas, King St. Louis IX and Peter of Tarentaise (the future Pope Innocent V).

He became Master General of the Order in 1264 and remained so until his natural death in 1283. He made personal visits (on foot, see above) to most of the Dominican houses encouraging them in their observance of the rule.

After the death of Pope Clement IV, Bl. John was almost elected pope! He was warned of the possibility which frightened him and he fled. Toward the end of his life he was offered the role of patriarch of Jerusalem, but declined.

My personal favorite Bl. John of Vercelli story:

Tradition says that during the translation of the relics of Saint Dominic de Guzman 1267, when the body was exposed to view, the head was seen to turn towards Blessed John. Embarrassed, John moved to another part of the church, giving his place to a cardinal. The head of Saint Dominic was seen by all to turn again toward John.

An icon of the Virgin Mary has flown over the Earth 176 times in the International Space Station

2009-11-30T12:45:00.011-05:00

If one understands the ancient meaning of this traditional icon and its symbols, it seems more than fitting that it should envelope the Earth from above!

Reported by Interfax of Russia in Moscow On November 25, an unusual sacred procession took place when the Virgin Mary Icon known as the "Sign" (see below) flew around the Earth 176 times.

On September 30 the spaceship Soyuz TMA 16 which had a mission to bring the icon to the International Space Station was driven from the Baikonur cosmodrome, the representative of the Galaxy studying centre initiated the project told Interfax-Religion on Wednesday.
Read complete article.

St. Andrew the Apostle

2009-11-30T11:39:00.022-05:00

2^nd day of Advent

Today is the feast of the martyrdom of St. Andrew the Apostle, one of the original Twelve. Here is a brief outline of only some of the things about this glorious saint:

He was a disciple of St. John the Baptist.
He was the first called by Jesus.
He is the brother of St. Peter.
He recognized Jesus as the messiah the first time he saw Him.
It was he who brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus before the feeding of the five thousand.
founded the see of what would be Constantinople.
He ordained Stachys, the first Bishop of Byzantium who was one of the 70 disciples of the Lord.
He was martyred on an x-shaped cross known as a saltire. Like his brother, St. Peter, St. Andrew felt himself unworthy to be crucified on the upright cross of Christ.
He hung for three days on the cross, fixed not by nails but by rope round his hands and feet; he preached until the end!
He is the patron of the Ukraine, Russia, Sicily, Greece, Romania, Scotland, Philippines, Amalfi, Malta, Plymouth, England and former Prussia
St. Andrew's cross is the flag of Scotland
His name in Greek mean manly.

St. Andrew's last words on the cross, a prayer:

Lord, eternal King of glory, receive me hanging from the wood of this sweet cross. Thou who art my God, whom I have seen, do not permit them to loosen me from the cross. Do this for me, O Lord, for I know the virtue of Thy Holy Cross.

Prayer by St. John Chrysostom:

Lord, You raised up Saint Andrew, Your Apostle, to preach and rule in Your
Church. Grant that we may always experience the benefit of his intercession with You. Amen.

Blessed Calimerius of Montechiaro

2009-11-28T10:45:00.005-05:00

Today is the memorial of Bl. Calimerius of Montechiaro. I do not have any information about him in any of my current sources at hand. The following very short profile comes directly from the entry for him at the wonderful Patron Saint Index :

Blessed Calimerius of Montechiaro was born c. 1430 in Italy. He was a Dominican. He spent a long life preaching throughout Italy. When he was 90 years old and unable to climb into the pulpit, parishioners lifted him into it so he could preach. He died 1521 of natural causes.

Blessed Margaret of Savoy

2009-11-27T09:31:00.010-05:00

Today is the memorial of Bl. Margaret of Savoy, OP on the Ordinary Roman Calendar; it is December 23 on the Extraordinary (Traditional) Calendar.

Marchioness of Montferrat, born at Pignerol in 1382; died at Alba, 23 November, 1464. She was the only daughter of Louis of Savoy, Prince of Achaia, and of Bonne, daughter of Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, and was given in marriage in 1403 to Theodore, Marquis of Montferrat, a descendant of the Greek emperors, the Palæologi, and widower of Jeanne, daughter of the duke of Bar and of Lorraine. Her piety, already great, increased after she had heard the preaching of St. Vincent Ferrer, who spent several months in Montferrat. Therefore, when she was left a widow in 1418, she decided to abandon the world. Leaving the direction of the affairs of the marquisate to Jean-Jacques, the son of her husband by his first marriage, she retired to Alba where she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic. A little later, Philip Maria, duke of Milan, asked her hand in marriage and begged the pope to relieve her of her vow. But Margaret opposed a formal refusal to this request and thoroughly resolved to give herself entirely to God: with several young women of rank, she founded a monastery and placed it under the rule of the order of St. Dominic. Redoubling her mortifications she made rapid progress in the way of perfection and died in a saintly manner. On 13 December, 1464, her remains were placed in a simple tomb; in 1481 they were transferred to a different and much more beautiful sepulchre built in her monastery at the expense of William, Marquis of Montferrat.

source: Catholic Encyclopedia

Saint Catherine of Alexandria

2009-11-25T10:02:00.027-05:00

Protectress of the Order

The monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai is renowned as being the oldest continuously occupied monastery in Christendom. Yet it was first dedicated not to St. Catherine but to the Transfiguration of Jesus. Its architect began building the monastery walls in 542. Three centuries later, guided by a dream, the monks of this monastery found on the mountain the body of a woman, whom they took to be Saint Catherine--a body presumably miraculously flown there from Alexandria.

Falconius, archbishop of San Severino, speaks of the translation of the body of Catherine to the top of Mount Sinai. "As to what is said, that the body of this saint was conveyed by angels to Mount Sinai, the meaning is that it was carried by the monks of Sinai to their rich dwelling with such a treasure--It is well known that the name of an angelic habit, and that monks, on account of their heavenly purity and functions, were anciently called 'angels'" (Husenbeth).

Nothing is known for sure about her except that she was a maiden martyred at Alexandria under Maximinus Daza as related in the History of the Church (viii, c. 14) by Eusebius. Her acta, say she was the daughter of king Costos of Cyprus, who had been called to Alexandria to be a counselor to Emperor Maximinus. Philosophy was very fashionable in Alexandria's high society and Catherine was devoted to study, so that she had a good dose of it before she reached 18. During the course of her studies she learned about Christ. Then Catherine was converted by a vision of Our Lady and the Holy Child.

When Emperor Maximinus began his persecutions, the 18-year-old Catherine, who was very beautiful, went to the emperor and rebuked him for his tyranny as he stood in the middle of a pagan temple. Unable to answer her arguments, he called in fifty philosophers to confront her. After they admitted themselves to be convinced by her arguments, the furious emperor sentenced them to be burned.

The emperor offered to marry her, but she refused because Christ had already appeared to her in person and placed his gold ring on her finger (like St. Catherine of Siena); for this reason Greek Christians call her 'Ækatharina,' that is, 'ever pure.' She was beaten for two solid hours and then imprisoned, and the emperor departed to inspect a camp. In her cell she was fed by a dove, and Christ appeared to her in a vision.

When he returned, he found that his wife, Faustina, and an officer, Porphyrius, had gone to visit Catherine out of curiosity and were converted, and that Porphyrius had converted 200 men of the imperial guard. All were condemned to death.

Catherine was sentenced to be killed by means of a wheel set with spikes or razors, now known as "St. Catherine's wheel." When she was placed upon its rim, her bonds were miraculously loosened, the wheel broke, and the spikes flew off, killing onlookers. Finally, she was beheaded, as she called down blessings on all who should remember her. From her severed veins flowed a white, milk-like liquid instead of blood. It is claimed that for many years oil oozed from her bones; this oil was prized as medicine and for lamps in holy sanctuaries.

In 527 Emperor Justinian built a fortified monastery for the hermits of Mt. Sinai, and the body of Catherine is supposed to have been taken there in the 8th or 9th century; since then it has borne her name. In the 11th century, Simeon, a monk of Sinai, went to Rouen to receive an annual alms of Duke Richard of Normandy. He brought with him some of Catherine's relics, which he left there. She was one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, who were highly venerated individually and as a group during the Middle Ages because of the enormous amount of miracles that were done through their intercession.

Saint Joan of Arc heard and faithfully followed the voice of Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. Perhaps the Lord gave Catherine to Joan to help her in her debate with the famous theologians. The real Passion of Catherine is the same as Joan of Arc's, which fortunately we know in all its details. Joan is the Catherine of modern times, indeed of all times. And so to be a woman, a saint, and a philosopher like Catherine, there is no need to be a king's daughter; the Hail Mary and Our Father are enough. No doubt Catherine had the simplicity of a shepherdess. Though philosophy and religion will never be found in perfect harmony, what matters is faith, pure and simple faith, and we rejoice that it is so. Saint Dominic also had heavenly visions of her and chose her and Mary Magdalene to be protectress of the Dominican Order.

source

Martyrs of Vietnam

2009-11-24T12:40:00.013-05:00

Today is the day set aside for all the martyrs of Vietnam in the last 500 years.
Even though 117 martyrs are named, there are over 100,000 up to the present day to be included. Dominicans, of course, are among the many from the Church's various orders that were martyred.

For an excellent blog article on the Vietnamese Martyrs, visit Unam Sanctan's 2007 article about the subject!

The earliest martyrs mentioned in written sources are the Spanish Dominicans Francisco Gil de Federich and Matthew Alonzo Lenziana, who arrived in the country about 1580.

The tortures these individuals underwent were among the worst in the history of Christian martyrdom. The means included cutting off limbs joint by joint, ripping living bodies with red hot tongs, and use of drugs to enslave the minds of the victims. Christians at the time were branded on the face with the words ta dao (false religion) and families and villages which subscribed to Christianity were obliterated.

The 117 martyrs were beatified in four groups, the first of them on 27 May 1900 (Pope Leo XIII), the second (all Dominicans) on 20 May 1906, a third on 2 May 1909 (both by Pope Pius X) and the last (including two Spanish bishops) on 29 April 1951 (Pope Pius XII). They were canonised in Rome on 19 June 1988 by Pope John Paul II.

Dominican Bishops
St. Dominic Hanares (1765-Jun. 22, 1838)
St. Vincent Yen (1764-Jun. 30, 1838)
St. Ignatius Delgado (1761-Jul. 12, 1838)
St. Jerome Hermosilla (1800-Nov., 1 1861)
St. Valentine de Berrio-Ochoa (1827-Nov. 1, 1861)
St. Joseph Mary Diaz-Sanjurjo (1818-Jul. 20, 1857)
St. Melchior García Sampedro (1821-Jul. 28, 1858)

Dominican Priests
St. Vincent Liem (1731-Nov. 7)
St. Dominic Hanh (1772- Aug. 1, 1838)
St. Joseph Fernandez (1775-Jul. 15, 1838)
St. Peter Tu (1776-Sep. 5, 1838)
St. Dominic Tuoc (1775-Apr. 2, 1839)
St. Thomas Dou (1778-Nov. 26, 1839)
St. Dominic Xuyen (1786-Nov. 26, 1839)
St. Joseph Hien (1775-May 9, 1840)
St. Dominic Trach Doia (1792-Sep. 18, 1840)
St. Matthew Alonso Liciniana (1702 -Jan. 22, 1745)
St. Francis Gil de Federich (1702-Jan. 22, 1745)
St. Vincent Liem Le Duang (1731-Nov. 7, 1773)
St. Hyacinth Castañeda (1743 -Nov., 7 1773)
St. Peter Almató y Ribera (Nov. 1, 1830-Nov. 1, 1861)
St. Dominic Mau (1808-Nov. 5,1858)
St. Joseph Tuan (Van Tran) [OP priest] (1821-Apr. 4, 1861)

Lay Dominicans
St. Dominic An Kham (1799-March 11, 1859)
St. Joseph Uyen (1775-Jul. 4, 1838)
St. Joseph Canh (1963-Sep. 5, 1938)
St. Francis Xavier Mau (?-Dec. 19, 1839)
St. Dominic Yu (?-Dec. 19, 1839)
St. Thomas De (1810-Dec. 19, 1839)
St. Augustine Moi (1806-Dec. 19, 1839)
St. Stephen Vihn (1814?-Dec. 19, 1839)
St. Thomas Toan (1767-Jun. 27, 1840)
St. Joseph Khang (1832-Dec. 6, 1861)
St. Dominic An Kham (Pham Thong) (1799-Jan. 13, 1859)
St. Luke Cai Thin (Trong Pham) (1819-Jan. 13, 1859)
St. Joseph Cai Ta (Pham Thong) (1800-Jan. 13, 1859)

Dominican Tertiaries
St. Augustine Schoeffler (1822-May 1, 1851) priest, M.E.P.
St. Dominic Caam (An-Kham) (?-Mar. 11, 1859) priest
St. Thomas Khuong (1779-Jan. 30, 1860) priest

Pope St. Clement I

2009-11-23T13:51:00.013-05:00

One of the 70 Apostles, consecrated by St. Peter, worked with St. Paul, Church Father, one the earliest great Patristic writers, our fourth pope and witness to the historical proof of the papacy, holy martyr for the faith (c. A.D. 101)! How's that for a resume?!

Seek peace and go in pursuit of it. The eyes of the Lord rest upon the good, and His ears attend to their petition. But the frown of the Lord is upon evildoers, to extirpate the memory of them. The good man cried aloud, and the Lord heard him and delivered him from all his afflictions. Many are the plagues of the sinner, but mercy will encompass those that hope in the Lord.

--from Pope St. Clement I's Epistle to the Corinthians

The Prayer of St. Clement I

Give us the grace, Lord, to hope in Thy Name, to which all creatures owe their being. Open the eyes of our hearts to know Thee alone, the Most High in the highest heavens, whose dwelling is in the holy of holies. Thou abasest the arrogance of the proud, frustrate the designs of the godless, humble the lofty and exalt the lowly, makest wealthy and poor, Thou slayest, Thou savest and Thou bringest to life. Alone the Benefactor of spirits and God of all flesh, Thy gaze penetrates the depths, Thou observest the doings of men. Helper of those in peril, Savior of those in despair, Creator of all that draws breath, Thou causest the peoples on the earth to multiply and from them all choose those who love Thee through Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son. Through Him Thou hast instructed us, sanctified us, honored us.

We ask Thee, O Lord, to be our supporter and our helper. To those of us who are afflicted, free us, pity the lowly, raise the fallen, show thyself to the needy, heal the sick, convert Thy wayward people, feed the hungry, deliver our captives, support the weak, encourage the faint-hearted. Let all nations know that Thou alone art God and Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and we are Thy people, the sheep of Thy flock.

Truly Thou hast established the world and revealed Thy decrees. Thou art faithful through all generations, just in judgment, admirable in strength and majesty, wise in building, prudent in establishment, goodness in everything seen, faithful to those who put their trust in Thee, and kind and merciful. Dismiss from us our iniquities, our injustices, our sins and our failings.

Do not hold the sins of Thy servants against them, but purify us by Thy truth, and direct our steps that in holiness and justice and simplicity of heart we may walk and so do what is good and pleasing in Thy sight and in the sight of our leaders.

O Lord, let the light of your face shine upon us, so that we may enjoy Thy blessings in peace, protected by Thy strong hand, and freed from all sin by Thy outstretched arm; and deliver us from those who hate us unjustly.

Grant peace and concord to us and to all mankind, even as Thou gavest it to our forefathers when they devoutly called upon Thee in faith and in truth. Thou alone art able to bestow these and even greater benefits upon us. We praise Thee through our high priest and the patron of our souls, Jesus Christ. Through Him be glory and majesty to Thee now and throughout all generations, for ever and ever.

Amen.

"Viva Cristo Rey!"

2009-11-23T11:47:00.026-05:00

Those were the last words of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro - Padre Pro. Today is his feast day.

He had a great love for the Mass, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and apostolic zeal for ordinary working men. Despite the fierce persecution of the Mexican Government as well as his own debilitating illnesses, Fr. Pro continued his ministry to the faithful. He was captured, imprisoned and martyred for his Catholic Faith in 1927 under [false] charges of sedition. source

Quotes:

How can I explain to you the sweet grace of the Holy Spirit,
which invades my poor miner's soul with such heavenly joys?

May God have mercy on you! May God bless you! Lord, Thou
knowest that I am innocent! With all my heart I forgive my enemies!

God our Father,
you gave your servant Miguel Agustin
the grace to seek ardently your greater glory
and the salvation of your people.
Grant that through his intercession
and following his example
we may serve you and glorify you
by performing our daily duties with fidelity and joy
and effectively helping our neighbor.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

Prayer For Dominican Vocations

2009-11-18T23:53:00.006-05:00

Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
Who once did call Saint Dominic’s family
into the Church to proclaim the Gospel.
We ask You now to send apostles as then to Your harvest.
Give them courage, wisdom and grace
To bear witness in a worthy manner before all people
To your death, resurrection and future coming in glory.
O Lord, You are always with us,
Help us to become defenders of the faith
And a light to banish indifference and the darkness of sin.
Through the mediation of your most Holy Mother, the
Patron of our Order.
Amen.

Gaude Mater Ecclesia...

2009-11-17T14:42:00.012-05:00

...because I feel like it.

From the hymn to St. Dominic, Gaude Mater Ecclesia

Sing, O Church, our glorious mother;
aaaaaRaise thy voice in thankful love;
For this day a son thou givest
aaaaaTo the cours of heaven above.

Dominic, our guide and leader,
aaaaaFather of a white-robed throng,
Famed on earth for deeds of valor,
aaaaaSings for aye the angels' song.

Blessed Lucy of Narni

2009-11-16T13:52:00.040-05:00

Very many of the greatest of God's saints are lifetime examples of the lesson from Job. No matter the humiliation, false witness or wrong doing against them, these great examples of God's children retain a love that only grows as carry their crosses without complaint.

Today's Dominican blessed is one of these heavenly creatures. Blessed Lucy was born in Narni on 13 November 1476. Even as a baby inthe cradle, there were signs that she was no ordinary child; both her nurses and mother were used to seeing baby Lucy visited daily by an unknown religious dressed in the Dominican habit, taking her from her cradle, embracing her tenderly, and gaving Lucy her blessing. (It was said the visitor's majestic appearance seemed something more than human.

As a very young child she foreshadowed her holy life and devotion by being drawn to pious objects. When she was only four years old, her mother's brother, Don Simon, came on avisit to his sister's house, and brought with him from Rome various toys and presents for the children. Lucy immediately choose a rosary and a small statue of the Infant Jesus; she called it "Christarello" and it was a cherished object of her devotion.

Even at that young age, she preferred solitude during her personal devotions. Another uncle had a room in his house where the ceiling was painted with a picture of angels. It was in this room she received her life changing vision when she was only seven years old. She had the vision of Jesus, Mary, St. Dominic, St. Catherine of Siena and many other saints. It was during this vision that Jesus espoused her to Himself and St. Dominic bestowed the scapular of the Dominicans. She wore this scapular under her regular clothes secretly until she was old enough to assume it publically.

After the time of her childhood vision, she was granted many holy graces including the gift of prophesy. Later she had stigmata.

Her parents died when she was young and she was in the care of one of her uncles who wanted to "marry her off." She did not want to break her vow of virginity or betrothal to Jesus. She received a vision from Mary, St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena instructing her to marry Count Pietro of Milan but to live as Mary and Joseph did. Thus, she married and maintained a large household. The house was managed like a religious community with Lucy dressing as one of the servants as she performed the household chores with them and became a benefactress of the poor. While it appears her husband was very caring and patient, four years into the marriage saw friction and Lucy received a vision with divine instructions to pursue the life of a religious.

She returned to her mother's house and took the habit of a Dominican tertiary. In trying to help, her uncles procurred her admission in the monastery of St. Catherine of Sienna at Rome. Although she tried to hide her stigmata and other spiritual favors from even the other sisters, her piety became well known; she stayed there only a year. The General of the Dominican Order, Father Joachim Turriano, chose her as the prioress on the foundation of a new convent at Viterbo though she was only twenty years old. The General only sent five other women for the new convent but great crowds applied for admission when it became known she was the prioress of the new convent. It was during this time there was a last meeting of Blessed Lucy and her husband Count Pietro. Pietro became a Franciscan Friar Minor and lived out his life as such, becoming known for his piety.

It is from this point that the life of Blessed Lucy becomes one of constant trial and lonely burden. The accounts vary in many of the details and circumstances. To shorten some of the long details, the following is a very general summary of events most agreed upon in various accounts.

Lucy was held in universal esteem for her sanctity, miracles and prophesy. After three years at Viterbo, she was called upon to found a convent in Narni. The founding of the convent had Duke Hercules of Ferrara as its founding benefactor. Because of her fame, the Duke pursuaded the pope to order Lucy to Rome to be the convent's perpetual prioress. Pope Alexander VI granted the new convent many singular priviledges and declared Lucy to have followed the footsteps of St. Catherine of Sienna in all things. Lucy had prayed to found a convent that would observe only strict observance and it appeared at first her prayers had been answered. In this convent, her own mother received the habit from her along with many other noble ladies of Ferrara.

The first of the great disasterous situations happened because of the transfer of Lucy from Vieterbo to Narni. Vieterbo loved have a mystic celebrity to call their own and did not want Lucy to leave. The rivalry between Vieterbo and Narni over the Lucy lasted for two years in the form of bloody and lethal battles. This was a great trial for her as she had to endure the grief of the violence and loss of life done in her name while having no say.

A second burden for Lucy was the failure of many of the women to adhere to the strict holy observance she wanted greatly desired for the convent. She would call out her companions on their evils and they would later show their spitefulness toward her for their own failings.

The third great burden for Blessed Lucy was the widespread fame and attention drawn by her mystical gifts. Crowds flocked the gate of her convent. She had the extreme favor of the Duke and the Pope. The Duke of Ferrara often showed her off like a prize and insisted she expose her mystical gifts, like the wounds of her stigmata, on demand like a circus performer. Humiliated by people the likes of the Duke and embarrassed by the popular applause and fame the world was giving her, she begged Jesus to remove her stigmata since it was the cause of all her unworthy veneration. Jesus removed the wounds on her hands and feet but the wound in her side remained her entire life because it was hidden from the view of others. When her stigmata was no longer visible, unworthy and vindictive sisters in the convent claimed she had been faking her gifts all along.

The combinaton of the visibility of her stigmata with the death of the Duke of Ferrara (who was misguided but at least protected her) gave the revengeful members of her community the opportunity to conspire against her. They publicly accused her of fraud claiming they saw her trying to create stigmata wounds with a knife. They were so convincing in their false accusations that they persuaded the heads of the Dominican Order and the Pope of their lies. They demanded she be removed as prioress and a new one installed. Pope Alexander removed all priviledges formelly granted her. The Dominican provincial would not let any member of the Order see her. She was degraded from her office of prioress, deprived of everyright and voice in the community, and placed below the youngest novice in the house. She was forbidden to speak to any one (in or out of the convent, religiuos or secular) except the confessor - her regular confessor was taken from her and her new one was appointed and prejudiced against her. She was kept in a strict imprisonment and treated as if she was the one of the worst of criminals. Even when she was very ill, which was often, she was ignored by her community and left to suffer alone. Nuns in the convent who had been professed at her hands made their professions over again to the new prioress, as if their vows formerly made to her had been invalid.

She lived in this exteme state of desolation for the rest of her life, thirty nine years!

She bore her heavy cross without a murmur. She alone lived the strict observance of her convent to be a silent witness of the wickedness of her companions. Her life was a long prayer for her persecutors, and we are assured that no sorrow or regret ever seemed to shadow the deep tranquillity of her soul! The Lord at least did not let her be without consolation as she was often visited by Jesus and His saints. Her last wishes were for the well being and forgiveness of the community that has so wrongly foresaken her.

Dominican All Saints

2009-11-12T10:01:00.016-05:00

Do not ask me how many saints the Order of Saint Dominic has given to Heaven. Count, if you can, the stars which gleam in the firmament, and then you will know the number of saints among the descendants of Saint Dominic. --Pope Clement X

Happy feast day! It is the feast of Dominican All Saints according to the Extraordinary (Traditional) Dominican Rite Calendar. Our Dominican family has been highly blessed to have had so many incredible saints and blesseds to share with the world.

Dominican Litany of Saints

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the heavenly Father, Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary ... Pray for us
Holy Mother of God ... Pray for us
Holy Virgin of Virgins ... etc.
All you holy angels and archangels ...
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets ...
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists ...
All you holy martyrs ...
All you holy virgins and widows ...
All you holy men and women ...
Saint Michael ...
Saint Gabriel ...
Saint Raphael ...
Saint Joseph ...
Saint John the Baptist ...
Saint Mary Magdalen ...
Holy Father Augustine ...
Holy Father Francis ...
Blessed Jane of Aza ...
Blessed Reginald ...

Holy Father Dominic ... Pray for us
Blessed Bertrand ... Pray for us
Blessed Mannes ... etc.
Blessed Diana ...
Blessed Jordan of Saxony ...
Blessed John of Salerno ...
Blessed William and Companions ...
Blessed Ceslaus ...
Blessed Isnard ...
Blessed Guala ...
Blessed Peter Gonzalez ...
Saint Zdislava ...
Saint Peter of Verona ...
Blessed Nicholas ...
Saint Hyacinth ...
Blessed Gonsalvo ...
Blessed Sadoc and Companions ...
Blessed Giles ...
Saint Margaret of Hungary ...
Blessed Batholomew of Vincenza ...
Saint Thomas Aquinas ...
Saint Raymond of Penyafort ...
Blessed Innocent V ...
Blessed Albert of Bergamo ...
Saint Albert the Great ...
Blessed John of Vercelli ...
Blessed Ambrose ...
Blessed Cecilia ...
Blessed Benvenuta ...
Blessed James of Varazze ...
Blessed James of Bevagna ...
Blessed Benedict XI ...
Blessed Jane of Orvieto ...
Blessed Jordan of Pisa ...
Saint Emily ...
Blessed James Salomonio ...
Saint Agnes of Montepulciano ...
Blessed Simon ...
Blessed Margaret of Castello ...
Blessed Augustine Kazotic ...
Blessed James Benefatti ...
Blessed Imelda ...
Blessed Dalmatius ...
Blessed Margaret Ebner ...
Blessed Villana ...
Blessed Peter Ruffia ...
Blessed Henry ...
Blessed Sibyllina ...
Blessed Anthony of Pavonio ...
Saint Catherine of Siena ...
Blessed Marcolino ...
Blessed Raymond of Capua ...
Blessed Andrew Franchi ...
Saint Vincent Ferrer ...
Blessed Clara ...
Blessed John Dominic ...
Blessed Alvarez ...
Blessed Maria ...
Blessed Peter of Castello ...
Blessed Andrew Abellon ...
Blessed Stephen ...
Blessed Peter Geremia ...
Blessed John of Fiesole ...
Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta ...
Blessed Anthony della Chiesa ...
Saint Antoninus ...
Blessed Anthony Neyrot ...
Blessed Margaret of Savoy ...
Blessed Bartholomew of Cerverio ...
Blessed Matthew ...
Blessed Constantius ...
Blessed Christopher ...
Blessed Damian ...
Blessed Andrew of Peschiera ...
Blessed Bernard ...
Blessed Jane of Portugal ...
Blessed James of Ulm ...
Blessed Augustine of Biella ...
Blessed Aimo ...
Blessed Sebastian ...
Blessed Mark ...
Blessed Columba ...
Blessed Magdalen ...
Blessed Osanna of Mantua ...
Blessed John Liccio ...
Blessed Dominic Spadafora ...
Blessed Stephana ...
Saint Adrian ...
Blessed Lucy ...
Blessed Catherine Racconigi ...
Blessed Osanna of Kotor ...
Saint Pius V ...
Saint John of Cologne ...
Blessed Maria Bartholomew ...
Saint Louis Bertrand ...
Saint Catherine de Ricci ...
Blessed Robert ...
Blessed Alphonsus and Companions ...
Saint Rose ...
Saint Dominic Ibanez and Companions ...
Blessed Agnes of Jesus ...
Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions ...
Saint Martin de Porres ...
Blessed Peter Higgins ...
Blessed Francis de Capillas ...
Saint Juan Macias ...
Blessed Terence ...
Blessed Ann of the Angels ...
Blessed Francis de Posadas ...
Saint Louis de Montfort ...
Blessed Francis Gil ...
Saint Matteo ...
Blessed Peter Sanz and Companions ...
Saint Vicent Liem ...
Saint Hyacinth Castaneda ...
Blessed Marie ...
Blessed George ...
Blessed Catherine Jarrige ...
Saint Ignatius and Companions ...
Saint Dominic An-Kham and Companions ...
Saint Joseph Khang and Companions ...
Blessed Francis Coll ...
Blessed Hyacinthe Cormier ...
Blessed Pier Giorgio ...
Blessed Bartolo ...
Blessed Michael Czartoryski ...
Blessed Julia Rodzinska ...
All holy Dominican brothers and sisters ...

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, ... spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, ... graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, ... have mercy on us.

Let us pray...

God, source of all holiness, you have enriched your Church with many gifts in the saints of the Order of Preachers. By following the example of our brothers and sisters, may we come to enjoy their company for ever in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Veterans Day / Soldier Saints

2009-11-11T12:06:00.043-05:00

While remembering our U.S. veterans on this Veterans Day, let's also turn to and remember the many saints from which they enjoy patronage. There are many saints who were former soldiers or even became saints while still serving in the armed forces. While not all saints that were once in the military became a likewise patron saint, many of them did and are official patron saints of soldiers. The following are just a few, not all:

St. Michael the Archangel
Who could be better for the patronage of soldiers than the leader of God's army himself? He led the angels in battle against Lucifer and the other fallen angels. He is the great defender of Church against Anti-Christ.

St. George
The soldier St. George was martyred in the early 4th century. His patronage is vast and includes many non-military areas. In military areas, he is not only a patron of soldiers; it includes the less generalized patronage of Crusaders, calvalry, knights and archers to name a few!

St. Ignatius of Loyola
The founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) had a military education and was originally a soldier. It was after he received a permanent leg injury in battle that he was inspired to live the life of a religious and found his great order.

St. Joan of Arc

The Maid of Orleans didn't become Saint Joan until over 480 years after her death. She was canonized in 1920 by Pope St. Pius X. This great and still disturbingly underappreciated Saint is a natural for the patronage of soldiers. As an incredible mystic, she inspired and led French troops to victory under divine guidance while still only a teenager! It is only fitting that her inspiration to soldiers in life she continues while she is in Heaven. It should be no surprise that St. Michael the Archangel was one of her three main voices.

St. Martin of Tours
St. Martin died in A.D. 397 and was the first saint to be recognized that wasn't a martyr. Although a catechumen at an early age, he joined the Roman army when he was 15. He was finally baptized when he was 18. Even though he served in the unit that was the emporor's bodyguard and later a calvalry office, he was later in serious trouble when he was to go into battle and he realized his Christianity forbade him from fighting. He eventually became a bishop against his will.

St. Maurice
St. Maurice was the leader of the famous all Christian Roman Theban Legion of the late 3rd century. The Golden Legend records him and the entire legion being martyred after refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus
The martyrs St. Sergius and St. Bacchus were highly esteemed Roman soldiers until their Christianity was revealed. The story of their torture and martyrdom is an example of the incredible camaraderie and loyalty soldiers maintain to one another. By their own belief and mutual inspirations, they would not renounce their Christianity under the great humiliations and tortures inflicted on them. NOTE: they were not a same-sex couple!

Dominican All Saints

2009-11-06T16:41:00.014-05:00

Today is the feast of All Saints of the Dominican Order on the Ordinary (new) Roman calendar. On this day, we members of the Dominican family remember all of the saints of our order (which are many) be they priest, nun, brother, tertiary (lay) or sister.

During Matins, it is common to read the following famous account about St. Dominic recorded by his contemporary Blessed Sr. Celilia:

One night, after prolonging his prayers until midnight, Dominic left the church and came to the dormitory, where he completed what he had to do and, taking his place at one end of the dormitory, continued to pray. As he stood praying, he glanced at the other end of the dormitory and saw three beautiful women enter, but noticed that the one in the middle was a venerable lady far more beautiful and dignified than the other two. One of them was carrying a beautiful, shining vessel, and the other an aspersorium which she handed to the lady in the center, who went from bed to bed sprinkling the brethren with holy water and blessing them. As she went along in this way, she passed by one of them without sprinkling him or blessing him. Blessed Dominic observed this and took note of the brother they neglected. The lady said to blessed Dominic: “I am the one you call upon in the evening. When you say, Turn therefore most gracious advocate thine eyes of mercy toward us, I prostrate myself before my Son and ask him to preserve the Order.” After that Blessed Dominic inquired about the brother she had passed by as she had sprinkled and blessed all the others. “Because he was not properly disposed,” she said.

After this she continued to sprinkle and bless all the others and then disappeared. When she was gone, Blessed Dominic returned to pray in the place he stood before. Suddenly he was rapt in spirit before God and saw Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin sitting at his right. It seemed to blessed Dominic that Our Lady was wearing a cape of bright blue, the colour of sapphire.

As blessed Dominic looked around, he could see religious of all the orders but his own before the throne of God, so that he began to weep bitterly and stood far away, not daring to approach the Lord and His Mother. Then our Lady motioned for him to come near. But he would not dare, until Our Lord Himself also called him.

Then blessed Dominic cast himself before them weeping bitterly. But our Lord told him to rise, and when he did, Our Lord asked him, “Why are you weeping so?” “I am weeping because I see all other orders here but no sign of my own.” And the Lord said to him, “Do you want to see your Order?” and he answered, “Yes, Lord.” The Our Lord, putting his hand upon the shoulders of the Blessed Virgin, said to blessed Dominic, “I have entrusted your Order to my Mother.” Then the Blessed Virgin opened the cape which covered her and spread it out before blessed Dominic, to whom it seemed vast enough to cover the entire heaven and, under it, he saw a large multitude of his brethren.

Then, prostrating himself, Blessed Dominic gave thanks to God and to Blessed Mary his Mother, After that the vision disappeared and he returned to himself just as the bell rang for Matins. When Matins was over, he called the brethren to chapter and gave them a long and beautiful talk, exhorting them to love and pay reverence to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Among other things he related this vision to them.

All Souls Day

2009-11-02T11:33:00.018-05:00

On this All Souls Day, remember to pray for your own dearly departed and for all the souls in Purgatory!

Prayer for all the Faithful departed
from the Office of the Dead according to the Dominican Rite.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
give unto the souls of Thy
servants and handmaidens remission
of all their sins, that through godly
supplications thay may obtain the pardon they have ever wished for:
who livest and reignest with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
R: Amen
V: May they rest in peace.
R: Amen

Pray 6 Our Father’s, 6 Hail Mary’s and 6 Glory Be’s for the intentions of the Holy Father before the Blessed Sacrament to release a soul from Purgatory as many times as you enter Church today.

O my God, deign to accept my every thought, word, and action as a loving petition to Thy mercy on behalf of the suffering souls in Purgatory, particularly _______. I unite to Thy Sacred Passion the trials and contradictions of this day, which I purpose to bear with patience, in expiation for the sins and infidelities which retain Thy children in the purifying flames of Purgatory. Amen

Prayer of Saint Gertrude
Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, in union with the Masses said today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family.Amen.

St. Lorenzo da Brindisi releasing souls from Purgatory with his prayers

All Saints Day

2009-11-01T08:35:00.008-05:00

Father, All-Powerful and ever-living God,
today we rejoice in the holy men and women
of every time and place.
May their prayers bring us your forgiveness and love
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Click on pictures to enlarge

Blessed Benvenuta Bojani

2009-10-30T12:35:00.003-04:00

Hmmm! Three "B's" but, sorry, it's not Blessed Brian Batty.

Blessed Benvenuta Bojani was the last of seven daughters. Her parents, too, must have been amazing people in comparison with so many in our time. When the silence of the midwife proclaimed that her father had been disappointed once again in his desire for a son, he exclaimed, "She too shall be welcome!" Remembering this she was christened by her parents Benvenuta ("welcome"), although they had asked for a son. A vain older sister unsuccessfully tried to teach the pious little Benvenuta to dress in rich clothing and use the deceits of society. Benvenuta hid from such temptations in the church where she developed a tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin. By the age of 12, Benvenuta was wearing hairshirts and a rope girdle. As she grew the rope became embedded in her flesh. When she realized the rope must be removed, she couldn't get it off, so she prayed and it fell to her feet. For this reason she is often pictured in art holding a length of rope in her hands.

Having become a Dominican tertiary at an early age, she added the penances practiced by the sisters to those she had appropriated for herself. All her disciplines, fasting, and lack of sleep soon caused her health to fail and she was confined to bed for five years. Thereafter, she was too weak to walk, so a kind older sibling carried her to church once a week for Compline (Night Prayer) in the Dominican church, her favorite liturgy after the Mass.

After evening prayer on the Vigil of the Feast of Saint Dominic, Dominic and Saint Peter Martyr appeared to Benvenuta. Dominic had a surprise for her. The prior was absent at the Salve procession, but at the beginning of Compline she saw Dominic in the prior's place. He passed from brother to brother giving the kiss of peace, then went to his own altar and disappeared. At the Salve procession, the Blessed Virgin herself came down the aisle, blessing the fathers while holding the Infant Jesus in her arms.
Benvenuta spent her whole life at home in Cividale busy with her domestic duties, praying, and working miracles. She was often attacked by the devil, who sometimes left her close to discouragement and exhaustion. When someone protested against the death of a promising young child, Benvenuta commented, "It is much better to be young in paradise than to be old in hell." The devil often appeared to her in horrifying forms but was banished when Benvenuta called upon the Virgin.

Benvenuta's companions called her "the sweetest and most spiritual of contemplatives, so lovable in her holiness that her touch and presence inspired gladness and drove away temptations." This is amazing in light of the severe penances that she imposed upon herself--and another sign of blessedness that she didn't judge others by her standards for herself.

Prayer from the General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

Lord, you gave Blessed Benvenuta the gifts of penance, prayer and humility. Through self-denial and contemplation on heavenly things may we too live in the Spirit and find rest and glory in you, the one God. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

St. Colman Mac Duagh

2009-10-29T11:31:00.049-04:00

Some sources report there are over 300 St. Colmans from Celtic Church traditions; I can confirm, myself, they are numerous just from reading and searching old Irish Christian books, calendars and lists. St. Colman of Cloyne, St. Colman of Dromore and St. Colman of Lindisfarne are just the beginning of such a list.

However, today's St. Colman is one of the great Irish saints, St. Colman Mac Duagh (or St. Colman of Kilmacduagh).

He was born in 560, the son of the Irish chieftain, Duac (from the race of Fiachre, one the 4 sons of Eochaidh Muidhmheadhoin). His hagiography tells the story of a prophesy his father heard before Colman's birth that his son was destined to surpass in greatness all the others of his prestigeous lineage. After a miraculous rescue from Duac's jeleousy by Our Lord, Colman's mother, Queen Rhinagh, gave birth to him in self-imposed exile and solitude. The story of his baptism is also a miraculous event; the well in Corker where he was baptized is still a site of pilgrimage.

After his ordination, he lived as a hermit first at Arranmore and then Burren Forrest.

St. Enda was the head of the key monastery on Aranmore and instructed St. Colman in his spiritual path. In the few years on Aranmore, St. Colman built 2 churches.

Wanting to live in even more solitude, he secluded himself to the Burren Forrest (unlike today, it was very dense in his day). He lived there for seven years. Leaba Mhic Duagh (his cave or "grotto") is still very well preserved after over 1400 years along with the remains of a small oratory he constructed. It is recorded it was during this period he had his three unusual companions/pets. They were a fly, a mouse and a rooster. All three had "jobs" and reportedly responded to his commands. He had a great love of animals and he is reported to have had an overwhelming sadness when the last of the pets died. His sadness was so heavy that he wrote to his friend the great St. Columba of it. St. Columba's response remains with us today:

You were too rich when you had them. That is why
youare sad now. Great troubles only come where there are great
riches. Be rich no more.

This story is quite a lesson in learning what true riches are and how even the most humble of riches can have a spiritually blocking effect!

He was reputedly ordained a bishop against his will. He eventually founded the monastery at Kilmacduagh on land given for that use by his relative King Guaire of Connachta (Connaught). Today, the remains of this monastery are famous ruins containing the best preserved example of an Irish round tower in existance.

The Martyrology of Donegal oddly records his feast day as February 2. But its entry also notes that Ua Sechnasaigh (The O' Shaughnessy or head of the clan) during the martyrology's writing mentions the family always celebrated his feast on October 27 (another oddity). His feast is always celebrated on October 29.

Relics

Of his relics, St. Colman's tomb is still in existance.

It is known that his belt (girdle or cinture) was perserved as a holy relic. It remained in the possession of his kinsman, the O'Shaughnessy's. It was later studded with precious gems and alleged to have the mystical trait of no one that was not chaste being able to wear it, no matter how thin. It disappeared during the Battle of the Boyne, where the O'Shaughnessy's had taken it into battle with them for luck and its whereabouts are now unkown.

St. Colman's crozier has been used through the centuries for the swearing of oaths. Although it was in the custodianship of the O' Heynes of Kiltartan (descendants of King Guaire) and their relatives, the O' Shaughnessys, it is now in the National Museum in Dublin.

Prayer
Aingil De dar gcoimhdeacht
's dar sabhail aris go fuin;
ar coimri De is Mhuire,
Mhic Duach is Mhic Daire
agus Colm Cille
aris go fuin.

Blessed Joachim Royo

2009-10-28T09:25:00.009-04:00

Blessed Joachim Royo was martyred 1848; beatified in 1893. He was a Spanish Dominican missionary, who was sent to China to work under Blessed Peter Sanz, and was ordained there . He was strangled in prison at Fu-tshen.

Martyrs of China

Blessed Antonia of Brescia

2009-10-27T08:22:00.004-04:00

Born in 1407, Blessed Antonia entered the Dominican convent at Brescia as a young girl but she was not chosen prioress until she was 66. She was a mystic after St. Catherine of Siena. She governed Saint Catherine's Convent at Ferrara, Italy, rigorously but with justice. She underwent deposition and other trials with patience and humility.

Blessed Damian Fulcheri

2009-10-26T09:45:00.002-04:00

One of the bright lights of the fifteenth century was Damian of Furcheri. Unfortunately we know very little about him, expect that he lived at a time and place not noted for sanctity, and he was known as a holy man.

Damian was born in Furcheri, near Genoa, at the end of the fourteenth century. His people were ich and noble, and also pious. We know nothing of his youth, except the not-too-revealing fact that when he was a baby he was kidnapped by a lunatic. His parents prayed to Our Lady, and the baby was returned unharmed.

Damian entered the order at Genoa and became a diligent student and a model Dominican. He was to be known especially for his preaching. The field of his endeavors was Italy. He seems never to have left the country. By the force of his preaching, he inspired many hundreds of sinners to repentance; and, since the fifteenth century produced many sinners who needed such preaching, he was kept supplied with works for a long lifetime.

Damian died in a little village near Modena, in 1884, and immediately became the object of much pious speculation, because of the miracles worked at his tomb. He was not, however, beatified until 1848, though his relics were by that time widely distributed and his cult well known.

Saint Dominic Doan (Xuyen Van Nguyen)

2009-10-26T09:12:00.004-04:00

Today was the original memorial (old Roman Calendar) of St. Dominic Doan Xuyen when he was beatified as a Blessed in 1900. His memorial on the current Roman Calendar is November 26. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988.

He is one of the Vietnamese Martyrs, born in Tonkin; died 1839; He was a member of the Dominican order and was martryed by beheading with Blessed Thomas Du (a Benedictine).

Blessed Bartholomew de Braganza

2009-10-23T08:58:00.002-04:00

The historians of Vicenza agree with those of the Order of Preachers in placing Blessed Bartholomew di Braganza among the first and most illustrious of Saint Dominic's disciples. As a matter of fact, he was a noted man in many ways. Nature endowed him with splendid gifts which he developed by tireless industry. The services that he rendered the Church as an apostolic preacher, as master of the Sacred Palace in Rome, as bishop, and as legate of the Holy See make him worthy of an honorable place in ecclesiastical history. An exceptional purity of heart and eminent piety gave the finishing touches, so to express it, to his grand character.

More than one Pope honored Bartholomew with implicit confidence. Saint Louis, king of France, held him in the highest esteem. His virtues endeared him to those placed under his charge. Italy reaped many and signal benefits from his preaching. He brought numbers into the Church, while the fervor of the faithful was increased by his example and labors.

Read the rest of the article at the Dominican Central Province site.

Bl. Peter of Tiferno (Peter Capucci)

2009-10-21T12:08:00.013-04:00

Blessed Peter Capucci (b. 1390 ) was of a noble family. He was received into the order together with St. Antoninus. Fra Angelico and Fra Benedetto were his friends.

Feeling the need to atone for his noble birth, he begged for alms to give to the poor and to make sure his other mendicant brothers had food. He was known for his passionate, sometimes relentless, pursuits in converting others back to the faith. He was also known as the preacher of death because he used to preach with a skull in his hands (inspiration for Hamlet?). Like the great saint of our own times, Padre Pio, he was gifted with the ability to read hearts. He was a miracle worker in life and he continued working them in death. He died a natural death in 1445.

Late 19th Century Prayer

O God, who hast declared that Thy faithful, by continually remembering their latter end, shall never sin, grant, through the prayers and example of Blessed Peter, Thy Confessor, that we may so bear in mind our temporal death, that, by continually weeping over the sins we have committed, we may avoid eternal death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blesseds Francis Serrano and Francias Diaz

2009-10-20T14:52:00.014-04:00

Two of the many martyrs of China:

Blessed Francis Serrano & Francis Diaz OP MM (AC) Born in Spain; died 1748; beatified by Leo XIII in 1893. These Spanish born, Dominican missionaries were sent to Fo-Kien, China. After 20 years of work in China (now Vietnam), Serrano had been arrested with Blessed Bishop Peter Sanz in 1646. While in prison he was elected titular bishop of Tipasa after the beheading of Sanz on May 25, 1747. Serrano was a resourceful, careful person, which one would have to be to survive in such harsh conditions. He became adept at scaling walls and hiding in unlikely places.

Father Diaz was born in Ecija in 1713. He always claimed that he owed his vocation to having skipped school one day. A white-robed religious appeared to him--a Dominican. The curious boy continued to ask questions about the order, until he convinced himself that he must join. Even though his father tried to persuade his to accept a family benefice instead of entering the austere life of the Order of Preachers, he persisted. He was determined to serve God as a Dominican and to die in China. He preached the Gospel in Tonkin for eight years before his death.

Fathers Alcober, Serrano, and Diaz were captured and tortured to reveal the whereabouts of Bishop Sanz. Despite horrendous punishment, they refused to say anything. Father Joachim Royo and Bishop Sanz, wishing to spare his brothers further suffering, surrendered themselves to the authorities.

The five Dominican, as well as a native catechist named Ambrose Kou, were dragged before the emperor in chains. Again they were tortured, then sentenced to death in December 1746. After the bishop's death, the other four priests were branded on their faces with the words ta dao ("false religion") and left for six months to languish in prison.

Serrano, Diaz, and the two other Dominican priests were strangled at night in prison at Futsheu in order to end their evangelizing of the guards and soldiers. When the executioners returned the following morning to dispose of the bodies, they were terrified to see the beatific faces that shone with an unearthly radiance-- especially miraculous considering that they died of strangulation. The relics were preserved and treasured by the Christians (Benedictines, Dorcy).

material source

Blessed Mother Agnes de Jesus Galand

2009-10-20T07:59:00.005-04:00

I have no good excuses - I missed posting about yesterday's memorial day for Blessed Agnes.
Here is her biographical summarie from the booklet "Holy Dominicans" by the Order of Preachers:

A Dominican mystic of the XVII century, Mother Agnes is known principally for her providential role in the life of Monsieur Olier, founder of Saint Sulpice for the formation of priests. She was born in 1602 at Puy in Velay, France. From childhood she was known for piety, love of poverty and courageous charity; she was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady. At the age of 21 she was received into the Dominican laity in Puy; in 1624, after great discussion, she entered the Dominican Monastery at Langeac as a choir sister. Later she was elected prioress, deposed and reelected. Her humility, charity and especially her mystical graces often disconcerted those around her. She died in 1634 and leaves a twofold Dominican posterity: the nuns of the monastery of St. Catherine at Langeac (Note that she is also known as Mother Agnes of Langeac.) and a congregation of the apostolic life called “Dominicans of Mother Agnes” at Puy, although she is not their foundress.

Scito te ipsum

2009-10-19T21:31:00.001-04:00

“Parents who prevent their children from entering religion sin mortally. To turn one from a religious vocation is nothing else than to slay Jesus Christ in the heart of another.”

--- St. Jerome

Dominican Sunday October

2009-10-18T08:08:00.010-04:00

Today is Dominican Sunday for the Third Order chapter of the Mother of God Monastery.
We're off to the monastery today. Let's hope the weather stays moderate for driving!

The chapel altar's grated reredo with monstrance at the monastery

Movin' On Up!

2009-10-17T20:42:00.010-04:00

Well, not to the East Side, but we are now listed on one of my favorite blogs!

Jeff Miller of The Curt Jester has graciously added The Four Pillars to his blog's "Bloghood of the Faithful" listing of other blogs! Please take the time to check out The Curt Jester yourself and see why it's so good.

Artist Crucifies Ape and Electrocutes Jesus

2009-10-16T10:32:00.002-04:00

I'm a firm believer in freedom of expression. However, whether we like to admit it or not, there is such a thing as good art and bad art not matter its message.

Guess which of the two this exhibit is? I think you should read the article and let the "art" speak for itself.

Artist Crucifies Ape and Electrocutes Jesus.

"Truth suffers, but never dies"

2009-10-15T10:34:00.027-04:00

The title of the post is just one of the myriad of quotes by the incredible St. Teresa of Avila who is truly one of Christ's greatest saints! Today is the Church's memorial of this extraordinary Church doctor, mystic, reformer, founder, virgin and poet!

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He lookscompassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

"Be gentle to all and stern with yourself."

"It is love alone that gives worth to all things."

Prayer to Redeem Lost Time

O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in "wedding garments. Amen.

"Untilled soil, however fertile it may be, will bear thistles and thorns; and so it is with man's mind."

Head Orthodox Rabbi Defends Rome

2009-10-14T10:03:00.003-04:00

This incredible tidbit came from the Historical Christian website. We do not have enough of this. It's a breath of fresh air in the unbalanced pollution we usually receive from the "mainstream" media.

So nice when people of good will stand up and defend the Catholic Church. And this from a prominent Jewish Rabbi, defending Pope Benedict XVI. This particular Rabbi has a good grasp of historical facts that get overlooked in the heat of the moment. His last line: "This man, Pope Benedict XVI, has a decades-long track record of anti-Nazism and sympathy for the Jews." As I've said before, how quickly we forget - or perhaps I should say, how easily we are led, when we are ignorant of the facts. Read the entire article at the Historical Christian site.

Blessed Marie Poussepin, memorial

2009-10-14T08:54:00.009-04:00

Blessed Marie Poussepin was well remembered and long honored on this day by the Order of Preachers before her official beatification by Pope John Paul II in 1994.

Born on this day in 1653 in France, she was raised by a pious mother. Her mother was the treasurer of the Confraternity of Charity when founded by a diciple of St. Vincent de Paul in 1663. On her mother's death, she took on all her mother's domestic responsibiliies while helping with her father's knitting factory and continuing works of charity.

Inheriting her family's debt and with the factory in trouble after her father's death, she had the foresight to convert the factory from hand-knitting to machines and save the business. She learned how to operate all the machineray herself and personally trained her hired apprentices. She was also ahead of her time in her Christian treatment of employees which was not common in her time.

She became a 3rd order dominican when she was 37. She then slowly transitioned control of the family business to her brother so she could devote herselt to her calling of charitble works. In 1693 she became president of the Confraternity of Charity. When she was 42 she left her hometown of Dourdan and resettled in Sainville to establish a new Dominican 3rd order: Congregation of the Sisters of Charity (Dominicans of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin). The community received legal recognition in France from King Louis XV in 1724; the bishop of Chartes approved the rule of her order in 1738.

At the time of her death when she was 90, there we 20 communities of her order in France! Today, the congregations of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation (another name they are know as) can be found in 36 countries all over the world.

Blessed Magdalen dei Panattieri

2009-10-13T09:44:00.026-04:00

On this day which is her memorial, Blessed Magdalen dei Panattieri still serves as an excellent model in aspects of the vocations of Lay Dominicans today.

Bl. Magdalen became a tertiary before she 20. She tried to model her life after St. Catherine of Sienna; she had a special devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Her tertiary chapter was mainly elderly women and widows but she thrived in their apostolate.

She was harsh in her self-discipline and mortification. She fasted frequently. She feed the poor as guests in her own house, serving them herself; she fed herself from their leftovers. She would spend all morning in Eucharistic adoration and then go out to tend to the sick in her town.

In her preaching it is said she had a great gift of influencing others and a sweet voice that people never tired of hearing. Others noted that she was also unaware of another gift where she had great powers of description and could make the truths of religion clear to simple people. It is well recorded she had a great love for children. She was given a large room in a church to use as a classroom. Her preaching and lessons there even drew other religious and priests!

As is sadly the case with many summaries of the saints in our time, her mystic experiences are rarely, if ever, mentioned. One older source gives us some insight into her deep spirituality:

She was favored with frequent rapture and apparitions; on every
festival she was granted a vision of the mystery or of the Saint honored by the
Church on that day. This was particularly the case in Holy Week when she
was admitted to a mysterious and visible participation in the sufferings of her
Divine Spouse, and in Easter Week, when her countenance appeared radiant with
celestial light. (Short Lives of the Dominican Saints, London, 1901)

Prayer

O God, who forsakest no man that trusteth in Thee, and mercifully hearest him that meekly beseecheth Thee, grant, we pray Thee, that what we cannot obtain by our own meritis, we may received throught the patronage of They Blessed Virgin, Magdalen. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessed Dominic Spadafora

2009-10-12T16:44:00.014-04:00

Today is the memorial of Bl. Dominic Spadafora (d. 1541) on the Traditional calendar, but is now observed earlier on 3 October in the current Dominican calendar.

Oddly, we know of nothing that is outstanding of his life. He appears to have been happy with complete obscurity. In 1493 he was sent to found the Our Lady of Grace convent in Monte Cerigone. The convent was never thought to be important and was not very large. He remained there for the rest of his life, being zealous in his observance of the rule immediatly to his death. He died at the age of 90 singing the Salve Regina with his community around him.

Dominican First Vespers:
Ant. Strengthen by holy intercession, O Dominic , confessor of the Lord, those here present, have we who are burdened with the weight of our offenses may be relieved by the glory of thy blessedness, and may by thy guidance attain eternal rewards.
V. Pray for us, Blessed Dominic
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

In the English translation of the official Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers (Dominican Martyrology), here are some of the martyrs of note remembered today:

In Africa, four thousand nine hundred and sixty-six confessors
and martyrs in the Vandal persecution under the Arian King Hunneric. Some were
bishops of the Churches of God, some were priests and deacons, while the rest
were multitudes of the faithful. Because of their adherencc to the Catholic
religion, they were driven into a horrible desert. Many were cruelly treated by
the Moors, by being compelled to run at spearpoint, and by being stoned. Others
had their feet tied together and were dragged like corpses through rough and
stony places until torn limb from limb. All, tortured in diverse ways, finally
gained martyrdom. Chief among them were the noble priests of God, Bishop Felix
and Bishop Cyprian.

At Milan, St. Monas, bishop. When the question of electing a bishop
was being discussed,. he was surrounded by a light from heaven and by that
wondrous sign was received as the bishop of that church.

Isabella's Day

2009-10-12T08:53:00.016-04:00

This is the day the U.S. observes Columbus Day. While there are at least 12 states that do not recognize the holiday, those that do face a growing controversy concerning the day as one of celebration. Since the late 20th century, it's been hard to ignore the resurfacing of some of the true character of Columbus the man concerning his views and treatment of indigenous peoples in parts of the Americas. At the same time, there are many for which the day is not just a mere "celebration" of a man but a time to honor the Age of Discovery and even ethnic pride (for Americans of Italian descent).

However, contemporary opposition to the the observance of the day is nothing new. There has been resistance to Columbus Day celebrations since the 19th century. Although there were similar concerns of today, a large aspect of the objections then was because Columbus was a Catholic. There were fears that celebrating a Catholic would help American Catholics take over the country!

Whichever part of the scale you're on - the celebration of the European discovery of America, wanting to end a day that glorifies conquest and genocide or all the rest that falls in the middle - this day is a good prompt to remember something better.

As Catholics, let's remember the great Queen Isabella the Catholic. At the least we should pray that the unjust smearing of this great monarch's historical reputation is finally put to rest; at best, pray for and take up the cause for her canonization.

Beyond her famous, almost mythical, foresight in financing Columbus's voyages, she was a devoted wife and incredible mother that made sure her daughters were well educated along with the promotion of education for women. She united Spain and was a more capable ruler than her king husband. Her piety was known to be sincere, she was a great defender of the faith and a great champion of justice.

Mere short paragraphs can't even begin to properly introduce the greatness of Queen Isabella. For good information about Isabella and her cause for canonization, visit the Queen Isabella the Catholic website. Also visit the Catholic Encyclopedia's entry on her. If interested, check out the Daughters of Isabella, once a local auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus and now one of the largest Catholic Women's organizations in existence.

In Memoriam: Pope Pius XII

2009-10-09T10:32:00.029-04:00

This day is the 51st anniversary of the death of Venerable Pope Pius XII. Pope Pius XII, while being the greatest pope still in living memory, is second only to Pope St. Pius X as the greatest pontiff of the 20th century. He was also a 3rd order Dominican!

It was he that defined the dogma of the Assumption of Mary. He wrote 41 encyclicals. He is the pope that canonized Pope St. Pius X and many other great saints, including: St. Francis Xavier (Mother) Cabrini, St. Catherine Labouré, St. Louis Marie de Montfort, St. Maria Goretti and St. Dominic Savio.

Despite selectively forgotten history and bad revisionism, during WWII he eventually became the "lonely voice crying out of the silence of a continent." (N.Y. Times, December 25, 1942, p. 10, 2-5).

Until many in the world cowardly turned on him after his death, he was considered a hero and great man, particulary by world Jewry.

The people of Israel will never forget what His Holiness and his illustrious delegates, inspired by the eternal principles of religion, which form the very foundations of true civilization, are doing for our unfortunate brothers and sisters in the most tragic hour of our history, which is living proof of Divine Providence in this world. -- Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Palestine, 1945

It is understandable why the death of Pope Pius XII should have called forth expressions of sincere grief from practically all sections of American Jewry. For there probably was not a single ruler of our generation who did more to help the Jews in their hour of greatest tragedy, during the Nazi occupation of Europe, than the late Pope. -- The Jewish Post

Some sites of great interest related to Pope Piux XII are:

The Vatican's page on Pius XII.

Sign an online petition to for the Holy See to Beatify Pius XII here or here.

The Catholic League's collection of Pius XII articles.

Today's Dominican Saint & Catholic Martyrs

2009-10-05T10:30:00.010-04:00

Blessed Raymond of Capua, memorial

Bl. Raymond had held several posts after entering the Order of Preachers: he was prior of the Dominican house in Rome and lector in Florence and Siena.

While he was in Siena is when he met St. Catherine of Siena. He became her spiritual director, confessor and closes advisor.

He was not only associated with most of the great tasks of St. Catherine (i.e. helping to end the Avignon papacy) but worked, himself, in works of mercy like bringing aid to plague victims in Siena. When he became sick from his efforts, St. Catherine, herself, nursed him back to health.

After St. Catherine's death, he became the Dominican master general, bringing reforms and enforcing a strict following of St. Dominic's rules and always at the defense of the authority of the pope.
He wrote biographies of two of the order's greatest saints, St. Catherin of Siena and St. Agnes of Montepulciano.

Let us Pray: O God, who wast pleased to make Blessed Raymond, Thy Confessor, a distinguished master of evangelical perfection and a faithful supporter of the of the apostolic authority, graciously grant that, living after his example on earth, we may deserve to be crowned with him in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bl. Raymond taking dictation from St. Catherine

Martyrs

There are many martyrs today in the Dominican Divine Office.
From the English translation of the official Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers (Dominican Martyrology), here are a few early martyrs of note:

"At Messina in Sicily, the birthday of the holy martyrs Placidus,
monk and disciple of St. Benedict the Abbot, his brothers, Eutychius and
Victorinus, his sister the virgin Flavia; also Donatus, Firmatus, deacon,
Faustus, and thirty other monks. All were killed for the faith of Christ by the
pirate Manucha. [also celebrated today in the new Roman
Calendar]
"At Treves, the holy martyrs Palmatius and his companions, who
were martyred by the governor Rictiovarus in the persecution of Diocletian.
"On the same day, the suffering of St. Charitina, virgin. At the
time of the Emperor Diocletian and under the proconsul Domitius, she was
tortured by fire and then thrown into the sea. When she emerged from it
unharmed, her teeth were torn out and her hands and feet were cut off. She died
while in prayer."

Rosary Sunday

2009-10-04T08:56:00.002-04:00

"St. Dominic knew well that, while on the one hand Mary is all powerful with Her divine Son, who grants all graces to mankind through Her, on the other hand, She is by nature so good and so merciful that, inclined to aid spontaneously those who suffer, She is absolutely incapable of refusing Her help to those who invoke Her. The Church is in the habit of greeting the Virgin as 'Mother of Grace' and 'Mother of Mercy,' and so She has always shown Herself, especially when we have recourse to Her by means of the Holy Rosary." -Pope Benedict XV

"The Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God." by St. Louis De Monfort
"Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today." by St. Padre Pio

"The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description."
- Archbishop Fulton Sheen

"Would you like me to tell you a 'secret'? It is simple, and after all, is no secret: 'Pray, pray much. Say the Rosary everyday.'" -Pope John Paul II

Suicide woman allowed to die...doctors feared saving would be assault

2009-10-02T13:17:00.002-04:00

Suicide woman allowed to die because doctors feared saving her would be assault.

http://tiny.cc/8bpTB

This goes far beyond the standard pro and con debates when it is life support dependant individual.

If the individual suffers from a mental illness, you cannot be sure she is making the correct moral choice (though there is only one to make).

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

2009-10-01T11:41:00.011-04:00

This is feast day of dear St. Thérèse according to the new Roman Calendar (her original feast is October 3rd on the old Roman Calendar).

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus,
please pick for me a rose
from the heavenly gardens
and send it to me as a message of of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus
ask God today to grant the favors
I now place with confidence in your hands...
[ mention your intentions]

St. Therese,
help me to always believe as you did,
in God's great love for me,
so theat I might imitate your "Little Way" each day.

Amen.

Feast of St. Michael the Archangel

2009-09-29T08:22:00.032-04:00

There is nothing more I can write or comment about St. Michael that hasn't been already. If anyone wants to read some brief data about St. Michael, I suggest starting with the Fish Eaters site's page for him. In the meantime, enjoy the prayer and pictures!

Here is our prayer to St. Michael we use in the Leonine Prayers:

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who wander throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

2 St. Lawrences and the Martyrs of Japan

2009-09-28T13:16:00.038-04:00

In today's liturgical rememberance of Dominican saints, we had two Lawrences.

Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta

The first Lawrence today is the memorial of Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta (1373-1456) on the Dominican liturgical calendar.

Bl. Lawrence entered the order at the age of twenty. Years later he was called upon to help in the Dominican Reform Movement that was lead by Bl. John Dominici!

In the early 15th century he was made Dominican novice-master for a congregation in Tuscany. It was during this time of the Great Western Schism that he trained many great Domincans in the reform of the order: St. Antoninus, Bl. Peter Capucci, and the famous artist brothers that were Dominicans, Bl. Fra Angelico and Fra Benedetto.

He preached almost continuously throughout his life and had a reputation for compassion to the poor whom he tended, taught and visited, even in time of plague.

He lived to the age of 98. After his death there was a long history of miracles at his tomb. He was beatified by Pope Gregory XVI in 1851.

Dominican First Vespers
Antiphon. Strengthen by holy intercession, O Lawrence , confessor of the Lord, those here present, have we who are burdened with the weight of our offenses may be relieved by the glory of thy blessedness, and may by thy guidance attain eternal rewards.
V. Pray for us, Blessed Lawrence
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The 16 Maryrs of Japan

The day is also set aside to remember the 16 Martyrs of Japan (not to be confused with the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki). Our second Lawrence comes from these courageous souls.

The 16 Maryrs of Japan (1633 - 1637) were all Dominican related individuals that died for the faith during the time of persecution in Japan when Christianity was outlawed.

St. Lorenzo (Lawrence) Ruiz of this group is the first Filipino martyr and saint. He was a husband, father and member of the Confraternity of the Rosary. As a child he was educated by Dominicans and sought refuge with Dominican priests before his martyrdom. His last words (translated from Togalog) were:

I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly accept death for the
Lord; if I have a thousand lives, all of them I will offer to Him.

After St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the other 15 martyrs were 9 Dominican priests, 2 Dominican Brothers, 2 tertiaries (Lay Dominicans), 2 parishioners of Dominican missions.