Friday, June 29, 2007
SS. Peter and Paul, Apostles
PETER THE APOSTLE AND PAUL THE TEACHEROF THE NATIONS TAUGHT US YOUR LAW, LORD.
Intrioit: These men, conquering all human frailty, shed their blood and helped the Church to grow. By sharing the cup of the Lord's suffering, they became the friends of God.
Today, the Universal Church commerates Saint Peter and Saint Paul, the princes of the apostles, from whom we dervie our Christian faith. In the Gospel reading (St. Matthew 16:13-19), we will learn how Jesus prepared the fervent Apostle, St. Peter, for the supreme office of the Papacy.
It may be interesting to note that traditionally, this feast was almost entirely devoted to St. Peter, Bishop of Rome, rather than St. Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles who was more specially honoured on June 30. Today both the Saints receive the same devotion and commemoration. This makes sense as the theme for the Mass recalls the same effect of the Lord's presence in their lives; the Lord always stood by them giving them power so that through them the whole message might be proclaimed for all the world to hear.
This feast marks the day of translation of their relics.
St. Peter
St. Peter preaced the Gospel in Judea after the descent of the Holy Spirit and was cast into prison by Herod Agrippa. Miraculously, an angel delivered him, enabling him to establish his first see at Antioch, and then finally Rome. St. Peter exercised the Supreme Authority vested in him by Christ for twenty-five years before being arrested. He received the crown of martyrdom in 65.
St. Paul
St. Paul was once known as Saul of Tarsus. Saul was a great persecutor of the Christians and wrecked havoc in the Early Church. After a miraculous encounted with God, Saul begain his three great Apostolic Voyages and wrote his Epistles (Paul is the author of many of the Epistles found in the vault of Sacred Scripture). Arriving in Rome after two years of captivity in Caesarea, he travelled to that part of the Church situated beyond Italy before being beheaded in 65.
Let us thank our Heavenly Father for SS. Peter and Paul:
O God who hast made this day holy by the martyrdom of Thine Apsotles Peter and Paul: grant that Thy Church may in all things follow the precepts of those through whom she received the beginnings of the Faith. Keep us true to their teaching so that we may be enabled to share their joy in following the Lord to the unfading inheritance reserved for us in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
SS. Peter and Paul, pray for us!
Labels: Apostles, Catholic Belief, Early Church, Martyr, Prayer, Quote, Saints
Rant: Liturgy
Note/Disclaimer: 1) Mass was not celebrated in Church. 2) I have the greatest respect for yesterday's celebrant and always enjoy his inspiring homilies.
- The Altar Server was instructed by a lay person to rearrange the position of the celebrant's chair during the Confeitor.
- The Roman Missal was placed on top of the Corporal
- There was an 'interval' after the Sanctus when another member of the clergy went up to the celebrant and offered 'assistance'.
- The Corporal was dusted after the ablutions.
How can the "beauty of the liturgy- the sublime expression of God's glory"1 be examplified when the Holy Sacrifice is celebrated in such fashion? Mass has to be celebrated beautifully at all times. The beauty of the Eucharistic Celebration "is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself and his revelation."1 Thus, "these considerations should make us realize the care which is needed, if the liturgical action is to reflect its innate splendour."1
Catholics all over the world increasingly desire that the Mass be celebrated with "proper splendor of sacred ceremonies and rites so that the greatness of this mystery will shine forth all the more even from external appearances." Certainly many have hardly seen or have yet to see more dignified and reverent celebrations of the Eucharist. What is taking so long when the clergy themselves know that "nothing is greater or holier than the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass, in which the body and blood of Christ are offered to God for the salvation of all."2
I shall leave you with an excellent article entitled 'Save the Liturgy, Save the World' by Rev. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf of WDTPS.
Save the Liturgy, Save the World
by Rev. Fr. John Zuhlsdorf .
The Eucharist, its celebration and itself as the extraordinary Sacrament, is the “source and summit of Christian life”.
If we really believe that, then we must also hold that what we do in church, what we believe happens in a church, makes an enormous difference.
Do we believe the consecration really does something? Or, do we believe what is said and how, what the gestures are and the attitude in which they made are entirely indifferent? For example, will a choice not to kneel before Christ the King and Judge truly present in each sacred Host, produce a wider effect?
If you throw a stone, even a pebble, into a pool it produces ripples which expand to its edge. The way we celebrate Mass must create spiritual ripples in the Church and the world.
So does our good or bad reception of Holy Communion.
So must violations of rubrics and irreverence.
Mass is not merely a “teaching moment” or a “celebration of unity” or a "tedious obligation". Our choice of music, architecture, ceremonies and language affect more than one small congregation in one building. We are interconnected in both our common human nature and in baptism. When we sin we hurt the whole Body of Christ the Church. If that is true for sin, it must also be true for our liturgical choices. They must also have personal and corporate impact. Any Mass can be offered for the intentions of the living or the dead. Not even death is an obstacle to the efficacy of Holy Mass. Celebrate Mass well, participate properly – affect the whole world. Celebrate poorly – affect the whole world.
In each age since Christ’s Ascension, people have felt they were in the End Times. They were right. In any moment, when the conditions are right, the Lord could return. Considering at what is happening in the world now, I am pushed to think about the way Mass is being celebrated, even the number of Masses being celebrated. Once there were many communities of contemplatives, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament or in contemplation, in collective and in private prayer. There were many more Masses. Many more people went to confession. Who can know how they all lifted burdens from the world and turned large and small tides by their prayers to God for mercy and in reparation for sin?
A single droplet of Christ’s Precious Blood consecrated at Holy Mass is the price of every soul ever created in God’s unfathomable plan.
So I repeat:
SAVE THE LITURGY, SAVE THE WORLD
References
- Sacramentum Caritatis, Pope Benedict XVI [1]
- Amantissimi Redemptoris, Blessed Pius IX [2]
Labels: Amantissimi Redemptoris, Holy Father, Liturgy, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Sacramentum Caritatis
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Rectifications: Mission Statement
'Apostolic Tradition' is part of the Deposit of Faith or 'Divine Tradition'.
Specifically, Divine Tradition is formed by the summation of Dominical Tradition and Apostolic Tradition. In short, Dominical Tradition consists of that which was given directly by Our Lord while on earth, while Apostolic Tradition consists of that which the apostles passed on under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Prime examples of which are the Magisterium of the Church and the sacraments, since they were established by Jesus Christ and passed on and will be passed on until the end of time.
A new addition would be 'Ecclesiastical Tradition'. Ecclesiastical Tradition forms the heritage and patrimony of the work of previous generations graciously passed on by the Church to subsequent generations for their benefit.
The statement has been rectified to "...through: Fidelity to Divine & Ecclesiastical Traditions...".
References:
- Christian Pesch, Praelectiones Dogmaticae (Herder & Co., Friburgus, 1924), vol. I, p. 397f.
- Vatican I, Pastor Aeternus, ch. 2 (Denz. 1825/3058).
- Distinctions with Philosophical Differences by Fr. Chad Ripperger FSSP, The Latin Mass Magazine, Spring 2001
Labels: Announcements, Blog Administration, Catholic Belief, Miscellaneous, Mission Statement, Thoughts
St. Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr
IRENAEUS, IN KEEPING WITH HIS NAME, WAS A MAN OF PEACE; HE FOUGHT STRENUOUSLY FOR THE PEACE OF THE CHURCH
Today, the Universal Church commerates St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr. St. Irenaeus was born at Smyrna about 130 to Grecian Christian parents who were probably from Lesser Asia. His parents placed him under the care of St. Polycarp (the bishop of Smyrna at that time), whom St. Irenaeus became a disciple of. He was well educated and probably knew and was influenced by men who knew the apostles; especially St. Polycarp, who had been a pupil of St. John.
St. Irenaeus became a priest at Lyons, France by the year 177, during the time of persecution there. A powerful defender of the faith against the heresies of the Gnostics, he was soon made bishop of Lyons after his predecessor, St. Pothinus, was martyred.
As bishop he carried on a great and fruitful work: converting all Lyons to Christianity and devoting particular attention to trying to reconcile the numerous sects which menaced the existence of the church. His five-book treatise against the heresy of Gnosticism in Gaul conveys the apostolic tradition in it and is a powerful testimony to the primacy of the Pope.
St. Irenaeus suffered martyrdom about the year 202, under the Emperor Severus, at Lyons.
Let us thank our Heavenly Father for St. Irenaeus:
O God who didst enable the blessed Irenaeus, Thy Martyr and Bishop, to overcome heresies by the truth of doctrine (II Tim. 3:14-17, 4:1-5) and happily to establish peace in the Church: we beseech Thee, give to Thy people constancy in holy religion, and grant us Thy peace in our time. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Irenaeus, pray for us!
Labels: Bishops, Catholic Belief, Early Church, Martyr, Prayer, Quote, Saints
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Currently Reading
by Rev. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap.Preacher to the Pontifical Household for 25 years, Fr. Cantalamessa expounds some of the most beautiful words ever to be penned about the Eucharist in the latin hymns, Adoro Te Devote and the Ave Verum.
It was written for the Pope!
These reflections were the last series of meditations preached to the late Pope John Paul II! But before you rush to get a copy, be warned that unless you have had theological training, this isn't an easy book. The author assumes that the reader already possesses knowledge on the doctrine of the Holy Eucharist as well as other related doctrines, knowledge of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the early Church Fathers.
Being sermons, the text is in an interlocutory form.
Adoro Te Devote
Hidden God, devoutly I adore Thee, Truly present underneath these veils: All my heart subdues itself before Thee, Since it all before Thee faints and fails.
Not to sight, or taste, or touch be credit, Hearing only do we trust secure; I believe, for God the Son hath said it-- Word of Truth that ever shall endure.
On the Cross was veiled Thy Godhead's splendor, Here Thy manhood lieth hidden too; Unto both alike my faith I render, And, as sued the contrite thief, I sue.
Though I look not on Thy wounds with Thomas, Thee, my Lord, and Thee, my God, I call: Make me more and more believe Thy promise, Hope in Thee, and love Thee over all.
O Memorial of my Saviour dying, Living Bread that givest life to man; May my soul, its life from Thee supplying, Taste Thy sweetness, as on earth it can.
Deign, O Jesus, pelican* of heaven, Me, a sinner, in Thy Blood to lave, To a single drop of which is given All the world from all its sin to save.
Contemplating Lord, Thy hidden presence, Grant me what I thirst for and implore, In the revelation of Thine essence To behold Thy glory evermore.
Ave Verum
Hail, true Body, truly born of the Virgin Mary mild. Truly offered, wracked and torn, on the Cross for all defiled, from Whose love-pierced, sacred side flowed Thy true Blood's saving tide: be a foretaste sweet to me in my death's great agony.
O my loving, Gentle One, Sweetest Jesus, Mary's Son. Amen.
Labels: Books, Eucharist, Holy Father, Hymns, Latin, Liturgy, Meditation
The practice of Eucharistic Adoration
With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church's pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community. (194) Great benefit would ensue from a suitable catechesis explaining the importance of this act of worship, which enables the faithful to experience the liturgical celebration more fully and more fruitfully. Wherever possible, it would be appropriate, especially in densely populated areas, to set aside specific churches or oratories for perpetual adoration. I also recommend that, in their catechetical training, and especially in their preparation for First Holy Communion, children be taught the meaning and the beauty of spending time with Jesus, and helped to cultivate a sense of awe before his presence in the Eucharist.
Here I would like to express appreciation and support for all those Institutes of Consecrated Life whose members dedicate a significant amount of time to eucharistic adoration. In this way they give us an example of lives shaped by the Lord's real presence. I would also like to encourage those associations of the faithful and confraternities specifically devoted to eucharistic adoration; they serve as a leaven of contemplation for the whole Church and a summons to individuals and communities to place Christ at the centre of their lives.
Forms of eucharistic devotion
68. The personal relationship which the individual believer establishes with Jesus present in the Eucharist constantly points beyond itself to the whole communion of the Church and nourishes a fuller sense of membership in the Body of Christ. For this reason, besides encouraging individual believers to make time for personal prayer before the Sacrament of the Altar, I feel obliged to urge parishes and other church groups to set aside times for collective adoration. Naturally, already existing forms of eucharistic piety retain their full value. I am thinking, for example, of processions with the Blessed Sacrament, especially the traditional procession on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Forty Hours devotion, local, national and international Eucharistic Congresses, and other similar initiatives. If suitably updated and adapted to local circumstances, these forms of devotion are still worthy of being practised today. (195
Labels: Adoration, Adoration/Holy Hour, Altar, Catechesis, Catholic Belief, Corpus Christi, Devotion/Devotionals, Eucharist, Holy Father, Sacramentum Caritatis
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
History of the Mass
"Using compelling images and dynamic 3... Using compelling images and dynamic 3D animation, this video gives a brief history of the Mass including the revisions of Vatican II. In addition, the video gives a synopsis of the Liturgical Cycle. All the images presented are from our image library which can be found at www.AgnusImages.com," AgnusImages.
Labels: Catholic Belief, Eucharist, Liturgy, Video
Eucharistic Miracle in France?
"On November 7, 1999 a solemn Mass was held in the minor Basilica of Lourdes. The Archbishop of Lyon at the time, the late Cardinal Billé, was the celebrant and concelebrating with him were the archbishop of France, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, a number of French bishops, a number of priests and all the superiors of Trappist monasteries worldwide. The ceremony was broadcast live on French television.
On the altar were two hosts to be consecrated, much larger than those used by Italian priests, as is customary in France. At the beginning of the Mass, the two hosts appear in the film to be stacked one above the other, so that one cannot tell that their are two instead of one: they are resting on the paten, a type of tray, and are perfectly matched up. The film shows various camera angles showing them in this position and there is no doubt that the two hosts are physically stacked one atop the other and resting on the paten. At the moment of the "epiclesis", that is, when the priest extends his hands and invokes the Holy Spirit, the phenomenon is evident.
One sees the upper host detach from the lower one and levitate. The motion is impressive: the host is raised as though underneath it a force is released and it oscillates three or four times in the air before assuming a fixed position, horizontal, suspended about a centimeter, and remains in this position until the end of the Canon.
The video shows various moments of the ceremony during which the concelebrants move around and it is thus possible to see, between the levitating host and the host resting on the paten, the colors of the vestments of the celebrants," Mdebrus.
Labels: Catholic Belief, Eucharist, Liturgy, Miracle
Photos: Road Trip
Labels: Miscellaneous, Photos, Travels
Monday, June 25, 2007
Meeting: Spiritual Director
Fr. ended our conversation with a quote from Bl. Mother Theresa, "we are called to be faithful, not successful."
Labels: Personal, Priesthood, Rants/Musings/Thoughts, Vocation, Vocations
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Road Trip
St. Christopher, ora pro nobis.
Labels: Miscellaneous, News, Personal, Travels
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Liberalization of Latin Mass Imminent
The Papal "Motu Proprio" for the liberalization of the Latin Mass according to the Tridentine rite of Saint Pius V is ready, is about to be translated into several languages and will be published right before the departure of Benedict XVI for the summer vacation. [Rorate note: The Pope's vacation this summer will take place in a small villa of the property of the Diocese of Treviso, in the tiny hamlet of Lorenzago di Cadore, Province of Belluno, in the Veneto region, in the July 9-27 period.]
The text has already been signed by the Pontiff, who has even written a long exaplanatory letter, of a theological character, "addressed to all the Bishops of the world", as it can be read in its introduction, "so that they may receive this document with serenity and patience".
The Pope thus asks to the Bishops, to the clergy, and to the faithful a serene mood in the acceptance of the "Motu Proprio", which will be presented in a Press Conference by Cardinals Francis Arinze, Dario Castrillon Hoyos, and Julian Herranz.
The delay in the publication of the document seems to be related to strong oppositions from some sectors of the clergy (especially from the French Episcopal Conference).
Monsignor Nicola Bux (a personal friend of the Pope), a theologian and collaborator of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, declares: "You may write calmly [that] Pope Benedict XVI loves agreement and collaboration, and does not wish to decide everything on his own, which is why he has heard several and repeated opinions, but the Motu Proprio for the liberalization of the Latin Mass has been signed and its publication is imminent, I would say it is a matter of days."
The Tridentine Mass is completely celebrated in Latin, with the exception of a few words and sentences in Ancient Greek and in Hebrew; it is interspersed with long periods of silence, to allow the faithful to adequately meditate on the greatness of the Eucharistic mystery which they are called to assist. The faithful follow the liturgy reading the bilingual handmissal or leaflet, which carry, side by side with the Latin text, the integral translation of the actions in Italian or in the other national languages.
It is not only the use of the ecclesiastical and universal ("Catholic" means precisely universal) language which represents the sole standing difference between the Tridentine Mass and the modern one. The priest, differently than what takes place in the course of the new rite, turns his back to the faithful, as he celebrates turned to the tabernacle and the altar which constitutes the representation of Calvary; the image is that of the celebrant who guides the people.
Labels: Holy Father, Latin, Liturgy, News, Traditionalism
Morning Mass
Though it was raining, I decided to attend the 0615hr Mass at the Parish of the Holy Family. So with my Missal in one hand and my bright neon brolly in the other, I left for Church at 0600hr after saying the Morning Office or Lauds.
The Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Ignatius Yeo, brother of Rev. Fr. Adrian Yeo of the Parish of the Risen Christ, Toa Payoh. This is the first time I assisted at a Mass celebrated by Fr. Ignatius Yeo.
Now, here's why I'm writing this post in the first place... Fr. Ignatius's celebrated the Mass so reverently and devoutly, that during the Final Doxology, ("through Him...... all glory and honour are yours......") I felt a Divine declaration, "Indeed this Mass has given Me ALL the glory and ALL the honour." Wow! I tried to keep my eyes transfixed on the Altar of Sacrifice as my hair stood and mind just began to pick up the essence of the message.
Perhaps it was of my own subconscious making but one thing is for sure, that Fr. Ignatius's celebrated the Mass with the highest reverence. The way he lifted his eyes to heaven, the way he changed his tone of voice according to the different parts of the Eucharistic Prayer, the way he bowed toward the host during the consecration, the manner in which he elevated the host and the chalice, et cetera...
Today, I can truly and proudly say that I've attended an authentic Novus Ordo Mass.
Let us pray that all priests will (re-)discover the sublime beauty of the Sacred Liturgy and make supreme effort to let glory's light radiate in the hearts of the faithful by celebrating Mass with reverence and in accordance with the guidelines stated in the Roman Missal.
Labels: Authentic Liturgical Renewal 2007, Liturgy, Novus Ordo, Personal, Thoughts
Vocation Testimony
Labels: Catholic Belief, Links, Testimonials, Video, Vocation, Vocations
Ecumenism
Labels: Ecumenism
Friday, June 15, 2007
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
AN ACT OF RESIGNATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
O Jesus, most worthy of love! I gratefully offer Thee my heart in compensation for my great unfaithfulness,and consecrate myself wholly and forever toThy service, purposing, with Thy grace, no more tooffend Thee. Amen
Labels: Links, Sacred Heart of Jesus
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Muslim friend reacts to Fr Ragheed's Martyrdom
The following is the reaction of his Muslim friend:
In the name of the compassionate and merciful God,
Ragheed, my brother,
I ask your forgiveness for not being with you when those criminals opened fire against you and your brothers. The bullets that have gone through your pure and innocent body have also gone through my heart and soul.
You were one of the first people I met when I arrived to Rome. We met in the halls of the Angelicum and we would drink our cappuccino in the university's cafeteria. You impressed me with your innocence, joy, your pure and tender smile that never left you.
I always picture you smiling, joyful and full of zest for life. Ragheed is to me innocence personified; a wise innocence that carries in its heart the sorrows of his unhappy people. I remember the time, in the university's dining room, when Iraq was under embargo and you told me that the price of a single cappuccino would have satisfied the needs of an Iraqi family for a whole day.
You told me this as if you were feeling guilty for being far away from your persecuted people and unable to share in their sufferings …
In fact, you returned to Iraq, not only to share the suffering and destiny of your people but also to join your blood to the blood of thousands of Iraqis killed each day. I will never forget the day of your ordination [Oct. 13, 2001] in the [Pontifical] Urbanian University … with tears in your eyes, you told me: "Today, I have died to self" … a hard thing to say.
I didn't understand it right away, or maybe I didn't take it as seriously as I should have. … But today, through your martyrdom, I have understood that phrase. … You have died in your soul and body to be raised up in your beloved, in your teacher, and so that Christ would be raised up in you, despite the sufferings, sorrows, despite the chaos and madness.
In the name of what god of death have they killed you? In the name of which paganism have they crucified you? Did they truly know what they were doing?
O God, we don't ask you for revenge or retaliation. We ask you for victory, a victory of justice over falsehood, life over death, innocence over treachery, blood over the sword. … Your blood will not have been shed in vain, dear Ragheed, because with it you have blessed the soil of your country. And from heaven, your tender smile will continue to light the darkness of our nights and announce to us a better tomorrow.
I ask your forgiveness, brother, for when the living get together they think they have all the time in the world to talk, visit, and share feelings and thoughts. You had invited me to Iraq … I dreamed of that visit, of visiting your house, your parents, your office. … It never occurred to me that it would be your tomb that one day I would visit or that it would be verses from my Quran that I would recite for the repose of your soul …
One day, before your first trip to Iraq after a prolonged absence, I went with you to buy souvenirs and presents for your family. You spoke with me of your future work: "I would like to preside over the people on the base of charity before justice" -- you said.
It was difficult for me to imagine you a "canonical judge" … And today your blood and your martyrdom have spoken for you, a verdict of fidelity and patience, of hope against all suffering, of survival, in spite of death, in spite of everything.
Brother, your blood hasn't been shed in vain, and your church's altar wasn't a masquerade. … You assumed your role with deep seriousness until the end, with a smile that would never be extinguished … ever.
Your loving brother,
Adnam Mokrani
Rome, June 4, 2007
Professor of Islamic Studies in the Institute for the Study of Religion and Culture,
Pontifical Gregorian University
It is interesting to note that at his Ordination in October 2001, Fr Ragheed predicted that he wouldn't live more than two years as a priest. According to Asia News:
The target of a series of threats stretching back to 2004, he witnessed the pain of relatives and the loss of friends, and yet he carried on to the very end remembering that there was a sense to be found in that suffering, that carnage, that anarchy of violence: it was to be offered up. After an attack on his parish, on Palm Sunday last April 1st he said: “We empathise with Christ who entered Jerusalem in full knowledge that the consequence of His love for mankind was the cross. Thus while bullets smashed our Church windows, we offered up our sufferance as a sign of love for Christ”. “Each day we wait for the decisive attack – he said just weeks ago – but we will not stop celebrating mass; we will do it underground, where we are safer. I am encouraged in this decision by the strength of my parishioners. This is war, real war, but we hope to carry our cross to the very end with the help of Divine Grace”. And in the midst of the daily difficulties he himself marvelled at a growing awareness of “the great value of Sunday, the day we met the Risen Lord, the day of unity and of love between his community, of support and help”.
Requiescat in pace!
Save the liturgy, save the world
The Eucharist, its celebration and itself as the extraordinary Sacrament, is the “source and summit of Christian life”.
If we really believe that, then we must also hold that what we do in church, what we believe happens in a church, makes an enormous difference.
Do we believe the consecration really does something? Or, do we believe what is said and how, what the gestures are and the attitude in which they made are entirely indifferent? For example, will a choice not to kneel before Christ the King and Judge truly present in each sacred Host, produce a wider effect?
If you throw a stone, even a pebble, into a pool it produces ripples which expand to its edge. The way we celebrate Mass must create spiritual ripples in the Church and the world.
So does our good or bad reception of Holy Communion.
So must violations of rubrics and irreverence.
Mass is not merely a “teaching moment” or a “celebration of unity” or a "tedious obligation". Our choice of music, architecture, ceremonies and language affect more than one small congregation in one building. We are interconnected in both our common human nature and in baptism. When we sin we hurt the whole Body of Christ the Church. If that is true for sin, it must also be true for our liturgical choices. They must also have personal and corporate impact. Any Mass can be offered for the intentions of the living or the dead. Not even death is an obstacle to the efficacy of Holy Mass. Celebrate Mass well, participate properly – affect the whole world. Celebrate poorly – affect the whole world.
In each age since Christ’s Ascension, people have felt they were in the End Times. They were right. In any moment, when the conditions are right, the Lord could return. Considering at what is happening in the world now, I am pushed to think about the way Mass is being celebrated, even the number of Masses being celebrated. Once there were many communities of contemplatives, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament or in contemplation, in collective and in private prayer. There were many more Masses. Many more people went to confession. Who can know how they all lifted burdens from the world and turned large and small tides by their prayers to God for mercy and in reparation for sin?
A single droplet of Christ’s Precious Blood consecrated at Holy Mass is the price of every soul ever created in God’s unfathomable plan.
So I repeat:
Save the liturgy, save the world
Labels: Liturgy
Interior participation in the celebration
Mystagogical catechesis
The Church's great liturgical tradition teaches us that fruitful participation in the liturgy requires that one be personally conformed to the mystery being celebrated, offering one's life to God in unity with the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of the whole world. For this reason, the Synod of Bishops asked that the faithful be helped to make their interior dispositions correspond to their gestures and words. Otherwise, however carefully planned and executed our liturgies may be, they would risk falling into a certain ritualism. Hence the need to provide an education in eucharistic faith capable of enabling the faithful to live personally what they celebrate. Given the vital importance of this personal and conscious participatio, what methods of formation are needed? The Synod Fathers unanimously indicated, in this regard, a mystagogical approach to catechesis, which would lead the faithful to understand more deeply the mysteries being celebrated. (186) In particular, given the close relationship between the ars celebrandi and an actuosa participatio, it must first be said that "the best catechesis on the Eucharist is the Eucharist itself, celebrated well." (187) By its nature, the liturgy can be pedagogically effective in helping the faithful to enter more deeply into the mystery being celebrated. That is why, in the Church's most ancient tradition, the process of Christian formation always had an experiential character. While not neglecting a systematic understanding of the content of the faith, it centred on a vital and convincing encounter with Christ, as proclaimed by authentic witnesses. It is first and foremost the witness who introduces others to the mysteries. Naturally, this initial encounter gains depth through catechesis and finds its source and summit in the celebration of the Eucharist. This basic structure of the Christian experience calls for a process of mystagogy which should always respect three elements:
a) It interprets the rites in the light of the events of our salvation, in accordance with the Church's living tradition. The celebration of the Eucharist, in its infinite richness, makes constant reference to salvation history. In Christ crucified and risen, we truly celebrate the one who has united all things in himself (cf. Eph 1:10). From the beginning, the Christian community has interpreted the events of Jesus' life, and the Paschal Mystery in particular, in relation to the entire history of the Old Testament.
b) A mystagogical catechesis must also be concerned with presenting the meaning of the signs contained in the rites. This is particularly important in a highly technological age like our own, which risks losing the ability to appreciate signs and symbols. More than simply conveying information, a mystagogical catechesis should be capable of making the faithful more sensitive to the language of signs and gestures which, together with the word, make up the rite.
c) Finally, a mystagogical catechesis must be concerned with bringing out the significance of the rites for the Christian life in all its dimensions work and responsibility, thoughts and emotions, activity and repose. Part of the mystagogical process is to demonstrate how the mysteries celebrated in the rite are linked to the missionary responsibility of the faithful. The mature fruit of mystagogy is an awareness that one's life is being progressively transformed by the holy mysteries being celebrated. The aim of all Christian education, moreover, is to train the believer in an adult faith that can make him a "new creation", capable of bearing witness in his surroundings to the Christian hope that inspires him.
If we are to succeed in carrying out this work of education in our ecclesial communities, those responsible for formation must be adequately prepared. Indeed, the whole people of God should feel involved in this formation. Each Christian community is called to be a place where people can be taught about the mysteries celebrated in faith. In this regard, the Synod Fathers called for greater involvement by communities of consecrated life, movements and groups which, by their specific charisms, can give new impetus to Christian formation. (188) In our time, too, the Holy Spirit freely bestows his gifts to sustain the apostolic mission of the Church, which is charged with spreading the faith and bringing it to maturity. (189)
Labels: Holy Father, Liturgy, Sacramentum Caritatis
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tension of Opposites
Mitch: Sounds like a wrestling match
Morrie: Yes, you could describe life that way.
Mitch: So which side wins?
Morrie: Love wins. Love always wins. [Emphasis mine]
Extracted from Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Labels: Books, Life, Love, Miscellaneous
The Mass: Core of our Faith
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass should be the core and pinnacle of every parish activity. Almost every activity of the parish could be done by some other agency, except the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. Catholics should never be urged to attend Mass, but to pray the Mass for the sake of the whole world. The faithful are encouraged to use their hearts more than their heads and enter deeply into the ritual.In an age that is too often governed by the hard facts of practicality and isolation from the nourishment of the natural world, we should strive to do our sacred ritual with loving care and bring the seasons into church both liturgically and naturally and celebrate them with joy and enthusiasm.
H.H. Pope Benedict XVI in Sacramentum Caritatis, teaches us that "the beauty of the liturgy is part of this mystery; it is a sublime expression of God's glory and, in a certain sense, a glimpse of heaven on earth. ......Beauty, then, is not mere decoration, but rather an essential element of the liturgical action, since it is an attribute of God himself and his revelation. These considerations should make us realize the care which is needed, if the liturgical action is to reflect its innate splendour."
Labels: Holy Father, Liturgy, Sacramentum Caritatis
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Reflections: Feast of Corpus Christi
Some of my reflections:
- There is no point for Jesus to come, suffer, die and rise if the Eucharist is just a piece of bread.
- We are the body and blood of Christ whether we know it or not.
- The priest is asked to sanctify the gifts of bread and wine to make it acceptable to become the body and blood of Christ.
- The priest's action of sanctifying isn't only for the gifts but for us also; so that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit to become one body in Christ.
- It does not make sense for us to honor the Body of Christ if we do not see the Christ in one another.
- We can be transformed into the Body of Christ; put on the service garments of Christ.
- We do not need to worry about provision if we function truly as part of the Body of Christ. God will provide if our intentions are true for the cause of the Gospel
- We attend Mass each week because we want to become more like Christ; conformed to His precepts, etc...
Labels: Corpus Christi, Eucharist, Reflections, Thoughts
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Photos: Corpus Christi Mass 2007
My sister took these photos with her Nokia mobile from the pew while I served the Mass at Saint Joseph's Church. Enjoy!
Was the Crucifer for Corpus Christi Mass today; taken before the procession.
My brother servers preparing the incense before the procession.
Rector, Rev. Fr. Michael Teo with the monstrance; the monstrance's about 8-9 decades old.
The canopy was held by 6 Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist.
Benediction; apologies for the blurred snapshot.Labels: Altar Serving, Benediction, Corpus Christi, Eucharist, Liturgy, Photos, Processions
Saturday, June 9, 2007
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” John 6: 53-55 This Sunday, Catholics celebrate Corpus Christi or the Body Christ. On this day we celebrate the one, true, and eternal gift of Christ to man- His Most precious Body.
"Man should tremble, the earth should quake, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the Altar in the hands of the priest," says St. Francis of Assisi. How many times do we take the Eucharist for granted by making unworthy communions? How many times have we forgotten Christ's presence in the Tabernacle by not genuflecting, not refraining from dressing inappropriately, etc...? "Yesterday," says St. Gemma Galgani, "on approaching the Most Blessed Sacrament, I felt myself burning and I had to withdraw. I am astounded that so many who receive Jesus are not reduced to ashes." Thus we must remember that we cannot presume to come to the Lord's table to receive Him... it is only by His grace that we are able to gather together to share in the Sacred Meal.
Jesus shows His greatest love by allowing His sacrifice to be perpetuated daily throughout all the Altars in the world. Just imagine, the Son of the Most High God is made present- in flesh- each day, at any given moment throughout the world! This great love was what made St. Padre Pio proclaim, "It would be easier for the world to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." St. John Vianney tells of the marvelous love of Jesus in the Eucharist: "The man who receives Holy Communion loses himself in God like a drop of water in the ocean; it is impossible to seperate them anymore... In these vast depths of love, there's enough to lose yourself for all eternity."
There are three elements to the instituition of this feast: - Instituted on account of the greatness of the divine mystery;
- the unbelief of those who denied the truth of this mystery;
- and the revelation made to some pious persons
Pope Urban IV, who established this feast explains, "although we daily, in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass; renew the memory of this holy Sacrament, we believe that we must, besides, solemnly commemorate it every year, to put the unbelievers to shame; and because vie have been informed that God has revealed to some pious persons that this festival should be celebrated in the whole Church, we direct that on the first Thursday after the octave of Pentecost the faithful shall assemble in church, join with the priests in singing the word of God."
The above mentioned revelations were made by our Lord to a nun at Liege, named Sr. Juliana, and to her devout friends Eve and Isabella.
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine explains that the grand processions held on Corpus Christi "as a public profession of our holy faith that Christ is really, truly and substantially present in this Blessed Sacrament; for a public reparation of all the injuries, irreverence, and offences, which have been and are committed by impious men against Christ in this Blessed Sacrament; for the solemn veneration and adoration due to the Son of God in this Sacrament; in thanksgiving for its institution; and for all the graces and advantages received therefrom; and finally, to draw down the divine blessing upon the people and the country."
There are 'two liftings' in this world, one was the lifting of the wood of the cross where Jesus showed the depth of His love for us, the other lifting in in the monstrance, we we show the depth of our love for Jesus. St. Alphonsus Liguori teaches us that "of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God and the one most helpful to us."
Never be ashamed to kneel intimatley before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to offer Him praise and thanksgiving and "remember that he has been waiting for you for twenty centuries" (St. Josemaria Escriva). For each time you humble yourself to adore God under the appearance of bread, the head of satan will be crushed!
Never forget that Jesus loves you! The Divine Lover of souls "would rise again to be our perpetual Host of propitiation, the Host of our Communion, the Host of our Adoration," (St. Peter Julian Eymard) so that we may be brought to His feet.
In Corpus et Sanguinis Christi,
J-PDM
Corpus Christi 2007
Acknowledgements/References:
1962 Roman Missal by Angelus Press
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's Church Year
Quotes from Children of Mary
A Solemn Reflection on the Body and Blood of Christ:
Labels: Catholic Belief, Corpus Christi, Eucharist, Liturgy
Friday, June 8, 2007
Sisters of St. Rita
Pray for vocations to the Sisters of St. Rita.
Labels: Links, Nuns, Video, Vocations
Why Latin?
To understand this we have to thrust ourselves into the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. To enter the Celebration is to enter a sacred mystery. Latin is able to give the Mass a holistic sense of mystery. But, can't other vernacular languages acomplish that too? To answer that question we need to look at what worship and prayer is and how they work.
In his book, Prayer Primer, Rev. Fr. Thomas Bubay SM, talks about interpersonal union and intimacy in prayer. In chapter 9, Fr. Bubay explains that contemplation is, "a real awareness of God, desiring and loving Him...", "... there are no words." If we read the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas and some modern writers such as Evelyn Underhill and Dom John Chapman OSB, we will see that God does not communicate to the human soul by words or via our intellect.
Would you believe me if I told you that worship that remains at our human intellectual level is not really prayer? Such worship is only a mutual admiration and exhortation.
Genuine Catholic worship is "a deep absorption, so deep that any distractions cease for five to ten minutes," Fr. Thomas Bubay SM. Genuine prayer also lifts us out of ourselves and to the incomprehensible and indescribable God.
The forms, words and actions we use are only symbols that help us raise our heats, minds, and soul to God. Prayer is a matter of the heart, not head. Even when we pray using words, etc... the real business should be taking place in the heart; at a much deeper level.
Fr. Thomas Bubay SM, explains in Prayer Primer, the traditional three kinds of prayer: vocal, meditation, and comtemplation. Vocal prayer is one that remains mainly in the head. Meditation, exercises the intellect- one thinks profoundly about God. Contemplation (which will be emphasised here) is a purely wordless prayer. In contemplation, "we open our hearts and minds to God, " says Fr. Francis Randolph (author of Know Him in the Breaking of the Bread), we "are aware of His presence and are longing for His love; there are no conscious or intellectual thoughts. Words mean very little; glancing lightly off the surface."
Contemplative souls find it very difficult to keep attention on the the intellectual surface of the mind and still be able to pray. A contemplative person will be frustrated if natural contemplation is forced to remain at a level of vocal prayer. He or she will feel as if he/she has not prayed at all.
This is the problem with the new Mass in the vernacular. Contemplatives are agonized when they are 'forced' to keep in touch with the words; they are 'prevented' from praying. In a Latin Mass, which is mostly silent, a contemplative will find attendence and assistance more relaxing. They wouldn't mind going to Mass again!
The problem is that many people have not read St. Thomas or Abbot Chapman, thus, they feel guilty attending a Latin Mass. Fr. Francis Randolph explains that in his experience of many years of confessions, he has been convinced that a very large proportion of people are natural contemplatives but do not know it.
The Catholic Church is a diverse community of believers, we need to respect the mode of prayer of others and cannot insist that one form of prayer is better that the other. Let the vocal/intellectual Catholic worship in the Vernacular Mass, let the contemplative Catholic worship on the Latin Mass. His Holiness, the late Pope John Paul II, the Great, acknowledged that mistake that the Church by forcing the changes the Mass without any sensitivity to the feelings of the people. In a letter to the Bishops on Holy Thursday, 1980, Pope John Paul II wrote, "I would like to ask forgiveness- in my own name and of all of you, venerable brothers in the Episcopate- for everything which, for whatever reason, through whatever human weaknessimpatience, or negligence, and also through the times at partial, one-sided and erroneous application of the directives of the Second Vatican Council, may have caused scandal and disturbance concerning the interpretation of doctrine and the verneration due to this great Sacrament." and also “to all those Catholic faithful who feel attached to some previous liturgical and disciplinary forms of the Latin tradition, I wish to manifest my will to facilitate their ecclesial communion by means of the necessary measures to guarantee respect for their rightful aspirations. In this matter I ask support of the Bishops and of all those engaged in the pastoral ministry in the Church.", "By virtue of my Apostolic Authority I Decree... Respect must everywhere be shown for the feelings of this who are attached to the Latin liturgical tradition, by a wide and generous application of the directives already issued some time ago by the Apostolic See, for the use of the Roman Missal... of 1962.” Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia Dei.
An International Language
This is an entire different consideration. In our globalized, modern world, we need a language that does not carry any political implications with it. Three of the world's most dominant languages are French, English and Spanish. But to use these languages isn't fair to those who speak minority languages and tongues. For this, Latin has the advantage. No one race or political system can claim the language. Latin belongs to the world that has already gone by- the old world.
Our cosmopolitant world, filled with migrants, refugees, tourists, etc... the abolition of an international language is absolutely absurd! I don't think it is too late to repair the damage.
In Christo,
J-PDM
Acknowledgements/References:
Know Him in the Breaking of the Bread by Fr. Francis Randolph
Labels: Books, Languages, Latin, Liturgy, Novus Ordo, Prayer, Quote, Quotes, Thoughts, Traditionalism
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Now Reading:
In this book, Fr. Francis Randolph let's his passion for the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass 'run wild' by revealing the treasures of the Mass to "people (especially youth) who have been living in poverty (of the Mass) for far too long." The Mass is brought to life with rich illustrations and explainations of every word, gesture, and ritual. Fr. Fancis Randolph makes the Mass very personal and enables the reader to have a more intimate relationship with the Lord during the celebration of the liturgy. In chapter 9, the author also talks about the distinctive contemplative nature of the old rite of Mass that is lacking in the new liturgy.
Even though Fr. Randolph's remains faithful to the magisterial, he presents readers the reality of the Catholic Church as it was during the Second Vatican Council and as it is today. This made the book so controversial that the diocesan censor absolutely condemned it and refused permission for it to be published at first, even though a friendly Archbishop who had read the text approved it and was willing to write an introduction. Fr. Randolph continues to remain faithful to orthodoxy and has not minced his words; he not only inspires devotion but gently corrects error.
'Know Him in the Breaking of the Bread' is a good book that "weaves together liturgical, doctrinal, historical, and spiritual themes," Msgr. Peter Elliot, Author, Ceremonies of the Mordern Roman Rite.
I recommend this book to teachers, catechists, and young people. It would be good to have some knowledge of Church before 1962 in order to understand more clearly what Fr. Randolph's writes in the preface and the Appendix (Chapter 9).
Get this book for S$21.50 from the Archdiocesan Media Center (beside the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) at Highland Road, Kovan.
The Whole World Will Love Me
Already into the 8th chapter (of 37)... this inspiring book by Dorothy Scallan reveals the life of the Little Flower (1873-1897) the time of her conception. I like Dorothy's style of linking the life of the great saint with the historic events that were taking place during her life; it gives a overview of the socio-political environment that St. Therese lived in.
Dorothy Scallan also indulges the reader with 6 chapters on the lives of St. Therese's parents and grandparents (yes... even her grandparents!). It is essential for us to understand the richly-pious Catholic family background in which St. Therese grew up into, in order to appreciate more deeply her life, and more importantly, her love for Jesus.
Get this book for S$28.50 from the Carlo Catholic Society (beside the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul) at Queen Street, Bugis.
Other Books I Want to Purchase:
- Turning Towards the Lord by UM Lang; an argument for the tradition of celebrating Mass facing East, towards Jerusalem. [LITURGY]
- Celebrating the Holy Eucharist by Francis Cardinal Arinze [LITURGY]
- The Mass of the Early Christians by Mike Aquilina [LITURGY]
- Story of a Soul; Autobiography of St. Therese of the Child Jesus [SAINTS/A-BIOGRAPHY]
- Never Stop Walking: The Life and Spirit of St. Alphonsus Liguori by Nancy Fearon, IHM [SAINTS/BIOGRAPHY]
- The Priest in Union With Christ [PRIESTHOOD]
Labels: Books, Catechists, Liturgy, Novus Ordo, Review, Saints, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Anniversary: Episcopal Ordination
More Information:
Date of Birth: 05.03.1947
Labels: Anniversary, Bishops, Episcopal Ordinations, Ordinations, Statistics
Prayer Request
Thank you and God bless.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Quia Rex Sum Ego
This month is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart falls on the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost. This year, the celebration of the Sacred Heart will take place on 15th June.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart was established in order that the faithful might honor with more devotion and zeal, under the symbol of the Sacred Heart, the love of Jesus Christ, which induced Him not only to suffer and to die for the redemption of mankind, but also to institute the Sacrament of His Body and Blood in commeration of His death.
"Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth," Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart was made public by the holy Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Order of the Visitation. In the year 1690, during the Octave of Corpus Christi, our Blessed Lord appeared to His devoted handmaid, disclosing His heart to her saying, "Behold this Heart, which, notwithstanding the burning love for man with which it is consumed and exhausted, meets with no other return from the generality of Christians than sacrilege, contempt, indifference, and ingratitude. My desire is that you should make reparation to my heart for this ingratitude, and induce others also to make reparation."
In several subsequent apparitions our divine Lord repeated this injunction, and made the most unbounded promises in favor' of all who would apply themselves to this office of reparation to His Sacred Heart. The following are some of His promises;
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will establish peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their pains and trials.
- I will be their assured refuge in life, and especially in death.
- I will shed abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in my Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
- Lukewarm souls will be rendered fervent.
- Fervent souls shall rise rapidly to greater perfection.
- I will bless those houses where the image of my heart shall be exposed and honored.
- I will give to priests the gift of moving the hardest hearts.
- Persons who propagate this devotion,. shall have their names inscribed on my heart, never to be effaced from it.
"The Lord retained until these late centuries the devotion to His Sacred Heart, as a last effort of His divine love," St. Gertrude
The venerable P. Simon Gourdan tells us that it is,
- The most sacred devotion, for by it man venerates the holiest sentiments and emotions of the Heart of Jesus, by which He has sanctified the Church, glorified His Heavenly Father, and presented Himself to us as the perfect model of the most exalted sanctity.
- The oldest devotion of the holy Church, which, instructed by the great St. Paul, has at all times recognized the munificence of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- The most approved devotion, for the holy Scriptures everywhere exhort us to renew our heart by changing our lives, rendering them contrite by true penance, inflaming them with the fire of divine love, and adorning them by the exercise of all virtue. Therefore a new heart is promised on which to remodel our Heart. That Heart can be no other than the Heart of Jesus, which is given us as an example of all virtue, and which we must imitate if we wish to be saved.
- The most perfect devotion, for it is the: source of all other devotions; the Heart of Jesus is that inexhaustible treasury from which the Mother of God and all the saints have drawn their graces, their life, their virtues, and all spiritual blessings. Filled from this treasury, other servants of God have instituted different devotions.
- The most useful devotion, for in it we have the Fountain of Life itself before our eyes, from which we can draw directly, and increase in all virtue by adoring this divine Heart, meditating on its holy desires, and seeking to imitate it.
- The devotion most pleasing to Christ, for by it we honor God, as Christ requires, in spirit and in truth, because we adore the interior power of God, seeking to please His heart.
- Finally; the most necessary devotion, for its object is that we become intimately connected as members with Jesus, our Head, that we live by and according to His spirit, and have only one heart and soul with Christ.
Gospel of St. John 29. 31-35
At that time, The Jews, that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day, besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came, and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true.
St. Augustine says: "The Evangelist is very careful in his expression; he does not say, the soldiers pierced or wounded His side, but he o p e n e d it, as if to open for us the door of life, from which flow the Sacraments of the Church, without which there can be no access to the true life."
"Let us remember that the Heart of Jesus has called us not only for our own sanctification, but also for that of other souls. He wants to be helped in the salvation of souls," St. Padre Pio.
Consecration to the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.
I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and insconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.
I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen.
Documents on the Sacred Heart:
- Annum sacrum (1889) - Pope Leo XIII
- Caritate Christi Compulsi (On The Sacred Heart) - Pope Pius XI
- Miserentissimus Redemptor (On Reparation To The Sacred Heart) - Pope Pius XI
- Haurietis aquas - Pope Pius XII
- Message on the centenary of the consecration of mankind to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1999) - Pope John Paul ll
Dear readers let us unite our hearts with that of Jesus as we pray: Dear Lord, may the precious rays of water and blood that flowed from your pierced side indue us to pray more fervently and humbly, that we may be induced to discover the treasures of Your heart. Holy Spirit, infuse into our souls the great gift of true compassion for the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Blessed Mother pray for us and with us as we make this devout homage of affection to the Most Sacred Heart of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, that we may fulfill our duty of worthy satisfaction. Amen. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us.
Acknowledgements/References:
Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine
1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal, Angelus Press
A Catholic Life
Miracle of the Rosary Mission
Labels: Catholic Belief, Official Documents, Prayer, Quotes, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Saints
Monday, June 4, 2007
May in Photos
Went to the Singapore Tyler Print Institute to check out the island's first solo Picasso exhibition. Features some of the great artist's early works.Would have loved to share more, but these are the only decent pictures I captured in May.
Labels: Churches, Convent, Miscellaneous, Nuns, Personal, Photos
'15 Steps' to Becoming a Seminarian
You may like to read: SFX Academic Prospectus 2007-2008.
The information presented below reflects the admission process for St. Fancis Xavier Major Seminary, Diocese of Singapore.
DISCERNMENT
Months 1 to 6
- Step 1: Attend vocation retreats and recollections
- Step 2: Journeying with appointed Vocation Discernment Director
- Step 3: Introduction to Seminary Fathers
Months 7 to 9
- Step 4: First personal interview with Fathers of Admission Board
- Step 5: Invitation to stay in the Seminary (weekend or one week)
April
- Step 6: Aspirant indicates his desire to be admitted
- Step 7: Psychological test
May
- Step 8: Second personal interview with Fathers of Admission Board & Preliminary deliberation of the Admission Board
June
- Step 9: 8-day discernment retreat
APPLICATION
July
- Step 10: Formal application to join the Seminary
August
- Step 11: Request confidential reports from referees
September
- Step 12: Medical examination and report
October
- Step 13: Final Deliberation of the Admission Board
November
- Step 14: Official interview with Bishop
December
- Step 15: Tender resignation to employer (if the candidate is working)
Janaury
- CANDIDATE IS ADMITTED
Prayer for Seminarians
O Jesus, Eternal High Priest,I offer You through Your Immaculate Mother Mary, Your Own Precious Blood, in all the Masses throughout the world, as petition for graces for all seminarians, Your future priests.
Give them humility, meekness, prudence, and a burning zeal for souls.
Fill their hearts with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to know and love the Church, that they may always and everywhere speak, act, and think with her, the glorious spouse of Christ.
Teach them generosity and detachment from worldly goods; but above all, teach them to know You and to love the One and Only Eternal Priest.
Good Shepherd of Souls, hear this my prayer for saintly priests.v Amen.
(Taken from "Prayers for Today," published by Leaflet Missal Co.)
Labels: Prayer, Priesthood, Seminarian, Seminarians, Seminary, Vocation, Vocations
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Chastity, Purity and Our Lady
Extracted version. For full post, click here. Emphasis completely mine.
......this is the time of grace, this is the time for our souls. It is true, this is a time that we must rise to prayer and pray for our nation. For the first time in a long time I realized how much prayer we must do for our friends and for those who we don't even know. In every Marian Apparition, our Lady has asked for a conversion of heart, for increase in prayer and sacrifice for souls, and this is the time my dear friends.
Teenagers today are having pre-marital sex, using contraceptives and committing other serious sins. Chastity is something that is frowned upon and something that people don't think is attainable in life any more. Our world has been immoralized, because my dear friends, it is true, Chastity is attainable, people are living Chastity; people realize that male and female relationships are meant for procreation not to be against conception. Yes, it is possible to live without viewing pornography and committing sins of the flesh, but yet many people don't live in Chastity, they do commit these sins that are both mortal and serious sins. With prayer and perseverance though one can live a pure lifestyle; it is not impossible.
Let us recall the words of Our Lady of Fatima who said, "More souls go to hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason."
These sins are real and people commit them and they do not know what they are doing can endanger their souls, their future happiness with God in Heaven. These are the words of Our Lady at Fatima who appeared in the early 1900's. Today we live in a culture of death, a culture in which sins of the flesh are a lifestyle. Thus we must realize that this is a time for prayer, for prayer for society that they can return back to God.
The Blessed Mother has also appeared here in the United States to a religious sister named Sister Mary Ephrem, and the very first words of Our Lady of America on September 26, 1956 was I am Our Lady of America. I desire that my children honor me, especially by the purity of their lives. Sister Mary Ephrem also said that she was suffering a great deal for she was inconsolable at the thought of her own ingratitude and of the crimes which sinners commit against God.
Our Lady of America encourages us to live lives of purity and in doing so we honor her (the Blessed Mother.) This is the time, more than ever, that we need to pray for our brothers and sisters in society, who do not know God, who do not know the truth or maybe know God but yet choose to sin, we must pray for them daily, that they can know God and to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.
We must constantly recall the words of Our Blessed Mother that more souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh. We must be reconciled to God and be ready for the worst, to die tomorrow. We may not accept death easily but we must have peace within our souls, a total conversion, so that we may be with God one day. We do not know the time or the hour in which we leave this earth, likewise then we should always be in God's saving grace.
It is necessary that if we do sin, commit serious sin, that we turn our lives around. Go to confession and ask God to keep you from that sin. Life is tough, we are faced with many temptations, and the devil wants our souls, but we must overcome these sins to be faithful to the Church's teaching which brings us closer to Christ and His mother. We should strive to be like St. Maria Goretti who would rather die than commit a mortal sin.
"Faith begets miracles, the small and the great. Through faith, love and prayer, we can achieve anything.Those people who say that it is impossible to live wholesome, chaste lives cheat themselves and others out of too much." Beez, Commenter on Edward's post.
Also Read:
Labels: Catholic Belief, Confession, Fatima, Mary, Saints, Sex, Sin
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