Today
Green indicates the Holy Ghost, life eternal, and hope.
Sep 03 2010
Feria
(Last Sunday: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
- For those doing reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Today is the First Friday of the month
- For those doing reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Tomorrow is the First Saturday of the month
Next Sunday: Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
September is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
Fridays are dedicated to Christ's Passion and His Sacred Heart.
Daily Spiritual Food
Maxims from Holy Scripture for every day of the month.
From My Prayer-Book, by Fr. F. Lasance.
Let him that thinketh himself to stand, take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).
But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open.
Be you then also ready; for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.
Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required (Luke 12).
What things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap.
In doing good let us not fail; for in due time we shall reap, not failing (Galatians 6:8, 9).
Those who do not obey the Gospel shall suffer eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
With the Rosary, pray much for the Holy Father.
The usual intentions of the Vicar of Christ are defined as:
· the increase of the Catholic Faith;
· the triumph of Holy Church;
· the conversion of sinners;
· peace and concord among Christian princes and rulers; and
· the extirpation of heresies.
The Liturgical Calendar—Living the Mass
“It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than without Holy Mass” (St. Padre Pio). The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is how grace enters the natural world of time and space. The Mass is the world's only fountain of grace, and the source of all our strength. Just as our Father in heaven has lavished on us the rhythm of seasons in the natural world, our Holy Mother the Church, by the guiding hand of the Holy Ghost, has given rhythm to our spiritual lives by weaving all the mysteries of the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior Christ Jesus into the liturgical cycle. It is the air we breath—good, Catholic air.
The liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite, promulgated October, 1958 by Pope Pius XII. Goffine's Devout Instructions on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and Holy-Days, 1896. Originally published in 1690 in German as A Manual.
The Holy Rule of St. Benedict
The Benedictine monasteries built Europe, and the Holy Rule of St. Benedict built the monasteries. For this reason, Pope Pius XII acclaimed St. Benedict, “the Father of Europe.” His Holy Rule is filled with the light of Eternal Wisdom, and may be applied, mutatis mutandis, to families.
The Holy Rule of St. Benedict, 1949 Edition. Translated by Rev. Boniface Verheyen, OSB. St. Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas.
The Roman Martyrology
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Our Catholic altars house their relics—still pulsating with supernatural strength—, and their commemoration is an important part of the liturgy. By remembering them regularly and meditating on their sacrifices and heroism, we little-by-little develop the supernatural outlook summarized by our Saviour: “Fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
The Roman Martyrology, published by order of Gregory XIII, revised by the authority of Urban VIII and Clement X, augmented and corrected in the year 1749 by Benedict XIV, translated into English with the Imprimatur of J. Cardinal Gibbons, the Most Reverend Archbishop of Baltimore in 1916.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent
The Roman Catechism is a treasure, universally praised for five centuries by innumerable popes, councils, and saints. It is still the most clear, exact, and authoritative summary of all we must believe. It, alongside Sacred Scripture and the Summa Theologica, are our guiding lights. The content presented here moves along with the liturgical season so that the entire Christian faith is presented through the course of the year. Indespensible for fathers and mothers.
The front of the Roman Catechism, 1923 McHugh and Callan edition, contains an outline of topics recommended for each Sunday and major feast of the liturgical year. Presented here are the passages outlined. The entire catechism is not covered, but it covers the fullness of the Christian faith over the course of a year in a way that is in harmony with the rhythm of the liturgical year.
The Secret of Mary
From the introduction: “Chosen soul, living image of God and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, God wants you to become holy like him in this life, and glorious like him in the next. It is certain that growth in the holiness of God is your vocation. All your thoughts, words, actions, everything you suffer or undertake must lead you towards that end. Otherwise you are resisting God in not doing the work for which he created you and for which he is even now keeping you in being.”
Cycles through every month.
Lives of the Saints
St. Ignatius of Loyola was the founder of the Society of Jesus. A great military leader, he was so changed after reading about the Saints, that he gave up all his power to become a man of the Church. He renounced the glories and honors of the world and entered into the spiritual warfare under the standard of Christ. For St. Ignatius and for us, the saints are our heroes and inspiration. They are also still alive and active and a constant source of guidance, companionship, and assistance. Read about them, emulate them, and constantly ask yourself, “Could I not do what they do?”
Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints with Reflections for Every Day of the Year, Compiled from “Butler’s Lives” and other Approved Sources, 1894.
Mass
Readings from Holy Mass
— Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost —
Note: When there is no entry from Goffine's Instructions on the Epistle and Gospel of the Mass, the readings of Mass are presented simply as they are in the missal.
Rule
The Holy Rule of St. Benedict
Incline the ear of thy heart, and faithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father...
—The 3rd Day of September—
Continuation of the Prologue
And the Lord seeking His workman in the multitude of the people, to whom He proclaimeth these words, saith again: “Who is the man that desireth life and loveth to see good days” (Psalm 33:13)? If hearing this thou answerest, “I am he,” God saith to thee: “If thou wilt have true and everlasting life, keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile; turn away from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it” (Psalm 33:14-15). And when you shall have done these things, my eyes shall be upon you, and my ears unto your prayers. And before you shall call upon me I will say: “Behold, I am here” (Isaias 58:9).
What, dearest brethren, can be sweeter to us than this voice of the Lord inviting us? See, in His loving kindness, the Lord showeth us the way of life.
Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology
Read at the Hour of Prime, One Day in Advance
The 4th Day of September
Tomorrow Were Born into the Better Life...
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
THE ROMAN MARTYROLOGY. Published by Order of GREGORY XIII. Revised by the Authority of URBAN VIII, and CLEMENT X. Afterwards, in the year 1749, Augmented and Corrected by BENEDICT XIV. Last Edition, according to the Copy Printed at Rome in 1914.
IMPRIMATUR
James Cardinal Gibbons
Archbishop of Baltimore
Christ
The Imitation of Christ
“He who follows Me, walks not in darkness,” says the Lord.
Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
The Doctrine of Truth
Happy is he to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us and we discern very little.
What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect of things which are profitable and necessary and undue concern with those which are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly.
We have eyes and do not see.
What, therefore, have we to do with questions of philosophy? He to whom the Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing. For from this Word are all things and of Him all things speak—the Beginning Who also speaks to us. Without this Word no man understands or judges aright. He to whom it becomes everything, who traces all thingsto it and who sees all things in it, may ease his heart and remain at peace with God.
O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting. I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is all that I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before You; You alone speak to me. The more recollected a man is, and the more simple of heart he becomes, the easier he understands sublime things, for he receives the light of knowledge from above. The pure, simple, and steadfast spirit is not distracted by many labors, for he does them all for the honor of God. And since he enjoys interior peace he seeks no selfish end in anything. What, indeed, gives more trouble and affliction than uncontrolled desires of the heart?
A good and devout man arranges in his mind the things he has to do, not according to the whims of evil inclination but according to the dictates of right reason. Who is forced to struggle more than he who tries to master himself? This ought to be our purpose, then: to conquer self, to become stronger each day, to advance in virtue. Every perfection in this life has some imperfection mixed with it and no learning of ours is without some darkness. Humble knowledge of self is a surer path to God than the ardent pursuit of learning. Not that learning is to be considered evil, or knowledge, which is good in itself and so ordained by God; but a clean conscience and virtuous life ought always to be preferred. Many often err and accomplish little or nothing because they try to become learned rather than to live well.
If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the day of judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how wellwe have lived.
Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered. How quickly the glory of the world passes away! If only their lives had kept pace with their learning, then their study and reading would have been worth while.
How many there are who perish because of vain worldly knowledge and too little care for serving God. They became vain in their own conceits because they chose tobe great rather than humble.
He is truly great who has great charity. He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and makes nothing of the highest honor. He is truly wise who looks upon all earthly things as folly that he may gain Christ. He who does God’s will and renounces his own is truly very learned.
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. By Thomas à Kempis. Translated from the Latin into modern English by Aloysius Croft and Harold Bolton.
Mary
The Secret of Mary
“Chosen soul, living image of God and redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, God
wants you to become holy like him in this life, and glorious like him in the next.” (St. Montfort)
B. To Find the Grace of God, We Must Discover Mary
It all comes to this, then. We must discover a simple means to obtain from God the grace needed to become holy. It is precisely this I wish to teach you. My contention is that you must first discover Mary if you would obtain this grace from God.
Let me explain:
(1) Mary alone found grace with God for herself and for every individual person. No patriarch or prophet or any other holy person of the Old Law could manage to find this grace.
(2) It was Mary who gave existence and life to the author of all grace, and because of this she is called the “Mother of Grace.”
(3) God the Father, from whom, as from its essential source, every perfect gift and every grace come down to us , gave her every grace when he gave her his Son. Thus, as St Bernard says, the will of God is manifested to her in Jesus and with Jesus.
(4) God chose her to be the treasurer, the administrator and the dispenser of all his graces, so that all his graces and gifts pass through her hands. Such is the power that she has received from him that, according to St Bernardine, she gives the graces of the eternal Father, the virtues of Jesus Christ, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit to whom she wills, as and when she wills, and as much as she wills.
(5) As in the natural life a child must have a father and a mother, so in the supernatural life of grace a true child of the Church must have God for his Father and Mary for his mother. If he prides himself on having God for his Father but does not give to Mary the tender affection of a true child, he is an impostor and his father is the devil.
Read the whole work here: The Secret of Mary
Saints
Pictorial Lives of the Saints
“If other men like me have attained to such sanctity, why not I ?”(St. Augustine)
—The 3rd Day of September—
LITTLE PICTORIAL LIVES OF THE SAINTS with Reflections for Every Day of the Year Compiled from “Butler’s Lives” and Other Approved Sources. Edited by John Gilmary Shea, LL.D.
IMPRIMATUR
John, Cardinal McCloskey
ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK
New York, June 3, 1878
IMPRIMATUR
Michael Augustine
ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK
New York, January 21, 1887
The Faith
The Catechism of the Holy Council of Trent
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides
that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema” (Galatians 1:8).
— Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost —
The lesson for today is unavailable. Please reflect on this, from the Introduction to the Catechism:
Need of an Authoritative Catholic Catechism
But while the preaching of the divine Word should never be interrupted in the Church, surely in these, our days, it becomes necessary to labour with more than ordinary zeal and piety to nourish and strengthen the faithful with sound and wholesome doctrine, as with the food of life. For false prophets have gone forth into the world, to corrupt the minds of the faithful with various and strange doctrines, of whom the Lord has said: I did not send prophets, yet they ran; I spoke not to them, yet they prophesied.
In this work, to such extremes has their impiety, practiced in all the arts of Satan, been carried, that it would seem almost impossible to confine it within any bounds; and did we not rely on the splendid promises of the Saviour, who declared that He had built His Church on so solid a foundation that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, we should have good reason to fear lest, beset on every side by such a host of enemies and assailed and attacked by so many machinations, it would, in these days, fall to the ground.
For—to say nothing of those illustrious States which heretofore professed, in piety and holiness, the true Catholic faith transmitted to them by their ancestors, but are now gone astray wandering from the paths of truth and openly declaring that their best claims to piety are founded on a total abandonment of the faith of their fathers—there is no region, however remote, no place, however securely guarded, no corner of Christendom, into which this pestilence has not sought secretly to insinuate itself.
For those who intended to corrupt the minds of the faithful, knowing that they could not hold immediate personal intercourse with all, and thus pour into their ears their poisoned doctrines, adopted another plan which enabled them to disseminate error and impiety more easily and extensively. Besides those voluminous works by which they sought the subversion of the Catholic faith—to guard against which (volumes) required perhaps little labour or circumspection, since their contents were clearly heretical—they also composed innumerable smaller books, which, veiling their errors under the semblance of piety, deceived with incredible facility the unsuspecting minds of simple folk.
The Ends of Religious Instruction
Knowledge Of Christ
The first thing is ever to recollect that all Christian knowledge is reduced to one single head, or rather, to use the words of the Apostle, this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. A teacher in the Church should, therefore, use his best endeavours that the faithful earnestly desire to know Jesus Christ, and him crucified, that they be firmly convinced, and with the most heartfelt piety and devotion believe, that there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved, for he is the propitiation for our sins.
Observance Of The Commandments
But since by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments, the next consideration, and one intimately connected with the preceding, is to press also upon the attention of the faithful that their lives are not to be wasted in ease and indolence, but that we are to walk even as he walked, and pursue with all earnestness, justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness; for He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things the Apostle commands pastors to speak and exhort.
Love Of God
But as our Lord and Saviour has not only declared, but has also proved by His own example, that the Law and the Prophets depend on love, and as, according to the Apostle, charity is the end of the commandment, and the fulfilment of the law, it is unquestionably a chief duty of the pastor to use the utmost diligence to excite the faithful to a love of the infinite goodness of God towards us, that, burning with a sort of divine ardour, they may be powerfully attracted to the supreme and all-perfect good, to adhere to which is true and solid happiness, as is fully experienced by him who can say with the Prophet: What have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
This, assuredly, is that more excellent way pointed out by the Apostle when he sums up all his doctrines and instructions in charity, which never falleth away. For whatever is proposed by the pastor, whether it be the exercise of faith, of hope, or of some moral virtue, the love of our Lord should at the same time be so strongly insisted upon as to show clearly that all the works of perfect Christian virtue can have no other origin, no other end than divine love.
