Fr. Joseph, OFM - 9th Sunday after Pentecost
HOLY MASS - 9TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST - FR. BERNARD, OFM
Fr. Bonaventure, OFM - 9th Sunday after Pentecost - Video Sermon
Monday, July 30, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
: “It would hardly be possible for me to put into words how much Our Lady thinks of the Holy Rosary and of how she vastly prefers it to all other devotions. Neither can I sufficiently express how highly she rewards those who work to preach the devotion, to establish it and spread it, nor on the other hand how firmly she punishes those who work against it.” (The Secret of the Rosary, St. Louis De Montfort
Saturday, July 28, 2012
"For who can fail to see that society is at the present time, more than in any past age, suffering from a terrible and deep-rooted malady which, developing every day and eating into its inmost being, is dragging it to destruction? You understand, Venerable Brethren, what this disease is - apostasy from God, than which in truth nothing is more allied with ruin,"[E Supremi, October 4, 1903.
29. However much our Christian self-love desires to avoid the remorse and repentance which ever follows the humiliations caused by sin, we should nevertheless desire and seek to be humble, because if we are humble we can never be humbled. "O my soul," we must say to ourselves," O my soul, look well into thyself and be humble if thou dost not will that God should humble thee with temporal and eternal shame." God promises to exalt the humble, and Heaven is filled with the humble; God also threatens the proud with humiliation, and Hell is filled with the proud. God thus promises and menaces so that if we do not remain in humility allured by His great promises, we should at least remain in humility from fear of His potent threats: "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." [Matt. xxiii, 12]
God regards the petitions of the humble favorably, and inclines to answer them: " He hath regard to the prayer of the humble, and He hath not despised their petition." [Ps. ci, 18] But however much the proud man may invoke God, God will give him no spiritual consolation. St. Augustine says: "God will not come, even though thou call upon Him, if thou art puffed up." [Enarr. In Ps. 74]
These things are all old and oft-repeated, but it is because we know them and do not practice them that we deserve the reproof given by the prophet Daniel to Nabuchodonosor:" Thou hast not humbled thy heart, whereas thou knewest all these things." [Dan. v, 22]
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHHer Doctrine and MoralsNinth Sunday after Pentecost29 July 2012 | ![[Image]](http://friarsminor.org/ss.gif) The SundaySermon |
Dear Friends,
All who have ever witnessed inevitable evils come upon their loved ones because of their own actions, can relate to the sadness that brings forth the tears of Our Lord in today’s gospel. How many fathers and mothers have warned, prayed, and wept for their children who they could clearly see were headed down the wrong path! The foresight that comes from experience is often lacking in the world today and especially in our youth. The real tragedy though, is that these people will not heed the warnings of those who see the future misfortune and weep for them. Each one deceives himself that his situation is different. The devils, the world and the passions deceive us into seeing only the present enticements and blind us to the almost inevitable consequences of our actions.
Job in his wisdom offered many sacrifices for his children for any transgressions they may have committed in their youthful levity. (Job 1:5) Parents who truly understand that nothing stained can enter into the kingdom of heaven, and are aware of the many transgressions of youth, feel the pain deep in their souls; knowing what fate awaits them – not only in this world – but, more importantly the fate that awaits them in eternity. If we will only objectively observe the world around us and the lives of those around us, we cannot help but see the misery in this life that awaits all who live only for the passing momentary pleasures. The social media, tabloids, reality television, etc. give us countless examples of lives ruined by the hedonistic pursuit of the present passions. There are countless unhappy morbidly obese people; broken hearted “lovers” (adulterers and fornicators); people suffering very painful diseases due to their transgressions; addictions of every kind that bring suffering in their wake, and this is only with reference to the sufferings of this life. The sufferings of the next life are much worse than any of the present ones, but these are seldom, if ever, contemplated.
The impending destruction of Jerusalem brought tears to the eyes of Jesus, but the inevitable loss of souls is many times more heart-breaking. We see in the actions of Christ after this, where He places the blame, of what He considers to be the root of the problem. Our Lord went to the temple, chased out the money lenders and preached daily, indicating that the priest and the temple had failed in their duties. Is it not the duty of the priests – the shepherds of Christ’s flock – to consider and see the errant paths of the people and warn them, and do all in their power to guide them back to the straight and narrow? How many of Christ’s priests have been complacent and uncaring – unloving – in their duties as shepherds of these sheep? How many have truly prayed and wept and sacrificed themselves for the flock? Too often, these priests have fallen into the same pitfalls as their sheep, and act as hirelings only interested in their own immediate pleasures.
We should not let our examination end with only a consideration of the failings of the clergy or pseudo-clergy, but we must move on to ask of the parents who have been given charge of the physical bodies of their children and more importantly their children’s souls. Even if priests and parents are rendered impotent in the correction of their children (by their legal maturity, the immoral laws of society, or the obstinate insubordination of their rebellious children, etc.) they always have available their tears, prayers, and sacrifices to offer as satisfaction and atonement for the ones they love.
Finally we must reach the examination of our own lives, because we have each been given the care and custody of our own souls. Even if our pastors and parents and every other authority over us fails in this duty, God has given us an intelligence, conscience, and a free will to admonish and correct ourselves. This leaves no one with any excuse for not looking ahead and seeing the evil that awaits and begin shedding tears of repentance and offering endless prayers united with sacrifices so as to appease God’s justice and avoid the evils that hang over their heads.
Let us look ahead to the evils that await all who live in their transgressions and weep, pray and sacrifice in atonement not only for those whom we have an obligation to watch over, but also let us do the same for our own souls. May we be truly ever grateful to all those who from obligation or love have knowingly or unknowingly suffered the pains of tears, prayers and sacrifices for us. Only in eternity will we know the extent of the graces merited for us by the tears of others on our behalf. It is most probable that most of the graces we receive are due to the merits of someone else. Let us always be grateful, and do the same for others.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Christian is my name, and Catholic is my surname. The one designates me, while the other manifests me for what I am. Thus am I attested and set apart... When we are called Catholics, it is by this name that our people are kept apart from any heretical name.
St. Pacianus of Barcelona (360-390AD) on being Catholic, Catholics, and Catholicism
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Audio Sermon for 8th Sunday after Pentecost-Bishop Giles, OFM
Holy Mass - Fr. Bernard, OFM - 8th Sunday after Pentecost
His Excellency Bishop Louis, OFM 8th Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Mass - Fr. Bernard, OFM - 8th Sunday after Pentecost
His Excellency Bishop Louis, OFM 8th Sunday after Pentecost
The Word of God For the 8th Sunday After Pentecost
Fr. Bonaventure at St. Joseph the Workman Mission 7-23-12
Audio Sermon Here
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Dear Friends,
On tomorrow's program we will continue with our series on THE JUST GOVERNMENT. Some may wonder why we are discussing such a topic. It is precisely because the citizens of any given nation ought to understand the moral responsibilities of its nation's leaders. Moral principles are almost entirely ignored today, regardless of the country. In the United States, we have reached a "climactic point." We truly are at the "fork in the road." The next important question to be answered is, "Quo vadis' - which way do we go, Lord?
The Catholic Faith Radio Program is broadcast each Friday in the studio of KRFE AM580, Lubbock, TX from 2 - 4 p.m., Central Time. It is streamed LIVE from our website, www.catholichour.org. Simply link to Radio Program Live and choose your player.
WEBSITE NOTE: The schedule for the Radio Program is now listed on the Home Page. There is also a link to its own page under Radio Program.
I am most grateful for our loyal listeners and supporters. May God bless you abundantly!!
Fr. Joseph, OFM
Monday, July 16, 2012
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| OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, PRAY FOR US! |
AUDIO SERMON-FR. JOSEPH, OFM - 7TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
BISHOP GILES, OFM-FEAST OF ST. BONAVENTURE
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-BISHOP GILES, OFM
HOLY MASS-FR. BERNARD, OFM - SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Saturday, July 14, 2012
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHHer Doctrine and MoralsSeventh Sunday after Pentecost15 July 2012 | The SundaySermon |
Dear Friends,
Jesus frequently tells us that we can obtain anything we wish by prayer. “All things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.” (Matt 21:22) And again: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7) He even confirms these promises with a solemn oath: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He shall give it to you.” However, the end of today’s gospel seems to contradict the promises according to which we can obtain all things whatsoever we ask, for He says: “Not everyone that saith to Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” So we see that not all who pray will enter into heaven. St. Chrysostom solves this dilemma when he tells us that no one gets into heaven without prayer, but prayer alone is not enough.
We are all duty bound to pray. God is our Creator, Father, Savior, Sanctifier, etc. If we are duty bound to honor our earthly father, how much more must we honor God? Those who do not pray refuse this honor to God. We thank every earthly benefactor and think it to be a duty or obligation that is most necessary, so likewise we must constantly thank God in prayer. Akin to this is the necessity of petition. In thanking God we acknowledge Him as the source of everything, so it logically follows that we must ask for our needs in prayer. Should not God be offended when men who cannot draw a breath without Him, are too proud to ask Him for His benefits and graces? This obligation of praying presupposes the necessity of believing in Him, hoping in Him, and loving Him. Those who lack faith, hope and charity do not pray and are therefore doomed to eternal damnation.
Since prayer alone is not enough, it must be accompanied by works. Every one of us is a sinner so we are all required to do penance. The more we have sinned, either in enormity of sin, or frequency of sin, the more necessary penance is for us; and the more austere and constant must our penances be. “Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3) Let us often consider that King David sinned once, but wept and did penance constantly for the rest of his life. There are likewise many penitents on our calendar to consider, to edify, and encourage us in penance (St. Peter, Mary Magdalen, Margaret of Cortona, etc.)
We must also keep the commandments, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matt 19:17) Perhaps most importantly we must persevere to the end. Perseverance not only in prayer but also in works is necessary. This prayer and works become one and the same thing as whatever we do we do for the love of God and in this manner all that we do is offered to God as a prayer. Not only our thoughts and words, but also our actions rise to heaven as a sweet sacrifice in prayer.
We should not forget to mention that it is necessary that we fulfill the duties and obligations of our state in life. The right and true fulfillment of our duties is a prayer when we do them for the love of God. Our religious responsibility should therefore take the first place in the hierarchy of our values and priorities. Only those who do the will of God will enter into Heaven. It is God’s will that we all pray, but that is not all that God wills.
We ought to love Him, and if we love Him, we will pray to Him, and then set out to please Him in all that we do; striving always to keep His word – obeying the commandments and fulfilling all our obligations, both materially and spiritually. In this manner our prayers will be heard but more importantly heaven will be opened to us and we will not be damned with so many others who prayed “Lord, Lord,” but nonetheless were damned because their works did not match their words.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
28. We read of many who after being renowned for their holiness, fervent in the exercise of prayer, great penances and signal virtues, and who after being favored by God with the gifts of ecstasy, revelations and miracles, have nevertheless fallen into the hideous vice of impurity at the slightest approach of temptation. And when I consider it, I find that there is no sin that degrades the soul so much as this impure sin of the senses, because the soul, from being reasoning and spiritual, like the Angels, becomes thereby carnal, sensual and like brute beasts "who have no understanding." [Ps. xxxi, 9]
I am constrained to adore with fear the supreme judgments of God and also for my own warning to learn that pride was the reason of so great a fall; therefore we should all exclaim with the prophet, "And being exalted I have been humbled and troubled," [Ps. lxxxvii] and say to ourselves the words which he said to Lucifer after he had "meditated in his heart: 'I will ascend' "-----"How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer." [Isa. xiv]
The soul is humbled according to the measure of its self-exaltation, and great must have been the pride which was followed by such a tremendous and abominable humiliation. Ah, how much more precious is one degree of humility in comparison with a thousand revelations or ecstasies! Of what use is it, says St. Augustine, to possess unsullied purity and chastity and virginity if pride dominates the heart? "Of what avail is continence to him who is dominated by pride?" [Serm. de Verb. Dom.]
It is a wise and just disposition of God to permit the fall of the proud into every sin and especially into that of wantonness, as being the most degrading, so that by so great a fall he should be ashamed, humbled and cured of his pride. O St. Thomas, how well hast thou said: "He who is fettered by pride and does not know it, falls into the sin of impurity which is manifestly of itself disgraceful, that through this sin he may rise humiliated from his confession." [22, qu. clxi, art. 6, ad 3] From this, the Saint continues, is shown the gravity of the sin of pride; and as a doctor often permits his patient to suffer from a minor ill so as to liberate him from a greater, so God permits the soul to fall into the sin of the senses, so that it may be cured of the vice of pride.
To whatever sublime height of sanctity we may have attained, a fall is always to be feared. For, as says St. Augustine, there is no holiness that cannot be lost through pride alone: "If there be holiness in you, fear lest you may lose it. How? Through pride." [Serm. 13 de Verb. Dom.]
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Gloria Tibi Domine!
Sunday, July 8, 2012
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHHer Doctrine and MoralsSixth Sunday after Pentecost8 July 2012 | The SundaySermon |
Dear Friends,
In today’s gospel we witness Christ blessing and multiplying bread and fish to feed the hungry. Christ has given this power of blessing to the Church. The Catholic Church has from the very beginning exercised this power for the good of Her children. Let us consider one blessing in particular that we can trace from Apostolic times. Every Catholic is familiar with the use of Holy Water, but often the symbolism, meaning and power of this sacramental are ignored or forgotten.
When the priest blesses Holy Water he wears a violet stole. The stole is required to impress upon us that it is the priest who has the power of blessing. The Church vests the priest in violet because it is the color of restoration. We see violet primarily during the penitential seasons to impress upon us the direction we are striving for in our penances – we are leaving sin, the world, the devils, our passions, etc. behind and are moving towards sanctity and newness of life. In the blessing of Holy Water the priest is taking this water from all profane uses and imparting upon it a new use.
It is necessary that the priest bless salt before blessing the Holy Water (unless there is already some blessed salt available). In the blessing of salt he pronounces an exorcism casting out all evil spirits and imparting to the salt the power of expelling demons. Exorcists have traditionally used blessed salt in casting out devils. Many of the modern “ghost hunters” and people of that ilk have witnessed the power that this salt has and have attempted to imitate its use with unblessed salt in their endeavor to trick people into believing that they are able to cast out demons. It is not the salt that has the power over the devils and keeps them at bay, but rather the blessing of the Church that is only imparted to the salt by a true or valid priest.
After the exorcism of the salt, the priest then performs a similar exorcism over the water. Again, he takes the common element away from the profane use and any influence of evil spirits and gives it a new direction and dedication. The water now takes on a new life. When both elements (salt and water) have been exorcised and blessed, then the salt is mixed with the water. The priest makes the sign of the cross with the salt as he sprinkles it in the water. When the blessing is complete we now have holy water.
This water symbolizes many things to Catholics, principally the power of washing away sins as in the sacrament of Baptism, but it also calls to mind the parting of the Red Sea, the power of the water in the river Jordan to cleanse the lepers, the water that was changed to wine at the wedding feast, etc. Hugo of St. Victor says: “The water signifies penance for sins committed; the salt, prudence for the future; and both united change the bitterness of conscience into sweetness.” If we like David, St. Peter, St. Mary Magdalen, and other great penitents spend the rest of our lives in penance then the bitterness of our consciences will be make sweet.
The priest before a high Mass begins with the Asperges he blesses the people to obtain the grace for them to excite a supernatural contrition for their sins and to pray with true devotion. It is for this same reason that we place Holy Water founts in Churches, schools, homes, etc. so that might frequently bless ourselves and obtain the remission of one or more of our venial sins. St. Thomas of Aquinas says that Holy Water effects the remission of sins: “Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.” We also drive away evil spirits that are tempting us with this same Holy Water. The lives of the saints are filled with many testimonies of the power of Holy Water in the battle against evil spirits.
Holy Water by the blessing of the Church is given these and so many other wonderful powers that it would take a book to enumerate them all. But, in short, Holy Water: washes away sins, excites us to contrition and a life of grace, it is a powerful weapon against evil spirits, it is a remedy against temptations, it is useful for the cure of diseases and for delivery from many evils, and it even affords consolation and help to the departed souls in Purgatory when their corpses and graves are blessed.
Lastly, may we always have Holy Water at hand considering it as more precious than any medicine or food or even any precious coin or metal. Let us maintain Holy Water founts in our homes so that we might bless ourselves frequently (not out of habit and by rote but with true faith and devotion). We should bless ourselves, our children and loved ones, our home, our food, etc so that all these things may be made better to serve us in fulfilling our obligations of increasing day by day our service, knowledge, and love of God.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
OUR THIRD ORDER IS READING ONE CHAPTER AT OUR MEETING EVERY MONTH. WE STARTED LAST MONTH SO HERE ARE THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS THAT WE HAVE READ. EVERY MONTH I WILL POST THE CHAPTER THAT WE READ AT OUR MEETING FOR YOUR EDIFICATION:
LITTLE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS
LITTLE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS
CHAPTER I
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR, AND OF MARY HIS VIRGIN MOTHER. IN THIS BOOK ARE CONTAINED CERTAIN LITTLE FLOWERS - TO WIT, MIRACLES AND PIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE GLORIOUS SERVANT OF CHRIST ST FRANCIS, AND OF SOME OF HIS HOLY COMPANIONS; TO THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.
First let us consider how the life of the glorious St Francis was conformed in every act with that of our Blessed Lord. For as Christ, before he began to preach, made choice of twelve Apostles, teaching them to despise all the things of this world, to follow him in poverty and in the practice of all other virtues, so St Francis, on the first founding of his Order, chose twelve companions, all lovers of poverty. And even as one of the twelve Apostles, being reproved by Christ, hanged himself by the neck, so among the twelve companions of St Francis was one, called Brother John della Capella, who apostatized, and finally hanged himself by the neck. This should be for the elect a great example and cause of humility and fear, when they consider how no one is certain of persevering in the grace of God to the end. As the holy Apostles, being filled with the Spirit of God, shone forth mightily before the world in holiness and humility, so too did the companions of St Francis; for from the time of the Apostles till this present day the world had never seen men so wonderful and so holy.
On of them, Brother Giles, like St Paul, was raised to the third heaven; another, Brother Philip the Tall, like the prophet Isaiah, was touched upon the lips with a burning coal by an angel. Brother Silvester held converse with God, like one friend with another, as did Moses of old. Another, the most humble Brother Bernard, through the penetration of his intellect, reached the light of divine science, like the eagle - the emblem of St John the Evangelist - and explained all the deepest mysteries of Holy Scripture. One there was who was sanctified and canonized in heaven, whilst still living on earth; this was Brother Ruffino, a nobleman of Assisi. And thus all bore singular marks of sanctity, as we shall see hereafter.
CHAPTER II
OF BROTHER BERNARD OF QUINTAVALLE, THE FIRST COMPANION OF ST FRANCIS
The first companion of St Francis was Brother Bernard of Assisi, who was converted in the following way: St Francis had not yet taken the religious habit, though he had renounced the world, and had so given himself to penance and mortification that many looked upon him as one out of his mind. He was scoffed at as a madman, was rejected and despised by his relations and by strangers, who threw stones and mud at him when he passed; yet he went on his way, accepting these insults as patiently as if he had been deaf and dumb. Then Bernard of Assisi, one of the richest and most learned nobles of the city, began to consider deeply the conduct of St Francis; how utterly he despised the world, how patiently he suffered injuries, and how his faith remained firm, though he had been for two years an object of contempt and rejected by all. He began to think and say within himself, "It is evident that this brother must have received great graces from God"; and so resolved to invite him to sup and to sleep in his house. St Francis having accepted the invitation, Bernard, who was resolved to contemplate the sanctity of his guest, ordered a bed to be prepared for him in his own room, where a lamp burned all night. Now St Francis, in order to conceal his sanctity, so soon as he entered the room, threw himself upon the bed, pretending to fall asleep. Bernard likewise soon after went to bed, and began to snore as if sleeping soundly. On this, St Francis, thinking that Bernard was really fast asleep, got up and began to pray. Raising his hands and eyes to heaven, he exclaimed with great devotion and fervour, "My God! my God!" at the same time weeping bitterly; and thus he remained on his knees all night, repeating with great love and fervour the words, "My God! my God!" and none others.
And this he did because, being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, he contemplated and admired the divine majesty of God, who deigned to take pity on the perishing world, and to save not only the soul of Francis, his poor little one, but those of many others also through his means. For, being enlightened by the Holy Ghost, he foresaw the great things which God would deign to accomplish through him and through his Order; and considering his insufficiency and unworthiness, he prayed and called upon the Lord, through his power and wisdom, to supply, help and accomplish that which of himself he could not do.
Then Bernard, seeing by the light of the lamp the devout actions of St Francis and the expression of his countenance, and devoutly considering the words he uttered, was touched by the Holy Spirit, and resolved to change his life. Next morning, therefore, he called St Francis, and thus addressed him: "Brother Francis, I am disposed in heart wholly to leave the world, and to obey thee in all things as thou shalt command me." At these words, St Francis rejoiced in spirit and said, "Bernard, a resolution such as thou speakest of is so difficult and so great an act, that we must take counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and pray to him that he may be pleased to show us what is his will, and may teach us to follow it. Let us then go together to the Bishop's palace, where we shall find a good priest who will say Mass for us. We will then remain in prayer till the third hour, imploring the Lord to point out to us the way he wishes us to select, and to this intent we will open the Missal three times." And when Bernard answered that he was well pleased with this proposal, they set out together, heard Mass, and after they had remained in prayer till the time fixed, the priest, at the request of St Francis, took up Missal, then, having made the sign of the holy cross, he opened it three times, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first place which he lit upon was at the answer of Christ to the young man who asked of him the way to perfection: If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come, follow me. The second time he opened at the words which the Saviour addressed to the Apostles when he sent them forth to preach the Word of Truth: Take nothing with you for your journey: neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; wishing to teach them thereby to commit the care of their lives to him, and give all their thoughts to the preaching of the Holy Gospel. When the Missal was opened a third time they came upon these words: If any one will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Then St Francis, turning to Bernard, said: "This is the advice that the Lord has given us; go and do as thou hast heard; and blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ who has pointed out to thee the way of his angelic life." Upon this, Bernard went and sold all that he had. Now he was very rich, and with great joy he distributed his wealth to widows, to orphans, to prisoners, to monasteries, to hospitals, and to pilgrims, in all which St Francis assisted him with prudence and fidelity.
Now it happened that a man of the name of Silvester, seeing how St Francis gave so much money to the poor, being urged on by avarice, went to him and said: "Thou didst not pay me enough for the stones I sold thee to repair the church; now that thou hast money, pay me what thou owest." St Francis, much surprised at such a demand, but, according to the precepts of the Scriptures, not wishing to dispute with him, gave it to Silvester, saying that, if he wanted more, he would give it to him. Silvester, being satisfied, returned home; but in the evening of the same day he reflected on his avarice, and on the holiness and the fervour of St Francis. That night also he saw St Francis in a vision, and it seemed to him as if a golden cross came out of his mouth, which reached up to heaven and extended to the extreme east and west. After this vision he gave all he possessed to the poor, for the love of God, and made himself a Brother Minor. He became so holy, and was favoured with such special graces, that he spake with the Lord as a friend speaks with a friend, of which St Francis was often a witness, as we shall see further on. Bernard likewise received from God many graces - he was ravished in contemplation, and St Francis said he was worthy of all reverence, and that he had founded the Order, because he was the first who had abandoned the world, giving all he possessed to the poor of Christ, keeping back nothing for himself; and practicing evangelical poverty, placing himself naked in the arms of the Crucified, whom may we all bless eternally. Amen.
Friday, July 6, 2012
From the Douay Catholic Catechism of 1649
CHAPTER XX - The sins that cry to Heaven for vengeance
Q. 925. HOW many such sins are there?
A. Four.
Q. 926. What is the first of them?
A. Willful murder, which is a voluntary and unjust taking away another’s life.
Q. 927. How show you the depravity of this sin?
A. Out of Gen. iv. 10. Where it is said to Cain “What hast thou done? the voice of the blood of thy brother crieth to me from the earth: now, therefore shalt thou be cursed upon the earth.” And Matt. xxvi 52, “All that take the sword, shall perish with the sword.”
Q. 928. What is the second?
A. The sin of Sodom, or carnal sin against nature, which is a voluntary shedding of the seed of nature, out of the due use of marriage, or lust with a different sex.
Q. 929. What is the scripture proof of this?
A. Out of Gen. xix. 13. where we read of the Sodomites, and their sin. “We will destroy this place because the cry of them hath increased before our Lord, who hath sent us to destroy them,” (and they were burnt with fire from heaven.)
Q. 930. What is the third?
A. Oppressing of the poor, which is a cruel, tyrannical, and unjust dealing with inferiors.
Q. 931. What other proof have you of that?
A. Out of Exod. xxii. 21. “Ye shall not hurt the widow and the fatherless: If you do hurt them, they will cry unto me, and I will hear them cry, and my fury shall take indignation, and I will strike thee with the sword.” And out of Isa. x. 1, 2. “Woe to them that make unjust laws, that they might oppress the poor in judgment, and do violence to the cause of the humble of my people.”
Q. 932. What is the fourth?
A. To defraud working men of their wages, which is to lessen, or detain it from them.
Q. 933. What proof have you of it?
A. Out of Eccl. xxxiv. 37. “He that sheddeth blood and he that defraudeth the hired man, are brethren,” and out of James v. 4. “Behold the hire of the workmen that have reaped your fields, which is defrauded by you, crieth, and their cry hath entered into the ears of the Lord God of Sabbath.”
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Therefore each time that we are humbled by falling into sin, it is certain that we must previously have exalted ourselves by some act of pride; because only the proud are threatened with the punishment of this humiliation: "And he humbled himself afterwards, because his heart had been lifted up." [2 Paralip. xxxii] For thus it is written of King Ezechias in holy Scripture, and the inspired writer has also said: "Before destruction the heart of man is exalted." [Prov. xviii, 12]
There never has been a case of sin, says St. Augustine, nor ever will be one, nor can ever be one, of which pride was not in some measure the occasion: " There never can have been, and never can be, and there never shall be any sin without pride." [Lib. de Salute, xix vel alias]
Let us be so truly humble that we may not incur the punishment of this humiliation. No one can fall who lies on the ground; and no one can sin so long as he is humble. My God! My God! let me remain in my nothingness, for it is the surest state for me.
Dear Friends,
The topic for Friday, July 6, 2012 on The Catholic Faith Radio Program will be on the feasts of Corpus Christi and the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ with guest Fr. Bonaventure Strandt, OFM. Considering the errors concerning the dogmas of these two feasts, it ought to be a program which is both enlightening and informative. I would like to encourage you and a friend or family member to join us on Friday.
The Catholic Faith Radio Program is broadcast live each Friday from the studio of KRFE AM580, Lubbock, TX from 2 - 4 p.m., Central Time. It is also streamed live through our website, www.catholichour.org . Go to Radio Program Live and choose your player.
PROGRAM NOTE: The Program Series on The Just Government will resume next Friday. Perhaps you would like to encourage others to listen and learn about the principles, ideals and history of why a government is necessary - and why it needs to be objectively moral!
May God bless you,
Fr. Joseph, OFM
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
“The chronicles of Saint Francis tell of a young friar who had the praiseworthy habit of saying the Crown of Our Lady (the Rosary) every day before dinner. One day for some reason or other he did not manage to say it. The refectory bell had already been rung when he asked the Superior to allow him to say it before coming to the table, and having obtained permission he withdrew to his cell to pray. After he had been gone a long time the Superior sent another Friar to fetch him, and he found him in his room bathed in a heavenly light facing Our Lady who had two angels with her. Beautiful roses kept issuing from his mouth at each Hail Mary; the angels took them one by one, placing them on Our Lady’s head, and she smilingly accepted them. Finally two other friars who had been sent to find out what happened to the first two saw the same lovely scene, and Our Lady did not go away until the whole Rosary had been said.”
St. Louis De Montfort (1710):
The Secret of the Rosary, p. 26)
Sunday, July 1, 2012
shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it
is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified,
living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the
Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration ("The
cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the sharing of the Blood of
Christ?" 1 Cor. 10:16); it is the Blood which merited sanctifying
grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul ("God has
favored us in His beloved Son, in whom we have Redemption through His
Blood. The remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace,
which has abounded beyond measure in us." Eph. 1:6-8) and inaugurates
the beginning of eternal life in it ("May His Blood be for us, we
pray, a fountain of water springing up to eternal life."
Postcommunion from the Mass for the Precious Blood).
Today's Mass extols the efficacy of the Precious Blood which Christ
shed so generously for us. By it Our Lord welds the peoples of the
earth into one kingdom of God ("Thou has redeemed us, Lord, with Thy
Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and has
made us for our God a kingdom." (Apoc. 5:9-10) By it He cleansed us
not only externally and legally but internally by blotting out the
sins on our soul and opening the heavenly Holy of holies to us ("When
Christ appeared as High Priest of the good things to come, He entered
once for all through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not
made by hands (that is, not of this creation), nor again by virtue of
blood of goats and calves, but by virtue of His own Blood, into the
Holies, having obtained eternal redemption." see Heb. 9:11-15). By it
He won our Redemption, obtained the remission of our sins, appeased
the wrath of God against sinners ("Being justified freely by His
grace through the Redemption which is in Christ Jesus Whom God has
set forth as a propitiation by His Blood through faith." Rom. 3:25).
By It He protects us against the onslaughts of the devil as the blood
of the Paschal lamb protected the Jews in Egypt against the avenging
angel (Ex. 12:13). And what is the ultimate source of this generous
shedding of Christ's Blood? The love of the Sacred Heart revealed to
us through the pierced side of the Savior (John 19:30-35).
Meditation from the Cathedral Missal
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