Thought of the day

Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that the Church being a body composed of different members, the most essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting to her; I understood that the Church has a heart and that this heart is burning with love; that it is love alone which makes the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because it is eternal!

St Therese of the Child Jesus :D

St Therese Novena Day 9

O Heavenly Father, Who hast prepared for us a glorious reward after the labors of this life, and hast promised to crown with honor and glory those who are faithful to the end in Thy love, we beseech Thee to grant us through the intercession of St Therese of the Child Jesus the grace to be faithful to Thy commandments, to those of the Holy Church, and to Thy holy inspirations until the hour of our death.

Father, grant that, after the example of St Therese of the Child Jesus, we may not recoil from labors, that temptations may not keep us from Thee, that trials may not cause us to lose courage. May neither the world, nor the devil, nor our own inclinations separate us from Thee to Whom we desire to belong forever, as we promised Thee on the day of our Baptism and on the day of our First communion.

Perseverance in grace is a grace, we beseech Thee to grant it to us, and in Thy merciful love not to refuse us the grace of graces, that of final perseverance which will unite us to Thee forevermore and will give us to contemplate during all Eternity Thine adorable Fae.

Father, uphold us in the midst of our combats until the day when we shall gain the victory, when Thou Thyself wilt triumph in us.

St Therese of the Child JEsus who persevered throughout your life in exact fidelity o God's grace, you who saw perseverance crowned on the glorious day of your death, obtain for us to be fully faithful to God's law and never to separate ourselves from His holy love. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through your powerful intercession Amen.

St Therese Novena day 8

O Heavenly Father, Who hast created all the good things of earth for the use of man and dost measure them out to him with marvelous bounty, we beg Thee through the intercession of St Therese of the Child Jesus to give us all those things of which we have need for the perseveration of our life here below.

Teach us to use these things with the moderation befitting Christians, let us not attach our heart to them; may they serve not to keep us from Tee, the Only True Good to be desired and the Giver of all that is good in this world. Give us, as Thou gavest to Thy faithful handmaiden St These of the Child Jesus, to make a holy use of earthly things and to make them serve on for Thy Glory.

Father, Who doest feed the birds of the air and clothe the lilies of the valley, forsake not the souls of those who trust in Thee.

St Therese of the Child Jesus who ever used the things of this world according to the order willed by God, you made earthly gifts serve to merit those that are heavenly, we ask you to obtain for us all that is necessary for us during our life upon earth. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore thorugh your powerful intercession. Amen.

Why do we implore Mercy?

In the glossary of the CCC 2nd Edition, there is given a definition of mercy, which is as follows:

The loving kindness, compassion, or forbearance shown to one who offends.

In the Byzantine Church, the priest says "Let us pray to the Lord" (Господу помолимся) and we reply "Lord have mercy" (Господи помилуй, Κυριε ελεισον)

I find it rather interesting during the present pontificate we're speaking of Mercy. But in order for us to speak of it, we need to know what in the world that we're talking about, and whether an action in of itself is merciful.

The one thing I'd like to add to the definition of mercy that I've provided you is that mercy does not always imply kindness. In some situations we have to justly "be mean" in order to be merciful...

It is rather merciful to not allow a person to commit a mortal sin when receiving Communion in particular when this situation has gone public for everyone to know, and to receive would cause scandal amongst the Faithful. This is why the Church has CIC 915, not as a weapon, but rather as the greatest mercy she can provide to the Faithful, to help them not drown themselves further into the abyss. The same goes for the public knowledge of those that have re-married (Separation or Divorce does not exclude one from Communion per se)

At the same token it is merciful to allow people to present their case when they've been accused of a wrong doing. So of course it is positive as well. But Mercy can never be at the exemption of Truth.

Lord have mercy, we beg of Him to have compassion for our weakness...in His compassion for His creation, he gives us free will to serve Him...and so often we fail, and yet He still loves us...and in His mercy allows us another day.

Let us thank the Lord for His mercy, for without it, we're screwed.

Pax Vobis

St Therese Novena Day 7

O Heavenly Father, Who has bestowed upon us so many benefits through the intercession of St Therese of the Child Jesus, and willest that we should honour this lovable saint with a special devotion, we earnestly implore Thee of Thy fatherly loving-kindness the grace o be ever faithful in veneration of her, invoking and imitating her virtues.

It is good for us to pay honor to the Saints. Thou has placed these blessed Saints as powerful mediators between ourselves and Thee, that so Thou mayest bestow upon us more ready and more abundant aids. That which our prayer cannot obtain, theirs will obtain for us.

Thou has willed that the Saints should be our models. They once were what we are; we can with Thy grace become what they are, what they have done, we can do in our turn, Father, give us a true and lasting devotion towards St Therese of the Child Jesus, a devotion well ordered, constant, a devotion that will sanctify us an lead us to Thee o Whom all he homage we pay o the Saints returns.

St Therese of the Child Jesus, placed by the Church upon our altars to be our protectress with God and model in Christian life, obtain for us, we ask of you, ever to have you in honor, to venerate you, to invoke you, to imitate you for the greater glory of God and the greater good of our souls. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through your powerful intercession Amen.

St Therese Novena Day 6

O Heavenly Father, Who bestowed upon the Blessed Virgin Mary the greatest and most precious graces and privileges and called her to become the Mother of Thy Son Jesus also giving her to be our Mother, we beseech thee through the intercession of St Therese of the Child Jesus ever so faithful to honor this beloved Virgin, whose radiant countenance and gracious smile she one day beheld to grant us too the inestimable favor of being the very loving children of this Holy Mother.

We need her maternal mediation, for this good Mother is the way that leads to Jesus, and she is the treasurer of all the graces that our Saviour acquired for us by the shedding of His Precious Blood
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We thank Thee, O Father, for having given us the Blessed Virgin to be our Mother; and our guide along our life's path, and we beseech Thee that, like St Therese of the Child Jesus, we may be true imitators of her virtues of her perfect humanity, her immaculate purity, and her ardent love. We look to her for he greatest succor now and at the hour of hour death.

St Therese of the Child Jesus who ever manifested a great love for the One you named the Immaculate Virgin, and from whom you received so many benefits, we ask you to obtain for us the grace to imitate your tender devotion towards her and help us to reproduce her beautiful and admirable virtues even as you yourself did. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through your powerful intercession. Amen.

Thought of the day

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to holiness, is the person staring you in the mirror

St Therese Novena Day 5

O Heavenly Father, Who so loved men that Thou didst give them Thine Only begotten Son to be their Redeemer upon the Cross and Food in the Divine Sacrament of the Altar, we beseech Thee to grant us through the prayers of S therese of the Child Jesus so inflamed with love of this Adorable Sacrament and so eager to receive It, the grace for our part to draw near very often to the Holy Table.

Following the example of St Therese of he Child Jesus, may we bring it to the best dispositions, a right intention, hearts filled with lively faith, a sincere humility, deep confidence, ardent charity.

Father, make us truly understand that this Divine Bread is no less needful to our soul than material bread is to our body and ha we cannot abstain from It without hurt to our soul.

St Therese of the Child Jesus who so much loved the Divine Sacrament of the Alar and so greatly longed to unite yourself to It through Holy Communion, obtain for us from God a love, like to yours for this Adorable Sacrament and a fervent longing often to receive It in our hearts. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through your powerful intercession Amen.

St Therese Novena Day 4

O Heavenly Father, Who in Thine infinite wisdom dost permit the just to be tried upon earth, like gold in the furnace, hereafter to crown them gloriously in Heaven, we beseech Thee to grant us through the intercession of St Therese of the Child Jesus, all the graces of fortitude and consolation which we urgently need in he difficulties we encounter here below.

Thou dost order all things for the good of those who love Thee, nothing befalls without Thy permission, Thou knowest how to draw good out of evil. May these consoling truths be our support in the midst of our sorrows. Sweeten for us all that is bitter by the unction of Thy grace.

Permit not, O Father, that impatience shall possess our heart or murmurs rise to our lips. Make us understand the providential use of sorrow, as it was undertook by St Therese who owned to finding happiness in the midst of suffering.

St Therese of the Child Jesus who suffered much here below, and knew how to find joy in every bitterness, intercede for us with God that so He may help us to bear patiently all our crosses, and console our hearts saddened by the trials of earth's exile. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through your powerful intercession. Amen.

Thought of the day

Some people are truly easier to forgive than others. Some take the core of one's being...others can be dropped at a hat.

St Therese Novena Day 3

O Heavenly Father, Who did dispose the soul of St Theres of the Child Jesus to ascend by such wonderful steps and didst make this lovable saint to rise from virtue to virtue aiding her so admirably to practice humility, simplicity, patience, confidence, zeal and love, we beseech Thee to place in our hearts dispositions like to hers and to grant us to resemble her, that we may hence become conformable to Thy Son Jesus, our Model and the Divine Example of Thine adorable perfections.

These virtues are so needful for us, for without them we cannot be happy here below; without them we cannot gain for Thee the glory that Thou dost look for from us.

Vouchsafe, O Father, to help us make these virtues ours. May Thy numerous graces joined to our generous efforts, bring forth, as in St Therese. true and lasting virtue.

St Therese of the Child Jesus who to please God ever Wonderfully grew in virtue each day of your life, obtain for us to resemble you and generously to practice those virtues of which you have left us such a beautiful example. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through hyour powerful intercession. Amen.

Thought of the day

It's almost as if sometimes, people wish to destroy something that is good, just to say they did it.

St Therese Novena Day 2

O Heavenly Father, Who to assure our advancement in the right path dost never cease to multiply the supernatural means of help which we need, and which Thou has divinely poured out upon St Therese of the Child Jesus, we beg of Thee, through this Saint so dear to Thy Heart, all the graces of light and of fortitude necessary or helpful to fulfill Thine adorable will.

Thy grace ever went before St Therese and Thou didst uphold her at each moment for Thou didst give to her both to will and to do, and without Thee none can ever utter the name of Jesus whereby we may be saved.

Father, shed abroad in our minds and hearts those graces won by the merits of our Savior and which St Therese asks for us.

St Therese of the Child Jesus upon whom so many divine graces were showered, we pray to you to intercede with our Heavenly Father, so that through the merits of our Savior and your merits, He may vouchsafe to give to our souls all the graces needful for the perfect fulfillment of our duty. Obtain for us the favors we crave and implore through your powerful intercession. Amen.

St Therese Novena day 1

O Heavenly Father, Who in Thine ineffable goodness didst place in the soul of St Therese of the Child Jesus the precious treasure of sanctifying grace, and didst grant her ever to keep it in the midst of earthly dangers, we pray Thee to grant to us for our part the happiness of never losing this inestimable gift whereby we become Thine adopted children, the brothers and sisters of Thy Son Jesus, the temples of the Holy Spirit and the heirs of Heaven.

Enable us, to this end, carefully to avoid mortal sin which would rob us of this grace more to be desired than all the wealth of the world, to fly the occasions of sin, and to resist temptation.

We implore these graces through the intercession of the one who was ever Thy faithful child and whose memory we venerate St Therese of the Child Jesus who would have preferred to die than lose God's grace, vouchsafe to obtain for us all the help necessary to avoid the misfortune of committing mortal sin, incompatible with this divine grace. Obtain for us the favors we crave ad implore through your powerful intercession. Amen.

Pax Vobis

Meanwhile in the land of pink and fluffy unicorns and rainbows...

We've all heard about the Cardinal Dolan Fiascoes, one of which he attempts to defend here, the other here and the salt on top of a wound of Abp elect Cupich to Chicago, up to the potential exile of Cardinal Burke, and the upcoming Synod...trying to organize thoughts has been rather painful, but I think now I've done so, hopefully rather charitably....and then the real salt on the wound if this is true

a. The St Patrick's Parade...

Let us start with a simple question: Why do we tell people information? It's because we WANT people to know what we're conveying. What we do NOT want people to know, we simply do not tell people...is this not true? For example, if I decide to tell you that I have a cat...it's because I want you to know that I have a cat, or know that you love kitties.

Likewise, if a person decides to "come out the closet" about who they choose to sleep with, it's because they WANT this knowledge to become public. If it wasn't to be public knowledge, then it simply would not be spoken in such a way that this information comes to the public.

As such, a group declaring on a banner that they freely choose to sleep with members of the same sex now makes this knowledge for public judgement and consideration. While it is true that one can't directly make the connection as to whether sodomy is taking place, it tends to be such a matter that those that are not seeking the attentions for these types of actions would not put themselves in the situations for that to happen. It is those that wish for the attention that make the public declaration....and there is no attempt to hide the activity that is going on. Let's not kid ourselves hee, those that are under the OUT NBC banner are more than likely not living lives according to he Church's teaching...

To the point of Cardinal Dolan being reassured that active promotion will not take place...You mean the same that he was "reassured" that Abortion wouldn't take place in Obamacare? How'd that turn out? The same one that trusts the criminal administration to work on illegal immigration, when it can't get abortion right? The same guy who Bravo'ed Michael Sam? I'd love to say he's being naive, but I can't agree, seeing that His Eminence has been fooled before....You really think that these people will not seek the opportunity to embarrass the Church and the Archbishop? There's a good reason his predecessors took the sand of no banners in the parade for St Patrick.

My friend Stephanie has a few points on her blog that are definitely worth considering, which although I do disagree with her, this blogger is all about giving equal time to the discussion.

To let oneself be manipulated in situations where there is clear opposition to what you believe is something that can't be allowed. It boggles me that the same approach (that failed back in the 70's) is being tried again, and somehow they're expecting to get different results? Insanity is probably being charitable, diabolical, may very well be more accurate.

But of course, it'd be crazy to not suggest a solution for this...whenever the parade will be next year...a Holy Hour to be done in reparation. Cardinal Dolan needs our prayers...big time...put your prayers on steroids for this Cardinal, that he may convert and really use the gift of fortitude to speak the truth, rather than capitulate to the culture....

b. Bp Cupich to Chicago

Now, I did live in Spokane for a short time and know of various orthodox priests that were placed in "interesting" positions...and also remember when the Bishop forbade his priests (later amended (don't fall for the amended piece being the original, it wasn't) (When I lived there, I was attending the Byzantine Catholic parish, his rule didn't apply)...made for some interesting times.

I find it interesting, we have a culture that will run us over if we don't stand up, and this appointment, is basically buzz kill for the culture warrior movement. There's an interesting defense here....but I must say, it's very true that one can tell a lot about a person by who their friends, and who their enemies are. It is also true that one can't directly implicate a person based upon their friends and enemies, but we can know about how a person interacts through their relationships....so when the liberal establishment is rejoicing....God help us...and yes, that does mean we need to pray for him, that he may use the gifts of fortitude for the Church. Apparently this is a Pope Francis personal pick....so much for continuity (but to be fair, he cleans up sex abuse scandals pretty quickly)...As I've said before, this pontificate may prove to be the Anti-Benedict XVI pontificate, and the last liberal hurrah before they hopefully go away and disappear.

c. The synod

I'll keep my thoughts simple, if this is a test to see whether God will allow this (Communion for Divorced/Remarried)....It's not a position that the Church wants to put themselves in....and if it does happen, the Pontiff will have publicly proclaimed error in solemn manner...and this would result in some very ugly things happening (Francis being anti-Pope Francis), schism, ugly things that we don't wish to happen. Pray for the synod, let us pray for them that they do uphold the teaching of the Church...let us not be presumptuous and assume it can't happen....there are humans involved, and schisms have happened.

d. Oh boy

If Piero Marini is appointed, that is salt on the open wound, and probably come to prove that the hypothesis about the anti-Benedict XVI pontificate to be true. We should pray that this does not happen, yes, I know God can write straight with crooked lines, but really...let us not be crazy.

Let us pray, pray, pray pray

Pax Vobis

Thought of the day

The synod on the family...seems as if it's going to do some testing...God help us

Thought of the day

Dialogue is the noose by which the west will hang its neck if it does not realize that dialogue can't be an end in of itself, but merely a means towards an end.

Distraction time...

Thought of the day

Celebrity: A person who gets paid lots of money to play pretend, A person who gets paid a lot of money to play a game, A person who gets paid a lot of money to connect notes together. A few seem rather strange.

Thought of the day

Poison coated in sugar is still poison

Thought of the day

It is important to keep practicing, one never knows when one is needed.

Thought of the day

To be silent in the face of error is wrong, the ends do not justify the means. It's not merely a duty but a sincere obligation that we must call things as we see them. The objective actions warrant objective responses.

Post number 600....

I really wanted to write this yesterday, but considering it was the Nativity of Our Lady, I couldn't justify ranting, but today; however, different story entirely...The news has given me a lot to say, so here we go...

a. Cardinal Dolan, no people are not condemning him, but yes, those that are calling him out are right.

Over at Restore DC Catholicism, there's a video on the Vortex on wicked Bishops with not much commentary...but I have plenty of them, few of them nice...but all of them charitable...

It would be one thing if this was the first time Cardinal Dolan capitulated to the culture....everyone's allowed to "make mistakes" so to speak, however; from the Al Smith Dinner, call God him, her, whoever you want, Bravo for Michael Sam, Ss Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier parish, to the cheesehead, denying the Faith in front of Muslims, the list goes on and on, but you get the point, it's not the first time that something like this has happened.

So as such, this not being a first time offense, something has to be done. Now this is where it gets kind of confusing, while the Pope does appoint Bishops (and this one is on Pope Benedict XVI, one of his worst appointments in my opinion), the Bishops are not agents of the Pope, they do have authority in their own diocese...so while the Pope can be blamed for the appointment itself (though there might be more blame to go on the advisors), he can't be blamed for the misuse of said authority by the local ordinary...(One of the reasons Rome is very often slow to get rid of heretical Bishops, or those that misuse their authority)...seems a bit contradictory, I'm sure, but the whole jurisdiction and authority thing is rather complicated.

If the homosexual people marching in the parade had no banner whatsoever, it wouldn't be a problem, why? Because their sin is being kept private, so because it's internal, we can't judge (TM) we don't know of their attitude, how the incident occurred, etc.

But with the banner, there is an announcement that this is the particular sin that they are doing. Through their own words, they are saying that this particular action is occurring, we're not repenting, we're not changing...We want you to know this is what we're doing. As such this is now an external situation, so actions can indeed be judged. So when a Cardinal Archbishop becomes the marshall of the event, indirectly, he's giving confirmation to what's going on (For better or for worse) by his presence.

Let's say two people are standing outside a porn store. One obviously can't say anything in this situation, why? One doesn't know whether they're a. going inside. b. walking past or c. protesting. Any of the three options could be done, and one wouldn't know. Now let's add to the situation..let's say these two people have banners saying I love porn, and watch it daily. What is one to do now? In this situation, two people are publicly proclaiming their sin for everyone to know. Similarly in our situation with the parade if people are walking, we don't know what's going on in their private lives. Insert the banners, now we know, so it means by definition we must take a stand.

And as such, while I may not know the personal state of a particular soul (and I really don't want to), actions can be seen, and since public approval was de facto given, it is right to call Cardinal Dolan (or anyone else) for the actions that are going on, and to ask the question, what's up with this?

Surely, I don't think anyone's happy to say these words, and would much rather have repentance...but as we've seen, this is a continuation of behavior, and so the only just thing to happen here would be for a "Cardinal Abdication" or resignation as is called for in the video. Quite frankly, yes we're not supposed to place our trust in princes indeed, but it is difficult to follow, or to even care when those above us don't care or place themselves in front to protect us from the evil wolves. I can't begin to tell you how many times I get discouraged, when I see the Bishops' repeating the same failed policies from before. It's like why bother fighting, if we're not going to be helped in our battle against the culture?

And then the even worse crime of having the suppression of truth....Although yes Msgr Pope is a priest and does have an obedience to which we do not have as laity, eventually one needs to stand up...Don't kid yourself and think it was voluntarily taken down, in the world where the altar of political correctness rules, everyone knows there was "nudging" from the top. Enough! Let the truth be spoken, and if one doesn't want to be called out....here's a strange but rather intuitive idea...DON'T CAUSE SCANDAL by one's actions.

That said, I want everyone who reads this little excuse of a blog to do a Holy Hour on Sunday Sept 14th (Exaltation of the Holy Cross) for Cardinal Dolan, for priests, in particular for the virtue of fortitude in the Faith.

b. The job application process

Is rather annoying, okay, so annoying is being rather polite...It's even more frustrating when people do not update their websites as to fool people into thinking of something is available. You can't tell me with technology as proficient as it is now, that one can't keep sites updated nearly instantaneously as to let people know what is open, and what isn't. But wait, that'd make sense, no, no, no, that can't be, I forgot things need to be more complicated than they're supposed to be.

c. It's probably better

For Obama to spend his time on holes 1-18 than actually doing his job. The problems that are created already suck, let's not let the worse solutions get even more time than they already do. But then again, we should probably be careful of accusing the puppet of doing everything wrong, when we should e looking at those controlling the strings.

d. On a slightly positive note

My car is fixed, so now I don't have to do to mediocre Liturgies....(bear in mind where I am)...and I can go back to my places of refuge and for growth. This weekend, I'll be out of town on a retreat and a few other things...as well as meeting with my SD...

Anyways, I should stop yapping for now...

Pax Vobis.

Thought of the day

If one wishes to play games with my heart, alright, I can play too, only, don't expect mercy, I have none when that line is crossed.

Thought of the day

The altar of political correctness very tempting to give incense to....don't do that.

Some thoughts on sport and social engineering

The engineering of society to go along with agendas has certainly been done throughout time, but it's been really amped up in todays world.

Take the NFL with two particular issues of the day...the nickname of the Washington Redskins, and Michael Sam

We have everyone and their neighbor trying to get the Redskins to change their nickname, for the sake of political correctness/social engineering. Here's my question: If the name was so darn offensive, why didn't the Native American community say something AT THE TIME OF THE DEVELOPMENT? As with anything before a project goes forward, objections are raised, different scenarios are looked at before choosing something.

Now it looks like you're crying wolf because it's popular in todays culture to not be offensive, so take advantage of the tendency to social engineer and promote change. They have gotten a few to change their names (or logos to a more neutral concept)...I'm sorry, I never read anywhere where there's a situation where people have a right to not be offended by something? Should we ask birds if they're offended? How about the Catholics? It's rather simple, if you have a problem, address it at the time f the incident....if you're at an impasse, too bad...there is no right to not be offended, deal with it.

As one may have heard, Michael Sam is an openly homosexual football player who was a 7th round draft pick, who got cut and just signed with the Dallas Cowboys. What's so important about telling everyone who one sleeps with? Did anyone ask? Really, the vast majority of people are likely indifferent one way or the other and don't care, as long as what one does is not imposed on them.

As we know it's not being homosexual that is the sin, it's the activity that is the sin...And openly declaring that one is doing this kind of activity is now placing oneself in the course to be judged...(as they are the ones that put it out there)

It's not judging when people place themselves out their precisely for public approval. I'm doing this, please, please approve what I'm doing, or else. As I've said before, it is not necessary for public approval to get things done. There is no need to tell me, or the entire public who you sleep with, for doing so places us in the awkward position of having to tell you...hey, maybe you shouldn't not be doing that.

Since they're trying to social engineer us, we need to be resistant towards these movements. It certainly doesn't mean that we can't enjoy recreation, or even try in our own personal lives to be charitable in our language....but sports are for recreation, not for social engineering.

Thought of the day

There are somethings which are engraved into our memories...and if these things are great, it is quite possible something beautiful can be created.