A Treasure To Be Shared

Lord Jesus, Thou hast declared Thou art the friend of sinners. Help me, gracious Lord, to speak with Thee in the manner which Thou deservest, so that I may never take Thy Name in vain. Grant Thy grace to help me graft my intentions to Thy will, so that I may honour Thee in word and deed. Help me, Lord Jesus, to know that I stand before Thee, that I may do so with humility and confidence in Thy mercy. May my spirit be bowed toward Thee in continuous gratitude, for Thou hast rescued me and Thou dost sustain me. Grant, O Lord and Lover of souls, the grace to complete my days faithful to Thy commandments. Amen.

A Family Saying Grace before a Meal | Anthuenis Claeissens (c.1536–1613) [ Read time: 7 minutes ] The emphasis on fellowship in the Personal Ordinariates is a gift of English Benedictine monastics who, through the centuries, gave strong witness to Gospel hospitality, to welcoming the stranger, to fostering a culture of hospitality in parochial life. That spiritual legacy was retained in Anglicanism and has passed into the culture of Ordinariate communities. A lived fellowship is a vital element in the Ordinariate charism. We exist to worship God in the triune majesty of the Blessed Trinity, drawing all men and women into deepest communion with him through his Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and in the power and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. | Saint John Henry Newman, Victoria, BC Fellowship In Christ In the Ordinariate, the fellowship gathering after Mass, for example, is an extension and embodiment of our communion with Christ in the Holy Eucharist. This time of fellowship is...

Many people are dumping on Cardinal Cupich for attending the Democratic National Convention this past week. A Catholic would be right for expressing concern about the styling of the Cardinal's "prayer", and right for pointing out a missed opportunity, more than criticizing a prelate for sashaying into a vestibule of hell, where priests can and should go to drive away demons and pull souls to safety before they fall fully into perdition. Let's take a look at Cardinal Cupich' invocation. We praise you, O God of all creation. Quicken in us a resolve to protect your handiwork. You are the source of every blessing that graces our lives and our nation. Little wrong so far. "God of creation" might be considered a bit generic by those in an intimate communion of friendship with the Lord. His Eminence, however, is standing at ground zero of secular religion in the midst of an orgy of ideologues in the heartland of an empire at a crossroads. We pray that you help ...

The Mass, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Divine Worship, the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Qurbana, the Sacred Liturgy, the Holy Eucharist - these are a few of the names of the Church's worship of Almighty God. The Didache  (c. 80-90) Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Eucharist), thus give thanks. First, concerning the cup: We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David Your servant, which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory forever. And concerning the broken bread: We thank You, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory forever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom; for Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. But let no one eat or drink of your Thanksgiving (Eucharist), but they who have been baptized into the ...

Dear American Cousins, Let's get right to the point, shall we? Canada is a mess. Nine years of the current Liberal coalition government's failed policies stands as a cautionary tale for you and your nation. The Canadian mess offers a cautionary tale to guide you away from making the same mistakes we have made as a nation. Trudeau's Scandals https://x.com/LarryBrockMP/status/1824083752085000332?t=rc9fZ8NjoUdqApqQbwdyhw&s=03 Canada's economy is in ruins. Ideology-driven public grade schools and colleges have contributed to an epidemic of mental illness among young adults . Our health system has crashed. Most appointments with a personal physician - if one is fortunate to have a doctor - are by phone that last 15 minutes on average. Surgery wait times are often beyond ridiculous. Governments through local services are pushing MAID - medical assistance in dying (euthanasia) - to alleviate the "burden" on the healthcare system ( In 2022, there were 13,241 MAID ...

The continuing saga of ridiculous constructions in your modern forward-thinking parish. An altar that doubles as a ping pong table for youth nights. A drum set mounted on a rising platform for the Feast of the Ascension. A pulpit, altar and lectern that recess into the floor so that the priest and liturgical dancers (or break dancers) can move about unhindered during homilies and the Offertory procession. A ceiling sprinkler system that doubles as a fire suppression system and Holy Water distribution system. Pop-up bowling pins located at the altar steps so the centre aisle can be used as a bowling lane... for youth nights. Tablet holders with power outlets and cup holders in the pews. A communion buffet so that communicants can wander past and self serve. A digital altar frontal for changing thematic backgrounds. An air conditioner built into the pulpit... for cool(er) clergy. Retractable pews and flooring to accommodate several curling lanes when the Scotties Tournament of Hearts nee...

  Family or Group + O Jesu, Saviour, Lord and Guest, We pray these gifts to us be  +   blessed. All honour and thanksgiving be To God  +   the Holy Trinity. Amen. - - - +  = The Sign of the Cross is made. - - - Individual +   O Jesu, Saviour, Lord and Guest, I pray these gifts to me be  +   blessed. All honour and thanksgiving be To God  +   the Holy Trinity. Amen. Metre 8888

To speak of the theo-centric character of the Sacred Liturgy or of the ius divinum and the Sacred Liturgy is, in simple terms, to speak of the right relationship between God and His creation, especially man, the only earthly creature created in the image of God Himself. Clearly, such a conversation has to do, first of all, with the Sacred Liturgy as the highest and most perfect expression of the relationship between God and man. There is no other aspect of the life of the Church, in which the truth about God’s relationship with man should be more visible, than the Sacred Liturgy. - Raymond Leo Card. Burke - - - The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works. - Saint Augustine - - - If you are not prepared to use force to defend civilization, then be prepared to accept barbarism. - Thomas Sowell, Knowledge and Decisions - - - As with music, in contemplative prayer, you have to sacrifice something of yourself; you have to give something of your ego. You can’t e...

A new life in Christ awaits each person who longs for understanding and peace. So much energy is sapped up by preoccupations that linger on the margins of daily life, temptations that can be infiltrated by diabolical forces if one is not attentive to prayer, a frequent examination of conscience, and the sacraments. Spiritual exercises which dispose the soul to God's grace are necessary to help one avoid a subtle slide into confusion and despair. One must be ready to reach out for spiritual support bound to the Truth. Innocence is a frequent casualty these days. A less than prudent use of technology can quickly imprison young and old in a web of self deception and attractions to soul destroying messages and images. Instinctual urges can quickly build and overwhelm even the most balanced and battle tested individual. Indeed, the spiritual life is a battle against intrusions that can rot life - and hope and joy and trust - out of us and leave us injured. The experience of a Protestant...

Madonna and Child Holding the World | 1894 Library of Congress Events of recent memory - Paris - remind us that Christians, the heralds of reason, goodwill, peace, hope, and eternal salvation in Christ, face opposition from those espoused to the lord of this world, the devil. The Olympic Games have nothing on the epic battle between the Church and the devil's allies. The world caught a glimpse of that struggle between light and darkness when a mockery was staged with organizers' foreknowledge. Contrary to the claims of IOC representatives and those of the producer of the opening tableaux, participants in the weird and crass opening ceremonies admitted on various social media platforms that the episode in question was intended to parody the Lord's Supper. On an artistic level, the opening segment was anything but art. It was an attempt at propaganda in support of a twisted anthropology. These days the world is plagued to the point of annoyance with the arrogant musings of in...

Many parishes might only see a thurifer during Holy Week or on the occasional Sunday. To have incense during a Sunday Mass and on high holy days is - or should be - a normal thing. If you're a member of a traditional community, it's likely that you are more than familiar with the thurifer and boat bearer. In Ordinariate communities, incense is as common as the air we breathe. Who is this mysterious person who appears on rare occasions to fumigate the nave and sanctuary of the church?  The thurifer is an essential liturgical minister responsible for carrying the thurible and facilitating the use of incense, which is a symbol of prayer and reverence within the Mass. A thurifer is a person who carries the thurible, a vessel used for burning incense during liturgical ceremonies in the Catholic Church. The role of the thurifer is significant in various parts of the Mass, particularly during processions and the incensation of the altar, offerings, and the congregation. During the Ent...