A Treasure To Be Shared

Known to thee, O Lord, are our many brethren who endure grievous wounds, devastation of homes, and the unyielding dread that besets them. We beseech Thee, Most Sacred Trinity, to bestow Thy mighty influence upon the hearts and minds of those who wage war yet are deaf to our pleas, that they may embrace peace, thus allowing all innocent bystanders to once more live and work in tranquility; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, Father, and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

O Almighty and eternal God, beholden are the many who dwell in distress, known unto Thee, who dost struggle each day to meet their basic needs or who endure injustice at the hands of wicked men. O Loving Father, we beseech Thee, aid us in our prayers and in our labors for truth and virtue, that those beset by the vile deeds of men may be liberated to partake in life's bounteous blessings and to sustain themselves; this we implore through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

A wise old Irish Catholic gentleman and fellow parishioner that this blogger once knew, three decades ago or thereabouts, said that three things lie at the heart of all people's satisfaction or unease. He spoke in shorthand. God, i.e., issues of faith and belief. Money, i.e., issues of employment and debt. Sex, i.e., a relationship or the end of a relationship. To put it another way, man finds meaning or is wounded by what he believes in or by what he has lost faith in. what he does, by how he sustains himself, or by a loss of livelihood. who he loves and trusts or by who has betrayed his trust, or whose trust he has betrayed. That Catholic gentleman provided a litmus test in aid of helping a wounded person identify himself, his needs versus his wants, his virtues and vices, to provide him with wisdom when he is in most need of a true perspective, understanding, and mercy. Can we be honest with God and others if we are not willing to be honest with ourselves?   Can we expect to fin...

Joseph Rudyard Kipling 1865 - 1936 Language has been appropriated by the enemies of reason and civilization for nefarious and deadly purposes. As a weapon, relativism has been quite successful at wasting words in a way that has enabled innumerable distortions of reality to take hold of conversations to the serious detriment of human conversations, understanding, well-being, and community. Desperation brought on by language robbing and emptiness leads people to try to forge identities through social and political manipulation, which splits societies and results in many causalities. The negative consequences of language loss have long been felt by indigenous peoples. A group that loses its language weakens and loses its identity, making it more susceptible to manipulation. The Church will continue to fracture until Catholics recover the language, the poetry, of our patrimony. The Liturgical Dialect of the Ordinariate Familiarity with the Our Father or Lord's Prayer can guide the in...

The modern parishioner, eager to be the active participator in modern liturgies, has access to the latest supportive modern technology to support the modern liturgical activist to actively participate in the modern liturgy. Proboscis piercing . Never again lose your Miraculous medal or Saint Anthony medal. Suspend an object of choice from your schnozz. Prayed braid . Rosary hair extensions. Turn your hair braids into a rosary. Trendsetter! Holy water camel pack . Don't be without your personal reservoir of spiritual protection. When Mormons or JWs visit, simply turn the spigot to adjust the flow of water as you shake their hands. Shoe Song . As you walk, a melody is played from technology embedded in your shoes. The tune changes to match the pace of your step. Comes with "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and "Tis so sweet to walk with Jesus". Use the app to download additional tunes. Shoe Song De-Lux : light your way with this awesome LED upgrade. Liturgical colors...

Jesus at the home of Martha and Mary | Johannes Vermeer Much digital ink has been spilled about the notion of active participation in the Liturgy. That same notion should read actual participation , but due to a misleading translation of the Latin participatio actuosa , Latin Rite Catholics have been subjected to an incessant barrage of activities at Mass that constitute an unfortunate layering of events that practically force people to embrace a misstated concept in an attempt to engage us in worship. More than acting out, Christ calls us to be present to him in the Liturgy. Holy receptivity is being open-minded and willing to receive divine direction and grace. It entails fostering an open heart and mind to God's presence and teachings, which allows for spiritual growth and transformation. Core Elements of Holy Receptivity Openness and Humility. Holy receptivity involves a posture of humility, acknowledging one's dependence on God and a willingness to be taught and led.  Act...

Shylock | The Merchant of Venice If we do take Pope Francis at his word, then 'tis of little moment to squander time in disputation regarding the past. What hath transpired is irrevocable. His Holiness's pronouncements, beseeching that a tumult (i.e., a mess) be wrought, are well-acknowledged. Thus, the disorder (i.e., the mess) doth linger even after its creator hath departed this realm. This disarray hath been entrusted to others for resolution. Let us now attend to his penance. Let us change the bedclothes and launder the garments, set aright the chairs of the kitchen, cleanse the dishes, and restore order to the household. What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful. It behooves all of us to preserve the riches which have developed in the Church’s faith and prayer, and to give them their proper place. |  Benedict XVI, Letter of Accompaniment to the MP Summorum Po...

Catholics, specifically we of the Latin (Roman) Rite, use unleavened bread in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) primarily because it is acknowledged to be the type of bread that Jesus used at the Last Supper, which coincided with the Jewish Passover Seder, where unleavened bread is traditionally used. The practice acknowledges the connection of the Mass to the Last Supper and Jesus's sacrifice. Historical Context During the time of the Last Supper, the Jewish Passover meal (Seder) was being celebrated, and Jewish law mandated the use of unleavened bread (matzah).  Symbolism Unleavened bread, lacking leaven (yeast), symbolizes purity and the absence of sin.  Tradition and Continuity By using unleavened bread, the Catholic Church maintains a link to the historical Last Supper and emphasizes the continuity of the Eucharistic sacrifice from that event. Eastern Catholic Churches While the Eastern Catholic Churches also celebrate the Eucharist, some of them use leavened bread, reflecti...