Pastors Help Us Become Saints
- Reverent liturgy, including well-prepared homilies firmly rooted in biblical wisdom made accessible. We really and truly meet Jesus and the saints in the sacred Liturgy. Rendered beautifully, mindful of the connection between the earthly and the heavenly Liturgy, we are formed by the Eucharistic Jesus for an eternity with him.
- Confession: supply formation to assist the examination of conscience, refinement of judgement, clarity of purpose, development of virtue, and dependence on God's grace. God provides the medicine of mercy through Holy Mother Church to help us grow in holiness. We need what the Holy Ghost provides: perspective. Without the grace of God, we can flounder in scrupulosity or wander in indifference. The Light of God is necessary for us to remain vigilant and ready to repent of our sins. If we become full of ourselves, there is no room for God in our lives.
- Fellowship and a rich devotional life: study and discussion groups that support formation for mission, evangelization, and works of mercy; Rosary; Divine Office; Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus drew around himself his apostles and disciples, witnesses to his life, death, and resurrection. Before Scripture was the community of the redeemed, the Church, with Peter as the visible head of Christ's Church, that handed on the Faith undefiled.
- Publish bulletins and other modes of communication that explain liturgical worship and propose authentic leadership for mission. Social media can be used to great effect to "get the word out," to support evangelization, and to build community by inviting people to "come and see." Social media, beyond pitching bits and pieces of upcoming events, can be used to establish a conversation among parishioners that, with the right guidance from pastors (e.g., homiletic content, Advent and Lenten lectures), can intensify commitment and foster the realization of spiritual and corporal works of mercy that bring Christ to those in most need of his mercy.
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Estne conflictus sola optio? Died-in-the-linen-or-polyester adherents of the Novus Ordo Missae and the Extraordinary Form, locked in a love-hate embrace—mostly hate (of the other) it seems—plug away at their respective polemics in ways that one wonders whether or not they love the very Church they claim to serve. One side brushes off the rubrical precision that supports an authentic ars celebrandi , while the other rejects the use of the vernacular and an expanded lectionary. One side seems mired in liturgical abuses, the other preoccupied with conspiracy theories—at least, that’s how it appears if you take either set of opposing commentaries at face value. They remain in the uneasy comfort of their own stances, idly picking at a scab that only slows the healing process. Said actors seem to have missed a third way of being a Latin Rite Catholic. While many have been caught up in the pre/post-Vatican II fracas, there has appeared a missal brought together by a dedicated team assign...
Are you thirsty for solid Catholic content? Do you seek to raise your children in a vibrant Catholic culture that helps them become faithful adults? Are your hungry for truth, goodness and beauty? Are you tired of parish programs that waste resources and do little to feed the soul? Are you seeking to learn how you can help build up the Body of Christ? Introducing Brian Holdsworth. If you haven't watched this articulate, insightful and faithful fellow share a thoroughly Catholic understanding of the Faith, then you are invited to start by watching one of his videos. Visit Mr. Holdsworth's main site at: https://www.brianholdsworth.ca/ Brian Holdsworth, a Catholic convert, resides in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife and seven children. His videos are rich with genuine Catholic content, revealing a deep faith. Far from being just another "influencer" or social media personality, he is a true man of God, passionately advocating for truth, goodness, and beauty within the C...
Ever wonder what the curious pointed oval shape in religious art is called, the shape that is also used in various designs adopted by guilds and religious groups? That almond shape is called the mandorla, the Italian word for almond. The mandorla is a significant symbol in Christian art and theology, characterized by its almond shape, which is formed by the intersection of two circles. This shape has deep theological implications and is often used to represent the divine presence, particularly in relation to Christ and the Virgin Mary. Symbolic Meanings Divine Presence. The mandorla is frequently depicted as a radiant shape surrounding Christ in His glory, particularly in scenes of the Transfiguration or the Ascension. It symbolizes the divine light and glory that emanates from Christ, emphasizing His dual nature as both God and man. The use of the mandorla in art serves to highlight the sacredness of the figure it surrounds, marking a clear distinction between the divine and the eart...
The Love of God Tactical retreats are necessary to attend to one's spiritual well being in the midst of the workaday world to better cooperate with God in the ongoing mission to share the Good News for the salvation of souls. Right Way The Way of Jesus is to take up one's cross and know that Jesus is wed to our lives, sharing our journey as the lover of our souls. Are we faithful to our spouse, the Lord? Asking of God the grace to enter into our wounds in order to grow closer to Christ makes a place in us for God, to grow in holiness and the love of God and neighbour. Without the mercy of God's grace, we might as well make of ourselves a hell in which we are never touched by love nor know the blessing of authentic freedom. As the saying goes: know Jesus, know peace; no Jesus, no peace. Likewise: know Jesus, know truth; etc. Saint John Henry Newman, Doctor of the Church, offers wise counsel for making the most of Lenten practices. The earnest disciple would do well to take i...
https://thecatholicherald.com/article/vatican-publishes-new-document-on-anglican-ordinariates www.doctrinafidei.va/en/documenti/characteristics-of-the-anglican-heritage-as-lived-in-the-ordinar.html Characteristics of the Anglican Heritage as Lived in the Ordinariates Established Under the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus 24 March 2026 During the Plenary Meeting of the Bishop Ordinaries of the Personal Ordinariates established under the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus (2009), held at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1 to 3 March 2026, His Eminence Cardinal VÃctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect, invited the Bishops to describe the lived experience of the patrimony at the heart of their Ordinariates, as it relates to how they have received and integrated elements that came from the Anglican tradition. The Bishops affirmed that, notwithstanding the vast geographical distances encompassed by their Ordinariates—from Inverness to Devon, from Edmonton to Or...
DURANDUS | NLM Evensong is a liturgy of the Daily Office where psalms and other biblical passages are sung or said, usually close to sunset. The Latin word vesperas was rendered as aefensang by Old English speakers, and this became "evensong" in modern English. https://singtheoffice.com/ | Music companion for chanting the Office. Variable audio support available. A very useful site! Structure The office of Vespers normally includes psalms, the Magnificat , a hymn, and other prayers. By the Early Middle Ages, it became common for secular clergy to combine Vespers and Compline . By the sixteenth century, worshippers in western Europe conceived 'evensong' as Vespers and Compline performed without break. Modern Byzantine services advertised as 'vespers' often similarly conclude with Compline . Background The Anglican archbishop Thomas Cranmer created choral evensong as a component of the Book of Common Prayer (1549) during the Edwardian Reformation, drawing on t...
ST AUGUSTINE
The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.
SAINT JOAN OF ARC
You say that you are my judge; I do not know if you are; but take good heed not to judge me ill, because you would put yourself in great peril.
MARCUS AURELIUS
There is but one thing of real value - to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men.
MARK TWAIN
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
GEORGE ORWELL
In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
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