A Treasure To Be Shared

The Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament of Sacraments, is celebrated in many distinct and beautiful ways.  Catholics are familiar with the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo). Fewer are familiar with the 1962 Latin Mass (Missa Antiquior). Our eastern Catholic brethren offer the Divine Liturgy (Byzantine, Ukrainian Greek), the Raza (Chaldean), the Holy Qurbono (Maronite, Syro-Malankara), the Holy Qurbāna (Syro-Malabar), the Badarak (Armenian), and more. In the personal ordinariates created by the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus , the Mass is known as Divine Worship. The names we give to the sacred Liturgy say something about the nature of the Eucharist, our orientation to God, and the Church's mission. Of course, we also know the Liturgy as the Eucharist (εὐχαριστία), meaning 'thanksgiving'. 'Mass', a nickname of sorts derived from the Latin word for dismissal in the Mass—'ite missa est' (Go, it is the dismissal. Go, you are sent.)—refers to the mission of the ...

Air Martin It seems that God’s signs are going unnoticed by those whom the lay faithful rely on for guidance. What signs, you ask? Let’s give credit to writers who are capturing what should by now be the most obvious sign—or collection of signs—of God speaking to His people, His Church. Brian Williams @LiturgyGuy Yesterday Charlotte ordained 10 men to the priesthood, a record high in the diocese’s 54 year history. Interestingly, 8 of the 10 ordained came from parishes directly impacted by Bishop Martin’s restrictions against the TLM and/or altar rail ban. Meanwhile, two of the mega parishes in Charlotte, both of which fit the liturgical style +Martin favors—including one with over 12,000 registered families—haven’t produced a priestly vocation since well before COVID. Will this vocations boom continue in the coming years under Bishop Martin? Also interesting to note that one of the twelve ordained this past week by the FSSP also grew up here in Charlotte serving at St. Ann’s TLM. Bisho...

Conscientia, secundum ipsam nominis originem, importat ordinem scientiae ad aliquid: dicitur enim conscientia quasi cum alio scientia. (ST I, q. 79, a. 13) Saint Thomas Aquinas Do you give others reason to love you? Why are you afraid? What are you putting in the way of God granting you His peace? Is fear or trust the basis of your decisions? Who is first in your life? God? A spouse? Children? Work? Drugs? Sports? Do you project your own inadequacies on to others? Is holiness important to you? If 'no', then what is your religion? If 'yes', then how do you cooperate with God for your spiritual health and well-being? Do you have high expectations for your children and do you offer a high level of support to help them achieve their potential? Are you indifferent to your children? Your spouse? Do you maintain high expectations without providing support to others or to yourself? Why ask how someone is doing if you are not prepared to listen to his answer? Do you really care...

"What do vampires and socialists have in common? Both are lifeless bloodsucking monsters that fear the light." Bloodthirsty undead feed on the innocent, all while reveling in the very systems that sustain their grim mission. Vampires inhabit the shadows of society. A vampire will even destroy another to protect its dominance. Vampire culture is parasitic, distorting elements of Christian culture: hospitality transforms into enabling illness, charity transforms into lust and indulgence, and hope transforms into confusion and despair. Vampire culture is fueled by an obsession with gaining and using power to control others and to push corrupt beliefs. The Vampire Slayer Key Principles of Justice in Catholic Social Teaching Dignity of the Human Person. At the heart of Catholic social teaching is the belief that every human life is sacred and possesses inherent dignity. This principle asserts that all individuals deserve respect and protection, which forms the foundation for justi...

O merciful God, fill our hearts, we pray Thee, with the graces of Thy Holy Spirit, with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Teach us to love those who hate us, to pray for those who despitefully use us, that we may be the children of Thee our Father, who makest Thy sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust. In adversity grant us grace to be patient; in prosperity keep us humble; may we guard the door of our lips; may we lightly esteem the pleasures of this world, and thirst after heavenly things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Saint Anselm Recent events remind us to live more meaningfully for God and for the good of others. Take the NDP leadership convention in Canada, for instance. Aside from being farcical to the Nth degree, the convention revealed people obsessed with gaining and wielding power, showing little regard for decency or the common good, and ultimately steering themselves...

AWC Those souls ofttimes perusing these selfsame pages shall be well aware of a manifest inclination toward the upholding of the cassock and cotta. Not only do such vestments present a seemly aspect, preventing distraction by disarray, but also do they permit the server to recede into the scene, thus holding fast attention upon the divers movements or parts of the Mass. A cotta is a white vestment, typically knee-length or shorter, worn over a cassock by clergy, altar servers, and choir members. Made of linen or cotton, it symbolizes purity and humility. Shorter than a surplice—often stopping at the hip or mid-thigh—it can be decorated with lace or embroidery depending on tradition or occasion. The cotta originated from the alb, a long, full-length white garment. Square or Roman yoke Round yoke According to Ritual Notes the cotta "should reach half-way between the wearer’s hip and the knee." The vestment reminds the server of the white garment presented to him at his baptism....

A PENITENTIAL OFFICE for the BLESSING of ASHES EXAUDI NOS Psalm 69.17, 1     HEAR me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is comfortable: turn thee unto me according to the multitude of thy mercies. Ps. Save me, O God, for the waters are come in even unto my soul. Glory be… Hear me… The Celebrant now turns to the people and says: BRETHREN, it has been the custom in the Church from ancient times to observe with great devotion the days of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection, and to prepare for the same by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided also a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for holy Baptism. It was also a time when such persons as had, by reason of notorious sins, been separated from the body of the faithful, were reconciled and restored to the fellowship of the Church by penitence and forgiveness. Thereby the whole Church was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution contained in the Gospel of our Saviour, and ...

Cross Roads As we transition from Gesimatide into Lent, perhaps a brief visit with the fundamental requirement of receptivity to God's influence in our lives, and our commitment to collaborating with God to bring about the Kingdom, may provide a useful focus for the days ahead. St Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Let us address approaches into the heart of God. That is, how can we better open ourselves to God's grace, His life, His truth, His love, His transforming Presence? Three Avenues - Liturgical, Works, Devotional Let us look at three ways in which we may be mindful of the Lord's invitation to accept His loving embrace for our formation in holiness and the salvation of souls. Liturgical Avenue St Luke 24:30-35 When (Jesus) was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanis...

Caritas Sunday Veritas Monday Bonitas Tuesday Pulchritudo Wednesday Sanctitas Thursday Unitas Friday Haereditas Saturday + + + Charity Sunday Resurrection Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. A heart of love offers the mercy of healing to others. Be ready to accept humiliations. They can hurt terribly but they can help to keep you humble. (Whether trivial or big, accept them). All these can be so many chances to be a little nearer to our Lord. There is nothing to fear if you are near to the Lord and in His Hands. Michael Ramsey, excerpt from  Five Helps for the New Year . Almighty Father, help us to be ever mindful of Thy gift of salvation in Christ Jesus, Thy Son, who died so that we might have life and love Thee for all eternity. May we abide in humility, that we be numbered amongst those within Thine everlasting Kingdom. Grant that we be ever merciful, welcoming others into Thine embrac...

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