More on Detraction: Fr. John Hardon

Diane K of Te Deum Laudamus has more on the sin of detraction from another holy and wise priest, the late Fr. John Hardon:

The immediate focus of the Eighth Commandment is falsehood that does injury to one's neighbor. Harm to another person's reputation, therefore, is the special prohibition of this divine mandate.

A person's reputation may be injured in various ways, notably by detraction and calumny or slander. Detraction is the unjust violation of the good reputation of another by revealing something true about him. Calumny or slander differs from detraction in that what is said or imputed about a person is not true.

To read Fr. Hardon's writings regarding detraction in its entirety, please go to:

Fr. John Hardon on Detraction as well as the links that Diane provides on her blog.

Hail Mary

I was going to post this on a Saturday but I couldn't wait. It is so beautiful

Thanks to Evangelizaton 2.0 and like Tom, it brings back lovely memories of my wedding day. My husband and I also chose this beautiful song as the processional for our nuptial Mass.

Methods of Assisting at Holy Mass

"It is a common practice to limit our prayers to petition. This is a mistake. We owe God, first of all, adoration; secondly, gratitude.

We can never thank Him sufficiently, though we were to employ eternity n so doing, for the innumerable gifts, material and spiritual, temporal and eternal, which He bestowed upon us. Life, redemption, our Catholic faith, preservation from grave sin, the grace of conversion, health, relatives and friends- theres are but a few of God's gifts.

Let us rejoice, therefore, to thank God by means of the Holy Mass.

After adoration and thanksgiving comes atonement.

Prostrate at the foot of Calvary's cross, down which the most precious blood of Jesus Christ flowers from His gaping wounds, we should beg pardon for our sins which have thus nailed Christ to the cross. Let us ask Him to pure His precious blood over our souls that they may be cleansed from their polluting stains.

Prayer of petition should not be forgotten It it we beg of God for the favors of which we stand in need."

-from Association of Marian Helpers.

Why We Should Hear Holy Mass

The Mass is the best means we have:

1. To render God the highest form of worship.

2. To thank Him for all His blessings.

3. To make reparation for all our sins.

4. To obtain all the blessings we desire.

5. To release souls from purgatory and to shorten our own time there.

6. To preserve us from all dangers to soul and body.

7. To be consoled at the hour of death, for at that moment their memory will be our greatest consolation.

8. To intercede for us at the Judgment Seat of God.

9. To bring down God's blessings; therefore, try to assist at Mass every day, or as often as possible, and twice on Sundays. [This is news to me]

10. To better understand the sublimity of the Passion of Christ, and there to increase our love for Him.

-From the Association of Marian Helpers

Spiritual Communion

St. Tarcisius


My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

A Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament and to embrace Him lovingly, as if you had actually received Him when it is not in your power to receive Him sacamentally.

-The Catechism in Examples by Rev. D. Chisholm

Spiritual Communion is the reserve of Eucharistic Life and Love always available for lovers of the Eucharistic Jesus. By means of spiritual Communion, the loving desires of the soul that wants to be united with Jesus, its dear Bridegroom, are satisfied. Spiritual Communion is a union of love between the soul and Jesus in the Host. This union is spiritual but nonetheless real, more real than the union between the soul and the body., 'because the soul lives more where it loves than where it lives,"

says St. John of the Cross - Jesus Our Eucharistic Love by Fr. Stefan M. Manelli.

Both are taken from the Nocturnal Adoration Society newsletter.

Feast Day of St. Frances X. Cabrini

First Naturalized American citizen to be canonized a Catholic saint.

From the opening prayer at Mass this morning:

God our Father,
you called Frances Xavier Cabrini from Italy
t serve the immigrants of America.
By her example teach us concern for the stranger,
the sick and the frustrated.
By her prayers help us to see Christ
in all the men and women we meet.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

"Regardless of how difficult a project is, I place it in the adorable Heart of Jesus. The I can securely rest in peace, even when far away, knowing well that He knows what to do and brings to completion every work that I desire for His glory...

Mother Frances X. Cabrini

One of my favorite places to visit in Colorado is the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado. We have been able to visit thee twice and both times it was a breathtaking experience because of the view and the beauty of the shrine itself. The white stones Mother herself placed in a shape of a heart can still be seen at the shrine.

Mother Cabrini Shrine

Message From Fr. Groeschel

Don't Engage in Detraction

Diane K Te Deum Laudamus is sharing Fr. Groeschel message to Catholic Bloggers when it comes to discussing Fr. Francis Mary as well as the reason behind it.

As usual, Fr. Groeschel shows us why he is a wise and holy priest.

Mahalo Diane for sharing it.

Living on a Prayer

For all my favorites Jesuits starting with St. Ignatius, Fr. John Hardon, Fr. Mitch Pacwa and Fr. Dave Travers. Correction: How could I forget Fr. Joseph Fessio! Thanks Diane for the reminder!

Veteran's Day

Prayer on Veteran's Day

Dear Lord Jesus Christ,
those whom we honor today
are examples of your words:
"Greater love than this no one has:
that he lay down his life for his friends."
They gave up their lives in the defense of freedom
for their loved ones and their country.

Teach me to appreciate the virtue of patriotism-
a true and Christian love of country.
Let me love my country not to follow it blindly
but to make it the land of goodness
that it should be.
Let my patriotism be such
that tit will not exclude the other nations of the world
but include them in a powerful love of country
that has room for all others too.
Amen

From New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Times

Here's a joke that Fr. J told during his homily today:

Do you know what the difference is between the Pharisees and the Sadducees?

Well, the Pharisees believe in the resurrection.

The Sadducees don't.

That is why they are sad you see (Sadd-u-cees)! :-)


Seriously, today's Gospel reading had lots of food for thought. One the one hand, I looked over at my husband during Mass and couldn't imagine no longer being married to him and on the other hand, he and I will be together forever in paradise.

Also, be sure to check out Nova Et Vetera's post on this gospel.