Friday, February 05, 2010

On Relying on Our Own Strength Instead of Beseeching God to Help Us




The Stoning of St. Stephen by Paolo Uccello


I am currently reading Victories of the Martyrs by St. Alphonsus Liguori and I came across something that would explain why one fails to carry one's cross during times of trials and tribulations.
"...The examples of the martyrs teach us also to have immediate recourse to the assistance of God, by earnest supplication, when we feel ourselves disconsolate or weak under affliction. Thus did the holy martyrs. As their torture increased, they multiplied their prayers and secured the victory...

...There have...been examples of Christians who, failing to invoke the assistance of the Almighty, have fallen off from the confession of the faith, and forfeited the glorious crown.

An example is found in the acts of the martyrs of Japan.

An aged man, having been condemned to a protracted martyrdom, endured the torture for a considerable time, but failing to invoke heavenly aid, denied his faith in a few moments before he expired--a startling warning to all, that perseverance in prayer, in times of temptation and distress, is that which alone can insure us the victory..."

First Friday

Thursday, February 04, 2010

EWTN to remember the late Ralph McInerney


In honor of the late Ralph McInerney, EWTN will air “Ralph McInerney’s What Went Wrong with Vatican II” tonight at 10 p.m. ET, Thursday, Feb. 4. In an engaging dialogue, McInerney sets the record straight about the Council, the climate of dissent which followed it, and the efforts of the post-conciliar popes to correct the false “spirit of Vatican II.”



EWTN remembers Notre Dame Professor and Catholic Intellectual Ralph McInerny in a special edition of “The World Over” at 8 p.m. ET, Friday, Feb. 5.

http://www.catholiceducation.org/images/authos/McInerny.jpg



Michelle Laque Johnson
Director of Communications
EWTN Global Catholic Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, Alabama 35210
(205) 795-5769 (office)
(205) 441-6248 (cell)
(205) 271-2920 (fax)
mjohnson@ewtn.com (email)

Church to reclaim St. Valentine's Day for married couples


St. Valentine Kneeling in Supplication


A national initiativas been launched by the Church to "reclaim St Valentine's Day", focus on the true meaning of the feast day and the importance of romance in marriage.

Archbishop Philip Wilson, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, says the campaign is an opportunity to advocate the sacred bond of marriage.
Read the rest here.

Source: Putting the Saint Back in Valentine

The Five Luminous Mysteries Pictures and Reflections





The Baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River by El Greco
 


Think of Christ's Baptism at the hands of John the Baptist when the Father called Him His beloved Son and the Holy Spirit descended on Him to invest Him with the mission He was to carry out.

Resolution: I desire to live my Baptismal promises.



Jesus' Self-Manifestation at the Wedding at Cana by Jacobo Tintoretto



Think of Christ's Self-manifestation at the wedding at Cana when He changed water into wine and opened the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers.

Resolution: I desire to do whatever Jesus says.

 
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God Detail by Fra Angelico

Think of Christ's preaching of the Kingdom of God with its call to forgiveness, as He inaugurated the ministry of mercy, which He continues to exercise until the end of the world, particularly through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Resolution: I desire God's forgiveness.





The Transfiguration of the Lord by Duccio di Buoninsegna


Think of Christ's Transfiguration when the glory of the Godhead shone forth from His face as the Father commanded the Apostles to listen to Him and experience His Passion and Resurrection and be transfigured by the Holy Spirit.

Think of: I desire to be a new person in Christ.



The Institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci


Think of Christ's institution of the Eucharist, in which He offered His Body and Blood as food under the signs of bread and wine and testified to His love for humanity, for whose sake He would offer Himself in sacrifice.

Resolution: I desire active participation at Mass.

Text from Pray the Rosary.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

12 Easy Ways to Find Time to Be Catholic


Catholic Home and Gardens: 12 Ways to be Catholic

Make Your Own Infant of Prague Vestments


Detailed instructions, pictures, links, etc. can be found at Catholic Home and Garden: How to Make Infant of Prague Vestments

I think this is just so great!! Can't wait to make our little Infant of Prague new clothes :-)

Holy Blogroll



Blogs en Español - Católico

Para Ser Franco
Ángeles de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Salutaris Hostia
Santa Iglesia Militante

Catholic News and Commentary

Catholic Tide
My Catholic Blog
The American Catholic
The Maritime Sentry
Zenit

Hawaii Blogs

Humbled Servant in Hawaii
Mostly Prayers
Our Lady of Good Counsel Young Adult Ministry
Resurrection of the Lord Waipahu
Saved by God's Grace
Therese's Roses
Transcending Mediocrity
Veni Sancte Spiritus

Blogs - Priests

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Servant of All
Bonfire of the Vanities
Catholic Spiritual Direction
Courageous Priest
Da Mihi Animas
Father Pavone - Priests for Life
Orthometer
Priests Secretary
Servant and Steward
These Stone Walls
Tribute to Our Priests

Blogs by Sisters and Nuns

Moniales OP
nunspeak

Catholic Blogs

A

A Bit of the Blarney
A Catholic Cappuchino, Please!
A Catholic Life
A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars
A Catholic Mother's Thoughts
Adoro te Devote
Adrienne's Corner
aeternus
always catholic
Aussie Coffee Shop

B

Beautiful Life
Beautiful Whispers of Catholicism
Be Not Afraid
Big C Catholics

C

Caput Mundi
Cardinal Newman Society - Campus Notes
Catholic Commentary
Catholic Family Vignettes
Catholic Fire
Catholicseeking
Custos Fidei

D

Daily Prayers and Meditations
David Marciniak

E

Everyday Catholic Woman
F

From Across the Net
From the Heart of Mary

G

Gloria Romanorum

Gem of the Ocean
Grandma's Musings

H

Happy Hearts at Home
Homeschool Goodies

I

Idle Speculations
Imprisoned in my Bones
In God's Country 2


J

Jesus, the LAMB of God
Joyful Days
Justin Stroh

K

Knit and Pray

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Last Welsh Martyr
Leadkindlylight
Linen on the Hedgerow

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Make Sense of this Spence
Maureen Wittman
Mom2Best7

My Catholic Family Circus

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O

Orate Fratres
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Poetry, Prayer and Praise
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Precious Treasures

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Random Junk from an Intellectual Wannabe
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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Exchange
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Tea at Trianon
The Beautiful Gate
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The Daily Grotto
Treasures of Grace
Truth Himself

U

UKok's Place

V

View from the Domestic Church

W
What is Truth?
Writings of a Boy Discerning God's Call
World Christianity

Feast of St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr


Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr,
may God free you from illness of the throat and from any other sort of ill.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

During his homily this morning, Father Romeo reminded us that we can be cured of diseases of the throat easily with modern medicine and care. What we need to be cured of on this feast day, is the disease of profanity, of gossip, of slander and other offense against God and our neighbor when we use our throats and voice.

Monday, February 01, 2010

Our Favorite Links


Catholic Art

Art in the Christian Catacombs in Rome
Gustave Doré Bible Gallery
The Foundation for the Sacred Arts
Holy Reflections
Immagini Sacre
Madonna and Child and Holy Family Images
Renaissance Art
St. Paul in Art


Catholic Literature and Poems

The American Chesterton Society
Blessed Mother Compared to the Air We Breathe
Douay Rheims Catholic Bible
Father Surin's Foundations of the Spiritual Life
Free Catholic e-Books
Imitation of Christ
Internet Medieval Sourcebook
The Last Times
List of Classic Spiritual Books
Maid of Heaven
St. Augustine's Confessions
St. John of the Cross' Complete Works
St. Josemaría Escrivá
St. Theresa of Jesus' Complete Works
Way of Tears


Causes for Canonizations

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Blessed Francis X. Seelos, CSsR
Blessed Mother Teresa
Father John A. Hardon S.J.
Father Michael J. McGivney
Father Patrick Peyton
Father Solanus Casey
Father Vincent R. Capodanno
Venerable John Paul II

Church Documents

Code of Canon Law
GIRM
Inaestimablile Donum
Papal Encyclicals
Redemptionis Sacramentum
Sacramentum Caritatis
Salvifici Doloris
Sancta Missa

Donations - Worthy Causes

Aid to the Church in Need
Bishop Gassis Sudan Relief Fund
Seraphic Mass Association

The Holy Rosary

The 5 Joyful Mysteries
The 5 Luminous Mysteries
The 5 Sorrowful Mysteries
The 5 Glorious Mysteries

My Other Blogs:

Catholic Homeschooling Blog Directory
Cooking with Love
Esther's Aloha Tags
Prayers for Our Pets
Spiritual Moms Apostolate

Priesthood

Alter Christi
Congregation for the Clergy
Encourage Priests
Father Angelus - Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers
Father Donald Calloway
Father Joe Whalen - St. Raphael Holy Oil Healing Ministry
Intercessions for Priests
Pray4aPriest
Prayers for Priests
Universal Rosary Priest Booklet
The Curé d'Ars Prayer Group
Religious Communities


Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
Moniales OP - Dominican Nuns
Nun News and Building Blogs
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A

Adoremus
Anno Domini

B


C

Catholic Adoration
Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Home and Garden
Catholic iCast
The Catholic League
Catholic Media Coalition
Catholic Spiritual Direction
Catholic Treasury
Catholics in the Military
Communion in the Hand
Concordia Ministries
The Confraternity of Penitents
Corporis Christis Societas


D

The Defenders
Diocese Map of the US
Diocese of Paterson
The Divine Mercy

E

Extraordinary Form Roman Breviary

F

Friends of the Suffering Souls

G

H

Handbook for Altar Guilds
Holy Face Association
Holy Souls

I

The Infant of Prague

J

K

Knights of the Holy Grail

L

Les Femmes - The Women of Truth

M

Mary's Garden

N

O

Opus Angelorum

P

Padre Pio Devotions
Purgatorian Archconfraternity

Q

R

Real Men Pray the Rosary
The Real Presence

S

Saint Padre Pio Official Website
Santo Niño de Atocha
Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity
Spiritual Battle for Souls
Saint John Roman Catholic Church
Stefano Spaziani - Photographer of Pope Benedict XVI

U

Universal Living Rosary Society

YEAR FOR PRIESTS - New Site Added to Sidebar - Appreciation Postcard Campaign

Alter Christi - Appreciation Postcard Campaign
The mission of this project, Year of the Priest, Appreciation Post Card Campaign is as follows:

In this year of the priest, I promise to fulfill my commitment to offer spiritual gifts for every priest living in my diocese and to make this known by mailing one of these cards to each one of them as I accomplish my daily spiritual works for them.
H/T Jane of Spiritual Mothers of Priests

Examination of Conscience for Adults

The other day I shared an examination of conscience on faith, hope and love.  At the time I posted, I did not have the source available and asked for help in identifying the author. 

Thanks to Christine of Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother I can now share with you the entire Examination of Conscience by Father Donald F. Miller


Thank you so much Christine!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

The Five Glorious Mysteries Pictures and Reflections




The Resurrection of Jesus by Perugino


Jesus rises from the dead, glorious and immortal, on Easter Sunday.  He conquers death and opens the gates of heaven.

Resolution:  I will live with Christ, so that I may rise with Him.




The Ascension of Jesus Christ by Giotto


Forty days after His Resurrection, Jesus ascends, in the presence of His Mother and His disciples, into heaven.

Resolution:  I will follow the example of Christ on earth, because I hope to be with Him in heaven.



The Descent of the Holy Spirit on Mary and the Apostles by Jean Restout


Ten Days after the Ascension, the Holy Ghost descends in tongues on fire upon Mary and the disciples.

Resolution:  I will love God and my neighbor.




The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven by Bartolome Murillo


The Apostles go to the tomb where they had laid the body of the Mother of God. They find that the angels had borne their Queen to Heaven.

Resolution: I will praise Mary through the Rosary.




The Coronation of the Blessed Mother by Diego Velasquez


The Mother of God, to the joy of all the angels and saints, is crowned Queen of Heaven by her Divine Son.

Resolution: I will love Mary as my Queen and Mother.