Good News...Bad News

By the time you read this you will know how the Supreme Court voted on the HHS Mandate.
Catholic Vote

 ...that is the bad news...

 The good news is that the Vatican has declared our beloved Archbishop Fulton Sheen VENERABLE! READ IT HERE

via Father Shane Johnson on Facebook

Pray and continue to pray during this Fortnight for Freedom! And, for the canonization of Venerable Archbishop Sheen.

St. Thomas More

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A MODEL FOR OUR SEASON

St. Thomas More, God’s Servant First

Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.

    St. Thomas More, patron of statesmen and politicians, serves as a model of charity, courage, and fidelity for all seasons.  Like Americans today, he was challenged in 16th century England to rise to the defense of his faith and the liberty of the Church.  


    In the superb play and film, A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt, Thomas More is deftly portrayed as a martyr of conscience.  He is unyielding in his stance against King Henry VIII’s move to divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn.  Ours is a season in which Christians face the challenge of remaining true to the faith despite political pressure, the threat of sanctions, and the stigma of social ostracism.  The HHS mandate is but one example.


Henry VIII weakens


    The reign of King Henry VII began with much hope for England. In fact More had called Henry “the everlasting glory of our time.”  But gradually the situation deteriorated, and after 17 years on the throne and 17 years of marriage to Catherine, Henry began an affair with Anne.  Nor was it his first affair.  Determined to put Catherine aside and marry Anne, he asked the pope to declare his marriage invalid.


    The 16th century was a tumultuous time for the Catholic Church in Europe.  England had experienced occasional conflicts between the Church and the crown, but now the Reformation was in full swing.  Martin Luther had already separated much of Germany from Rome.  A faction in England with a political and religious agenda saw an opportunity to sabotage the Church’s authority and encouraged Henry  in that direction.  But Henry needed little encouragement and was already moving to assert royal control over the Church and bypass Rome in his plan to marry Anne.  Gradually a strategy unfolded to undermine the authority of the hierarchy by advocating parliamentary “reform” of clerical “abuses.”


    The king tried to enlist the keen legal mind and impeccable reputation of Thomas More to support his divorce effort.  But More declined and carefully presented his reasons.  The unsatisfied Henry ordered More to re-examine the king’s position with advisors who sided with the king.  More did so, and pointed out that the key question was not in the details of the marriage law, but in the king’s desire to dictate  Church teaching and discipline, to define what it meant to be Catholic in England.  That authority belonged to the bishops in union with the pope.


Lord Chancellor


    The disappointed Henry still believed he could sway More to his side by appointing him lord chancellor.  More did not want the position, but saw it as an opportunity to defend the Church’s liberty and possibly steer Henry away from a break with Rome.  Besides, refusal was hardly an option. 


    Without ever speaking ill of Henry, More worked diligently to defend the Church’s liberty, and lobbied members of Parliament to reject unjust bills.   He was loyal to the monarch, but God’s servant first.


    As the situation deteriorated Henry pressured the English bishops and levied enormous fines on them.  In the name of correcting clerical “abuses” he asked the bishops to grant him authority to make rules concerning the Church.  The bishops refused and issued a stern statement of refusal.  Henry responded with open threats of imprisonment and veiled threats of death unless he be given full power of Church governance.  When the bishops met again to formulate their reply, he gave them an ultimatum to capitulate to him that very day or suffer the consequence.  In a close vote, the bishops succumbed.


    Thomas More resigned the next day.  Though he never criticized the king, all of England and other countries understood why he removed himself as chancellor.  And the king’s ire was obvious.


    Thomas More insisted that the spiritual authority and rightful liberty of the Church were given by God to be exercised by the bishops in union with the pope.   No secular power, no king, no parliament, nor any civil law has jurisdiction over one’s soul or the Church’s beliefs.  No ruler has the right to determine Church teaching or to direct the bishops in governing Church life. 


    More’s resignation stung.  It would have been easier for him to give in to the king, as many did, even priests and bishops.  But his well formed conscience dictated otherwise.  He obeyed every lawful directive of the king, but he was God’s servant first.  He knew only too well that no human law contrary to God’s law was binding.


    Parliament passed that Act of Supremacy, which declared Henry VIII the supreme head of the Church in England.  To deny that title became a capital crime.  Each subject was required to swear an oath affirming it, or face imprisonment.


Silence speaks louder


    Henry very much wanted the agreement and support of Thomas More, so stellar was his reputation as a statesman.  But More, an astute lawyer, knew he could not be executed for a simple refusal to swear an oath.  He sought strength in silence and in prayer.  


    Soon Sir Thomas More was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London.  His property was confiscated, and that impoverished his family.  Repeatedly he was asked if he denied the King Henry VIII’s new title.  To reply honestly meant death, so More remained silent.  After a year of imprisonment the crown charged him with treason for allegedly denying the king’s new title in a conversation with one of the king’s agents.  More unequivocally denied the charge.


Judgment


    The trial of Thomas More is one of the most celebrated in English history.  His masterful defense practically upset the carefully laid plot to condemn him.  One account reports More arguing that just as the city of London lacked authority to annul an act of Parliament for the whole of England, so Parliament lacked authority to transfer governance of the Church to the monarch because the Church was entrusted by God to the bishops and the pope.  He explained that this was embodied in the Magna Carta two centuries earlier and was recognized by all Christendom.  The chief judge was stymied and hesitated, “loath to have the burden of that judgment wholly to depend on him.”  After consulting with his colleagues he finally condemned More without ruling on his objection.


Hero, model, martyr


    St. Thomas More’s defense of the faith and his exceptional fidelity and courage were not the only lessons he leaves us.  During his last days he radiated the transforming power of God’s grace, the divine gifts of faith and charity.  He was never bitter.  Daily he prayed for Henry and gave thanks for the spiritual gain he obtained from his imprisonment – “the very greatest” of “all the great benefits” the king “has heaped so thickly upon me.”  


    He wrote to his daughter that God would bring good from his death: “no matter how bad it seems, it will be the best.”


    The king’s messenger wept when he brought the news to More that he would die that day, but the martyr-to-be encouraged him with these words: “Be not discomforted, for I trust that we shall, once in heaven, see each other full merrily, where we shall be sure to live and love together in joyful bliss eternally.”


His final words


    When Thomas More mounted a scaffold on Tower Hill and his masked executioner stood at the ready with axe in hand, a crowd waited to hear his final statement.  Contrary to custom, Henry ordered that he “not use many words,” because More was a formidable advocate, and Henry’s assumption of supremacy over the Church was politically unpopular.  The king had strongly pressured Parliament with unprecedented bribes and threats.  He would take no chances now.  


    More’s case was already widely known.  Only three years earlier Sir Thomas was lord chancellor, second only to the king himself in the entire realm.  His integrity was impeccable. He had an international reputation as a humanist, scholar, writer, and jurist.  He had been among Henry’s most loyal advisors.  Now he stood alone at the executioner’s block.


    Actually the king had nothing to fear from More’s last words from the scaffold, for an eyewitness account records that, “He spoke little before his execution.  He asked only that those looking on would pray to God for him on this side, and he would pray for them on the other side.  Then he begged them earnestly to pray to God for the king, that God would give him good counsel, protesting that he died the king’s good servant, but God’s first.”

    For all seasons and for all peoples St. Thomas More is a model of patriotism, citizenship, and faith in action; God’s servant first.





                PRAYER FOR A HOLY HEART


                St. Thomas More  (1478-1535)



Lord, grant me a holy heart
that sees always what is pure
and is not frightened at the sight of sin.
but creates order wherever it goes.

Grant me a heart that knows nothing
of boredom, weeping, and sighing.
Let me not be too concerned
with the bothersome thing I call “myself.”

Lord, give me a sense of humor,
and I will find happiness in life
and profit for others.

Immaculate Heart of Mary

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To the Blessed Virgin Mary

My Queen,
my Mother!
I give myself entirely to thee;
and to show my devotion to thee
I consecrate to thee this day
my eyes,
my ears,
my mouth,
my heart,
my whole being,
without reserve.
Wherefore, good Mother,
as I am thine own,
keep me,
guard me,
as thy property and possession.

Source:  General Catholic Devotions by Bonaventure Hammer

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
I consecrate myself to Your Most Sacred Heart.
Take possession of my whole being;
transform me into Yourself.
Make my hands Your hands,
my feet Your feet,
my heart Your heart.
Let me see with Your eyes,
listen with Your ears,
speak with Your lips,
love with Your heart,
understand with Your mind,
serve with Your will,
and be dedicated with my whole being.
Make me Your other Self.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
send me Your Holy Spirit to each me to love You
and to live through You,
with You, in You and for You.

Come, Holy Spirit,
make my body Your temple.
Come, and abide with me forever.
Give me the deepest love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
in order to serve Him with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength.
Take possession of all my faculties of body and soul.
Regulate all my passions:  feelings and emotions.
Take possession of my intellect,
understanding, and will, my memory and imagination.
O Holy Spirit of Love,
give me an abundance of Your efficacious graces.
Give me the fullness of all the virtues;
enrich my faith,
strength my hope,
increase my trust,
and inflame my love.
Give me the fullness of Your sevenfold gifts, fruits and beatitudes.
Most Holy Trinity,
make my soul Your sanctuary.

"This devotion (to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)...is the highest act of Religion.

It demands the full and absolute determination of surrendering and consecrating oneself to the love of the Divine Redeemer.  The wounded Heart of the Savior is the living sign and symbol of that love...

Devotion tot he Most Sacred heart is so important that it may be considered, as far as practice is concerned, the perfect profession of the Christian Religion." - Pius XII May 15, 1956

Encyclical: Haurietis Aquas

St. Anthony of Padua

This morning we had the privilege of venerating the relic of St. Anthony as it placed on the altar during Mass.  Father R. gave a lively homily on his favorite saint.  He talked to us about curious ways Catholics have of asking for St. Anthony's intercession.  It seems that some Catholics, (and I won't mention what country) looking for a spouse turn to St. Anthony.  Specifically, they turn the statue of St. Anthony upside down until he answers their prayers.  Another way St. Anthony, the finder of lost things is used is for finding a parking space.  I am sure just about all of us have asked St. Anthony to intercede for us when we lose something.  I often ask him to intercede for family members and friends to find their way back home to the Catholic Church.  He is also one of the patron saints on the  Prayers for Our Pets blog. Father R.enjoined us this morning to ask St. Anthony to help us find peace in our hearts when we are troubled.

Devotion to St. Anthony has always been big in our family.  My grandmother, who would have been 99 today was born on his feast day.  She had a huge affection for this dear saint.  She learned it from her mother, my great-grandmother.

Happy Feast of St. Anthony!

Feast of Corpus Christi

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 "O my beloved Jesus, since Thou wilt feed me this morning with Thine own blood in the Holy Communion, it is but reasonable that I should willingly renounce all the delights and pleasures which the world might give me.Yes, I give them all up; I protest that I choose rather to suffer all evils united to Thee, than to enjoy all the goods of the world away from Thee.  It is sufficient happiness enough for me, to please Thee, who art worthy of all we can do to please Thee.  I will say then with St. Ignatius of Loyola, ' give me I pray Thee , but Thy love and Thy grace; that is sufficient for me and I am contented....'"

St. Alphonsus de Liguori - The Holy Eucharist

Catholic Parish Gets Behind Independent Film Project

KENNESAW, GA (May 15, 2012) — St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, one of the largest parishes in the archdiocese of Atlanta, has enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to help bring the first full-length motion picture originating from a Catholic parish to life. The film project — with the working title “Five Blocks Away” — is spearheaded by veteran filmmaker Kevis Antonio, founder of Rising Faith Productions and parishioner. The film will be one of the first Christian films aimed to connect with the young adult audience. This announcement was made by Father John Matejek (Fr. John), Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Kennesaw, Ga.

“Our vibrant community is always on the lookout for projects that get the entire community excited and involved,” said Fr. John. “St. Catherine’s support of this film gives volunteers from the parish the opportunity to experience evangelization to its maximum.” With the goal of spreading a message of faith and love beyond its brick and mortar walls, St. Catherine of Siena is striving to inspire other churches to stand up and be bold.

“With the success of other Georgia-based Christian films such as ‘Fireproof’ and ‘Courageous,’ there is no better time than now for Catholics to join in the momentum of producing faith enriching films for the mass audience,” exclaimed Antonio who has more than eight years of film production experience, including a documentary called “Bread of Life.” He wrote the initial screenplay for “Five Blocks Away” and plans to direct and produce a five-week production schedule early this fall 2012.

In order to move the film into the pre-production phase, donations are needed to fund it. The goal is to raise $550,000 by July 31, 2012. St. Catherine of Siena is encouraging everyone to help spread the word and to prayerfully consider donating online (from $10 and up) to this project at www.fiveblocksawaymovie.com or by calling 678.575.4331 for details on where to mail a check. Based on donation levels, donors will receive a variety of great perks which include the opportunity to attend a private screening of the film in Atlanta with the filmmakers or get screen credit.

With Hollywood cashing in with secular films, the market has proven that there is a strong demand from Christian families and secular audiences looking for something different than typical remakes and sequels. “Five Blocks Away” is prepped to close the gap between Christian films and secular audiences with a powerful message appealing to all. “This film addresses things everyone, Catholic or not, faces in life,” Antonio said. “I want people to walk away with a sense of purpose in life and to understand how they can use and offer their God given talents to the greater glory of God.”

To learn more about “Five Blocks Away” and to get involved or donate to the production, visit www.fiveblocksawaymovie.com.

About Rising Faith Productions

Rising Faith Productions is a metro Atlanta-based Catholic feature film company whose mission is to deliver powerful Christian messages through Hollywood quality movies that challenge today’s society by creatively illustrating God's love, forgiveness, and the way to salvation.

About St. Catherine of Siena

In 1981, in response to the phenomenal growth of Catholics in northwest Georgia, Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan decreed the establishment of a new parish in Kennesaw, Georgia.  Fr. Leo Herbert was appointed the founding Pastor. The new parish was named and St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) was selected as patroness. By 1983 St. Catherine’s was the fastest growing parish in the Archdiocese and a fundraising drive helped break ground on its current site in 1986. Future additions over the years positioned the parish to accept a new Catholic elementary school and St. Catherine of Siena school opened in 2002. In 2009 Rev. John M. Matejek, a St. Catherine’s parishioner prior to entering the priesthood, was named the parish’s fifth pastor. Today, the parish continues to be in the top 10 parishes within the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The members of St. Catherine of Siena dedicate themselves to Jesus by serving the parish and community and are called to share gifts, talents and resources for the glory of God our Father. Visit www.stcatherinercc.org for more information.

Father Gordon MacRae's 30th Anniversary of his Ordination

"Mass of St. Gregory" by Adrien Isenbrant

Picture source Please join me in praying for Father Gordon on this the anniversary of his ordination. Be sure to read his post: Marking 30 Years of Priesthood: If I Knew Then What I Know Now!

  Prayer for Priests

O Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father Gordon.
Give him a deep faith

a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.

In his loneliness, comfort him
In his sorrows, strengthen him
In his frustrations, point out to him

that it is through suffering that the soul is purified,
and show him that he is needed by the Church,
he is needed by souls,
he is needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,

take to your heart your son who is close to you
because of his priestly ordination,
and because of the power which he has received
to carry on the work of Christ
in a world which needs him so much.

Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength,

and especially help him
to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.

John Joseph, Cardinal Carberry (+1998)
Archbishop of St. Louis 1968-1979

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Wonderful New Marian App - St. Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration

How wonderful that the internet can be used to evangelize and to spread the Catholic faith!

Case in point: there is a great new app for St. Louis de Montfort's Total Consecration available for iPhones, iPod, iPad, etc..

...Because this consecration is so powerful and active in the lives of many Catholics, HyperDo Media developed a free app for this consecration, placing mobile accessibility in the hands of every iPhone, iPad and Smartphone user.

The MyConsecration App provides all the prayers and materials necessary for making the 33-day consecration. Some of the features we’ve included are: a “Plan” tab, which informs users about Marian feast days so that they can begin and end their consecration accordingly; a “Settings” tab where users can enable notifications and daily reminders, available via either text message or ringtone; social media integration: users can share with friends on Facebook whether they are renewing the consecration or making it for the first time.

HyperDo Media believes that this app is an efficient way for mobile users to develop their spiritual life wherever they are. Now we want to share it with all our fellow Catholics.

Would you download this free app and review it on your blog? You can find the app here on MyConsecration.org’s website: http://www.myconsecration.org/app.html.  It is also available in the iTunes store...

I downloaded the app for my iPod Touch the other day. I found it a beautiful little touch of Catholicism for my iPod! The My Consecration app is easy to use and is categorized so that the prayers, preparation dates, etc. are accessible without difficulty. It even has a notification setting which will remind you it is time for prayer. Although, I have already made my Total Consecration and have renewed it fairly recently, I will be renewing it once again using the app.

Oh, and did I mention?  It is free.

This new Catholic app is highly recommended!

Month of June Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: First Friday

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In this month dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us pray that our hearts will become meek and humble, like unto His. Let us also make reparations for the numerous offenses against the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Jesus, divine Savior, deign to cast a look of mercy upon Your children, who assemble  in the same spirit of faith, reparation, and love, and come to deplore their own infidelities, and those of all poor sinners, their brethren.

May we touch Your divine Heart by the unanimous and solemn promises we are about to make and obtain mercy for ourselves, for the world, and for all who are so unhappy as not to love You.  We all promise that for the future:

For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, *(We will console you O Lord)
For the way You are deserted in Your holy tabernacle,
For the crimes of sinners,
For the hatred of the impious,
For the blasphemies uttered against You,
For the sacrileges that profane Your Sacrament of Love,
For the outrages against Your divinity,
For the injuries of which You are the adorable Victim,
For the coldness of the greater part of your children,
For the contempt of your loving invitation,
For the infidelity of those who called themselves Your friends,
For the abuse of Your grace,
For our own unfaithfulness,
For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts,
For our long delay in loving You,
For our tepidity in Your holy service,
For Your bitter sadness at the loss of souls,
For Your long waiting at the door of our hearts,
For the heartless scorn that grieves You,
For Your loving sighs,
For Your loving tears,
For Your loving imprisonment,
For Your loving death,

* We will console you, 0 Lord

Let us pray

0 Jesus!  divine Savior, from whose Heart comes forth this bitter complaint, "I looked for one that would comfort me, and I found none," graciously accept the feeble consolation we offer You, and aid us so powerfully by your grace, that we may, for the time to come, shun more and more all that can displease You, and prove ourselves in everything, and everywhere, and forever Your most faithful and devoted servants.  We ask it through Your Sacred Heart, O Lord, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit  one God, world without end.  Amen.

Traditional Prayer of Reparation

Most loving Jesus, when I consider your tender heart and see it full of mercy and tenderness toward sinners, my own heart is filled with joy and confidence that I shall be so kindly welcomed by You. Unfortunately, how many times have I sinned! But now, with Peter and with Magdalene, I weep for my sins and detest them because they offend You, infinite Goodness. Mercifully grant me pardon for them all; and let me die rather than offend You again; at least let me live only to love You in return. Amen. (Raccolta n. 255)

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