OFFICIAL - Holy Communion on the Tongue Cannot be Denied Because of H1N1

Prayer Source

According to the The Catholic Knight a Catholic cannot be denied communion on the tongue for fear of swine flu.



A few weeks ago at the St. Damien's Mass celebration at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, I was denied Holy Communion on the tongue by one of the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. She stared straight ahead, poised to place the Consecrated Host in my hands. She did this even though I prompted her to place The Consecrated Host on my tongue. I finally let her place the Consecrated Host in my hands because we were holding up the Communion line. My mother who was right behind me found herself in the same position so she slipped into the line with the priest and waited until he gave her Holy Communion on the tongue.

Happy Thanksgiving

I want to wish you all a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day Address by President Abraham Lincoln

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Source

Thank you Father Gordy for this at the Thanksgiving Vigil Mass.

My Hero!

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Remember those Who Grieve this Thanksgiving

This is the first Thanksgiving without my father. My mother is sad. My entire family will really miss my dad's presence tomorrow. I am very grateful for my friend Alexandra for sharing Father Austin Fleming's post about praying for those who grieve and to Father Fleming for the prayer and post:

Dear God,

There is an empty chair at our table,
an ache in our hearts
and tears on our faces.

We may try to shield one another
from the grief we bear
but we cannot hide it from you.

The absence of (name/names)
shadows this day
and clouds our homecoming.

Open our eyes and our hearts
to the healing rays
of the light of your presence.

Assure us, Lord, that those we miss
have a place at your table
and a home in your heart.

Open our hearts to joy
in the memories of the love
we shared with (name/names).

Help us to remember and tell the stories
that make present the past
and those we have lost.

Teach us to lean on one another
and on you, Lord,
for the strength we need at this time.

Give us quiet moments
with you, with our thoughts,
with our memories and prayers.

Be with us, Lord,
and hold us in your arms
as you hold those we miss.

This is the day you have made, Lord:
help us to rejoice in it
and in the promise of your peace.

Let us pray in the words Jesus gave us,
Our Father...

Desecration of the Holy Eucharist

This morning at Mass our priest seemed troubled. During his homily he shared with us that someone had found pieces of the Consecrated Host(s) in the Church the day before. Father mentioned that an incident like this occurring in his church frightened him, He proceeded to explain that Consecrated Hosts are used at black masses where Satan is worshiped.

He cautioned us to be vigilant and to report back if we caught anyone defiling the Holy Eucharist.

The incident has stayed on my mind all day. It has troubled me more than I thought it would even considering the gravity of the sacrilege. It troubles me because almost all the same people attend the same morning Mass. Did one of them receive Holy Communion for nefarious purposes? I started to wonder who could have done such an apparently evil act? I tried to think of a more innocent reason the Consecrated Host could have been on the ground...maybe a child did it accidentally?

No matter the circumstances, there is no logical reason that the Consecrated Host should be on the floor of the Church. Those pieces of Consecrated Host (and I assume by what Father told us that they were in fact consecrated), is the living flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ! Do we all really believe in the Real Presence?

- Think of the baby John the Baptist, while still in his mother's womb, recognized the living Son of God, and leaped in his mother womb, as Mary approached Elizabeth;

- Think of twelve year old Saint Tarcisius who on his way to bring Holy Communion to imprisoned Christians, was surrounded by a mob of boys curious to see what the Christian "Mysteries" were that he was carrying, brutally attacked him and left him for dead. Yet, he was able to protect the Holy Eucharist from any defilement or desecration.

- Think of the little Chinese girl who returned to the desecrated Church night after night to consume the Consecrated Hosts that had been savagely thrown on the ground by the Communists. She continued to do so until she was caught and killed.

If these young children understand and believe in the Real Presence, why don't we all?

Or, did in fact the individual who committed this vile act, believe in the Real Presence yet took it for an evil agenda? That is the thought that is most troubling.

Let this be a lesson to for all of us who take the Sacrifice of the Mass for granted; who receive Holy Communion like it was just another ordinary thing.

I am not sharing this incident here because I want to start a debate about receiving Holy Communion on the tongue versus the hand. If we truly understood what the real presence was, no matter how we received Holy Communion, we would receive it in the most reverent way we possibly could.

Please join me in praying the following Act of Reparation for similar incidents that must be occurring in other parts.

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.

Prayer Source

Recommended Places to Do Your Christmas Shopping

Since it will soon be the start of the mad Christmas shopping rush, I thought I would share some places where you can shop at your leisure and from your own home. I also recommend these sites for the excellent products they offer and wonderful customer service. I have also chosen them based on value pricing. They all received the Catholic Mom in Hawaii Stamp of Approval :-)

Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ Gift Shoppe Some of the nicest soaps, air fresheners, gifts, you can get...they are made with much care by the Nuns!

Mystic Monks Wonderfully tasting and aromatic coffees.

St. Hubert's Rosary Bracelets -Shana Beautiful and practical Rosary bracelets for daily use.

Prayerful Beads - Barbara Beautiful handmade Rosaries.

Leaflet Missal A great collection of Catholic books, religious medals, DVDs, Fontanini collectibles, T-shirts, etc.

Pauline Books and Media One of my favorite places to shop because we are blessed to have a store near us. Check to see if there is a store near you or you can shop online.

EWTN Religious Catalog Beautiful artwork, books, DVDs can be found here.

Sophia Institute Press I like to associate this book shop with more intellectual Catholic books. Maybe because they care books by Drs. Alice von Hildebrand and Dietrich von Hildebrand.

Saint Damien of Molokai Artwork by Linda Johnston Linda is a local artist on Molokai. Check out her beautiful and original artwork featuring Saint Damien prints, luggage tags, note cards and recently added prayer cards.

Seelos Center Gift Shop I recently bought Cheerful Mystic by Father Michael J. Curley. It is a biography of Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. Check out the statues and prayers cards there. The nicest people work there!

Donna Cooper O'Boyle. Donna has written many books that invaluable to Catholic wives and mothers. Be sure to check out her latest on her longtime friendship with Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

and last but not least Joy of Christ Press- Easter Consider ordering Easter's new book to give as a gift.

This list may get updated because I have a feeling I forgot someone.

Feast of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro

Viva Cristo Rey!- Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J.
You can read one of my previous posts here.

"Long live Christ the King"

Christ the King

"When we command that Christ our king be venerated by Catholics throughout the word, we are providing for the specials needs of our own day...There will never arise a sure hope of lasting peace between the peoples of the world as long as individuals and nations continue to deny or refuse to acknowledge the rule of Christ, our Savior. It is necessary for all men to seek 'the peace of Christ in the kingdom o Christ.'"
- Pope Pius XI

Dedication of the Human Race

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down us humbly prostrate before Thine Altar (outside a church or oratory says: in Thy Presence). We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold, each one of us this day freely dedicates himself to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts have rejected Thee.

Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal sons who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Their Father's house, lest they perish of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those whom heresy holds in error or discord keeps aloof; call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one fold and one Shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam, and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom. Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance, now descent upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life.

Grant O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; unto all nations give an ordered tranquility; bring it to pass that from pole to pole the earth my resound with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Indulgence of 5 years; plenary indulgence once a month for a daily recitation and under the usual conditions.

To Christ The King

O Christ Jesus, I acknowledge Thee to be the king of the universe; all that hath been made is created for Thee. Exercise over me all Thy sovereign rights. I hereby renew the promises of my baptism , renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps, and I engage myself to lead henceforth a truly Christian life.

And in an especial manner do I undertake to bring about the triumph of the rights of God and Thy Church, so far as in me lies.

Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer Thee my poor actions to obtain the acknowledgment by every heart of Thy sacred kindly power. In such wise may the kingdom of Thy peace be firmly established throughout all the earth. Amen.

Plenary indulgence on the usual conditions once daily.

The Prayer Book, The Catholic Press, Inc.

Viva Cristo Rey! - Blessed Miguel Pro

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A Meditation on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary

Holiday (Christmas) Mail for Heroes

In this season of hope and giving the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, Inc. have joined forces to invite Americans to “send a touch of home” to United States service members and veterans across the country and abroad. In its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program is an opportunity to share joy and thanks with our service members throughout the holiday season by way of a greeting card.

Today over 1.4 million men and women serve in the U.S. armed forces and over 24 million veterans have served in the past. The holiday season is the perfect time to honor and extend a warm holiday greeting to those who’ve served and continue to do so.

...Read the rest here

So won't you please send Christmas cards to our military heroes this Christmas.