February is the Month of the Holy Family / Update

UPDATE:  This blog and the work of Nomen Christi Apostolate will be undergoing changes this year.  Please be patient as we work out these changes.  The monthly theme posts will remain similar, including one idea as to how we might celebrate the focus of the month.  The homeschooling suggestions will be replaced by one preparedness task each month.  If you are conducting your children’s Catholic education at home, you might want to look at the “Homeschool Activities” topic to the right>>> to get some fresh ideas, but we will not be dealing with this topic as often.  Please note, we always welcome the thoughts of our readers and may share them!  We also appreciate a first name and city/country.

If you look at the past numerous years I’ve been doing the Catholic monthly dedications, you will see I have always done The Passion of Our Lord for February.  This is because I was working with a certain calendar for many years and this is what it indicated.  The monthly themes are not official, some months have more than one.  These themes have developed over the centuries in different times and places.  The consensus for the month of February is actually the Holy Family, so this will be our first presentation of this theme.

There is no feast of the Holy Family this month, but let us look at when the feasts are, in the post-conciliar and the trad calendars…

Vatican News mentioning both feasts:

The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is normally celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas. This feast developed at the beginning of the 19th century in Canada and then spread to the entire Church in 1920. At first, it was celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. It is a Feast that seeks to portray the Holy Family of Nazareth as the “true model of life”…from which our families can draw inspiration and know where to find help and comfort.

So in the trad, we celebrate the Holy Family in January and the newer calendar celebrates it in December.   We can see the logic in keeping this triune family close to Baby Jesus’ birth and also near the visit of the Magi to them.  Certainly honoring and meditating upon this most noble and of families, a reflection of the Most Holy Trinity, is greatly worthy…so holy Church in her traditions, has given us this month to do so.  December was concerned with the Divine Infancy and January with the Holy Name of Jesus, both months containing those feasts.  Now we move to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the environment chosen to bring this Divine Life into our world, to give Him His Name and to raise and nurture Him, until He came into His mission to proclaim the Good News…and to redeem us by His death.  It is quite appropriate to honor the Holy Family in this month which usually closes the Cycle of Christmas (some years, this will be January, if it’s an early Easter).

The one feast this month which relates to the Holy Family is the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Presentation of Our Lord (also known as Candlemas), on the 2nd.  Certainly, Saint Joseph would have been with Our Lord and Our Lady in the Temple on that day, as they rejoiced together, observing the Jewish law. 

One way to give honor to the Holy Family this month is to pray the beautiful…

LITANY OF THE HOLY FAMILY

…perhaps on Candlemas?

Oh, did I mention Septuagesima begins on the 1st?  Every year, my penance begins during Septuagesima because I have to keep typing that word.  That is not a joke, you try it.  Septuagesima.  That’s 3 times.  Someone just got out of Purgatory.

Ash Wednesday is on the 18th, get ready for Lent!  Wow, we also have the Ember Days of Lent, or Spring, on the 25th, 27th and 28th.  See “Ember Days” topic to the right>>>.  Let us pray for mercy and blessings upon the coming season.

Additional notable feasts of February, from both calendars:

3rd-Saint Blaise, Blessing of Throats

7th-First Saturday of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart

8th-Sexagesima Sunday

11th-OUR LADY OF LOURDES

14th-Saint Valentine, let us pray for chastity

15th-Quinquagesima Sunday

24th-Saint Matthias, Apostle

***   PREPPER TASK FOR FEBRUARY   ***

Were you rushing to the store just before this past week’s big storm?  Don’t be that person.  Be the person who is sitting by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate laughing at all the people panicking and running to the store!  Of course as preppers, we are not only concerned about the short term emergency, but also the longer term one, or even permanent societal change.  So having a well-stocked and well-organized pantry is essential.  Here is the task…

Throw out all the expired food in your cupboard.  Arrange food roughly according to expiration date, oldest in the front, newest in the back.  I have a “fast track” spot for almost expired items.  (If you have children, this is a wonderful family activity and also a prepper lesson).  You’ll be able to see what you are lacking, and make a shopping list for these things.  This is your new lifestyle!

First be concerned about getting your everyday pantry organized.  Then you can start on what we call “stocks.”  (As opposed to “stockpiles.”  We are not doing institutional prepping here.)  These will be kept in a cool, dry, mouse-free area of your house (don’t assume mice won’t be able to tear through heavy packaging, believe me they can smell and tear through almost anything.)  These will be food and other essential items that your family needs for longer term storage.  There are many companies now that deal specifically in these types of items, just do a search.  Of course, buying in bulk can be a great option too.  Again, these have to be organized according to expiration date.  One way to do this is to have a separate shelf for each expiration year.

Prepping is a lifestyle that requires work and commitment, there’s no getting around that.  But the peace of mind it provides is more valuable than gold.  Gold.  That’s another topic!  Look into it (but this is not financial advice).

Have a blessed February and a Lent that will bring you closer to the risen Christ.

For Parents, Homeschoolers & Teachers....

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Sir Ken Robinson, TED Talk

This talk was 20 years ago. Has anything changed?

I'm tired of being treated like a bad, weird person just because I love Latin, tradition, Gregorian chant and reverence for Our Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist!

I just had to say that.

Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord

Today is Epiphany in the post-conciliar calendar of the USA. In the trad, it is always January 6th, immediately following the 12 Days of Christmas.

Here is the traditional Epiphany Blessing of the Home, which has become more popular in recent years. This version is Nomen Christi Apostolate’s, based on research involving several good sources. How wonderful to revive these treasures of our Holy Faith!

epiphany blessing of the home PDF

And here is our Epiphany Topic for further info.

The Epiphany Blessing format suggests singing a hymn at the end, here is…

“We Three Kings of Orient Are”

The Most Holy Name of Jesus, the Month of January and the Feast

[Edited since posting.]

In case you haven’t noticed, this ministry is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, “Nomen Christi” in Latin. So we always encourage honor and devotion to His Name. January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. The month begins with the feast of the Circumcision in the trad, which commemorates the moment Our Lord received His Holy Name and it was also the first shedding of His Blood. On the 3rd, we celebrate the feast of this Name in the post-con calendar and in the trad it is Sunday, the 4th. Let us find devotions this month which honor and glorify His Name and always defend it from profanation!

Here are some excerpts from the feast of the Holy Name Tridentine Mass:

“In the Name of Jesus let every knee bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.”

“O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!”

“O God, Who didst constitute Thine only-begotten Son the Savior of mankind, and didst bid Him to be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate His holy Name on earth, may fully enjoy also the vision of Him in heaven.”

“For there is no other Name under heaven given to man, whereby we must be saved.”

“Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations: that we may give thanks to Thy holy Name, and may glory in Thy praise.”

“Thou, O Lord, our Father and our Redeemer: from everlasting is Thy Name.”

“Alleluia, alleluia. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name. Alleluia.”

“I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy Name for ever: for Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee, alleluia.”

“May Thy blessing, O most merciful God, by which every creature lives, sanctify, we beseech Thee, this our Sacrifice, which we offer unto Thee to the glory of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that it may be well-pleasing to Thy Majesty for Thy praise, and profit us unto salvation.”

“All the nations Thou hast made shall come and adore before Thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify Thy Name: for Thou art great; and dost wonderful things: Thou art God alone. Alleluia.”

“O almighty and everlasting God, who didst create and redeem us, look graciously upon our prayer, and with a favorable and benign countenance deign to accept the Sacrifice of the saving Victim, which we have offered to Thy Majesty in honor of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:

that through the infusion of Thy grace we may rejoice that our names are written in heaven, under the glorious Name of Jesus, the pledge of eternal predestination.”

Feast of Mary Mother of God / Circumcision of Our Lord

Wishing everyone a blessed New Year, a year which brings you closer to the Most Holy Trinity and the Kingdom of Heaven.

We celebrate 2 feasts, one in the post-con and one in the trad, honoring Our Lady and Our Lord, in the first shedding of His sacred Blood.

We pray for mercy and a return to purity and innocence, as these things are under aggressive attack. Upon the dropping of the New Year’s ball in Times Square, New York last night, 2 men smooching were shown. Sorry to have to describe this, but there is no other way to say it. The corrupt who are in powerful positions are normalizing this in every way possible, desensitizing people to it. Don’t be a victim, disengage yourself from such things completely. We could complain all we want, but people like us just don’t matter anymore, I guess. I complained last year about similar content in a family play in New Jersey and was dismissed by the theater management as having no valid viewpoint.

What’s the solution? For the sake of our children, WE MUST CREATE A PARALLEL SOCIETY. There is no other choice anymore. This is a very good meditation at the start of this new year and it should inform all of our decisions…are we getting closer to this goal or remaining in denial?

Finally, I am struggling with the flu and will write the monthly dedication post when I am able.

This Christmas Song Should Be Much Better Known!

Shepherd’s Pipe Carol

by Sir John Rutter

Going through the hills on a night all starry
on the way to Bethlehem,
far away I heard a shepherd boy piping
on the way to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King
is come to bring us peace on earth,
and He's lying cradled there at Bethlehem

Tell me, shepherd boy piping tunes so merrily
on the way to Bethlehem,
who will hear your tunes on these hills so lonely
on the way to Bethlehem?

None may hear my pipes on these hills so lonely
on the way to Bethlehem,
but a King will hear me play sweet lullabies
when I get to Bethlehem

Angels in the sky came down from on high,
hovered o'er the manger where the Babe was lying
cradled in the arms of His mother Mary,
sleeping now at Bethlehem

Where is this new King, shepherd boy piping merrily,
is He there at Bethlehem?
I will find Him soon by the star shining brightly
in the sky o'er Bethlehem

May I come with you, shepherd boy piping merrily,
come with you to Bethlehem?
Pay my homage too at the new King's cradle,
is it far to Bethlehem?

Angels in the sky brought this message nigh
Dance and sing for joy that Christ the infant King
is born this night in lowly stable yonder,
born for you at Bethlehem

I only recently discovered this song and wondered where it’s been my whole life! Why don’t we hear it more often? It’s wonderful!

Composer Sir John Rutter wrote Shepherd’s Pipe Carol (I believe the lyrics as well) when he was only about 21 and it’s the thing that first placed him on the musical map at that young age. He went on to an illustrious career, chiefly known for choral music, much of which is spiritual. At the age of 80, he seems to still be going strong.

One might call this carol genius, unique among Christmas songs, crisp and joyful (if performed right), yet still with poignant moments. You may notice each verse ends with “Bethlehem.” This is Hebrew (Ba-it Lechem), meaning “House of Bread.” Such was Divine Providence that the Bread of Life was born in Bethlehem!

”And Jesus said to them:

I Am the Bread of Life:

he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that

believeth in me shall never thirst.”

John 6:35

Trump just lost whatever remaining respect I had for him

Trump levels political attack on Rob Reiner in inflammatory post after his killing

• This is why kids are shooting up with fentanyl.

• This is why we should be concerned about the future, this is why we must prepare.

• There are no longer common values of decency.

• We are being psy-opped into an Alice in Wonderland topsy-turvy world.

• Children must be given norms of behavior and heroes they can believe in (let’s start with Christ).

• I remember a time when it wasn’t a complete clown world, there was at least a veneer, a vestige, of decency and sanity.

• I remember looking up to President Reagan.

• We need to stop supporting people just because they throw us a few crumbs.

• Like Leonard Cohen said, “Things are gonna slide in all directions, Won’t be nothin you can measure anymore, The blizzard of the world has crossed the threshold and it’s overturned the order of the soul.”

• Also like Leonard Cohen said, “Ring the bells that still can ring.” (It is implicit in this line that soon they will ring no more, if we are silent, this echoes the writings of Fr. Alfred Delp as well.)

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Ora Pro Nobis!

Today’s trad Gradual:

Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun? As the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds, and as the flower of roses in the days of spring.

Alleluia, alleluia!

The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come.

Alleluia!

(from Cant and Ecclus)

3 Videos on Father Alfred Delp, the Martyr of Advent!

Fr. Alfred Delp: Advent of the Heart, 16:45 min.

This is a wonderful homily, unfortunately, it does not say who the priest is. He is incorrect about one point: he says Delp was shot in the head, in fact, he was hanged…and the very next day, the judge who sentenced him to death was killed by an Allied bomb on Berlin! Includes rare photos.

Advent Retreat Fr. Alfred Delp: First Wednesday of Advent with Cardinal Thomas Collins, 7:13 min.

Quick intro to Fr. Delp.

Resisting Fascism: Father Alfred Delp with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, 58 min.

Is this worth your 58 minutes? Absolutely! …If you want to really delve into details and German culture itself, which adds the whole backdrop to Delp’s life and times…from a 90 some-odd year-old German professor who was actually part of the same Catholic movement that Delp was involved with! Lots of great “inside info.” I don’t know much about Siebert and his faithfulness to authentic Catholicism. But it’s an incredible and very rare conversation about this great martyr.