Lenten Thoughts on the Sorrowful Mysteries

As I was meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries last night, I realized that each Mystery shows a particular aspect of suffering for Our Lord. This isn’t rocket science, I know, but it never struck me before in this exact way. These sufferings are universal to us all, at one time or another. I am also meditating through the lens of this most concerning present war. Those who see before others, share a particular burden and responsibility, which the Agony in the Garden speaks to, in terms of anticipation of things to come.

Of course, one could contemplate these things for a lifetime, and with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, keep receiving new insights. That is the wonder of the Holy Rosary. Here is what I came up with (I am keeping it very simple, so you can develop your own ideas about each one):

1) The Agony in the Garden: Mental Anguish

2) The Scourging at the Pillar: Physical Suffering

3) The Crowing with Thorns: Humiliation

4) The Carrying of the Cross: Exhaustion

5) The Crucifixion: All of the Above, including Death

If you click on “Lent” or “Rosary Meditations” to the right>>>, you can find more extensive Sorrowful Mystery meditations.

In This Month of Saint Joseph: A (relatively) New Prayer!

…As of 10 years ago, when I posted it on this blog…

O Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, Guardian of Our Lord and Our Lady, intercede for us before the Divine Majesty.  O holy and humble carpenter, pray for God's children in all our great need.  We pray this in the Name of the Christ Child, once held in your loving arms. 

Amen.

This prayer has been received well and it is about time for a PDF! Here it is…

“O Saint Joseph” PDF Printable

Here is the original post, where I explain why I wrote it: A New Prayer to Saint Joseph!

BONUS PDF…not too late to start this for the month of March…

THIRTY DAYS PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

A New Prayer to Saint Francis of Assisi!

Since visiting Assisi last October, my devotion to Saint Francis and Saint Chiara has only grown, so much, that I am now actively pursuing becoming a Third Order Franciscan, which has been on my mind for many years. I have a statue of Saint Francis in my yard and I find myself praying to him often, especially when I watch the wildlife (my house borders a wooded area). My dog is named after Saint Francis (Frankie) and I often pray to him about my dog, as I take delight in him and as I am sometimes concerned for him. I feel Saint Francis watches over my little Shihpoo.

So…I have found the need to write a short prayer, which I can say quickly any time, to deepen my relationship with this great saint, who I feel such a connection with and whose companion is my patron saint. This ministry, since we are about preparedness, is closely connected to the land, and therefore, nature….and farm animals. This is one reason why Saint Francis’ philosophy resonates so much with me. The following prayer was based in form, on my short prayer to Saint Joseph, (see next post) whom we honor this month. When planning the “Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy,” 2 years ago (see topic to the right), I incorporated “Canticle of Brother Sun & Sister Moon” into the prayers and also wrote my own “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” poem about the eclipse…here’s the PDF.

In this terrible time of war, when there is so much loss of our best and brightest, on all sides, and they all have mothers somewhere, let us flee to Saint Francis for intercession and inner peace…and don’t forget it is a Franciscan Jubilee Year!

O Saint Francis

O Saint Francis, wonder of Assisi, intercede for us before the Triune Godhead. You, who loved the poor and all creation, help us in our earthly need. Having received the glorious stigmata, we trust your prayers will resound before the Almighty, unto our consolation.

Amen.

“O Saint Francis” PDF Printable

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.

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.

All Saints Day

Wishing everyone a happy and blessed All Saints Day! However, I lament because the Holy Mass has been taken from me. I am traveling to visit my mother as she just turned 94 (prayer request), and there is no Mass available here because the obligation has been done away with this year. Because this is a rural area, there is not even a daily Mass. So the All Saints Day Mass has been taken from the devout due to the cafeteria Catholics who so fail to appreciate the Presence of Christ, they cannot bear to come to Mass 2 days in a row. If that is too tedious for them, they will not enjoy Heaven, where they will be in His Presence for all eternity! Such people probably wouldn’t come to Mass anyway on a holyday. Am I angry? Yes.

So my family and I will find a way to celebrate this great and joyful feast in our own way. We will recite the Litany of the Saints and read the missal.

The monthly dedication post will be a few days late, as I am away, also the monthly newsletter for subscribers. Thank you for your patience.

Don’t forget today begins the wonderful November Plenaries! See link below…

November Plenaries from the 1st to the 8th

Another Post-Holy Door Thought

To be a saint is to live fully in reality.

Thoughts for the Day

My dear readers, this is what is on my mind today, as my first offering after passing through the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica…

Anything you can’t take with you is not your life.

And on this feast of Saint Margaret Mary…

The Sacred Heart is the one and only refuge.