Update....

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas Season and wishing you and your families many blessings for the New Year!

I must say, I have had a very difficult past year and have been struggling with a succession of personal and family issues. I have several family members who are seriously ill and in great need of prayer. In this coming year, I will be working on my family’s preparedness more aggressively (and you should too!) and renovating my home on Long Island.

Please keep my family and my husband’s family in your prayers. Thanks so much! CFM:)

Holy Communion "Prayer for Peace"

If you have been following recent posts, I have been writing short commentary on parts of the Holy Mass of the Tridentine Rite. Last time, we dealt with the “Sanctus.” The previous 2 posts dealt with the “Prayers for Holy Communion.” Since I had no direction when I started this, its been kind of random. So let’s discuss the remaining prayer for Communion, the “Prayer for Peace.” (These prayers are said by the priest, bowing before the newly consecrated Body and Blood of Christ.)

“O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst to Thine Apostles: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: look not upon my sins but upon the faith of Thy Church; and deign to grant her that peace and unity which is in accord with Thy will: Who livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.”

In order to best understand these prayers, we must understand the point we are at in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Body and Blood of Christ are now miraculously present on the altar and we have just finished the “Agnus Dei,” beseeching His mercy and the gift of peace. Continuing with the theme of peace, the above prayer is said. The priest then kisses the altar and exchanges words of peace with the Deacon. In the Novus Ordo, this is when people shake hands to show a sense of peace among each other. The idea is to show peace among the people before receiving Our Blessed Lord.

Why does the priest kiss the altar? I’m not sure what the purpose of this is, but it seems he is perhaps expressing a peace with God first, before expressing his peace with men. This would be in accord with Catholic teaching, that we cannot have peace in the world without first being at peace with God. These are the two beams of the Holy Cross. There is the vertical, reaching up to the Father, and the horizontal, reaching out to humanity. The horizontal beam cannot be supported without the vertical.

These “Prayers for Holy Communion,” are said just before the priest and the people receive Our Blessed Lord in innocence. We are beginning these 3 prayers with the sentiment of peace, which is absolutely necessary and fitting at this great anticipatory moment before communing with the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. We call to mind the words of Our Lord Himself, telling His Apostles of the peace He gives to them. We in turn receive this peace through the Church the Apostles founded. We then reiterate in a sense, the “Agnus Dei,” in asking for mercy and peace.

Let us remember that without peace with God, there can be no other peace, not within us as individuals, and not among us. People attribute the ills of the world today to all sorts of things, but we as Roman Catholics, know the truth: We have lost our relationship with Almighty God, our loving Creator. Let us defend this truth valiantly, especially when we are in challenging situations. This is what separates the saints from the dominion of Hell! Peace to you, my dear readers:)

Thought for the Day.....

Virtue Doesn’t Make Good Theater.

Just sayin.

Hosanna In Excelsis!

In keeping with our analysis of various parts of the Holy Mass (I am using the Tridentine Rite), let's look at the "Sanctus."  It is disturbing that this prayer is said so nonchalantly by many people, even often sung in a folky way which in no way reflects the most sublime nature of these words, which lift us straight up to the Majestic Throne, the Triune God of Heaven.  It should take our breath away every time we say it.  It should create in us the most humble attitude before our Creator, our hearts lying prostrate.  It is the hymn sung by the saints as Our Lord rode humbly into His city, the City of Gold, Yerushalaim, knowing full well what the result would be.....

"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts!  Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory!  Hosanna in the highest!  Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest!"

According to The Daily Missal and Liturgical Manual, Baronius Press, 2008:

"The triumphal hymn of the Angels, the Trisagion (thrice holy), is addressed to the three divine Persons.  It is composed of words taken from Isaias...from Psalm 117, and from the acclamations which greeted Jesus on the occasion of His solemn entry into Jerusalem."

In the old Rite, the Sanctus is prayed kneeling, but in the new, unfortunately, that has been changed.  This Sunday when we speak or sing this glorious prayer at Holy Mass, may we envision the clouds opening, and Heaven revealing itself, a foretaste of what is to come after our death if we remain in His Body.  How wonderful!

Holy Communion "Prayer for Sanctification" from the Holy Mass

Okay, let's jump right in and continue with some simple commentary on the text of the Holy Mass of the Tridentine Rite:

"O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living
God, Who, according to the will of Thy Father,
with the cooperation of the Holy Ghost,
hast by Thy death given life to the
world; deliver me by this Thy most
sacred Body and Blood, from all mine iniquities and from all evils and make me always
cleave to Thy commandments, and
suffer me never to be separated from
Thee, Who livest and reignest with the same God the
Father and the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen."

Last time, we commented on the Holy Communion "Prayer for Grace."  The above prayer immediately precedes this.  We are preparing for the most sublime and important human experience there is:  A physical and spiritual union with the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer from the Cross.  What words could possibly prepare us for such a thing?  Holy Mother Church in her wisdom has given them to us.

There are three basic thoughts being expressed here.  First, we address the One we are about to receive, invoking also the other two Members of the Holy Trinity.  We acknowledge our Redemption through His death, without which, none of this makes any sense.  Secondly, we beseech Him to deliver us from all evil which may interrupt His plan for the fruition of our Redemption.  Thirdly, we desire complete and everlasting union with Him.  We admit that this is done not by just feeling warm and fuzzy, but by "cleaving," becoming one in fiber, to His commandments and teachings, distributed to us by His Holy Church.  This is radically counter-cultural because His teachings are radically counter-cultural.  In other words, something very real and specific is required of us if we are to avail ourselves of this greatest of Privileges, AS WE SHOULD EXPECT.

Prayer:  "Lord, how can I truly be one with Thee?  What changes must I make in my life to do this?  Please never let me receive Thee unworthily.  Amen."

Holy Communion "Prayer for Grace"

How would the Church be different, in fact, how would the world be different, if every Catholic truly contemplated these words before receiving Our Blessed Lord at Holy Mass?  One who is not properly disposed to receive ought to be struck with terror at the mere thought of approaching the Sacred Host after reading these words....and yet....so many sacrilegious Communions!  O Lord, have mercy! 

"Let not the partaking of Thy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, presume to receive, turn to my judgment and condemnation; but let it, through Thy mercy, become a safeguard and remedy, both for soul and body; Who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Fatima Family Holy Hour for World Peace

Nomen Christi Apostolate Presents

6th Fatima Family Holy Hour for World Peace

Centennial of the Final Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

At Fatima, Portugal

One of the greatest events in all human history....

+++   The Miracle of the Sun   +++

October 13th, 1917 ~ October 13th, 2017

Thank you for joining our Final Fatima Family Holy Hour!  Please read the introduction on our Home Page.  If you are participating or if you have prayer intentions, please add your voice to our comments.  TO MAKE A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THE POST & SCROLL DOWN.  Following is today's Holy Hour Format.  May God bless you and may Our Lady shower graces upon you on this glorious Fatima Centennial of the Miracle of the Sun!

*** PRINTABLE VERSION OF 6TH HOLY HOUR FORMAT ***

Candle-Lighting for Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

+   Sign of the Cross   +

O Jesus, we thank Thee for this beautiful 100th Anniversary of Our Lady's sixth appearance to the three holy children at Fatima, Portugal, along with Our Lord Himself and Saint Joseph, in addition to the miracle she promised, witnessed by thousands.  We thank Thee for our togetherness today all over the world in this joyful celebration.  We light this candle for the intention of reparation to Thy Mother's Immaculate Heart, which so grieves over the sins of the world at this present hour.  We especially wish to console her for the terrible injustice to unborn children, for she is Mother to all.  May these little lights of ours ascend to her Queenly throne in Heaven and show her that indeed, there is still love for her on earth.  Love for Thy Mother always directs us to Thee, O Jesus, our Savior, Whom she holds up to the world in her loving arms.  Forgive us our sins and let us enter into this final Holy Hour in a spirit of contrition and spiritual communion with Thee.  We pray for peace in all the world and protection of all the innocent.  We remember the victims of recent violence and catastrophe and their families.  We offer as well, all the intentions of those participating and those of our Holy Father Pope Francis.  Amen. 

Saint Joseph, Pray for Us!

Lucia, Jacinta & Francisco, Pray for Us!

All Ye Holy Angels & Saints, Rejoice!

Our Lady of the Rosary, Pray for Us!

+   +   +

Hymn:  "Immaculate Mary"

(Brian Foley, Jeremiah Cummings)

Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing
You reign now in Heaven with Jesus our King

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!  Ave, Ave, Maria!

In Heaven the blessed your glory proclaim
On earth we your children invoke your sweet name

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!  Ave, Ave, Maria!

We pray for the Church our true mother on earth
And bless Holy Mary, the land of our birth

Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!  Ave, Ave, Maria!

+   +   +

Fatima Reading & Prayer

The Sixth Apparition & Great Miracle ~ October 13th, 1917

The prediction of a public miracle caused intense speculation throughout Portugal, and the journalist, Avelino de Almeida, published a satirical article on the whole business in the anti-religious newspaper O Seculo. People from other parts of the country descended by the tens of thousands on the Cova despite the terrible storm that lashed the mountain country around Fatima on the eve of the 13th. Many pilgrims walked barefoot, reciting the rosary as they went, all crowding into the area around the Cova. By mid-morning, heavy rain began to fall.

The children reached the Holm oak around noon and then saw the flash of light as Mary appeared before them. For the last time, Lucia asked what she wanted: “I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honor. I am the Lady of the Rosary. Continue always to pray the Rosary every day. The war is going to end, and the soldiers will soon return to their homes.” Again Lucia made requests for cures, conversions and other intentions. Our Lady’s response was: “Some yes, but not others. They must amend their lives and ask forgiveness for their sins.” Sister Lucia tells us that at this point Mary grew very sad and said: “Do not offend the Lord our God anymore, because He is already so much offended.” Then, opening her hands, she caused them to reflect on the sun and, as she ascended, the reflection of her own light continued to be projected upon the sun itself. After she disappeared, as the people witnessed the great miracle which had been predicted, the children saw the visions foretold during the September apparition.

The greatest miracle to occur since the Resurrection is also the only miracle ever precisely predicted as to date, time of day and location.

Although it is popularly known as “The Miracle of the Sun” and October 13, 1917 has come to be known as “The Day the Sun Danced,” a great deal more took place. The solar phenomena included the dancing of the sun, its fluctuations in color, its swirling and its descending toward the earth. There was also the stillness in the leaves of the trees in spite of howling winds, the complete drying of the rain-soaked ground, and the restoration of clothes all wet and covered with mud, so that, as eye-witness Dominic Reis put it, “They looked as though they had just come from the cleaners!” Physical cures of the blind and the lame were reported. The countless unreserved public confessions of sin and commitments to conversion of life attest to the authenticity of what was seen. The miracle is reported to have been seen from as far as 25 miles away, thus ruling out the possibility of any type of collective hallucination or mass hypnotism. Doubters and skeptics had become believers. Even O Seculo’s chief editor, Avelino de Almeida, now reported affirmatively, and stood by his story in spite of harsh criticism.

Text courtesy World Apostolate of Fatima, USA, slightly edited.

The apparitions of Our Lady to the children was not their first encounter with Heaven.  An angel appeared to them previously, three times, and gave them two prayers, as follows:

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee!  I beg pardon of Thee for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee!"

"Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly.  I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference with which He is offended.  By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners."

+   +   +

Sorrowful Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary

+   +   +

Litany of Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for our dear country.
Our Lady of Fatima, sanctify our clergy.
Our Lady of Fatima, make our Catholics more fervent.
Our Lady of Fatima, guide and inspire those who govern us.
Our Lady of Fatima, cure the sick who confide in you.
Our Lady of Fatima, console the sorrowful who trust in you.
Our Lady of Fatima, help those who invoke your aid.
Our Lady of Fatima, deliver us from all dangers.
Our Lady of Fatima, help us to resist temptation.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain for us all that we lovingly ask of you.
Our Lady of Fatima, help those who are dear to us.
Our Lady of Fatima, bring back to the right road our erring brothers.
Our Lady of Fatima, give us back our ancient fervor.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain for us pardon of our manifold sins and offenses.
Our Lady of Fatima, bring all men to the feet of your Divine Child.
Our Lady of Fatima, obtain peace for the world.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Let Us Pray:  O God of infinite goodness and mercy, fill our hearts with a great confidence in Thy dear Mother, whom we invoke under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary and our Lady of Fatima, and grant us by her powerful intercession, all the graces, spiritual and temporal, which we need.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

+   +   +

Nomen Christi Apostolate Prayer for World Peace

O Most Holy Trinity, look upon the work of Thy Hands with mercy and give us the peace we so desperately need.  Shower Thy graces upon us like the rain, like a great flood engulfing us and end these many sorrows.  Sorrow from disrespect for human life, terrorism, unrest, fear, disaster, impurity, blasphemy, occult activities, persecution of the holy, leading the innocent astray, drug addiction, people thinking they can re-order the perfect creation Thou hast made.  We live in unprecedented times, uncertain times.  Deliver us from all evil, visible and invisible and from all fear.  Help us to prepare for the days to come and to extricate ourselves from this inauthentic culture.  We pray for the triumphalism of Holy Mother Church and the salvation of all souls.  Give us peace in our hearts and courage to face the future and win our Heavenly reward.  Jesus Our Lord & Our Lady of Fatima, we love Thee!  In the Holy Name of Christ, Nomen Christi.  Amen.

+   Sign of the Cross   +

Closing Hymn:  "Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above"

(Contractus Hermannus)

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.
Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye Cherubim,
Sing with us, ye Seraphim,
Heav'n and earth resound the hymn,
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.

The cause of joy to all below, O Maria.
The spring through which all graces flow, O Maria.
Angels, all your praises bring,
Earth and heaven, with us sing,
All creation echoing,
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.

O gentle, loving, holy one, O Maria.
The God of light became your Son, O Maria.
Triumph, all ye Cherubim,
Sing with us, ye Seraphim.
Heav'n and earth resound the hymn,
Salve, Salve, Salve, Regina.

Thank you for joining us on this glorious day!  May God richly bless you for your devotion to Our Lady~never forget the great happenings at Fatima, Portugal in the year 1917! 

How are these events calling you to change your life?

Thought for the Day & Reminder!

I keep hearing subtle variations on this quote:  "We are spiritual beings having a human experience."  How about this variation:

We are connected beings having a separate experience.

Think about it.

Don't forget our final Fatima Family Holy Hour for World Peace, this Friday!  I will be at the World Apostolate of Fatima in Asbury, NJ, but the show will go on right here on this blog!  Don't miss it!  And please add your voice to our comments-thank you, you will be blessed!  CFM:)  PSSpread the word and think about giving Our Lady a special gift for this momentous occasion!

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary!

First of all, the major features of this month of October in the Roman Catholic Church are:  Dedication to the Holy Rosary given to St. Dominic, the celebration of the centennial of the final apparition at Fatima, the great Miracle of the Sun seen by thousands and a general focus on pro-life issues, the first Sunday of the month being dedicated to this cause....the annual "40 Days for Life," a Christian initiative, overlaps with the month of October-it began September 27th and extends till November 5th-this involves a three-point approach:  Prayer & Fasting,  Constant Vigil and Community Outreach.  Think about getting involved-these efforts have saved many lives!

We also have the trad feast of Christ the King, last Sunday of October and several Marian feasts, including Our Lady of the Rosary, corresponding to this month's theme.  We celebrate only one Doctor of the Church this month, St. Therese, probably (but I haven't researched this) the youngest of all the Doctors, only reaching the age of 24-what an accomplishment for such a young woman to attain a distinction reserved in all 2,000 years of Church history, for only 35 people!  We also honor several saints of the Gospel, companions of Christ, this month, along with one of the writers of the Gospel, Saint Luke.

So there are many things to think about in the coming weeks-if you can't do it all, pick one thing and devote yourself to it.  That is the beauty of being a Catholic-it is such a rich and varied tradition, there is something for everyone!  Here is sampling of this month's feasts:

10/1-St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, 1897/Respect Life Sunday

10/2-Holy Guardian Angels

10/3-St. Therese of Lisieux (trad)

10/4-St. Francis of Assisi, 1226

10/5-St. Faustina Kowalska, Seer of the Divine Mercy, 1938-pray the chaplet!

10/6-First Friday

10/7-First Saturday/Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary-what a day to celebrate the First Saturday devotion, in the month of the Holy Rosary and also the month of the final Fatima apparition-remember, this devotion was given to Sister Lucia!

10/8-Our Lady of Good Remedy

10/11-Divine Maternity of Our Lady

10/12-Our Lady of the Pillar

10/13-CENTENNIAL OF THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN AT FATIMA, PORTUGAL-the final Fatima apparition-Don't forget our Holy Hour right here on the blog!  What special gift would you like to give Our Lady on this joyful day?  My gift will be to spend the day at the World Apostolate of Fatima Blue Army Shrine in New Jersey-Mass will be said by Bishop Frank Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, CT-he is the very first clergy member I met with in Brooklyn 4 years ago, to discuss Nomen Christi Apostolate and we had a great meeting!  Maybe I'll see you there?

10/16-St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Seer of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1690/St. Gerard Majella, 1755-patron of pregnant women

10/17-St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (trad)

10/18-St. Luke the Evangelist

10/21-St. Ursula & Companions, Martyrs, 4th Century-legend states she had up to 11,000 companions martyred with her, perhaps even more, but no one knows for sure what the actual number was

10/22-Pope St. John Paul II, 2005/St. Mary Salome, Mother of Saints James & John, Apostles

10/24-St. Raphael the Archangel-patron of travelers & the blind

10/28-Saints Simon & Jude, Apostles

10/29-Christ the King

10/31-All Hallow's Eve-pray for those who perform occult practices on this day in direct response to Holy Church's devotion to the saints in Heaven....and for reparation for these sins

RIP Patrick Tracy

Please pray for the repose of the soul of dear Patrick Tracy, my first cousin, who passed in his sleep, very unexpectedly, last Sunday.  He was 64 years old and lived a lifetime of charity towards others.  He had been the Director of Campus Ministry at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue, NY and taught religion and social studies there.  He was involved in countless charitable organizations over the years.  His funeral on Thursday at Holy Family in HIcksville, was the most well-attended funeral I have ever seen.  He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.  Please pray for his family as well, at this time.  Much thanks.

Life is so short-let's make the most of it, to win souls for God!