Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady

This is the day the Mother of God, who suffered so terribly through the Passion of her Child, entered the Kingdom of Heaven and received her eternal rewards for her faithfulness and trust in God. Ensuing was her glorious Coronation as Queen of Heaven and Earth, alongside her Son as our King. Here’s an article from the National Catholic Register:

Jesus’ Resurrection, Mary’s Assumption and Our Glorious Resurrection on the Last Day

Still getting back into my routine after 4 months of ongoing problems. Will post something this week. I don’t know what, so it will be as much a surprise to me as to you!

August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

[Edited since posting.]

“Treasure of Kindness, Which Forever Lives and Never Dies”

When looking for images, I look for one that grabs me and is somewhat unique.  The vintage French prayer card above was perfect.  I realized I had to translate the French and this was my best attempt. The sentiment is beautiful and calls to mind the eternal bliss possessed by Our Lady and all those in Heaven.  This illustration of the Immaculate Heart contains many of the elements we normally see:  the lily emerging from the flame, the sword with the drops of blood, the wreath of roses and the emanating rays of light.  We also sometimes see the Crown of Thorns surrounding her heart in a circular fashion.  This month, we might meditate more deeply on the symbolism of Our Lady’s heart, passed down to us over the centuries.  We might also seek to conform our own hearts to hers, that we may be that “Treasure of Kindness” to those around us.

How else may we honor this most loving of hearts, inextricably united to the Sacred Heart?  It would certainly be an appropriate time to begin the Communion of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart 5 First Saturdays, given to Sister Lucia by Our Lady of Fatima.  If your parish does not offer this, consider meeting with your pastor to discuss it.  What an exciting privilege to establish and lead this devotion in your own Catholic community!  The traditional feast of the Immaculate Heart is celebrated August 22nd, alongside the new feast of the Queenship of Mary.

Other Marian feasts this month are:  Our Lady of the Snows on the 5th, THE ASSUMPTION on the 15th and Our Lady of Knock, celebrated on the 17th or the 21st.  Saint Dominic, seer of the Holy Rosary, is honored on the 4th and Saint Joachim, father of the Blessed Virgin, on the 16th.  What an amazing month to become closer to the Mother of God, to offer reparation to her Immaculate Heart and to console her in her sorrows, looking upon this world of corruption.

Let us remember the TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD on the 6th. August also celebrates 3 Doctors of the Church:  Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Saint Augustine.  We also have dear Saint Clare (otherwise known as Clara or Chiara-my name) on the 12th and Saint Rose of Lima, patroness of gardeners (we are especially devoted to her here), on the 30th.

As you may know, the Tridentine Latin Mass is being persecuted more aggressively in recent days in the United States.  Let us commend this sorrow to Our Lady and be at peace that God is provident and always holds His children in His Hands.  (I was going to give you some links, but it upset me so much, I could not continue reading-some dioceses most recently cracking down are Chicago, Washington DC and Arlington VA.)

Here is the traditional calendar for the month of August:  calefactory.org

Note:  Both old and new feasts are given.  The old is given preference when there are 2 dates.

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Image from Ethelyn at Pinterest.

Update #2

Just checking in quickly for my loyal readers out there. So, the Covid started out like a cold, but graduated into being more flu-like. I’m still not well, but my husband is doing much better. Thank you for your prayers and hopefully, one of these days, my life will return to normal. I have learned how important family and friends are at a time like this. A friend from church offered to by us groceries. We have been doing okay ordering them from the store, but knowing someone cares is so comforting. If you know someone in need, think about helping them in some way-it can make all the difference to them.

I’m offering it all in reparation to the Body and Blood of Christ, in this the month of the Most Precious Blood. Blessings to you all and your families! Chiara F Mathews:)

Update

After just getting over a whole ordeal with a surgical removal of a kidney stone, I now have a head injury. The doc does not want me on the computer or doing anything that requires concentration (and I put a great deal of concentration into my writing). Recovery could take several weeks. Posts are suspended until I am better. Thanks for your patience!

Further update: And now my husband and I have Covid. No, we have not received the Mystery Injection and our symptoms are like cold symptoms. I am not worried, but prayers would be appreciated at this point! I haven’t even told you everything that has happened to me in the past 3 months-it has been one thing after another, with no break at all, starting with the passing of my brother. I feel God is preparing me for the coming days, making me stronger and more trusting. I have learned so much from this journey of suffering. Like St. Bernadette, let us thank God always for our crosses, for (as St. Vincent de Sales said), He does not test us beyond our ability and it is an act of love, to bring us closer to Him!

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood

Please consider how you might honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus during this month of July.

Here is your trad calendar for July: http://www.calefactory.org/calendar/wc202207.htm

God bless you and your families. Thank you for reading!

ROE VS WADE OVERTURNED ON THE FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART!

For ongoing coverage…

LIFESITE

NEW ADVENT

EWTN NEWS

As I groggily sauntered into the kitchen this morning, my husband immediately greeted me with the stunning news.  We all suspected this was coming, but you are never quite ready for that moment when something anticipated becomes real.  As I was still trying to absorb the information, I did my customary glance at the Catholic calendar and saw “The Sacred Heart of Jesus” as today’s feast.  Instantly I said to myself, “Not a coincidence!  Amazing!”  Tomorrow is also the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  After waiting just shy of 50 long years, the dice land on this day.  This shows God’s omnipotent Providence in all things and gives us great consolation.  This incredible day is graced by the Two Hearts!

After spending the past 34 years fighting for life, I never thought I would live to see this day.  There is a feeling of joy thinking of all my pro-life friends, past and present, rejoicing today.  A wave of positive energy has shot through the world…a world that desperately needs it.  It’s hard to believe it’s true.

Yes, there are those who will take this opportunity to do evil and to persecute us more viciously, but we cannot focus on that ugliness from Hell.  We must focus on Heaven, life and beauty.  Just look at a picture of a precious baby and you will regain your perspective.  Let us thank God in the coming days and continue to pray for peace and the safety of our people.  Let us continue the fight for life as never before.  Evil cannot stand forever.  Christ already has the victory on the Cross!  Alleluia!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy upon us

“In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph”

June is the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Veni, Sancte Spiritus!

Fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love!

10 days after Ascension Thursday, the first Sunday of June, we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost or Whitsunday.  Many pray a novena between Ascension and Pentecost.  These 9 days actually were the origin of the novena itself.  It is wonderful to continue these Catholic traditions and teach them to the younger generation.

The first Marian feast of June is the new feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, which is always the day after Pentecost.  Let us commend Holy Church in all our difficulties to Our Lady at this time.  2 days later, we begin the Ember Days of Pentecost (or Summer).  These are days of prayer and penance for the coming season.  As things are heating up in the world on all fronts, prayer and penance is desperately needed.  The Ember Days also present an opportunity to teach children Catholic tradition in a fun way, incorporating crafts, artwork, etc.  This month gives us 4 Doctors of the Church:  Saint Ephrem of Syria, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Basil the Great and Saint Cyril of Alexandria.  One week after Pentecost, we have Trinity Sunday, when we celebrate all 3 Persons of the Most Holy Trinity.

Not only do we honor Our Lord’s Sacred Heart in June, we also honor His Body in the feasts of Corpus Christi (trad) and the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (new).  On the 24th, we celebrate the Sacred Heart and on the 25th, the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  So intimate are these 2 Hearts, that they cannot be separated.  (Keep in mind, the feast of the Sacred Heart is a solemnity, so no Friday penance is required.)  How may we reciprocate the incomprehensible love which emanates from the Sacred Heart of Jesus this month?  We may consider beginning the Nine First Fridays Devotion, given to Saint Margaret Mary by Our Lord Himself.  We may also consider making a good confession, contemplating how we have failed to love others adequately…or come up with your own ideas as a family!

In the age of chastisement upon us, let us flee to the Sacred Heart of Our Blessed Lord in all our sufferings and needs…

 “Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thee, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.”

From Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart prayer.

And let us never lose hope, for Our Lady of Fatima has promised an era of peace to come…

“Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm.  Give peace and order to all nations and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry:  Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation.  To It be glory and honor forever!”

From Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, by Pope Pius XI.

But more importantly, Heaven is our true home where we will reside in eternal happiness with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

Here is the traditional calendar for the month of June:  https://calefactory.org/calendar

Image from https://sahe.hwcdsb.ca

+++ Memorial Day USA +++

It is a dying culture which cannot mourn.

True, some do honor the dead in America on this day…the dead who supposedly died for us, for our “freedom.”  Generally it is those who have lost a loved one in the military, veterans or those few strange people who actually care simply because they are American.  The vast majority engage in parties and shopping, without stopping for a moment to contemplate the actual purpose of Memorial Day.  What does this say about our culture…and where it’s going?

There is a concerning new trend, the “Celebration of Life” alternative to the funeral.  People feel, instead of “being sad,” we should simply “celebrate the person’s life” and essentially have a party, instead of any shared mourning ritual at the time of death.  This is the time when people need to grieve together and work through it to some measure of closure.  The universal Requiem is an ancient process that modern man is doing away with, because he is so clever and evolved.  He thinks he knows human nature better than our ancestors.  As he drifts further from God and nature, he forgets even the distinction between life and death.  This is well illustrated with In Vitro Fertilization, a horrific melding of the creation of life and the wanton disposal of it.  Ritual implies there is a human heart and someone worth grieving for.  Of course, it is most often performed in a religious setting, but the New World Order man has no God but Caesar. 

Ironically, this has become the age of the half-mast flag.  Where there is mourning everywhere, there is mourning nowhere.  Caesar tells us who we should perennially be mourning for.  As death encompasses us, desensitization is what follows.  Such a society is prepared for crimes against humanity…to accept them, to commit them.

My husband’s uncle was shot to death at Germany’s famous WWII Battle of the Bulge.  He was 26 years old.  His body was never returned home (there is a dignified stone for him in the family cemetery).  This is what the enemy does in these never-ending corrupt wars.  What did Uncle Harry die for?  In the past 2 years, we have set the precedent for restricted travel, cessation of public religious practice, limited medical treatment and lack of autonomy over our own bodies.  And we’re still singing “The Star Spangled Banner.”

What does one do within a dying culture?  This is the question we all must answer at this very hour.  There is probably not much more time to take action.  We will not all come up with the same answer…

"Take ye heed, watch and pray.”

Mark 13:33

Let us pray for our dear fallen soldiers, beautiful young men with so much promise…

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

Image from patch.com

Prayer Request

One of our readers, Fr. Stephen, has asked for prayer for his special intentions. Let us keep him in prayer and let us recite the “Salve Regina” for him right now:

Hail Holy Queen

Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve

To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears

Turn then, most gracious Advocate

Thine eyes of mercy toward us

And after this, our exile

Show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus

O Clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary

Pray for us O holy Mother of God

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Amen

+ + +

Regina, Mater misericordiae

Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve

Ad te clamamus, exsules, filii Hevae

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes

In hac lacrimarum valle

Eia ergo, Advocata nostra

Illos tuos misericordes oculos

Ad nos converte

Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui

Nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis

Virgo Maria

Amen

Please feel free to contact us (button above) with any prayer intentions.

May is the Month of Our Lady

O Mary, powerful Virgin, thou art the mighty and glorious protector of the Church. Thou art the marvelous help of Christians. Thou art terrible as an army in battle array. Thou alone hast destroyed every heresy in the whole world. In the midst of our anguish, our struggles and our distress, defend us from the power of the enemy, and at the hour of our death, receive our souls in paradise. Amen.

From The Raccolta

In this first week of May, the month dedicated to Our Lady, let us contemplate the extraordinary painting above, which is based on the Miraculous Medal.*  She seems to be lovingly gazing down upon the world as she crushes the head of the serpent with her bare foot.  Usually, we see this image with Our Lady standing upon the earth (or the firmament).  It is her children’s enemy she defeats.  She has a look of complete peace and as the rays of grace emanate from her hands, this battle seems effortless for her.  Satan, with all his wiles and powerful minions below, is no match for this simple woman from Nazareth.  What a humiliating demise as the angels look on.  A demise which awaits all those who serve him on earth.  We must trust, as we look at the corruption of the world and the ever-growing human rights abuses, that God has got this.  As we say at the outset of every Tridentine Mass…

“Why art thou sad, O my soul, and why dost thou disquiet me­?  Hope in God, for I will still give praise to Him, the salvation of my countenance and my God.”

Above the Queen of Heaven’s head are the other elements of the Miraculous Medal (the 12 stars on the back of the medal do not seem to be in the painting):  the Cross above her initial, the 2 Hearts and a prayer which she has herself said is one of her favorites…

“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!”

Saint Catherine Laboure was the nun who received the Miraculous Medal from Our Lady.  Her incorrupt body lies at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Paris, where she received 3 visions in the year 1830 (this year is also on the front of the medal).  Pope John Paul II visited the chapel in 1980 and spoke this prayer…

"You watch over the Church for you are its Mother. You watch over each of your children. From God, you obtain for us, all graces that are symbolized by the rays of light which radiate from your open hands, and the only condition that you demand of us is that we approach with the confidence…and the simplicity of a child. And it is thus that you bring us before your Divine Son."

What does all of this mean for us?  It means our Heavenly Father has given us a great advocate to help us through anything life and this crazy world might throw at us.  When we are confused, depressed or anxious, we have only to appeal to her motherly love for us.  For if her Son loved us so much that He died for us, how could she reject us?  As the words of the “Memorare” say…

“I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins”

In this month of May, there are many ways we can give honor to the Mother of God…because she is our Mediatrix, she participated in our salvation by saying “Yes” to God, and also suffered terribly in witnessing the Passion of her Son.  Perhaps we could renew our devotion to the Miraculous Medal, learning more about it and the life of Saint Catherine Laboure.  May would also be a most appropriate month to begin the “Communion of Reparation 5 First Saturdays,” associated with Fatima.  If your local parish does not provide this devotion, think about meeting with your pastor to establish it!

May also gives us 3 Marian feasts:  Our Lady of Fatima on the 13th, The Visitation and Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, both on the 31st.  Mother’s Day is the 8th…how about a Rosary for your mother (2 birds with one stone!).

Some other feasts this month:  ASCENSION OF THE LORD, Minor Rogation Days…Doctors of the Church:  Saints Athanasius (the earliest Doctor), Gregory Nazianzen and Bede the Venerable…Saint Isidore the Farmer!

For the (trad) rest of May, here you go: calefactory.org

*  Sorry, I don’t know who the artist is.  Can anyone tell me?

Some feasts mentioned are in the new calendar.  Image from fineartamerica.com