"The Winners of the Future"

“The winners of the future are going to be those who can still concentrate, and have the patience to learn and absorb actual context in depth.  The losers are going to be the people blindly reacting, lacking any and all context…the powers that be want us to have no context. That's why when there are revolutions, the first thing the communists, the authoritarians, the socialists do, is they tear down the statues. They don't want you grounded in your past. They ruin the libraries. They get rid of the Christians. They basically upend and tear out all the history books and rewrite them because a people without context are people that are easily manipulated ”

Chris Martenson

And one of our new taglines here at Nomen Christi is…

the future is catholic!

be on the cutting edge

…and it appears we are in the “quickening,” the phase of exponential acceleration, so don’t think the future is that far away.

April is the Month of the Most Holy Eucharist

[Please note corrections relating to April 25th and notes on the Octave of Easter. And we somehow forgot the 7 Sorrows feast.]

In the traditional Liturgical Year, we begin April in Lent, move through Passiontide and the Easter Triduum, and end in Paschal Time (also known as Eastertide).  This is all a snippet of the “Cycle of Easter:  The Mystery of the Redemption,” which extends until Advent.  We will see our collective meditation upon the Redemption pass from penance and Our Lord’s Passion, to the glory of the Resurrection, foretelling our own Resurrection of soul and body after death.  After the sorrowful Holy Week, we enter into what the New Marian Missal calls “a time of uninterrupted joy and feasts.”  Eastertide includes the Octave of Easter (originally consecrated to the newly baptized), the Ascension of Our Lord and Pentecost.  The Paschal Candle, lit on the evening of Holy Saturday, shines until Ascension Thursday, representing the Resurrected Lord upon earth.

Take note of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady on the 11th. There are a number of devotions for this feast.

The 25th is the feast of Saint Mark [correction: not celebrated this year because this is Easter Friday, which takes precedence] and also what we traditionally call the Major Rogation Day [this still applies].  Rogation Days are very similar to the seasonal Ember Days, but of different origin.  It is, it seems, inappropriate to have a day of penance during the Octave of Easter, so keeping the Rogation Day in a spirit of joy would be advisable (pray the Litany of the Saints, see below).  To tie it in with April’s Eucharistic devotion, we might attend Mass or read Saint Mark’s account of the Last Supper, Mark 14:12-26 [Saint Mark would probably appreciate a nod to him].  Here is the definition of “Rogation Days” from Father John Hardon’s book, Modern Catholic Dictionary:

“Prescribed days of prayer and penance in spring. Two sets of rogation days were kept since early Christian times: the Major Rogation on April 25, the Feast of St. Mark; and the Minor Rogations on the last three days before Ascension Thursday. They were instituted to appease divine justice, ask for protection, and invoke God's blessing on the harvest. The Litany of the Saints was [prayed] in procession and the Rogation Mass followed. The feast of St. Mark, as the more ancient, was also called the Greater Litanies; it Christianized a pagan spring festival in honor of the god Robigus. The three other rogation days were adapted in Rome under Pope Leo III (reigned 795-816). (Etym. Latin rogatio, inquiry, request.)”

Divine Mercy Sunday is always one week after Easter and Our Lord Himself asked Saint Faustina to institute a novena, beginning on Good Friday.  You can find the Chaplet and Novena prayers on our Home page or you can print this PDF which includes the lesser-known Litany to the Divine Mercy.  Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, devoted herself profoundly to the Holy Eucharist and her Chaplet features these words:

“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

During this Information Age, it is ironic that so few know and believe the teachings of Holy Church on the Body of Christ.  Holiness starts at home, so instructing those who need help with this is our primary responsibility.  Making reparation for the outrages against the Eucharist is also a wonderful thing.  There are various litanies and prayers-here is one: 

Litany of Reparation to the Blessed Sacrament

Some places have special Eucharistic devotions during Lent.  For instance, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY, is honoring the 40 days of Lent with Adoration at 40 different parishes.  The USCCB’s 3-year National Eucharistic Revival continues until June 22nd.  There may be other activities associated with the Jubilee Year of 2025 (more on this holy year in the coming month on the blog).

Wishing you and your families many blessings as we celebrate Easter, the “Solemnity of Solemnities,” and honor the Most Holy Eucharist, that body both broken and resurrected.

Notable feasts of April:

5th-First Saturday

6th to 19th-Passion Sunday and Passiontide (trad)

11th-SEVEN SORROWS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

13th-Palm Sunday

17th-Holy/Maundy Thursday

18th to 20th-EASTER TRIDUUM (traditionally, no meat is eaten on Holy Saturday)

20th to 27th-Octave of Easter, Privileged Octave of the First Order (Easter is of such great importance, that it is given an entire 8 days of celebration)

25th-Greater or Major Rogation Day

27th-Divine Mercy Sunday/Low Sunday (trad)

28th-Saint Louis de Montfort

29th-Saint Catherine of Siena

30th-Saint Catherine of Siena (trad)

HOMESCHOOLING ACTIVITIES FOR APRIL

1)       Create artwork or make a craft celebrating the joy of Easter.

2)      Write a short essay on the Paschal Candle, explaining its symbols and symbolism.

3)      Compose your own prayer to thank Jesus for the gift of Holy Communion. 

"The Breastplate of Saint Patrick"

Before March is over, I’d like to present this beautiful prayer by Saint Patrick. It is also known as “The Deer’s Cry.” This is a literal translation from the Old Irish text. Saint Patrick, pray for us!

I bind to myself today

The strong virtue of the invocation of the Trinity

I believe the Trinity in the Unity

The Creator of the Universe 

I bind to myself today

The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism

The virtue of His Crucifixion with His Burial

The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension

The virtue of His Coming on the Judgement Day 

I bind to myself today

The virtue of the love of seraphim

In the obedience of angels

In the hope of resurrection unto reward

In prayers of Patriarchs

In predictions of Prophets

In preaching of Apostles

In faith of Confessors

In purity of holy Virgins

In deeds of righteous men 

I bind to myself today

The power of Heaven

The light of the sun

The brightness of the moon

The splendour of fire

The flashing of lightning

The swiftness of wind

The depth of sea

The stability of earth

The compactness of rocks 

I bind to myself today

God's Power to guide me

God's Might to uphold me

God's Wisdom to teach me

God's Eye to watch over me

God's Ear to hear me

God's Word to give me speech

God's Hand to guide me

God's Way to lie before me

God's Shield to shelter me

God's Host to secure me

Against the snares of demons

Against the seductions of vices

Against the lusts of nature

Against everyone who meditates injury to me

Whether far or near

Whether few or with many 

I invoke today all these virtues

Against every hostile merciless power

Which may assail my body and my soul

Against the incantations of false prophets

Against the black laws of heathenism

Against the false laws of heresy

Against the deceits of idolatry

Against the spells of smiths and wizards

Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man 

Christ, protect me today

Against every poison, against burning

Against drowning, against death-wound

That I may receive abundant reward 

Christ with me, Christ before me

Christ behind me, Christ within me

Christ beneath me, Christ above me

Christ at my right, Christ at my left

Christ in the fort

Christ in the chariot seat

Christ in the boat

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me

Christ in every eye that sees me

Christ in every ear that hears me 

I bind to myself today

The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity

I believe the Trinity in the Unity

The Creator of the Universe 

Amen

*** THE BREASTPLATE OF SAINT PATRICK PDF Printable ***

This prayer was taken from Emerald Isle, which also tells part of Saint Patrick’s story.

Great Ayn Rand Quote

“[Man] is free to make the wrong choice, but not free to succeed with it. He is free to evade reality, he is free to unfocus his mind and stumble blindly down any road he pleases, but not free to avoid the abyss he refuses to see. Knowledge, for any conscious organism, is the means of survival. To a living consciousness, every is implies an ought. Man is free to choose not to be conscious, but not free to escape the penalty of unconsciousness: destruction.”

Ayn Rand

New & Improved "15 Points Preparedness Worksheet!"

15 Points Preparedness Worksheet

I’m getting ready to give a preparedness talk at a church and just freshened up our family worksheet. It can be accessed above, and also on the Home Page. It is 4 pages and helps you design your own prepper program, tailored to your needs. This worksheet makes it easy for you to get started in the preparedness lifestyle. It is an holistic approach, unique and from a Catholic perspective. I think it will surprise you. Print it out today and work on it as a family!

Feel free to email us (button above) with any feedback (which may be shared on this blog). Let us know if you found the worksheet helpful.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day / Thoughts for the Day

SAINT PATRICK, PRAY FOR US!

From today’s trad Mass:

O God, Who didst deign to send blessed Patrick, Thy confessor and bishop, to preach Thy glory to the nations, grant, through his merits and intercession, that those commands which Thou dost set before us we may by Thy mercy be able to fulfill.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that, giving thanks for the favors we have received, we may, by the intercession of blessed Patrick, Thy confessor and bishop, obtain blessings still greater. Amen.

~ ~ ~

I belong here because I am here.

~ ~ ~

When you look beyond the horizon, the obstructions collapse.

~ ~ ~

Envy is the inability to receive another person’s gifts, which were meant for you.

~ ~ ~

The mystic surrenders his life to the Mystery.

The thoughts shared here which are not in quotes, are recent meditations of mine which I have crystallized into simple ideas. All writing on this site is by CF Mathews, unless otherwise noted.

California Fires: Don't Forget

“Sara and I talked late into the night about the hard truths revealed by the Palisades fires. We now know none of the things we once trusted exist in reality. We are not protected from fire, crime, none of it. Civilization no longer exists under Democrat rule. We are on our own.”

James Woods

James Woods tearfully recalls evacuating in Pacific Palisades fire: 'Like an inferno'

Actor James Woods was interviewed by USA Today in the above article from January 8th, which also includes video. This was the day after he fled from his burning neighborhood in Palisades and his emotions are still intense. The quote above was posted by Woods on X yesterday.

In the interview, Woods recalls his ordeal from a hotel room. He doubted his house was still standing, but it did survive, which he later said was “a miracle.” Woods was responsible for saving the life of an elderly neighbor with dementia.

There is much to learn here, from a preparedness perspective, whether you are facing fire or some other disaster. Woods had enough presence of mind, even while still reeling from this experience, to well articulate the priorities one should have in this situation. He said that your home doesn’t matter as much as the lives of your neighbors. He mentioned the need to keep yourself safe, be smart about evacuating and let the responders do their job unimpeded. He also illustrates a lesson that we can all take to heart: one day you have everything and then it can be all gone.

Often, when faced with extraordinary circumstances, who we really are is revealed. CS Lewis talked about this in Mere Christianity, that there are times, before the mask can be thrown back on, when our true selves are revealed. James Woods showed his compassion in this situation, went through great lengths to find out if his neighbor was in the house, and saved a life (911 was notified, but Woods took it into his own hands, knowing they might not get to him in time).

Woods mentions God a few times in this interview. Perhaps these fires were in some way a blessing in disguise. If conversions occur, that is a great and joyful thing. And we all know Hollywood could use some conversion. Let us continue to pray for those in the aftermath of these fires and also those who are still suffering from the ravages of Hurricane Helene.

Consider what could occur in your own neck of the woods and make a plan to be better prepared. Check out our “Preparedness” topic to the right>>> and also see some useful links on our Home page!

March is the Month of Saint Joseph, Part 2

A new feature we recently started is monthly homeschool activities (see topic to the right>>>).  In Part 1, our reader Jenna gave some ideas on how to observe the monthly devotions, so we will use some of those…

Homeschool Activities for March

1. Can you find a 9-day novena to Saint Joseph?  Do you think you can pray it this month or sometime during Lent?  Try to get all 9 days in a row!  (Mothers, you might want to abbreviate the prayers for young children.)

2. Write a short prayer to Saint Joseph and memorize it.

3. Which feast in honor of Mary do we celebrate this month?  Where is this account found in Holy Scripture?

For more information on traditional monthly dedications, see the link below from Catholic Online.  History and indulgences are discussed.  Below is an excerpt of the month of March…

Special Devotions for Months

“St. Joseph (feast, 19 March); indulgences, three hundred days daily for those who privately or publicly perform some pious practice in honour of St. Joseph, during the month, a plenary indulgence on any day of the month under the usual conditions ( Pius IX, "Rescript Congr. Indulg.", 27 April, 1865). This month of devotions may commence in February and be concluded 19 March ( Pius IX, 18 July, 1877). March can be replaced by another month in case of legitimate impediment (Raccolta, 404). The practice of a triduum [A time frequently chosen for prayer or for other devout practices, whether by individuals in private, or in public by congregations or special organizations in parishes, in religious communities, seminaries, or schools. The form of prayer or devotion depends upon the occasion or purpose of the triduum. The three days usually precede some feast, and the feast then determines the choice of the pious exercises.] before the feast of St. Joseph has been recommended by Leo XIII (Encycl. "Quamquam pluries", 15 August, 1889).”

And here is a post from June, 2016…we now have a full 10 years of posts here…

A New Prayer to Saint Joseph!

Dumb Catholic Humor....

If I ever become a saint, just my luck, my feast will be on February 29th.

Happy Not Leap Year!

Reminder: March 1st is the last Saturday before Lent (go to confession) and also, the First Saturday of the month (Communion of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart).

March is the Month of Saint Joseph, Part 1

This year, March comes in with Septuagesima and goes out with the 5th week of Lent.  Yes, Easter is late this year, on April 20th.  Easter may be celebrated from March 22nd to April 25th.  Have a look at the (Old Farmer’s) Almanac page below for an explanation of how the date of Easter is determined, including potential complications and the “Golden Number” method.  This article is chock-full of interesting facts and links.  I support the Almanac for their great work in gardening and traditional ideas, and also their respect for the Catholic Church.  They are an invaluable resource.  You can even type in your zip code and get the seasonal planting schedule for your area.  It’s about 15 pages, but well-worth printing.

Almanac:  When is Easter?  Why it Falls so Late in 2025

Also, the above article gives us an idea on one thing we can do to celebrate a holy Lent!  The 7 Penitential Psalms…

“In the sixth century, Christians who had committed grave faults were obliged to do public penance. On Ash Wednesday, they donned a hair shirt (which they wore for 40 days), and the local bishop blessed them and sprinkled them with ashes. Then, while others recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the holy place. They could not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday…when they received absolution.”

Here they are, along with the Songs of the Suffering Servant, from Isaiah, which are also customary to recite during Lent:

USCCB:  The Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant

Traditionally during Lent, meat was only eaten at one meal per day and no meat was eaten on Holy Saturday.  Obviously, we refrain from meat every Friday and there is fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Some also recite the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary each day in Lent.

The Spring Equinox is March 20th.  Since we are preppers here, it is time to start thinking about our gardening.  If you have never gardened or are rusty at it, the Almanac above is fabulous for getting started.  Don’t worry if you can’t get it together for a Spring garden, Summer is a fine time to plant.   How about making that a goal?  Food resilience is becoming more and more important, as food supply and farmers are undergoing attack throughout the world.  Growing your own food is really just a normal part of being human, like my Sicilian-born grandmother did in a tiny yard in Brooklyn, New York.  My father carried on her example at our home in Levittown, growing tomatoes in the backyard and eggplant on the front lawn!  It’s a wonderful thing to teach our children and they have a natural love for it.  The miracle of watching a seed grow into a beautiful plant that you can eat, is endlessly enthralling and gives you an appreciation for God’s creation.  Maybe that’s one reason why the forces of evil do not want us growing food.  Faith is a threat to their New World Order (remember when garden centers were considered “unessential” during Covid?).

Here are some notable feasts of this month, including the Ember Days of Lent.  These present a further opportunity for penance and prayer.  The traditional Mass readings are quite inspiring.  You can also get creative with these Ember Days which harken to the season of Spring, with nature-themed activities and crafts with children.  Take note of the Annunciation, 9 months before Christmas, and Laetare Sunday, like Gaudete Sunday in Advent, when we are reminded of joy in the midst of penance, and the vestments are rose-colored…

2nd-Quinquagesima Sunday

4th-Shrove Tuesday

5th-Ash Wednesday

6th-Saints Perpetua & Felicity

7th-Saint Thomas Aquinas, Perpetua & Felicity (new)

12th-Ember Wednesday

14th-Ember Friday

15th-Ember Saturday

17th-Saint Patrick

19th-Saint Joseph

21st-Saint Benedict

24th-Saint Gabriel the Archangel

25th-ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

30th-Laetare Sunday

+     +     +

Month of Saint Joseph, Foster-Father of Our Lord

In this month dedicated to Saint Joseph, his feast is celebrated March 19th.  There are so many ways to honor him and show our love for this most faithful intercessor.  Here is a printable PDF of the “Thirty Days Prayer:”

THIRTY DAYS PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

In Honor of the 30 Years Spent with Jesus & Mary

Below are some thoughts by one of our readers, regarding the monthly Catholic themes.  I love the idea of writing your own prayer-what a great activity for children!

“For me, monthly devotions help to build a greater understanding and deeper relationship with the Lord and His Church.  You can bring it naturally into the monthly cycle and feel a little more God-centered.  Some suggestions:

• Read up on the subject of the month’s devotion.

• Form an understanding of why the devotion is important.

• How does the devotion impact your life?

• Is there a feast day?

• Research a monthly Marian connection.

• Choose a nine-day novena that brings you closer to the devotion.

• Read about the Saints who were part of or partial to the devotion.

• Compose your own prayer.

It doesn’t take long and you are taking time to spend with the Lord and the Faith.”

Jenna, New York

Thank you, Jenna!  We welcome feedback from readers and may post your comments.  Wishing you all a most holy and blessed Lent:)