Happy Birthday Catholic Church!

Happy Birthday to the Catholic Church!

How Old Is Your Church?

Year -- Church --- Started by ----- Where?
33 -- Catholic -- Jesus Christ -- Jerusalem

1054 - Orthodox - Catholic Bishops - Constantinople

1517 - Lutheran - Martin Luther - Germany

1521 - Anabaptist - Storch & Munzer - Germany

1534 - Anglican - Henry VIII - England

1536 - Mennonites - Menno Simons - Switzerland

1555 - Calvinist - John Calvin - Switzerland

1560 - Presbyterian - John Knox - Scotland

1582 - Congregational - Robert Brown - Holland

1609 - Baptist - John Smyth - Amsterdam

1628 - Dutch Reformed - Michaelis Jones - New York

1648 - Congregationalist -Pilgrims/Puritans - Massachusetts

1649 - Quakers - George Fox - England

1693 - Amish - Jacob Amman - France

1717 - Freemasons - Mason from 4 lodges - London

1739 - Methodist - John & Charles Wesley - England

1774 - Unitarian - Theophilus Lindey - London

1784 - Methodist Episcopal - 60 Preachers - Baltimore, Maryland

1789 - Episcopalian Samuel Seabury - American Colonies

1800 - United Brethren - Otterbein & Boelin - Maryland

1827 - Disciples of Christ - Thomas & Alexander Campbell - Kentucky

1830 - Mormon/LDS - Joseph Smith - New York

1836 - Church of Christ - Alexander Campbell & Warren Stone - Kentucky

1844 - Seventh Day Adventists - Ellen White - Washington, NH

1844 - Christadelphian (Brethren of Christ) - John Thomas - Richmond, VA

1865 - Salvation Army - William Booth - London

1867 - Holiness (Methodist) - United States

1874 - Jehovah's Witnesses - Charles Taze Russell - Pennsylvania

1879 - Christian Science - Mary Baker Eddy - Boston

1895 - Church of God in Christ - Various Church of God groups - Arkansas

1850-1900 - Church of Nazarene - Various - Pilot Point, TX

1901 - Pentecostal - Charles F. Parham - Topeka, KS

1906 - Pentecostal - Azusa Street Revival (Seymour) - Los Angeles, CA

1902 - Aglipayan - Gregorio Aglipay - Philippines

1914 - Assembly of God - Pentecostalism - Hot Springs, AZ

1914 - Iglesia ni Christo - Felix Manalo - Philippines

1917 - Four Square Gospel - Aimee Semple McPherson - Los Angeles, CA

1961 - United Church of Christ - Reformed and Congregationalist - Philadelphia, PA

1965 - Calvary Chapel - Chuck Smith - Costa Mesa, CA

1968 - United Methodist - Methodist/United Brethren - Dallas, TX

1972 - Harvest Christian Greg Laurie - Riverside, CA

Last Day of Eastertide

Happy Easter!

Though Eastertide ends with Pentecost, you have one more week to fulfill your Easter Duty*, this week is your last chance this year!

Pentecost, 

the birthday of the Catholic Church!
(see Sunday's blog entry).

There is some confusion on "the end of Eastertide" and when is the last time we can fulfill our "Easter Duty" (to receive Eucharist at least once during Eastertide). The Easter Season officially ends with the Vigil of Pentecost on the Saturday before Pentecost Sunday. However, in the United States, and perhaps elsewhere, there is an indult (special permission) which extends the time period to receive Eucharist through Trinity Sunday (the First Sunday after Pentecost).   (See Fr. Gantley's answer on EWTN site.)

Precepts of the Catholic Church

Keep in mind, these are the MINIMUM requirements...

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor. 
   
   We must “sanctify the day commemorating the Resurrection of the Lord” (Sunday), as well as the principal feast days, known as Catholic holy days of obligation. This requires attending Mass, “and by resting from those works and activities which could impede such a sanctification of these days.”
2. You shall confess your sins at least once a year. 
   
   We must prepare for the Eucharist by means of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). This sacrament “continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.”
3. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season. 
   
   This “guarantees as a minimum the reception of the Lord’s Body and Blood in connection with the Paschal feasts, the origin and center of the Christian liturgy.”
4. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church. 
   
   “The fourth precept ensures the times of ascesis (rigorous self discipline) and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.” See below for more about fasting & abstinence.
5. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church. 
   
   “The fifth precept means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability.”

Fasting is reducing the amount of food you eat below normal levels. Specifically, on fast days you may eat one full meal and two smaller meals, but those two smaller together should not exceed the amount of the normal meal. Snacking is also prohibited on fast days.

All Catholics age 18 to 59 are required to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. You are excused from fasting if you have a legitimate need to eat a normal amount of food on fast days. This includes:

• The sick or infirm, including handicapped or mentally ill people who need the nourishment or cannot make a free choice to fast
• Pregnant or nursing women
• Some manual laborers

Abstinence means not eating meat (fish is not considered meat in this case). All Catholics 14 and older are required to observe abstinence on these days:

• Ash Wednesday, Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), and all Fridays in Lent.
• Outside the U.S., this is required on all Fridays of the year, in honor of the Passion of Jesus on Good Friday.
• In the U.S., it is still strongly recommended to observe Friday abstinence outside of Lent, but Catholics may choose to substitute another penitential practice or act of charity for these days. 
• The point to remember is this is not optional to either abstain or choose another penitential practice or act of charity. 
• Be consistent! It doesn't mean much if you change the practice every week.

Do I need to make confession as part of my Easter Duty?

Well, not if you are already in the state of grace. Canon 988 does not state a timeframe for going to confession - only that it must be done if one is in mortal sin. Canon 989 while providing the timeframe of "at least once a year" does not explicitly state during Eastertide. Receiving the Eucharist, however, is mandated by Canon 920.2 at least once per year and during Eastertide (paschal time). Again, if one is already in the state of grace (no unconfessed mortal sins) then reception of the Eucharist during Eastertide (Easter Duty) does not require confession. If one is in mortal sin then they must go to confession before receiving the Eucharist - SO - if one has not kept up with all the other precepts of the Church (which is a mortal sin) or is outside the state of grace, then in order to fulfill the Easter Duty of receiving the Eucharist they would have to go to confession first.

Happy Easter!

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Ukranian Easter Eggs!

And by request from my long-time friend, Verga:

Klingon
Krist peplu'ta'
taHbej peplu'ta'

Pronunciation:
H = German ch as in Bach,
apostrophe is a glottal stop

For a longer listing of several languages I refer you here:

https://quilocutus.blogspot.com/2012/04/he-is-risen.html

Remember, Eastertide lasts until Pentecost Sunday!

It is still Easter season!

This means there is still time for your "Easter duty."

Remembering Fr. Walker

Today, May 19, 2019 is the 7th anniversary of Fr. Walker's ordination. Fr. Walker was gunned down by a robber in their home at the church, Mater Misericordiae (FSSP) in Phoenix, Arizona on June 11, 2014.

Please remember him, his family and the parishners of Mater Misericordiae.

Eternal rest grant unto him, oh Lord and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

We miss you, Fr. Walker.

Local news story:  on AZ Central.

About a month prior, he was part of my Confirmation during Easter Vigil, April 19, 2014:

Left to right - Fr. Walker, Fr. Terra and Scott Windsor

Jacob Prasch - Questions for Catholics

Questions for Catholics Series:
Prompted by his priest, Scott Windsor responds to James Jacob Prasch (Jacob Prasch) who asks "Five Questions For Catholics" or is it "Thirty-Three Questions For Catholics?"  Prasch, the chief behind Moriel Ministries, is lashing out against Catholicism and is answered in this seven part series:
Part 1 - Should I Believe Mary or the Vatican?
Part 2 - Questions of "Co-"
Part 3 - Purgatory
Part 4 - The Rock 
Part 5 - The Eucharist and John 6
Part 6 - Doctrines of Demons?
Part 7 - Call No Man Father and the Mass


I would also point out, Mr. Prasch's challenge was answered over three years ago, at the time of this posting, and we still have no response from him. He was taken quite ill about the time of the initial responses, which Prasch himself challenged Catholics to engage him as he would like to engage further.  We have heard nothing from him yet, and we trust and pray that he has recovered from the infection which hospitalized him and look forward to his responses.

Low Sunday

"As the Father has sent Me, I also send you..."

Jesus, speaking to His Apostles, tells them that as the Father sent Him, He also sends them. And the very next line is, "Receive the Holy Ghost... whose sins YOU forgive, they ARE forgiven them..." THIS is why His Apostles, our first bishops, have the authority to forgive sins AND since Jesus sent them to forgive sins - they too must pass on this authority to their successors - our bishops are those successors!  THIS is why our priests, IF they have THIS authority from a valid bishop in succession from the Apostles, can forgive sins at the Sacrament of Reconciliation (aka, the Sacrament of Penance). Those sins THEY do not forgive (are retained) are NOT forgiven ("they are retained"). One who is not of this valid succession has NO AUTHORITY to forgive sins.

THIS is His Divine Mercy, which is what this Sunday is also referred to in the modern lectionary.

The Sunday After Easter is traditionally Low Sunday (Extraordinary Rite).

Some highlights from the Extraordinary Rite:

Introit: 1 Peter 2:2 - "As newborn babies, alleluia, desire the rational mile without guile, alleluia!"

Epistle: 1 John 5:4-10 - "For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth.  And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the testimony of God in himself. He that believeth not the Son, maketh him a liar: because he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of his Son."

The Greater Alleluia: Alleluia, alleluia. On the day of My resurrection, saith the Lord, I will go before you into Galilee. Alleluia. (John 20:26) After eight days, the doors being shut, Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and said: Peace be with you. Alleluia.

Gospel: (which is the same for the Ordinary Rite too on this day) John 20:19-31 - "Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.

He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: Peace be to you. Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered, and said to him: My Lord, and my God.

Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name."

Offertory: Matthew 28:2, 5-6 - "An angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. And the angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid."

Friday in the Octave of Easter

For the Octave of Easter (8 days following Easter) each day is considered a solemnity... therefore, today is a....

Your normal Friday penance is lifted because on a solemnity there is no fasting or abstinence!

GENERAL NORMS FOR THE LITURGICAL YEAR

Chapter 1, Title 1, Section III
12. The celebration of the two greatest Solemnities, Easter and the Nativity, is extended over eight days. Each Octave is governed by its own rules.

1983 Code of Canon Law (currently in force)

Can 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent. 
Can 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 
Can 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior! Oh death, where is thy sting? (1 Cor. 15:55-57).

Today is the day which defines us as Christians!  Without the Resurrection, Christianity would be nothing but a fraud. 

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

Palm Sunday

Sorry, I saw this and couldn't resist!  No, Palm Sunday is not a new way of serving dessert! Why do we call this Sunday, Palm Sunday?  This is THE day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the people waved palm branches and covered the road into the city with their robes and palms singing "Hosanna in the highest!" When His critics told Him He should have His disciples quiet down and stop with all this, what they considered, disruption - He answered them, "If they remain silent, the very stones would cry out!" (Luke 19:40).

Everyone loves a parade, and while we reflect on this glorious entry into Jerusalem - the Gospel reading for today is the Passion account from Luke (Luke 22:14-23:56)   Sometimes this reading is broken up into a script and read by two to four readers (see this link). It's hard to imagine how we go from this grand entry into the city to four days later the arrest of Jesus on Holy Thursday, His death on Good Friday and then His glorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

A point of interest... Riding in on a horse is a sign of glory, pride and victory - yet Jesus rides in on an ass (a donkey, or a colt - the foal of a donkey) as a sign of humility - AND - in fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9! 

Palm Sunday - the LAST WEEK of Lent! Palm Sunday begins Holy Week - the week which changed the world!  No other week in history has had as profound affect on history as Holy Week. Just another thought to meditate upon this week.

So get your palm fronds this Palm Sunday - and save them!  Put them hanging out from behind a picture or crucifix and save them till next year.  Why?  A week or two before next Ash Wednesday you bring them back to church and turn them in - and they are burned to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday!

Some get rather creative with the palm frond folding, take a look at these samples:

Passion Sunday

OK, I am a bit late in posting this one since Passion Sunday was traditionally LAST Sunday, but according to the new lectionary, Passion and Palm Sunday are now together on the Sunday before Easter.  That being said, as one who prefers the Extraordinary Rite, which still uses the traditional lectionary, I will post this separately from my Palm Sunday entry.

What IS Passion Sunday?

Traditionally, on this Sunday we transfer our thoughts from our own penances to the Passion of Jesus Christ. One of the things we do on this Sunday is cover all our sacred images with purple cloth. The veiling of sacred images removes from our sight the stimuli these bring to mind - and again, allows us to focus on the Passion of the Christ. In our homes and in our churches, these images bring to mind different Saints and their lives as well as various parts of the life of Christ. So seeing them veiled from Passion Sunday through the Easter Vigil (in the church, the veils are removed just as the vigil ends and as the First Mass of Easter begins).

Another way of looking at the veiling of statues, crucifixes and pictures is a sense of mourning, as we mourn the price of our salvation.

An exception to those things veiled... the Stations of the Cross.  These remain unveiled for they are a chief part of the devotions during all of Lent, but especially from Passion Sunday forward to the Easter Vigil.

The fact that in the new lectionary Passion and Palm Sunday are together on Palm Sunday saddens me. Why combine the two? There is a ton of devotional differences between the two Sundays, and well, where Passion Sunday is not observed in its place - the Fifth Sunday of Lent, and the Sunday before Palm Sunday - a rich piece of our heritage is lost.

I also noticed in some churches, they began veiling sacred images on Ash Wednesday. That has a similar meaning - but again, it takes away from Passion Sunday.  Our family still practices covering the sacred images (statues and pictures) around our house on Passion Sunday and they stay there until we return from Easter Vigil, or until just before we leave for Easter Sunday Mass.  Also, another irony I noticed at a church for Palm Sunday - where the only thing sacred which was veiled (throughout Lent) was the tabernacle - and for Palm Sunday the veil was removed!

Let us pray for a return of and to our heritage!  Even if the churches do not do it, we can do it in our homes.

A Must See

If you have not seen this video, A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, you really MUST see it!  They broadcast it periodically on EWTN, and you can purchase a copy (see link below) which I have also done and I loan my copy out to friends and family. If you appreciate what you see in this video, please consider purchasing your own copy too in support of more information like this...

To purchase your own copy of this production, click here or the Amazon link below:

Most Chaste Heart

Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph

Oh, Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, wounded by the ingratitude of men, wounded by those who do not understand, and by those who do not accept the Lord as their God and Savior, those who offend you by offending the Heavenly Mother, we pray and consecrate ourselves to your Most Chaste Heart asking for peace and blessing to be given to the world And as reparation for the sins committed against your Heart, we consecrate this day of prayer to you. Oh, Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, pray for us and have mercy on us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Consecration Prayer to the Three Sacred Hearts

Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Immaculate Heart of Mary
and Chaste Heart of St. Joseph,
I consecrate to you this day
my mind +, my words +,
my body +, my heart + and soul +,
so that your will be done
through me this day.
Amen.

+Make the Sign of the Cross

Litany to the Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven

have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World

have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Illuminator of Souls

have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God

have mercy on us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 

have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Most Chaste Heart of St. Joseph, pray for us.

Chaste Heart of Joseph, sanctified in the womb,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, graced with holy reasoning,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, graced with charity,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, son of David,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, who knew much anxiety and sorrow,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, who communed with angels in dreams,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, protector of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, guardian of Christ,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, companion of joyful hearts,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, help of husbands and fathers,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, health of the sick,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, father to orphans,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, united to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, beloved servant of God,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, heart of workers,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, most obedient to God’s Will,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, filled with holy love,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, most innocent,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, most faithful,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, most hopeful,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, most joyful,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, most humble,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, help of Christians,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, refuge of sinners,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, terror of demons,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, defender against lies and heresies,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, friend of the angels,

Chaste Heart of Joseph, consoler of the dying,

Heart of St. Joseph, Prince of Patriarchs,

Heart of St. Joseph, Prince of Confessors,

Heart of St. Joseph, Prince of All Saints,

Heart of St. Joseph, Prince of the Church,

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O Most Chaste Heart of Joseph, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, who by Your power and love did fashion and form the Heart of St. Joseph to be in likeness to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, grant, we beg You, that what of ourselves we cannot possibly obtain may, through the Most Chaste Heart of Joseph, be granted to us by Thee who livest and reignest, God forever and ever. + Amen.

Second Sunday of Lent

Lent is our season of Exodus. The Hebrews spent 40 years in the desert with Moses before they could enter into the Promised Land. Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before He entered into Holy Week - His Passion and death - and our redemption. We spend 40 days in penance in remembrance of our Lord and His 40 days of preparation for the jubilation of Palm Sunday, the trials of Holy Week and the glory of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

The readings for the Second Sunday in Lent include the Transfiguration of our Lord. Jesus went up on the mountain with Peter, James and John and while there they were joined by Moses and Elijah, each of whom had their own Exodus as well. Of course we know of the Exodus of Moses from the Book of Exodus, which he wrote. When Moses went up on the mountain and saw God, the glory of God was reflected in his face that his face shown bright (Exodus 34:29-35) so bright that Aaron and the others could not look upon it. This radiance was just the reflection of God - but when Jesus went upon the mount and the Transfiguration took place, His face radiated and so did His clothes - not in reflection, but as the source of the Light (Luke 9:29). They saw Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah and then a voice from Heaven stated, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased" (Luke 9:35). The Apostles with Him fell to the ground and when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone.  Elijah's Exodus was a bit different, as he did not experience death, but was just taken into Heaven (2 Kings 2:11). Moses was at the mount to represent the Law, Elijah was there to represent the Prophets. They were there with Jesus to show the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus, the Christ. 

So as Lent proceeds we are reminded of this glorious event of Transfiguration - with God revealing Himself through His Son as a reminder that He is the Light of the World. As our struggles through this life proceed and as we travel through Lent offering up our little sacrifice(s) as a constant reminder through this season of what Jesus went through for us - we are assured of the Resurrection and the Promise.

This year the Feast of St. Patrick also falls on this Sunday, but his feast day is superseded by the Second Sunday of Lent. I will conclude this entry with an Irish prayer:

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.