Sports Is Not the End-All

When I opened my browser today a news story popped up asking "Whatever happened to Villanova basketball star Shelly Pennefather? Subtitle: "So I made this deal with God." The author of the article, Elizabeth Merrill ponders, "But I cannot grasp what Pennefather -- now Sister Rose Marie -- has chosen to do." Ms. Merrill, Sr. Rose Marie has chosen something bigger - there is really no comparison! She would have been a flash in the pan for a few years, providing she didn't get hurt, and then what? She chose to store up her treasures in Heaven than to have temporal riches here on Earth. For what does it profit for one to gain the whole world and lose their soul? (Mark 8:36).

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/27297631/happened-villanova-basketball-star-shelly-pennefather-made-deal-god

What Happened to Our Sunday Best?

It wasn't that long ago that when you were going to somewhere special you made sure you dressed in your "Sunday best" so as to not be an embarrassment to yourself or your family. For women, they wore dresses (below the knee) and covered their heads, even in Protestant churches - women typically wore a nice hat.  Men would wear a suit and tie. What does "your Sunday best
mean today?  Often at Mass one will see people in t-shirts, sports jerseys, jeans or shorts and women, if they wear a dress at all (as opposed to pants) it is often a short skirt. In traditional chapels (of the Extraordinary Rite) the dress tends to be more conservative, but even there most men are not wearing suits (though many are).

What's the point here?  If you were called to dine at the White House, would you show up in a t-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes?  I think not!  In fact, you likely would not even be allowed to enter if not in proper attire for the dinner. When we attend Mass we are in the presence - the Real Presence - of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - the King of Kings! Should we not be appropriately dressed to be in His Presence?  Some may grumble at this and think me a "fuddy-dutty" but I am reminded of one of Jesus' parables of the Wedding Feast,

and the one who showed up without a wedding garment (Matthew 22:1-14), that man was bound and thrown out into the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Those same grumblers will then be saying, "you're not to take that passage so literally!" But should we not exemplify the importance of being properly attired when we are at the Eucharistic Feast?  Are we being respectful of our Lord when we show up in purely casual dress?  

What are your thoughts?

July - Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus

July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. I encourage you to join me in regularly praying the Litany of the Most Precious Blood. Favorite this entry and come back here regularly for a video (from EWTN) guided prayer. It takes less than five minutes, so I hope you will frequent this page this month.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.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, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son
of the Eternal Father, save us. (after each line)
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God,
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament,
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony,
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness,
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,
Blood of Christ, victor over demons,
Blood of Christ, courage of martyrs,
Blood of Christ, strength of confessors,
Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins,
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,
Blood of Christ, pledge of Eternal Life,
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord. 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood.
R. And made us, for our God, a kingdom.

Let us pray:
Almighty and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his blood. Grant, we beg of Thee, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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