Seventeenth Sunday after
Pentecost
September 7, 2008
Tobias seems to have lived in the reign of
Salmanasar towards the end of the eight-century before Christ, at the time of
the deportation to Assyria of the Israelites of the northern kingdom. This holy man gave proof, like Job, of his
constancy and fidelity to God in the midst of all his trials. “he…. forsook not the way of truth: but
every day gave all he could get to his brethren, his fellow captives that were
of his kindred. And when he was younger
than any of the tribe of Nephtali, yet did he no childish thing in his work.”
The
Introit psalm can be applied to him because it speaks of a young man who from
his youth up, has walked in the Law of the Lord. “These and such like things,” says Holy Scripture, “did he
observe when but a boy according to the Law of God. But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and
had a son by her whom he called after his own name. And from his infancy he taught him to fear God and remembered God
with all his heart, and went about looking for his fellow captives to whom he
gave ‘wholesome admonitions’, comforted them and distributed to everyone as he
was able out of his goods. He fed the
hungry and gave cloths to the naked, and was careful to bury the dead and those
that were slain.”
Later on almighty God allowed Tobias to be
stricken with blindness, so that his patience, like that of holy Job, might be
an example to posterity. For whereas he
had always feared God from his infancy and kept his commandments, he repined
not against God, because the evil of blindness had befallen him: but continued
immovable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his
life. “We are,” said he, “the children
of saints, and look to that life which God will give to those that never change
their faith in Him.”
When his wife spoke offensively about his
misfortune, Tobias lamented, and began to pray with tears, using nearly the
same words as those of the Introit: “Thou art just, O Lord, and all Thy
judgments are just; and all Thy ways mercy and truth and judgment….And now, O
Lord, deal with me according to Thy will.”
Later, when giving what he thought was a final charge to his son, he
said: “My son….all the days of thy life have God in thy mind and take heed thou
never consent to sin. Give alms out of
thy substance and turn not away thy face from any poor person. According to thy ability be merciful. See thou never do to another what thou
wouldst hate to have done to thee by another.”
Here we have that same precept of love to
God and our neighbor, translated into practice, which is taught in the Epistle
and Gospel for today. “Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul and with thy
whole mind,” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Gospel). “Walk…. with all humility and mildness, with
patience supporting one another in charity, careful to keep the unity of the
Spirit with a bond of peace” (Epistle).
When Tobias sent his son to Gabelus at
Rages under the guidance of the archangel Raphael, during the journey the angel
told the young man to “draw to” him a fish that wanted to devour him, and to
keep its liver as a means of driving away all kinds of devils. Again, he showed him how to take his
kinswoman Sara to wife without coming to any harm at the hands of the devil who
had killed her seven former husbands.
“They,” said the angel, “who in such manner receive matrimony, as to
shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to
their lust….over them the devil hath power.”
So we pray in the Collect: “Grant unto Thy
people, O Lord, to withstand the temptations of the devil: and pure in heart,
to follow Thee, the only God.”
“We,” said Tobias to Sara, “are children
of saints: and we must not be joined together like heathen that know not
God.” So they prayed earnestly both
together, “to the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the
fountains, and the rivers and all creatures,” that health might be given
them. And God blessed their marriage,
as He has blessed that of the Patriarchs, that they might have children of the
race of Abraham (Gradual).
Tobias then returned home with Sara and
cured his father’s blindness, whereupon the old man sang a hymn of thanksgiving
in which the most magnificent Messianic prospects were disclosed. Jerusalem had been chastised for her deeds,
but she would shine with a glorious light, and rejoice forever. Nations from afar should come to her,
bringing gifts and adoring the Lord in her.
They that despise her should be accursed, and they that blasphemed her
condemned. “Blessed,” he goes on, “are
all they that love thee…. Happy shall I be if there shall remain of my seed to
see the glory of Jerusalem. The gates
of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire and of emerald: and all the walls
thereof round about of precious stones.
All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and Alleluia
shall be sung in its streets… Furthermore the destruction of Nineveh is at
hand: for the word of the Lord must be fulfilled.”
Here indeed is the “new canticle” which the
Gradual psalm bids us sing (v. 3ff).
“the word of the Lord is right…. The Lord bringeth to naught the
counsels of nations…and casteth away the counsels of princes…. Blessed is…. the
people whom He hath chosen for His inheritance…Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon
us, as we have hoped in Thee.”
And the Communion psalm adds that God has
broken all hostile forces, scattered proud kings and destroyed their armies. “Vow ye and pay…. to Him that is terrible,
for He has looked favorably upon the people upon whom His name is invoked”
(Offertory).
By Jerusalem where God reigns and to which
all nations come to praise the Lord is meant the kingdom of God, the heavenly
Jerusalem. To her all are summoned by
an universal call, to form “one body” that is the Church, called by St. Gregory
a new creation (Gradual), and quickened by “one Spirit”, the Holy Ghost given
at Pentecost, for there exists for all but “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”
(Epistle).
This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and
Son of David, whom “the one God and Father of all” has made to sit on His right
hand until His enemies have become His footstool (Heb. 1, 13).
INTROIT:
Ps.
118. Thou
art just, O Lord, and Thy judgment is right; deal with Thy servant according to
Thy mercy.
Ps. Blessed
are the undefiled in the way; who walk in the law of the Lord. Glory be, etc. Thou art just, etc.
COLLECT:
Grant to Thy people, we pray, O
Lord, to avoid the defilements of the devil: and with a pure mind to follow
Thee, the only God. Through our Lord,
etc.
From all perils of soul and body
defend us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and by the intercession of the blessed and
glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of Thy blessed Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, graciously grant us safety and peace, that
all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in
security and freedom. Through our Lord,
etc.
O God, the shepherd and ruler of
all the faithful, graciously look upon Thy servant, Benedict whom Thou hast
willed to be the chief pastor of Thy Church; grant him, we beseech Thee, by
word and example to profit those over whom he rules, that together with the flock
entrusted to him he may attain to life everlasting. Through our Lord, etc.
EPISTLE: Ephes. 4, 1-6.
Brethren, I, a prisoner in the
Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called.
With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in
charity, careful to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. One body
and one spirit, as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one
faith, one baptism. One God, and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in us all. Who is blessed forever and ever. Amen.
ADMONITION: Implore
God continually for grace to accomplish and make certain your vocation by
practicing these virtues, recommended by St. Paul.
GRADUAL:
Ps.
32. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord:
the people whom He hath chosen for His inheritance.
By the
word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the power of them by the
spirit of His mouth. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Ps. 101. O Lord,
hear my prayer; and let my cry come unto Thee.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL: Matt. 22,
35-46.
At that time, the Pharisees came
to Jesus, and one of them, a doctor of the law, asked him, tempting him:
Master, which is the great commandment of the law? Jesus said to him: Thou
shaft love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and
with thy whole mind. This is the
greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law
and the prophets. And the Pharisees being gathered together, Jesus asked them,
saying: What think you of Christ; whose son is he? They say to him: David's. He
saith to them: How then doth David in spirit call him Lord; saying: The Lord
said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?
If David then calls him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer
him a word: neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more
questions.
What is meant by loving God?
It means to find one’s pleasure,
happiness and joy in God, because He is he highest and most perfect Good; to
rejoice in His infinite majesty and glory; to direct one’s thoughts, words, and
actions towards Him as our only end: to do His will in all things, and be
prepared always rather to lose everything, even life itself, than His
friendship.
What is meant by loving God
with our whole heart, our whole soul, etc.?
These different expressions all
properly mean the same thing, namely, that we should cling to God with a true,
sincere and heartfelt love, but by our heart our will may be understood, that
power by which we wish God all glory, and desire nothing more than that He be
known, loved, and honored by all men. The soul signifies the intellect by means
of which we should endeavor to arrive at the knowledge and love of God, praise
and glorify Him above all things. The mind may signify our memory, with which
we continually remember God and the innumerable benefits bestowed on us by Him,
praise Him for them, thank Him, and always walk irreproachably before Him.
Finally, we love God with all our strength, if we employ all the powers and
faculties of our body in His service, and direct all our actions to Him as to
our last end.
Is it true love, if we love God
only because He is good to us?
This is grateful love, which is
good and praiseworthy, but it is not perfect love, because the motive is
self-love and self-interest.
What, therefore, is perfect
love?
When we love God only because He
is in Himself the highest Good, and most worthy of all love. In this manner we
should endeavor to love Him; not through self-interest not through hope of
reward, not through fear of punishment, but only because He, as the greatest
Good, contains all goodness and, therefore, deserves to be loved only on
account of Himself. Such love had St. Francis Xavier, which he very beautifully
expressed in the canticle, composed by himself:
O
God, Thou art the object of my love, not for the hope of endless joys above,
nor
the fear of endless pains below, which those who love Thee not must undergo.
For
me, and such as me, Thou once didst bear, the ignominious cross, the nails, the
spear
A
thorny crown transpierced Thy sacred brow; what bloody sweats form every member
flow!
Such
as then was and is Thy love for me, such is and shall be still my love for
Thee;
Thy
love O Jesus, will I ever sing-----O God of love, sweet Savior, dearest King!
Can fear exist with love?
Servile fear cannot, but filial
fear may. Servile fear is rather a fear of punishment than a fear of offending
God. Where such fear exists, love cannot dwell; for in love, writes St.
Augustine (in Joann. Tr. 9), there is no fear, for perfect love casteth out
fear (I John 4, 18). Filial fear, on the contrary, is the fear of offending
God. This fear leads to love and is also an effect of love; it is the beginning
of wisdom (Eccles. 1, 16). Let us cherish this fear, for it will drive away
sin, as sentinels expel thieves (Ecclus. 1,16): it will replenish us with joy,
and gladness, and obtain for us in our last moments divine blessings and a holy
death (Ecclus. 1, 27).
How may we obtain a perfect
love of God?
By meditating on His infinite,
divine perfections, such as His almighty power, His wisdom, His splendor, His
beauty, etc.; by contemplating His boundless love for us, in the incarnation,
sufferings, and death of His only-begotten Son; by frequently practicing this
virtue; by fervent prayer; and by making acts of love, such as are found in
good prayer-books.
When should we practice the
virtue of love of God?
As soon as we have arrived at the
age of reason; when the world, the devil and the flesh, endeavor to withdraw us
from God, by their apparent goods and pleasures; when we have separated
ourselves from God by mortal sin; when we receive the holy Sacraments,
particularly holy Communion; when we receive a particular grace from God; when
we use food and drink and other lawful enjoyments; when we contemplate God's
creatures; often during the day; and especially in the hour of death.
Why is the commandment to love
God and our neighbor called the ‘greatest commandment’?
Because in it are contained all
the other commandments, for Christ says, in it consists the whole law. He who
loves God with his whole heart, does not separate himself from God by
infidelity, does not practice public or private superstition and idolatry; he
does not murmur against God, does not desecrate the name of God by cursing and
swearing; he does not profane the Sabbath, because he knows that all this is
displeasing to God. On the contrary, he hopes in God, keeps Sundays and days of
obligation holy, and observes all the commandments of the Church, because God
wishes that we hear the Church; he honors his parents, inflicts no evil upon
his neighbor; does not commit adultery, doe's not steal, calumniates no one,
does not bear false witness, does not judge rashly, is not envious, malicious
or cruel, but rather practices the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; and
all this, because he loves God and his neighbor.
What is the meaning of the
question, "What think you of Christ?"
Christ asked the Pharisees this
question in order to convince them, from their own answer, that He was not only
the Son of David, but that He as the only-begotten Son of God was the Lord of
David and of all men from eternity (Ps. 2, 7). Unhappily, even today there are
men who like the Pharisees deny the divinity of Christ, the Son of the living
God, consider Him merely a very wise and virtuous man, and do not receive His
doctrine, confirmed by so many miracles. Beware, my dear Christian, of these
men who rob you of the peace of the soul, and the consoling hope of a future
resurrection and eternal life, together with faith in Christ, the divine
Redeemer. But if you believe Christ to be the Son of God and our Lord, Lawgiver,
Instructor, and Redeemer, follow His teaching, and do not contradict indeed
what you profess with your lips.
PRAYER: O most
amiable Jesus! Who hast admonished us so affectionately to love God and our
neighbor, pour the fire of Thy love into our hearts, that all our deeds and
actions, our thoughts and words may begin and end with Thy love. Grant, that we
may love Thee with all the powers of our body and. soul, and thereby be so
united to Thee, that, like St. Paul, no temptation, no tribulation, no danger,
not even death, may be able to separate us from Thee. Grant us also, that we
may love our neighbors, friends, and enemies as ourselves for Thy sake, and
thus be made worthy to possess Thee as our Redeemer and merciful judge.
OFFERTORY:
Dan.
9. I,
Daniel, prayed to my God, saying, hear, O Lord, the prayers of Thy servant;
show Thy face upon Thy sanctuary, and favorably look down upon this people,
upon whom Thy name is invoked, O God.
SECRET:
We
humbly implore Thy majesty, O Lord, that these holy mysteries we celebrate may
rid us of past offenses and keep us from wrong-doing in the future. Through our Lord, etc.
Hear
us, O God, our salvation, that through the power of this sacrament Thou mayest
defend us from all enemies of soul and body and bestow upon us grace here and
glory hereafter. Through our Lord, etc.
Look
down favorably, O Lord, we beseech Thee, upon the gifts we have offered; and
let Thy constant protection direct Thy servant Benedict, whom Thou hast chosen
to be the chief pastor of Thy Church. Through our Lord, etc.
COMMUNION:
Ps. 75. Vow ye, and pay to the Lord your God. All you that round
about Him bring presents: to Him that is terrible, even to Him who taketh away the
spirit of princes; to Him who is terrible to all the kings of the earth.
POSTCOMMUNION:
By Thy
holy rites, O almighty God, may our vices be cured, and remedies be given us
that will avail everlasting. Through
our Lord, etc.
May the offering of this divine
sacrament cleanse and protect us, O Lord, we beseech Thee; and by the
intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of
the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, may it purify us from
all sin and free us from all adversity.
Through our Lord, etc.
Let the reception of this divine
sacrament protect us, O Lord, we beseech Thee; and may Thy servant Benedict
whom Thou hast chosen as the chief pastor of Thy Church, along with the flock
committed to him, derive always from it protection and strength. Through our Lord, etc.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Rosary of Reparation in
front of the Planned Parenthood Abortuary sponsored by St. Margaret Clitherow
Guild is offered every Friday beginning at 7:30 AM. During the Rosary of Reparation over the last few weeks,
through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and the preaching of Father,
four women left without terminating the life of their child. Benedicamus Domino. If you cannot attend this Rosary please make
a mental note to unite yourself spiritually to the prayers and sacrifices being
offered.
Fresh Water Family Fishing and
Picnic will be on Saturday September 20th at Garber Farms Pond in
Mt. Joy. Fishing will be from 7:00 Am
until noon followed by the picnic.
Please contact Dave Romeo at daveromeo@embarqmail.com
or
361-2418.
Weekly educational conferences
are conducted by Father after the Mass on Wednesday. These conferences, as well as the Sunday sermons, are available
on the Mission web page. For the next three weeks the subject will be the Seven
Sacraments.
We will be forming a children’s choir. Any parents who are
interested in having their children participate please contact Christina Jawidzik.
The
St. Margaret Clitherow Guild has made over $2700 in profit just
by selling grocery cards! This is such a great and easy
fundraiser! Thanks to all who are able to participate! If you
would like to receive cards in advance and pay later, or if you are
not familiar with the program and would like more information, please see
Pam Noel.
Ss. Peter & Paul Chapel is
open to its members at any time of the day or night for visits to our Lord in
the Blessed Sacrament.
PROPER OF THE SAINTS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7TH:
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7
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Sun
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17th
Sunday after Pentecost
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sd
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G
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Mass 9:00 AM; Confessions 8:00AM; Rosary of Reparation
8:30 AM
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8
|
Mon
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Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(with simple octave)
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d2cl
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W
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM
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9
|
Tue
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St. Peter Claver, C
St. Gorgonius, M
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d
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W
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM
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10
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Wed
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St. Nicholas of Tolentino, C
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d
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W
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM; Lecture & dinner after Mass
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11
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Thu
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Ss. Protus & Hyacinth, Mm
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sp
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R
|
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Mass 9:00 AM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
8:30 AM
|
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12
|
Fri
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Most Holy Name of Mary
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dm
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W
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A
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Mass 6:00 PM; Rosary of Reparation & Confessions
5:30 PM
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13
|
Sat
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Out Lady’s Saturday
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sp
|
W
|
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Mass 9:00 AM; Confessions 8:00AM; Rosary of Reparation
8:30 AM
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14
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Sun
|
Exaltation
of the Holy Cross
18th Sunday after Pentecost
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dm
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R
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Mass 9:00 AM; Confessions 8:00AM; Rosary of Reparation
8:30 AM
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Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary is the center of
the universe, the ark of God, the cause of creation, the business of ages. Towards her turn the inhabitants of heaven and
the dwellers in the place of expiation, the men that have gone before us, and
we that are now living, those who are to follow us, our children’s children and
their descendants. Those in heaven look
to her to have their ranks filled up; those in purgatory look for their
deliverance; the men of the first ages, that they may be found faithful
prophets; those who come after, that they may obtain eternal happiness. Mother of God, Queen of heaven, Sovereign of
the world, all generations shall call thee blessed, for thou hast brought forth
life and glory for all. In thee the
angels ever find their joy, the just find grace, the sinners pardon; in thee,
and by thee, and from thee, the merciful hand of the Almighty has reformed the
first creation. St. Bernard of
Clairvaux
All ye nations, come
hither, come every race and every tongue, every age and every dignity, let us
joyfully celebrate the birthday of the world’s gladness. St. John Damascene
It is the beginning of
salvation, the origin of every feast, for behold!, the Mother of the Bridegroom
is born. With good reason does the
whole world rejoice today and the Church, beside herself, bids her choirs sing
wedding songs.
St. Peter Damian
The Feast of the
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary can be document as an immemorial tradition
during the 6th century in both the East and West. The Octave of the Nativity was established
in 1245 in fulfillment of a vow by Pope Innocent IV (before his election) and
all the other Cardinals during the Church’s widowhood, which through the
intrigues of the crafty emperor, Frederick II, lasted nineteen months after the
death of Celestine IV until the election of Pope Innocent. The octave day is the Feast of the Seven
Sorrows.
Dom Gueranger on the
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
INSTRUCTION
ON THE ONE ONLY SAVING FAITH
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. (Ephes.
4, 5-6)
These words of the great Apostle of the Gentiles show clearly, that it is
not a matter of indifference, what faith or religion we profess. Yet in our
times so poor in faith, we often hear the assertion from so-called enlightened
men: “It is all the same to what religion we belong, we can be saved in any, if
we only believe in God and live uprightly." This assertion is impious!
Consider, my dear Christian, there is but one God, and this one God has sent
only one Redeemer; and this one Redeemer has preached but one doctrine, and has
established but one Church. Had God wished that there should be more than one
Church, then Christ would have founded them, nay, He would not have preached a
new doctrine, established a new, Christian Church; for the Jews also believed
in one God. But Jesus cast aside Paganism and Judaism, promulgated a new
religion, and founded a new Church. Nowhere does He speak of Churches, but
always of one Church. He says that we must hear this Church, and does not add,
that if we will not hear this Church, we may hear some other. He speaks of only
one shepherd, one flock, and one fold, into which all men are to be brought. In
the same manner He speaks always of one kingdom upon earth, just as there is
only one kingdom in heaven; of only one master of the house and one family, of
one field and one vineyard, whereby He referred to His Church; of one rock,
upon which He would build His Church. On the day before His death, He prayed
fervently to His Heavenly Father, that all who believe in Him, might be and
remain one, as He and the Father are one, and He gave His disciples the express
command to preach His gospel to all nations, and to teach them all things,
whatsoever He had commanded them. This command the apostles carried out
exactly. Everywhere they preached one and the same doctrine, establishing in
all places Christian communities, which were all united by the bond of the same
faith. Their principal care was to prevent schisms in faith, they warned the
faithful against heresy, commanded all originators of such to be avoided, and
anathematized those who preached a gospel different from theirs. As the
apostles, so did their successors. All the holy Fathers speak with burning love
of the necessary unity of faith, and deny those all claim to salvation who
remain in schism and separation from the true Church of Christ.
Learn hence, dear Christian, that there can be but one true Church; if
there is but one true Church, it naturally follows that in her alone salvation
can be obtained, and the assertion that we can be saved by professing any
creed, is false and impious. Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ,
speaks of but one Church, which we must hear, if we wish to be saved. He who
does not hear the Church, He says, should be considered as a heathen and
publican. He speaks furthermore of one fold, and He promises eternal life only
to those sheep who belong to this fold, obey the voice of the shepherd and feed
in His pasture. The apostles were also convinced that only the one, true Church
could guide us to salvation. Without faith it is impossible to please God,
writes St. Paul to the Hebrews (11, 6), and this faith is only one, he teaches
the Ephesians (4, 5). If the apostles had believed that we could be saved in
any religion, they would certainly not have contended so strenuously for unity,
they would not have declared so solemnly, that we should not belong to any
other than to Christ alone, and that we must receive and obey His doctrine. As
the apostles taught so did their successors and all the Fathers agree that
there is no salvation outside of the true Church. St. Cyprian writes: "If
any one outside Noah's ark could find safety, then also will one outside the
Church find salvation" (De unit. eccl. c. 7). From all this it
follows, that there is only one true Church which insures salvation, out of
which no one can be saved.
But which is this Church? The Roman Catholic, Apostolic Church, for she
alone was founded, by Christ, she alone was watered with the blood of the
apostles and of thousands of holy martyrs, she alone has the marks of the true
Church of Christ, against which He has promised that the powers of hell shall
not prevail. Those who fell away from the Church nearly five hundred years ago
do, indeed contend that the Church fell into error and no longer possessed the
true, pure gospel of Jesus. Were they right, Jesus might be blamed, for He
established this Church, promising to remain with her and guide her through the
Holy Ghost until the end of the world. He would, therefore, have broken His
word, or He was not powerful enough to keep it. But who dare say this? On the
contrary, she has existed for nearly two thousand years, whilst the greatest
and most powerful kingdoms have been overthrown, and the firmest thrones
crumbled away. If she were not the only true and saving Church, founded by
Christ, how could she have existed so long, since Jesus Himself said: Every
plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up (Matt. 15,
13.) If she were not the Church of Christ, she would have been destroyed long
ago, but she still stands today, whilst her enemies who battled against her
have disappeared, and will continue to disappear; for the gates of hell shall
not prevail against her, says our Lord. He has kept His promise and will keep
it, notwithstanding all the oppositions and calumnies of her implacable
enemies.
You see, therefore, my dear Christian, that the Catholic Church is the
only true, the only saving Church; be not deceived by those who are neither
cold nor warm, and who say: "We can be saved in any religion, if we only believe
in God and live uprightly," and who wish to rob you of your holy faith,
and precipitate you into the sea of doubt, error, and falsehood. Outside of the
Catholic Church there is no salvation; hold this firmly, for it is the teaching
of Jesus, His apostles, and all the Fathers; for this doctrine the apostles and
a countless host of the faithful have shed their blood. Obey the teaching of
this Church, follow her laws, make use of her help and assistance, and often
raise your hands and heart to heaven to thank God for the priceless grace of
belonging to this one, true Church; forget not to pray for your erring
brethren, who are still outside of the Church that the Lord may lead them into
the only Ark of Salvation, that His promise: ‘There will be one fold, and one
shepherd’, may be fulfilled in them.
"There is but one
universal Church of the faithful, outside which no one at all is saved." Pope
Innocent III, Fourth Lateran Council, 1215
"We declare, say, define,
and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human
creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." Pope Boniface VIII,
the Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302
"The most Holy Roman
Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that none of those existing
outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and
schismatics, can have a share in life eternal; but that they will go into the
eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before
death they are joined with Her; and that so important is the unity of this
ecclesiastical body that only those remaining within this unity can profit by
the sacraments of the Church unto salvation, and they alone can receive an
eternal recompense for their fasts, their almsgivings, their other works of Christian
piety and the duties of a Christian soldier. No one, let his almsgiving be as
great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ,
can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic
Church." Pope Eugene IV, the Bull Cantate Domino, 1441
For Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen. St.
Mark 20, 16
Do not be deceived;
there are only two roads: one that leads to life and is narrow; the other that
leads to death and is wide. There is no middle way. St. Louis Marie de Montfort
What do you think? How many of the inhabitants of this city may
perhaps be saved? Out of this thickly
populated city, not one hundred people will be saved! I doubt whether there will even be as many as that! St. John Chrysostom
Scarcely anyone is
saved. St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori
So vast a number of
miserable souls perish, and so comparatively few are saved! St. Philip Neri
The number of the saved
is as few as the number of grapes left after the pickers have passed. St. John Mary Vianney
Only a few will be
saved; only few will go to Heaven. The
greater part of mankind will be lost forever.
St. John Neumann
There are a select few
who are saved. St. Thomas Aquinas
The number of the Elect
is so small – so small – that, were we to know how small it is, we would
faint away with grief. One here and
there, scattered up and down the world!
St. Louis Marie de Montfort
How narrow is the gate and how strait the way
that leads to life, and few there are who find it. St. Matthew 7, 13-14.
The Charity of a Saint
Yesterday, May 30, 1627, on the feast of
the Most Holy Trinity, numerous blacks, brought from the rivers of Africa,
disembarked from a large ship. Carrying two baskets of oranges, lemons, sweet
biscuits, and I know not what else, we hurried toward them. We had to force our
way through the crowd until we reached the sick. Large numbers of the sick were
lying on the wet ground or rather in puddles of mud. To prevent excessive
dampness, someone had thought of building up a mound with a mixture of tines
and broken pieces of bricks. This, then, was their couch, a very uncomfortable
one not only for that reason, but especially because they were naked, without
any clothing to protect them.
We laid aside our cloaks, therefore,
and brought from a warehouse whatever was handy to build a platform. In that
way we covered a space to which we at last transferred the sick, by forcing a
passage through bands of slaves. Then we divided the sick into two groups: one
group my companion approached with an interpreter, which I addressed the other
group. There were two blacks, nearer death than life, already cold, whose pulse
could scarcely be detected. With the help of a tile we pulled some live coals
together and placed them in the middle near the dying men. Into this fire we
tossed aromatics. Then, using our own cloaks, for they had nothing of the sort,
and to ask the owners for others would have been a waste of words, we provided
for them a smoke treatment, by which they seemed to recover their warmth, and
the breath of life. The joy in their eyes as they looked at us was something to
see.
This was how we spoke to them, not
with words but with our hands and our actions. And in fact, convinced as they
were that they had been brought here to be eaten, any other language would have
proved utterly useless. Then we sat, or rather knelt, beside them and bathed
their faces and bodies with wine. We made every effort to encourage them with
friendly gestures and displayed in their presence the emotions which somehow
naturally tend to hearten the sick.
After this we began an elementary
instruction about baptism, that is, the wonderful effects of the sacrament on body
and soul. When by their answers to our questions they showed they had
sufficiently understood this, we went on to a more extensive instruction,
namely, about the one God, who rewards and punishes each one according to his
merit, and the rest. Finally, when they appeared sufficiently prepared, we told
them the mysteries of the Trinity, the Incarnation and the Passion. Showing
them Christ fastened to the cross, as he is depicted on the baptismal font on
which streams of blood flow down from his wounds, we led them in reciting an
act of contrition in their own language.
Excerpt from a letter by St. Peter Claver who baptized more than 300,000 slaves
in the New World
The chief elements of
this duty (as Catholics) consist in professing openly and unflinchingly the
Catholic doctrine, and in propagating it to the utmost of our power. For, as is
often said, with the greatest truth, there is nothing so hurtful to Christian
wisdom as that it should not be known, since it possesses, when loyally
received, inherent power to drive away error.
Pope Leo XIII, Sapientiae
Christianae, January 10, 1890
On September 12, 1213, the Catholic Crusaders under the command of
Simon de Montfort, outnumbered forty to one, crushed the Albigensian army in a
most critical engagement at the battle of Muret during the pontificate of
Innocent III. On September 12, 1683,
Vienna, worn out and dismantled, abandoned by its emperor, was surrounded by
300,000 infidels. But another great
Pope, Innocent XI, again confided to Mary the defense of the baptized
nations. Jan Sobieski, the King of
Poland, mounting his charger on the feast of the Assumption rode to the gates
of Vienna, and although vastly outnumbered, engaged and defeated the Moslem
army. The feast of the most holy name
of Mary inscribed on the calendar of the universal Church, was the homage of
the world’s gratitude to Mary, our Lady and Queen.
Dom Gueranger, The Liturgical Year
St. Peter also
describes the grace of our vocation in the most beautiful terms, and assures us
that the very design of God in calling us was that we might make a suitable
return to Him by declaring His praises. "Ye are a chosen generation, a
kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people, that ye may declare the
virtues (or praises) of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His
admirable light" (1 Pet. 2: 9). How great an obligation does all this lay
us under of living good and studying in all things to do the will of God,
especially when Christ Himself expressly says, "So let your light shine
before men, that they, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father Who is
in Heaven! Bishop George Hay of
Scotland, The Sincere Christian
Think not that these
calamities were reserved for the Jewish people only. All the nations that have
known God's law and despised it have been the objects of His just and terrible
anger. "Did not I bring up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the
Philistines out of Cappadocia, and the Syrians out of Cyrene? Behold the eyes
of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the
face of the earth" (Amos 9:7-8). From this we can understand that wars and
revolutions, the downfall of some kingdoms and the rise of others, are due to
the sins of men. Ven. Louis of Granada, The
Sinners’s Guide
To save them [poor
sinners who are on the road to hell], God wishes to establish in the world
devotion to My Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will
be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end; but if people do not
cease offending God, a worse war will break out during the reign of Pius XI.
When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great
sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes, by
means of war, famine, and persecutions against the Church and against the Holy
Father.
To prevent this, I
shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to My Immaculate Heart, and
the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If My requests are heeded,
Russia will be converted and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her
errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions against the Church.
The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various
nations will be annihilated. In
Portugal, the dogma of faith will always be persevered, etc… [then follows the
third secret yet to be revealed]…. Only
Our Lady of the Rosary can help you.
Blessed Virgin Mary to
the children at Fatima
Remember in your charity the following pray
requests:
Please pray for our expectant
mother: Stephanie Fonticoba,
Rodolofo Zelaya Montealegre,
the father of Claudia Drew, who is in failing health
Joyce Paglia has asked for our
prayers for George Richard Moore Sr.,
The health and welfare of our
friend, Don Lewis,
John Rocco, who is
having some difficulty in recovering from a major surgical procedure,
Meghan Walters asks our prayers
for the health of her daughter, Claire Walters,
John Cuono, for his
spiritual welfare,
The special intention and welfare
of Julio Vargas, and for the conversion of Karla and
Grace Vargas,
The Pitman’s request our prayers
for Jan Siegler, a young mother of two diagnosed with cancer,
The health of Nancy Bennett,
the daughter of Peg and Bill Barry,
Crystal Keating requests our prayers
for the conversion of Eugene Keating, her husband,
Helen Crane, the
aunt of David Drew who is in failing health,
Eduardo Hernandez, a
three year old being treated for leukemia,
Jason Kolinsky, asks
our prayers for his intention,
Fr. Rueda has asked for our
prayers for his friend, Carlos
Hopson, his wife Norma,
his friend, David Regan, who is critically ill,
For the welfare of Anthony
and Joyce Paglia, who are responsible for the beautiful statuary in our
sanctuary,
The Drew’s ask your intercession for
the Gene Peter’s Family and the John Manidis Family,
Caroline Pitman requests our
prayers for the health of Theresa Wagner,
Please pray for the welfare of Brother
Francis, MICM, the superior of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary in Richmond, NH, and for Fr. Michael Jurecki, an old and
faithful traditional priest, who are in failing health,
Philip Thees asks our prayers for
his family, for McLaughlin Family, and the
conversion of Helen Mackewicz, the welfare of Dan and Polly
Weand, and the health of Sophia Herman, a 10 years old
child, the special intention of John Fergale, and the welfare of George
Parvinski.
Compared with ours how calm and how luminous is the
knowledge of pure spirits! They are not
doomed to the intricate discoursing of our reason, which runs after the truth,
composes and analyzes, and laboriously draws conclusions from premises. They instantaneously apprehend the whole
compass of primary truths. Their
intuition is so prompt, so lively, so penetrating, that it is impossible for
them to be surprised, as we are, into error.
If they deceive themselves, it must be of their own will. The perfection of their will is equal to the
perfection of their intellect. They know not what it is to be disturbed by the
violence of appetites. Their love is
without emotion; and their hatred of evil is as calm and as wisely tempered as
their love. A will so free can know no
perplexity as to its aims, no inconstancy in its resolutions. Whereas with us long and anxious meditation
is necessary before we make a decision, it is the property of the angels to
determine by a single act the object of their choice. God proposed to them, as He does to us, infinite beatitude in the
vision of His own Essence; and to fit them for so great an end, He endowed them
with grace at the same time as He gave them being. In one instant they said Yes or No; in one instant they freely
and deliberately decided their own fate.
Jacques-Marie-Louis Monsabré, O. P.
Pray for the Repose of the Souls:
The grandfather of Tyler Kauffman,
Fredrick Ansthony Iamurri,
Joyce Paglia has asked for our
prayers for her son, George Richard Moore, who died May 14th,
Elvira Slammon, the
grandmother of Elizabeth Vargas, who died April 24th,
Mary Rhodes, the aunt
of Stephanie Fonticoba, who died April 12th,
The Boyle Family requests our
prayers for Pauline Riello, a mother of seven who died April 12th,
Gary Eldridge, the
father-in-law of Keith Drew who died April 6th,
Michael Portone, who
died March 19th,
John Drew, the
uncle of David Drew,
Maria Grillos, a
friend of Claudia Drew,
Albert Gnoza, the
uncle of Philip Thees who died February 14th,
Mildred Rocco, the
aunt of John Rocco,
Robert Hamberger, a
friend of the Art and Pam Noel,
James Kleinfelter, the father of
Becky Hoffman who died January 17th,
Christine Jawidzik requests our
prayers for her beloved grandfather, Edward John Jawidzik, who
died November 21st,
Fr. Peterson asks our prayers for
the repose of the souls of the six priests who were ordained with
him sixty years ago,
The Drew’s ask your intercession
for their niece, Andrea Levitt, who died June 1st,
Claudia Drew asks our prayers for
her aunt Hilda Moreira and her uncle Mauricio Zelaya,
who both died in April,
Georgia Sue Heindel,
the sister of Pam Noel,
Howard and Mary Schriver,
the parents of Daniel Schriver,
Joseph and Eleanor Lauctes,
the brother-in-law and sister of Regina Spahalski, and her brother, Bernard
Adams,
Emilce Vargas, the
grandmother of Julio Vargas, and his grandfather, Carlos Gutierrez,
Mary Heitzman, the
aunt of David Drew,
Benjamin Sorace, the
uncle of Sonya Kolinsky,
Kelly Donovan Jacquot, the sister-in-law
of Gail Lewis,
Jim Lewis, the
brother of Don Lewis,
Georgia Sue Heindel,
the sister of Pam Noel.
