...Strengthened by the power of his love, [Stephen] overcame the raging cruelty of Saul and won his persecutor on earth as his companion in Heaven. In his holy and tireless love he longed to gain by prayer those whom he could not convert by admonition. Now at last, Paul rejoices with Stephen, with Stephen he delights in the glory of Christ, with Stephen he exults, with Stephen he reigns. Stephen went first, slain by the stones thrown by Paul, but Paul followed after, helped by the prayer of Stephen. This, surely, is the true life, my brothers, a life in which Paul feels no shame because of Stephen's death, and Stephen delights in Paul's companionship, for love fills them both with joy. It was Stephen's love that prevailed over the cruelty of the mob, and it was Paul's love that covered the multitude of his sins; it was love that won for both of them the kingdom of Heaven.Lyrics to the Christmas Carol, Good King Wenceslaus:
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Are you preparing to eat the turkey, the dressing, the mashed potatoes, and cranberries? Put them aside and hunker down for a new twist on the Thanksgiving holiday. Read more....
Holy Church.....declares that we can imitate thee, O Mary, in this mystery of thy Presentation, as in all others. Deign to bless especially those privileged souls who, by the grace of their vocation, are even here below dwellers in the house of the Lord: may they be like that fruitful olive enriched by the Holy Spirit, to which St. John Damascene compares thee. But is not every Christian, by reason of his Baptism, an indweller and a member of the Church, God's true sanctuary, prefigured by that of Moriah? May we, through thy intercession, follow thee so closely in thy Presentation even here in the land of shadows, that we may deserve to be presented after thee to the Most High in the temple of His glory.
To serve at the altar, as to sing in the choir, is next to the priesthood the highest privilege which a human can enjoy. He represents the faithful and takes a most intimate part in the rich treasures of the church's liturgy and ceremonial. Those sacred ceremonies should be carried out with devotion, dignity and attention to detail.
Blessed Karl of Austria Events in the Northeast -- October 2013All Masses are Traditional Latin Masses unless otherwise indicated.Thursday, 17 October, 5:30 PMPontifical Mass & Conference, Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Church,Newton, MAFriday, 18 October, 6:30 PMPontifical Mass, Holy Name of Jesus Church,Providence, RISaturday, 19 October, 11:00 AMPontifical Mass, Holy Name of Jesus Church,Providence, RISunday, 20 October, 2:00 PMPontifical Mass, Dinner & Conference, St. Titus Church,Aliquippa, PAMonday, 21 October, 7:30 PM (Feast Day of Blessed Karl of Austria)Pontifical Mass & Reception, St. Mary Mother of God Church,Washington, DCTuesday, 22 October, 6:00 PMMass, Reception & Conference, John Paul II Shrine,Washington, DCWednesday, 23 October, 7:00 PMPontifical Mass & Conference, Mater Ecclesiae Church,Berlin, NJFriday, 25 October, 8:00 AMPontifical Mass, Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,Elysburg, PASaturday, 26 October, 5:30 PMNovus Ordo (in Portuguese), Our Lady of Fatima Church,Elizabeth, NJSunday, 27 October, 11:00 AMPontifical Mass & Conference, St. Anthony of Padua Oratory,West Orange, NJMonday, 28 October, 6:00 PMPontifical Mass & Conference, Church of the Holy Innocents,Manhattan, NYCelebrant of Pontifical Masses:His Excellency, Don Teodoro de FariaBishop Emeritus of Funchal, Madeira Islands, PortugalConference Speaker:Ricardo Dumont dos SantosPortugal Delegate of the Emperor Karl League of PrayersThese Masses and conferences were arranged and coordinated by the following Traditional Knights of Columbus councils:Regina Coeli Council 423, Manhattan, NYPotomac Council 433, Washington, DCWoodlawn Council 2161, Aliquippa, PAAgnus Dei Council 12361, Manhattan, NYMater Ecclesiae Council 12833, Berlin, NJGrateful acknowledgement to Syversen Touring for arranging air travel.Additional support provided by:The Paulus Institute for the Propagation of Sacred LiturgyThe Pittsburgh Latin Mass Community, Inc. (PLMC)For additional information on Bl. Karl, please visitthe Emperor Karl League of Prayers website.Background info on speakers:His Excellency, Don Teodoro de FariaBishop Emeritus of Funchal, Madeira Island, Portugal, author of a new book about Blessed Karl. As Bishop of the diocese in which Blessed Karl died in 1922, Bishop de Faria has long been active in his cause for sainthood, and it was he who formally presented to the Holy Father the petition to beatify Emperor Karl at the beatification ceremony in Saint Peter’s Square on 3 October 2004. A native of Madeira, Bishop de Faria was ordained in 1956 at the age of 26, consecrated bishop of Funchal in 1982, and since his retirement in 2007, has been working on his book about Blessed Karl, which he will discuss during his remarks.Ricardo Dumont dos SantosPortugal Delegate of the Emperor Karl League of Prayers. Mr. Dumont dos Santos is the honorary consul of the Federal Republic of Germany on the Portuguese island of Madeira. His family's connection to Blessed Karl encompasses three generations. His father, Dr. Alfredo Dumont Machado dos Santos, was leader of the Emperor Karl Prayer League in Portugal until his death in 1989. His paternal grandfather was one of the doctors called for consultation during the final illness of Emperor Karl, and it was he who signed his death certificate.
Today the spotless Virgin, untouched by earthly affections, and all heavenly in her thoughts, was not dissolved in earth, but truly entering heaven, dwells in the heavenly tabernacles. Who would be wrong to call her heaven, unless indeed he truly said that she is greater than heaven in surpassing dignity? The Lord and Creator of heaven, the Architect of all things beneath the earth and above, of creation, visible and invisible, Who is not circumvented by place (if that which surrounds things is rightly termed place), created Himself, without human co-operation, an Infant in her. He made her a rich treasure-house of His all-pervading and alone uncircumscribed Godhead, subsisting entirely in her without passion, remaining entire in His universality and Himself uncircumscribed. To-day the life-giving treasury and abyss of charity (I know not how to trust my lips to speak of it) is hidden in immortal death. She meets it without fear, who conceived death's destroyer, if indeed we may call her holy and vivifying departure by the name of death. For how could she, who brought life to all, be under the dominion of death ? But she obeys the law of her own Son, and inherits this chastisement as a daughter of the first Adam, since her Son, who is the life, did not refuse it. As the Mother of the living God, she goes through death to Him. For if God said: "Unless the first man put out his hand to take and taste of the tree of life, he shall live for ever," how shall she, who received the Life Himself, without beginning or end, or finite vicissitudes, not live for ever.
Free Screening of the new Catholic Family Film, The War of the Vendee at Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knights Hall (below the Church) on Monday July 22 at 7:00pm!
The War of the Vendee is the exciting, award-winning feature film from Navis Pictures, a Catholic Film production Company from Danbury, CT dedicated to creating films with Catholic Youth that inspire, educate, and entertain all ages. This timely, 90 minute, PG-rated film tells the little known story of the hundreds of thousands of brave, Catholic Martyrs of the French Revolution who gave their lives to restore the freedom of The Church. Featuring a glorious musical score recorded at Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood, beautiful cinematography, and strong performances by a cast of 256 young Catholics, but without a single drop of blood or even a whiff of innuendo or vulgarity, this is a "war movie" that is safe viewing for the entire family! The film's award-winning director, Jim Morlino, (creator of the popular "Glory Stories" Audio CDs) will introduce the movie, and will host an informal Q&A session after the screening. There will also be discounted DVDs of the film for sale. This is a perfect Catholic Family event! You can visit the company's website at navispictures.com to watch the trailer, and learn more about the work of Navis Pictures.
It is in the eleventh and twelfth centuries that we find the first unmistakable indications of devotion to the Sacred Heart. Through the wound in the side the Heart was gradually reached, and the wound in the Heart symbolized the wound of love. It was in the fervent atmosphere of the Benedictine or Cistercian monasteries, in the world of Anselmian or Bernardine thought, that the devotion arose, although it is impossible to say positively what were its first texts or were its first votaries. To St. Gertrude, St. Mechtilde, and the author of the "Vitis mystica" it was already well known. We cannot state with certainty to whom we are indebted for the "Vitis mystica". Until recent times its authorship had generally been ascribed to St. Bernard and yet, by the late publishers of the beautiful and scholarly Quaracchi edition, it has been attributed, and not without plausible reasons, to St. Bonaventure ("S. Bonaventura opera omnia", 1898, VIII, LIII sq.). But, be this as it may, it contains one of the most beautiful passages that ever inspired the devotion to the Sacred Heart, one appropriated by the Church for the lessons of the second nocturn of the feast. To St. Mechtilde (d. 1298) and St. Gertrude (d. 1302) it was a familiar devotion which was translated into many beautiful prayers and exercises. What deserves special mention is the vision of St. Gertrude on the feast of St. John the Evangelist, as it forms an epoch in the history of the devotion. Allowed to rest her head near the wound in the Saviour's she heard the beating of the Divine Heart and asked John if, on the night of the Last Supper, he too had felt these delightful pulsations, why he had never spoken of the fact. John replied that this revelation had been reserved for subsequent ages when the world, having grown cold, would have need of it to rekindle its love ("Legatus divinae pietatis", IV, 305; "Revelationes Gertrudianae", ed. Poitiers and Paris, 1877).These are the words of St. Bonaventure:
Because we are now come to the sweet Heart of Jesus, and because it is good for us to be here, let us not too soon turn away therefrom. O how good and joyful a thing it is to dwell in this Heart. What a good treasure, what a precious pearl, is thy Heart, O most excellent Jesu, which we have found hidden in the pit which hath been dug in this field, namely, in thy body. Who would cast away such a pearl? Nay, rather, for this same I would give all my pearls. I will sell all my thoughts and affections, and buy the same for myself, turning all my thoughts to the Heart of the good Jesus, and without fail it will support me. Therefore, o most sweet Jesu, finding this Heart that is thine and mine, I will pray to thee, my God : admit my prayers into the shrine of hearkening : and draw me even more altogether into thy Heart.
For to this end was thy side pierced, that an entry might be open unto us. To this end was thy Heart wounded, that in it we might be able to dwell secure from alarms from without. And it was wounded none the less on this account that, because of the visible wound, we may perceive the wound of love which is invisible. How could this fire of love better shine forth than for him to permit that not only his body, but that even his Heart, should be wounded with the spear? Who would not love that Heart so wounded? Who would not, in return, love one who is so loving? Who would not embrace one so chaste? Wherefore let us who are in the flesh love in return, as much as we can, him who so loveth, embrace our wounded one, whose hands and feet, side and Heart, have been pierced by wicked husbandmen ; and let us pray that he may deign to bind our hearts, still hard and impenitent, with the chain of his love, and wound them with the dart thereof.
Dear Friends,
This is a reminder to start your novena to the Divine Mercy on GOOD FRIDAY.
Here's how:
http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm
If you are new to Divine Mercy, please take a few minutes to explore the above website link.
The Octave of Easter culminates on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 7th. Confessions, recitation of the chaplet, and veneration of the image will be available at St. Stephen Church before and after the 9:30am Latin Mass. Powerful Graces await!
A Sermon by St. Bernardine of Siena
This is the general rule that applies to all individual graces given to a rational creature. Whenever divine grace selects someone to receive a particular grace, or some especially favoured position, all the gifts for his state are given to that person, and. enrich him abundantly.
This is especially true of that holy man Joseph, the supposed father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and true husband of the queen of the world and of the angels. He was chosen by the eternal Father to be the faithful foster-parent and guardian of the most precious treasures of God, his Son and his spouse. This was the task which he so faithfully carried out. For this, the Lord said to him, "Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord."
A comparison can be made between Joseph and the whole Church of Christ. Joseph was the specially chosen man through whom and under whom Christ entered the world fittingly and in an appropriate way. So, if the whole Church is in the debt of the Virgin Mary, since, through her, it was able to receive the Christ, surely after her, it also owes to Joseph special thanks and veneration.
For he it is who marks the closing of the old testament. In him the dignity of the prophets and patriarchs achieves its promised fulfilment. Moreover; he alone possessed in the flesh what God in his goodness promised to them over and again.
It is beyond doubt that Christ did not deny to Joseph in heaven that intimacy, respect, and high honour which he showed to him as to a father during his own human life, but rather completed and perfected it. Justifiably the words of the Lord should be applied to him, "Enter into the joy of your Lord." Although it is the joy of eternal happiness that comes into the heart of man, the Lord prefers to say to him "enter into joy". The mystical implication is that this joy is not just inside man, but surrounds him everywhere and absorbs him, as if he were plunged in an infinite abyss.
Therefore be mindful of us, blessed Joseph, and intercede for us with Him Whom men thought to be your Son. Win for us the favour of the most Blessed Virgin your spouse, the mother of Him Who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit through ages unending. Amen.
