The Holy Mass

If Catholics, and all Christians for that matter, really understood what was ocurring during the Mass -- that at the words of consecration the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity right there on the alter. . . .

. . . There would be lines out the door just to get into any Mass. Our Churches would be overwhelmed by the crush of the faithful.

Yet there are so many people, comparatively, who do not believe. And many of them are Catholics.

If you knew that you could go to a Church, sit down across from Christ Himself and spend time in His presence . . . . would you ever miss a Mass again?

Did You Really Hear What Jesus Said?

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’


Powerful words from our Savior and such clarity.

I heard Something New in an Old Story Today

We had a guest Priest at our Parish today. He was speaking on today's Gospel passge regarding Jesus telling us to bring him our tired, weary selves and in Him find rest.

Everytime I have heard this I have always thought about people being weary and tired from life. It has always struck me that when I read this in the Bible it seems to me there are a ton of really tired people that are Christians. Why is Jesus so worried about people resting?

Then it was explained. . .

Sin weighs us down. When we rest in Christ - we have confessed our sins and offered ourselves up for Mercy. And Mercy is granted, lovingly.

Prayer To Jesus

Oh Jesus,
Through your Life, Passion, Death, and Resuurection
You secured for us the seeds of our own resurrections.
Grant us the stregnth and the steadfastness of Faith
to remain on the Road behind both you and Mary
As we continue the journey towards the fullness of Mercy.

Peace,

Tom

Are You a Hypocrite

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’


I was able to hear a fascinating Homily from our Priest this past Sunday on the above Gospel reading. Many of us, it would appear, give lip service to our Catholicism and are thin in our beliefs. When we are hypocrites, when we say one thing and perform another action, it is not only hypocritical - but contradictory.

The Priest likened it his own mind to Russian Roulette. If we have spoken words which were lies throughout our lives that (words which our actions contradicted) then a bullet is loaded into the chamber of the gun. Upon our death, as we stand at our judgement before Christ He will say to us "Are you sure you have lived the Gospel and believed it?" We will say 'Yes'

Then we will be asked to put the gun to our head - and the more hypocrisies we spoke in our life - the more chambers will be filled with bullets. The more bullets, the greater the likelihood of finding a bullet after the chamber is spun.

Certainly a different way of thinking about living the gospel, and being true to oneself.

St. Cyril - On The Eucharist

St. Cyril wrote a sereies of lectures around the year 375 regarding beliefs, doctrines, and practices on the Eucharist. When it came to the Eucharist, St. Cyril (a Doctor of the Church) believed ferevntly in the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. He also had explicit instructions on how the Eucharsit should be partaken.

"In approaching therefore, come not with your wrists extended, or your fingers spread; but make your left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King . And having hollowed your palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed your eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest you lose any portion thereof ; for whatever you lose, is evidently a loss to you as it were from one of your own members. For tell me, if any one gave you grains of gold, would you not hold them with all carefulness, being on your guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Will you not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?

"Then after you have partaken of the Body of Christ, draw near also to the Cup of His Blood; not stretching forth your hands, but bending , and saying with an air of worship and reverence, Amen , hallow yourself by partaking also of the Blood of Christ. And while the moisture is still upon your lips, touch it with your hands, and hallow your eyes and brow and the other organs of sense . Then wait for the prayer, and give thanks unto God, who has accounted you worthy of so great mysteries.

Sadly, in a recent survey, a disturbing number of Catholics in the U.S. believe the Eucharist is a memorial meal done in memory of Christ - without understanding that it is Christ himslef present on the the Alter.

How many of us take the Eucharist unworthily each week? Make it a point to go to Confession and receive the Sacrement of Reconciliation.

Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy

This is truly a miracle. In the year 700 in Lanciano, Italy a Priest was celebrating the Mass. Now this Priest was also a student of the sciences. He always was trying to reconcile Faith with scientific fact.

During a Mass, just as he had said the words of consecration he was wrestling with the doubt about transubstantiation. Going through the cadence of the Mass was becoming routine for him.

At the moment he raised the Host to the parishioners, a miracle occurred which frightened the Priest to his core.

The bread turned into flesh before is eyes. Stunned and scared he staggered back from the alter after laying the Host down.

Slowly, what had just happened washed over him and he exclaimed to everyone in the Church "...Behold the Flesh and the blood of our Most Beloved Christ."

The host was indeed flesh, and the wine in the Chalice had been turned to blood.

Twelve centuries later and you can still see this miracle today. The host remains intact. It has the reddish appearance and fibrous texture of flesh. It remains in its own Tabernacle.

In 1971 a rigorous scientific analysis was performed by Professor Dr. Odorardo, University Professor of anatomy, pathological histology and clinical microscopy, Head Physician of the United Hospitals of Arezzo. He was assisted by Prof. Linoli and Prof. Dr. Ruggero Bertelli, a Professor Emeritus of anatomy at the University of Siena. They were able to conclude the following:

- The Blood of the Eucharistic Miracle is real blood and the Flesh is real flesh.
- The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the myocardium (heart wall).
- The Blood and the Flesh belong to the human species.
- The blood type is identical in the Blood and in the Flesh, type AB.
- The proteins in the blood are in the same proportions as those found in normal fresh blood.
- There is no trace whatsoever of any materials or agents used for preservation of flesh or blood.

The Body of Blood of Christ - in this instance made visible to a Priest who was wavering in belief proves the Eucharist is what we have always thought it was.

"My Flesh is real food; my Blood real drink."-John 6:56

Our Lord should not have to perform 'proofs' for us to believe - that is what we have Faith for. Relics are for those whose faith needs a boost. Bu this Eucharistic Miracle is one of beauty, awe, and humbling wonder.

Christians Defeated the Muslims at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571

A Rosary Crusade was called October 7, 1571 by Pope Pius V. One of the earliest wars of the Muslims against the Christians at Lepanto marked the end of the Crusades. Christian warriors went into the battle with a sword in one hand and the Rosary in the other.

Muslims were defeated with nearly 200 ships destroyed.


"Realize the power in your hand with the Rosary, for in your hands you hold the power of God. If you do not recognize the Rosary, can you expect to be recognized by My Son? How much can you expect? Why do you hide My Rosary? It was with a Mother's loving heart that I chose to give you these pearls of Heaven that you reject.

"Woe to all dedicated who seek to remove these from the little ones' hands, for their punishment will be metered in accordance to it!

"Why has sophisticated man cast aside these tokens of My love? Those who remain
true to My Rosary will not be touched by the fires. Gather these treasures, My children, for the time will come that you will not find them on the counters of your stores." - Our Lady of the Roses, October 6, 1970
>>>Read the Full Story Here<<<<

Anniversary of the Marian Fatima Apparitions

Today, 13-May, is the anniversary of the first of 6 Apparitions of the Blessed mother to the three children of Fatima, Portugal.

The Blessed Mother has made 15 Promises to those who pray the Rosary.

1. Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies.

A Prayer For a New Pentecost

Today starts a nine day novena to the Holy Spirirt to light a fire in the hearts of those U.S. and around the world for the Faith. As called for by our Holy Father we pray for a New Pentecost.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love

Send forth your spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Oh God who did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit

Grant us in this same spirit to be truly wise and to ever rejoice in His consultation

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen

Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum

On July 7, 2007 the Vatican issued a Papal position paper entitled "Motu Proprio" allowing the us, again, of the Tridentine Mass. Also during that time another paper came out re-affriming the Catholic Church as the One True Church insituted by Christ Himself.

Shortly after, I was challenged by a friend of mine as to why I am Catholic given the history of scandal and abuse that exists within the Church. It took some gathering of my thoughts before I could answer.

The Catholic Church is the only church that can trace its lineage directly back to Christ Himself. The Protestant churches have all splintered off from the Catholic Church, the one True Church. There are over 22,500 Protestant chruches and growing everyday. They all believe someting a little different from each other and it would appear that the ONLY point on whihc they can all agree is that they don't like the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church is not perfect because it is comprised of humans. The original leader, St. Peter, of the Church was full of faults and weaknesses. Yet he was expressly chosen by Christ to lead the new Church

I am happy with my decision. I will never convince this friend through words. The words of St. Francis come to mind:

"Evangelize always and if you must, use words."


am still on social terms with this friend, but it is limited now.

Peace Be To You.

Living the Invisible Life

Our Priest at our parish had an intriguing Homily this past Sunday. One that I would like to pass on here.

We are all aware of our bodies and our lives that we can see on a daily basis. It is visible to us. How do we relate to our spiritual lives and a life that exists on an invisible plane?

When we are born into this life our souls are basically dead. You can live a human life with a dead soul - millions of people have done it. How does the soul become born? How does it become animated?

The Soul becomes animated through the Touch of Grace, the touch of God. Sanctifying is the proper term. Our soul becomes born through the Grace received at Baptism and Confirmation. Our Souls are thus born and 'Sealed with the Holy Spirit'

Just like the visible body has flesh, a nervous system, connect tissue, and blood coursing through its veins so has the Soul. The Soul, has its own spiritual blood flowing through its veins as well. That spiritual blood is the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Now once we have life in our soul we need to nourish it and care for it. You see, when we harm our bodies, either through injury or surgery, the body bleeds and needs to repair and heal itself.

The same thing with the Soul - our 'self' in the invisible plane. We harm our Spirits by Sin, both venial and mortal. That harm is basically an injury that causes a wound and that wound begins to bleed. Through bleeding we begin to loose that Sanctifying grace from our soul. Little by little. The more we Sin the more wounds we create in our Soul and thus the more bleeding that occurs.

When we harm our spirits we need to seek healing to allow it to repair itself and grow stronger again. That healing comes to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (a.k.a. confession)

If we live our lives without regard for our Soul's health we reach the end of this life with a lifeless soul.

Then we stand in judgement before the Lord - look down at our lifeless spiritual body, and must then account to Lord for all that we have done wrong in our lives.

At that moment I could easily see that person saying to themselves, 'if I only knew.' At that point Jesus looks down at the Soul with a loving gaze, knowing that He provided every opportunity He could to redeem and many opportunities for His Mercy that we avoided.

As good Catholics, we care for our Souls and know that we want to have a healthy Soul for the next when this short, visible life is is finally at an end.

Peace be with you.

Prayer of Faith and Stregnth

Lord Jesus,

Through your Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection
You secured for us the seeds of our own resurrections.

Grant us the strength and the steadfastness of Faith,
to remain on the road behind both you and Mary
as we continue the journey towards the fullness of Mercy.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail

Have you ever stopped to think about the phrase ". . the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it"?

I think we often think of the Church as standing solid until the return of Christ and any agression by Evil will not harm her.

True. . .

but read the phrase again. The Gates of Hell are not something that will move to attack someone. Gates remain in place. They are a defense.

It really means that the Church is on the move against Evil - no matter where it hides. And when Christianity comes knocking bringing with it the light of Truth and Salvation - the Gates of Hell will not Prevail.

We, as Christians, are not called to stand still but to be agressive and evangelize. Don't play defense, as Catholics we are on offense!

Peace be to you.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday

Wishing everyone the grace and joy of experiencing the Risen Lord's Divine Mercy!

The Lord Jesus said to St. Faustina. . .

"Many souls ... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.

If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy"

I had a very good friend of mine pass me the following prayer for use particularly in Spiritual works of Mercy.

Free the Souls in Purgatory

Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.

Amen.

Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great that the following prayer would release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners which would alleviate the indebtedness accrued to them during their lives.

May you have a Blessed Mercy Sunday.

Peace be to you.

Participating in Tradition

I am a Liturgical Minister in our local Parish.

As a reader of scripture during the Mass I am participating a documented process of how the Mass occurs.

St. Justin Martyr wrote (with respect to the Mass)

On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place.
The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits.
When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.
Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.
When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.
Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren.
He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.
When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.'

This was written by St. Justin in the year 155. Although not a Priest, as a lay minister when I read the texts I am participating in the Mass in a role that is documented to go back nearly 2,000 years.

What an awe-inspiring responsibility. Join your local Parish's Liturgical Ministry

Peace be to you.

Holy Thursday

Today, we as Christians and as the Catholic Church commemorate Holy Thursday. On this day Christ celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples and the start of his suffering. After tonight's supper things happened quickly for our Lord. Among the Disciples they will betray, scatter, deny, and flee. But tonight, they are together one last time with the Lord.

It was the Jewish Feast of Passover yet it was the beginning of the Passion for Christ. The start of his suffering that would redeem both you and I.

The Passover Feast consisted of a slain and roasted lamb, bread, wine, oils, and herbs. It is how the Jews remembered their freedom from slavery in Egypt.

However, during the Last Supper, Christ gave new meaning to the traditional Passover elements.

He took the Bread and said this My Body, which will be given up for you.

This is the cup of My Blood, the Blood of the New and everlasting Covenant

Jesus, Himself, became the Lamb, slain for all of humanity,
so that they may be redeemed.

By giving transforming the traditional Jewish elements, Christ inducted and conducted the first Eucharistic Celebration.

At the Last Supper, He also directed His disciples to ". . do this in memory of Me. . ", thus instituting the Priesthood.

We have have much to celebrate this evening.

Don't the night pass without praying about what the Lord has done for you.

Peace be to you.

Do You Have to be Catholic To Get To Heaven?

Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving

There is a loty to be said for Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving.

Fasting brings you closer to God and clears your head to here what is being said to you. There was a Priest at a local Church who used to assign a penance from Confessions of no water for 24 hours. Let the thrist you develop remind you of your tirst for the Lord. The other aspect to Fasting is the Biological one. When the body is not using its energy and resources to constantly process and digest food, it can turn its attention to reparing the body. Fasting (never any longer than 3 days) immensly helps clear the mind and correct the body. It berings us closer to God. I know it's hard, I still can't quite get away from my need of caffiene.

While your Fastinf your Prayers become super-charged. You are in a better position to communicate with God.

And during Lent, don't let everyone know about your donations (almsgiving) of time and money. God knows what your doing - and that's all that matters.

Peace Be With You.

The Jews Were Never Expecting Jesus

You may have asked yourself (like I have) why didn't the Jews recognize Jesus as the Messiah?

Simple. The Jews were expecting a new, powerful leader like David to arrive. He would be a mighty warrior that would help them overthrow the enemy (Rome) and lead them to the Promised Land. He would be strong and invincible.


Jesus was a poor carpenter from Nazareth (nothing good could come out of Nazareth!). He wasn't a warrior, he didn't have an army, he advocated love and non-violence, and he was tried and executed as a criminal.

Not exactly who the Jews were looking for. Also, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) there is absolutely nothing that says the Messiah had to die for humanity's sins. He wasn't to die - he was to lead the battle - so they were not expecting it.

Are you expecting it?

Peace Be With You

The Image of Divine Mercy!

The image that Jesus directed St. Faustina to paint had very clear direction from our Lord. He wanted the world to know His mercy through this image. St. Faustina wrote in her Diary:

"In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand [was] raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment, slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me,"Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world." (Diary, 47)

"I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature; 'Jesus, I trust in You.'" (Diary,327)

She was to have the image painted just as she saw Him, standing with His right hand raised in blessing, red and pale rays issuing from His heart, a gaze of Mercy in His eyes...

"During prayer I heard these words within me: The two rays denote Blood and Water. The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls...

These two rays issued forth from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross." (Diary,299)

The Lord was very clear regarding this image.

"I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory." (Diary, 48)

"By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy...." (Diary, 742)

The infinite depths of the Lord Jesus have been opened to everyone!

The Lord has provided, through the Church, amy avenues and Graces through the Seven Sacraments and Priests. Howver, not all of us are taking advantage of those graces to save ourselves. Rather than Jesus saying "Sorry but I gave you enough chances to be saved," he is saying "I love you so much that I am giving you this additional Grace to help save yourselves with."

It is really sad that so many people remain lost and ignore the graces that are availabel to them - or are not aware that they even exist. Therefore, our Christian duty is to evangelize to those who aren't even aware.

Repent . . .for the Kingdom of God is here.

Peace be with you.