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MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - May, 2015
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of May: Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
* Resources For Ascension & Pentecost
* Prayer to the Holy Spirit
* Liturgical Feasts in May
* 'Catholic Trivia'
* Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Catholic Church's Teaching That Mary Intercedes For Christ's Followers?
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Dear Friend,
"We are keeping the feast of Pentecost and of the Coming of the Spirit, and the appointed time of the Promise, and the fulfillment of our hope. And how great, how august, is the Mystery." (St. Gregory Nazianzen, Doctor of the Church)
Greetings! We pray that you will have a blessed month of May, crowned by a blessed, holy Pentecost. Some important dates this month include the following...
5/3/15 - Fourth Sunday after Easter (Cantate Sunday) (T) | Fifth Sunday of Easter (N)
5/10/15 - Fifth Sunday after Easter (T) | Sixth Sunday of Easter (N)
5/11/15 - Rogation Monday (T)
5/12/15 - Rogation Tuesday (T)
5/13/15 - Vigil of the Ascension | Rogation Day (T)
5/14/15 - Ascension of Our Lord
5/23/15 - Vigil of Pentecost
5/24/15 - Pentecost Sunday
5/27/15 - Ember Wednesday after Pentecost (T)
5/29/15 - Ember Friday after Pentecost (T)
5/30/15 - Ember Friday after Pentecost (T)
5/31/15 - Trinity Sunday
May you enjoy good health, favorable weather, and abundant spiritual blessings during this beautiful month of May which is dedicated to our most holy & blessed Mother.
Thank you for being a valued subscriber to our newsletter,
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
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"And may the very God of all, who spoke by the Holy Ghost through the prophets, who sent Him forth upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost in this place, Himself send Him forth at this time also upon you; and by Him keep us also, imparting His benefit in common to us all, that we may ever render up the fruits of the Holy Ghost...in Christ Jesus our Lord: By whom and with whom, together with the Holy Ghost, be glory to the Father, both now, and ever, and for ever and ever. Amen." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church)
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MCS News & Notes
* App Development Update: We are happy to report that we made some good progress last month on the long-awaited Android version of our Catholic Bible References app. At this time, all functionality for the app is now in place. We still have quite a bit more work to do before the app can be released to the public (including preliminary testing, internal coding updates, cosmetic improvements, and final testing). If all goes well, we hope to have the app ready for sale by the end of June. If you are interested in purchasing this app, we highly recommend that you add your name to our waiting list. We are planning to have a special 3-day sale when the app is first released and we plan to notify those on our waiting list so they may take advantage of the special sale pricing. Please add your name to our waiting list today at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/app-wl.htm
* For Fatima resources (incl. prayers, coloring page), please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-fatima.htm
* For fasting / abstinence information for Rogation Days, Ember Days & the Vigil of Pentecost, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/latin_mass_and_tradition/traditional_prayers_and_practices.htm
* Reminder: Our Seventh Annual Rosary Week is scheduled for 10/25/15 - 10/31/15. Please plan to join fellow Catholics in praying the rosary each day that week for the indicated intentions. We hope to have a sign up sheet available shortly.
* Have you completed first five Saturdays devotion? The first five Saturdays devotion, associated with Fatima, is accompanied by the Blessed Virgin Mary's promise to provide all graces necessary for salvation at the hour of one's death. If you haven't yet started this devotion, May is the perfect month to start. If you have completed this devotion, why not repeat it? For more information concerning this devotion, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/popular_marian_devotions.htm
* Social Media Invitations: We have received a number of invitations to join social media sites (e.g. Facebook, Linked In), however we do not have accounts with these outlets due to privacy concerns. Please know that we appreciate your invitations even though we are not able to accept them.
* Newsletter Delivery Issues: We unfortunately experienced a few delivery issues with our April newsletter due to our IP number being included in a 'sp*m offender list' (we have masked this term to prevent filtering). Since we did not send out any unwanted mail (our subscribers must double-opt-in to our mailing list), we brought the issue up with our host. They regrettably replied that "there is no way to get removed from the list you're on. This [particular list] bases the listing on the entire C-class IP address range that your IP address is in. That means all of the IPs in the same range are listed, whether they have sent [sp*m] or not and many times, such listings are based on [sp*m] from a small number of IPs. The [list in question] is a recent addition to [a third party site] and functions similarly to a 'block all'-style firewall, wherein it just blocks everything and makes removal difficult to impossible." We apologize if this situation affects delivery of our newsletters and regret that there seems to be little we can do at this time concerning the situation. Note that users may help avoid delivery issues by 'whitelisting' us and by using other applicable options to inform e-mail providers that our e-mail is wanted.
* We love to hear from you! Please submit comments at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm
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* Please see our Notices page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/notices.htm for dates of anticipated service delays through May 2015
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* Reminder: To help ensure delivery of your newsletter, please put our e-mail address in your 'trusted senders' list - or use other applicable options your e-mail provider may offer to let them know that our e-mail is wanted. Thank you.
* Please visit our Notices page for timely news and other important information regarding MyCatholicSource.com - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/notices.htm
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The Month of May: Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
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"Such is the will of God, Who would have us obtain everything through the hands of Mary." (St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church)
"Indeed full of grace, for to others it is given in portions, but on Mary its fullness is showered." (St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)
"He who is devout to the Virgin Mother will certainly never be lost." (St. Ignatius of Antioch)
"What she asks, she obtains. Her pleas can never be unheard." (Bl. Pope Pius IX)
"Many souls are in heaven through the prayers of Mary who otherwise would not be there." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")
"Let us bless her often, and sing her praises: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed (Luke I, 48)." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")
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Related Resources...
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Blessed_Virgin_Mary.htm
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Reflections) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/mary_our_mother_reflections.htm
* Misc. Marian Facts - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/facts.htm
* Marian Scriptural References - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_scriptural_references.htm
* Popular Marian Prayers & Hymns - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_prayers.htm
* Popular Marian Devotions - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/popular_marian_devotions.htm
* Some Reasons to Honor the Blessed Virgin Mary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/reasons_to_honor_mary.htm
* Some Thoughts on the Blessed Virgin Mary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/thoughts_on_mary.htm
* Marian Feasts - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_feasts.htm
* Marian Apparitions - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/apparitions.htm
* Do Catholics Worship Mary? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/do_catholics_worship_mary.htm
* Marian Encyclicals - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pd/classic_encyclicals_by_category.htm
* Marian Apologetics - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__Marian.htm
* Mary, Our Mother Section - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/mary_our_mother.htm
* Marian Coloring Pages - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_coloring_activities.htm
* Word Searches (Blessed Virgin Mary) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_word_searches.htm
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Crossword Puzzle) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/crossword_puzzle_Mary.html
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"Mary is our sure way to Christ." (Pope St. Pius X)
"I have never read of any saint who did not have a special devotion to the glorious Virgin" (St. Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church, 13th century A.D.)
"We have the Virgin as universal advocate in all things, for she is more powerful in whatever necessity than are the other Saints in particular needs." (Pope Pius XII)
"Many and well known are the proofs of her solicitude, manifested from time to time even in a miraculous manner." (Pope Leo XIII)
"Let us rest assured that an earthly enemy is not so terrified at a great army as are the powers of hell at the names and protection of Jesus and Mary." (Muller)
"All those who love the Mother of God, that is to say, all true Catholics, are persuaded that, after God, Mary is our principal support in our conflicts with Satan. This persuasion is not merely a pious conjecture; it rests on constant experience and on dogmatical foundations the most unshaken." (Fr. Delaporte)
"Can. 1276 It is good and useful suppliantly to invoke the Servants of God reigning together with Christ and to venerate their relics and images; but before the others, all the faithful shall follow the Blessed Virgin Mary with filial devotion." (1917 Code of Canon Law)
"Who can ever comprehend the solicitude with which Mary constantly stands before God on our behalf? 'She is never weary of defending us,' says St. Germanus; and the remark is beautiful meaning that so great is the compassion excited in Mary by our misery, and such is the love that she bears us, that she prays constantly, and relaxes not her efforts in our behalf: that by her prayers she may effectually defend us from evil, and obtain for us sufficient graces." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
"Let us in all confidence choose as advocate before God the Immaculate and Most Holy Mother of God, the Virgin Mary... She is our most loving Mother, all mild and merciful she shows herself within reach of every prayer; most kind, she takes to herself all our needs with profound love and tender pity. In heaven as Queen at the right hand of her only Son, clothed in golden raiment and all manner of jewels, there is nothing she cannot obtain from him." (Bl. Pope Pius IX)
"Let us not be surprised, therefore, at the enthusiasm and profound respect wherewith the Church extols the Blessed Virgin and her prerogatives. Let us on the contrary be convinced that all the praise the Church can give her, and all the devotion she can ever bear towards her, are far below what is due to her as Mother of the Incarnate God. No mortal will ever be able to describe, or even comprehend, how great a glory accrues to her from this sublime dignity. For, as the glory of Mary comes from her being the Mother of God, one would have first to comprehend God himself in order to measure the greatness of her dignity. It is to God that Mary gave our human nature; it is God whom she had as her Child; it is God who gloried in rendering himself, inasmuch as he is Man, subject to her: hence, the true value of such a dignity possessed by a mere creature, can only be appreciated in proportion to our knowledge of the sovereign perfections of the great God, who thus deigns to make himself dependent upon that favored creature. Let us therefore bow down in deepest adoration before the Majesty of our God; let us therefore acknowledge that we cannot respect as it deserves the extraordinary dignity of her whom He chose for His Mother." (Dom Gueranger)
Marian Prayer for the Home: "O Mary, bless this house where thy Name is always blessed. Praise forever be to Mary Immaculate, the ever-Virgin Mother, blessed amongst women, the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Queen of Paradise." (Raccolta)
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Resources For Ascension & Pentecost
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* Ascension (Definition) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_definitions.htm
* Ascension (Prophecies) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/biblical_prophecies_ascension_pentecost.htm
* On Our Lord's Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension (Selections From the Baltimore Catechism, Lesson: 08) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cd/catechism_selections_search_lsn.asp
* Prayer for the Ascension - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_for_certain_occasions_times.htm
* Ascension Thursday / Holy Days of Obligation - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_holy_days_of_obligation.htm
* Ascension (Coloring Pages) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_coloring_activities.htm
* Jesus (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Jesus.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.'" (Acts 1:9-11)
Prayer for the Ascension: "Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Redeemer, to have this day ascended into heaven, may ourselves dwell in spirit amid heavenly things. Through the same Lord." (Collect)
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* Pentecost (Definition) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_definitions.htm
* Pentecost (Prophecies) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/biblical_prophecies_ascension_pentecost.htm
* On the Holy Ghost and His Descent Upon the Apostles (Selections From the Baltimore Catechism, Lesson: 09) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cd/catechism_selections_search_lsn.asp
* Prayers for Pentecost (Incl. Links for Veni Creator Spiritus & Veni Sancte Spiritus) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_for_certain_occasions_times.htm
* Novena to the Holy Spirit (Friday After Ascension to Vigil of Pentecost) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_novenas.htm
* Fasting / Vigil of Pentecost - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/latin_mass_and_tradition/traditional_prayers_and_practices.htm
* Gifts & Fruits of the Holy Spirit - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_gifts_fruits_of_the_Holy_Spirit.htm
* Divinum Illud Munus: On The Holy Spirit, Pope Leo XIII - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pd/divinum_illud_munus.htm
* Holy Spirit (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Holy_Spirit.htm
* Gifts & Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Crossword Puzzle) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/crossword_puzzle_gifts_fruits_Holy_Spirit.html
* Holy Spirit (Word Searches) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_word_searches.htm
* Pentecost (Coloring Pages) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_coloring_activities.htm
Reminder: For plenary indulgence info. for the Solemnity of Pentecost, visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/indulgences.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them." (Acts 2:2-3)
Prayer for Pentecost: "O God, who on this day didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and ever rejoice in His holy consolation. Through our Lord...in the unity of the same." (Collect)
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Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit! Merciful Paraclete! Love of the Father and Son! Link of the Begetting and the Begotten! Their goodness and charity: the purity of their essence; benignity, sweetness, joy! The bond that joinest God to man; the power that unitest man to God! To thee, who, with the Father and the Son, art alone worthy of adoration; to thee that proceedest from both, be worship and honor for ever! Thou art gentle and joyous, worthy of love and praise. Thou cleansest the soul from vanity. Thou art the lover of purity. Thou art music to them who mourn in exile; thou art the melody of them that are in joy. To the former thou art a comforter, lest they should despair of thy help; to the latter, a helper, that they may long to behold thee. The consoler of the pious, the inspirer of the good, the counselor of the afflicted! The remover of errors, the teacher of the ignorant, the solver of doubts! Thou supportest the weak, guidest the wanderer, bringest back him that is astray, holdest him that is falling, encouragest him that strives, perfectest him that loves. 'Twas thou that broughtest from the pit of corruption and misery him that is now perfect. 'Tis thou that leadest him through the path of peace and joy, and admittest him, under the cloud (of faith), into the sanctuary of wisdom. Thou art the foundation of sanctity, the nourishment of chastity, the beauty of meekness, the solace of poverty, the treasury of munificence, the bulwark of honesty. Thou art the refuge of the miserable, and the deliverer of captives; To the first, most seasonable; to the second, most prompt. Thou art the Spirit of truth, and the bond of brotherly love. He that sent thee, is the same that gave us the promise. We believe thee to be the Judge of all men, as we believe thee to be their Creator. Thou givest reward to them that merit it; thou inflictest chastisement on them that have no merit. Thou breathest where and when thou wilt; thou teachest whom thou wilt, and as much as thou wilt. Thou givest light and knowledge to thy faithful servants when in doubt; thou strengthenest them when taken unawares; thou guidest them when doing what is right. Thou art order that beautifiest all things; thou art beauty, that ordainest all things, said, done, or thought; giving truth to what is said, honesty to what is done, purity to what is thought. Thou art the good and perfect Gift, giving both understanding and love. Thou guidest man to truth, thou formest his love. Thou confirmest him in good, and, having made him deserving of thy love, thou crownest him at heaven's gate. Amen. (Sequence, 11th Century A.D.)
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Ref. http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Holy_Spirit.htm
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Liturgical Feasts in May
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for May as they appear at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/saints/feasts.htm
Note: (T) = Traditional, (N) = New (Novus Ordo)
Reminder: Feasts may be superseded / transferred / etc.
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May 1 - St. Joseph the Workman (T)
May 1 - Sts. Philip & James, apostles (T)
May 1 - St. Joseph the Worker (N)
May 2 - St. Athanasius (T)
May 2 - St. Athanasius (N)
May 3 - Finding of the Holy Cross (T)
May 3 - St. Juvenal (T)
May 3 - Sts. Alexander I (pope), Eventius, Theodulus (T)
May 3 - Sts. Philip & James, apostles (N)
May 4 - St. Monica (T)
May 5 - St. Pius V, pope (T)
May 6 - St. John before the Latin Gate (T)
May 7 - St. Stanislaus of Cracow (T)
May 8 - Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel (T)
May 9 - St. Gregory Nazianzen (T)
May 10 - St. Antoninus (T)
May 10 - Sts. Gordian & Epimachus (T)
May 12 - St. Pancras (T)
May 12 - Sts. Nereus, Achilleus & Domitilla (T)
May 12 - St. Pancras (N)
May 12 - Sts. Nereus & Achilleus (N)
May 13 - St. Robert Bellarmine (T)
May 13 - Our Lady of Fatima (N)
May 14 - St. Boniface (T)
May 14 - St. Matthias, apostle (N)
May 15 - St. John Baptist de la Salle (T)
May 15 - St. Isidore (N)
May 16 - St. Brendan (T)
May 16 - St. John Nepomucene (T)
May 16 - St. Ubaldus of Gubbio (T)
May 17 - St. Pascal Baylon (T)
May 18 - St. Venantius of Camerino (T)
May 18 - St. John I, pope (N)
May 19 - St. Peter Celestine, pope (T)
May 19 - St. Pudentiana (T)
May 20 - St. Bernardine of Siena (T)
May 20 - St. Bernardine of Siena (N)
May 21 - St. Christopher Magallanes & companions (N)
May 22 - St. Rita of Cascia (T)
May 22 - St. Rita of Cascia (N)
May 23 - St. John Baptist de Rossi (T)
May 25 - St. Gregory VII, pope (T)
May 25 - St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (T)
May 25 - St. Urban I, pope (T)
May 25 - St. Bede the Venerable (N)
May 25 - St. Gregory VII, pope (N)
May 25 - St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (N)
May 26 - St. Eleutherius, pope (T)
May 26 - St. Philip Neri (T)
May 26 - St. Philip Neri (N)
May 27 - St. Bede the Venerable (T)
May 27 - St. John I, pope (T)
May 27 - St. Augustine of Canterbury (N)
May 28 - St. Augustine of Canterbury (T)
May 29 - St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi (T)
May 30 - St. Felix I, pope (T)
May 30 - St. Ferdinand III (T)
May 30 - St. Joan of Arc (T)
May 31 - St. Angela Merici (T)
May 31 - St. Petronilla (T)
May 31 - The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces (T)
May 31 - The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
May 31 - Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (N)
Please Note: Above may exclude moveable feasts. For moveable feasts, see below and try here: http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/latin_mass_and_tradition/traditional_liturgical_calendar.htm . For other feasts, try the MCS Daily Digest each day at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp
Also...
5/3/15 - Fourth Sunday after Easter (Cantate Sunday) (T) | Fifth Sunday of Easter (N)
5/10/15 - Fifth Sunday after Easter (T) | Sixth Sunday of Easter (N)
5/11/15 - Rogation Monday (T)
5/12/15 - Rogation Tuesday (T)
5/13/15 - Vigil of the Ascension | Rogation Day (T)
5/14/15 - Ascension of Our Lord [Note: Traditionally, this is a holy day of obligation, but on the Novus Ordo calendar it is often transferred to Sunday in the U.S. For information for your area, contact your parish or diocese.]
5/23/15 - Vigil of Pentecost
5/24/15 - Pentecost Sunday
5/27/15 - Ember Wednesday after Pentecost (T)
5/29/15 - Ember Friday after Pentecost (T)
5/30/15 - Ember Friday after Pentecost (T)
5/31/15 - Trinity Sunday
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'Catholic Trivia'
1. Outside of the Gospels, where in the Bible is the Blessed Virgin Mary's motherhood of Jesus' followers confirmed?
2. What do "consecration-crosses" refer to?
3. Where is Bethany located?
4. What scapulars are contained on the fivefold scapular?
5. Where does the word "genuflect" come from?
6. According to Sr. Lucy of Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary indicated that Lucy's young friend would remain in purgatory until when?
7. Who was the only Apostle not martyred?
8. What religious practices were recommended in Mediator Dei?
9. Where does Scripture tell us to shun those who don't act according to tradition?
10. In the Encyclical Mortalium Animos, does Pope Pius XI encourage inter-faith gatherings?
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Answers:
1. The Blessed Virgin Mary's motherhood of Jesus' followers is confirmed in Rv. 12:17.
2. "Consecration-crosses" refer to twelve small crosses on walls of a church which mark where the building was anointed.
3. Bethany is a village of Palestine, east of Jerusalem. It is the location of the rising of Lazarus by Jesus.
4. The fivefold scapular contains the following scapulars worn as one: Red Scapular of the Passion, White Scapular of the Most Blessed Trinity, Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Black Scapular of the Seven Dolours of Mary, and the Blue Scapular of the Immaculate Conception.
5. The word "genuflect" is derived from the Latin words "genu" (knee) and flectere (to bend).
6. "[S]he will be in Purgatory until the end of the world." (Our Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucy, in response to whether or not Lucy's young friend was in heaven, early 20th century)
7. The only Apostle not martyred (although it was attempted) is St. John. Note that St. John, "the one whom Jesus loved", was also the only Apostle present at the crucifixion and the one to whom Jesus entrusted his Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
8. In Mediator Dei, Pope Pius XII recommends the following religious practices: "meditation on spiritual things, diligent examination of conscience, enclosed retreats, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and those special prayers in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary among which the rosary, as we all know, has pride of place. From these multiple forms of piety, the inspiration of the Holy Ghost cannot be absent."
9. Scripture tells us to shun those who don't act according to tradition in 2 Thes. 3:6.
10. In the Encyclical Letter Mortalium Animos, Pope Pius XI strongly condemns Catholic participation in inter-faith gatherings. For example, Pope Pius XI says: "With this object, congresses, meetings and addresses are arranged, attended by a large concourse of hearers, where all without distinction, unbelievers of every kind as well as Christians, even those who unhappily have rejected Christ and denied His divine nature or mission, are invited to join in the discussion. Now such efforts can meet with no kind of approval from Catholics. They presuppose the erroneous view that all religions are more or less good and praiseworthy... Those who hold such a view are not only in error; they distort the true idea of religion, and thus reject it, falling gradually into naturalism and atheism. To favor this opinion, therefore, and to encourage such undertakings is tantamount to abandoning the religion revealed by God."
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For more information concerning the topics above, try our General A-Z Index at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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You might also be interested in the Q & A and historical information which may be found each day on the MCS Daily Digest at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp
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Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Catholic Church's Teaching That Mary Intercedes For Christ's Followers?
It is good for Catholics to be able to defend their faith against attacks (or even simple questions) from those outside the Church. We therefore hope you may find the following "apologetics brief" helpful.
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Note: Text below is taken from http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__Marian.htm
The following may be used as discussion points when discoursing with those outside the Church (or even among Catholics).
Topic: Do You Reject the Catholic Church's Teaching That Mary Intercedes For Christ's Followers? [Note: Topic is directed at Protestants]
Consider:
* Do you also reject the concept of the intercession of saints? Please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__saints_relics_images.htm
* Do you also reject the fact that Mary interceded with Jesus at Cana - even though His hour had not come (see Jn. 2:4)? Do you think she cared about persons in need of assistance then, but no longer cares?
* "How can you imagine that Christ came into the world to save sinners and that His own mother Mary would be disinterested in her Son's mission?"
* How can you imagine that your Mother [assuming you "keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus" (Rv. 12:17)] would not do all she could to assist you, her child?
* Are you aware that there are writings from the first and second centuries which seek Mary's protection? Why do you suppose these earliest Christians - persons who lived closest to Christ's time - believed Mary would assist them if this was not even a possibility?
* Are you unaware of the many parallels between Jesus' mother Mary and the Ark in the Old Testament (cf. 2 Sam. 6:9, Lk. 1:43)? Remember that...
- After the arrival of the Ark, the people turned to God (1 Sam. 7:2)
- With the Ark come blessings (2 Sam. 6:11)
- Places where the Ark has come are holy (2 Chron. 8:11)
* Are you also unfamiliar with the position of Queen Mother and the powerful intercession of a Queen Mother (e.g. see 1 Kgs. 2:19-20)?
* Have you forgotten that Scripture says that "the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful" (Jms. 5:16)?
* Do you argue that Mary is "dead" and can therefore not help you? How, then, can you explain the following...?
- Christ's parable recounts the attempted intercession by a (condemned!) departed man for his brothers (see Lk. 16:27-31)
- Jesus conversed with Moses & Elijah even though they were "dead" (see Mt. 17:3, Mk. 9:4, Lk. 9:30)
- He is not God of the dead, but of the living (see Mk. 12:26-27)
- Scripture recounts the intercession of deceased Onias & Jeremiah (see 2 Macc. 15:11-16)
- Martyrs are shown alive in heaven, and even await the avenging of their blood (it is clear, therefore, that they know what is transpiring on earth) [see Rv. 6:9-11, Rv. 20:4]
* Have you ever noticed that the first recorded miracle after Jesus was conceived in Mary occurred when Mary greeted St. Elizabeth (that is, the reception of the Holy Spirit by St. John the Baptist occurred upon Mary's greeting, see Lk.1:41)? Further, have you noticed that Jesus' first recorded words were in response to Mary's question (Lk. 2:49)? And that Jesus' first recorded miracle was in direct response to Mary's request (Jn. 2:1-11)? Note that this was also the first recorded instance of intercession with Jesus. Also note that Jesus performed this miracle for his mother even despite the fact that He seemed to say no (Jn. 2:4).
* Throughout the Church's 2,000 year history, Mary has been associated with countless miracles of all types, including miraculous cures, miraculous military upsets, miraculous conversions, miraculous solar phenomena, etc. There are a number of miraculous images (including various statues & paintings) of Mary throughout the world, including the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe which cannot be explained by science. Mary has consistently shown herself to be a loving mother and a powerful intercessor with her Son Jesus. She is the "mortal enemy" of the devil (cf. Gen. 3:15) and a powerful protectress against evil spirits.
* Do you argue that there is one mediator between God & man (1 Tm. 2:5)? Have you never noticed that in the very same passage St. Paul asks for intercessory prayers (see 1 Tm. 2:1)? Do you also ignore the fact that Scripture repeatedly speaks of intercessory prayer (e.g. Acts 12:1-7, Rom. 15:30-32, Eph. 6:18-20, Col. 4:2-4, 2 Thes. 3:1-2, 1 Jn. 5:16)?
* Do you reject the Catholic Church's teaching regarding Mary's intercession because you believe the Church teaches that Mary has power on her own? You should know that the Church does not teach this, but instead teaches that Mary, being a creature, does not have any inherent power on her own, but rather has only the power that God may give her. Remember - just like at Cana - Mary had no inherent power on her own to change the water into wine, but her powerful intercession still did result in it being miraculously changed.
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"[The Queen] is always vigilant to intercede with the king whom she bore." (Pope Sixtus IV)
"Many and well known are the proofs of her solicitude, manifested from time to time even in a miraculous manner." (Pope Leo XIII)
"[Mary] is by nature so good and so merciful that inclined to aid spontaneously those who suffer, she is absolutely incapable of refusing her help to those who invoke her." (Pope Benedict XV)
"She who is associated with him in the work of man's salvation has favor and power with her Son greater than any other human or angelic creature has ever obtained or ever can obtain." (Pope Leo XIII)
"Mary, having merited to give flesh to the divine Word, and thus supply the price of our redemption, that we might be delivered from eternal death; therefore she is more powerful than all others to help us to gain eternal life." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church)
"[A]lthough Mary, now in heaven, can no longer command her Son, nevertheless her prayers are always the prayers of a mother, and consequently most powerful to obtain whatever she wills." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
"Remark, by the by, that this writer does not scruple to address these words to Mary: 'Save us, we perish'; as does a certain author already noticed, and who says, that we cannot ask Mary to save us, as this belongs to God alone. But since a culprit condemned to death can beg a royal favorite to save him by interceding with the king that his life may be spared, why cannot we ask the Mother of God to save us by obtaining us eternal life?" (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
"One of the most amazing features of this marriage [at Cana] is that it was not the wine servant, whose business it was to service the wine, who noticed the shortage, but rather Our Blessed Mother. (She notes our needs before we ourselves feel them.) She made a very simple prayer to her Divine Son about the empty wine pots when she said: 'They have no wine.' Hidden in the words was not only a consciousness of the power of her Divine Son but also an expression of her desire to remedy an awkward situation. Perhaps the Blessed Mother had already seen Our Lord work many miracles in secret - although He had not yet worked a single one in public. For if there had not already been a consciousness of the truth that He was the Son of the Omnipotent God, she would not have asked for a miracle." (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
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For more apologetics resources, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/non-catholics.htm
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In Closing...
"The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe." (Jn. 14:26-29)
"Let us live as the Blessed Virgin lived: loving God only, desiring God only, trying to please God only in all that we do." (St. John Vianney)
"Ancient and modern history and the more sacred annals of the Church bear witness to public and private supplications addressed to the Mother of God, to the help she has granted in return, and to the peace and tranquility which she had obtained from God. Hence her illustrious titles of helper, consoler, mighty in war, victorious, and peace-giver." (Pope Leo XIII, "Supremi Apostolatus Officio", 1883 A.D.)
"While Peter has the keys of heaven, Mary has the key to God's heart; while Peter binds and looses, Mary also binds with the chains of love and looses with the gift of pardon. While Peter is the guardian and the minister of indulgences, Mary is the generous and wise treasurer of God's favors. 'He who desires grace and does not have recourse to Mary, desires to fly without wings.' (Dante)" (Pope Pius XII)
"Awake, my harp, your songs in praise of the Virgin Mary! Lift up your voice and sing of the wonderful history Of the Virgin, the daughter of David, who gave birth to the life of the world.. Who loves you is amazed; and who would understand is silent and confused, Because he cannot probe the Mother who gave birth in her virginity...In the womb of Mary the Infant was formed, who from eternity is equal to the Father. He imparted to us His greatness, and took on our infirmity. He became mortal like us and joined his life to ours, so that we might die no more.. This Virgin became a Mother while preserving her virginity; And though still a Virgin she carried a Child in her womb; And the handmaid and work of His Wisdom became the Mother of God." (Hymn of praise, Attr. St. Ephraim of Syria, Doctor of the Church, c. 4th century A.D.)
Prayer for the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "To Thy faithful people, rejoicing in the name and protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, vouchsafe, O almighty God, we beseech Thee, through her loving intercession, to be delivered from all evils here on earth, and to be accounted worthy to enter into everlasting joys in heaven. Through our Lord." (Collect)
Invocation of the Holy Spirit: "Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle within them the fire of thy love." (Latin: "Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.")
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