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MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - February, 2017
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of February: Dedicated to the Holy Family
* Parents' Prayer
* Bone Moris Prayer
* Liturgical Feasts in February
* 'Catholic Trivia'
* Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject Crucifixes?
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Dear Friend,
"The brethren who are with me greet you. I pray that you may be well, and remember us to the Lord" (Greeting of St. Athanasius)
We pray this year is off to a good start and that it will continue to bring you many blessings & graces. This year Lent begins on March 1, so we will include Lenten resources with our next newsletter. However, it is good for Catholics to begin preparing for Lent starting at Septuagesima (2/12/17). Therefore, please visit our Lent Topic Page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-lent.htm for assistance.
In the meantime, please join us in prayer that our newly installed leaders will promote the reign of Christ the King in our nation. Please also see below for some exciting news regarding future content on MyCatholicSource.com.
Thanks again for your support of our site & newsletter.
May God richly bless you,
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
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"The holy season of Lent is fast advancing; the choicest graces are being daily offered us; woe to the man whose mind is distracted by the fashion of this world that passeth away, and takes no thought for eternity and heaven, and, even in this time of grace, is like...a worthless weed of the desert. Oh how numerous is this class! And how terrible is their spiritual indifference! Pray for them, O ye faithful children of the Church, pray for them without ceasing. Offer up your penances and your almsgivings for them. Despair not, and remember that, each year, many straying sheep are brought to the fold by such intercession as this." (Dom Gueranger)
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MCS News & Notes
* Great News: We have commissioned four exclusive articles to be penned by an experienced journalist. It is our hope that these articles will appear on our site in February 2017. The journalist, a Catholic who worked for the Orange County Register for 29 years, is now engaging in freelance work. We are excited to have him writing for our site and look forward to his future contributions.
* New User-Submitted Article: A new user-submitted article entitled "Answered Prayers ('Holy Spirit 3 Day Miracle Prayer')" has been added to the site. It may be viewed at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/ua/user_article-ans_prayers-Holy_Spirit_3_day_prayer.htm . For a listing of currently available user-submitted articles, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/ua/user_articles_index.htm . To submit your own article, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/article_submission.htm
* Did you send us a gift card? A kind donor anonymously mailed us a donation which contained a gift card. We thank the donor for their kindness. Unfortunately, however, we are not able to use the card without a pin. If you'd like to send us the pin for the card, you case use the form at http://mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/quick_feedback.htm (feel free to omit your email address).
* Did you see our ads on another site? Please note that we are presently running a number of ad campaigns on a major search engine. Search partner sites and other affiliated sites may pick up these ads from our campaigns and display them on their sites as they deem them applicable to their content. This is essentially an automated process and - with a few exceptions - we did not choose to have our ads on any specific site, nor do we recommend or endorse any other site. We regret that there is a possibility that our ads may appear on inappropriate or undesirable sites. However - should this occur - we hope that those who choose to click our ads may be assisted by the information that is contained on our site.
* Big Thanks: The increased ad campaigns mentioned above are possible due to donations we have received. We plan to continue the ads until the funds run out (hopefully at least a few months). We send a big thanks to all donors! If you would like to help us keep our ads going so that even more people can find good Catholic content online, please donate at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/donate.htm . Note that even donations of just $1 can help. And, as part of our Pledge To Donors (see http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/pledge_to_donors.htm ), we will NOT hound you for more money and we do NOT sell donor information to third parties.
* Coloring Page for 2/14: For a Happy St. Valentine's Day coloring page, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_happy_saint_valentines_day.htm . [Note: For more on love / charity, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-love_charity.htm ]
* Lenten Resources: For resources for Lent (including definitions, traditional practices, make your own Lent calendar, prayers, etc.), please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-lent.htm
* Want some no-charge books? As mentioned in our December 2016 newsletter, due to a wealth of new lending library donations received lately, we would consider transferring some of the 'excess' lending library books to other Catholic lending libraries (or possibly to Catholic organizations/homeschools). We still have a number of titles available. If you are interested in acquiring some of the titles (at no charge), please let us know. You can contact us using the subscriber feedback page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/subscriber_feedback.htm . Please note that for transferred books: 1-we can only ship to adults who have a physical address within in the United States, and 2-we would ask that they be used/shared (as applicable), but NOT sold. Note that we do NOT recommend or endorse any book/author/publisher/etc.
* Special Request Regarding Feedback: We are occasionally asked questions, but sometimes (way too often) we prepare a response only to find out that the email address provided is incorrect and there is no way to reach the questioner. It can take a lot of our time to research & answer and then it ultimately 'breaks our hearts' when we cannot successfully deliver the information to persons in need of it. If you submit feedback using any of our forms, please double check the input of your email address if you are hoping to hear back from us. Thank you for your attention & understanding.
* Future Server Migration: Hopefully it will not be in the super-near future, but the need for a new server does seem to be on the horizon. We are presently hopeful we can postpone the transition to a new server until Summer. When the time comes, we do hope everything will go smoothly, but there are often a number of issues when changing servers, especially when a new operating system is involved. We plan to keep subscribers updated when we know more.
* We have a very long list of new features & improvements we'd like to make to the site, but unfortunately we also have a very large backlog. You can help us prioritize our list by sharing your suggestions and requests with us (please use our subscriber feedback form at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/subscriber_feedback.htm ). We have made a number of changes to the site and to the newsletter throughout the years, a number of which were based on visitors' reactions and comments, which have improved the site & newsletter. Thank you for your feedback!
* Can you help? At least one parish site and one Knights of Columbus website have already linked to our apps page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/comrc/apps.htm . Might your parish also link to us or mention our apps (or site) in the parish bulletin? Please help spread the word so other Catholics can learn of these great Catholic apps. Thank you!
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MyCatholicSource.com App News...
* Perfect for Lent: If you could use a quick & easy - but powerful - devotion to grow closer to Christ, please consider purchasing our latest apps, My Crucifix & My Crucifix for iPad®, which are still available for sale at a discounted price. For more information, screenshots & to purchase, please try the following links...
Download My Crucifix For the iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod touch® at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-crucifix/id1173426983?mt=8
Download My Crucifix For the iPad® at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-crucifix-for-ipad/id1181900071?mt=8
Your purchase helps keep MyCatholicSource.com online.
Please get your copy today!
* If you don't already own iStations, why not purchase it now in preparation for Lent? iStations is a great devotional app which is perfect for those times when you can't make it to your parish for the Stations of the Cross. It features...
· Convenient audio option with optional auto-advance
· Two traditional methods of praying the Stations of the Cross
· Beautiful images accompany each station
· Easy navigation
· Selected prayers in English & Latin
· In app help
The following quotes are from actual user reviews (both platforms)...
"Nice app!"
"This is a lovely app"
"This app is a must!"
"excellent app!"
"wonderful!!!"
"pictures and audio are great!"
"Very good for meditation and reflection."
"Glad to have found this!"
"It is definitely worth the purchase price."
"Best Station App"
"This is simply beautiful"
"I love it"
"Great Job"
"Penetrating and profound."
"Beautifully sublime"
"Simply wonderful."
"The best I have seen so far. great to take along for those with unusual schedules. Very happy to have found it."
"This is awesome... I love the audio, and the quality of this prayer app. Well done."
"This is a great App. The illustrations of the stations are some of the most beautiful Christian art to be found. Being able to listen on audio makes for a very peaceful experience. Highly recomended."
"There are a few other versions of the stations in the app store, some I have installed, but this is the best in my opinion."
For more information & screenshots, please visit: http://www.MyCatholicSource.com/Android [or visit http://www.MyCatholicSource.com/Apps for an iPad® / iPhone® / iPod touch® version]
Download it today at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.bfsnet.istations or http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007014CYM [an iOS version is presently available at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/istations/id457131446?ls=1&mt=8 ]
Your purchase helps support MyCatholicSource.com - Thank you for your support!
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Note: Any prices included herein are in U.S. dollars, excluding any applicable tax.
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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 August 2017.
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The Month of February: Dedicated to the Holy Family
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"And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." (Mt. 1:16)
"Our Lord, His Mother, and His foster-father, St. Joseph, together formed one family which should be the model and veneration of all Christian households." (Manual of the Holy Catholic Church, 1906 A.D.)
"Lord Jesus Christ, who, being made subject to Mary and Joseph, didst consecrate domestic life by Thine ineffable virtues; grant that we, with the assistance of both, may be taught by the example of Thy Holy Family and may attain to its everlasting fellowship. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen." (Roman Missal)
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Related Resources...
* Holy Family Topic Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Holy_Family.htm
* References to the Holy Family in Scripture - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_scriptural_references.htm
* Family / Families (Reflections) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/catholic_life_reflections__family.htm
* Holy Family Coloring Pages - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_coloring_activities.htm
* Holy Family (Mazes) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_mazes.htm
* Jesus (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Jesus.htm
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Blessed_Virgin_Mary.htm
* St. Joseph (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Saint_Joseph.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"The home of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph was a very poor but a very peaceful home. And from it we may learn how to regulate our homes, and make them the abodes of virtue and peace." (Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, 1893 A.D.)
"Jesus reigns over the family when it, modeled after the holy ideals of the sacrament of matrimony instituted by Christ, maintains unspotted its true character of sanctuary. In such a sanctuary of love, parental authority is fashioned after the authority of God, the Father, from Whom, as a matter of fact, it originates and after which even it is named. (Ephesians iii, 15) The obedience of the children imitates that of the Divine Child of Nazareth, and the whole family life is inspired by the sacred ideals of the Holy Family." (Pope Pius XI, "Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio", 1922 A.D.)
"Joseph heard the Son of God call him 'father'. He had charge of, he labored for the maintenance of the Son of the Eternal Father. He was the head of the Holy Family at Nazareth, and Jesus recognized his authority. The plan of the Mystery of the Incarnation required that these relations should exist between the Creator and the Creature. As the Son of God, now that he is seated at the right hand of the Eternal Father, has kept our human nature indissolubly united with his divine Person; so likewise has he retained the feelings he had, when here on earth, for Mary and Joseph." (Gueranger)
"[T]here never was a spot on earth whence so ardent prayer ascended into heaven, as from the house of Nazareth. There the holiest souls poured out their prayers before the Lord. In every Christian house prayer should be the first object of solicitude. 'Let nothing hinder thee from praying always' (Ecclus. 18: 22.) 'Watch ye, praying at all times.' (Luke 21: 35.) O that prayers would be said in every household! Say your morning and evening prayers. Let parents see to it that their children say their prayers in the morning and in the evening." ('Catholic pulpit excellence', 1891 A.D.)
"Family life in the dignity and sacredness which properly belong to it is the blessing and fruit of Christianity, one of mankind's earliest means of sanctification. From the beginning, God established the marriage state - and, through it, family life - as the foundation and corner-stone of human society. But the divine designs having been frustrated or destroyed by man's wickedness and impiety, the only begotten Son of God descended from heaven and made himself a member of a human family in order to purify all the families of earth from sin, and restore them to their pristine dignity. Yes, by becoming man, Christ gave to the family a higher dignity, making it, through his grace, a type of his Church. The more an anti-Christian spirit prevails, the greater and more baneful will be its effects upon family-life. What wonder, then, that, at the present day, unbelief is sapping the very foundations of the Christian household, until we behold it tottering and crumbling before our very eyes!" ('Catholic pulpit excellence', 1891 A.D.)
"Let us take our stand in front of that earthly and divine home of holiness, the House of Nazareth. How much we have to learn from the daily life which was led within its walls! What an all-perfect model of domestic society! Here we behold simplicity and purity of conduct, perfect agreement and unbroken harmony, mutual respect and love - not of the false and fleeting kind - but that which finds both its life and its charm in devotedness of service. Here is the patient industry which provides what is required for food and raiment; which does so 'in the sweat of the brow,' which is contented with little, and which seeks rather to diminish the number of its wants than to multiply the sources of its wealth. Better than all, we find there that supreme peace of mind and gladness of soul which never fail to accompany the possession of a tranquil conscience. These are precious examples of goodness, of modesty, of humility, of hard-working endurance, of kindness to others, of diligence in the small duties of daily life, and of other virtues, and once they have made their influence felt they gradually take root in the soul, and in course of time fail not to bring about a happy change of mind and conduct." (Pope Leo XIII, "Laetitiae Sanctae", 1893 A.D.)
St. Joseph, most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, protect us.
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Parents' Prayer
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The following is a taken from a 19th century publication entitled "Catholic Hours or the Family Prayer Book". The original work has approbation. [Please note: We have made various changes to the original text (e.g. spelling & capitalization changes)]
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O God, whose holy prophets have ever declared children to be a blessing to those to whom they were given, grant, I beseech thee, that Thy merciful intentions may never be defeated through any defect on my part. Oh may the children whom Thou hast bestowed upon me be a blessing and a comfort to my life. May I be enabled to bring them up in virtue and godliness: and do Thou, my God, bestow upon them such dispositions and such tempers as may lead them to profit by every good and to shun every evil that may come near them.
Bestow upon them, out of the abundance of Thy mercy, health, strength, and ability; give them the will to improve themselves, and the power to make the most of all those means which may offer of advancing their own good and Thine honor. Keep them, I entreat Thee, from want, sickness, and distress; uphold them in every innocent undertaking, and preserve them from ever engaging in any which may be displeasing to Thee, my God. Oh Thou who art our Father in heaven, be to them a Father on earth; a God, a protector, and a house of refuge to save them.
Teach me, Almighty God, I beseech Thee, to set them an example of the way in which they should walk. Teach me to train up their minds in the fear and love of Thee: and never, oh never let them fall into sin by following any bad habit or any evil inclination which they may have learned from me. Oh let them not be brought to sorrow and suffering through my means: let them not incur guilt through any negligence or indulgence on my part. From all sin, keep them, O Lord; and especially from all sin which I might have taught them to shun. Let them live innocently and holily; let them remember the object for which their life is bestowed: let them remember the bliss which Thou hast prepared for us all in Thy kingdom. So guide and inspire them, I entreat Thee, that they and I may enjoy that bliss together; and may together and for ever praise Thee for having united us here in those bonds of holy affection which may be continued and perfected hereafter. Teach us to love Thee and one another here on earth; and oh, my God, may we meet again when death shall have parted us; and may we then love Thee and one another for ever and ever in Thy kingdom of holy love.
Grant this my prayer, I beseech Thee, through Jesus, Thy beloved Son, in whom Thou wast always well pleased. Amen.
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For more prayers, please try here - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-catholic_prayers.htm
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Bone Moris Prayer
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The following is an excerpt from a 19th century publication entitled "St. Vincent's Manual: Containing a Selection of Prayers and Devotional Exercises". The original work has approbation. [Please note: We have made various changes to the original text (e.g. punctuation, spelling & capitalization changes, title addition)]
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"There is no grace which a Christian should value more, or which he should more fervently ask of God, than that of a happy death."
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Bone Moris (Good Death) Prayer
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Open, O Lord! our mouths, to bless Thy holy name; cleanse our hearts from all vain and distracting thoughts; enlighten our understandings; inflame our will, that we may worthily perform this holy exercise with attention and devotion, and may deserve to be heard in the presence of Thy divine Majesty, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
All ye holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
St. Abel, pray for us.
All ye choirs of just souls, pray for us.
St. Abraham, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets, pray for us.
St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Andrew, pray for us.
St. John, pray for us.
All ye holy apostles and evangelists, pray for us.
All ye holy disciples of our Lord, pray for us.
All ye holy innocents, pray for us.
St. Stephen, pray for us.
St. Laurence, pray for us.
All ye holy martyrs, pray for us.
St. Sylvester, pray for us.
St. Gregory, pray for us.
St. Augustine, pray for us.
All ye holy bishops and confessors, pray for us.
St. Benedict, pray for us.
St. Francis, pray for us.
All ye holy monks and hermits, pray for us.
St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
All ye holy virgins and widows, pray for us.
All ye saints of God, make intercession for us.
Be merciful unto us, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful unto us, hear us, O Lord.
From Thy anger, O Lord, deliver us.
From the danger of death, O Lord, deliver us.
From an unfortunate death, O Lord, deliver us.
From the pains of hell, O Lord, deliver us.
From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.
From the power of the devil, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy nativity, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy cross and passion, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy death and burial, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy glorious resurrection, O Lord, deliver us.
Through Thy admirable ascension, O Lord, deliver us.
Through the grace of the Holy Ghost the comforter, O Lord, deliver us.
In the day of judgment, O Lord, deliver us.
We sinners do beseech Thee to hear us.
That Thou spare us, we beseech Thee to hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Let us pray.
May Thy clemency vouchsafe, O God! so to confirm thy servants in Thy holy grace, that at the hour of their death, the enemy may not prevail against them, but that with Thy angels they may deserve to pass into life everlasting; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Omnipotent, and most merciful Creator! who, to refresh Thy thirsty people in the desert, didst command streams of water to flow from the hardest rocks, draw, we beseech Thee, from our dry eyes, and stony hearts, desired tears of perfect compunction, that we may fully detest all sin, and only thirst after the happy and glorious vision of Thee, our God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
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"Of all the things of life, a happy death is our principal concern. For if we attain that, it matters little if we lose all the rest. But if we do not attain that, nothing else is of any value." (Bl. Juniperro Serra)
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Note: For more prayers, please try here - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-catholic_prayers.htm
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Liturgical Feasts in February
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for February 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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February 1 - St. Brigid (T)
February 1 - St. Ignatius of Antioch (T)
February 2 - Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
February 2 - The Presentation of the Lord (N)
February 3 - St. Blase of Sebaste (T)
February 3 - St. Ansgar (N)
February 3 - St. Blase of Sebaste (N)
February 4 - St. Andrew Corsini (T)
February 5 - St. Agatha of Sicily (T)
February 5 - St. Philip of Jesus (T)
February 5 - St. Agatha of Sicily (N)
February 6 - St. Dorothy (T)
February 6 - St. Titus of Crete (T)
February 6 - St. Paul Miki & companions (N)
February 7 - St. Romuald (T)
February 8 - St. John of Matha (T)
February 8 - St. Jerome Emiliani (N)
February 8 - St. Josephine Bakhita (N)
February 9 - St. Apollonia (T)
February 9 - St. Cyril of Alexandria (T)
February 10 - St. Scholastica (T)
February 10 - St. Scholastica (N)
February 11 - Our Lady of Lourdes (T)
February 11 - Our Lady of Lourdes (N)
February 12 - The Seven Founders of the Servite Order (T)
February 14 - St. Valentine (T)
February 14 - Sts. Cyril & Methodius (N)
February 15 - Sts. Faustinus & Jovita (T)
February 17 - Seven Founders of the Order of Servites (N)
February 18 - St. Mary Bernard (Bernadette) Soubirous (T)
February 18 - St. Simeon (T)
February 21 - St. Peter Damian (N)
February 22 - St. Paul (T)
February 22 - St. Peter's Chair at Antioch (T)
February 22 - Chair of St. Peter, apostle (N)
February 23 - St. Peter Damian (T)
February 23 - St. Polycarp (N)
February 24 - St. Matthias, apostle (T)
February 27 - St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (T)
Please Note: Above may exclude moveable feasts. For moveable feasts, see below & 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...
2/12/17 - Septuagesima Sunday (T)
2/19/17 - Sxagesima* Sunday (T) [* Note: Term has been abbreviated to avoid mailing issues]
2/26/17 - Quinquagesima Sunday (T)
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'Catholic Trivia'
1. According to St. Gregory of Nazianzus, the more violently we are assailed by restless thoughts, the more fervently we should what?
2. What are the "best alms"?
3. What is the name of the 'good thief' and might there be a connection between him & the Holy Family?
4. What does D.V. stand for?
5. St. Placid Riccardi says that society is suffering acutely because of what?
6. Who are patron saints of dying persons?
7. What does Septuagesima refer to?
8. What does St. Claude de la Colombiere say Christian parents will be judged on?
9. In the traditional liturgical calendar, what are the ten Sundays of first class?
10. What evils follow divorce so commonly claimed by those outside the true Church and granted by civil authority?
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Answers:
1. "[T]he more violently we are assailed by restless thoughts, the more fervently ought we to give ourselves to prayer." (St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Doctor of the Church)
2. According to the Catechism of the Council of Trent, "The best alms and the most excellent act of mercy is forgetfulness of injuries, and good will towards those who have injured us or ours, in person, in property, or in character. Whoever, therefore, desires to experience in a special manner the mercy of God, should make an offering to God Himself of all his enmities, remit every offence, and pray for his enemies with the greatest good will, seizing every opportunity of doing them good."
3. According to tradition, the 'good thief' to whom Christ promised heaven while on the cross, is named St. Dismas. One account tells that Dismas (while still a thief) helped the Holy Family as they fled to Egypt.
4. The abbreviation D.V. stands for Deo volente (Latin for God willing).
5. "Society is suffering acutely because of the lack of truly Christian mothers. Since society is based on the family, its very shape and fate is largely in the hands of women." (St. Placid Riccardi)
6. The following are patron saints of dying persons: St. Margaret of Antioch, St. Benedict of Nursia, St. James the Lesser, St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel, and St. Nicholas of Tolentino.
7. Septuagesima Sunday is the third Sunday before Ash Wednesday in the Traditional Liturgical Calendar, which begins the preparatory period for Lent.
8. "If you do not bring up your children well, what do you do? It is the only thing you have to do; it is this that God requires of you, for this that he established Christian marriage; and it is on this that you will be judged." (St. Claude de la Colombiere)
9. In the traditional liturgical calendar, the ten Sundays of first class are: the first Sunday of Advent, the four Sundays of Lent, Passion Sunday, Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, Low Sunday, and Pentecost.
10. "The evils that follow divorce so commonly claimed by those outside the true Church and granted by civil authority are very many; but chiefly (1) A disregard for the sacred character of the Sacrament and for the spiritual welfare of the children; (2) The loss of the true idea of home and family followed by bad morals and sinful living." (Baltimore Catechism)
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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
Like trivia? You might enjoy our crossword puzzles located at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_crossword_puzzles.htm
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 Crucifixes?
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__misc.htm
The following may be used as discussion points when discoursing with those outside the Church (or even among Catholics).
Topic: Do You Reject Crucifixes? [Note: Topic is directed at Protestants]
Consider:
* How can you reject the image of the crucifix when St. Paul says, "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (St. Paul, 1 Cor. 2:2)?
* Do you imagine that the Catholic Church does not know that Christ rose from the dead? Of course she knows this! However, a crucifix portrays an historical reality - the most important reality in the history of the human race. An empty cross is not what saved us!
* Are you unaware of the many benefits of crucifixes as opposed to plain crosses? For example, consider that...
The crucifix helps one to reflect on the actual sufferings of Jesus. It makes one more aware of the consequences of sin, and more grateful.
The crucifix clearly reminds us of the truth of Christ's words in the Gospel of John: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (Jn. 15:13)
The crucifix helps produce contrition for sins.
The crucifix reminds us of the seriousness of - and consequences of - sin.
The crucifix inspires the faithful to bear suffering patiently.
The crucifix shows the faithful the price Jesus paid.
The crucifix shows the faithful how much God loves His children.
The crucifix helps increase gratitude towards Christ.
The crucifix is the model of true love. It doesn't hide the reality that love is sometimes painful.
A crucifix is a "gospel in miniature" even for the illiterate and uneducated.
We are all expected to take up our cross - a crucifix is a reminder of what this entails.
The crucifix serves as a reminder: "We humans are forgetful and need to be reminded. We need to remember what our sins cost God and what we owe Him. We need to be reminded about how grateful we should be. As in court when one hears the arguings of the defendant, it is also necessary to balance this by seeing his victim."
"The crucifix is a reminder that it alone is the way of life that brings us ultimate happiness. It reminds us that we must practice self denial and sacrifice in our own lives."
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"For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (1 Cor. 1:22-25)
"Take the holy crucifix in your hands, kiss its wounds with great love, and ask Him to preach you a sermon. Listen to what the thorns, the nails, and that Divine Blood say to you. Oh! What a sermon." (St. Paul of the Cross)
"Before the crucifix we feel true sorrow for sin and fixing our gaze on it we also feel the greatest comfort." (St. Mary Joseph Rossello)
"Let us go often to the foot of the Cross...We shall learn there what God has done for us, and what we ought to do for him." (St. John Vianney)
"Look at His adorable Face. Look at His glazed and sunken eyes. Look at His wounds. Look Jesus in the Face. There, you will see how He loves us." (St. Therese of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church)
"O what inspiration there is in the Crucifix! Who could find it hard to persevere at the sight of a God who never commands us to do anything which he has not first practiced himself?" (St. John Vianney)
"In that one and the same event, there is the sign of sin's utter depravity and the seal of divine forgiveness. From that point on, no man can look upon a crucifix and say that sin is not serious, nor can he ever say that it cannot be forgiven. By the way He suffered, He revealed the reality of sin; by the way He bore it, He shows His mercy toward the sinner." (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
"If every devout Israelite in contemplating Jerusalem saw only the Temple, then we must believe that Jesus, zealous as He was for His Father's honor and ever prostrate in adoration before Him, gazed from His Cross at the house of His Father in a spirit of ardent worship, mingled with unspeakable sorrow. His Cross was situated to the west and His face was turned almost in exactly the same direction as the Temple, of which He thus saw only the back. Given the season of the year and the time of day, the shadow of the Cross would, if extended, have covered the sacred edifice and the altar beyond. These striking calculations may easily be verified on the spot; they are no fruit of the imagination. Fantasy on this subject would be out of place." (Sertillanges) [Note: In other words, the very shadow that was projected onto the temple during the Passion was the Crucifix - not an empty cross.]
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Also Try: The Cross Vs. The Crucifix - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/prayers_and_devotions/cross_vs_crucifix.htm
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For more apologetics resources, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/non-catholics.htm
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In Closing...
"Jesus, Mary, Joseph!" (Aspiration)
"We cannot separate Mary and Joseph, were it only for their having such close connection with the mystery of the Incarnation - Mary as being the Mother of the Son of God; and Joseph, as being guardian of the Virgin's spotless honor, and Foster-Father of the divine Babe." (Gueranger)
"If you wish to have pious, good children, you must first of yourself be God-fearing and lead good lives. As the tree, so will the fruit be." (St. John Vianney)
"[A]ll should be intimately persuaded that the minds of children are most influenced by the training they receive at home. If in their early years they find within the walls of their homes the rule of an upright life and the discipline of Christian virtues, the future welfare of society will in great measure be guaranteed." (Pope Leo XIII, "Sapientiae Christianae", 1890 A.D.)
"In this connection We cannot pass over in silence the fathers and mothers of families to whom our Savior has entrusted the youngest members of His Mystical Body. We plead with them most earnestly, for the love of Christ and the Church, to take the greatest possible care of the children confided to them, and to protect them from the snares of every kind into which they can be lured so easily today." (Pope Pius XII, "Mystici Corporis Christi", 1943 A.D.)
"When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.' He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, 'He shall be called a Nazorean.'" (Mt. 2:19-23)
Prayer for One's Household: "Hear us, Lord, and send your angel from heaven to visit and protect, to comfort and defend all who live in this house. Amen."
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