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MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - April, 2017
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of April: Dedicated to the Holy Eucharist
* Resources for Holy Week & Easter
* Prayers to the Most Holy Wounds
* Liturgical Feasts in April
* 'Catholic Trivia'
* Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Believe That a Protestant 'Communion' Wafer is Equivalent to the Catholic Eucharist?
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Dear Friend,
"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to Me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. For gracious and merciful is He, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment." (Joel 2:12-13)
We hope you are having a blessed, holy Lent and will be given the grace to persevere in your worthy resolutions over the days ahead as you keep in mind the words of our Lord, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." (Mt. 16:24). It won't be long now until Lent gives way to the joy of Easter. Some important dates in April include...
4/2/17 - Fifth Sunday of Lent [Passion Sunday (T)]
4/9/17 - Palm Sunday
4/12/17 - Spy Wednesday
4/13/17 - Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)
4/14/17 - Good Friday
4/15/17 - Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil)
4/16/17 - EASTER SUNDAY
On our end, we remain busy with the work of transitioning to our new server. We are still resolving issues on the server, but we have at last made some progress. For a more detailed update on this very challenging transition, please see below.
May God grant you a blessed remainder of Lent followed by a most joyous and blessed Easter.
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
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"And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem: and Jesus went before them. And they were astonished and following were afraid. And taking again the twelve, he began to tell them the things that should befall him. Saying: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes and ancients. And they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the Gentiles. And they shall mock him and spit on him and scourge him and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Mk. 10:32-34)
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MCS News & Notes
* New Server Update: We are continuing our efforts begun in early February to ready our new server. This process has proven quite challenging, unlike any other server switch we have made. It seems as though each time something is fixed on the new server, the fix tends to 'break' something else. Yet, we have made some progress and are hopeful we may be able to go live with the server within (hopefully) a few weeks if all goes well. (If things go as they have been going, we fear the server may not be live before the Second Coming! But we digress...) We are still plugging away at things, so hopefully there will be more progress soon. In the meantime, to facilitate the transition, it is likely that this 4/17 newsletter will be sent early/very early. We would like to remind subscribers that the new server comes with new IP numbers and, unfortunately, new IP numbers mean we do not keep our current email reputation, which tends to mean email delivery issues for a while until we build up a new reputation. This is likely to start with the 5/17 newsletter. To help reduce the chance of delivery issues, 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. Also, please note that during the transition process, there may be functionality issues, and also issues with accessibility, forms, etc. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience. For updates on the transition process, please try our Notices page at http://mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/notices.htm . [Note: In the event that we need to post an update(s) and cannot access the server, we may post update(s) on our blog at http://mycatholicsource.blogspot.com/ .] Thank you for your support and prayers during this very challenging transition!
* 'Exclusive New Content': The 9 exclusive articles we mentioned previously - penned by a Catholic journalist who worked for the Orange County Register for 29 years - are now available. The articles titles are listed below...
4 Great Catholic Novels - For Free
12 Great & Powerful Saints
12 Great Historical Sites to Visit
12 Great Saints for Children
15 Great Alternatives to Television
Great Catholic Movies You May Not Have Seen
Great Reasons for Catholics to Homeschool
How to Read the Holy Bible in One Year
Invaluable Online Catholic Resources
For links to the articles, please visit http://mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cmno/mcse/mcs_exclusives_index.htm
* Lent Resources: For resources for Lent, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-lent.htm
* Indulgences Reminder: Various indulgences may be available this month. For more information on indulgences, please see http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/indulgences.htm
* Will you be traveling for Easter? Need to locate a parish or Mass time? Don't forget our 'locate a Mass' links page at www.MyCatholicSource.com/Churches (or alternately at www.MyCatholicSource.com/Masses ) [Note: These URL shortcuts both redirect to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/lk/links-churches_masses.asp ]
* Do you follow the 'Divine Mercy' devotion? If so, you may be interested in this page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-divine_mercy.htm [Note: This page includes links to prayers and also to the user-submitted article "What's Up With Faustina's Divine Mercy Devotion? Unanswered Questions & Things You May Not Know" at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/ua/user_article-faustinas_divine_mercy_devotion.htm ]
* Planning some spring cleaning? Rather than toss out items you can no longer use, consider offering these items to others for free (or for the cost of shipping). To offer your item(s), please visit the Give & Take Section at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/give_and_take.htm . Or, if you are in need, please feel free to stop by the Give & Take Section to request needed items for yourself.
* We will soon be preparing for our Ninth Annual Rosary Week. Please plan to join us by praying the Rosary each day of the week (from 10/23/17 through 10/29/17) for the indicated intentions. A sign up sheet should be available shortly.
* Did you know? There is so much junk out there in 'cyberspace', including a lot of anti-Catholic materials, yet search engines are automated and therefore may have a difficult time distinguishing between sites containing junk and sites which contain quality content. When other sites & blogs contain links to MyCatholicSource.com, this helps search engines figure out that MyCatholicSource.com is not 'junk'. So, if you participate in forums or have a blog or website, would you please consider linking to us? Please link to as many pages on MyCatholicSource.com as possible, as often as possible. Thank you!
* Service Delays: Due to medical reasons, please continue to expect some sporadic delays in all correspondence & services (including processing of posts) for the foreseeable future. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for any prayers.
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MyCatholicSource.com App News...
* It's still not to late to get iStations! Our Stations of the Cross app (with audio!) is perfect for Lent and beyond. Reviewers have called the app "Great", "wonderful", "excellent" and "A perfect daily Lenten prayer". Comments have included references to "beautiful pictures" and "beautifully written" prayers which are "perfect for a meaningful way to remember and reflect on the death and rising of Jesus." The app was also called "Beautifully sublime" and "a great Lenten time app [that] brings home the meaning of lent and helps me with setting my goals." Why not get your copy today? 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 ].
* You have a crucifix in your home, why not also have an 'electronic crucifix' that you can take 'anywhere'? My Crucifix, presented by MyCatholicSource.com, is a simple yet powerful app that may help foster devotion; comfort/strengthen in times of suffering, temptation, tribulation; gain indulgences; draw closer to Christ; instruct & inspire; and aid in prayer & meditation. With My Crucifix you can be strengthened & instructed by Christ's sufferings 'anywhere, anytime'. Even if you have only a minute, this app can still be very spiritually beneficial. In fact, sixty seconds meditating on Christ's passion may be the "best sixty seconds you can spend on your soul all day outside of Mass, Confession, and the like". It's a great app for Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday, Fridays, before or after Confession, preparation for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, hospital stays, travel, times away from home, times of suffering or temptation, daily meditation, or anytime devotion. My Crucifix is still available for sale at a discounted price, so don't miss out!
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
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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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* 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 April: Dedicated to the Holy Eucharist
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"Every Communion is a new gift which Jesus Christ makes of Himself." (St. Ignatius Loyola)
"[The Eucharist is] a medicine of immortality, an antidote to death" (St. Ignatius of Antioch, c. 110 A.D.)
"[T]he Eucharist is, in itself, the greatest of the sacraments" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")
"This Sacrament, whether as the theme of devout meditation, or as the object of public adoration, or best of all as a food to be received in the utmost purity of conscience, is to be regarded as the center towards which the spiritual life of a Christian in all its ambit gravitates; for all other forms of devotion, whatsoever they may be, lead up to it, and in it find their point of rest." (Pope Leo XIII, "Mirae Caritatis", 1902 A.D.)
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Related Resources...
* Holy Communion / Holy Eucharist (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Holy_Communion.htm
* Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-catholic_mass.htm
* Holy Eucharist / Mass (General Info.) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Catechism of the Council of Trent on the Holy Eucharist - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/catechism_of_the_council_of_trent_Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Holy Communion (Reflections) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/sacraments_reflections_Holy_Eucharist_Mass__Holy_Communion.htm
* Holy Eucharist / Mass (Reflections) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/sacraments_reflections_Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Mass / Holy Eucharist (Prayers) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Mass_Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Mirae Caritatis (On The Holy Eucharist, Pope Leo XIII) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pd/mirae_caritatis.htm
* Holy Eucharist / Mass (Apologetics) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__Eucharist_Mass.htm
* Holy Eucharist (Word Search) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/word_search_Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Holy Eucharist (Crossword Puzzle) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/crossword_puzzle_Holy_Eucharist.html
* Communion in the Hand: Why Not? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/communion_in_the_hand__why_not.htm
* Communion Under Both Species: Is it Required? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/communion_under_both_species__is_it_required.htm
* Lay 'Eucharistic Ministers': Why Not? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/lay_ministers__why_not.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"There is nothing more to be added when we have said 'The Eucharist', since It is Jesus Christ." (St. Peter Julian Eymard)
"A soul can do nothing that is more pleasing to God than to communicate (receive Holy Communion) in a state of grace." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
"If any one denieth that in the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist are contained truly, really, and substantially, the Body and Blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ; but saith that He is only therein as a sign, or in a figure, or virtue; let him be anathema." (Council of Trent)
"No one who has a mortal sin on his conscience shall dare receive the Holy Eucharist before making a sacramental confession, regardless of how contrite he may think he is. This holy council declares that this custom is to be kept forever" (Council of Trent)
"Can. 915 Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared, and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin, are not to be admitted to holy communion." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
"Certainly, then, the more a Christian is aware of the holiness and the divinity of this heavenly Sacrament [of the Eucharist], the more careful he should be not to receive it without great reverence and sanctity, especially since we read in the Apostle the fearful words: 'He who eats and drinks unworthily, without distinguishing the body of the Lord, eats and drinks judgment to himself' (1 Cor. 11:29)" (Council of Trent)
"[T]o the Holy Eucharist we owe the future resurrection of our bodies. Our Savior himself teaches us this, where he says: 'Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. This is the Bread which cometh down from heaven, that if any man eat of it, he may not die... He that eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up in the last day (Jn. 5:49,50,55).'" (Dom Gueranger)
"We are bound to receive Holy Communion, under pain of mortal sin, during Easter time and when in danger of death." (Baltimore Catechism) [Note: Of course, those receiving Holy Communion must be properly disposed and in the state of grace. Any who have committed a mortal sin must repent, have the intention of not sinning again, and make a sacramental Confession & receive absolution prior to receiving Holy Communion. Remember that "He who receives Communion in mortal sin receives the Body and Blood of Christ, but does not receive His grace, and he commits a great sacrilege." (Baltimore Catechism)]
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Resources for Holy Week & Easter
+ + + RESOURCES FOR HOLY WEEK + + +
* Good Friday (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Good_Friday.htm
* Lenten Prayers (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-lenten_prayers.htm
* Stations of the Cross / Way of the Cross - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/prayers_and_devotions/stations_of_the_cross.htm
* The Passion of Jesus (from the Gospels) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/pcst/topical_scripture_J.htm
Note: Scroll down page to view (about 1/3 way down page...contains selections on the Passion from all four Gospel accounts)
* Jesus' Last Words From The Cross - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/jesus_last_words.htm
* Trials & Sorrows of Jesus - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/sorrows_of_jesus.htm
* The Passion / Cross Reflections - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/catholic_basics_reflections_The_Passion.htm
* Holy Week / Indulgence Information - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/indulgences.htm
* Stabat Mater (Sequence) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_hymns_sequences.htm
* Prayers to Jesus (Prayer in Honor of the Five Wounds, Prayer in Honor of the Precious Blood, etc.) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Jesus.htm
* Fulfilled Prophecies in Scripture: Abandonment & Betrayal of Jesus - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/biblical_prophecies_betrayal.htm
* Fulfilled Prophecies in Scripture: Jesus' Passion, Death, & Resurrection - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/biblical_prophecies_passion_death_resurrection.htm
* Definitions (e.g. for terms such as Passiontide, Spy Wednesday, Triduum / Easter Triduum, etc.) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_definitions.htm
* Coloring Page: Jesus Washing Apostle's Feet - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_jesus_washing_feet.htm
* Coloring Page: Last Supper - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_last_supper.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 plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews." (Mt. 27:29)
"And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, 'Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.' He broke down and wept." (Mk. 14:72)
"O Jesus, most glorious in your magnificence: I praise and bless your incomprehensible omnipotence, weak and helpless for us in the Passion. I adore and glorify your unsearchable wisdom, accounted foolishness for us. I praise and magnify your unutterable love, which submitted to hatred of all people for the sake of your elect. I praise and extol your meek and gentle mercy, sentenced to so fearful a death for humankind. I praise and I adore your ravishing sweetness, embittered for us by your most bitter death. Amen." (St. Mechtilde)
"He did endure every human suffering... First of all, on the part of men: for He endured something from Gentiles and from Jews; from men and from women, as is clear from the women servants who accused Peter. He suffered from the rulers, from their servants and from the mob, according to Psalm 2:1,2: 'Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord and against His Christ.' He suffered from friends and acquaintances, as is manifest from Judas betraying and Peter denying Him... Christ suffered from friends abandoning Him; in His reputation, from the blasphemies hurled at Him; in His honor and glory, from the mockeries and the insults heaped upon Him; in things, for He was despoiled of His garments; in His soul, from sadness, weariness, and fear; in His body, from wounds and scourgings... In His head He suffered from the crown of piercing thorns; in His hands and feet, from the fastening of the nails; on His face from the blows and spittle; and from the lashes over His entire body. Moreover, He suffered in all His bodily senses: in touch, by being scourged and nailed; in taste, by being given vinegar and gall to drink; in smell, by being fastened to the gibbet in a place reeking with the stench of corpses, 'which is called Calvary'; in hearing, by being tormented with the cries of blasphemers and scorners; in sight, by beholding the tears of His Mother and of the disciple whom He loved." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")
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Other Useful Resources...
iStations - A handy devotional app for Android (or for the iPad® / iPhone® / iPod touch®) which is perfect for those times when you can't make it to your parish for the Stations of the Cross. Get your copy today! Download it 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 ]
My Crucifix For the iPad®, iPhone®, and iPod touch® - A quick & easy (but powerful!) devotion to grow closer to Christ. Download at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-crucifix/id1173426983?mt=8 (iPad® version available at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-crucifix-for-ipad/id1181900071?mt=8 )
Your purchase helps support MyCatholicSource.com - Thank you for your support!
+ + + RESOURCES FOR EASTER + + +
* Easter (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-easter.htm
* Prayers for Easter - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_for_certain_occasions_times.htm
* Easter Duty - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_precepts_of_the_church.htm
* Definitions (e.g. for terms such as Easter, Easter Duty, Resurrection, etc.) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_definitions.htm
* Fulfilled Prophecies in Scripture: Jesus' Passion, Death, & Resurrection - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/biblical_prophecies_passion_death_resurrection.htm
* Easter Date - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_councils.htm
* The Resurrection Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_the_resurrection.htm
* Happy Easter Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_happy_easter.htm
* Alleluia Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_alleluia.htm
* He is Risen Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_He_is_risen.htm
* Crossword Puzzle (Easter) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/crossword_puzzle_easter.html
* Word Search Puzzle (Easter) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/word_search_easter.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"In thy resurrection, O Christ, alleluia. Let heaven and earth rejoice, alleluia." (Liturgical Year)
"O sing, my tongue, the victory of the glorious combat! Tell how was won the noble triumph on the trophy of the cross, and how the world's Redeemer, when immolated, conquered." (From 6th century hymn)
"Now let the heavens be joyful, let earth her song begin; Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein! Let all things seen and unseen their notes of gladness blend, For Christ the Lord hath risen, our Joy that hath no end!" (St. John Damascene, Doctor of the Church)
"At the [Easter] season, which commemorates the triumph of Christ, our souls are filled with deep interior joy: we, accordingly, should also consider that we must rise, in union with the Redeemer, from our cold and slothful life to one of greater fervor and holiness by giving ourselves completely and generously to God, and by forgetting this wretched world in order to aspire only to the things of heaven: 'If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above...mind the things that are above.' (Col. 3:1-2)" (Pope Pius XII)
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Prayers to the Most Holy Wounds
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The following is taken from the Raccolta. A few changes have been made to the original text (e.g. spelling, punctuation & capitalization changes, etc.).
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Act of Contrition.
As I kneel before Thee on the cross, most loving Savior of my soul, my conscience reproaches me with having nailed Thee to that cross with these hands of mine, as often as I have fallen into mortal sin, wearying Thee with my monstrous ingratitude. My God, my chief and most perfect Good, worthy of all my love, for the many blessings Thou hast ever bestowed upon me; I cannot now undo my misdeeds as I would most willingly; but I will loathe them, grieving greatly for having offended Thee who art Infinite Goodness! And now, kneeling at Thy feet, I will try at least to compassionate Thee, to give Thee thanks, to ask of Thee pardon and contrition; wherefore with heart and lips I say:
To the First Wound, of the Left Foot:
Holy wound of the Left Foot of my Jesus! I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for the love whereby Thou wast wearied in overtaking me on the way to ruin, and didst bleed amid the thorns and brambles of my sins. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, in atonement for my sins, all which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri. [Latin for these prayers: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be. Note: All prayers referenced herein may be found at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_basic_common.htm . The Our Father, Hail Mary & Glory be may be found in Latin (the Church's official language) at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_latin.htm ]
Holy Mother, pierce me through,
In my heart each wound renew
Of my Savior crucified.
To the Second Wound, of the Right Foot:
Holy wound of the Right Foot of my Jesus! I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for that love which pierced Thee with such torture and shedding of blood in order to punish my wanderings and the guilty pleasures I have granted to my unbridled passions. I offer the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray unto Thee for grace to weep over my transgressions with burning tears, and to enable me to persevere in the good which I have begun, without ever swerving again from my obedience to the commandments of my God.
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.
Holy Mother, &c.
To the Third Wound, of the Left hand:
Holy wound of the Left Hand of my Jesus! I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for having, in Thy love, spared me the scourges and eternal damnation which my sins had merited. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray Thee to teach me how to turn to good account my span of life, and bring forth in it worthy fruits of penance, and so disarm the justice of God, which I have provoked.
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.
Holy Mother, &c.
To the Fourth Wound, of the Right Hand:
Holy wound of the Right Hand of my Jesus! I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for Thy graces lavished on me with such love, in spite of all my most perverse obstinacy. I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most holy humanity, and I pray Thee to change my heart and its affections, and make me do all my actions in accordance with the will of God.
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.
Holy Mother, &c.
To the Fifth Wound, of the Sacred Side:
Holy wound in the side of my Jesus! I adore Thee, I compassionate Thee for the cruel insult Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee, my Jesus, for the love which suffered Thy side and heart to be pierced, that so the last drops of blood and water might issue forth, making my redemption to abound. I offer to the Eternal Father this outrage, and the love of Thy most holy Humanity, that my soul may enter once for all into that most loving Heart, eager and ready to receive the greatest sinners, and never more depart.
Pater noster. Ave Maria. Gloria Patri.
Holy Mother, &c.
To The Most Holy Virgin, Mother of Sorrows:
Mary, Virgin Mother of God, Martyr of love and sorrow, in witnessing the pains and torments of Jesus: truly didst thou concur in the great work of my redemption, first by thy innumerable afflictions, and then by the offering thou didst make to the Eternal Father of His and thy Only-begotten for [a victim of propitiation] for my sins. I compassionate thee for the bitter pain which thou didst suffer, I thank thee for that love, well-nigh infinite, through which thou didst bereave thyself of the fruit of thy womb, very God and very Man, to save me, a sinner; let thy intercession, which never returneth to thee void, be ever interposed with the Father and the Son for me; that I may steadily amend my evil ways, and never, by further faults, crucify afresh my loving Savior; that so, persevering in His grace until death, I may obtain eternal life, through the merits of His dolorous Passion and Death upon the cross.
Three Ave Maria's.
Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who at the sixth hour of the day didst, for the redemption of the world, mount the gibbet of the cross, and shed Thy Precious Blood for the remission of sins; we humbly beseech Thee to grant us, after our deaths, a joyful entrance into the gates of Paradise.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that now, and at the hour of our death, blessed Mary ever Virgin, Thy Mother, may intercede for us, through whose most holy soul the sword passed in the hour of Thy Passion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.
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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 April
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for April 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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April 2 - St. Francis of Paula (Paola) (T)
April 2 - St. Francis of Paola (N)
April 4 - St. Isidore of Seville (T)
April 4 - St. Isidore of Seville (N)
April 5 - St. Vincent Ferrer (T)
April 5 - St. Vincent Ferrer (N)
April 6 - St. Juliana of Cornillon (T)
April 7 - St. John Baptist de la Salle (N)
April 8 - St. Julia Billiart (T)
April 11 - St. Leo the Great, pope (T)
April 11 - St. Stanislaus (N)
April 13 - St. Hermenegild (T)
April 13 - St. Martin I, pope (N)
April 14 - St. Justin (T)
April 14 - Sts. Tiburtius, Valerian & Maximus (T)
April 17 - St. Anicetus, pope (T)
April 21 - St. Anselm of Canterbury (T)
April 21 - St. Anselm (N)
April 22 - Sts. Soter & Caius, popes (T)
April 23 - St. George (T)
April 23 - St. Adalbert (N)
April 23 - St. George (N)
April 24 - St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (T)
April 24 - St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (N)
April 25 - St. Mark the Evangelist (T)
April 25 - St. Mark the Evangelist (N)
April 26 - Our Lady of Good Counsel (T)
April 26 - Sts. Cletus & Marcellinus, popes (T)
April 27 - St. Peter Canisius (T)
April 27 - St. Thuribius of Mogrobejo (T)
April 28 - St. Paul of the Cross (T)
April 28 - St. Vitalis (T)
April 28 - St. Louis Marie de Montfort (N)
April 28 - St. Peter Chanel (N)
April 29 - St. Peter of Verona (T)
April 29 - St. Catherine of Siena (N)
April 30 - St. Catherine of Siena (T)
April 30 - St. Pius V, pope (N)
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...
4/2/17 - Fifth Sunday of Lent [Passion Sunday (T)]
4/9/17 - Palm Sunday
4/12/17 - Spy Wednesday
4/13/17 - Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) *
4/14/17 - Good Friday *
4/15/17 - Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) *
4/16/17 - EASTER SUNDAY
4/23/17 - Low Sunday (Quasimodo Sunday) (T) | Divine Mercy Sunday (N) * [Note: For information on the 'Divine Mercy' devotion, including a link to the user-submitted article "What's Up With Faustina's Divine Mercy Devotion? Unanswered Questions & Things You May Not Know", please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-divine_mercy.htm ]
4/30/17 - Second Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) (T) | Third Sunday of Easter (N)
* Reminder: Plenary indulgence may be available. For indulgence information, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/indulgences.htm
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'Catholic Trivia'
1. What motto is associated with the Carthusians?
2. According to St. Francis de Sales, what will happen to those who desire to be saved without the cross?
3. What term may refer to special prayers and observances which begin on Maundy Thursday?
4. Can dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously?
5. What medal has a cross on one side and the words "Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur" ("May we be strengthened by His presence at the hour of our death") on the other side?
6. Which three Doctors of the Church share the name John?
7. What does Pope Pius XI say that those infected with the errors of indifferentism and modernism hold?
8. The red cross symbol originated with what saint before being assumed by a Protestant?
9. Is the devil known to like the Latin language?
10. Why did Christ institute the Holy Eucharist?
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Answers:
1. The motto "Stat Crux dum volvitur Orbis" (Latin for "The world changes but the Cross remains") is associated with the Carthusians.
2. "All those who are willing to be saved through the cross will find salvation there. But those who desire to be saved without it will perish miserably. There is no salvation except in this cross." (St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church)
3. The term "Easter Triduum" refers to special prayers and observances which begin on Maundy Thursday.
4. According to the Oath Against Modernism: "I entirely reject the heretical misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously." All clergy members were to swear this oath promulgated by Pope St. Pius X in 1910.
5. The medal of St. Benedict bears a cross on one side and the words "Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur" ("May we be strengthened by His presence at the hour of our death") on the other side.
6. The three Doctors of the Church who share the name John are: St. John Chrysostom, St. John of Damascus, and St. John of the Cross.
7. In the Encyclical Mortalium Animos, Pope Pius XI refers to "Those, who are unhappily infected with these errors, [falsely] hold that dogmatic truth is not absolute but relative, that is, it agrees with the varying necessities of time and place and with the varying tendencies of the mind, since it is not contained in immutable revelation, but is capable of being accommodated to human life."
8. The use of a red cross in the service of one's neighbor originated with St. Camillus de Lellis many years before his emblem was assumed by a Protestant.
9. No. It is said that "the devil hates Latin" (since Satan hates all things sacred, since the language was 'canonized' on the Cross, since it unifies the Church, etc.). As Bishop Gemma, "one of the Roman Catholic Church's leading experts on exorcism", has said: "If I speak Latin, the demon responds to me in Latin. He has a horror of that language."
10. "Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist - 1) To unite us to Himself and to nourish our soul with His divine life, 2) To increase sanctifying grace and all virtues in our soul, 3) To lessen our evil inclinations, 4) To be a pledge of everlasting life, 5) To fit our bodies for a glorious resurrection, and 6) To continue the sacrifice of the Cross in His Church." (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 Believe That a Protestant 'Communion' Wafer is Equivalent to the Catholic Eucharist?
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__Eucharist_Mass.htm
The following may be used as discussion points when discoursing with those outside the Church (or even among Catholics).
Topic: Do You Believe That a Protestant 'Communion' Wafer is Equivalent to the Catholic Eucharist? [Note: Topic is directed at Protestants]
Consider:
* The difference between a Protestant communion wafer and the Catholic Eucharist, despite any similarity in appearance, is so great that it may be compared to the difference between God and man. In fact, the Protestant communion wafer is mere bread, while the Catholic Eucharist is literally the body of Christ.
* The priestly power conferred by Christ is necessary to confect the Eucharist. Protestants who have not retained valid priestly orders (including Anglicans) cannot have a valid consecration, which means their bread wafers can never contain Christ. To adore such a bread wafer - to consider it to be Christ - would be idolatry. Only those who have maintained apostolic succession and use the proper form can retain the power to effect the consecration. And, only in the Catholic Church is such power licitly used. As St. John Chrysostom has said, "For it is not man who makes the sacrificial gifts become the Body and Blood of Christ, but He that was crucified for us, Christ Himself. The priest stands there carrying out the action, but the power and the grace is of God. 'This is My Body', he says. This statement transforms the gifts." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, c. 4th century A.D.)
* It has always been a condemned practice to receive the Eucharist - even if it is truly valid - outside the Catholic Church. Some relevant quotations follow:
"Let that Eucharist be valid which is offered by the bishop [of the Catholic Church] or by one to whom the bishop has committed this charge." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, 2nd century A.D.)
"Take care, then to use one Eucharist, so that whatever you do, you do according to God: for there is one Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup in the union of His Blood; one altar, as there is one bishop with the presbytery and my fellow servants, the deacons." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, c. 110 A.D.)
"I follow no leader but Christ and join in communion with none but Your Blessedness, that is, with the chair of Peter. I know that this is the rock on which the church has been built. Whoever eats [Christ the Lamb of God] outside this house is profane. Anyone who is not in the ark of Noah will perish when the flood prevails." (St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church, c. 374 A.D.)
"And the Lord too, in the Gospel, when the disciples abandoned Him while He was speaking, turned to the twelve and said, 'And do you too wish to go away?' Peter answered Him, saying, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the word of eternal life: and we believe and know that you are the Son of the Living God.' There speaks Peter, upon whom the Church would be built, teaching in the name of the Church and showing that even if a stubborn and proud multitude withdraws because it does not wish to obey, yet the Church does not withdraw from Christ. The people joined to the priest and the flock clinging to their shepherd are the Church. You ought to know, then, that the bishop is in the Church and the Church in the bishop; and if someone is not with the bishop, he is not in the Church. They vainly flatter themselves who creep up, not having peace with the priests of God, believing that they are secretly in communion with certain individuals. For the Church, which is One and Catholic, is not split or divided, but is indeed united and joined by the cement of priests who adhere to one another [that is, under the bishop and in communion with the pope]." (St. Cyprian of Carthage, 254 A.D.)
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"For not all bread, but only that which receives the blessing of Christ [through his priests], becomes Christ's body." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, c. 5th century A.D.)
"The bread again is at first common bread; but when the mystery sanctifies it, it is called and actually becomes the body of Christ. So too the mystical oil, so too the wine; if they are things of little worth before the blessing, after their sanctification by the Spirit each of them has its own superior operation. This same power of the word also makes the priest venerable and honorable, separated from the generality of men by the new blessing bestowed upon him." (St. Gregory of Nyssa, 4th century A.D.)
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For more apologetics resources, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/non-catholics.htm
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In Closing...
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith." (St. Paul, Heb. 12:1-2)
"...death has not destroyed this Body which was pierced with nails and scourged... this is the Body which was once covered with blood, pierced by a lance, from which issued saving fountains upon the world, one of blood and the other of water... This Body He gave to us to keep and eat, as a mark of His intense love." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church)
"That man should be delivered by Christ's Passion was in keeping with both His mercy and His justice. With His justice, because by His Passion Christ made satisfaction for the sins of the human race, and so man was set free by Christ's justice; and with His mercy, for since man of himself could not satisfy for the sin of all human nature, God gave him His Son to satisfy for him. And this came of a more copious mercy than if he had forgiven sins without satisfaction: Hence St. Paul says: 'God, who is rich in mercy, by reason of His very great love wherewith He has loved us even when we were dead by reason of our sins, brought us to life together with Christ.' (St. Thomas Aquinas)" (Pope Pius XII, "Haurietis Aquas", 1956 A.D.)
"Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.'" (Jn. 6:53-58) [Note: As Scripture makes clear, reception of the Holy Eucharist is one essential condition for salvation. To be saved, one must also live according to God's laws.]
"When it was evening, he came with the Twelve. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, 'Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.' They began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, 'Surely it is not I?' He said to them, 'One of the Twelve, the one who dips with me into the dish. For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.' While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, 'Take it; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.'" (Mk. 14:17-25)
"'See how we were bought: Christ hangs upon the cross, see at what a price He makes His purchase... He sheds His blood, He buys with His blood, He buys with the blood of [Christ], He buys with the blood of God's only Son. He who buys is Christ; the price is His blood; the possession bought is the world.' (St. Augustine) This purchase, however, does not immediately have its full effect; since Christ, after redeeming the world at the lavish cost of His own blood, still must come into complete possession of the souls of men. Wherefore, that the redemption and salvation of each person and of future generations unto the end of time may be effectively accomplished, and be acceptable to God, it is necessary that men should individually come into vital contact with the Sacrifice of the Cross, so that the merits, which flow from it, should be imparted to them. In a certain sense it can be said that on Calvary Christ built a font of purification and salvation which He filled with the blood He shed; but if men do not bathe in it and there wash away the stains of their iniquities, they can never be purified and saved." (Pope Pius XII, "Mediator Dei", 1947 A.D.)
"Jesus Christ, after having given us all he could give, that is to say, the merit of his toils, his sufferings, and his bitter death; after having given us his Adorable Body and Blood to be the Food of our souls, willed also to give us the most precious thing he had left, which was his holy Mother." (St. John Vianney)
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