|
Return to MyCatholicSource.com | Sign Up For FREE Newsletter |
Copyright © 2015, B.F.S. All rights reserved. |
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - July, 2015
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of July: Dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus
* Short Reflection on the Precious Blood
* Refresher: Papal Infallibility
* Liturgical Feasts in July
* 'Catholic Trivia'
* Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Catholic Church's Teaching That the Mass is a Propitiatory Sacrifice? / Do You Believe the Action is a Mere 'Commemoration'?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Friend,
"Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:2)
We hope your Summer has gotten off to a pleasant & peaceful start and that it will remain so over the upcoming months.
Even though it is still early, we invite those who have not yet signed up for 'Rosary Week' to consider doing so now. Rosary Week can be a wonderful opportunity to pray with other Catholics for worthy intentions. It doesn't cost anything to sign up and you can pray from anywhere. It should take only about 15 minutes of your time to pray the rosary, and it can be said at any time of day or night. Even if you can say no more than a single rosary, your participation is most welcome. For more information on Rosary Week, please visit www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeekInfo . To sign up, please visit www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeek . Thank you for joining us. And, please invite your friends!
We thank you for being a valued subscriber to our mailing list & we wish you God's blessings,
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
+ + +
"May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do His will. May He carry out in you what is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Heb. 13:20-21)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MCS News & Notes
* Rosary Week: Please sign up today for our Seventh Annual Rosary Week (to be held from 10/25-10/31/15). Sign up quickly at www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeek . An e-mail address is NOT required!
* You can help make Rosary Week a success! Visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/rosary_week.htm for fliers you can print, hand out, or post at your parish. The more Catholics we can inspire to pray the holy rosary, the better!
* Traffic Update: We received our 3.5 millionth visitor (based on raw, unfiltered access logs) last month. We send our thanks to all who have visited MyCatholicSource.com!
* For summer activities for Catholic children, please try our Catholic Fun & Activities Section at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/catholic_fun_and_activities.htm . Look here for coloring pages, crosswords, mazes, word searches, travel activities, etc.
* Reminder: Need a prayer? You can submit prayer requests any time at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/prayer_requests.htm . Please also consider praying for others who have asked for prayers. As Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Church, has noted: "He causes his prayers to be of more avail to himself, who offers them also for others." Thanks in advance for any prayers.
* What could be better for America on July 4th than Masses & prayers for the USA? For prayers for the United States, please try here: http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-prayers_for_the_United_States.htm
* With the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel approaching (on July 16), it seems an excellent time to recommend the scapular to all who do not already wear it. If you don't already wear the scapular, why not start now? "The other devotions to Our Lady last only for a certain time, but he who wears the Scapular honors Our Lady at all times and in all places. The Scapular is, as the Blessed Virgin herself has declared, 'a safeguard in danger'" (Muller) For more information on the scapular, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/scapulars.htm
* In light of the recent, tragic Supreme Court decision, we'd like remind visitors of Catholic teachings on true marriage which may be found at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/matrimony.htm . For Catholic teachings regarding homosexuality, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-homosexuality.htm
* Please invite your friends to visit MyCatholicSource.com. For our "easy to use" invite-a-friend page, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/invite_a_friend.htm . Please invite some friends today! Your support helps keep us going!
* We love to hear from you! Please submit comments at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm
* Have friends or family that might benefit from our newsletter? Please invite them to subscribe at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/mail_list.htm . Thank you!
- - - - -
MyCatholicSource.com App News...
* App Development Update: We hope to enter the testing phase soon for our next Android app. If all goes well, it may be possible for the app to be released by the end of July (but we, unfortunately, cannot make any promises). Please check http://www.MyCatholicSource.com/AndroidApps for details when it is released. You can also sign up for our waiting list at http://www.bfsnet.com/bfsapps/bfsapps-android_waiting_list.htm to be notified when the app is released.
* App Removal/Google Play: After our last newsletter was prepared, we were surprised to get a notification that our newest app (Catholic Bible References for Android) was removed from Google Play - without any advance warning - due to issues they had with the app's description. To meet their specifications & get the app back up on Google Play, we had to remove (from the app's description on Google Play) the list of topics that the app contains. We don't know how learning less about a product before one purchases it better serves their customers, but we were nevertheless forced to do this in order to get our app back on Google Play. We apologize to anyone who may have attempted to view our app on Google Play when it was no longer available (fortunately this situation lasted only a few hours). We regret that Google Play's policies are very limiting on how we are allowed to describe our app, but please note that the details for the app are still available on our site at http://www.MyCatholicSource.com/AndroidApps
* If you don't yet own our Catholic Bible References app, why not get it today? This app is a great memory aid for truths of the Catholic faith that conveniently puts important scripture passages at your fingertips. It is a handy apologetics tool that can be used to help Catholics discuss & defend the faith. It features hundreds of key bible references conveniently arranged by topic, 100+ tips for locating related passages (including those related to defending the Catholic faith among 'Jehovah's Witnesses' & Mormons), modern / traditional scripture translations, a convenient index, an easy-to-use search feature, selectable text (where available), Old Testament / New Testament indicator, a quick, easy-to-use interface, and more... Download your copy of this 'must-have' app today at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bfsnet.catholicbiblerefs or at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YGHU58K . [Note: An iOS version is still available at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/catholic-bible-references/id450589859?ls=1&mt=8 ]. For more details and screenshots, please visit http://www.MyCatholicSource.com/AndroidApps (or http://www.MyCatholicSource.com/Apps )
* Great for any time of year! Our Stations of the Cross app is perfect for Lent and beyond. Reviewers have called the app "Great", "wonderful", "excellent", "Penetrating and profound", and "Beautifully done". 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", "a great app for meditation", and "a joy to use". One reviewer said that the app "brought tears to [their] eyes", while another said "This app is a must!". Why not get your copy of this great app 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 ].
* Reviews: If you've purchased any of our apps, we encourage you to please leave a review at your place of purchase. Favorable reviews really help us out! To view selected reviews, please visit http://www.bfsnet.com/bfsapps/selected_reviews.htm
* If you have any thoughts to share regarding our apps, please contact us using the e-mail address provided in the app or online at http://www.bfsnet.com/bfsapps/bfsapps-feedback.htm
* For more information concerning currently available apps, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/comrc/apps.htm (shortcut: www.MyCatholicSource.com/Apps )
Note: Any prices included herein are in U.S. dollars, excluding any applicable tax.
- - - - -
* Please see our Notices page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/notices.htm for dates of anticipated service delays through August 2015
* Help keep us online! You can donate from $1 using PayPal at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/donate.htm [note that we do NOT sell donor information to third parties and we do NOT contact you about your donation unless it is necessary (e.g. processing problems)]. Thank you for your much needed support!
* Do you drink coffee? Did you know we can earn a percentage on coffee sales made via the Mystic Monk Coffee website ("Coffee Roasted by Real Monks")? If you are interested in ordering Mystic Monk Coffee to benefit our site, please use this link - http://www.mysticmonkcoffee.com/store/?aid=169 . Thank you for your support of our site!
* To shop at Amazon.com in support of MyCatholicSource.com, please use this link: http://www.amazon.com/?&tag=mycathcom-20 (shortcut MyCatholicSource.com/ShopAmazon ). You can shop here for books, household & office products, Catholic items, electronics, and much more. Already shop at Amazon.com? It doesn't cost any extra to shop at Amazon using this link, yet we can benefit from your purchases. Thank you for your support!
* 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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Month of July: Dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus
+ + +
"For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt.26:2)
"We love a thing in proportion to what it has cost us. You may judge by that of our Lord's love for our soul, which has cost him his Blood." (St. John Vianney)
"Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us. Blood of Christ, Price of our salvation, save us. Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us." (From the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus)
+ + +
Related Resources...
* Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_litanies.htm
* Scapular of the Most Precious Blood - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/scapulars.htm
* Prayers to Jesus - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Jesus.htm
* Jesus (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Jesus.htm
* The Passion / Cross Reflections - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/catholic_basics_reflections_The_Passion.htm
* Jesus' Last Words From the Cross - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/jesus_last_words.htm
* Stations of the Cross / Way of the Cross - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/prayers_and_devotions/stations_of_the_cross.htm
* Trials & Sorrows of Jesus - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/sorrows_of_jesus.htm
* The Holy Eucharist - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Communion Under Both Species: Is it Required? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/communion_under_both_species__is_it_required.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
+ + +
"In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth." (Eph. 1:7-10)
"What is a man able to find so valuable that he can give it for the ransom of his soul? Yet one thing was found that was worth as much as all men together. It was given as the ransom price for our souls, the holy and most precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He poured out for all of us; we were, therefore, 'bought dearly'." (St. Basil the Great, 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)
"Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord." (1 Cor. 11:27)
"The sinner, reconciled to his offended God, must receive the Body of Jesus with sentiments of hearty contrition, and approach himself in all the bitterness of his soul, for having shed that precious Blood by his multiplied sins." (Dom Gueranger)
"The Savior Himself declares, 'Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood abides in Me and I in him.' By this statement it is to be seen that Christ does not say He will be in us only after the fashion of some relation that is solely intellectual, but also through a participation truly according to nature. Just as if someone were to entwine two pieces of wax together and melt them with a fire, so that both are made one, so too through participation in the Body of Christ and in His Precious Blood, He is united in us and we too in Him. In no other way can that corruptible nature be [quickened] except by being united bodily to the Body of Him who is, by His very nature, life: that is, the Only-begotten." (St. Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church, c. 431 A.D.)
Prayer in Honor of the Precious Blood: "O almighty and everlasting God, who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and hast willed to be appeased by His Blood; grant unto us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our redemption, and by its power be so defended against the evils of this life, that we may enjoy the fruit thereof for evermore in heaven. Through the same our Lord." (Collect)
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Precious Blood): "Most glorious Virgin, chosen by the eternal Counsel to be the Mother of the eternal Word made flesh, thou who art the treasurer of divine graces and the advocate of sinners, I who am thy most unworthy servant have recourse to thee: be thou pleased to be my guide and counselor in this vale of tears. Obtain for me through the Most Precious Blood of thy divine Son, the forgiveness of my sins, the salvation of my soul and the means necessary to obtain it. In like manner obtain for the Holy Church victory over her enemies and the spread of the kingdom of Jesus Christ upon the whole earth. Amen." (Raccolta)
Prayer of Adoration (Precious Blood): "O Precious Blood of Jesus, infinite price of sinful man's redemption, both drink and laver of our souls, Thou who dost plead continually the cause of man before the throne of infinite mercy; from the depths of my heart, I adore Thee, and so far as I am able, I would requite Thee for the insults and outrages which Thou dost continually receive from human beings, and especially from those who rashly dare to blaspheme Thee. Who would not bless this Blood of infinite value? Who doth not feel within himself the fire of the love of Jesus who shed it all for us? What would be my fate, had I not been redeemed by this divine Blood? Who hath drawn it from the veins of my Savior, even to the last drop? Ah, this surely was the work of love. O infinite love, which has given us this saving balm! O balm beyond all price, welling up from the fountain of infinite love, grant that every heart and every tongue may be enabled to praise Thee, magnify Thee and give Thee thanks both now and for evermore. Amen." (Raccolta)
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, Price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
From the Litany of the Most Precious Blood - For full litany, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_litanies.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Short Reflection on the Precious Blood
+ + +
The following is taken from Fr. Faber's 1860 publication entitled 'The Precious Blood; or, The Price Of Our Salvation'. An imprimatur was not located on the work.
+ + +
It was no necessity which drove God to the redemption of the world by the Precious Blood. He might have redeemed it in unnumbered other ways. There is no limit to His power, no exhaustion of His wisdom. He might have reconciled the forgiveness of sin with His stainless sanctity by many inventions, of which neither we nor the angels can so much as dream. There are vastnesses in Him who is incomprehensible, of the existence of which we have no suspicion. He could have saved us without Jesus [becoming incarnate], according to the absoluteness of His power. All salvation must be dear: yet who can dream of a salvation which should seem at once so worthy of God, and so endearing to man, as our present salvation through Jesus Christ? Even then our dearest Lord need not have shed His Blood. There was no compulsion in the Bloodshedding. One tear of His, one momentary sigh, one uplifted look to His Father's throne, would have been sufficient, if the Three Divine Persons had so pleased. The shedding of His Blood was part of the freedom of His love. It was, in some mysterious reality, the way of redemption most worthy of His blessed majesty, and also the way most likely to provoke the love of men.
+ + +
For more reflections, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/reflections_categorized.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Refresher: Papal Infallibility
+ + +
With the recent controversy concerning the Holy Father's newly released encyclical [(e.g. its 'scandalous presentation' with a schismatic leader and a population control advocate, its condemnation of air conditioning (yikes!), its various theological issues, its imprecise/unusual references (e.g. 'the world as a sacrament of communion', its call to an 'ecological conversion'), its promotion of unsettled science (and even 'proven false science', for example the reported reliance on "climate models scenarios that have been proven to be false") combined with the previously reported 'repudiation' of those with opposing views and the 'lack of scientific references for its own claims', its 'insulting language and doomsday tone' (e.g. the earth is 'beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth', 'the fragility of the planet', 'sister earth crying out', etc.), its troubling call for policies and 'enforceable international agreements', its questionable timing/prudence (e.g. its ability to assist the Church's enemies in today's environment who 'seek to control the world'), the relative unimportance of the subject matter for the Church (at least as regards matters possibly affecting the salvation of souls, and also relative to the rampant & grave sins today that frequently go unchecked and would seem more worthy of papal ink), its few pre-Vatican II references, its coverage of a topic 'outside the Church's sphere of moral authority for which she does not have special competence or authority and may error' (the document has already been dubbed by some as a 'repeat of the Galileo debacle'), its potential for inconsistency with scripture (we know from scripture that heaven and earth will pass away (Mt. 24:35, Mk. 13:31, Lk. 21:33), but not from climate issues - biblical accounts of end times clearly are not centered around man-made environmental issues affecting our supposedly 'fragile' planet), etc.], many have contemplated the nature of the document from an authoritative standpoint. Therefore, it seems a good time to remind of the First Vatican Council's teaching concerning papal inability (which, by the way is *not* extended to scientific matters or to new doctrines, but is limited to 'always held' doctrines regarding faith or morals).
As we know, papal infallibility refers to the pope's protection from error when speaking "ex cathedra". As proclaimed by the First Vatican Council (emphasis added)...
"But since in this very age, in which the salutary efficacy of the apostolic duty is especially required, not a few are found who disparage its authority, We deem it most necessary to assert solemnly the prerogative which the Only-begotten Son of God deigned to enjoin with the highest pastoral office. And so We, adhering faithfully to the tradition received from the beginning of the Christian faith, to the glory of God, our Savior, the elevation of the Catholic religion and the salvation of Christian peoples, with the approbation of the sacred Council, teach and explain that the dogma has been divinely revealed: that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when carrying out the office of pastor and teacher of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority he DEFINES A DOCTRINE REGARDING FAITH OR MORALS to be held by the universal Church, through the divine assistance promised him in blessed Peter, possesses that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed that His Church be endowed for DEFINING DOCTRINE REGARDING FAITH AND MORALS; and so such definitions of the Roman Pontiff of themselves, and not from the consensus of the Church, are irreformable. But if anyone presumes to contradict this definition of Ours, which may God forbid: let him be anathema." (Vatican Council I, 1870 A.D.)
+ + +
"The Holy Spirit was not promised to the successor of Peter that by the revelation of the Holy Spirit they might disclose new doctrine, but that by His help they might guard sacredly the revelation transmitted through the Apostles and the deposit of faith, and might faithfully set it forth." (Vatican Council I)
"Can. 1323 All those truths must be believed with divine and Catholic faith which are contained in the written word of God or in tradition and which the Church proposes for acceptance as revealed by God, either by solemn definition or through her ordinary and universal teaching. It is the responsibility of an oecumenical council or the Roman pontiff speaking ex cathedra to pronounce a solemn definition of the faith. No doctrine is to be considered as dogmatically defined unless this is evidently proved." (1917 Code of Canon Law)
"For the teaching authority of the Church, which in the divine wisdom was constituted on earth in order that revealed doctrines might remain intact forever, and that they might be brought with ease and security to the knowledge of men, and which is daily exercised through the Roman Pontiff and the Bishops who are in communion with him, has also the office of defining, when it sees fit, any truth with solemn rites and decrees, whenever this is necessary either to oppose the errors or the attacks of heretics, or more clearly and in greater detail to stamp the minds of the faithful with the articles of sacred doctrine which have been explained. But in the use of this extraordinary teaching authority no newly invented matter is brought in, nor is anything new added to the number of those truths which are at least implicitly contained in the deposit of Revelation, divinely handed down to the Church: only those which are made clear which perhaps may still seem obscure to some, or that which some have previously called into question is declared to be of faith." (Pope Pius XI, "Mortalium Animos", 1928 A.D.)
"Certainly this teaching authority of the Church, not by any merely human effort but under the protection of the Spirit of Truth, and therefore absolutely without error, carries out the commission entrusted to it, that of preserving the revealed truths pure and entire throughout every age, in such a way that it presents them undefiled, adding nothing to them and taking nothing away from them. For, as the [First] Vatican Council teaches, 'the Holy Spirit was not promised to the successors of Peter in such a way that, by his revelation, they might manifest new doctrine, but so that, by his assistance, they might guard as sacred and might faithfully propose the revelation delivered through the apostles, or the deposit of faith.'" (Pope Pius XII, "Munificentissimus Deus", 1950 A.D.)
For more, try the Infallibility Topic Page at - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-infallibility.htm
+ + +
Refresher From A Previous News Story
In light of the above issue, some Catholics may be interested in recalling the resignation, several years back, of a 'scientific heavyweight', that we reported on in our news page. The Emeritus Professor of Physics resigned from a scientific organization over concerns related to so-called 'global warming'. His resignation letter charged that "...the global warming scam, with the (literally) trillions of dollars driving it, that has corrupted so many scientists...It is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life as a physicist. Anyone who has the faintest doubt that this is so should force himself to read the ClimateGate documents, which lay it bare... I don't believe that any real physicist, nay scientist, can read that stuff without revulsion."
For more on this issue, please try here - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-climate.htm
+ + +
Note To Readers: Various issues indicated above should concern interested Catholics on all sides of the debate. We do not intend to offend Catholics on any side. We merely hope to bring to the debate information that we believe may be useful so that the matter can enjoy a more robust debate. If the above has caused any offense, please accept our apologies. If you want to share any comments, please do so at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Liturgical Feasts in July
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for July 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.
+ + +
July 1 - The Most Precious Blood of Our Lord (T)
July 2 - Sts. Processus & Martinian (T)
July 2 - Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
July 3 - St. Leo II, pope (T)
July 3 - The Commemoration of all Holy Pontiffs (T)
July 3 - St. Thomas, apostle (N)
July 4 - St. Elizabeth of Portugal (N)
July 5 - St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria (T)
July 5 - St. Anthony Zaccaria (N)
July 6 - St. Maria Goretti (N)
July 7 - Sts. Cyril & Methodius (T)
July 8 - St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal (T)
July 9 - St. John Fisher (T)
July 9 - St. Thomas More (T)
July 9 - St. Augustine Zhao Rong & companions (N)
July 10 - Seven Holy Brothers (T)
July 10 - Sts. Rufina & Secunda (T)
July 11 - St. Pius I, pope (T)
July 11 - St. Benedict (N)
July 12 - St. John Gualbert (T)
July 12 - Sts. Nabor & Felix (T)
July 13 - St. Anacletus, pope (T)
July 13 - St. Henry (N)
July 14 - St. Bonaventure (T)
July 15 - St. Henry II (T)
July 15 - St. Bonaventure (N)
July 16 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel (T)
July 16 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel (N)
July 17 - St. Alexius the Beggar (T)
July 18 - St. Camillus de Lellis (T)
July 18 - St. Symphorosa & 7 Sons (T)
July 18 - St. Camillus de Lellis (N)
July 19 - St. Vincent de Paul (T)
July 20 - St. Jerome Emilian (T)
July 20 - St. Margaret of Antioch (T)
July 20 - St. Apollinarus (N)
July 21 - St. Praxedes (T)
July 21 - St. Lawrence of Brindisi (N)
July 22 - St. Mary Magdalene (T)
July 22 - St. Mary Magdalene (N)
July 23 - St. Apollinaris of Ravenna (T)
July 23 - St. Liborius (T)
July 23 - St. Bridget of Sweden (N)
July 24 - St. Christina (T)
July 24 - St. Francis Solano (T)
July 25 - St. Christopher (T)
July 25 - St. James the Greater, apostle (T)
July 25 - St. James the Greater, apostle (N)
July 26 - St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
July 26 - Sts. Joachim & Ann (Anne), Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (N)
July 27 - St. Pantaleon (T)
July 28 - St. Nazarius & Celsus (T)
July 28 - Sts. Victor & Innocent (Innocentius) I, popes (T)
July 29 - St. Felix II, pope (T)
July 29 - St. Martha (T)
July 29 - Sts. Simplicius, Faustinus & Beatrice (T)
July 29 - St. Martha (N)
July 30 - Sts. Abdon & Sennen (T)
July 30 - St. Peter Chrysologus (N)
July 31 - St. Ignatius of Loyola (T)
July 31 - St. Ignatius of Loyola (N)
Please Note: Above may exclude moveable feasts. For moveable feasts, 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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
'Catholic Trivia'
+ + +
Who said the following? Hint: All items below are papal quotes.
+ + +
1. "Prayer will remove the fundamental cause of present day difficulties."
2. "Wherefore, if human society is to be healed, only a return to Christian life and institutions will heal it."
3. "Peace on earth, which all men of every era have most eagerly yearned for, can be firmly established only if the order laid down by God be dutifully observed."
4. "When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony."
5. "[W]e must use every means and exert all our energy to bring about the utter disappearance of the enormous and detestable wickedness, so characteristic of our time - the substitution of man for God"
6. "Urge them to persevere firmly established in our divine religion, which alone is true and eternal and prepares for salvation and even, to a very great extent, preserves and prospers civil society."
7. "[T]rue peace, the peace of Christ, is impossible unless we are willing and ready to accept the fundamental principles of Christianity, unless we are willing to observe the teachings and obey the law of Christ, both in public and private life."
8. "While nations insult the beloved name of our Redeemer by suppressing all mention of it in their conferences and parliaments, we must all the more loudly proclaim his kingly dignity and power, all the more universally affirm his rights."
9. "[L]et us all suppliantly, with humble prayer, implore the help of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, that, our hearts being quickened to the obedience of faith, she may show herself our mother and our helper. With equal earnestness let us ask the princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, the destroyers of heresies, the sowers of the seed of truth, to save the human race by their powerful patronage from the deluge of errors that is surging afresh."
10. "There is no peace to the wicked (Is. Iviii. 22), says the Holy Spirit, because they live in continuous struggle and conflict with the order established by nature and by its Creator. Only when this order is restored, when all peoples faithfully and spontaneously recognize and profess it, when the internal conditions of peoples and their outward relations with other nations are founded on this basis, then only will stable peace be possible on earth. But to create this atmosphere of lasting peace, neither peace treaties, nor the most solemn pacts, nor international meetings or conferences, nor even the noblest and most disinterested efforts of any statesman, will be enough, unless in the first place are recognized the sacred rights of natural and divine law."
---
Answers:
1. Pope Pius XI
2. Pope Leo XIII
3. Pope John XXIII
4. Pope Pius XI
5. Pope St. Pius X
6. Pope Pius IX
7. Pope Pius XI
8. Pope Pius XI
9. Pope Leo XIII
10. Pope Pius XI
---
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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Catholic Church's Teaching That the Mass is a Propitiatory Sacrifice? / Do You Believe the Action is a Mere 'Commemoration'?
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.
- - -
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 Reject the Catholic Church's Teaching That the Mass is a Propitiatory Sacrifice? / Do You Believe the Action is a Mere 'Commemoration'? (Note: Topic is directed at Protestants)
Consider:
* If Christ's Church wasn't to have a perpetual sacrifice, why does the Old Testament prophet Malachi refer to a perpetual, pure sacrifice? As stated in Mal. 1:11: "For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts." If your non-Catholic 'Christian church' is true, why do you not have a sacrifice as Malachi predicted?
* Considering that altars are for sacrifice, why does New Testament scripture speak of altars if there is no longer any sacrifice (e.g. see Mt. 5:23, Heb. 13:10)?
* If the Mass isn't a sacrifice, why is it that all (non-heretical) Christians before Luther believed that the Mass was a sacrifice? Why was it that "it was Satan - not God - who told Luther that the Mass was not a sacrifice"?
* If the Mass isn't a sacrifice, why does the ancient Didache ("Teaching of the Apostles") - which may date from the first to early second century - refer to it as a sacrifice?
* If the Mass isn't a sacrifice, why did the First Council of Nicaea - a council accepted even by many Protestants - refer to the Mass as a sacrifice?
"It has come to the attention of the holy and great council that in some localities and cities deacons give the Eucharist to presbyters, although neither the canon nor the custom permits those who do not offer sacrifice to give the Body of Christ to those who do not offer the sacrifice." (First Council of Nicaea, 325 A.D.)
* If the Christian "breaking of the bread" was to be a mere commemoration and not the actual transforming of the bread and wine into Christ's flesh and blood, why does Christ say to "do this" (Lk. 22:19)? Do you really imagine this to mean that Christians are to "pretend" that bread and wine are Christ's body and blood when Christ specifically says that this "is" His body and blood? What, then do you suggest that Christ means when he says "do this" in Lk. 22:19? How can "this" mean anything else but what occurred at that moment?
* Are you troubled by senses/appearances? While the Catholic Church teaches that Mass is a true sacrifice, she also teaches that the Eucharist has the outward appearance of bread and wine.
* Are you troubled because you think the Catholic Church claims to be "re-sacrificing Christ"? You should know that the Church never teaches such a thing. Instead, she teaches that the Sacrifice of the Mass is the re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Calvary - and not an entirely new sacrifice. Just as Jesus gave his apostles his flesh and blood at the Last Supper without his being sacrificed twice, the Catholic Church re-presents this very same sacrifice on her altars without Christ being sacrificed twice.
- - -
"Reverence, therefore, reverence this table, of which we all are communicants! Christ, slain for us, the Sacrificial Victim who is placed thereon!" (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, c. 392 A.D.)
"From this it is apparent that the Blood of Christ is not offered if there is no wine in the cup; nor is the Sacrifice of the Lord celebrated with a legitimate consecration unless our offering and sacrifice corresponds to the passion" (St. Cyprian of Carthage, 3rd century A.D.)
"Will not your fast be more solemn if, in addition, you have stood at God's altar. The Body of the Lord having been received and reserved, each point is secured: both the participation in the sacrifice and the discharge of duty." [Tertullian ("an excellent early Christian writer" - although he would ultimately fall into heresy), c. 200-206 A.D.]
"That priest truly discharges the office of Christ, who imitates what Christ did; he offers a true and full sacrifice in the Church to God the Father, when he proceeds to offer it according to the way in which he sees Christ Himself to have offered it." (St. Cyprian, 3rd century A.D.)
"He states demonstratively, 'This is My Body,' and 'This is My Blood.' Lest you might suppose the things that are seen are a figure. Rather, by some secret of the all-powerful God the things seen are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, truly offered in a sacrifice in which we, as participants, receive the life-giving and sanctifying power of Christ." (St. Cyril of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church, c. 429 A.D.)
"Lawrence and Ignatius, though they fought betimes in worldly camps, were true and spiritual soldiers of God; and while they laid the devil on his back with their confession of Christ, they merited the palms and crowns of the Lord by their illustrious passion. We always offer sacrifices [that is, the holy Sacrifice of the Mass] for them, as you will recall, as often as we celebrate the passions of the martyrs by commemorating their anniversary day [of their martyrdom]." (St. Cyprian of Carthage, 250 A.D.)
"And thenceforth, the Apostles, and their successors in the priesthood, began to lift to heaven that 'clean oblation' foretold by Malachy, through which the name of God is great among the gentiles. And now, that same oblation in every part of the world and at every hour of the day and night, is offered and will continue to be offered without interruption till the end of time: a true sacrificial act, not merely symbolical, which has a real efficacy unto the reconciliation of sinners with the Divine Majesty." (Pope Pius XI, "Ad Catholici Sacerdotii", 1935 A.D.)
"Therefore you hear that as often as sacrifice is offered, the Lord's death, the Lord's resurrection, the Lord's ascension and the remission of sins is signified, and will you not take the Bread of life daily? He who has a wound needs medicine. The wound is that we are under sin; the medicine is the heavenly and venerable Sacrament." (St. Ambrose, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)
"[S]ince the Sacrifice is offered everywhere, are there, then, a multiplicity of Christs? By no means! Christ is one everywhere. He is complete here, complete there, one Body. And just as he is one Body and not many though offered everywhere, so too there is one Sacrifice." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, c. 403 A.D.)
"[Y]et because death was not to put an end to his priesthood, at the Last Supper, the same night in which He was betrayed in order to leave to His beloved spouse the Church, a sacrifice which should be visible (as the nature of man requires), which should represent that bloody sacrifice, once and for all to be completed on the cross, which should perpetuate His memory to the end of time, and which should apply its saving power unto the remission of sins we daily commit, showing Himself made a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech, offered to God the Father, under the appearance of bread and wine, His Body and Blood, giving them to the apostles (whom He was then making priests of the New Covenant) to be consumed under the signs of these same things, and commanded the Apostles and their successors in the priesthood to offer them, by the words 'Do this in commemoration of Me.'" (Council of Trent)
"Then, upon the completion of the spiritual Sacrifice, the bloodless worship, over that propitiatory victim [Christ] we call upon God for the common peace of the Churches [that is, the Catholic Church in various parts of the world], for the welfare of the world, for kings, for soldiers and allies, for the sick, for the afflicted; and in summary, we pray and offer this Sacrifice for all who are in need. Then we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep...for we believe that it will be of very great benefit to the souls of those for whom the petition is carried up, while this holy and most solemn Sacrifice is laid out. And I wish to persuade you by an illustration. For I know that there are many who are saying this: 'If a soul departs from this world with sins, what does it profit it to be remembered in the prayer?' Well, if a king were to punish certain persons who had offended him, and those intervening for them were to plait a crown and offer it to him on behalf of the ones who were being punished, would he not grant a remission of their penalties? In the same way we too offer prayers to Him for those who have fallen asleep, though they be sinners. We do not plait a crown, but offer up Christ who has been sacrificed for our sins; and we thereby propitiate the benevolent God for them as well as for ourselves." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church, c. 350 A.D.)
"He taught the new sacrifice of the new covenant, of which Malachias, one of the twelve prophets, had signified beforehand: You do not do My will, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept a sacrifice at your hands. For form the raising of the sun to its setting My name is glorified among the gentiles, and in every place incense is offered to My name, and a pure sacrifice; for great is My name among the gentiles, says the Lord Almighty.' By these words He makes it plain that the former people will cease to make offerings to God; but that in every place sacrifice will be offered to Him, and indeed, a pure one; for His name is glorified among gentiles. Sacrifice as such has not been reprobated. There were sacrifices among the people; and there are sacrifices now, sacrifices in the Church... For we offer to Him those things which are His, declaring in a fit manner the gift and the acceptance of flesh and spirit. For as the bread from the earth, receiving the invocation of God, is no longer common bread but the Eucharist, consisting of two elements, earthly [e.g. the appearance] and heavenly [the Real Presence], so also our bodies, when they receive the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible but have the hope of resurrection into eternity." (St. Irenaeus, c. 190 A.D.)
- - -
For more apologetics resources, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/non-catholics.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Closing...
"For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink." (Our Lord Jesus Christ, Jn. 6:55)
"Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ" (St. Peter, 1 Pt. 1:17-19)
"Our Lady wants all to wear the Scapular. The Scapular and the Rosary are inseparable." (Sr. Lucy of Fatima)
"But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out." (Jn. 19:33-34)
"We therefore confess that the Sacrifice of the Mass is and ought to be considered one and the same Sacrifice as that of the cross, for the victim is one and the same, namely, Christ our Lord, who offered Himself, once only, a bloody Sacrifice on the altar of the cross. The bloody and unbloody victim are not two, but one victim only, whose Sacrifice is daily renewed in the Eucharist, in obedience to the command of our Lord: Do this for a commemoration of me. The priest is also one and the same, Christ the Lord; for the ministers who offer [the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass], consecrate the holy mysteries, not in their own person, but in that of Christ, as the words of consecration itself show, for the priest does not say: This is the body of Christ, but, This is my body; and thus, acting in the Person of Christ the Lord, he changes the substance of the bread and wine into the true substance of His body and blood." (Catechism of the Council of Trent)
"We cannot refrain from again and again exhorting all to love holy Mother Church with a devoted and active love. If we have really at heart the salvation of the whole human family, purchased by the precious Blood, we must offer every day to the Eternal Father our prayers, works and sufferings, for her safety and for her continued and ever more fruitful increase. And while the skies are heavy with storm clouds, and exceeding great dangers threaten the whole of human society and the Church herself, let us commit ourselves and all that we have to the Father of Mercies, crying out: 'Look down, we beseech Thee, Lord, on this Thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ did not hesitate to be betrayed into the hands of evil men and to undergo the torment of the Cross.'" (Pope Pius XII, "Mystici Corporis Christi", 1943 A.D.)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We sincerely welcome feedback regarding our newsletters. Please visit our newsletter feedback page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm to share your comments.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Thank You For Being a Subscriber to the MyCatholicSource.com E-Mail List.
We Wish You God's Blessings.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Note: Please do not reply to this e-mail address. If you are not a subscriber to this newsletter and you wish to join or if you are a subscriber and wish to unsubscribe, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/mail_list.htm . To contact us regarding other matters, please visit our feedback page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/feedback.htm
Use of site / newsletter is subject to our terms of use. For terms information, visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/terms_of_use.htm
MyCatholicSource.com is a division of B.F.S. Our mailing address is: Attn.: MyCatholicSource.com, B.F.S., P.O. Box 4292, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729-4292
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please support quality Catholic content & help us maintain our non-commercial appearance...
* Invite a friend to MyCatholicSource.com - please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/invite_a_friend.htm
* Pray for us
* Link to us in blogs, newsgroups, websites, etc.
* Donate $1.00 or more - please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/donate.htm
* Purchase our apps - please visit http://www.MyCatholicSource.com/Apps
* For more free & low-cost methods, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help_us_keep_our_non-commercial_appearance.htm
We appreciate your support!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -