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MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - October, 2010
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of October: Dedicated to the Holy Rosary
* Some Thoughts on Gratitude
* Liturgical Feasts in October
* The Holy Rosary: Some Facts & Tips
* 'Catholic Trivia'
* Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Concept of Lengthy or Repetitive Prayers?
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Dear Friend,
"And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful." (Col. 3:15)
Greetings! We hope Fall has gotten off to a good start for you and that it will continue to be a happy & holy season.
This issue marks the second anniversary of the 'official unveiling' of MyCatholicSource.com in late October 2008 (the site was in development since 2001). Thank you for your support over the last two years. We have enjoyed the opportunity to bring 'safe Catholic content' to what can all too often be an anti-Catholic Internet. We've enjoyed chatting with visitors, answering questions, and providing a wealth of resources & information to Catholics. The past years have also brought significant challenges (especially concerning shortages of time & funds with our very limited staff and the poor economy), yet somehow we have managed to keep the site up, by the grace of God. We hope you will join us in celebrating our second anniversary by joining us for Rosary Week. As mentioned previously, participation is free, easy, and can be done from any appropriate location. To sign up, please go to www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeek . We look forward to your participation.
We thank you very much for your support of our site and of our newsletter.
Best wishes to you for God's blessings,
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
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Christus Vincit, Christus Regnat, Christus Imperat (Latin for "Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands")
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MCS News & Notes
* New: Topic Pages! This handy new resource covering 100+ topics has been added to our commercial sections. Topics include: Advent, Angels, Baptism, Canon Law, Catholic Books, Catholic Dictionary, Catholic Funeral, Catholic History, Catholic Prayers, Christmas, Easter, Fasting, Grace, Good Friday, Infertility, Lent, Love / Charity, Matrimony, Movie Reviews, Pope, Pro-Life, Rome, Sacraments, Saints, Salvation, Sin, More...To view an index of topic pages go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_pages.htm (or use shortcut www.MyCatholicSource.com/Topics ). For information about & help with Topic Pages, go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_pages_info.htm . Please note that Topic Pages are an ongoing project. There are dozens more Topic Pages we hope to add in the near future so please check back frequently for new Topic Pages. Also, please note that we are still working to fully integrate Topic Pages into the site. Lastly, please note that we welcome your feedback on Topic Pages. To leave feedback, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/topic_pages_feedback.htm
* Last chance: If you haven't already signed up for our Second Annual Rosary Week from 10/25-10/31/10, please sign up now. Join your fellow Catholics in praying the rosary for worthy intentions. Participation is free, easy, and can be done from any appropriate location - simply say a 5 decade rosary each day that week (or for as many days as you can) for the indicated intentions. We can tell you that last year's Rosary Week was quite touching for us and we are happily looking forward to this year's Rosary Week. We are honored this year to have received signups from at least one priest as well as male & female religious and (apparently) entire families. Also, there have been signups from even more states than last year and also internationally - incl. Malta, Nigeria, Ireland, Scotland, Philippians. Some kind persons who signed up left comments such as...
"I am looking forward to 'Rosary Week'"
"It is a great idea and love saying the rosary"
"I always like to pray the rosary and when there is special intentions I'm more inspired."
"I would love to say the rosary with you as I try to say it often"
"Rosary Week takes place over my birthday so it will be extra special for me."
(Note: Above includes some capitalization changes and a spelling change)
We sincerely hope you will join your fellow Catholics in praying the rosary during Rosary Week. The rosary is very powerful, the intentions are worthy, the participants are dear... In fact, the only thing we know of that could possibly make Rosary Week even better would be for you to join us! To sign up, please visit www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeek . Please also invite your friends.
* We want to hear from you: To make it easier to share your thoughts, we've added 'Submit Feedback' buttons after each News Brief on the News & Opinion Page. Also, indicated above, we have added a feedback form to all Topic Pages. And, we've recently added a 'quick feedback' form at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/quick_feedback.htm for quick comments. Please share your thoughts with us.
* Use AOL e-mail? Experience delivery issues with our newsletter? We've performed some tests regarding delivery of e-mail to AOL accounts and have confirmed that when our e-mail addresses (both for our regular newsletter & our news updates) is added to the AOL contact list, e-mail is more likely to be delivered to the inbox without a problem. We suspect this is also the case with other large e-mail providers. Therefore, please remember to put our e-mail addresses in your AOL contacts list. Please also note that we have not yet successfully 'trained' the AOL service - even after repeated attempts - that certain mail is not 'spam'. Supposedly, by removing items from the suspected 'spam' folder, e-mail systems eventually learn that certain e-mail is not spam. That may be the case, but it has yet to work for us during our testing. Unfortunately, such systems are automated and have no way of knowing that e-mail recipients double-opted in to our mailing list. Furthermore, there is little we can do about the situation from our end.
* The 'post of the month' page has been updated for 9/10. This month it was chosen from the Increase Holiness Section and it is titled "Trusting in God". To view the 'post of the month' page, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/post_of_the_month.htm . To submit a post in your choice of hundreds of categories, visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fa/share_your_thoughts.htm
* Reminder: To help ensure delivery of your newsletter, please put our e-mail addresses (for both our regular newsletter AND our news updates) 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 the "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 October: Dedicated to the Holy Rosary
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"Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood." (St. Louis de Montfort)
"Next to the holy sacrifice of the Mass, there is, indeed, nothing more terrifying to [the devil], nor does he bear a more implacable hatred to anything than to the devotion of the Rosary." (Muller)
"Of all the prayers, the Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest in graces; of all it is the one most pleasing to Mary, the Virgin Most Holy." (Pope St. Pius X)
"The power of the rosary is beyond description." (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
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Related Resources...
* Holy Rosary (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-holy_rosary.htm
* How To Pray the Rosary (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-how_to_pray_the_rosary.htm
* Rosary Prayers (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-rosary_prayers.htm
* Promises of the Rosary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/promises_of_the_rosary.htm
* History of the Rosary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/history_of_the_rosary.htm
* What is the Rosary & Why Pray it? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/what_the_rosary_is_and_why_pray_it.htm
* Holy Rosary Reflections - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/holy_rosary_reflections.htm
* How to Pray the Rosary / Mysteries of the Rosary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/how_to_pray_the_rosary.htm
* The Daily Rosary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/daily_rosary.htm
* Holy Rosary Section - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/holy_rosary.htm
=> Sign Up For Rosary Week! Please go to www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeek
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"Always pray the rosary." [St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)]
"How great is the power and mercy of the Blessed Virgin for those who are faithful in the practice of the Rosary! If you wish then, to save your soul, practice the devotion of the Rosary with fervor and perseverance. If you wish to save the souls of those who are near and dear to you, try to introduce this devotion without delay into your family." (Muller)
"We desire very earnestly, Venerable Brethren, that the Holy Rosary should be recited in a special manner in the month of October and with increased devotion both in the churches and in homes." (Pope Pius XI, "Ingravescentibus Malis", 1937 A.D.)
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Some Thoughts on Gratitude
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"Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving" (Col. 4:2)
"In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes. 5:18)
"And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col. 3:17)
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As Catholics, we should be supremely grateful people. Not only have we been given the precious gifts of life, love, baptism, confirmation & penance, but Our Lord has also left us his very Flesh & Blood in the Most Blessed Sacrament to be our Food. In Scripture, we see that Jesus himself did not fail to give thanks (see Mt. 15:36, Mt. 26:27, Mk. 8:6, Mk. 14:23, Lk. 22:17, Jn. 6:11), as did St. Paul (see Acts 27:35, 28:15, Rom. 1:8, 1 Cor. 1:4, 2 Cor. 9:15, Eph. 1:16, Phil. 1:3, 1 Thes. 1:2, Phlm. 1:4). Likewise, we see those in Heaven giving thanks (see Rv. 7:12, Rv. 11:17). Scripture tells us that Jesus specifically inquired about healed persons who failed to return to give thanks (see Lk. 17:17-18). Furthermore, those who "did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks...became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened" (see Rom. 1:21). May we not follow in the footsteps of the nine who failed to give thanks or behave as those who failed to accord Him glory or give Him thanks.
Unfortunately in our daily lives, it is often easy to get caught up in petitionary prayer, merely asking God for what we need at any given moment. But we must not let our prayers fail to include thanksgiving and adoration. We are positively instructed to do so in Scripture and common sense tells us the same. Who doesn't like to be thanked? Who resents sincere expressions of gratitude? Does it not hurt when good goes unacknowledged or when good works are repeatedly taken for granted or even insulted? Yet, how many persons go for years without hearing a word of thanks! And how many go on at length without expressing gratitude! If neglect of gratitude can so bitterly wound mere creatures' hearts, doesn't it seem plausible that lack of gratitude also "injures" (so to speak) our benevolent, loving Creator? And by comparison, we do so little for one another, whereas God does so much for us. Imagine providing someone life, food, air, a 24/7/365 willing ear, constant care, forgiveness, love & attention, yet rarely (if ever) receiving back a single word of thanks. Would it not hurt? Yet how many fail to give gratitude to God for His continual goodness towards them.
In our hyper-critical age, it is especially important to extend our gratitude to others, but most especially to God. We therefore hope you may find the following prayers of thanksgiving to be of assistance.
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Some Saintly Prayers of Thanksgiving
"To you be praise indeed, O eternal God, and endless thanksgiving for the fact that you deigned to become a human being and that for us in the world you willed to consecrate your venerable Body out of material bread and lovingly bestow it on us as food for the salvation of our souls!" (St. Bridget of Sweden)
"We render thanks unto you, O King invisible, who framed all things by your measureless power, and in the multitude of your mercy have brought all things into being from nonexistence." (St. John Chrysostom)
"I thank you, O Lord Jesus, for all the benefits you have bestowed on me, and for the pains and ignominy you suffered for my sake, on account of which that sad complaint of the prophet, 'There is no sorrow like my sorrow,' truly applied to you." (St. Richard of Chichester)
"I bless and thank your omnipotent and wise kindness, O my God, because you have bestowed on me graces so far beyond my deserts, not withstanding all the obstacles I opposed to your bounty." (St. Gertrude the Great)
"My God, I thank you with all my heart for all the graces you have bestowed on me during my whole life, and especially for those of this day. Amen." (St. Louis de Montfort)
"O tender Father, you gave me more, much more than I ever thought to ask for. I realize that our human desires can never really match what you long to give us. Thanks, and again thanks, O Father, for having granted my petitions, and that which I never realized I needed or petitioned." (St. Catherine of Siena)
"All-powerful, most holy, most high, and supreme God Holy and just Father; Lord, King of heaven and earth, we thank You for Yourself for through Your holy will and through Your only Son with the Holy Spirit You have created all things spiritual and corporal and, having made us in Your own image and likeness, You placed us in paradise. And through our own fault we have fallen. And we thank You for as through Your Son You created us so also, through Your holy love, with which You loved us You brought about His birth as true God and true man by the glorious, ever-virgin, most blessed, holy Mary and You willed to redeem us captives through His cross and blood and death. And we thank You for Your Son Himself will come again in the glory of His majesty to send the wicked ones who have not done penance and who have not known You into the eternal fire, and to say to all those who have known You and have adored You and have served You in penance: 'Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom, which has been prepared for you from the beginning of the world.' And because all of us wretches and sinners are not worthy to pronounce Your name, we humbly ask that our Lord Jesus Christ Your beloved Son in whom You were well pleased together with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, give You thanks as it pleases You and Him for everything, Who always satisfies You in everything through Whom You have done such great things for us. Alleluia! And through Your love, we humbly beg the glorious Mother, the most blessed Mary ever-Virgin, Blessed Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and all the blessed choirs of seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations, principalities, powers, virtues, angels, archangels, blessed John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, Peter, Paul, and the blessed patriarchs, prophets, the Innocents, apostles, evangelists, disciples, martyrs, confessors, virgins, the blessed Elijah and Henoch, and all the saints who were, who will be, and who are to give You thanks for these things as it pleases You, the supreme and true God eternal and living with Your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, world without end. Amen. Alleluia." (St. Francis of Assisi)
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Other Prayers of Thanksgiving
"We give you thanks for all your gifts, almighty God, living and reigning now and for ever. Amen."
"With my whole being I sing endless praise to you. O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks." (Ps. 30:13)
"O God, of whose mercies there is no number, and of whose goodness the treasure is infinite; we render thanks to Thy most gracious majesty for the gifts Thou hast bestowed upon us, evermore beseeching Thy clemency, that as Thou grantest the petitions of them that ask Thee, Thou wilt never forsake them, but wilt prepare them for the reward to come. Through our Lord." (Collect)
"I give you thanks, O LORD; though you have been angry with me, your anger has abated, and you have consoled me. God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation, and say on that day: Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!" (Isa. 12:1-6)
"We thank you, holy Father, for your holy name, which you have caused to dwell in our hearts; and for the knowledge and faith and immortality which you have made known to us through Jesus your Son. Glory be to you forever. You, almighty Master, have created all things for your name's sake, and have given food and drink to men for their enjoyment, so that they might return thanks to you. Upon us, however, you have bestowed spiritual food and drink, and eternal life through your Servant. Above all we give you thanks, because you are mighty. Glory be to you forever. Remember, O Lord, your Church. Deliver it from every evil and perfect it in your love. Gather it from the four winds, sanctified for your kingdom, which you have prepared for it. For yours is the power and the glory forever. Let grace come, and let this world pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If anyone is holy, let him come; if anyone is not, let him repent. Marana Tha. Amen." (Didache, c. 140 A.D.)
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Thanksgiving Prayers For Mass
Offering of Self at Mass: "O Lord, to whom belongeth all that is in heaven and earth, I desire to consecrate myself wholly unto Thee and to be Thine for evermore. This day do I offer myself unto Thee, O Lord, in singleness of heart, to serve and obey Thee always, and I offer Thee without ceasing a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Receive me, O my Savior, in union with the holy oblation of Thy Precious Blood which I offer unto Thee this day, in the presence of angels, that this sacrifice may avail unto my salvation and that of the whole world." (St. Andrew's Missal)
Mass Offering: "Eternal Father, I offer Thee the sacrifice wherein Thy dear Son Jesus offered Himself upon the Cross and which He now renews upon this altar, to adore Thee and to render to Thee that honor which is Thy due, acknowledging Thy supreme dominion over all things and their absolute dependence on Thee, for Thou art our first beginning and our last end; to give Thee thanks for countless benefits received; to appease Thy justice provoked to anger by so many sins, and to offer Thee worthy satisfaction for the same; and finally to implore Thy grace and mercy for myself, for all those who are in tribulation and distress, for all poor sinners, for the whole world and for the blessed souls in purgatory." (Raccolta)
Prayer of Thanksgiving After Holy Communion: "I give thee thanks for this, and for every Communion thou hast hitherto so graciously given me. Deign to enlighten me more and more as to the magnificence of thy gift; deign to cherish within me the sentiment of love; that thus my longings for thy visit may be increased; that I may know how to honor, as I ought, thy presence within me; and that I may never dare to approach thee out of custom, or without my conscience assuring me that I am bringing with me the profound respect due to thee." (Liturgical Year)
Prayer After Holy Communion: "Happy, then, the aged Simeon, who is permitted to take thee into his arms; but oh! How happier I! Who have received into myself, and now hold within me, thee, my Jesus, the Bread of Life! Blessed be thou for ever, O my God! For that thou hast treated with such incomprehensible familiarity this the poorest of all thy servants! I thank thee, and glorify thee, as did the Shepherds, who went so eagerly to Bethlehem, and returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; and with such glowing words did they praise thee, that all that heard, wondered at those things that were told them by the Shepherds. So too will I open my lips, and borrowing the words of a Son of Bethlehem, David thy ancestor, I will say: All ye that fear God, come and hear, and I will tell you what great things he hath done to my soul." (From Post-Communion 'Act of Thanksgiving')
Prayer of Thanksgiving After Holy Communion: "What shall I render to the Lord for all the favors and graces He has bestowed upon me? What great blessings both known and unknown have I not received, and to all this have I replied only with ingratitude. But having Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, in my heart, I can at this very moment, pay my whole debt of gratitude to almighty God. For this purpose I unite myself to that infinite act of thanksgiving rising continually from Thy Sacred Heart. Thou knowest well all the gifts I have received from Thy divine goodness ever since I was placed in the world and born again to the life of grace. Do Thou, O Lord, render for me due thanks to the most Holy Trinity, since in union with Thine own giving of thanks do I desire to make my thanksgiving consist." (St. Andrew's Missal)
Prayer of Thanksgiving After Holy Communion: "Thy greatness, O my God, is infinite; but thy goodness to me is incomprehensible. Thy being now present within this breast of mine is, I know, a proof of that immense power which shows itself where and when it wills; but it is also a mark of thy love for me. Thou hast come to my soul, that thou mayst be closely united with her, comfort her, give her a new life, and bring her all good things. Oh! Who will teach me how to value this grace, and thank thee for it in a becoming way? But how shall I hope to value it as I ought, when I am not able to understand either the love that brings thee thus within me, or my own need of having thee? And when I think of my inability to make thee a suitable return of thanks, I feel as though I can give thee nothing but my speechless gratitude. Yet thou willest that this my heart, poor as it is, should give thee its thanks; thou takest delight in receiving its worthless homage. Take it, then, my loving Jesus! I give it thee with all possible joy, and beseech thee to reveal unto me the immensity of thy gift, and to enrich me more that I may give thee more." (Dom Gueranger)
For More Try...
* Praise / Adoration / Thanksgiving Prayers - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_praise_adoration_thanksgiving.htm
* Mass / Holy Eucharist Prayers - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Mass_Holy_Eucharist.htm .
* Thanksgiving (Topical Scripture) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/pcst/topical_scripture_T4.htm
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"So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Col. 2:6-7)
"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)
"So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving." (Eph. 5:1-4)
"Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." (Eph. 5:17-20)
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Liturgical Feasts in October
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for October 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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October 1 - St. Remigius (T)
October 1 - St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (N)
October 2 - The Holy Guardian Angels (T)
October 2 - The Guardian Angels (N)
October 3 - St. Teresa of the Child Jesus (T)
October 4 - St. Francis of Assisi (T)
October 4 - St. Francis of Assisi (N)
October 5 - St. Placid & companions (T)
October 6 - St. Bruno (T)
October 6 - St. Bruno (N)
October 7 - Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
October 7 - St. Mark, pope (T)
October 7 - Sts. Marcellus & Apuleius (T)
October 7 - Sts. Sergius & Bacchus (T)
October 7 - Our Lady of the Rosary (N)
October 8 - St. Bridget of Sweden (T)
October 9 - St. John Leonardi (T)
October 9 - Sts. Denis, Rusticus & Eleutherius (T)
October 9 - St. Denis & companions (N)
October 9 - St. John Leonardi (N)
October 10 - St. Francis Borgia (T)
October 11 - The Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
October 13 - St. Edward, king of England (T)
October 14 - St. Callistus I, pope (T)
October 14 - St. Callistus I, pope (N)
October 15 - St. Teresa of Avila (T)
October 15 - St. Teresa of Avila (N)
October 16 - St. Hedwig (T)
October 16 - St. Hedwig (N)
October 16 - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (N)
October 17 - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (T)
October 17 - St. Ignatius of Antioch (N)
October 18 - St. Luke the Evangelist (T)
October 18 - St. Luke the Evangelist (N)
October 19 - St. Peter of Alcantara (T)
October 19 - St. Paul of the Cross (N)
October 19 - Sts. Isaac Jogues, John de Brebeuf & companions (N)
October 20 - St. John Cantius (T)
October 21 - St. Hilarion (T)
October 21 - St. Ursula & companions (T)
October 23 - St. John of Capistrano (N)
October 24 - St. Raphael the Archangel (T)
October 24 - St. Anthony Claret (N)
October 25 - Sts. Chrysanthus & Daria (T)
October 26 - St. Evaristus, pope (T)
October 28 - Sts. Simon & Jude, apostles (T)
October 28 - Sts. Simon & Jude, apostles (N)
October 31 - Vigil of All Saints (T)
Please Note: Above may exclude moveable feasts. For moveable feasts, see below and try here: http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/latin_mass_and_tradition/traditional_liturgical_calendar.htm . For other feasts, try the MCS Daily Digest each day at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp
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Also Note...
The Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ falls on 10/31/10 (T) - "Therefore by Our Apostolic Authority We institute the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ to be observed yearly throughout the whole world on the last Sunday of the month of October - the Sunday, that is, which immediately precedes the Feast of All Saints. We further ordain that the dedication of mankind to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which Our predecessor of saintly memory, Pope Pius X, commanded to be renewed yearly, be made annually on that day... We have commanded its observance on a Sunday in order that not only the clergy may perform their duty by saying Mass and reciting the Office, but that the laity too, free from their daily tasks, may in a spirit of holy joy give ample testimony of their obedience and subjection to Christ. The last Sunday of October seemed the most convenient of all for this purpose, because it is at the end of the liturgical year, and thus the feast of the Kingship of Christ sets the crowning glory upon the mysteries of the life of Christ already commemorated during the year, and, before celebrating the triumph of all the Saints, we proclaim and extol the glory of him who triumphs in all the Saints and in all the Elect." (Pope Pius XI, "Quas Primas", 1925 A.D.)
[Note: The Feast of Christ the King is celebrated "after the triumph of all the Saints" in the Novus Ordo calendar, on the Sunday before Advent]
For more on Christ the King (incl. Act of Consecration), please try the Topic Page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Christ_the_King.htm
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The Holy Rosary: Some Facts & Tips
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"[E]xperience shows that no sooner do the people commence to practice this devotion that they open their hearts to the largest channel of grace, so as to be flooded with heavenly gifts." (Muller)
"I beg of you to beware of thinking of the Rosary as something of little importance - as do ignorant people and even several great but proud scholars. Far from being insignificant, the rosary is a priceless treasure which is inspired by God." (St. Louis de Montfort)
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Some Rosary Facts...
Ref. http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/rosary_facts.htm
1. The Church Recommends the Rosary: Numerous popes (nearly all of them in the last several centuries) have urged devotion to the rosary.
2. The Rosary & Apparitions: Our Lady has requested that we say the rosary in various apparitions. Also, various promises have been attributed to the rosary by Our Blessed Mother (see http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/promises_of_the_rosary.htm for more information).
3. The Family Rosary: Praying the rosary is a great family devotion that has been a longstanding Catholic practice. It is highly recommended for all families.
4. Feast of the Rosary: A feast of the rosary appears in the traditional calendar on October 7. This is associated with the miraculous victory of Lepanto on October 7, 1571 which was attributed to the intercession of the Queen of the Rosary. The original feast was entitled Our Lady of Victory, but the name has been changed to the feast of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary [in the Novus Ordo calendar, the feast is called Our Lady of the Rosary].
5. Handmade Rosaries: You can hand-make your own rosary. There are various Catholic groups and organizations that can show you how. If you make your own rosary, be sure to have it blessed.
6. The Living Rosary: The 'living rosary' dates from 1826 and its founding association has received papal approval. A 'living rosary' consists of groups of 15 members who recite a decade of the rosary each day, so that an entire (traditional) 15 decade rosary is completed each day by each group. As a member dies, the group keeps going as another takes the place of the deceased member (thus it is called "living"). The 'living rosary' has traditionally been based on the full 15 decade rosary.
7. The Pendent: The crucifix and first five beads of the rosary are called the "pendent".
8. Perpetual Rosary: The 'perpetual rosary', said to date from the 17th century, refers to the continual recitation of the rosary by members of a group who pray at scheduled times so that the rosary is being said continuously, day and night.
9. Rosaries & Burial: Many Catholics are buried with their rosaries around their hands.
10. Significance of the 15 Traditional Mysteries: The fifteen mysteries of the (traditional) rosary may be significant for: the fifteen steps of the temple, and the fifteen gradual psalms.
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Some Rosary Tips...
Ref. http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/dusub/rosary_tips.htm
1. Try focusing more on the mysteries than on the actual prayers. (Note that we are not suggesting that it is wrong to focus on the prayers themselves. We are instead suggesting that placing one's primary focus on the mysteries may be helpful to contemplation of the mysteries.)
2. Invoke the Holy Spirit before praying the rosary. Be sure to ask for the virtues / graces associated with each mystery.
3. Make use of traditional artwork to focus your mind on the mysteries of the rosary.
4. Use a blessed rosary. Some blessed rosaries may be associated with additional benefits (e.g. special indulgences).
5. Kneeling is the most desirable posture for saying the rosary (for those who are physically able) and may help reduce distractions.
6. You may offer up your rosary for a specific person, intention, etc. Even distractions may be offered up!
7. When meditating on a mystery of the rosary, also meditate on the 'virtues' associated with each decade (see http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/how_to_pray_the_rosary.htm for mysteries / virtues).
8. When contemplating a mystery, try imagining that you were actually there when the event occurred.
9. Take a moment at the beginning of each decade to reflect on the mystery is represents. This may help you focus on the mystery itself and avoid distractions.
10. Try following along with a good traditional book while praying the rosary. Some have meditations, artwork, etc. Especially helpful may be traditional books written by saints devoted to the rosary.
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"I have no better way of knowing if a man is for God than if he likes to say the Hail Mary and the Rosary." (St. Louis de Montfort)
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'Catholic Trivia'
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Note: The following have been taken from recent Q & A on the MCS Daily Digest. Why not visit the MCS Daily Digest each day at www.MyCatholicSource.com/DailyDigest for Catholic Calendar, Today in History, Catholic Q & A, Daily Scripture & Reflections, Daily Prayer, and More...
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1. What is the name of the Catalogue of Errors on Grace and Sin, circa 435-442?
2. According to St. Bernard, what are the four points in contemplation?
3. What is the Annuario Pontificio?
4. What scapular is in the shape of a shield and has one blue and one black band?
5. Is it true that the sacraments are necessary for salvation?
6. How important is the Bible to the Catholic faith?
7. What connection does Confirmation have with Baptism?
8. Should sacred music in church be for the purpose of provoking pleasure?
9. What is Panchristianity and what did Pope Pius XI say about it?
10. Is it allowable to baptize someone without faith in order that they may obtain faith? Is it allowable to baptize someone who is not repentant so that they might see their grave errors and then repent?
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Answers:
1. The Catalogue of Errors on Grace and Sin, circa 435-442, is called Indiculus.
2. "The first point in contemplation is to marvel at God's majesty; the second, at His judgments; the third, at His benefits; the fourth, at His promises." (St. Bernard, 12th century. A.D.)
3. The Annuario Pontificio (Pontifical Annual/Pontifical Yearbook) is an annual directory of the Holy See containing names of cardinals bishops, priests, dioceses, statistics, etc.
4. The scapular of St. Michael the Archangel is in the shape of a shield and has one blue and one black band.
5. Yes. The Council of Trent states: "If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation, but that they are superfluous; and that men can, without the sacraments or the desire of them, obtain the grace of justification by faith alone, although it is true that not all the sacraments are necessary for each individual [e.g. Holy Orders, Matrimony]: let him be anathema."
6. Although the Bible is very important to the Catholic faith, the Catholic faith itself does not depend upon the Bible. Remember that the Church existed before the Bible and that the Church determined which writings comprise the Bible. Also, as the Bible states, not all things were handed on in Scripture (see 2 Thes. 2:15). Furthermore, the Bible indicates that the Church (not Holy Scripture) is the pillar and foundation of truth (see 1 Tm. 3:15), that faith comes through hearing - not reading (see Rom. 10:17), and it shows that the Apostles were sent forth to preach, not to write (see Mk. 16:15). Also, remember that for the first few centuries the Church did not even have an official Bible. When it did, most people couldn't read it and all copies had to be made by hand (and were therefore hard to come by).
7. According to the Catechism of the Council of Trent, "...it is peculiar to Confirmation first to perfect the grace of Baptism. For those who have been made Christians by Baptism, still have in some sort the tenderness and softness, as it were, of new-born infants, and afterwards become, by means of the Sacrament of chrism, stronger to resist all the assaults of the world, the flesh and the devil, while their minds are fully confirmed in the faith to confess and glorify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, also, originated the very name (Confirmation), as no one will doubt. For the word Confirmation is not derived, as some not less ignorantly that impiously have pretended, from the circumstance that persons baptized in infancy, when arrived at mature years, were of old brought to the Bishop, in order to confirm their faith in Christ, which they had embraced in Baptism, so that Confirmation would seem not to differ from catechetical instruction. Of such a practice no reliable testimony can be adduced. On the contrary, the name has been derived from the fact that by virtue of this Sacrament God confirms in us the work He commenced in Baptism, leading us to the perfection of solid Christian virtue."
8. No. As St. Thomas Aquinas states, "[St.] Jerome does not absolutely condemn singing, but reproves those who sing theatrically in church not in order to arouse devotion, but in order to show off, or to provoke pleasure. Hence Augustine says (Confessiones x,33): 'When it befalls me to be more moved by the voice than by the words sung, I confess to have sinned penally, and then had rather not hear the singer.'" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")
9. "[Panchristianity is] the doctrine that the church of Christ consists of a loose federation of bodies and individuals united in spirit with no unity of faith, morals or organization; and that the disunion among [Catholics and others who call themselves] Christians can be repaired by the coming together of existing sects in mutual amiability and tolerance, with a certain amount of doctrinal compromise and concession and a maximum collaboration in social work. In his encyclical Mortalium Animos, of 1928, Pope Pius XI reiterated that for Catholics there can be no compromise on dogma and no Christian unity apart from communion with the Apostolic See; and Catholics were warned against taking part in Panchristian congresses" (Catholic Dictionary)
10. No on both accounts. Faith and repentance must precede Baptism. According to the Catechism of the Council of Trent, "Besides a wish to be baptized, in order to obtain the grace of the Sacrament, faith is also necessary. Our Lord and Savior has said: He that believes and is baptized shall be saved... Another necessary condition is repentance for past sins, and a fixed determination to avoid all sin in the future. Should anyone desire Baptism and be unwilling to correct the habit of sinning, he should be altogether rejected. For nothing is so opposed to the grace and power of Baptism as the intention and purpose of those who resolve never to abandon sin."
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Ref. http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp
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Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Concept of Lengthy or Repetitive Prayers?
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__prayers_indulgences.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 Concept of Lengthy or Repetitive Prayers?
Consider:
* If Christ opposed the repeating of prayer, why did He Himself repeat his prayer (e.g. see Mt. 26:44, Mk. 14:39)?
* If prayer should not be repeated, why does Scripture show the heavenly creatures repeating prayer?
Rv. 4:8: The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come."
* If prayer should not be repeated, why does Scripture praise those who are persistent in prayer (e.g. see Lk. 18:1-8)?
* How can Scripture instruct us to "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17), if we are not to repeat our prayers?
* How can Christ be opposed to lengthy prayer considering that He "spent the night in prayer to God" (see Lk. 6:12)?
* Do you base your rejection of lengthy prayer on the following Scripture passages?
Mk. 12:38-40: In the course of his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."
Lk. 20:45-47: Then, within the hearing of all the people, he said to (his) disciples, "Be on guard against the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and love greetings in marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."
Can you not see that Jesus is condemning lengthy prayers said as a pretext? Jesus words certainly cannot be said to apply to sincere, heartfelt prayers!
* Do you base your rejection of repetitive prayer on Mt. 6:7-8 ("In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.")? In light of Christ's spending whole nights in prayer and the Apostle telling us to pray without ceasing, can you not see that lengthy prayers are not prohibited per se? Rather, "we are not to act as though God needs to hear many words in order to know our wants". Clearly we are not prohibited from spending much time in prayer - but are rather instructed to do so.
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"This practice of praying in spirit is peculiar to Christians, and is not at all used by infidels. Of these Christ the Lord has said: When you pray, speak not much, as the heathens; for they think that in their much speaking they may be heard. Be not ye, therefore, like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you before you ask him. But though (our Lord) prohibits loquacity, He is so far from forbidding continuance of prayer which proceeds from the eager and prolonged devotion of the soul that by His own example He exhorts us to such prayer. Not only did He spend whole nights in prayer, but also prayed the third time, saying the self-same words. The inference, therefore, to be drawn from the prohibition is that prayers consisting of mere empty sounds are not to be addressed to God." (Catechism of the Council of Trent)
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For more apologetics resources, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/non-catholics.htm
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In Closing...
"If you want peace in your heart, in your home, in your country, assemble together every night and say the Rosary." (Pope St. Pius X)
"Were a good friend to present us several times with a thousand dollars, we would not object to such a sum, but rather wish the amount to be increased. The good Christian, in like manner, never finds the repetition of the prayers of the Rosary tedious, but rather truly delightful. He knows that one single prayer of the Rosary, which is recited with devotion is of more value than all the money, than all the riches, in the universe. What will money, what will all the riches of this world, avail us after death? But the prayers of the Rosary will then be of more help to us than all the honors and wealth in the world." (Muller)
"It is possible to sum up all We have said in one word, 'the Kingdom of Christ.' For Jesus Christ reigns over the minds of individuals by His teachings, in their hearts by His love, in each one's life by the living according to His law and the imitating of His example. Jesus reigns over the family when it, modeled after the holy ideals of the sacrament of matrimony instituted by Christ, maintains unspotted its true character of sanctuary. In such a sanctuary of love, parental authority is fashioned after the authority of God, the Father, from Whom, as a matter of fact, it originates and after which even it is named. (Ephesians iii, 15) The obedience of the children imitates that of the Divine Child of Nazareth, and the whole family life is inspired by the sacred ideals of the Holy Family. Finally, Jesus Christ reigns over society when men recognize and reverence the sovereignty of Christ, when they accept the divine origin and control over all social forces, a recognition which is the basis of the right to command for those in authority and of the duty to obey for those who are subjects, a duty which cannot but ennoble all who live up to its demands. Christ reigns where the position in society which He Himself has assigned to His Church is recognized, for He bestowed on the Church the status and the constitution of a society which, by reason of the perfect ends which it is called upon to attain, must be held to be supreme in its own sphere; He also made her the depository and interpreter of His divine teachings, and, by consequence, the teacher and guide of every other society whatsoever, not of course in the sense that she should abstract in the least from their authority, each in its own sphere supreme, but that she should really perfect their authority, just as divine grace perfects human nature, and should give to them the assistance necessary for men to attain their true final end, eternal happiness, and by that very fact make them the more deserving and certain promoters of their happiness here below. It is, therefore, a fact which cannot be questioned that the true peace of Christ can only exist in the Kingdom of Christ - 'the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ.' It is no less unquestionable that, in doing all we can to bring about the re-establishment of Christ's kingdom, we will be working most effectively toward a lasting world peace." (Pope Pius XI, "Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio", 1922 A.D.)
"Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Mt. 6:33)
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