Tag Archives: traditional catholic

Bread, Roses, and (More) Prayers

Bread

I must have missed it this morning. I got up early. Thank you, Guardian Angel. Seriously, I have been in the habit over the past few years of trying to draw nearer to my angel, getting him more involved in my life, showing him my gratitude, and calling upon his most powerful help. I asked him last night to make sure I was awake this morning for my prayers and the early Mass. I find on days like this that, having asked his help, he delivers. I woke up minutes before my alarm. The thought was in my head, nagging me to push beyond the limits of my sleep-deprived body, telling me to get out of bed, drop to my knees, and say my prayers. Before I knew it, I was on my way to Mass. I know it was him and I am very grateful.

But the thing I must have missed is the Rogation Days. Father said the Mass for St. John Baptist de la Salle. Don’t get me wrong. St. John is a patron of teachers and I have called on his intercession countless times over the years. It wasn’t until tonight, however, that I realized today is the first of the three Rogation Days and that there should probably be some fasting tacked on to my daily prayers. Hence, the bread… Did I fast today? Well, no. As I said, I only realized at the end of the day. But it is a great reminder to me that fasting is vital to the Christian life.

Roses

It also dawned on me that, like her nineteenth century counterpart in the Communion of Saints St. Therese, St. Rita is associated with roses. Now, rarely have I prayed the novena and actually received a rose at the end but others have reported this gift. Personally, although I detest gardening, I love roses. Rather than to expect her to send one to me, this year, in thanksgiving for the great grace of being able to spread devotion to her, I think I will offer a rose or two to my dear saint. Who knows? Maybe she will send a few my way as well. You who sent petitions remain listed by name in my daily novena. Also, if for any reason I have neglected to reply to an email lately, please remind me by sending another. I do love the interaction I have had with all of the readers of this blog. I wake up most mornings flabbergasted that 1) people are reading my writing and 2) you seem to enjoy the conversation. Again, you are all in my daily prayers.

(More) Prayers

Speaking of prayers, please offer one for me if you think of it. In a couple of days I am embarking on a long roadtrip with my wife and kids. Where to, you ask? The short answer is everywhere. You will see as we travel and I update the blog with new pictures and stories. The truth is that we are a roadtrip family and as we’ve taken these trips in the past we’ve discovered that sometimes it’s better to have a general idea of where we’re going and then simply get off the beaten path along the way. The purpose of our trip is business related but it hearkens back to 2016 when we did something similar. On that trip we covered over 15,000 miles in the course of 8 weeks. So pray for our safety and the success of our trip, please. And say a prayer for a young man named Christopher. He works at the agency where we rented our vehicle for the journey. We had booked a minivan due to the dramatic increase in the cost of everything. However, from experience I know that minivans, while normally fine, are no fun for the driver or passengers on a trip like this. I may have tossed a petition into the novena the past few days for an upgrade. Young Christopher at Avis was apparently the instrument for God in answering that prayer. An Expedition it is then.

And before you get to that one, say a prayer that my head doesn’t swell too much. No, it wouldn’t be from pride (this time). While inspecting the large SUV we rented for the trip I accidentally slammed to top of my Irish melon into the corner of the rear liftgate. Thus I myself have become the first victim of Harvey’s World Tour ’23. It’s a good thing I’ve been trying to popularize men wearing hats again.

Sadly, doggo will be boarding with my mother-in-law. This is a good thing. He can’t drive to save his life.

St. Christopher, pray for us!

THE Novena

I always get this one confused in my mind… It would seem to me that the praying of a novena leading up to the feast of a saint might just end on the feast itself. Others disagree and coordinate the end of the novena to land on the eve of the feast day. OK… so we’ve either begun the novena – the big novena, the one leading right up to the feast day of St. Rita – today (Saturday) or we’re beginning tomorrow (Sunday). Regardless, the feast day is a special day for me and my family. Spending the preceding nine days in prayer is a joy and I will continue, of course, to carry all the intentions that have been sent to me. The list is quite long now but do not worry. That just requires me to spend a little more time in prayer which is never a bad thing.

St. Rita, pray for us!

Saints Alive!

I hear tell of the antipope Bergoglio essentially “canonizing” a group of non-Catholics.

Listen, several years ago, I watched news reports of a group of men – supposedly Christians – being beheaded on a beach somewhere in the Middle East. I was shocked.

After the past few years I’m not even sure the whole thing wasn’t a psy -op CGI AI deep fake. Assuming it wasn’t, I’m still sad for them and still in awe at their fortitude for their love of Jesus Christ.

But making them saints? I must have missed the part where they converted en masse to the Holy Roman Catholic Church at the last minute.

Friends, this isn’t a joke.

And still some question me when I say he’s patently not the Vicar of Christ. One priest even relayed to a friend of mine when said friend opined about the antipapacy: “He (Bergoglio) hasn’t been deposed yet so we must accept him.”

What’s it going to take?

Still waiting on Cardinal Burke to formally correct him? Still waiting on Bishop Schneider to lead him back? It’s not going to happen.

A Catholic pope would do Catholic things like canonizing Catholic saints and promoting Catholic unity in the Catholic Church.

He wouldn’t promote the cause of schismatics.

He would not insult the faithful who simply want to worship as our ancestors did and not in a circular amphitheater filled with felt banners.

He wouldn’t promote sodomite heretics.

He wouldn’t ensconce demons on the high altar over St. Peter’s grave.

He wouldn’t pimp out the high altar of the Mother Church of Catholicism to every “ecumenical leader” coming down the pike such as he has.

The situation may be unprecedented but it exists and should be recognized.

A man who is not Peter is being called Peter by men who should know better.

In other news, I hear Bergoglio will be canonizing the cast of The Golden Girls because they promote awareness of elderly tramps. But I suppose everyone can find a path to Heaven these days.

That look you get when you were right way ahead of everyone else.

Mostly Quiet on the Western Front

A few items came across my desk today. By the by, my desk is a patio table from Aldi’s aisle of shame (it exists) that’s been doing double duty as a homeschool table in my family room. The kids just finished up another year of work yesterday. As a result, I’ve cleared the books, tests, and papers and claimed a spot for my laptop. It always nice to write things at a proper workstation. Most nights I post these from my phone.

I have it on good authority that a priest who said Mass recently at a chapel somewhere in these parts substituted words other than those which are proffered in the Missal for the Consecration. I was not at said Mass but my source confirms that this happened. Rather than “This is My Body”, Father said, “This is the Paschal Lamb.”

Shocked?

Sadly I’m not either. Priests have been screwing around with the sacred for a while now. This one, if true, would have completely invalidated the entire Mass as there would have been no transubstantiation either for the bread or the wine.

I am also deliberately not mentioning any other details here. It almost doesn’t matter where this took place. I believe the details that were told to me but I recognize I have no audiographic proof. Again, the point here is that no one would really be shocked by this.

Side altar, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church (ICKSP), St. Louis, MO (unrelated to post topic)

Ann Barnhardt suggested this trajectory over a year ago. At that time I wrote to her how I thought it would go down and she was kind enough to reprint my letter. I had thought it would come out along the lines “This is the Body of Christ.” I was not counting on something so brazen as what was supposedly said here. Either way, the switcheroo was hardly noticed by anyone in the pews save for my friend who promptly left as it was clear no Mass was taking place.

That’s the point. Who would even care that the words of Consecration – given by Our Lord to St. Peter himself and handed down to us – were tossed aside in favor of something else?

The faithful are so poorly catechized, the clergy so malformed. Why I bet almost 100% of the people in that chapel mentally snoozed right through the sacrilege. It’s not as if a thousand other edits and insertions over the years by “innovative” priests haven’t accustomed them to think this was how it’s always been done…

If you’ve read this far, stop and say three Hail Mary’s for that priest at minimum. Say a few more for the Church. The day is fast upon us when they may take away the ancient Mass (Bergoglio just name-called again and said we’re diseased mummies or some such nonsense) and the Bugnini rites might actually become invalid for tricks like this. Worse yet, Butnini’s spiritual sons in Rome might just make it official and replace Our Lord’s words with their own in print.

St. Pius V, pray for us!

Mary’s Month

Amidst all the regular devotions to which I am… devoted(?) I almost overlooked a big one.

The month of May has traditionally been dedicated to the Blessed Mother.

Parishes had May Crownings. Trad parishes still do and, thankfully, a number of NO parishes also have revived this custom.

What a beautiful thing for us to teach our children and for us to learn from as well!

Crowning an image of the Blessed Mother is a great symbol of our love for her. Another great act of devotion for Our Blessed Lady is the prayerful recitation of the rosary – Our Lady’s Psalter. If you are not in the habit of praying the rosary, please, I beg of you, build the habit. I have heard it said that no man who truly prays the rosary every day will end up in hell. I would ask, “How could a man who is truly devoted to the Woman who is our model in all virtues ever not come to the joys of eternal life?” It seems a no-brainer.

So this month, this lovely month of May, make time for Our Blessed Mother. Spend a few moments extra each day meditating on the mysteries of the rosary. Meditate on her perfect humility. The devil hates that. He cannot stand her because her humility is the antithesis of his pride. When she is near to you, he will flee. Form the simple devotion of praying three Hail Mary’s first thing in the morning and last thing at night (and frequently throughout the day), imploring, “Oh my Mother, preserve me from mortal sin during this day!” at the end.

Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!

Novena Prayers Continue

Friends, here is a link to the St. Rita novena I use.

Although my current novena schedule starts another nine days tomorrow, the feast of St. Rita is on the 22nd of this month. So… I will continue the prayers continuously until the 22nd. Anyone wishing to join in, set a target to start next Sunday so that you can finish on the feast day.

St. Rita, pray for us!

First Saturday: Spare a Few Moments for Your Mother

The promises made by Our Lady to Sr. Lucia are a great consolation to us miserable sinners.

TODAY, May 6, IS THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH.

Click here for the details.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!