Abrogating Holy Days of Obligation

When I was growing up, Holy Days of Obligation were celebrated on the assigned day and if it fell on a week day, people managed to attend Mass, as they should, and didn’t bemoan the fact that life was so inconsiderate as to intrude on their busy work week with a trip to the church, a hour’s worth of Mass, and a sermon.

Abrogating the Holy Days seems to be a given in our current day and age. When they made Ascension

Thursday a Sunday celebration, I knew the stamina of the Catholic soul was, perhaps, in serious danger. I don’t think the hierarchy that comes up with these changes has ever dealt with children. From my own experience, I know that the minute I give in on a rule or request, the children are not so much grateful but busy considering their next inroad into my disciplinary rules. With that thought in mind, my husband once came up with his own bit of satire on the subject:

Monday Holy Days
or
Report of the Holy Day Sub-Sub-Committee of the Mass Schedule Sub-Committee of the Liturgy Committee of the National Conference Bored of the U.S. Catholic Deacons.

Due to the success of moving  Holy Days to Sundays in some parts of the U.S., we the above sub-sub-committee propose the following: That all Holy Days which fall on Mondays be moved to the previous Sunday in zip codes ending in odd numbers, and that all Holy Days which fall on Mondays be moved to the next Sunday in zip codes ending in even numbers. Parishes which have zip codes ending in zero will be required to hold annual ballots on December 31 in which the parishioners will decide for the forthcoming year whether they will celebrate the Holy Days on the previous or following Sunday.

In the spirit of democracy and lay participation, all Bishops will be required to allow any parish which wishes to vote on whether to accept the odd/even zip code designation or to chose the Sunday of their own choice. Parishes which wish to celebrate the Holy Day on the actual feast day will need a two thirds majority of the ballots, a petition signed by 75% of the registered parishioners, baptismal certificates for 50% plus one of the registered parishioners, and first communion and confirmation certificates for at least 45% of the registered parishioners. In addition the pastor, associate pastors, deacons, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, catechists, and janitors must sign an affirmation of loyalty to the Spirit of Vatican II.

Never Sweat the Small Stuff When We Have the Real Deal!

St. Michael, Pope Leo XIII and the World Today

The prayer of St. Michael was a wonderful end to the Low Mass Liturgy prior to the liturgical changes brought about in 1965. The prayer was written by Pope Leo XIII after he is alleged to have received a prophetic vision. The common version of this vision is that Pope Leo XIII witnessed a debate between Our Blessed Lord and Satan. According to the story, during the debate/conversation, the Devil was granted somewhat free reign for a period of 100 years. The most repeated account of the events behind the prophecy of Pope Leo was as follows:

On October 13, 1884, after Pope Leo XIII had finished celebrating Mass in the Vatican Chapel, attended by a few Cardinals and members of the Vatican staff, he suddenly stopped at the foot of the altar. He stood there for about 10 minutes, as if in a trance, his face ashen white. Then, going immediately from the Chapel to his office, he composed the prayer to St. Michael, with instructions it be said after all Low Masses everywhere. When asked what had happened, he explained that, as he was about to leave the foot of the altar, he suddenly heard voices – two voices, one kind and gentle, the other guttural and harsh. They seemed to come from near the tabernacle. As he listened, he heard the following conversation:

The guttural voice, the voice of Satan in his pride, boasting to Our Lord: “I can destroy your Church”

The gentle voice of Our Lord: “You can? Then go ahead and do so.”

Satan: “To do so, I need more time and more power.”

Our Lord: “How much time? How much power?

Satan: “75 to 100 years, and a greater power over those who will give themselves over to my service.”

Our Lord: “You have the time, you will have the power. Do with them what you will.”

The first, known version of the story was said to have been in print around 1933 in a German newspaper. It may have come into more public knowledge having been spread by word among the Vatican staff and other religious who were with the Pope at this time. It has not been definitely ascertained how it could be traced back to the original source.
A German writer, Fr. Bers, researched the origins of the prophecy in 1933. Failing to find solid evidence of the original source, he felt the prophecy could be an invention. Yet the story continued.
Thirteen years later, after Fr. Bers failed attempt, Fr. Domenico Pechenio, a priest who worked at the Vatican offices during the time of Pope Leo XIII, came forward with a first-hand accounting of the events.
I do not remember the exact year. One morning the great Pope Leo XIII had celebrated a Mass and, as usual, was attending a Mass of thanksgiving. Suddenly, we saw him raise his head and stare at something above the celebrant’s head. He was staring motionlessly, without batting an eye. His expression was one of horror and awe; the color and look on his face changing rapidly. Something unusual and grave was happening in him.

“Finally, as though coming to his senses, he lightly but firmly tapped his hand and rose to his feet. He headed for his private office. His retinue followed anxiously and solicitously, whispering: ‘Holy Father, are you not feeling well? Do you need anything?’ He answered: ‘Nothing, nothing.’ About half an hour later, he called for the Secretary of the Congregation of Rites and, handing him a sheet of paper, requested that it be printed and sent to all the ordinaries around the world. What was that paper? It was the prayer that we recite with the people at the end of every Mass. It is the plea to Mary and the passionate request to the Prince of the heavenly host, (St. Michael: Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle) beseeching God to send Satan back to hell.”
(Fr. Domenico Pechenino, quoted in the 1955 Roman journal Ephemerides Liturgicae V. LXIX, pp 54–60)
The St. Michael Prayer

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray:
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen

The world seems to be a culminating into a lot of the prophecy associated with that talk between God and Satan. A look around tells anyone with common sense and a sense of the wave of terror and evil flowing quickly into the world should give us a sense of warning. However, we have been told again and again, that only God knows the time and the place for the end of time, the Second Coming, the destruction of the world, etc. As bad as things are, it could be a very grave and serious warning to each of us to realize that our personal ‘end of the world’ would more likely come before the End of the World. Probably not a good idea to put off more serious prayers and acts of reparation until we get a more definite state from Heaven.

It is also sad that the changes in 1965 removed the Saint Michael’s Prayer from the completion of the Low Mass, too. Why would such a powerful prayer be removed from daily, public prayer? When I noticed the upcoming date, this morning, it reminded me of the time frame God allowed Satan and how much bad and evil has been accomplished in the last century.

Rosary – Beautiful Quotes!

“Sweet, blessed beads! I would not part
With one of you for richest gem
That gleams in kingly diadem;
Ye know the history of my heart.”

Abram Ryan – My Beads, 19th century

“Some people do not like to take the medicine that would heal them, and call it nonsense. The rosary is exactly that medicine which cures an amazing deal of nonsense. Call it spiritual homeopathy if you like. Many a proud spirit has been brought down by it—many a faddy spirit has been made patient by it. Many a queasy spirit has been made strong by it. Many a distracted spirit has become recollected by it. The weak things of htis world hath God chosen to confound the strong.”

Archbishop Ullathorne: Letters in the Oscation. 19th century

The Blessed Mother’s Living Rosary – Be a Part of Prayerful Miracles

A small “mustard seed” of inspiration has quickly grown into a large group of moms from all over the US who are praying just a decade a day, together in our own time zones, houses, cars, or how about those precious few moments alone in the shower! The Living Rosary for Moms is currently assembling the 5th full, 20 decade Rosary. If you are interested in starting your own group, just find 20 like-minded women who want to join in, assign each a Mystery and decade of the Rosary . . . and pray. No one is immune to the problems developing all over. Time to turn it over to the Blessed Mother and ask for her intercession.

Remember, there is no specific time for praying your Mystery/decade and no need to form a group or anything to meet for this. In order to share in the benefits of the 20-decade Rosary, you just need to remember your assigned decade each day. So, if anyone is interested, please take advantage of this prayerful blessing and start a group. God is always in charge and we have to band together to let Him know that we know this and are asking for help, graces, and blessing for our vocations as mothers, for our personal intentions, and for the safety and security of the world.

 

Canticle of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79

“Blessed be the Lord,
The God of Israel;
He has come to His people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
Born of the house of His servant David.
Through His holy prophets He promised of old
That He would save us from our enemies,
From the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers
And to remember His holy Covenant.
This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham:
To set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship Him without fear,
Holy and righteous in His sight
All the days of our life.

You, My child shall be called
The prophet of the Most High,
For you will go before the Lord to prepare His way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our Lord
The dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
And the shadow of death,
And to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

~Canticle of Zechariah, Luke 1:68-79

St. Pio of Pietrelcina – A Favorite Quote

St. Pio of Pietrelcina
“Temptations, discouragement and unrest are the wares offered by the enemy. Remember this: if the devil makes noise, it is a sign that he is still outside and not yet within. That which must terrify us is his peace and concord with the human soul. That which comes from Satan begins with calmness and ends in storm, indifference and apathy.” (St. Pio of Pietrelcina)

Believing in God and Country – Quotes from Ronald Reagan

With the attacks coming so strongly against people of Faith, it is good to remember some of the quotes from President Ronald Reagan. He may not have been a perfect president but he put God into his thoughts, actions, and decisions.
“We in the United States, above all, must remember that lesson, for we were founded as a nation of openness to people of all beliefs. And so we must remain. Our very unity has been strengthened by our pluralism. We establish no religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief, nor will we ever. Church and state are, and must remain, separate. All are free to believe or not believe, all are free to practice a faith or not, and those who believe are free, and should be free, to speak of and act on their belief. (President RONALD WILSON REAGAN)

“At the same time that our Constitution prohibits state establishment of religion, it protects the free exercise of all religions. And walking this fine line requires government to be strictly neutral. And government should not make it more difficult for Christians, Jews, Muslims, or other believing people to practice their faith. And that’s why, when the Connecticut Supreme Court struck down a statute — and you may not have heard about this; it was a statute protecting employees who observed the Sabbath. Well, our administration is now urging the United States Supreme Court to overturn the Connecticut Court decision. This is what I mean by freedom of religion, and that’s what we feel the Constitution intends.” — Remarks to Members of the Congregation of Temple Hillel and Jewish Community Leaders in Valley Stream, New York, 26 October 1984 (President RONALD WILSON REAGAN)

“I believe that the most essential element of our defense of freedom is our insistence on speaking out for the cause of religious liberty. I would like to see this country rededicate itself wholeheartedly to this cause. I join you in your desire that the Protestant Churches of America, the Catholic Church, and the Jewish organizations remember the members of their flock who are in prison or in jeopardy in other countries. We are our brothers’ keepers, all of us. And I hope the message will go forth from this conference: To prisoners of conscience throughout the world, take heart; you have not been forgotten. We, your brothers and sisters in God, have made your cause our cause, and we vow never to relent until you have regained the freedom that is your birthright as a child of God.” — Remarks at a Conference on Religious Liberty, 16 April 1985 (President RONALD WILSON REAGAN)

“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.” (President Ronald Reagan)

Catholic Faith – Excellent Quote!