Prayer of Cardinal Newman

Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go.

Flood my soul with Your Spirit and Life.

Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly

that my life may only be a radiance of Yours.

Shine through me and be so in me

that every soul I come in contact with

may feel Your presence in my soul.

Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus!

 

Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as You shine,

so to shine as to be a light to others.

The light, O Jesus, will be all from You;

none of it will be mine. It will be You,

shining on others through me.

Let me thus praise You in the way which You love best,

by shining on those around me.

 

Let me preach You without preaching,

not by my words but by my example,

by the catching force,

the sympathetic influence of what I do,

the evident fullness of the love my heart bears for You. Amen.

Christ and the Church

"There is one body and one Spirit,

just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,

one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,

who is above all and through all and in all."

(Ephesians 4:4-5, NRSV)

 

It is profitable for us to understand that the Church, before being a people of God, a worshipping community, the new Israel, the house of God, or anything else, is first of all, a mystery - one that is intimately joined to Christ. She is therefore called the mystical body of Christ of which we are the members. At the first creation, God created Adam, put him to sleep and from his rib fashioned his bride, Eve and brought her to him whenupon he rejoiced beholding her, "This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh"(DRB). Eve, who was Adam's flesh, so to speak, existed in Adam's bosom before her creation and after her creation was manifested and joined to Adam to make him complete.

 

We now come to Calvary where God the Father put Christ, the New Adam, to sleep on the bed of the Cross and from whose pierced side, brought forth his bride, the Church. What a marvellous mystery! It is now Christ who exclaims, "This now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh". She is truly his flesh for she was born from his pierced side. He in turn nourishes her by feeding her with the Bread of Life, for which reason, "he delivered himself up for her". Therefore the Church and Christ are one whole which is why St. Paul says, "the Church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere".(Eph 1:23, TEV)

 

This is the mystery of the Church, that she existed with Christ even before she was made manifest. Christ has neither beginning nor end. Yet it was in his incarnation that he was made manifest for us in time. So too with the Church that lodged in the bosom of Christ. She appeared only with Christ's incarnation and remains united with him by the power of his promise to remain with her "all days even to the end of time." How frightful then the consequences of making the Church, a matter of one's private choice, of making her a trifle, of seeing her as of human origin, of regarding her authority as being opposed to that of Christ or a threat to it! 

 

Christ and the Church can never be at odds! Those who doubt this need to re-read the words of St. Paul, "Therefore as the church is subject to Christ:  so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things"(NRSV). Notice how he doesn't say, 'as the church tries to subject herself to Christ' but "as the church IS subject to Christ". And that makes all the difference. For him, the Church is ever obedient to Christ and will remain so till the end of the world by the power of his promise to preserve her from "the gates of hell".

 

Again, Christ so unites himself to the Church that he chooses to dispense the graces of Salvation only through her even if it be [in a mysterious manner] to those outside her visible confines. To her he entrusts the Gospel to be preserved and transmitted in every generation and gives her the amazing authority of "the keys of the kingdom of heaven", that "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven."

 

Let us then with St. Paul, prefer what seems to be the foolishness of the Church, to our human wisdom, for in doing so we subject ourselves to the will of Christ who has caused the Church to be the "sacrament" of our salvation.

 

Also read : Church and Obedience

Blessings of Wisdom

My son, from your youth up choose instruction,

and until you are old you will keep finding wisdom. 
Put your feet into her fetters,

and your neck into her collar. 
Put your shoulder under her and carry her,

and do not fret under her bonds. 
Come to her with all your soul,

and keep her ways with all your might. 
Search out and seek, and she will become known to you;

and when you get hold of her, do not let her go. 
For at last you will find the rest she gives,

and she will be changed into joy for you. 
Then her fetters will become for you a strong protection,

and her collar a glorious robe. 
Her yoke is a golden ornament,

and her bonds are a cord of blue. 
You will wear her like a glorious robe,

and put her on like a crown of gladness.

(Sirach 6:18, 24-31, RSV-CE)

 

Fetters is a restriction for the prisoner. But the inspired author of Sirach sees it differently. Wisdom is for those who submit to her discipline. She demands complete submission. And after the time of testing has passed, those fetters are changed to a strong protection. Divine logic is always opposed to the logic of the world and does at times, seem most irrational.

 

We have the example of the floods. On a flimsy raft, the hope of a new world was born; by picking up another paltry piece of wood, our Lord brought about the salvation of the world. Again, wisdom descended with the righteous Joseph into the dungeon, and remained with him until she brought him the scepter of a kingdom; from another dungeon, Christ rose mocking the sting of death, to become the Lord even over his enemies. He yoked his shoulder under the Cross and did not fret under her bonds. Even when his strength failed him, he did not let go but came back to carry it with all his soul. He saw in the Cross the throne on which he wanted to be lifted up from the earth in order to draw all men to him. And at last the Cross was changed into Easter joy and the thorns into the royal crown. He now calls us to share in his glory by treading the same narrow path so that we to might "enter into the rest" that comes from Wisdom.

 

How strange indeed are the ways of God that wisdom's fetters should become your security; that the message of the weakness of the Cross, become the message of strength; the message of foolishness, become the message of wisdom. Therefore we discover with St. Paul the crucified Christ to be the power and wisdom of  God and joy of his resurrection to be the blessing of wisdom.

Vatican Official Foresees Broader use of Latin Mass

Rome, Sep. 26 (CWNews.com) - An influential Vatican official believes that Pope Benedict XVI could soon expand permission for priests throughout the world to celebrate Mass using the Tridentine rite.

 

However, Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez cautions that serious doctrinal issues, as well as liturgical questions, must be resolved before the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) can be fully reconciled with the Holy See.

 

Cardinal Medina, the former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, is a member of the Ecclesia Dei commission, set up by Pope John Paul II to serve the needs of Catholics who cling to the Latin Mass. In an interview with the I Media news service, the Chilean-born prelate said that the Pope could act soon to liberalize Church regulations, allowing all priests to use the Tridentine rite.

 

Questioned about the outcome of the Pope's August 29 meeting with Bishop Bernard Fellay, the superior general of the SSPX, Cardinal Medina observed that the meeting was preceded by "many other contacts" between Vatican officials and representatives of the Lefebvrist group. Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, had met repeatedly with Bishop Fellay, he said. And the Chilean prelate added that he, too, had met with the traditionalist leader during his term as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship.

 

Consequently, the cardinal said, "you could not say that they meeting with the Holy Father was unexpected." He added that SSPX leaders are well aware that Pope Benedict "is concerned about full communion among all Catholics-- all Christians-- and particularly those who uphold the decisions and positions of Archbishop Lefebvre."

 

Reconciliation between the Vatican and the breakaway traditionalist group, the cardinal continued, would require "addressing a list of doctrinal difficulties." He said that a working group could be set up to discuss those problems.

 

"But within the Society [SSPX], there are different currents," Cardinal Medina observed. While some members of the traditionalist group are "inflexible," others are more inclined toward dialogue with Rome, he said. He said that when some traditionalists refer to the Novus Ordo Mass as "heretical" or "invalid," they create "an extremely difficult situation." The Vatican will insist that SSPX members acknowledge the validity of the post-conciliar Mass, he said; they will also be required to accept the teachings of Vatican II.

 

After his meeting with Pope Benedict, Bishop Fellay suggested that a first step toward reconciliation could be a Vatican recognition of the right for all priests to celebrate the Tridentine-rite Mass, using the liturgical form codified by Pope Pius V after the Council of Trent. Cardinal Medina saw "no difficulty" in expanding access to the Latin Mass. But he reiterated that such a step 'would not resolve the fundamental problems with the SSPX."

 

Questioned on whether Vatican II intended to abolish the Tridentine rite, Cardinal Medina said that the arguments were inconclusive on that point.

 

However, he said, each rite is valid, and "the missal of St. Paul V and that of Paul VI are both perfectly orthodox." He observed that each ritual appeals to "different sensibilities," and noted that the Offertory prayers of the old rite are particularly useful in their emphasis on "the sacrifical character of the Mass: an essential aspect of the Eucharistic celebration." The restoration of universal permission to use the Tridentine Mass would involve canonical and liturgical questions, but no major theological concerns, the cardinal said. "So I hope that, little by little, the possibility of celebrating the old form of the Roman rite will be opened," he said.

 

As a member of the Ecclesia Dei commission, Cardinal Medina reported, he is sometimes asked to celebrate a Tridentine-rite Mass. When he receives such a request, he said, "I do it, without asking anyone's permission."

Prayer for the Preservation of the Faith

O my Redeemer, will that dreadful time ever come, when but few Christians shall be left who are inspired by the spirit of faith, that time when Thine anger shall be provoked and Thy protection shall be take away from us? Have our vices and our evil lives irrevocably moved Thy justice to take vengeance, perhaps this very day, upon Thy children?

 

O Thou, the beginning and end of our faith, we conjure Thee, in the bitterness of our contrite and humbled hearts, not to suffer the fair light of faith to be extinguished in us. Remember Thy mercies of old, turn Thine eyes in mercy upon the vineyard planted by Thine own right hand, and watered by the sweat of the Apostles, by the precious blood of countless Martyrs and by the tears of so many sincere penitents, and made fruitful by the prayers of so many Confessors and innocent Virgins.

 

O divine Mediator, look upon those zealous souls who raise their hearts to Thee and pray ceaselessly for the maintenance of that most precious gift of Thine, the true faith. We beseech Thee, O God of justice, to hold back the decree of our rejection, and to turn away Thine eyes from our vices and regard instead the adorable Blood shed upon the Cross, which purchased our salvation and daily intercedes for us upon our altars.

 

Ah, keep us safe in the true Catholic and Roman faith. Let sickness afflict us, vexations waste us, misfortunes overwhelm us! But preserve in us Thy holy faith; for if we are rich with this precious gift, we shall gladly endure every sorrow, and nothing shall ever be able to change our happiness. On the other hand, without this great treasure of faith, our unhappiness would be unspeakable and without limit!

 

O good Jesus, author of our faith, preserve it untainted within us; keep us safe in the bark of Peter, faithful and obedient to his successor and Thy Vicar here on earth, that so the unity of Holy Church may be maintained, holiness fostered, the Holy See protected in freedom, and the Church universal extended to the benefit of souls.

 

O Jesus, author of our faith, humble and convert the enemies of Thy Church; grant true peace and concord to all Christian kings and princes and to all believers; strengthen and preserve us in Thy holy service, so that we may live in Thee and die in Thee. O Jesus, author of our faith, let me live for Thee and die for Thee. Amen.

The Da Vinci Code Exposed

It is impossible that scandals should not come.

But woe to him through whom they come!

(Luke 17:1, DRB)

 

I'm sure you've already noticed the Da Vinci Code on the 'favourite books' list of countless people. The Reason? Error disguised as truth sells easy!

 

Here are articles giving solid facts behind the poisonous fiction of the best selling novel by Dan Brown.

 

Dismantling The Da Vinci Code - Sandra Miesel
An article from Crisis Magazine, exposing the logical flaws and historical fallacies in a bestselling novel with a feminist agenda. The novel attacks the Catholic Church for hiding the "truth" about Jesus Christ, that He married Mary Magdalene, intending her to be the head of His Church, rather than Peter!

 

Debunking The Da Vinci Code - ZENIT
In this ZENIT article, Elizabeth Lev, who teaches art history at Duquesne University's Rome campus, refutes the idea, popularized by the novel, The Da Vinci Code, that the figure of the Apostle John, in Leonardi Da Vinci's Last Supper, is really Mary Magdalene.

 

The Truth Behind The Da Vinci Code - ZENIT
Carl Olson, editor of Envoy magazine, shared with ZENIT how his book, The Da Vinci Hoax, exposes and critiques the numerous errors in the best selling The Da Vinci Code, and analyzes what the novel's success indicates about America's cultural and religious landscape.

 

Cracking The Da Vinci Code - Catholic Answers

Why are so many Catholics reading this book that is filled with so many anti-Catholics lies? Learn the truth behind the lies in this "factual" novel.

Universal Prayer

Attributed to

Pope Clement XI

 

Lord, I believe in you; oh, give me firmer faith.

I hope in you, give me surer hope.

I love you, make me love you more and more.

I am sorry to have failed you; make me sorrier yet.

 

I adore you as my first beginning,

And long for you as my last end;

Praise you as my constant benefactor,

And call upon you as my gracious protector;

 

Guide me by your wisdom,

Restrain me by your justice,

Comfort me by your mercy,

Defend me by your power.

 

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts, to be fixed on you;

My words, to have you for their theme;

My actions, to be done according to your will;

My hardships to be endured for your sake.

 

My will is that your will be done,

In the manner you will,

And as long as you will,

Because it is your will.

 

I pray you, Lord, enlighten my understanding,

Inflame my will,

Purify my heart,

And sanctify my soul.

 

Help me to deplore my past offences

And to resist temptation in future,

To subdue my evil inclinations

And to cultivate the virtues proper for my state.

 

God of all goodness, fill me with love of you

And hatred of myself,

With zeal for my neighbour

And contempt of worldly things.

 

Teach me to be obedient to my superiors,

Helpful to my subordinates,

Faithful to friends,

Forgiving to foes.

 

Let me vanquish pleasure by self-denial,

Avarice by generosity,

Anger by meekness,

And lukewarmness by fervour.

 

Make me prudent in planning,

Courageous in taking risks;

In affliction, patient;

In prosperity, unassuming.

 

Lord, make me attentive at prayers,

Moderate when I eat and drink,

Diligent in my occupation,

And constant in good resolutions.

 

Let my conscience be clear,

My demeanour modest,

My talk blameless,

My life well-ordered.

 

Let me always be alert to keep nature in check,

To cherish your grace,

To keep your law,

And to earn salvation.

 

Teach me how petty is this world,

How immense your heaven;

Time, how short;

Eternity, how long.

 

Give me grace to prepare for death,

To dread your judgment,

To escape hell,

And to win a place in heaven:

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Church and Obedience

"I believe, in order to understand;

and I understand, the better to believe"

(St. Augustine)

 

Ever tried explaining a fact to someone who kept raising some meaningless argument against it? For all his poor understanding, he wouldn't just get it right. Yet that didn't change the fact did it? On the other hand we too could have sometimes become the "difficult to explain to" type with regard to someone of a higher intellectual capacity. We could grasp only a part of what they would tell us but we had to give in simply because they were an authority on the matter. We did that in school, because we were too young to understand everything that was taught. And so we took the word of our teachers. They became for us, the "guardians" of those facts and to this day we hold on to the things they taught us.

 

We are earthly beings, yet we struggle to understand things of this earth. How then can we know with certainty about heavenly things? And these are all the more important as they concern our eternal destiny. There is one descended from heaven who reveals these things to us, our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. He gives us the Spirit of truth to be our guide and unites himself with the Church making her the pillar and bulwark of the truth. To the Church, he entrusts his sacred doctrine, to be safeguarded and taught in every generation. We submitted to our earthly teachers for the sake of earthly knowledge. Not everything they said made sense at that time, yet its meaning did unfold as life went on. So too with the sacred mysteries of our religion taught by the Church. There is a growth from our spiritual infancy.

 

We cannot say we have been there with our Lord when he taught these things, but the Church was ever present. Therefore it would be seriously wrong on our part to think that we understand his doctrine better than the Church. If so, we would have a phenomenon of having as many 'churches' as there are individuals, such as the one we are witnessing today. But he clearly stated that he would found only one Church - "My Church" - the one he recognises as his own. To her he gives the keys to bind and to loose, with her he dispenses the graces through the sacraments, and finally, through her he accomplishes our salvation. Therefore in humility of heart, we submit to her, acknowledging with Solomon that our reasonings are inadequate and our philosophies misleading, so that weak as we are we too might receive the light of understanding and the grace of salvation.

Prayer for Inactive Catholics

By

Brother Charles de Foucauld

I abandon my friend into Your hands;

Do with him/her what You will,

Whatever you may do, I thank You: Make us ready for all, to accept all.

Let only Your will be done in us and in all Your creatures -

I wish no more that this O Lord.

 

Into Your hands I commend his/her soul;

I offer it to You with all the love of my heart, For I love You, Lord,

and we so need to give ourselves to surrender ourselves,

into Your hands without reserve and with boundless confidence,

for You are our Father. Amen.