Holy Thursday

Bells ring for the last time; the Gloria is sung; the churches are elaborately decorated; Jesus is brought to a flourishing garden for a night of deep, sorrowful, agonizing prayer...

The Church begins the Triduum with Holy Thursday.

During the day, many dioceses celebrate the Chrism Mass, where the oils for anointing are mixed and blessed and all priests renew their priesthood.

Then is celebrated the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper: the commemoration of the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist followed by a solemn time of adoration in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Altar of Repose.

The Church begins the celebration of the Paschal Mystery...

Holy Week

The Church has entered the Holiest Week of the Year!!

May the graces of God pour out upon the whole world so that we all may be United in His SACRED HEART!!

God willing, I will have special posts for the Triduum...stay tuned.

Spiritual Practices

I've been told from a very reliable spiritual source never to change a spiritual practice in times of desolation. Always keep striving through the spiritual practices. As you may or may not know, I began writing here as a spiritual exercise to organize my thoughts, practice writing, etc., not really caring who saw it, just writing entirely for my own benefit. Recently I have taken a break as school started again and the semester began in full force…maybe to not pick it up again?

Well that all changed with a conversation over dinner at Scooter's when I find there are people who have discovered my writing and check frequently! And so here I am, motivated to write again…a kick in the pants from Our Beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

In keeping with the theme of spiritual practices, I have a story from my Catholic Studies class last Tuesday. My professor, Dr. Jonathan Reyes, shared a story of his family that fit in with our study of Genesis and the Creation. We were discussing the significance of six days of work and a seventh day of rest. Dr. Reyes and his wife felt a calling a few years ago to truly organize their family around observing Sunday in a special way. This included a dinner Saturday night once the vigil began and quality family time. After while of this practice, Reyes was putting his daughter to bed when she said, "Daddy? I think I figured out what Heaven is like. Heaven is like Sunday only it's every day."

When we make our time God's time and let Him control everything, He works wonders in our lives. As the semester, work, or whatever responsibilities we have pile up and our lives become hectic, let us remember to find Christ in all things and realize His powerful work in every second that is His.

We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Today is a special day here at the University of Saint Thomas. We're celebrating the feast of our patron saint, Thomas Aquinas.

For information him, go to EWTN's biography page filled with an article and other media resources on this spiritual giant of our Faith.



SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS









Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas

THANKSGIVING AFTER MASS


Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for
even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not
because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy,
You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me
condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation.
May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will.
May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions.
May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience,
and growth in the power to do good.
May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses,
bodily and spiritual.
May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me
safely through death to everlasting happiness with You.
And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you,
with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect
happiness to your saints. grant this through Christ our Lord,
AMEN.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/

The Sure Foundation

I began to look though YouTube for a video or photo montage to post today. I had trouble finding a good one. There is one thing I had to trouble realizing: Satan is rampant throughout the media. He is using all the technology and influence on people to lead us away from Jesus Christ and His Church.

People who have no foundations in the Church and who are extremists and sensationalists take whatever they can and twist it. Another video makes the Church in Pope into thieving money mongers. According to one video, Pope Benedict XVI is the last in a line of 111 pontiffs before Rome, the Vatican, and perhaps the world, are destroyed. Another points to Francis Cardinal Arinze's election as the next pontiff and the world ending very violently by 2013.

Cardinal Arinze had something different to say. Praise God I found a video that explains truth. Let us rest in the Church built on a Rock. Let us rest on the sure foundation of faith and devotion to the Eucharist.

The Conversion of Saint Paul

On the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, let us rededicate ourselves for the second half of the Pauline Year declared by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Papal Basilica: Saint Paul Outside-The-Walls

Prayer for the Year of Saint Paul

Glorious Saint Paul,
Most zealous apostle,
Martyr for the love of Christ,
Give us a deep faith,
A steadfast hope,
A burning love for our Lord,
So that we can proclaim with you,
“It is no longer I who live,
But Christ who lives in me.”

Help us to become apostles,
Serving the Church with a pure heart,
Witnesses to her truth and beauty
Amidst the darkness of our days.
With you we praise God our Father:
“To him be the glory, in the Church
And in Christ,
Now and forever.”

Amen.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/

IN MEMORIAM

IN MEMORY OF THE OVER FIFTY MILLION CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIED SINCE JANUARY 22, 1973.

ETERNAL REST, GRANT UNTO THEM, O LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
MAY THEIR SOULS AND THE SOULS OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED,

THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD, REST IN PEACE. AMEN.

Let us pray for an end to the holocaust!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cause of Our Joy and Queen of Peace, PRAY FOR US!