From 1910 The Rosary

Saint Dominic Institutes the Rosary 

"The Rosary.  There is no devotion not connected wit the Liturgy or Office of the Church which has been more widely extended, or been taken up, age after age, by persons of every rank and station than the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin.  In its present form it was instituted by the great Saint Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Friars Preachers.  But grew out of a devotion older than Christianity, and a mode of prayer that dates back to a very early period.  The Psalms of David were in constant use as prayers among the Jews; the primitive Christians adopted them, and the pious, as well as all who, as hermits or monks, sought religious perfection, recited the whole hundred and fifty psalms daily.  Of this there are constant proofs in the early ages.  Some, who could not read and were too dull to remember so much, were allowed to recite, instead, the Lord’s Prayer the same number of times; later, the Angelical Salutation was substituted for the Lord’s Prayer.  To keep the record of these prayers, belts or strings of beads were used; in fact, our word bead is from the same source as the German beten, and means to pray. 

That the mind should not be unoccupied during the recital of these prayers, the Life of our Lord and His Blessed Mother was commended as a matter of meditation.  Saint Dominic divided the hundred and fifty beads into three parts, each containing five decades of ten beads, and assigned to each part five mysteries of the life of our Lord.  The Joyful Mysteries were the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity of our Lord, His Presentation in the Temple, and His Finding in the Temple.  The Sorrowful Mysteries, forming the second part, included His Bloody Sweat, His Scourging, His Crowning with Thorns, the Carriage of the Cross, His Crucifixion.  The Glorious Mysteries, which were the subject of the third part, were the Resurrection of the Lord, His Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Ghost, His Assumption of His Blessed Mother into Heaven, and her Coronation.  The division was simple, easily grasped, full of pious thought, and kept before the people the chief events in the history of our Redemption.  It became the general devotion in all countries of Europe, and the rosary was said by all, from the king of his throne to the leper and the beggar. 

The full fifteen decades form a rosary; that the general use called a chaplet or pair of beads, consists of five decades, each of a large bead for the Our Father and ten smaller ones for the Hail Marys; where the ends join, the chain is continued by three small beads and two larger, a crucifix or medal being attached to the end.  These are for the introductory prayers, the Creed, Our Father, and three Hail Marys, with a Glory be to the Father, etc.  These form no part of the rosary properly so called. 

It is usual, when the rosary is said in public, to call the several mysteries to mind by a few preliminary words.  When the rosary is said with others, a leader or person saying it, who need not even be a cleric, recites half of each prayer, and the rest recite the other half.  After the five decades are said, it is usual to sing or recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin. 

Saint Dominic, who had labored almost in vain to convert the Albigenses, had no sooner introduced this devotion than a change was at once seen.  Hearts that no arguments could move were attracted by this devotion; the work of conversion was rapid.  St. Dominic reaped a harvest of souls, and the Blessed Virgin a harvest of glory. 

From that day to this the devotion of the rosary has never lost its hold on the affections of the faithful.  It became the prayer in which they were gathered together for general particular wants.  When Europe was menaced by the Turks the rosary was said with fervor, and while the Sodality of the Rosary were walking in solemn procession through the streets of Rome, praying for victory of the Christian army, the battle was raging at Lepanto, October 7, 1571, and the Turkish power on the seas was broken forever.  It was not the band of men that broke the power which had so long threatened Europe; it was the hand of God, put forth in answer to the prayers of the Confraternity of the Rosary. 

The reigning Pontiff, St. Pius V., in gratitude for so signal a favor, ordered the first Sunday in October to be observed as an annual commemoration in the Church of St. Mary of Victory; this feast was extended to other churches and countries by other Popes, till at last, after another victory, Clement XI., in 1716, made the Festival of the Rosary a feast for the Universal Church. 

There are few devotions to which the Holy See has granted so many indulgences as to the rosary: one hundred days for each Our Father and Hail Mary, and a plenary indulgence once a year to those who approach the Sacrament of Penance, receive Holy Communion, and pray for the wants of the Church.  To gain these indulgences, the beads must be blessed by a priest who has received faculties from the Pope, and the person must say the rosary, meditating on the mystery assigned to each decade. 

Besides the Confraternity of the Rosary, another has been established in this century.  This is the Confraternity of the Living Rosary.  In this, five persons are associated, each saying one decade each day, so that the five say the whole chaplet; two similar beads, with them, will thus recite the whole rosary daily.  This is called the Living Rosary, and the fruits produced by it have been so great and manifest, that the holy Fathers have enriched it with my indulgences. 

Nothing should deter Catholics from adhering to a devotion so holy, so consoling.  Many, indeed, think it one of the ignorant only; but this is a grave error.  Mediation on the life of our Lord is something to occupy the most exalted and the most cultivated minds, and give them light and strength.  The example of officers in the army and navy, who faithfully adhered to this pious practice, would alone suffice to show that the greatest ability and learning are found among the faithful adherents to this devotion, which is, in itself, an almost certain test of real Christianity."  

Source: The Catholic Instructor: An Educational Library of Ready Reference [pages 513-515] Published by the Office of Catholic Publications 1910 – Imprimatur Johannes M. Farley, D.D., Archiepiscopus – New York, May 16, 1910 


In Christ, 

Julie

Connecticut Catholic Event this Sunday

Rosary Sunday, October 6, 3pm

On Sunday, October 6, at 3pm, join the Dominican Nuns of Our Lady of Grace Monastery for Solemn Vespers and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the praying of the Holy Rosary. There will be a procession to the Fatima Grotto. 

Fr. Henry Hoffman, pastor of St. Jude Church, Monroe, CT, will preside and preach.

Our Lady of Grace Monastery, 11 Race Hill Road, North Guilford, CT.

++++
Paul A. Zalonski
Catholic Connecticut
255 Foxon Hill Road
East Haven, CT 06513-1216 USA

Paul: CatholicCT@gmail.com

Follow Paul on Twitter @CatholicCT
Connect with Paul on Facebook "Catholic Connecticut CatholicCT"

Father James Martin's new rosary-meditate on LBGTQ couples and Mother Earth

Nothing Fr. James Martin shares on social media surprises me anymore. 

Here is Martin promoting social justice Rosary beads for "modern sorrows" telling Catholics to meditate on LBGTQ couples, immigration, Mother Earth and other social justice topics with NO mention of Jesus at all. I'm not kidding...this is what Father James Martin is now promoting on social media.

Description of the "Rosary of Modern Sorrows": 

The Rosary of Modern Sorrows invites us into guided meditation on the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters in the U.S. and around the world. Click through the photos to read the specific social justice intentions for each decade.Made by Aline and Nziza: refugees from the Congo living in Charlotte, NC. 

This is the man Francis has promoted to consultor to the Vatican's Secretariat for Communications. 

God save us from these clergy! 


In Christ, 


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 



Sources: 

https://contemplativerebellion.com/collections/catholic-patron-saint-jewelry/products/rosary-of-modern-sorrow 



https://twitter.com/JamesMartinSJ/status/1069762368824098816 

This weekend's must reads...

Here is a list of what I think are "must reads" for Catholics...

LifeSiteNews article on the bizarre things Pope Francis has said and done since becoming pope.  This one is very telling about the problems/chaos/confusion/you name it, that Pope Francis has caused the world: 

Link: https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/confusing-even-the-elect-the-troubling-statements-of-pope-francis

quote (in part):  Pope Francis was quoted as saying:It concerns me; when I was elected, I received a letter from one of these groups, and they said: “Your Holiness, we offer you this spiritual treasure: 3,525 rosaries.” Why don't they say, “we pray for you, we ask...”, but this thing of counting... And these groups return to practices and to disciplines that I lived through - not you, because you are not old - to disciplines, to things that in that moment took place, but not now, they do not exist today...

 “There is no way,” I remember thinking to myself, “a Pope would ever say anything slighting the rosary.” That aspect of the interview made me question whether any of it was authentic. Thus, I resisted the pressure to publish a story on the Pope’s remarks on the ‘gay lobby’ in the Vatican. A few weeks later I was in Rome and finally got a chance to ask someone in the know about the leaked interview. I was shocked to hear: “of course it was true.” 

***

Bishop Athanasius Schneider's letter to The Remnant. 

Link: http://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/2558-bishop-athanasius-schneider-replies-to-the-remnant-s-open-letter-on-amoris-laetitia


***

Judge sentences a Catholic man to attend Baptist services.

Link: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-man-sentenced-to-attend-baptist-church-services-for-real-73657/

I'd have taken the jail time, before I'd let a judge force me to attend another religion's services. This should be unconstitutional and illegal and I'd fight back. 

***

Crisis Magazine has an article on trans-gendered teachers in Catholic schools- and the nuns who don't seem to care or see a problem with it...

Quote: "The sisters who run Mercy High School clearly think it does not. Sister Laura Reicks, president of the 16-state region of the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community, told the San Francisco Chronicle, “Their personal lives are completely separate from their qualifications as teachers. We are concerned about the education of young women, and we do not consider personal criteria when we hire the best person for each position.”
This unfortunate position violates Canon Law, which requires that “teachers are to be outstanding in correct doctrine and integrity of life.” Further, the National Directory for Catechesis instructs Catholic school administrators to, “Recruit teachers who are practicing Catholics, who can understand and accept the teachings of the Catholic Church and the moral demands of the gospel, and who can contribute to the achievement of the school’s Catholic identity and apostolic goals” (p. 231)."

Link: http://www.crisismagazine.com/2016/transgender-teachers-catholic-schoolsutm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CrisisMagazine+%28Crisis+Magazine%29


***

And, in case you missed it (like me), just WHAT happened on Good Friday at the Vatican? 

quote (in part): "If this wasn’t enough, there was a cherry to top off the Bergoglian Holy Week…and those of us who were present in the Saint Peter’s Basilica encountered the greatest shock of our lives. Who could have imagined this nightmare? The Bishop of Rome, in the presence of the cardinals and bishops, and all of the faithful, listening to Martin Luther himself preaching in the capital of Catholicism. Sounds unreal? No, in fact the only difference from what we just affirmed is that Luther vomited his heterodoxies through the mouth of the “Preacher to the Papal Household” Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM. Some faithful left the ceremony saying… “this is the end!”
   Given the shocking dimensions of such an unheard of happening in the history of the Church, — the principle heresy of Luther condemned by the Church, being proclaimed from the papal pulpit in the central Basilica of Christianity, before those who should defend the opposite truth with their own lives — we cannot help but make a parallel with the very Passion of Christ.     The fact that this occurred on a Good Friday couldn’t make matters more poignant. Let us take a look at the words that were pronounced on the same day that Christ was condemned to death:
    “There is a danger that people can hear about the righteousness of God but not understand its meaning, so instead of being encouraged they are frightened. St. Augustine had already clearly explained its meaning centuries ago: “The ‘righteousness of God’ is that by which we are made righteous, just as ‘the salvation of God’ [see Ps 3:8] means the salvation by which he saves us.” [6]    In other words, the righteousness of God is that by which God makes those who believe in his Son Jesus acceptable to him. It does not enact justice but makes people just. Luther deserves the credit for bringing this truth back when its meaning had been lost over the centuries, at least in Christian preaching, and it is this above all for which Christianity is indebted to the Reformation, whose fifth centenary occurs next year. The reformer later wrote that when he discovered this, “I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.” [7] (Fr. Raniero Cantalamess, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Good Friday, March 25, 2016)
   Never, not even during his wildest deliriums, could Luther have ever imagine that his primary doctrines would be proclaimed on a Good Friday, by the official preacher of the Papal Household, before those who he had labelled as the “diabolical scum of Rome”. Never could he have imagined that his entire ecclesial revolution would be celebrated five centuries later by the Church itself, which he had denominated as a “diabolical institution” and the “great prostitute of Babylon”. [8]
   Now all that is left is for Luther to scale the altars…and perhaps be placed between St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Theresa of Avila for public veneration!" 

Link: https://en.denzingerbergoglio.com/2016/04/20/luther-preaches-in-saint-peters-basilicaon-good-friday/

***

God bless and save us! 


In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 

Dominican Sisters of Mary - The Rosary

Beautiful...

Wonderful Catholic men who would not be bullied

On November 24, 2013 in San Juan, Argentina a crazed feminist pro-abortion and lesbian mob burned an effigy of Pope Francis. I had seen the disgusting video and was sickened by it.

Today I saw another video of that same day, showing WONDERFUL Catholic men surrounding a Catholic Church to protect it from the vile and perverted mob.  The mob was vandalizing this Catholic parish and the men were doing their best to protect their Church.

These men were praying the rosary non-stop while the feminist mob SPIT on them, colored markers on their faces, spray painted the men's crotch area, shouted at them and some of the women took off their underwear and placed them on the men's heads while the men continued to pray the rosary. Gay pride rainbow flags were wrapped around the praying men and still they would not stop praying even under such vile and perverse attacks.

These are amazing wonderful Catholic men and I thank God for them.

The video IS difficult to watch, but at the same time the men are inspiring in that NOTHING the mob does will stop them from praying the rosary even when they are bloodied from the attacking mob.

The nudity is blurted out of the violent half dressed feminists.




May God have mercy on the mob and pour His Grace on those wonderful inspiring Catholic men.  The Church needs more men (and women) like these. 



In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Catholic events in Connecticut

Saturday, October 12 at 12 Noon there will be a public recitation of the Rosary in front of Saint George Church (33 Whitfield Street, Guilford). Along with the rosary there will be other Marian prayers honoring Our Lady of Fatima especially under title of the Immaculate Heart. October 13th is the 96th Anniversary of the great miracle of The Sun, witnessed by over 70,000 people in and around Fatima in 1917.  Hundreds were healed; atheists and agnostics returned to their faith. All were changed in some manner. 

There are 10 thousand groups nationwide will be praying the rosary.

Our Holy Father Francis has consecrated his papacy to Our Lady of Fatima. Pope Benedict XVI had said that those who think the message of Our Lady to the three seers is something in the distant past and has no relevance for the present are sadly mistaken. We especially hope that young families with children come and join us.

Questions, call Karen Sabia 203-214-2883 or Bill Kinnare 203-421-4636. 

http://stgeorgeguilford.org

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Saturday, October 12, will be the Opus Dei Morning of Recollection for men.

Location: St Anthony Church, 70 Washington Street, New Haven, CT

Schedule

7:30am   Priest Available for confession
7:45am   Meditation by the priest
8:25am   Examination of Conscience
8:40am   Talk by a layman
9:00am   Holy Mass

The priest is also available for confession from 8:15 until 9:00am.

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The 2013 Pope John Paul II Bioethics Lecture & Recital at Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, CT will be on November 6, 2013. It will feature an address by Fr. Paul Check, Executive Director of Courage International entitled: "Clarity and Charity: The Catholic Church and Homosexuality". 

The evening will begin with a vocal performance by Trio Triumvirum, an a Capella group singing sacred music from the Renaissance era.

The recital is at 6pm and the lecture at 6:45pm.

The event is sponsored annually by The Pope John Paul II Bioethics Center and is open to the public free of charge.

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The Franciscan Earth Corps invites all who are interested to the launch event of the Connecticut Chapter to be held on Saturday, October 26 from 9:30am-4pm at St Patrick-St Anthony Franciscan Urban Center at 285 Church St, Hartford CT. 

Franciscan Earth Corps, a new initiative of Franciscan Action Network, is a national network of young adult servant leaders (18-35ish) engaging in Franciscan spirituality and social and ecological justice. 

Participants at the October 26 launch event are invited to be co-creators of the state chapter, developing the activities of creation care, justice advocacy, and spiritual reflection that engage and reflect the concerns of the local community. 

The Director of Franciscan Earth Corps, Rhett Engelking will be participating as well as Hartford social justice and environmental leaders: Brian Kavanaugh of the Hartford Catholic Worker, Deacon Art Miller, Director of the Office for Black Catholic Ministries, Archdiocese of Hartford, Bill Upholt, representing the Hartford Advisory Council on the Environment (ACOTE) and Terri Eickel, Director of the Inter Religious Eco-Juctice Network (IREJN.) Suggested donation is $25 and includes lunch. 

For any questions, please email or phone Fr. Sam Fuller, OFM Cap of St Pius X in Middletown, CT at  fr.sam@snet.net or 860-347-4441.

To register please visit: http://franciscanearthcorpsct.eventbrite.com/
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/FranciscanEarthCorpsCT

EWTN Press Release: Upcoming programs

EWTN: Discover the Devastating Impact
Socialist Abortion Policies Have Had on Europe

Plus, Pro-life Photographer Monica Miller,
How to Combat Sin & Temptation & More

Irondale, AL –Can we win against sin?  Watch as EWTN Favorite Fr. Mitch Pacwa unveils his battle plan for the fight against temptation to “EWTN Bookmark” Host Doug Keck, and discusses how the Holy Spirit is a necessary ally in this on-going spiritual battle. Arm yourself and learn more about “Winning the Battle Against Sin” when “EWTN Bookmark” airs at 9 :30 a.m. ET, Sunday October 3—only on EWTN!  http://bit.ly/1bccEjG

 

Picture a world without abortion! “Women of Grace ”Host Johnette Benkovic and Pro-Life Photographer and Activist Monica Miller are on “Women of Grace” all this week discussing the latest in the Pro-Life movement!  The battle for the unborn rages all week long on “Women of Grace,” Weekdays at 11 a.m. ET—only on EWTN!

 

It’s the matchup of the millennia! “Saints vs. Scoundrels” is Guest Ben Wilker’s newest series now being filmed at EWTN’s studios, and Host Fr. Mitch Pacwa is ready for him to hash out the details on the set of this week’s “EWTN Live!” We have a guess at what side you’ll (hopefully) be rooting for, but don’t miss this special preview of “Saints vs. Scoundrels” on “EWTN Live!” Airs at 8 p.m. ET, Wednesday, October 9---only on EWTN! 

 

This convert was a “shoe-in” for becoming Catholic! After being a part of several different Protestant denominations, Guest Jeff Barefoot shares with “Journey Home” Host Marcus Grodi what it was that finally led him home! Follow in his footsteps when “The Journey Home” airs LIVE at 8 p.m. ET, Monday, October 14—only on EWTN! 

 

 “But it could never happen here…right?” The sad truth surrounding the effects socialist abortion policies have had on the former Soviet Union come to light as many European countries now must take their the first steps towards healing. Don’t miss your chance to see Central and Eastern Europe “Return to Life” at 5:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, October 12.

 

Bakhita is at a “cross”-road in her life! After regaining her freedom for the first time in years, former slave Bakhita must now decide what she should do with her life, especially now that she believes she has a calling to become a religious sister! Find out what happens in the conclusion of “Bahkita: From Slave to Saint!” Airs at 8 p.m. ET Saturday October 12—only on EWTN! http://bit.ly/18QdSQn

 

Fatima is a light in the darkness! Join EWTN for our LIVE coverage of the International Rosary and Candlelight Procession, in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. Watch as it live at 4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, October 12, with an encore at 10 p.m. ET —only on EWTN!

Practicing Catholicism at home: home altars, family prayers, Catholic chant

This post is a combination of some of the things I like the most. Being Catholic; putting my Faith into practice not just in Church but also at home; old Catholic books (I have quite a wonderful collection of Catholic books that I can’t get enough of -some dating back over 100 years); and raising a Catholic family. Being Catholic- a practicing Catholic is a wonderful blessing to me.  I can't imagine my life any other way.

Recently I found an online old Catholic book (on EWTN's website) that I fell in love with instantly! All my comments are in this BLUE color, everything else (in black) is from the book “How to Make Your House A Home: Family Liturgy and Religious Practices”, written by Rev. Bernward Stokes, O.F.M. in 1955. The book is full of things Catholics can do year round to practice their faith, everything from singing together, meals for feast days, old traditions for different saints, how to deepen your faith during the different liturgical seasons in the Church and much more. Speaking for my own family, we have incorporated several practices that are included in this book, including family rosary/prayer, Catholic music, home altar, feast day traditions and a few others. 

Our home altar with kneeler (left)

Today I am sharing some quotes from the book along with photos of our home altar and how to make a home altar. If you have a home altar and have shared photos on your blog or some other social media outlet please share a link, I would love to see your photos! 



HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME 
 Liturgy and Religious Practices 
 by Rev. Bernward Stokes O.F.M.

Family Life Bureau National Catholic Welfare Conference

Nihil Obstat: JOHN BAPTIST SCHUNK, O.F.M., 
Censor Deputatus CYPRIAN DE GRAAF, O.F.M., 
Censor Deputatus Imprimi Potest: DAVID TEMPLE, O.F.M., 
Minister Provincialis Nihil Obstat: EDGAR SCHMIEDELER, O.S.B. Censor deputatus 
 Imprimatur: +PATRICK A. O'BOYLE Archbishop of Washington 
SEPTEMBER 24, 1955 

INTRODUCTION 
Several years ago a Catholic family, the Trapp Family, fled from Austria and came to the United States. Since that time they have supported themselves by giving concerts. Their beautiful voices have made a great impression on the people who flocked to hear them, but an even greater impression was made by their obvious interdependence and wonderful family spirit. They were more than a choir--they were also a model family. After the concert the spectators were left with the feeling that the Trapp family had something which they didn't have. Some might have asked themselves, "How did they get their spirit? How could our family become like theirs?" Families like that of the Trapp's do not happen by chance. They are molded over the years by living the Christian life in full. A full Christian life is one in which the members work, play and pray together--and thus achieve a mutual trust and love. 

 VI. OTHER PRACTICES FOR THE FAMILY 

Divine Mercy Image Altar

THE HOME ALTAR: The home altar should be one of the most important places in the home. It doesn't have to be on a grand scale; an old table, even a reconstructed packing box would do. But it should be kept neat and clean, and there should be some fresh flowers on it if possible. Over the table one might have a religious picture. The prints which were mentioned on page 39 and which may be changed according to the season, might be the best. On the altar itself one might place a cloth. If the children are allowed to make or stitch it, they will feel that they have done something "personal" for Our Lord. A statue or crucifix might also be placed on the altar. A few candles and a vigil light may be kept on the altar to be used at least on special occasions. As Therese Mueller says, "What is Sunday night prayer without candles!" In some homes a niche may be found for the home altar. 

**Some things we use in creating our home altar: crucifix, saint statues, candles, holy water, prayer cards, rosary beads, crosses, angels and a kneeler I was happy to purchase from my priest years ago.  

Another simple home altar, a few statues, crucifix, candles and prayer cards.

Infant Jesus picture, chanting monks bookends, crucifix, rosary, prayer cards and candle complete this home altar.

A HOME GROTTO: If the family is fortunate enough to have a large backyard, or if it lives in the country, it is a good idea to make a small grotto in the garden and get a statue of Our Lady or of the Sacred Heart for it. If it is impossible to obtain a statue, a picture would do. The grotto could be planned over a long time, and the whole family could help in its construction and care.  
**We do not YET have a home grotto, that is a project we hope to do next year.**

FAMILY SINGING AND MUSIC: Family singing is another practice which Katherine Byles stresses. She says:[41] "Family singing is a thrilling experience to children. Psychologists today talk much about the value of community singing. Schools and colleges have glee clubs and the large cities have choral societies. Singing in a crowd produces friendliness and creates a bond of union among people. Leaders who get crowds together for a song festival certainly help to produce good feeling. Why then should not the family make use of this age-old custom to strengthen the bonds that unite its members? God gave us singing voices, and certainly children love to sing. In school, songs and hymns are taught. Encourage the children to sing them at home too. Make it a rule to sing all you can with them." Mrs. Byles also mentions the use of Gregorian chant. Some may laugh at the idea of children singing in chant, but some of the simplest and most beautiful music written is in Gregorian; for example, the "Dies Irae," the "Magnificat," and many other hymns. Most of these chants may be found in English at our Catholic book shops-and for only a small sum.

**In our family, we have several Gregorian Chant CD's to pick from (we are listeners, not singers), some of my favorites are: 

1) Easter Gregorian Chant by the Monastic Choir of the Abbey of Notre Dame de Fontgombault 

2) Mount St.Mary's Vespers CD


FAMILY PRAYER: One of the most beautiful of Christian family traditions is that of family prayer--of the family praying as a unit. Wherever it is observed, the children are left with profound memories which they will carry with them for life. But just what should the family prayers consist of? They should be liturgical, short, varied, appropriate, and (one of the most important points) IN GOOD, CLEAR, SIMPLE ENGLISH. Donald Attwater[42] makes this suggestion: "One of the family might read aloud a scriptural lesson from the Mass of the day (Gospel and Epistle on alternate days; when some common lessons occur frequently, substitute others); then say together the 'Nunc dimittis' or 'De profundis' for the dead; then the father, or senior present, might recite the Collect for the day, one or two more at choice for particular mercies or thanksgivings from the 'Orationes Diversae' in the Missal, and finally one 'Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this house and family,' from Compline." If one has a home altar, that would be the best place for the family prayers. If one recites the Rosary for family prayers, one should take care to make the meditations on the various mysteries. It is so easy to be careless. 

**For Family Prayer time, we have a wonderful music CD, "The Prayer of the Church:The Rosary" produced by David Phillips and "Hail, Queen of Heaven" by Seraphim, also produced by David Phillips. These are favorites in our home.

THE FAMILY ROSARY: The Family Rosary is a beautiful custom which is dear to the heart of many peoples. The Rosary is dear also to the heart of Our Blessed Mother, as was shown in a special way at Fatima. But there are some dangers which must be taken into consideration. The main part of the Rosary devotion is the meditation on the fifteen mysteries, and meditation is much more than a mere recital of the name of the next mystery. Among the Irish, the "trimmings" or intentions take as long as does the Rosary itself. These are prayers for the honor of God, for thanksgiving, for members of the family who happen to be away from home, and especially for the members of the family who are abroad. This custom brings out the "oneness" which should be found in every family. The Louisiana French who live in towns or cities have adopted the practice of having all the families living in the same block gather at least once a week for the community recitation of the Rosary. This is another custom which is gaining ground in other parts of the country. [end book quote]

**Most of the time all pray the rosary independently when we go to bed. Occasionally, I will lead my children together before our home altar in the rosary.  And sometimes we use EWTN's Mother Angelica and her nuns television rosary prayer.  Other times, I find myself praying the rosary while I drive or while I am waiting to pick up a child from one school event or another.  There is always some time in the day to fit the rosary into your Catholic life... don't miss the opportunity.
Please share links to some of your photos and share how you are a practicing Catholic at home. I would truly love to hear from you.  God bless!

Book Source: http://www.ewtn.com/library/family/house.txt

**All photos are my own- they are not in the book**

In Christ,

Julie 

Penance and the Rosary

Going to Confession you can never be sure just what penance a priest will give you.  Sometimes one priest will seem to always tell you the same thing and you might make the mistake of falling into the routine of committing the same sins week after week and then doing the same penance without even thinking about it.  If you keep committing the same sins and doing the same penance perhaps you might stop and contemplate that YOU aren't doing the penance correctly.

Do you run through ten Hail Mary's and five Our Father's to simply finish the penance given to you?  If so, you've lost much and probably haven't learned a thing.

Confession is for our healing, Penance is for our growth and strength against temptation.  The priest can heal our relationship with God if we confess our sins WHOLE heartedly and with sorrow for offending God - that's Absolution.  When we are absolved of our sins our relationship with God is healed.  The wounds that sin inflicted on our souls Confession heals.  Those healed wounds are made stronger with our Penance by the Grace of God. 
Embrace your Penance as a gift of love from God Himself.  It is love and strength given to you for your help.  Don't rush through it.  Take your time, talk with God and remember to SHUT UP so you can hear God speaking gently into your hearts.  Telling you how much He loves you and is pleased with you for participating in His Sacraments.  When we repent the very angels in heaven celebrate! [Luke 15:10]

I've never publically shared my personal experiences with Confession before, but today I am going to because I feel it may help other parents and perhaps inspire other priests to follow what a priest recently gave me for a Penance.  Generally speaking, near the end of my Confession, I conveyed to the priest a worry I have about raising Godly children in today's secular, sexual, drug addicted society.  'What's a parent to do?' I asked.

Father said to me (something that should be obvious but wasn't)... 'If you want Godly children, be a Godly woman in all things.  When you suffer, suffer with joy because Christ allows it for a reason that you don't have to know, only trust in Jesus to know.  Trust Him in good and bad because He loves you and died for you. Give Him praise always, during that suffering and in times of happiness, always praise Jesus.  Now go home and for your Penance you are to pray the rosary with your entire family."

:::blink*blink:::

The rosary?  With everyone?

I'd never been given a Penance that I had to involve others in to complete.  I was surprised, but very happy because I had just recently been thinking of the old saying "The family that prays together, stays together."  A saying that I had heard decades ago, and learned some years later is from a Catholic priest named Fr. Peyton.

Father Patrick Peyton - "The family that prays together, stays together."



Returning home from Confession that day, I gathered my family at our home altar (if you don't have one, I highly recommend them).  I lit all the candles on the altar along with the incense (which I love) and together with one of my children kneeling on our kneeler before the altar (the rest of us seated) we all prayed the rosary together for the first time outside of our parish as a family.  What joy!  It was wonderful and something I am intending to practice in my family more often.

Email Message from Father Corapi

Among the most important titles we have in the Catholic Church for the Blessed Virgin Mary are Our Lady of Victory and Our Lady of the Rosary. These titles can be traced back to one of the most decisive times in the history of the world and Christendom. The Battle of Lepanto took place on October 7 (date of feast of Our Lady of Rosary), 1571. This proved to be the most crucial battle for the Christian forces against the radical Muslim navy of Turkey. Pope Pius V led a procession around St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City praying the Rosary. He showed true pastoral leadership in recognizing the danger posed to Christendom by the radical Muslim forces, and in using the means necessary to defeat it. Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons, and this more than anything was a battle that had its origins in the spiritual order—a true battle between good and evil.Today we have a similar spiritual battle in progress—a battle between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, life and death. If we do not soon stop the genocide of abortion in the United States, we shall run the course of all those that prove by their actions that they are enemies of God—total collapse, economic, social, and national. The moral demise of a nation results in the ultimate demise of a nation. God is not a disinterested spectator to the affairs of man. Life begins at conception. This is an unalterable formal teaching of the Catholic Church. If you do not accept this you are a heretic in plain English. A single abortion is homicide. The more than 48,000,000 abortions since Roe v. Wade in the United States constitute genocide by definition. The group singled out for death—unwanted, unborn children.No other issue, not all other issues taken together, can constitute a proportionate reason for voting for candidates that intend to preserve and defend this holocaust of innocent human life that is abortion.I strongly urge every one of you to make a Novena and pray the Rosary to Our Lady of Victory between October 27th and Election Day, November 4th. Pray that God’s will be done and the most innocent and utterly vulnerable of our brothers and sisters will be protected from this barbaric and grossly sinful blight on society that is abortion. No woman, and no man, has the right to choose to murder an innocent human being. May God grant us the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and counsel to form our conscience in accordance with authentic Catholic teaching, and then vote that well-formed Catholic conscience.

God Bless You
Fr. John Corapi

How I Came Home to Rome: My Conversion Story

My parents were both raised as Christians but in different churches. My Father, a Roman Catholic and my Mother, a Baptist. They were married in the Catholic Church in the 1960's. As a child, I attended Saturday evening mass with my Father’s family and on Sunday mornings I attended Sunday school and Baptist services with my Mother’s family. This gave me an interesting childhood knowing such different Christian churches and their ways of worshiping the same God. I was officially raised Baptist, but still attended mass with my paternal grandparents.

One of my earliest memories is attending Catholic churches with my paternal grandparents. This is when I felt ‘holy ground’. That is the only way I can explain it even today. I could walk into a dozen different Protestant churches and sometimes admire their beauty and enjoy the music and sermons, but never feeling the holiness I did in a Catholic Church. 

Whenever I stepped over the threshold of a Catholic Church I FELT the holiness. It was tangible to me. It embraced me and gave me incredible peace while filling me with wonder and awe. As a child I had no idea why that happened only in the Catholic Church, I just knew what I felt was real. As an adult, I now know it was Jesus in the Eucharist. Found only in the Holy Catholic Church.

As a child I often found myself divided. I had one set of grandparents who followed sola scriptura and another who rejected it. My maternal grandmother shared all the wonderful stories of the bible with me. She lovingly would repeat them as often, as I would ask “Tell me again about Moses Grandma!” or "Jesus walking on water". I dearly loved listening to her tell me all the stories of the bible and how much Jesus loved me and how special children are to Jesus. It was because of her that I fell in love with the scriptures and pursued endless bible studies and discussion groups over the years to help quench my thirst for the scriptures. Now I can look back and know that my maternal Baptist grandmother unknowingly at the time, ultimately helped me become Catholic because of those moments. 

My paternal grandparents introduced me to Tradition. Something completely foreign to my maternal side of the family. I learned that we could talk to angels and saints! That we were all part of God’s Family. I learned about holy water and to cross myself, not only in church but also when we drove by a Catholic Church or cemetery. I often played with my great grandmothers rosary beads, not knowing how to pray them, but knowing what they were for. 

When I’d go to my Baptist church I had to remember not to cross myself as it wasn’t their way. And when I went to the Catholic Church I had to remember to cross myself, kneel and the subtle differences in how we said the Lord’s Prayer. I think I was the only Baptist child who wanted to grow up to be a Catholic nun!

Years went by, as I grew into adulthood as a Baptist. The more I read the scriptures the more questions I had about my faith. Some things just didn’t add up. If we were “sola scriptura” and the bible says there is church authority and bishops then where were the Baptist bishops and that authority? The authority we had, was baptized members voting and majority rules. That hardly was “sola scriptura”. There were assorted other things that I could find no good answers for either. It was like fitting square pegs into round holes. If you beat it, you could force it to fit, but you knew it wasn’t right. It wasn’t intended that way.

I had married a non-practicing Catholic and several years into our marriage he decided he wanted out. He left me with two children, a house and a mountain of debt. During all this, God and I had many one on one sessions with me asking “Why God?” and “What do you want me to do now?”. A few years after the divorce I was still not getting the answers I desired in my Baptist church. I had been an avid 700 Club watcher for years. I enjoyed hearing how God worked in peoples lives and the praying they did on television but I found I was disagreeing with their theology a bit more each year. In my frustration, I began to pray to God for two things and I repeated this prayer over and over again for months. I asked God to “Please show me the truth and give me the wisdom to know it. And that if He would do that I would following him anywhere no matter the cost”. 

It wasn’t long before I knew God had heard my prayer and was answering me in assorted ways. One way was the Catholic cable channel “Eternal Word Television Network” (EWTN). I began tuning in to see what Catholics really believe and why. I fell in love with Mother Angelica and Father Corapi immediately. Those two people had a great impact on my faith journey. They taught me so much about being a Catholic Christian and what the Church was all about. 

During this time, I was reading as many Catholic books as I could and I was also discussing Christianity online. There was more debating and arguing going on than discussions most days, but this was a tool God used to teach me. I met some wonderful people online, particularly Catholics who were eager to share their Faith with me. People who took time out of their lives to pray for me and my children. People who took time to answer my questions and send me information to help me find the answers to all the questions I had. One of these people has become a very dear and close friend of mine and I can’t imagine not knowing her. What a blessing she is!

In the year 2005, God began to give me dreams. I began to dream strange vivid dreams. One dream had me searching a city for a church in the rain and dark of night. I was crying and seeking with desperation a church. I found it. It had a large statue of the Pieta in front of it and I stood there in the rain staring at that imagine and crying harder. I felt the desperation rising in me and had to find a priest and talk to him right away. I entered the church and found a priest in a glass cubical. I wanted to talk to him and tell him I needed to confess to him, but he couldn’t hear me thru the glass. The dream ended but I had the same exact dream over and over again. I am no dream interpreter, but I now believe it was God calling me to the Catholic Church but showing me unless I became Catholic, the sacraments were not to be given to me.

Another thing God began to do was put saints in my life. It was so strange, when something was occurring in my life or I had something I couldn’t understand I would often come across a saint in someway. A saint card would fall out of a public library book I was reading- even when the book wasn't Catholic! Or there was a special program on television about that saint and some part of that saint's life reflected what I needed answered. Or I’d open a book to see a saint mentioned- this happened in cookbooks of all places! These things happened quite often and always about the exact saint or issue going on in my life at that time. It was really amazing.

Still, I wasn’t sure yet if I believed all the Catholic Church taught. One of those hang ups was praying to the saints. How could they hear us? Wasn’t that something only God could do? I listened to Catholic friends explain it to me. I watched more EWTN (several hours a day by this point) and I even wrote in to television shows like Marcus Grodi’s “Journey Home” and listened to him and his guests answer my questions on the air. 

I continued to pray to God asking Him to “Show me the truth and give me the wisdom I needed” and promising God that if He did that I would follow Him anywhere. If He led me into the Catholic Church, I knew there would be a sacrifice. I knew it would hurt my maternal family who would not understand after worshiping with me for more than 30 years and attending bible groups with me. I knew it might break my Mother’s heart to not have me and my children sitting beside her each Sunday morning as I had my whole life from the time I was born. I knew I’d miss her presence with me during worship if I converted. I had to be sure.

The final hurdle for me came in the spring of 2006. Around Easter time, my paternal grandmother was cleaning out some things she had in storage. She found my great-grandmothers rosary beads and missal and gifted me with them. I wasn’t sure about the rosary, but I wanted it because I knew it belonged to my great grandmother. A few months later I was watching EWTN and Mother Angelica and her nun’s came on to pray the rosary. Now I had seen this before but had only watched as a curious observer. 

This night, when they began to pray I grabbed my great grandmother’s rosary, dropped to my knees in overwhelming emotion, humbleness and thru streaming tears, said the rosary with Mother Angelica for the first time in my life. That night everything changed for me. 

I finally knew without a doubt that God had answered my prayers and led me straight to His Holy Catholic Church and now it was my turn to make a choice. Was I going to keep my word to God about following Him where ever He led me at the sacrifice of my maternal family or would I remain where I was knowing the Truth, but not acting on it? 

I knew that I had to follow God and He would take care of the rest. I put my complete trust in Him and never looked back. 

Mary had lovingly taken my hand and guided me on that final step over my last hurdle. I went to my local Catholic parish, met with the priest and signed up for RCIA. Several months later, my two daughters were baptized and entered the Catholic Church with me at the Easter Vigil Mass in 2007. 

I had asked God to lead me and promised to follow Him. 

He kept His promise and I kept mine to Him. 

Is the Rosary Biblical?

Have you ever heard a non-Catholic comment that the rosary is not biblical? Have you ever told them they are mistaken on that idea? To pray the rosary is to pray the scriptures in a most beautiful way.
Hail Mary full of grace, The Lord is with thee! (Lk 1:28)
Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. (Lk 1:42)
Holy Mary, Mother of God (Is.9:6) pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. (Jn 5:6)

And Luke 2:35 shows how Mary will suffer with her Son our Savior.

The Joyful mysteries are the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38), Mary's visitation to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56), the Nativity (Luke 2:1-20), the presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-38), and the finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52).
The Sorrowful mysteries are the agony in the garden of Gethsemane Luke 22:39-53), the scourging (John 19:1; Is. 53:5), the crowning with thorns (Mark 15:17-20), the way of the cross (Mark 15:20-22), and the Crucifixion (John 19:18-30).
The Glorious mysteries are found in the following scriptures: the Resurrection (John 20:1-29), the Ascension (Acts 1:6-12), the descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13), the Assumption of Mary (Rev. 12:12), and Mary's coronation in heaven (Rev. 12:1-2, 5).

The rosary is biblical and beautiful.