Here's your chance to express your opinion. It's a survey from the publication US Catholic. There's a survey for us parishioners, and a different one for priests. Go to it here.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
New Mass Translations
Here's your chance to express your opinion. It's a survey from the publication US Catholic. There's a survey for us parishioners, and a different one for priests. Go to it here.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Unless the Lord Builds the House...
Hubby and I were in Rockport, MA looking at the sights. Not only was motif # 1, on our list, so was the Paper House. The man, Sven Stenman built it as a hobby. The outside walls are made of 215 thicknesses of paper, about half an inch thick. Then many coats of varnish were applied. There's a normal roof which has protected it all these years.
Mr. Stenman also built this grandfather clock. It was made from newspapers from the then 48 states. Once word got around that he was building a house entirely made of paper, people sent him plenty.
There's a desk made from the Christian Science Monitor; a cot containing some papers saved since World War I; a piano covered with paper rolls; a radio cabinet made in 1928 during Hoover's campaign; a writing desk made of news from Lindberg's transatlantic voyage; a bookshelf made of newspapers from foreign countries; a fireplace mantel made of the rotogravure section of the Boston Sunday Herald and New York Herald Tribune.
He worked on it for twenty years. He and his wife lived in it for four years. It had running water, electricity, but not toilet. Don't you like the curtains made out of paper? Very clever.
He might have built it with the Lord's help, because the caretaker, a grand niece, has a statue of St. Francis on her lawn.
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Death Bed Promises
Last night, my "cloistered brothers" celebrated the life of Pere Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. Sept. 5th is Pere's Feast Day. He was just beatified June 3, 2012, as the Apostle of Prisons. So this was our first celebration for him. We had a Communion Service, we sang, we did Evening Prayer, we read some of his sermons. The conclusion, choked me up. Steve read from the Dominican Sisters of Bethany Chronicle of March 10, 1869. It tells of Pere Lataste's last moments.
Our poor Mother spoke to him of heaven, of those whom he had loved and who were waiting for him. "They are coming to meet you," she said. He replied, "I believe it." "And I shall come to meet you when you die...I shall take you into God's presence...I shall come to meet all my daughters..."
At 3 o'clock, the community gathered around his bed, but he could no longer see clearly. Our poor Mother said to him, "Father, your children are here. We are going to sing the Salve Regina." He seemed to understand...I don't know how we were able to sing at that moment...God gave us the strength...our dear father seemed to be trying to pronounce the words with us. At Mater Misericordia, his lips ceased to move...his gaze was lost in eternity.
We contemplate our Father's face, so calm and smiling, and our hearts are comforted. We were permitted to kiss his hands which have so often been raised to bless us...
What a blessing to be with his community. What a blessing for the community to be with their founder. And he promised to meet them in heaven. And another thing...that promise goes for me, too.
Corrections to the Readings for Sept. 5
SEPTEMBER 5
FEAST OF BLESSED JEAN JOSEPH
LATASTE
Invitatory
Lord open my lips…
Antiphon:
In order to see God we must forget ourselves.
Invitatory Psalm
Morning
Prayer
Hymn
Psalms and Canticle from Sunday, Week
1
Antiphon 1: O
Lord, what is man that you treat him with so much respect?
Psalm 63:2-9
Antiphon 2:
The soul which returns freely to God renders Him the most beautiful homage
possible, that of a free soul which chooses to kneel before God.
Canticle: Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Antiphon3: It is true, the greatest sinners have in them
what makes the greatest saints: who
knows if they won’t be so one day!
Psalm 149
Reading: Hebrew, 13:1-3
Responsory
O my joy and my hope, the Lord is my song, it
is from Him that my pardon comes. -O my … In him I hope, I fear nothing - it is from…
Glory
to the Father… -O my joy and my hope, the Lord is my song, it is from Him that
my pardon comes.
Canticle of Zechariah
Antiphon: Although leaving us free, God keeps us from
the snares of the enemy and of our human nature; only those who have willed it
perish far from Him.
Intercessions:
Response: Pray for us
Father
of Bethany, you who have renounced life in a heroic act of love of God, teach
us to renounce all that is not God.
You,
who have responded to the call of St. Dominic in becoming a brother preacher,
make of us true Dominicans in spirit and truth.
Faithful
and obedient Religious even in contradictions, teach us perfect consecration to
God.
You,
who in kissing the relic of St. Mary Magdalene, have understood that from
sinners God can make the greatest saints, show us the immensity of redemptive
love.
Apostle
of the lost sheep in Cadillac, you knew how to awaken hope against all hope.
Give us the aptitude to transmit your message to all victims of any form of
imprisonment.
You,
who received the inspiration for Bethany in a prison chapel, teach us to let
all our chains fall, so that we may be free as children of God.
Prayer: God of mercy, You gave blessed Jean Joseph
hope against all hope and to be a preacher full of goodness. By his prayers,
give us the faith to believe that today you make all things new. Through Jesus
Christ…
Office of Readings
Psalms of the Day
1st Reading: Is. 61, 1-9
2nd Reading: Notes ofconfidences of Fr. Lataste at the moment of death Or: sermon of Father Lataste to the women atthe Prison of Cadillac, Sept.15, 1864
Prayer:
God of mercy, you gave Blessed Jean Joseph hope against all hope and to be the
preacher full of goodness. Through his prayers, put into our hearts the same
charity, so that we may see what makes the greatest sinners the greatest
saints. Through Jesus Christ…
Evening
prayer
Hymn
Antiphon: Ah! The graces my brothers, whatever you have
done, whatever you are doing, never despair, of the mercy of God.
Psalm: 15
Antiphon: However great, however many
your faults may be they can never surpass his infinite love and mercy!
Psalm: 112
Antiphon: However great, however many
your faults may be they can never surpass his infinite love and mercy!
Canticle: Col.1: 12-20
Reading: 1 Cor. 1, 26-31
Responsory
Your mercy oh Lord! Source of
pardon, oh Lord! Source of Compassion, reconciliation, source of peace,
deliberation! – Your Mercy… Hope of the hopeless, joy of
the needy, for everyone Hope! –
Source of…
Glory to the Father… - Your Mercy…
Canticle of Mary
Antiphon: Humility, chastity, faith
are all dear to the heart of God, but what He loves most of all is to be loved.
Intercessions:
Response: Pray for us.
You, who wanted to unite faithfulness
and repentance in one and the same love as Mary and Martha in Bethany,
help us
to love one another like sisters and like saints.
Adorer of the Blessed Sacrament day
and night, and who wanted make shine in Bethany the Sun of justice, “because
healing happens in these rays”,
teach us to be these adorers who search for the
Father to give him praise.
You the founder, full of goodness, in
the humble home of Bethany,
help us to understand that goodness is what resembles
God the most.
You who offered his life so that St.
Joseph would be proclaimed patron of the universal Church,
put in our hearts
zeal and love for the Church.
You, who died young and consumed with
love in mystical union with your God,
come and receive us at the threshold of
the kingdom as you have promised.
You, who are the source for Bethany
and the persons living your spirit,
remain for all the living witness of hope
in the mercy of God.
Prayer: God
of mercy, you gave Blessed Jean Joseph hope against all hope and to be the
preacher full of goodness. By his prayers, put into our hearts the same
charity, so that we may see what makes the greatest sinners the greatest
saints. Through Jesus Christ…
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
New Office Readings for Sept. 5
Since Bl. M. Jean-Joseph Lataste was just beatified June 3, 2012, no one has these readings in their breviary. His feast day is tomorrow, Sept. 5. Here are the new readings:
SEPTEMBER 5
FEAST OF BLESSED JEAN JOSEPH LATASTE
Morning Prayer
Invitatory Antiphon: In order to see God we must forget
ourselves.
Hymn:
Antiphon:
O Lord, what is man that you treat him with so much respect?
Psalm
63
Antiphon: The soul which returns freely to God
renders Him the most beautiful homage possible, that of a free soul which
chooses to kneel before God.
Canticle:
1 Peter 2:21b-24
Antiphon:
It is true, the greatest sinners have in them what makes the greatest saints: who knows
if they won’t be so one day!
Psalm
149
Reading:
Hebrew, 13:1-3
Response:
O my joy and my hope the Lord is my song, it is from him that my pardon comes , in him I hope, I
fear nothing, in him I hope , I fear nothing.
Verse
recited by all together,
“Whoever you
are, come to Jesus!
He has goodness for all who are miserable,
He has pardon for all
who are guilty,
He has ointment for all
wounds,
He has water for all
sin,
“Come, implore Me”,
says the Lord”
-O my joy…
Intercessions:
Response:
Pray
for us
Father of Bethany, you
who have renounced life in a heroic act of love of God, teach us to renounce
all that is not God.
You, who have responded
to the call of St. Dominic in becoming a brother preacher, make of us true
Dominicans in spirit and truth.
Faithful and obedient
Religious even in contradictions, teach us perfect consecration to God.
You, who in kissing the
relic of St. Mary Magdalene, have understood that from sinners God can make the
greatest saints, show us the immensity of redemptive love.
Apostle of the lost
sheep in Cadillac, you knew how to awaken hope against all hope. Give us the
aptitude to transmit your message to all victims of any form of imprisonment.
You, who received the
inspiration for Bethany in a prison chapel, teach us to let all our chains
fall, so that we may be free as children of God.
Prayer
God of
mercy, You gave blessed Jean Joseph hope against all hope and to be a preacher
full of goodness. By his prayers, give us the faith to believe that today you
make all things new. Through Jesus Christ…
Office of Readings
Psalms of
the day.
1. Reading: Is. 61, 1-9
2. Reading : Notes of confidences of Fr.
Lataste at the moment of death
Or: sermon of Father Lataste to the women at the Prison of Cadillac,
Sept.15, 1864
Prayer: God of mercy, you gave Blessed Jean Joseph hope against all hope
and to be the preacher full of goodness. Through his prayers, put into our
hearts the same charity, so that we may see what makes the greatest sinners the
greatest saints. Through Jesus Christ…
Evening prayer
Hymn:
Antiphon: Ah! The graces my brothers, whatever you have
did, whatever you are doing, never despair, of the mercy of God.
Psalm: 15
Antiphon:
However great, however many your faults may be they can never surpass his infinite
love and mercy!
Psalm: 112
Antiphon:
However great, however many your faults may be they can never surpass his
infinite love and mercy!
Canticle: Col.1: 12-20
Word of God:
1. Cor. 1, 26-31
Responsory:
Your mercy oh Lord! Source of pardon, oh Lord! Source of
Compassion,
reconciliation, source of peace, deliberation!
Hope of the hopeless,
joy of the needy, for everyone Hope!
Intercessions:
Response: Pray for us.
You, who
wanted to unite faithfulness and repentance in one and the same love as Mary
and Martha in Bethany, help us to love one another like sisters and like
saints.
Adorer of
the Blessed Sacrament day and night, and who wanted make shine in Bethany the
Sun of justice, “because healing happens in these rays”, teach us to be these
adorers who search for the Father to give him praise.
You the
founder, full of goodness, in the humble home of Bethany, help us to understand
that goodness is what resembles God the most.
You who
offered his life so that St. Joseph would be proclaimed patron of the universal
Church, put in our hearts zeal and love for the Church.
You, who
died young and consumed with love in mystical union with your God, come and
receive us at the threshold of the kingdom as you have promised.
You, who are
the source for Bethany and the persons living your spirit, remain for all the
living witness of hope in the mercy of God.
Prayer:
 |
| Procession Beatification Mass |
God of
mercy, you gave Blessed Jean Joseph hope against all hope and to be the
preacher full of goodness. By his prayers, put into our hearts the same
charity, so that we may see what makes the greatest sinners the greatest
saints. Through Jesus Christ…
First Feast Day for the Apostle of Prisons
He, himself was the first one to be converted.
Lataste preached the Gospel for the salvation of souls, even in the face of doubts and difficulties regarding the possibilities of success in his work.
I have seen marvels.
Grace transforms us.
Lataste sought to transform the spiritual lives of the imprisoned and to enlighten the social conscience of his contemporaries.
God is the Being of the present.
My dear sisters...
Monday, September 3, 2012
Mother and Child Saints
Bl. Jane is known as the mother of St. Dominic. She is the one who had the dream of the dog with the torch in his mouth that was the harbinger of St. Dominic. The dream told her that she would give birth to someone who would bring the light to the world.
She had other children, also. Mannes, Dominic's brother, we also honor as Blessed.
Blessed Mannes, an older brother of Saint Dominic, was born at Caleruega, Spain, about 1170. He was among his younger brother's first followers and later assisted in establishing the priory of Saint-Jacques at Paris in 1217. In 1219 he was entrusted with the care of the Dominican nuns at Madrid. According to an early source he was "a contemplative and holy man, meek and humble, joyful and kind, and a zealous preacher." He died at the Cistercian monastery of San Pedro at Garniel d'Izan near Caleruega about the year 1235.
So Jane was blessed to raise two saints among her children and family. She is a model to keep in mind, besides St. Monica and St. Anne, the mother of Mary. St. Anne is the grandmother of Jesus. I wonder if Jesus knew her. She also must have been someone special to raise Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Lord, bless all mothers and their children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Rabbi
Did you ever wonder why a simple carpenter was called Rabbi? A rabbi is a teacher, a master in spiritual things. And it wasn't just H...
-
St Dominic and the Devil by Pietro della Vecchia D Don't you just love legends? I mean stories. St. Dominic stories abound. Of cou... -
Yesterday, I posted about a sculpture on the top of a column in the church of St. Mary Magdalen , in Vezelay, France . Meditating upon the...
-
My Lay Dominican Chapter, Our Lady of Mercy, has the best spiritual director. Today he gave us, what my "cloistered brothers" ca...
