Stop Thinking Politically

The magazine, The Catholic Thing has an article by Father Bevil Bramwell, OMI, that gives the best reasons for reserving the priesthood for males only.  The article is Women priests?.

Father tells his readers to stop thinking politically.  Politics is about power.  Instead, think spiritually.  One cannot accept spiritual reasons if one is only thinking about power.

(1) Think about grace and communion.

(2) The Church needs a spouse, ergo a male.

(3)  Jesus gathers His followers into a Church.         (Maybe (3) should be (2).

(4)  Priests are personna Christi.

Father Bramwell continues his argument, but IMHO, these four points are the best reasons.

Where did Sacred Heart Come From

In reading Annum Sacrum, I learned where the devotion to the Sacred Heart came from.  I know that St. Margaret Mary Alocoque had visions and promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart.  But many people have visions and Catholics are not required to believe them.

In the encyclical, Annum Sacrum, however, Pope Leo XIII, in paragraph 14 states:

...We ordain that on the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of the coming month of June, in the principal church of every town and village, certain prayers be said, and on each of these days, there be added to the other prayers the Litany of the Sacred Heart approved by Our authority. On the last day, the form of consecration shall be recited which, Venerable Brethren, We sent to you with these letters.

 I posted about the Litany a few days ago.

Discarding God

In these later times, especially, a policy has been followed which has resulted in a sort of wall being raised between the Church and civil society.  In the constitution and administration of States the authority of sacred and divine law is utterly disregarded, with a view to the exclusion of religion from having any constant part in public life.  This policy almost tends to the removal of the Christian faith from our midst, and, if that were possible, of the banishment of God Himself from the earth.

Take a guess as to when these words were written.

Today?

The answer is 1899  This is from paragraph 10 in the encyclical Annum Sacrum, written by Pope Leo XIII.

I don't know whether to gather some hope, thinking that this description must always fit all times.  Maybe since the beginning of time, people have worried about the decline of faith in God.

Or, maybe Pope Leo XIII saw the beginning of the decline and was warning humanity of it.

Sadly, it is sobering.

Lay Dominican 12 Days of Christmas

I've been challenged.

On the first day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me                                     

A highlighted Particular Directory.

On the second day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the third day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the fourth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the fifth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the sixth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the seventh day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the eighth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the ninth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory

On the tenth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Ten formation modules
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Eleven preaching friars
Ten formation modules
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomists
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My fraternity president gave to me
Twelve "cloistered brothers"
Eleven preaching friars
Ten formation modules
Nine new inquirers
Eight cooperator brothers
Seven Dominican sisters
Six Hillbilly Thomsts
Five volumes of the Summa
Four religious medals
Three OPrize poetry books
Two new apostolates
And a highlighted Particular Directory.

The Chain Gang

My "cloistered" brothers are learning to crochet.  Do you believe it! They want to make baby blankets for newborns. 

You should see their focus.  The idea is to relax them and get them to share their thoughts and feelings but since they are just learning the room is quiet.  Everyone is focusing on their work.

I called this post "The Chain Gang" because the first thing one learns to do in crochet is to make a chain.

The Litany of The Sacred Heart: A Loving Prayer of Reparation to Our Lord

The Litany of The Sacred Heart: A Loving Prayer of Reparation to Our Lord: The Litany of the Sacred Heart is an important part of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in which we make reparation through adoration for the offenses committed against Our Lord’s Sacred Heart.

You know I'm a religious nut, already.  Well, if you don't, this should give you a hint.  I'm studying the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Why?  Because Frank Kelly told me that if I don't have a devotion to Margaret Mary Alacoque's spirituality to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I will.



So, I'm reading Haurietis Aquas          and Annum Sacrum

Promises:

In the apparitions to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus gives these twelve promises for those who are devoted to His Sacred Heart.

The Twelve Promises of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary for those devoted to His Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

"Look at this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth."



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Epic Fail

I keep seeing this photo and just pass it by.  I see it on Dominican pages so I know it's a Dominican Rite Mass caught right at the elevation of the Host. Nice.  (ho hum)

I never noticed the background. 

Look at the wall.  It's not a wall.  That's the tomb of St. Dominic in Bologna, Italy.  St. Dominic requested that he just be buried under the feet of his brothers to walk over him.  His wishes were ignored.  His body was moved a couple of times, for beatification and canonization.  His final resting place is in the  Basilica of San Domenico in Bologna, Italy.

His tomb took centuries to build.  It is now called an ark.  Many sculptors added to it, including Michelangelo. 

It is beautiful.

Back to the photo.  Mass is being celebrated.  But not by just any priest.  The Mass celebrant is the 87th Successor to Saint Dominic, Master Gerard Timoner, OP. And the photographer captured the quintessential moment of the raison d'etre of every priest, the Elevation of the Eucharist.A

Awesome.  How could I miss that?