Real Catholic Blog

During this Holy season, when we make ourselves open to accepting our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by celebrating the birth of his earthly life, it is more appropriate and important than ever to pray for the healthy birth of all children. That means an end to abortion. Thus, Father Frank Pavone, of Priests for Life, has written a beautiful Advent Prayer for Life. We hope you pray it often during Advent and even throughout the year.

If you want to help distribute this prayer to a wider audience, please share this link to your e-mail lists and on your social media sites. You also can order the prayer cards for bulletin insertion or of ways of distribution by clicking here. 

God of Life,

We rejoice in the promise of your coming.

You have sent your Son, born in Bethlehem.

He is the Prince of Peace, and

The one in whose name all oppression shall cease.

May we welcome his coming each day

And prepare for his coming at the end of time.

May we build a culture that welcomes him

By welcoming every child, born and unborn.

We pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Teresa Shipley at Discovery.com reports that archaeologists believe they have discovered the bones of Saint John The Baptist, who baptised our Lord Jesus Christ (see John Paul II commentary), and infamously beheaded by King Herod at the request of his wife’s daughter, Salome (Catholic-Forum.com). The discovery was made at a 5th century monastary near the Black Sea in Bulgaria.

According to the article:

Bulgarian archaeologists excavating under an ancient basilica last week unearthed a reliquary, or a container full of human relics.

Bone fragments of a human skull, hand and tooth were found inside. …

The archaeologists believe that a date inscribed on the alabaster jar, June 24, is a good sign that the reliquary houses John the Baptist’s remains.

June 24 is the day Christian’s celebrate the birth of Jesus’ contemporary.

Seems a bit too coincidental to me. Besides . . . Bulgaria? How and why would John The Baptists’ remains find there way there? Of course, anything is possible. The Vatican is taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach. Fabrizio Bisconti, superintendent of the Vatican Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology, told CNN more information and research is needed before the Holy See will opine on the discovery (see CNN’s Belief Blog for more, including video).

It’s interesting to contemplate, but misidentifications, not to mention forgeries, in ancient and Biblical antiquities are common. We look forward to more information confirming or dismissing what would be a terrific find.

Saint John The Baptist’s remains may have been found. The authenticity of the find, however, impacts little on Catholic faith.

Here is Father Frank Pavone’s third installment on praying to end abortion. Father Pavone is the National Director of Priests for Life. His first two videos, all of which are less than two minutes, can be found here and here. I highly recommend them and hope you will pass along this link to others. I will post part four sometime soon.

Praying to end abortion is an act of humility because, as Father Pavone says, “Every time a child is conceived it is an expression of the will of God. Praying to end abortion is another way of acknowledging He is God and we are not.” He sums up part three in this way:

We have already seen that prayer unites us with the will of God and involves us in the great plan of His that is unfolding throughout history. A key aspect of that plan was summarized by Jesus Christ when He said, “I came that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Human life is an expression of the will of God, so when we pray to end abortion, we’re worshiping God because we’re saying, “Lord, Your will for life needs to be fulfilled, and so the killing needs to stop.”

Every time a child is conceived it is an expression of the will of God. Praying to end abortion is another way of acknowledging He is God and we are not. When we pray to end abortion, we say “yes” to God. St. Paul says that Christ is the great Yes, the great Amen to all the promises of God. Abortion is the great No. It is anti-Christ, anti-God, anti-God’s plan. … So we pray to end abortion as a way of worshiping the God who says Yes to life.

Praying to end abortion shows obedience and humility to God, the Father. Because every conceived child is an expression of God’s will, praying for its life is another way “of acknowledging He is God and we are not.”

We are called to prayer, fasting and sacrifice during Lent. As for prayer, what better way to pray than the Rosary. Even better, pray the Rosary at Eucharistic Adoration. There most likely is a parish or community in your area that has a constant, if not 24-hour, adoration. At the very least, many parishes offer adoration during Lent on Fridays after Stations of the Cross.

Since Lent is about drawing closer to Jesus and his redemption for our sins, praying the Rosary is a powerful way to reach out to our Lord — and the Blessed Mother. Doing so anywhere — by yourself, in a group, silent or out loud — is a very spiritual and tangible way of drawing near Jesus. Doing so at Eucharistic Adoration is especially spiritually fulfilling. There are five mysteries of the Rosary. I have found the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent, as they are prayed on Fridays, particularly special as they instigate a self-inspection we all should put ourselves through.

Catholics Come Home explains more about the Rosary:

The Rosary is an ancient and powerful prayer that the faithful have been praying for over 800 years. In this video you will see the 20 Mysteries of the Rosary, which include events of the life of Christ and Mary that are meditated upon while reciting the prayers. Every believer in Jesus Christ should honor His mother by praying the Rosary, and in return she will bring you closer to her Son.

And if you object to the Rosary because you don’t think that the Hail Mary is a legitimate prayer, then watch my video “Every Christian should pray the Hail Mary,” and you will see the Biblical basis for the Hail Mary.

The Rosary is a powerful and special way to reach out to Jesus and seek His intercession as well as that of the Blessed Mother.

Here is a wonderful homily by Father Bonaventure of Ave Maria, who preaches on today’s Gospel that tells us of the need to love God above all else because he knows what we need and we can love all others through Him. Lent is a time of self sacrifice that focuses our love for the Holy Trinity and the great gift of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who humbled himself not only to live among us, but to die for us. It is a short homily, but Father Bonaventure packs every word and sentence with powerful theology about our life on earth, love of God and receiving His Grace on earth that will reward us with life in Heaven, where we are ultimately meant to be.

That Grace we receive from Him is not a natural virtue. It must be acquired through patience and prayer.

In today’s Gospel, our Lord, Jesus Christ, explains to the Apostles his passion, death and resurrection. But the Gospel also tells us that they did not understand. How were they eventually enlightened? The Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit brought the Word to them. Still today, the Holy Spirit brings clarity to our understanding of God’s Word if we open our hearts and seek to receive it. Father Ignatius Manfredonia of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Friary explains in his homily from Mass earlier today.

Jesus explained his death and resurrection in advance to the Apostles, but it was the Holy Spirit who enlightened them to understand. He enlightens us as well when we open ourselves to receive Him.

The national holiday season, Thanksgiving, is over. Now we enter into the holy day season, Christmas. Or, more precisely, we’re in Advent, preparing for the joyous day of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Here is a beautiful video, from Totus Tuus Productions/YouTube, that explains Advent and our liturgical and worship traditions.

The reason for the season is Christ and the season is Advent.

Bishop Walker Nickless of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, writes in a recently released pastoral letter, Ecclesia Semper Reformanda (The Church is Always in Need of Renewal) that the “spirit of Vatican II” is “a ghost or demon that must be exorcised.”

The letter, which is subtitled “A Pastoral Letter on the Future of the Church in the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa,” comes on the heels of Pope Benedict’s re-examination of Vatican II (which I will write about in a later post, but for a detailed look, read “Letter #33, And So It Begins” at The Moynihan Report Blog, here). Bishop Nickless was elevated nearly four years ago when he was Archbishop Charles Chaput’s Vicar General in the Archdiocese of Denver, so there’s no mistaking from which perspective he comes.

Despite the attention grabbing headlines his letter has made already (and more are sure to come from all sides), Bishop Nickless carefully examines the reasons for the split in the interpretation of Vatican II, and rightfully exposes a convenient and false understanding some have made to reconsider the (and their) Faith. But he plainly states, Vatican II did not — and could not have — changed the Faith. Our Faith stems from Jesus, not a contrived philosophy based on an certain and recent period of Church history.

He encourages aspects of worship, such as Adoration and Marian devotion, as well as regular confession, that were more widely practiced before the “reforms” of Vatican II. It is certainly a profound read. An excerpt is below, and more coverage is here at CatholicCulture.org. For the entire letter, see the link above on the letter’s title.

On the one hand, there is an interpretation that I would call “a hermeneutic of discontinuity and rupture,” it has frequently availed itself of the sympathies of the mass media, and also one trend of modern theology. On the other, there is the “hermeneutic of reform,” of renewal in the continuity of the one subject – Church – which the Lord has given to us. She is a subject which increases in time and develops, yet always remaining the same, the one subject of the journeying People of God.

The hermeneutic of discontinuity risks ending in a split between the pre-conciliar Church and the post-conciliar Church. It asserts that the texts of the Council as such do not yet express the true spirit of the Council …

It is crucial that we all grasp that the hermeneutic or interpretation of discontinuity or rupture, which many think is the settled and even official position, is not the true meaning of the Council. This interpretation sees the pre-conciliar and post-conciliar Church almost as two different churches. It sees the Second Vatican Council as a radical break with the past. There can be no split, however, between the Church and her faith before and after the Council. We must stop speaking of the “Pre-Vatican II” and “Post-Vatican II” Church, and stop seeing various characteristics of the Church as “pre” and “post” Vatican II. Instead, we must evaluate them according to their intrinsic value and pastoral effectiveness in this day and age …

The so-called “spirit” of the Council has no authoritative interpretation. It is a ghost or demon that must be exorcised if we are to proceed with the Lord’s work.

I went to what I thought would be the daily 5:30 p.m. Mass at Saint Benedict Church in Richmond. I was in for a little surprise. Saint Benedict was in the last night of a parish mission by Father Tony Stephens, C.P.M., of the Fathers of Mercy and the parish celebrated with a full-fledged Mass of the Feast of Saint Teresa of Jesus (of Avila) (see Catholic Encyclopedia).

So, instead, the Mass started at 6:00. I had a mild disappointment, to be honest. I could’ve worked longer and the longer and later starting Mass would push my evening back further — including writing here!

But how can one be disappointed at celebrating the Mass? Father Stephens’ homily made sure of that! He spoke about our great Catholic tradition of honoring the Blessed Mother and that devotion to her is Biblically based, despite protestant criticism. He thoughtfully, phrase by phrase, explained the Biblical and theological underpinnings of the Hail Mary. Then he elaborated on the Rosary and the mercy of Our Lady.

The Rosary is one of the oldest and most thorough prayers in the Church. The repetitive nature of the prayers along the decades is Mary leading us to her son, Jesus Christ. He encouraged us to pray the Rosary every day. Even if you have young children, pray it with them, and make it a part of their lives. Sure, very young ones may not be able to keep up with it, so pray one decade with them and put them to bed and continue on. A family that prays together, stays together, so make the Rosary a privilege of getting older: Let the older (and/or well-behaved) children stay up and go further along the decades with you. What a great idea to spur devotion!

A Rosary takes about 17-20 minutes to say. If necessary, pray what you can in the morning and finish upon return from work. When Jesus gave Mary to John at Calvary, He gave her to us all. That’s why, in turn, Mary gives us to Jesus. She is a great intercessor and wants to lead us to her son — exemplified in the path of the Rosary. Because Jesus did give Mary to all of us at the foot of the Cross, she, like any mom, knows her children and wants great things for us. Nothing is greater than His mercy and she is willing to help us, which is why she intercedes for us. 

One final thought: As a seminarian, Father Stephens was a bit confused when Pope John Paul II created the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. How can he do that? he thought to himself. This is a centuries old prayer, steeped in Church teaching and the Bible. Then he learned why John Paul is considered The Great: None of the first four mysteries were about Jesus’ ministry. The fifth is devoted to Jesus the Priest. How wonderful! How inspirational! Especially in this Year of the Priest, we should all rededicate ourselves to Jesus the Priest through the Rosary, especially the Mystery of Light.

Continuing with the emphasis of reverence in preparation to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the Blessed Sacrament —prompted by Cardinal Cipriani — here is another prayer to say and upon which to meditate in the minutes prior to receiving Holy Communion.

Perhaps say it before Mass to help you prepare your mind for the Holy significance of the Eucharist and the meaning of our celebration at Mass. It was written by Saint Francis de Sales (biography, here, at Catholic Online). A good essay on the Holy Spirit is linked to Catholic Online within the prayer.

Your Sacred Table: A Prayer before Communion  

Divine Saviour,
we come to Your sacred table
to nourish ourselves,
not with bread but with Yourself,
true Bread of eternal life.
Help us daily to make a good and perfect meal
of this divine food.
Let us be continually refreshed
by the perfume of Your kindness and goodness.
May the Holy Spirit fill us with His Love.
Meanwhile, let us prepare a place
for this holy food by emptying our hearts.

Amen.

To further your appreciation of the significance of what it means to receive the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, here is a link to an index of Communion Prayers at Catholic Online. Please make reverence at Holy Communion a point of emphasis within your family, friends and fellow parishioners.