What is the Theological significance of Veiling all of which is covered in Church? Click HERE and learn this incredible information. (This will open in a new window.) Hungry for a Good Sermon? Click HERE for an Incredible Archive of Orthodoxy! (This will open in a new window.) What is a good House Blessing? We get this question a lot. Our recommendation is this: First, ask your priest to bless your house -- he'll use the blessing from the Book of Blessings. If that isn't an option, then what we do is to use this prayer published by order of Pope Leo XIII for both priests and laity to use, called Prayer Against Satan and The Rebellious Angels and process as a group around the property with Beeswax Candles, a Crucifix, sprinkling Exorcised Salt and Holy Water while reading the prayer. You can find out more about Exorcised Salt farther below. Hit CTRL+F on your keyboard and enter exorcised salt in the search box to read more. On October 7, we observe the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The Church exhorts us to promote the Rosary during the month of October. How beautifully this coincides with our need to pray in these difficult times for peace. In our own time, most people know little about the origin of this feast and its significance. The Popes, however, remind us that the devotion to our Lady through the Rosary brought about her powerful intercession in time of crisis and war ...(read more here--this will open in a separate window) Visit Saint of the Day How can each of us benefit the Church Militant? Here is a .PDF file you can download from Auxilium Christianorum, which details a devotion just for this purpose. (This will open in a new window.) You do need Adobe Reader for this file, available here for FREE from Adobe.com. Learn more about Auxilium Christianorum here. On Fast and Abstinence The 1983 Canon Law has this to say: Canon 1250 All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church. Canon 1251 Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance. Can. 1253 It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety. PLEASE NOTE: Following through with Canon 1251; when the local bishop has not proclaimed the diocesan Friday penance, abstinence from meat is indicated. EWTN has a really good article HERE. Fatima and Akita--Are they Related? ...Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) acknowledged that he had read the Third Secret and that it speaks of "The dangers threatening the faith and the life of the Christian, and therefore the world, and also the importance of the last times." Cardinal Ratzinger said that the Third Secret had been suppressed since 1960 “to avoid confusing religious prophecy with sensationalism.” He also said, "But the things contained in this Third Secret correspond to what is announced in Scripture and are confirmed by many other Marian apparitions...."Learn more about Our Lady of Akita. What do the experts on Fatima say? Learn more from The Fatima Crusader. These links will open each in their own new window. What colors are proper for the Infant of Prague throughout the year? These are the colors and their proper times for the Latin Rite: White or Gold (purity, joy) is for all Feasts and Solemnities of Our Lord and Our Lady, as well as for the memorials of Saints who were not martyrs. On more solemn days, festive, that is, more precious, sacred vestments may be used, even if not of the color of the day. Such vestments may, for instance, be made from cloth of silver (permitted in the past only for white) or cloth of gold (historically allowed in place of white, red, or green). Blue, a color associated with the Virgin Mary, is allowed for the feast of the Immaculate Conception in some regions. (In the Byzantine Rite, for the Feasts of the Theotokos, Churches dedicated to the Theotokos may use light blue for the default, instead of gold.) Red (fires of love, the shedding of blood) is used for martyrs' commemorations, as well as for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Pentecost.Green (hope, life) is the color for the ordinary season throughout the year between Epiphany and Pentecost. Purple (penance, sorrow) is for Advent and Lent. Rose (not pink) is for Gaudete Sunday in Advent and for Laetare Sunday in Lent to remind us of the joy of the upcoming Feasts of those seasons. Black may be used for funerals and All Soul's day, but may be substituted with Purple or White. The Year of Priests We are now into the Year of Priests, with the availability of Plenary Indulgences for both priests and lay people. Until June 18th, 2010, it is possible to gain a Plenary Indulgence (this is a "get out of Purgatory Free" pass) for yourself or someone in Purgatory simply by following these guidelines: Priests: 1) Each day, they devotedly pray Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament (either exposed or in the Tabernacle) 2) Each day, they "offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the Sacraments (especially the Sacrament of Penance) 3) Each day, they say the usual prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, ie one Pater Noster (Our Father), one Ave Maria (Hail Mary) and one Gloria (Glory Be) 4) Each day, they receive Holy Communion (which would naturally follow if they are offering Mass daily) 5) Go to confession at least once a week 6) Be completely detached from all sin, even venial sin. (see Fr. Tim Finigan's post on this: Plenary Indulgences NOT Impossible"). Lay people may gain this indulgence on the Feast of St. Jean Vianney (August 4), on the opening and closing days of the Year of the Priest and once a month on the first Thursdays of the month by: 1) Devotedly attend Mass and offer prayers to Christ the High Priest for the priests of the Church or perform any good work to sanctify and mould priests to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 2) Receive Holy Communion 3) Offer the usual prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, ie one Pater Noster (Our Father), one Ave Maria (Hail Mary) and one Gloria (Glory Be) 4) Make a sacramental confession within "several days" of seeking to obtain a plenary indulgence (no more than 20 days) 5) Be completely detached from all sin, even venial sin. (see Fr. Tim Finigan's post on this: Plenary Indulgences NOT Impossible") and following the usual requirements for a Plenary Indulgence. (What are the "usual requirements"? Find it here, on the Traditions Page, under Plenary Indulgences!) Remember, you can gain 1 Plenary Indulgence per person, per day and so large families can get many people out of Purgatory at a time! Thank You to The Roman Sacristan for this information! Fr. Wade Menezes, C.P.M., former Chaplain-in-Residence for the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama (EWTN) has published the Ten Commandments of a Husband and Father, the Ten Commandments of a Wife and Mother, and the Ten Commandments of Children and Teens. These guidelines are invaluable towards the efforts of Family Unity and Catholic Grounding. Do download these documents and print them out! When saying the Rosary, it is important to actually be holding a rosary (as vs. saying it on your fingers), because there is an indulgence for doing so. End Times: What has been written? What about the Third Secret of Fatima? Aside from Scripture, important messages have been given to us by Our Lady; at Fatima and again at Akita; Popes, Cardinals and Bishops have received and commented on the warnings. Click on these links which will take you to articles in EWTN's Library and read two fascinating and important works that are at the same time linking history with the near future. Fully documented and annotated. Eschatology and Fire and Flood. You'll want to print these out and save them! What is the history of the Advent Wreath? We found a really great site, written by Father William Saunders, who is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College and pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Sterling, Virginia. Advent Wreath History Ember Days are marked quarterly in the Liturgical Calendar (especially found in the Tridentine calendars) and are 'mini retreats' whereby Catholics reflect on God's justice, love and mercy with fast and abstinence on Wednesday and Friday of Ember Week. Fasting is carried through Saturday. These days are meant for us to offer up as reparation for our sins, offer thanksgiving for the past season, and pray for the upcoming one. It is one of the oldest traditions dating back to Roman times (and the Christianization of the Romans) that was kept and spread throughout Christendom as a basic duty to God, until the business practicalities of the times caused the dropping of this practice during Vatican II. Ember Days occur during Advent, Lent, Pentecost and September. It has always been the emphasis of the integration of temporal life with God's grace. The Gregorian Mass is a series of thirty Masses offered up on thirty consecutive days for the purpose of releasing a particular person from Purgatory. The days must be consecutive, or the Masses must be started again. It is based on a tradition started by Pope St. Gregory the Great who saw the soul of one of his friends released from Purgatory after the 30th mass. The Sacred Congregation of Indulgences has declared that "the offering of thirty Gregorian Masses has a special efficacy for obtaining from the Divine Goodness and Mercy the deliverance of a suffering soul, and is a pious and reasonable belief of the Faithful" (Rescript, 1884). We were made aware of the Seraphic Mass Assoc., where you can have your Masses said - in either Tridentine or Novus Ordo rite - for only a $5.00 donation per each Gregorian Mass said ($150 total)! Call them, or visit them on the web: Seraphic Mass Assoc. (Capuchin Mission Office) 877-737-9050 www.seraphicmass.org Priests from around the world in the Capuchin Order are assigned to say these Masses. Plenary Indulgences: The Church, from the treasury of the merits of Christ and His Saints, provides for the remission of temporal punishment through indulgenced prayers, fasting, and good works. Usually, such remission may be applied to oneself or to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. For all indulgences, one must have the right intention, be in the state of grace, and fulfill the prescribed good work. The seven requirements for the gaining of an indulgence are: (1) The intention of gaining the indulgence. (2) The state of sanctifying grace, with the required reception of the Sacrament of Penance within 20 days either before or after the day to which the indulgence is attached. This confession suffices for the gaining of all indulgences during this period. (3) The fulfillment of the prescribed good work. (4) Holy Communion on the eve of the day or within its octave. Holy Communion once received suffices for gaining several indulgences on the same day, each of which requires the reception of Holy Communion. If as a result of long illness or some other physical impediment, a person is unable to receive the prescribed Holy Communion, the confessor may substitute some other pious work. (5) Visit to a church. (6) Vocal Prayer. The prescribed prayers must be vocal, that is, the lips most move, and the words must be at least mouthed silently. Therefore, mental prayer is not sufficient, unless the contrary is expressly stated. (7) Prayers for the Pope's Intention. The pope's intention comprises the exaltation of Holy Mother Church, the propagation of the Faith, the uprooting of heresy, the conversion of sinners, peace and concord among Christian nations, and the other needs of Christianity. If no set prayers have been prescribed for the intention of the pope, it is sufficient to recite one Pater, one Ave, and one Gloria (six of each for the Toties Quoties indulgence on All Souls Day and on the Sunday following). Remembering the 9 Ways of Aiding Another in Sin is an excellent way to not only make a better confession, but also improve your own awareness of your behavior as it relates to your "social responsibilities" in relation to God. In other words, it will allow you to be a better Catholic, and a better influence upon those within your corner of the world. When entering a church, first look for the Sanctuary Lamp. This light tells you not only if the Blessed Sacrament is present, but also where It is. It is very necessary to know this, because how else will you be able to genuflect in the correct direction? The Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle is the Heart and Life of the church. You always greet your host when entering his house, so remember to greet your Host when entering His House... Always keep Blessed Beeswax Candles in your home. These are necessary for sick calls by the priest, for blessing your house, in case of severe storms, and they will be explicitly necessary during the Three Days of Darkness which have been foreseen by many Saints. A "Candle", by definition, is not encased in a glass or plastic holder--those are Votives. Votives are not "candles" by definition. For more information on the Three Days of Darkness, read what Padre Pio received from Our Lord in 1950 here: Padre Pio and the Three Days of Darkness or you can read a composite of many Saints' prophesies (spanning hundreds of years), based on aparitions of Our Lord and Our Lady here: Three Days of Darkness Having a Crucifix over every entry way into your home is a good safeguard against evil. Having St. Benedict medals in every window and over every "outside" door is very protective against evil. Having Exorcised Salt on hand at your home is also a good practice. It is a powerful sacramental. Use it at all windows and doors, or carry it on your person to protect against evil. Keep blessed chalk (ordinary chalk which a priest has blessed) to be able to change the year every Jan. 6 (Epiphany) which you have inscribed over your door. Having a Holy Water font in your home will give your home added peace and will, with actual use, increase the grace your family receives. Remember to pray as you bless yourself---don't just absentmindedly cross yourself with the Holy Water. It is possible to gain a Plenary Indulgence by going to Confession, if you fulfill all the usual requirements as well as having a heart-felt abhorrence of sin for love of God (perfect contrition), not just the abhorrence of punishment (imperfect contrition). There is an indulgence for every time you say a holy ejaculation such as "Dear Jesus, I love you!", "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, save souls!", etc. There is an indulgence for every time you kiss a Crucifix with devotion. You should say an Our Father, Hail Mary and a Glory Be every time you hear or see an ambulance for the soul of the victim. You should be mindful every time you pass the doors of a Catholic church that Christ is within and make a Sign of the Cross or suitable salutation within your heart. (A holy ejaculation is good, too) Always nod your head (a mini bow) when someone, or yourself, says the name "Jesus"