Monthly Archives: July 2006

6 July: Feast of All the Holy Roman Pontiffs

Today on the calendar published by the Vatican we find that it is not only the feast day of St. Mary Goretti, it is also the feast “Omnium Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum… Of all the Holy Roman Pontiffs”.   This feast is … Read More

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Chrysostom on the Paralytic

Attention patristibloggers!   St. John Chrysostom has a nice riff on Christ healing the paralytic taken from today’s Gospel reading for Holy Mass in the Novus Ordo (Matthew 9:1-8): Only God could know what is in another’s mind.  That Jesus has … Read More

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5 July: The Gadarene Demoniacs

In every day and age people make attempts to figure out the "deeper meaning" of the events related in Holy Scripture.  Today in the Gospel reading for Holy Mass we have the episode of the Gadarene (or Gerasene) demoniacs (Matthew … Read More

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Augustine on Amos’s lion

Today for the First Reading for Mass we have a pericope from the Book of Amos, the prophet (3:1-8, 4:11-12).  There is an image of a lion. Augustine expands on Amos’s lion (s. 55.3):  ”Lord, You have been our refuge.”  … Read More

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Ah… the Sabine Farm

I put out my flag and everything!

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4 July: For Christians harassed with persecution

In the 2002 Missale Romanum there is a Mass Pro christianis persecutione vexatis… For Christians harassed with persecution.  Given the manifold liberties we enjoy in the United States, I thought it good to share this prayer with you. COLLECT: Deus, … Read More

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Prayer for Government

The following prayer was composed by John Carroll, Archbishop of Baltimore, in 1791.  He was the first bishop appointed for the United States in 1789 by Pope Pius VI.  He was made the first archbishop when his see of Baltimore … Read More

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Seeing is believing: Augustine on Thomas

“Love is the eye and to love is to see.”  Thus taught Richard of St. Victor.  A fitting way to introduce a brief piece of a sermon by St. Augustine of Hippo about "doubting" Thomas the Apostle, whose feast is … Read More

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13th Sunday of Ordinary Time: SUPER OBLATA (2)

EXCERPT:
You might object, “But Father! But Father! You’re saying that people in the pews have to be metaphysicians in order to pray!” No, I’m not! Leaving aside the philosophy and theology lessons, the simplistic version (apart from being wrong) forecloses on further thought or consideration. By eliminating a traditional and accurate technical term, as hard as it is, and opting instead for something simplistic you kill reflection. By dumbing it down you slam door on understanding. People don’t have to be theologians or metaphysicians, but they do have to think. The pretense that we can’t understand words or long sentences during Mass guarantees that we won’t even think about the content of the prayers. We should be able to think about these hard things as well as expect Father’s good explanations.
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13th Sunday of Ordinary Time: SUPER OBLATA (1)

EXCERPT:
If this is a sample of what we have to look forward to, I think we have real cause for hope. I compliment the bishops on their good choices and thank them for the encouraging demonstration of what can be accomplished. Read More

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