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It seems like every few years someone’s routine life experiences are interrupted by the sudden appearance of something that requires both a vivid imagination and a heaping portion of faith. These occurrences don’t take place exclusively in Massachusetts, but we’ve certainly had our share of them. The latest in a seemingly endless string of chuckle-inducing incidents happened recently to a 44 year-old medical secretary from Methuen. Engrossed in her usual chores at home last week, Mary Jo Coady’s eyes suddenly focused on, of all things, the underside of her household steam iron. And there it was. What to most of...

Pave the Way for Victory Today's Scripture "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:3, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Did you know that every morning you have the opportunity to set the tone for your whole day? When you put God first and decide to go out with a grateful attitude and a positive frame of mind, you'll not only feel better, but you're going to draw in the good things of God. You are paving the way for success...

The Law of Opposition "To him who overcomes . . ." —Revelation 2:7 Life without war is impossible in the natural or the supernatural realm. It is a fact that there is a continuing struggle in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual areas of life.Health is the balance between the physical parts of my body and all the things and forces surrounding me. To maintain good health I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while...

December 4, 2009                                  Friday of the First Week of Advent   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 29:17-24 Thus says the Lord GOD:But a very little while,and Lebanon shall be changed into an orchard,and the orchard be regarded as a forest!On that day the deaf shall hearthe words of a book;And out of gloom and darkness,the eyes of the blind shall see.The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.For the tyrant will be no moreand the arrogant will have gone;All who are alert to do evil will be cut off,those whose...

The following is something I wrote at the petition of a forum member who asked me for some information to provide to a relative who is an Evangelical who was asking about these things. It is a quick rundown of some points of how the Catholic Church is put together and some ideas as to why it must be that way. The topics are not strictly separated from one another, perhaps because the Church itself is a complex organism that defies precise categorization, and again because my own mind works intuitively rather than systematically. Much of the presentation centers...

Christmas 2009: A Message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us..." (Titus 3:4-5a). Into this shadowed world light shines and joyous voices sing. Glad tidings cheer the heart and liberate hope. "A child has been born for us, a son given to us" (Isaiah 9:6). God our Savior has appeared! God's saving goodness and loving kindness have arrived in Jesus, the Word made flesh. Though hidden in the humility of a manger, and later in the scandal of the cross, God's promise is being made...

Soon - probably in a year's time - we will have a new translation of the Roman Missal, approved by Vatican authorities and ready for use in the United States. At their annual November meeting that just concluded, the U.S. bishops approved the last section of the translation and forwarded it to the Vatican, where the rest of the translation has already been received and reviewed. Once the "recognitio" (approval) is given, it should take, we are told by publishers, about a year for the new text to be fittingly prepared and published. In light of this coming new translation,...

New York City, N.Y., Dec 3, 2009 / 05:25 am (CNA).- Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan will celebrate a special St. Patrick’s Cathedral Mass on Dec. 9 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. The Mass will be broadcast live on the Catholic television network EWTN.Archbishop Sheen was a radio host and bestselling author who also hosted the popular 1950s television series “Life is Worth Living.” He served as the Bishop of Rochester, New York from 1966 to 1969. He died on Dec. 9, 1979. In 2002, Archbishop Sheen was declared a Servant...

Having an Overflow Mentality Today's Scripture "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God wants us to have His very best. He doesn't want us to just barely get by in life; He wants us to thrive and overflow with His goodness. Notice what our part is as His children - we have to be willing and obedient. It's not just doing what the Word of God says; you've got to do it with the right attitude. It's one thing to give because you...

"Not by Might nor by Power" "My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power . . ." —1 Corinthians 2:4 If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality. Take care to see while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, that you yourself are rooted and grounded by faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your presentation, but as you...

December 3, 2009                                    Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, priest   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 26:1-6 On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: “A strong city have we;he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.Open up the gatesto let in a nation that is just,one that keeps faith.A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;in peace, for its trust in you.”Trust in the LORD forever!For the LORD is an eternal Rock.He humbles those in high places,and the lofty city he brings down;He tumbles it to the ground,levels it with the dust.It is...

The God of More than Enough Today's Scripture "…the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God…" (Genesis 17:1, NKJ) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you need more peace, joy, or any provision in your life? Friend, we serve a God who is more than enough and He has more than enough! The original Hebrew word in this verse is El Shaddai which means "the All-Sufficient One" or the God of plenty. In other words, our God is simply more than enough! He's not worried about how He's going to meet your needs....

Christian Perfection "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . ." —Philippians 3:12 It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, "It...

December 2, 2009                                   Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hostswill provide for all peoplesA feast of rich food and choice wines,juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.On this mountain he will destroythe veil that veils all peoples,The web that is woven over all nations;he will destroy death forever.The Lord GOD will wipe awaythe tears from all faces;The reproach of his people he will removefrom the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said:“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save...

The Bishop of Calgary, Alberta, has just suspended all activities of the Latin Mass communities in Calgary and Medicine Hat due to a pseudo-scientific and anti-Canonical order mandating the non-reception of the Eucharist on the tongue due to concerns related to the transmission of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus. We had known about the matter for days, but had waited for some official words from the FSSP priests who serve those communities. However, since the entire matter has now been made public, we post the contents of the e-mail messages related to the affair. (A reader sent the e-mail exchange...

What could bring record producers, famous for working on music by Elton John, Blondie and Dolly Parton, together with Pope Benedict XVI and the former choir master of St. Peter’s Basilica? The answer is “Alma Mater,” a new CD from Decca released worldwide Nov. 28. The album features nearly 10 minutes of recordings of the Pope alongside eight tracks of Lauretan Litanies, Marian popular chants and modern classical music. Each track ends with Gregorian chant sung by the Philharmonic Academy of Rome Choir and conducted by Msgr. Pablo Colino, the former chapel master of St. Peter’s.For 26 years, the Spanish priest was...

Peace Of Mind “Peace on earth!” announce the angels at Christmas. But how and where do we find that peace? Simple: confession. People sometimes wrongly think of confession as a place of judgment and guilt. We have good news: It’s a place of healing and peace. The Registerchallenges each reader this Advent to go to confession and recommend it to at least one other person. The guide provided here can help. After all, as Pope Benedict XVI said: “The renewal of the Church in America and throughout the world depends on the renewal of the sacrament of penance.” 1 The...

Overflowing With Passion for Life Today's Scripture "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Zeal is simply another word for passion. I've noticed that too many people today have lost their passion and enthusiasm for life. At one time, they were excited about their dreams and got up every day with purpose and passion. But now, because time has passed and they've experienced disappointments, they're not excited about those dreams anymore. They've lost their fire. Friend, God wants you to live with passion! You...

The Law and the Gospel "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all" —James 2:10 The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It...

December 1, 2009                                 Tuesday of the First Week of Advent     Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Is 11:1-10 On that day,A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,and from his roots a bud shall blossom.The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,A Spirit of counsel and of strength,a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.Not by appearance shall he judge,nor by hearsay shall he decide,But he shall judge the poor with justice,and decide...

It is 40 years ago today since the New Mass of Paul VI was introduced into our parishes, writes Margery Popinstar, editor of The Capsule. We knew at the time that this liturgy was as close to perfection as humanly possible, but little did we guess what an efflorescence of art, architecture, music and worship lay ahead!There were fears at first that the vernacular service would damage the solemnity of the Mass. How silly! Far from leading to liturgical abuses, the New Mass nurtured a koinonia that revived Catholic culture and packed our reordered churches to the rafters.So dramatic was...

Washington D.C., Nov 29, 2009 / 08:55 pm (CNA).- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has created an Advent and Christmas website with suggestions for daily prayers, readings, reflection and action. A collection of Lessons and Carols is also provided for live listening or download. Printable calendars in English and Spanish are one new feature of the site, a USCCB press release says. They suggest a family activity for each day of Advent, which begins on Nov. 29, and for each day of the Christmas Season.Many of the calendar’s reflections are taken from four of the collections from...

Every Day is a Gift Today's Scripture "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Sometimes, our days can be so full and busy that we forget how fragile life really is. It can be easy to allow little things to creep in and steal our peace and joy. Something doesn't go our way, or someone says something upsetting. Even traffic can cause us to lose focus if we let it. We have to remember that each day is a gift. If we...

"By the Grace of God I Am What I Am" "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain . . ." —1 Corinthians 15:10 The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such...

November 30, 2009                                    Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Rom 10:9-18 Brothers and sisters:If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lordand believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,you will be saved.For one believes with the heart and so is justified,and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.The Scripture says,No one who believes in him will be put to shame.There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;the same Lord is Lord of all,enriching all who call upon him.For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will...

Traditional Holy Mass Propers † Traditional Sunday Propers ~ Dominica Prima Adventus ~ First Sunday of Advent † Statio ad S. Mariam Majorem ~ Station at Saint Mary Major 29 November 2009 Anno Dómini † Feast of Bishop Saint Saturninus, Martyr † The death of Bishop Saint Saturninus, being dragged through the city tied to a bull. Missa Dicit Ad te levávi ánimam meam: Deus meus, in te confído, non erubéscam: neque irrídeant me inimíci mei ( "To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul: in Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not...

My thoughts tend to wander in church. The lector might open with a biblical passage describing the Israelites assailing Jericho. I’ll picture myself inside the city, as a trader bartering in the ancient streets. This, in turn, will cause me to wonder how people got along in those days without air conditioning. So it was that, waiting for Mass to begin one recent Saturday evening, I was unruffled by the sweet, dark strains of “Night and Day.” “It’s just me,” I thought. “Just my wayward imagination.” It was with a jolt that I realized, “No, it’s not just me.” Someone...

The Supremacy of Jesus Christ "He will glorify Me . . ." —John 16:14 The holiness movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them. There is nothing about them that needs the death of Jesus Christ. All that is required is a pious atmosphere, prayer, and devotion. This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous. It did not cost the sufferings of God, nor is it stained with "the blood of the Lamb" ( Revelation 12:11 ). It is not marked or sealed by the Holy Spirit as being genuine, and...

November 29, 2009                                         First Sunday of Advent     Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Jer 33:14-16 The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot ; he shall do what is right and just in the land.In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.” Responsorial PsalmPs 25:4-5, 8-9, 10,...

Monday and Thrsday mornings, 11/30 and 12/3Kohen--Genesis 32:4-6Levi--vs. 7-9Yisra'el--vs. 10-13 Strday 12/5--Shabbat Parashat VaYishlachMORNING Kohen--Genesis 32:4-13Levi--32:14-30Shelishi--32:31-33:5Revi`i--33:6-20Chamishi--34:1-35:11Shishi--35:12-36:19Shevi`i--36:20-43Maftir--36:40-43Haftarah--The Book of Obadiah EVENING Kohen--Genesis 37:1-3Levi--vs. 4-7Yisra'el--vs. 8-11

The Riches of the Destitute ". . . being justified freely by His grace . . ." —Romans 3:24 The gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the truth that it reveals is not palatable or easy to swallow. There is a certain pride in people that causes them to give and give, but to come and accept a gift is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom; I will dedicate my life to service— I will do anything. But do not humiliate me to...

November 28, 2009                                 Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week                                 in Ordinary Time Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Dn 7:15-27 I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its covering of flesh,and I was terrified by the visions of my mind.I approached one of those presentand asked him what all this meant in truth;in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the things:“These four great beasts stand for four kingdomswhich shall arise on the earth.But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship,to...

When the buider and I laid off the corners to excavate for my house we oriented the longest side toward the south southwest. By placing most of the windows on this sunniest side, we hoped to capture some of the free heat of every cloudless winter day. This orientation was to have an unexpected consequence each Advent; one that we could not have anticipated. As sun moves southward toward the winter solstice, our apparent sunrise actually becomes earlier; closer to the time listed in an almanac. In the summer the rising sun is blocked for several hours by a hill...

(CNN) -- Hjalti á Lava was searching his iPhone for a Bible app when he stumbled across Church Online, a service of Web site LifeChurch.tv. Soon he was regularly logging into the Oklahoma-based cyber-church -- some 4,100 miles away from á Lava's home in the Faroe Islands, west of Norway. "It allows me to connect with others and have conversations about the message," says á Lava, who shares his faith with other believers in the site's live chat room. "Technology allows us today to have fellowship across borders and cultures." In doing so, á Lava joined growing numbers of Christians...

Constant Gratitude Today's Scripture "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever" (I Chronicles 16:34 AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Gratitude is a powerful force in the life of the believer. No matter what may be happening in the world around you, you can always find something to thank God for. Having constant gratitude shows that you have faith in God because not only do you thank Him for what He has done in the past, you thank Him for what He will do in the future. It's...

The Consecration of Spiritual Power ". . . by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" —Galatians 6:14 If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so...

November 27, 2009                                     Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week                                 in Ordinary Time   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Dn 7:2-14 In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night,the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea,from which emerged four immense beasts,each different from the others.The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings.While I watched, the wings were plucked;it was raised from the ground to stand on two feetlike a man, and given a human mind. The second was like a bear;...

A Door of Opportunity Today's Scripture "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close" (Revelation 3:8, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria I believe that God is ready to present you with new opportunities. He wants to open new doors before you. It doesn’t matter what’s happening in the world around you, God’s Word remains true! Remember, in an instant, God can bring the right people into your life, the right opportunities, and the right resources to take you to a whole new level. But in...

The Focal Point of Spiritual Power ". . . except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . ." —Galatians 6:14 If you want to know the power of God (that is, the resurrection life of Jesus) in your human flesh, you must dwell on the tragedy of God. Break away from your personal concern over your own spiritual condition, and with a completely open spirit consider the tragedy of God. Instantly the power of God will be in you. "Look to Me. . ." (Isaiah 45:22). Pay attention to the external Source and the internal power...

November 26, 2009                                   Thanksgiving Day                                               (The following readings are selected                                                   from the options for this day.)       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Sir 50:22-24 And now, bless the God of all,who has done wondrous things on earth;Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb,and fashions them according to his will!May he grant you joy of heartand may peace abide among you;May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days. Responsorial Psalm138:1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5 R.  (2bc)  Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.I...

"The First Sunday of Advent, November 29th, 2009 I: Jer 33:14-16; II: 1 Thes 3:12-4:2 Gospel: Lk 21:25-28, 34-36" "Beware! Stay awake! These admonitions are the first trumpet blasts of the Advent season, and they echo in every way the call to be prepared for the magnificent mystery of Christ Who is coming into the world. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God is fulfilling the centuries-old promises that He made to the house of Israel for a Savior, and the Gospel cautions us not to let the great and glorious day of Christ's arrival catch us unprepared. We can't...

The Keys of the Kingdom Today's Scripture "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Keys represent access. They represent authority. Whether it's a key to a building, car, or safety deposit box; if you've been given a key to something, it means you have a right to use it. You have access to whatever that key will open. Friend, because of Jesus, we have the...

The Secret of Spiritual Consistency "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . ." —Galatians 6:14 When a person is newly born again, he seems inconsistent due to his unrelated emotions and the state of the external things or circumstances in his life. The apostle Paul had a strong and steady underlying consistency in his life. Consequently, he could let his external life change without internal distress because he was rooted and grounded in God. Most of us are not consistent spiritually because we are more concerned about being consistent...

November 25, 2009                                     Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week                             in Ordinary Time   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords,with whom he drank.Under the influence of the wine,he ordered the gold and silver vesselswhich Nebuchadnezzar, his father,had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,to be brought in so that the king, his lords,his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.When the gold and silver vesselstaken from the house of God in...

Silent Monks SIng Hallelujah Chorus

A mandolin instrumental, singing the song; Nothing But The Blood! Instrumental and singing by o7jimmy.

He Holds the Keys Today's Scripture "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:18, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever been locked out of your car or house? It can be very frustrating and inconvenient. Not having the right keys can keep you stuck and unproductive. It steals your time and can steal your peace and joy if you let it. On a spiritual level, we need keys to access what God has for us—eternal...

Direction of Focus "Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters . . . , so our eyes look to the Lord our God . . ." —Psalm 123:2 This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (seeIsaiah 53:1 ). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to...

November 24, 2009                                         Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac,                                     priest and martyr,                             and his companions, martyrs       Reading 1Responsorial PsalmGospel Reading 1Dn 2:31-45 Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar:“In your vision, O king, you saw a statue,very large and exceedingly bright,terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.The head of the statue was pure gold,its chest and arms were silver,its belly and thighs bronze, the legs iron,its feet partly iron and partly tile.While you looked...

The Worship of Relics 1438. Why do Catholics worship relics of Saints? They do not worship relics as they worship God, by adoration. If you mean worship in the sense of honor or veneration, then Catholics certainly venerate the relics of Saints. The law, "Honor thy father and thy mother" extends to their persons, body and soul; to their reputations, and to all connected with them. We reverence their remains even after death. And if we are not to venerate the remains and relics of the Saints who have been so entirely consecrated to God, are we to desecrate them?...