† Traditional Sunday Propers ~ SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, SUPREME KING †

The Month of October Is Dedicated To
The Holy Mother's Gift of
The Holy Rosary

The complete Rosary is composed of twenty decades. It is divided into four distinct parts, which may be said separately at different times of the day, the five Joyful Mysteries, the five Luminous Mysteries, the five Sorrowful Mysteries, the five Glorious Mysteries. If you say only five decades a day, it is customary to say the Joyful Mysteries on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday, the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday, the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday.

In 1208 in the Church of Prouille, Saint Dominic de Guzman complained to Our Lady, while in pious prayer, about all the heresies that were abounding and his frustration to turn the hearts of those that were embracing them. She in turn answered him saying, ‘Wonder not that you have obtained so little fruit by your labors, you have spent them on barren soil, not yet watered with the dew of Divine Grace. When GOD willed to renew the face of the earth, He began by sending down on it the fertilizing rain of the Angelic Salutation. Therefore preach my Psalter composed of 150 Angelic Salutations and 15 Our Fathers, and you will obtain an abundant harvest’.

Although the Rosary had been known in some form before this time and later was particularly set in plave by Blessed Alan de la Roche, this revelation of the origin of the Rosary to Saint Dominic was affirmed by Pope Leo XIII, and the tradition that Mary first revealed the Rosary to Saint Dominic is supported by 13 Popes. Saint Dominic now found great success in this new devotion and brought about the conversion of the Albigensians. Our Blessed Lady made known to Saint Dominic, a kind of preaching then unknown; which she said would be one of the most powerful weapons against future errors and in future difficulties.

Saint Dominic found the ‘Order of Preachers’, or ‘Dominicans’, in 1216. Soon after, the friars were sent in all directions. Friaries were established in Spain, France, England, and Italy. Saint Dominic was appointed master general of the order in 1220, by Pope Honorius III. Saint Dominic died on August 6, 1221, in Bologna. His feast day is August 8th.

Centuries later the Dominican Pope, Saint Pius V, called for a rosary crusade to defeat the muslims that were once again invading Christendom. On October 7, 1571, in response to this prayer of the rosary from many people, the Battle of Lepanto was won and the Turks were defeated and turned back.This great victory saved Europe from the Mohammedan peril. God revealed to the Holy Father the news of this great victory before human endeavors could reveal it. That date is now the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary and the Popes have worn this Dominican white as their special cassock ever since to commemorate this Dominican Pope and the power of praying the Rosary.

Although the Rosary had been known in some form before this time and later was particularly set in plave by Blessed Alan de la Roche, this revelation of the origin of the Rosary to Saint Dominic was affirmed by Pope Leo XIII, and the tradition that Mary first revealed the Rosary to Saint Dominic is supported by 13 Popes. Saint Dominic now found great success in this new devotion and brought about the conversion of the Albigensians. Our Blessed Lady made known to Saint Dominic, a kind of preaching then unknown; which she said would be one of the most powerful weapons against future errors and in future difficulties.

Saint Dominic found the ‘Order of Preachers’, or ‘Dominicans’, in 1216. Soon after, the friars were sent in all directions. Friaries were established in Spain, France, England, and Italy. Saint Dominic was appointed master general of the order in 1220, by Pope Honorius III. Saint Dominic died on August 6, 1221, in Bologna.

Centuries later a Dominican, Pope Saint Pius V, called for a rosary crusade to defeat the muslims that were once again invading Christendom. On October 7, 1571, in response to this prayer of the rosary from many people, the Battle of Lepanto was won and the Turks were defeated and turned back.This great victory saved Europe from the Mohammedan peril. God revealed to the Holy Father the news of this great victory before human endeavors could reveal it. That date is now the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary and the Popes have worn a Dominican white as their special cassock ever since to commemorate this Dominican Pope and the power of praying the Rosary.

Fifteen Promises
Made by the Blessed Virgin
to Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche

1. To all those who recite my Rosary devoutly, I promise my special protection and very great graces.
2. Those who will persevere in the recitation of my Rosary shall receive some signal grace.
3. The Rosary shall be a very powerful armor against hell; it shall destroy vice, deliver from sin, and shall dispel heresy.
4. The Rosary shall make virtue and good works flourish, and shall obtain for souls the most abundant divine mercies; it shall substitute in hearts love of God for love of the world, elevate them to desire heavenly and eternal goods. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means!
5. Those who trust themselves to me through the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Those who will recite my Rosary piously, considering its Mysteries, shall not be overwhelmed by misfortune nor die a bad death. The sinner shall be converted; the just shall grow in grace and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Those truly devoted to my Rosary shall not die without the consolations of the Church, or without grace.
8. Those who will recite my Rosary shall find during their life and at their death the light of God, the fullness of His grace, and shall share in the merits of the blessed.
9. I will deliver very promptly from purgatory the souls devoted to my Rosary.
10. The true children of my Rosary shall enjoy great glory in heaven.
11. What you ask through my Rosary, you shall obtain.
12. Those who propagate my Rosary shall obtain through me aid in all their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my son that all the confreres of the Rosary shall have for their brethren in life and death the saints of heaven.
14. Those who recite my Rosary faithfully are all my beloved children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a special sign of predestination.

Why pray the Rosary today? Certainly, to grow in holiness and in one's prayer life. The following are a few others reasons why the rosary should be prayed often, even daily:

"Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been so favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary" ( Pope Pius IX ).

"Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world" ( Our Lady of Fátima ).

"There is no surer means of calling down God's blessings upon the family . . . than the daily recitation of the Rosary" ( Pope Pius XII ).

"We do not hesitate to affirm again publicly that we put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils of our times" ( Pope Pius XII ).

"No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary" ( Bishop Hugh Doyle ).

"The Rosary is the compendium of the entire Gospel" ( Pope Paul VI quoting Pope Pius XII ).

"My impression is that the Rosary is of the greatest value not only according to the words of Our Lady at Fátima, but according to the effects of the Rosary one sees throughout history. My impression is that Our Lady wanted to give ordinary people, who might not know how to pray, this simple method of getting closer to God" ( Sister Lucia, one of the seers of Fátima ).

Pope John Paul II has called the Rosary his "favorite prayer," after the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Saint Louis de Montfort warns us against both the ignorant and scholars who regard the Rosary as something of little importance..."the Rosary is a priceless treasure inspired by God."

"Catholics who remain faithful to Tradition,
even if they are reduced to but a handful,
they are THE TRUE CHURCH. They've got the churches, but we've got the faith"
-- Saint Athanasius, "Apostle of Tradition", 373 Anno Domini

The Holy Tridentine Roman Rite Mass

The Tridentine Mass takes its name from the Council of Trent ( 1545-63 ), under the watchful eye of Pope Saint Pius V. The "Tridentine Rite" is, therefore, more properly called the Ancient or Traditional Roman Rite. The last edition of its missal was published in 1962.

The traditional Roman Rite differs from the new rite -- the 1969 Novus Ordo. This “new Mass” omits about 70 percent of the traditional Mass prayers. Most consider the traditional Latin Mass to be much more formal, more dignified.

It’s emphasis is on the sacrifice of Jesus and the recognition of the “true presence” of Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—in the Holy Eucharist. The entire Mass focuses on the Consecration of the Body and Blood and on reception of Christ in Holy Communion. This is represented in the photograph below.

The priest and the faithful face forward to the altar...and to God. The Holy Traditional Tridentine Roman Rite Latin Mass is the manner in which Catholics worshiped The One True God for well over 1,000 years. For those over the age of 40, it is the Mass of their youth. For those too young to remember incense filled churches, Gregorian chant, and the reverent silence at Mass, the Tridentine rite offers a return to a profound manner of worship.

Pope Saint Felix III

"Not to oppose error is to approve it; and not to defend truth is to suppress it; and indeed to neglect to confound evil men, when we can do it, is no less a sin than to encourage them."

Pope Saint Pius V - July 14, 1570

To Our Venerable Brethren: the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Local Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See -- Venerable Brethren, health and Apostolic Benediction!

From the very first, upon Our elevation to the chief Apostleship, We gladly turned our mind and energies and directed all out thoughts to those matters which concerned the preservation of a pure liturgy, and We strove with God's help, by every means in our power, to accomplish this purpose. For, besides other decrees of the sacred Council of Trent, there were stipulations for Us to revise and re-edit the sacred books: the Catechism, the Missal and the Breviary. With the Catechism published for the instruction of the faithful, by God's help, and the Breviary thoroughly revised for the worthy praise of God, in order that the Missal and Breviary may be in perfect harmony, as fitting and proper - for its most becoming that there be in the Church only one appropriate manner of reciting the Psalms and only one rite for the celebration of Mass - We deemed it necessary to give our immediate attention to what still remained to be done; the re-editing of the Missal as soon as possible.

Hence, We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They very carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican Library and with reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same sacred rites; and thus they have restored the Missal itself to the original form and rite of the holy Fathers. When this work has been gone over numerous times and further emended, after serious study and reflection, We commanded that the finished product be printed and published as soon as possible, so that all might enjoy the fruits of this labor; and thus, priests would know which prayers to use and which rites and ceremonies they were required to observe from now on in the celebration of Masses.

Let all everywhere adopt and observe what has been handed down by the Holy Roman Church, the Mother and Teacher of the other churches, and let Masses not be sung or read according to any other formula than that of this Missal published by Us. This ordinance applies henceforth, now, and forever, throughout all the provinces of the Christian world, to all patriarchs, cathedral churches, collegiate and parish churches, be they secular or religious, both of men and of women - even of military orders - and of churches or chapels without a specific congregation in which conventional Masses are sung aloud in choir or read privately in accord with the rites and customs of the Roman Church. This Missal is to be used by all churches, even by those which in their authorization are made exempt, whether by Apostolic indult, custom, or privilege, or even if by oath or official confirmation of the Holy See, or have their rights and faculties guaranteed to them by any other manner whatsoever.

This new rite alone is to be used unless approval of the practice of saying Mass differently was given at the very time of the institution and confirmation of the church by Apostolic See at least 200 years ago, or unless there has prevailed a custom of a similar kind which has been continuously followed for a period of not less than 200 years, in which most cases We in no wise rescind their above-mentioned prerogative or custom. However, if this Missal, which we have seen fit to publish, be more agreeable to these latter, We grant them permission to celebrate Mass according to its rite, provided they have the consent of their bishop or prelate or of their whole Chapter, everything else to the contrary notwithstanding. All other of the churches referred to above, however, are hereby denied the use of other missals, which are to be discontinued entirely and absolutely; whereas, by this present Constitution, which will be valid henceforth, now, and forever, We order and enjoin that nothing must be added to Our recently published Missal, nothing omitted from it, nor anything whatsoever be changed within it under the penalty of Our displeasure.

We specifically command each and every patriarch, administrator, and all other persons or whatever ecclesiastical dignity they may be, be they even cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, or possessed of any other rank or pre-eminence, and We order them in virtue of holy obedience to chant or to read the Mass according to the rite and manner and norm herewith laid down by Us and, hereafter, to discontinue and completely discard all other rubrics and rites of other missals, however ancient, which they have customarily followed; and they must not in celebrating Mass presume to introduce any ceremonies or recite any prayers other than those contained in this Missal.

Furthermore, by these presents [this law], in virtue of Our Apostolic authority, We grant and concede in perpetuity that, for the chanting or reading of the Mass in any church whatsoever, this Missal is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used. Nor are superiors, administrators, canons, chaplains, and other secular priests, or religious, of whatever title designated, obliged to celebrate the Mass otherwise than as enjoined by Us. We likewise declare and ordain that no one whosoever is forced or coerced to alter this Missal, and that this present document cannot be revoked or modified, but remain always valid and retain its full force notwithstanding the previous constitutions and decrees of the Holy See, as well as any general or special constitutions or edicts of provincial or synodal councils, and notwithstanding the practice and custom of the aforesaid churches, established by long and immemorial prescription - except, however, if more than two hundred years' standing.

It is Our will, therefore, and by the same authority, We decree that, after We publish this constitution and the edition of the Missal, the priests of the Roman Curia are, after thirty days, obliged to chant or read the Mass according to it; all others south of the Alps, after three months; and those beyond the Alps either within six months or whenever the Missal is available for sale. Wherefore, in order that the Missal be preserved incorrupt throughout the whole world and kept free of flaws and errors, the penalty for nonobservance for printers, whether immediately or immediately subject to Our dominion, and that of the Holy Roman Church, will be the forfeiting of their books and a fine of one hundred gold ducats, payable ipso facto to the Apostolic Treasury. Further, as for those located in other parts of the world, the penalty is excommunication latae sententiae, and such other penalties as may in Our judgment be imposed; and We decree by this law that they must not dare or presume either to print or to publish or to sell, or in any way to accept books of this nature without Our approval and consent, or without the express consent of the Apostolic Commissaries of those places, who will be appointed by Us. Said printer must receive a standard Missal and agree faithfully with it and in no wise vary from the Roman Missal of the large type ( secundum magnum impressionem).

Accordingly, since it would be difficult for this present pronouncement to be sent to all parts of the Christian world and simultaneously come to light everywhere, We direct that it be, as usual, posted and published at the doors of the Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles, also at the Apostolic Chancery, and on the street at Campo Flora; furthermore, We direct that printed copies of this same edict signed by a notary public and made official by an ecclesiastical dignitary possess the same indubitable validity everywhere and in every nation, as if Our manuscript were shown there. Therefore, no one whosoever is permitted to alter this notice of Our permission, statute, ordinance, command, precept, grant, indult, declaration, will, decree, and prohibition. Should know that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

Given at Saint Peter's in the year of the Lord's Incarnation, 1570, on the 14th of July of the Fifth year of Our Pontificate.

Symbolum Apostolorum ~ THE APOSTLES' CREED

While the present form of the Apostles' Creed first appeared in the 6th century in the writings of Caesarius of Arles ( d 542 ), it can be traced in one form or another back to Apostolic times. Rufinus' Commentary on the Apostle's Creed ( ca. A.D. 407 ) contains the prayer in a form very close to what we have today. The Creed can also be found in a letter to Pope Julius I ( A.D. 340 ) and even earlier in a circa 200 document containing the Roman baptismal liturgy. It appears that originally this Creed was a baptismal creed summarizing the teachings of the Apostles and was given to the catechumens when they were baptized. Instead of the continuous prayer as we have it today, each line was rather in the form of a question to which the catechumen gave assent indicating he both understood and believed. Eventually this question and answer style was modified into the prayer form as we have it today. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite the Symbolum Apostolorum.

CREDO in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.

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I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead: I believe in the Holy Ghost: I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins: The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.

THE ATHANASIAN CREED

The Athanasian Creed, attributed to Saint Athanasius, also know as the Quicumque vult, was formerly recited at the office of Prime on Sundays and Trinity Sunday is the time when we renew our commitment to our Faith and the dogma Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus - "Outside the Church There is No Salvation." The Athanasian Creed is one of the four authoritative Creeds of Holy Mother Church ( The Apostle's Creed; Nicene Creed; and The Tridentine Creed, and it is not something that is an opinion but what every Roman Catholic must believe.

Quicumque vult salvus esse, ante omnia opus est, ut teneat catholicam fidem: Quam nisi quisque integram inviolatamque servaverit, absque dubio in aeternam peribit. Fides autem catholica haec est: ut unum Deum in Trinitate, et Trinitatem in unitate veneremur. Neque confundentes personas, neque substantiam seperantes. Alia est enim persona Patris alia Filii, alia Spiritus Sancti: Sed Patris, et Fili, et Spiritus Sancti una est divinitas, aequalis gloria, coeterna maiestas. Qualis Pater, talis Filius, talis Spiritus Sanctus. Increatus Pater, increatus Filius, increatus Spiritus Sanctus. Immensus Pater, immensus Filius, immensus Spiritus Sanctus. Aeternus Pater, aeternus Filius, aeternus Spiritus Sanctus. Et tamen non tres aeterni, sed unus aeternus. Sicut non tres increati, nec tres immensi, sed unus increatus, et unus immensus. Similiter omnipotens Pater, omnipotens Filius, omnipotens Spiritus Sanctus. Et tamen non tres omnipotentes, sed unus omnipotens. Ita Deus Pater, Deus Filius, Deus Spiritus Sanctus. Ita Dominus Pater, Dominus Filius, Dominus Spiritus Sanctus. Et tamen non tres Domini, sed unus est Dominus. Quia, sicut singillatim unamquamque personam Deum ac Dominum confiteri christiana veritate compelimur: ita tres Deos aut Dominos dicere catholica religione prohibemur. Pater a nullo est factus: nec creatus, nec genitus. Filius a Patre solo est: non factus, nec creatus, sed genitus. Spiritus Sanctus a Patre et Filio: non factus, nec creatus, nec genitus, sed procedens. Unus ergo Pater, non tres Patres: unus Filius, non tres Filii: unus Spiritus Sanctus, non tres Spiritus Sancti. Et in hac Trinitate nihil prius aut posterius, nihil maius aut minus: sed totae tres personae coaeternae sibi sunt et coaequales. Ita ut per omnia, sicut iam supra dictum est, et unitas in Trinitate, et Trinitas in unitate veneranda sit. Qui vult ergo salvus esse, ita de Trinitate sentiat. Sed necessarium est ad aeternam salutem, ut incarnationem quoque Domini nostri Iesu Christi fideliter credat. Est ergo fides recta ut credamus et confiteamur, quia Dominus noster Iesus Christus, Dei Filius, Deus et homo est. Deus est ex substantia Patris ante saecula genitus: et homo est ex substantia matris in saeculo natus. Perfectus Deus, perfectus homo: ex anima rationali et humana carne subsistens. Aequalis Patri secundum divinitatem: minor Patre secundum humanitatem. Qui licet Deus sit et homo, non duo tamen, sed unus est Christus. Unus autem non conversione divinitatis in carnem, sed assumptione humanitatis in Deum. Unus omnino, non confusione substantiae, sed unitate personae. Nam sicut anima rationalis et caro unus est homo: ita Deus et homo unus est Christus. Qui passus est pro salute nostra: descendit ad inferos: tertia die resurrexit a mortuis. Ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis: inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Ad cuius adventum omnes homines resurgere habent cum corporibus suis: et reddituri sunt de factis propriis rationem. Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam aeternam: qui vero mala, in ignem aeternum. Haec est fides catholica, quam nisi quisque fideliter firmiterque crediderit, salvus esse non poterit. Amen.

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Whosoever wishes to be saved must, above all, keep the Catholic Faith. For unless a person keeps this Faith whole and entire, he will undoubtedly be lost forever. This is what the Catholic Faith teaches: we worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit have one divinity, equal glory, and coeternal majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and the Holy Spirit is. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is boundless, the Son is boundless, and the Holy Spirit is boundless. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal. Nevertheless, there are not three eternal beings, but one eternal being. So there are not three uncreated beings, nor three boundless beings, but one uncreated being and one boundless being. Likewise, the Father is omnipotent, the Son is omnipotent, the Holy Spirit is omnipotent. Yet there are not three omnipotent beings, but one omnipotent being. Thus the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. However, there are not three gods, but one God. The Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Spirit is Lord. However, there as not three lords, but one Lord. For as we are obliged by Christian truth to acknowledge every Person singly to be God and Lord, so too are we forbidden by the Catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords. The Father was not made, nor created, nor generated by anyone. The Son is not made, nor created, but begotten by the Father alone. The Holy Spirit is not made, nor created, nor generated, but proceeds from the Father and the Son. There is, then, one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits. In this Trinity, there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less. The entire three Persons are co-eternal and co-equal with one another. So that in all things, as is has been said above, the Unity is to be worshipped in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, who wishes to be saved, must believe thus about the Trinity. It is also necessary for eternal salvation that he believes steadfastly in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and man. As God, He was begotten of the substance of the Father before time; as man, He was born in time of the substance of His Mother. He is perfect God; and He is perfect man, with a rational soul and human flesh. He is equal to the Father in His divinity, but inferior to the Father in His humanity. Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ. And He is one, not because His divinity was changed into flesh, but because His humanity was assumed unto God. He is one, not by a mingling of substances, but by unity of person. As a rational soul and flesh are one man: so God and man are one Christ. He died for our salvation, descended into hell, and rose from the dead on the third day. He ascended into Heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At His coming, all men are to arise with their own bodies; and they are to give an account of their own deeds. Those who have done good deeds will go into eternal life; those who have done evil will go into the everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith. Everyone must believe it, firmly and steadfastly; otherwise He cannot be saved. Amen.

THE NICENE CREED

Symbolum Nicaenum, or Nicene Creed, has a complex history. It was first promulgated at the Council of Nicea ( A.D. 325 ), though in an abbreviated form from what we have below. Saint Athanasius attributes its composition to the Papal Legate to the Council, Hossius of Cordova. The Creed is also sometimes called the Nicene-Constantinoplan Creed since it appears in the Acts of the Council of Constantinople ( 381 ), but it is clear that this Council is not the source of that composition for it appears in complete form in the Ancoratus of Epiphanius of Salamis some seven years earlier in 374. In any case, it was this text that appears in the Acts of the Council of Constantinople that was formally promulgated at Chalcedon in 451 and has come down to us as our present Nicene Creed. It was at the councils of Nicea and Constantinople that the true nature of Jesus was defended against two heresies that had sprung up. The Arians denied Christ’s divinity and the Monophysites denied Christ’s humanity. The councils, drawing upon the traditions handed down to them from the Apostles, condemned both heresies and declared that Jesus was indeed both true God and true man.

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, Lumen de Luminem, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri; per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.

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I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, only-begotten and of the Father born before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; suffered, and was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scriptures; sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and of His kingdom there shall be no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and life-giver, Who from the Father and the Son proceeds. Who, with the Father and the Son, is simultaneously adored and equally glorified: Who has spoken through the prophets. And one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Professio fidei Tridentinae
The Tridentine Creed

Pope Pius IV promulgated this creed in his Bull, Injunctium Nobis, in 1565, about year after the close of the Council of Trent. It begins by repeating the Nicene Creed, and then goes on to re-affirm dogmas of the Church that were then being attacked by Protestants. For a long time thereafter it was used in reconciling Protestants who wished to return to the Church. Although seldom used any more, it has never been abrogated and remains one of the four Creeds of the Holy Mother Church.

Ego N. firma fide credo et profiteor omnia et singula, quae continentur in Symbolo, quo Sancta Romana ecclesia utitur, videlicet:

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri; per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.

Apostolicas et ecclesiasticas traditiones reliquasque eiusdem ecclesiae observationes et consitutiones firmissime admitto et amplector.

Item sacram Scripturam iuxta sensum eum, quem tenuit et tenet sancta mater Ecclesia, cuius et iudicare de vero sensu et interpretatione sacrarum Scripturarum, admitto, nec eam umquam nisi iuxta unanimem consensum Patrum accipiam et interpretabor.

Profiteor quoque septem esse vere et proprie Sacramenta novae legis, a Iesu Christo Domino nostro instituta, atque ad salutem humani generis, licet non omnia singulis, necessaria: scilicet Baptismum, Confirmationem, Eucharistiam, Poenitentiam, Extremam Unctionem, Ordinem et Matrimonium, illaque gratiam conferre, et ex his Baptismum, Confirmationem et Ordinem sine sacrilegio reiterari non posse.

Receptos quoque et approbatos ecclesiae catholicae ritus in supradictorum omnium Sacramentorum solemni administratione recipio et admitto.

Omnia et singula, quae de peccato originali et de iustificatione in sacrosancta Tridentina Synodo definita et declarata fuerunt, amplector et recipio.

Profiteor pariter, in Missa oferri Deo verum, proprium et propitiatorium sacrificium pro vivis et defunctis, atque in sanctissimo Eucharistiae Sacramento esse vere, realiter et substantialiter Corpus et Sanguinem, una cum anima et divinitate Domini nostri Iesu Christi, fierique conversionem totius substantiae panis in Corpus at totius substantiae vini in Sanguinem, quam conversionem Ecclesia catholica transsubstantiationem appellat. Fateor etiam sub altera tantum specie totum atque integrum Christum verumque Sacramentum sumi.

Constanter teneo, purgatorium esse, animasque ibi detentas fidelium suffragiis iuvari. Similiter et Sanctos, una cum Christo regnantes, venerandos atque invocandos esse, eosque orationes Deo pro nobis offerre, atque eorum reliquias esse venerandas.

Firmissime assero, imagines Christi ac Deiparae semper Virginis, necnon aliorum Sanctorum habendas et retiendas esse, atque eis debitum honorem et venerationem impertiendum.

Indulgentiarum etiam potestatem a Christo in Ecclesia relictam fuisse, illarumque usu christiano populo maxime salutarem esse affirmo.

Sanctam catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam romanam omnium ecclesiarum matrem et magistram agnosco, Romanoque Pontifici, beati Petri, Apostolorum principis, successori, ac Iesu Christi Vicario, veram obedientiam spondeo ac iuro.

Cetera item omnia a sacris canonibus et oecumenicis Conciliis, ac praecipue a sacrosancta Tridentina Synodo, et ab oecumenico Concilio Vaticano tradita, definita et declarata, praesertim de Romani Pontificis primatu et infallibili magesterio indubitanter recipio ac profiteor; simulaque contraria omnia, atque haereses quascumque ab Ecclesia damnatas et reiectas et anathematizatas ego pariter damno, reicio, et anathematizo.

Hanc veram catholicam fidem, extra quam nemo salvus esse potest, quam in praesenti sponte profiteor et veraciter teneo, eamdem integram, et inviolatam usque ad extremum vitae spiritum, constantissime, Deo adiuvante, retinere et confiteri, atque a meis subditis, vel illis, quorum cura ad me in munere meo spectabit, teneri, doceri et praedicari, quantum in me erit, curaturum, ego idem N. spondeo, voveo ac iuro. Sic me Deus adiuvet et haec sancta Dei Evangelia.

:

I, ( name ), with firm faith believe and profess all and everything which is contained in the creed of Faith, which the holy Roman Church uses, namely:

“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; born of the Father before all ages; God of God, light of light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven. And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary; and was made man. He was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. And on the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven. He sits at the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son; Who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified; Who spoke by the Prophets. And in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the world to come. Amen.

“The Apostolic and Ecclesiastical traditions and all other observances and constitutions of that same Church I most firmly admit and embrace.

“I likewise accept Holy Scripture according to that sense which our holy Mother Church has held and does hold, whose (office) it is to judge the true meaning and interpretation of Sacred Scriptures; I shall never accept nor interpret it otherwise than in accordance with the unanimous consent of the Fathers.

“I also profess that there are truly and properly seven Sacraments of the New Law instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord, and necessary for the salvation of mankind, although not all are necessary for each individual; these sacraments are Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Order, and Matrimony; and (I profess) that they confer grace, and that of these Baptism, Confirmation, and Order cannot be repeated without sacrilege. I also receive and admit the accepted and approved rites of the Catholic Church in the solemn administration of all the aforesaid Sacraments.

“I embrace and accept each and everything that has been defined and declared by the Holy Synod of Trent concerning original sin and justification.

“I also profess that in the Mass there is offered to God a true, proper sacrifice of propitiation for the living and the dead, and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly, really, and substantially present the Body and Blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that there takes place a conversion of the whole substance of bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood; and this conversion the Catholic Church calls Transubstantiation.

“I also acknowledge that under one species alone the whole and entire Christ and the true Sacrament are taken.

“I steadfastly hold that Purgatory exists, and that the souls there detained are aided by the prayers of the faithful; likewise that the Saints reigning together with Christ should be venerated and invoked, and that they offer prayers to God for us, and that their relics should be venerated.

“I firmly assert that the images of Christ and of the Mother of God ever Virgin, and also of the other Saints should be kept and retained, and that due honor and veneration should be paid to them; I also affirm that the power of indulgences has been left in the Church by Christ, and that the use of them is especially salutary for Christian people.

“I acknowledge the holy Catholic and apostolic Roman Church as the mother and teacher of all Churches; and to the Roman Pontiff, the successor of blessed Peter, Prince of Apostles and Vicar of Jesus Christ, I promise and swear true obedience.

“Also all other things taught, defined, and declared by the sacred Canons and Ecumenical Councils, and especially by the sacred and holy Synod of Trent (and by the Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, particularly concerning the Primacy of the Roman Pontiff and his infallible teaching,*) I without hesitation accept and profess; and at the same time all things contrary thereto, and whatever heresies have been condemned, and rejected, and anathematized by the Church, I likewise condemn, reject, and anathematize.

“This true Catholic faith, outside of which no one can be saved, (and) which of my own accord I now profess and truly hold, I (name) do promise, vow, and swear that I will, with the help of God, most faithfully retain and profess the same to the last breath of my life as pure and inviolable, and that I will take care as far as lies in my power that it be held, taught, and preached by my subjects or by those over whom by virtue of my office I have charge, so help me God, and these holy Gospels of God.”

"If you live not in the body which is Christ, you are none of His. Whose, then, are you? You have been cut off and will wither, and like the branch pruned from the vine, you will burn in the fire - an end which may God's goodness keep far from you. So little does the Roman Church stand alone, as you think, that in the whole world any nation that in its pride dissents from her is in no way a church, but a council of heretics, a conventicle of schismatics, and a synagogue of Satan." [ Pope Saint Leo IX ]

"To use the words of the fathers of Trent, it is certain that the Church 'was instructed by Jesus Christ and His Apostles and that all truth was daily taught it by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.' Therefore, it is obviously absurd and injurious to propose a certain 'restoration and regeneration' for her as though necessary for her safety and growth, as if she could be considered subject to defect or obscuration or other misfortune. Indeed these authors of novelties consider that a 'foundation may be laid of a new human institution,' and what Cyprian detested may come to pass, that what was a divine thing 'may become a human church.'" [Pope Gregory XVI, Mirari Vos, August 15, 1832.]

"Blind they are ...they pervert the eternal concepts of truth ...they are seen to be under the sway of a blind and unchecked passion for novelty ...despising holy and Apostolic Traditions they embrace other and vain, futile, uncertain doctrines, condemned by the Church." [ Pope Gregory XVI, Singular Nos, June 25, 1834. ]

SACRORUM ANTISTITUM ~ OATH AGAINST MODERNISM

Declared by His Holiness Pope Saint Pius X, September 1, 1910.

To be sworn to by all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors, and professors in philosophical-theological seminaries.

I . . . . firmly embrace and accept each and every definition that has been set forth and declared by the unerring teaching authority of the Church, especially those principal truths which are directly opposed to the errors of this day. And first of all, I profess that God, the origin and end of all things, can be known with certainty by the natural light of reason from the created world (see Romans 1:90 ), that is, from the visible works of creation, as a cause from its effects, and that, therefore, his existence can also be demonstrated: Secondly, I accept and acknowledge the external proofs of revelation, that is, divine acts and especially miracles and prophecies as the surest signs of the divine origin of the Christian religion and I hold that these same proofs are well adapted to the understanding of all eras and all men, even of this time. Thirdly, I believe with equally firm faith that the Church, the guardian and teacher of the revealed word, was personally instituted by the real and historical Christ when he lived among us, and that the Church was built upon Peter, the prince of the apostolic hierarchy, and his successors for the duration of time. Fourthly, I sincerely hold that the doctrine of faith was handed down to us from the apostles through the orthodox Fathers in exactly the same meaning and always in the same purport. Therefore, I entirely reject the heretical' misrepresentation that dogmas evolve and change from one meaning to another different from the one which the Church held previously. I also condemn every error according to which, in place of the divine deposit which has been given to the spouse of Christ to be carefully guarded by her, there is put a philosophical figment or product of a human conscience that has gradually been developed by human effort and will continue to develop indefinitely. Fifthly, I hold with certainty and sincerely confess that faith is not a blind sentiment of religion welling up from the depths of the subconscious under the impulse of the heart and the motion of a will trained to morality; but faith is a genuine assent of the intellect to truth received by hearing from an external source. By this assent, because of the authority of the supremely truthful God, we believe to be true that which has been revealed and attested to by a personal God, our creator and Lord.

Furthermore, with due reverence, I submit and adhere with my whole heart to the condemnations, declarations, and all the prescripts contained in the encyclical Pascendi and in the decree Lamentabili, especially those concerning what is known as the history of dogmas. I also reject the error of those who say that the faith held by the Church can contradict history, and that Catholic dogmas, in the sense in which they are now understood, are irreconcilable with a more realistic view of the origins of the Christian religion. I also condemn and reject the opinion of those who say that a well-educated Christian assumes a dual personality-that of a believer and at the same time of a historian, as if it were permissible for a historian to hold things that contradict the faith of the believer, or to establish premises which, provided there be no direct denial of dogmas, would lead to the conclusion that dogmas are either false or doubtful. Likewise, I reject that method of judging and interpreting Sacred Scripture which, departing from the tradition of the Church, the analogy of faith, and the norms of the Apostolic See, embraces the misrepresentations of the rationalists and with no prudence or restraint adopts textual criticism as the one and supreme norm. Furthermore, I reject the opinion of those who hold that a professor lecturing or writing on a historico-theological subject should first put aside any preconceived opinion about the supernatural origin of Catholic tradition or about the divine promise of help to preserve all revealed truth forever; and that they should then interpret the writings of each of the Fathers solely by scientific principles, excluding all sacred authority, and with the same liberty of judgment that is common in the investigation of all ordinary historical documents.

Finally, I declare that I am completely opposed to the error of the modernists who hold that there is nothing divine in sacred tradition; or what is far worse, say that there is, but in a pantheistic sense, with the result that there would remain nothing but this plain simple fact-one to be put on a par with the ordinary facts of history-the fact, namely, that a group of men by their own labor, skill, and talent have continued through subsequent ages a school begun by Christ and his apostles. I firmly hold, then, and shall hold to my dying breath the belief of the Fathers in the charism of truth, which certainly is, was, and always will be in the succession of the episcopacy from the apostles. The purpose of this is, then, not that dogma may be tailored according to what seems better and more suited to the culture of each age; rather, that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed to be different, may never be understood in any other way.

I promise that I shall keep all these articles faithfully, entirely, and sincerely, and guard them inviolate, in no way deviating from them in teaching or in any way in word or in writing. Thus I promise, this I swear, so help me God.

Compare...
Traditional Latin Mass

Atmosphere of Reverent Worship :
Peaceful, otherworldly atmosphere. Emphasis on individual 'lifting his heart & mind to God.' The faithful direct their prayer and attention to God, not each other."

Profound Reverence for His Real Presence :
Sixteen genuflections. The hands of the priest alone touch the consecrated host. Communion given only on tongue.

Fidelity to Catholic Doctrine :
Over the course of a year, all facets of Roman Rite Catholicism are presented.

Antiquity :
Bulk of Sunday prayers & their arrangement goes back at least to 300s and 400s AD. Canon essentially the same since Blessed Saint Ambrose ( 397 Anno Dómini ).

Stability :
Everything regulated by precise tradition to protect the purity of worship and doctrine.

Priest is Sacrificer:
Priest faces tabernacle, cross and altar ( symbolically toward God ). Priest performs all the actions & recites all the prayers of the Mass.

With....
Modern Mass at your parish

Social, Classroom, Entertainment Atmosphere :
Constant standing, sitting, amplified noise; atmosphere like a public meeting. Emphasis on 'instruction.' Socializing in church before & after service, and handshaking during.

Indifference, Irreverence towards Real Presence :
Only three genuflections required. Lay men & women distribute communion. Communion given in hand - a practice protestants introduced to deny Christ's Real Presence.

Systematic Omission of Catholic Doctrines :
New and or 'revised' prayers systematically omit all references to hell; judgment; punishment for sin; merits of the Saints; the One True Church; the souls of the departed; and heavenly miracles.

Novelty :
Traditional Sunday prayers omitted, or stripped of doctrines, and 'rearranged' from the 1960s to this day. Only 17% of old prayers remain. Chunks of ancient Canon are now 'optional'. The words of consecration, Christ's own words "For you and for many" have been changed. Three substitute 'Canons' invented & introduced in 1960s, with more invented later.

Constant Change :
Options, options and more options. Individual priests & parish liturgy committees get to pick, drop or invent texts to push whatever they think the faithful should believe.

Priest is "President", Actor :
Priest faces people instead of symbolically "toward God." Priest sits off to side. His functions given away to lay men and women whose hands have not been consecrated to hold the precious Body of Christ Jesus, nor have they been given the Holy Sacrament of Holy Orders to perform priestly duties.

THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE

"Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is mercy. Believe it firmly, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God." ~ Saint Isidore of Seville

As soon as Jesus rose from the dead and earned salvation for us, he brought his apostles a new gift. After speaking peace to them, he said, "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 20:21 ). Just as Jesus was sent by the Father to reconcile the world to God, Jesus sent the apostles to continue his mission.

Jesus then breathed on the apostles. This is a verse that is often passed over, but it has extraordinary significance because it is only the second time in all of Scripture where God breathes on anyone. The other instance was at the moment of creation, when God breathed his own life into the nostrils of Adam. This should tell us that something of great importance is taking place. Upon doing this, Jesus said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 20:22–23 ).

Notice that Jesus is not simply commissioning the apostles to preach about God’s forgiveness. He is not saying, "Go tell everyone that when God forgives men’s sins, they’re forgiven." In using the second person plural you, Jesus is telling his apostles that by the power of the Holy Spirit he has given them the power to forgive and retain the sins of men. Having the power to forgive and to retain sins implies that the apostle knows what a person’s sins are, which in turn implies oral confession. Otherwise, how is the apostle to know what to retain or forgive?

Consider the following early Christian writings from the first five centuries:

"Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure" ( Didache 4:14, 14:1 [ A.D. 70 ] ).

"[ Regarding confession, some ] flee from this work as being an exposure of themselves, or they put it off from day to day. I presume they are more mindful of modesty than of salvation, like those who contract a disease in the more shameful parts of the body and shun making themselves known to the physicians; and thus they perish along with their own bashfulness"(Tertullian, Repentance 10:1 [ A.D. 203 ] ).

"[ The bishop conducting the ordination of the new bishop shall pray: ] God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . pour forth now that power which comes from you, from your royal spirit, which you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and which he bestowed upon his holy apostles . . . and grant this your servant, whom you have chosen for the episcopate, [the power] to feed your holy flock and to serve without blame as your high priest . . . and by the Spirit of the high-priesthood to have the authority to forgive sins, in accord with your command" ( Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition 3 [ A.D. 215 ] ).

"Priests have received a power which God has given neither to angels nor to archangels. It was said to them: ‘Whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose, shall be loosed.’ Temporal rulers have indeed the power of binding; but they can only bind the body. Priests, in contrast, can bind with a bond which pertains to the soul itself and transcends the very heavens. Did [God] not give them all the powers of heaven? ‘Whose sins you shall forgive,’ he says, ‘they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.’ What greater power is there than this? The Father has given all judgment to the Son. And now I see the Son placing all this power in the hands of men" ( Saint John Chrysostom, The Priesthood 3:5 [ A.D. 387 ] ).

EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

Prayers before Confession

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

A Review of the Ten Commandments

Preliminary

Besides telling the nature of your sins, you must also recollect, as far as possible, the number of times you have committed them, telling also ( and only ) those circumstances which at times may either make a venial sin mortal or a mortal sin notably worse.

1. Have I ever failed to confess a serious sin or disguised it?
2. Have I been guilty of irreverence for this sacrament by failing to examine my conscience carefully?
3. Have I failed to perform the penance given me by the confessor or disobeyed any of his directions?
4. Have I neglected the Easter duty of receiving Holy Communion or failed to confess my sins within a year?
5. Have I any habits of serious sin to confess first (impurity, drunkenness, etc.)?
6. Have I improved on cutting down these habitual sins or is one confession after another sound like the same? If so, what can I resolve to improve?

First Commandment : I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me

1. Am I ignorant of my catechism ( Act of Contrition, Apostle's Creed, Ten Commandments, Seven Sacraments, the Our Father )?
2. Have I willfully doubted or denied any of the teachings of the Church ( heresy )?
3. Have I taken active part in any non-Catholic worship?
4. Am I a member of any anti-Catholic or any secret society?
5. Have I knowingly read any anti-Catholic literature or watched an anti-Catholic film or program or listened to anti-Catholic rhetoric?
6. Have I practiced any superstitions (horoscopes, fortune tellers, etc.)?
7. Have I failed to defend my Faith when it was attacked or have I remained silent for fear of being rebuked?

Second Commandment : Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain

1. Have I used God's name in vain by way of profanity?
2. Have I condoned others who use profanity by my silent approval?
3. Have I murmured or complained against God (blasphemy)?
4. Have I maligned priests or others consecrated to God without just reason?
5. Have I sworn by God's name (oath) either falsely or rashly?
6. Have I broken any vow to God either public or private?
7. Have I rationalized myself around a vow by cutting corners?

Third Commandment : Keep holy the Lord's Day

1. Have I missed Mass on Sundays or holydays through my own fault?
2. Have I been late for Mass through my own negligence?
3. Do I realize it is a venial sin to miss any part of the Mass?
4. Do I realize being really late for Mass is a mortal sin and my only alternative is to wait and go to another Mass?
5. Have I been inattentive at Mass or otherwise failed in reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament?
6. Have I done unnecessary servile work (physical labor) or shopping on Sunday?
7. Have I eaten flesh meat on Friday (especially on Good Friday) or on Ash Wednesday or the assigned vigil fast days?
8. Have I obeyed the laws of the Church on fast and abstinence?

Fourth Commandment : Honor thy Father and Mother

1. Have I been disrespectful to my parents or neglected them?
2. Have I failed in obedience or reverence to others in authority?
3. Have I mistreated my wife or children?
4. Have I been disobedient or disrespectful to my husband?
5. Regarding my children:

-Have I neglected their material needs?
-Have I failed to care for their early Baptism or their proper religious instruction?
-Have I allowed them to neglect their religious duties?
-Have I tolerated their keeping questionable company or steady dating without chaperones?
-Have I otherwise failed to discipline them?
-Have I given them bad example in any way?
-Have I let boys and girls sleep together or with their parents?
-Have I interfered with their freedom to marry or follow a religious vocation?

Fifth Commandment : Thou shalt not kill

1. Have I placed any one's life in danger?
2. Have I threatened any one's life in anger?
3. Have I condoned or promoted abortion?
4. Have I condoned or tolerated others who promote abortion?
5. Have I taken pleasure in anyone's misfortune?
6. Have I jeopardized others by my driving recklessly?
7. Have I used contraceptives thus preventing life?
8. Have I been sympathetic to those contemplating suicide?

Sixth & Ninth Commandments : Thou shalt not commit adultery and Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife

1. Have I committed adultery or fornication?
2. Have I jeopardized my marriage by flirting or untoward glances and advances toward the opposite sex?
3. Have I denied my spouse his or her marriage rights?
4. Have I practiced birth control?
5. Have I abused my marriage rights in any other way?
6. Have I touched or embraced another impurely?
7. Have I sinned with others of the same sex?
8. Have I committed masturbation or otherwise sinned impurely with myself?
9. Have I harbored lustful desires for anyone?
10. Have I indulged in other impure thoughts?
11. Have I failed to dress modestly?
12. Have I done anything to provoke or occasion impure thoughts in others?
13. Have I read indecent literature or looked at indecent pictures or websites?
14. Have I watched suggestive films or television programs?
15. Have I permitted my children or others under my charge to do these things?
16. Have I used indecent language or told indecent stories?
17. Have I willingly listened to such stories?
18. Have I boasted of my sins?
19. Have I condoned promiscuity by my silent consent of the actions of others?
20. Have I sinned against chastity in any other way?
21. Do I realize my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and must be treated as such?
22. Do I realize that there are more souls in hell for the sins of the flesh than any other sin? How seriously do I take that and what can I do to become more chaste?

Seventh & Tenth Commandments : Thou shalt not steal and Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods

1. Have I stolen anything?
2. Have I damaged anyone's property through my own fault?
3. Have I cheated or defrauded others?
4. Have I refused or neglected to pay any just debts?
5. Have I neglected my duties or been slothful in my work?
6. Have I refused or neglected to help anyone in urgent necessity?
7. Have I failed to make restitution?
8. Have I harmed the good name or reputation of others in any way?

Eighth Commandment : Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor

1. Have I lied about anyone ( calumny )?
2. Have I rash judged anyone of a serious sin?
3. Have I engaged in gossip (detraction) or spread scandal?
4. Have I lent an ear to scandal about my neighbor?
5. Have I been jealous or envious of anyone?
6. Have I taken pleasure in anyone's misfortune?
8. Have I quarreled with any one and caused scandal?
2. Have I cursed anyone or otherwise wished evil on him?
7. Is there anyone to whom I refuse to speak or be reconciled?

OTHER SINS :

1. Have I knowingly caused others to sin?
2. Have I cooperated in the sins of others?
3. Have I sinned by gluttony?
4. Have I become intoxicated?
5. Have I misused liquor or narcotics?
6. Have I been motivated by avarice?
7. Have I indulged in boasting or vain glory?
8. Have I received Holy Communion or another sacrament in the state of mortal sin?
9. Is there any other sin I need to confess?

Take time to thoroughly go over the list before you travel to church to go to confession. Once at church or in line for confession, recall the sins you have examined, and sincerely say the following prayer:

Prayer to the Holy Ghost

Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

For inspiration, read how Christ forgives from the Cross (Blessed Apostle Saint Luke 23:33-34), the story of Mary Magdalen and the Parable of The Two Debtors ( Blessed Apostle Saint Luke 7:36-50), and the Parable of the Prodigal Son ( Blessed Apostle Saint Luke 15:11-32 ). See also Saint Ephraem's "Homily on the Sinful Woman."

To be a Roman Rite Catholic you must believe the body of Jesus Christ is present in each consecrated wafer ( Holy Eucharist ); that the sacrifice of Calvary is repeated at every Mass; and that he gives Himself to us in the form of Holy Communion to sustain His creation ( you ) as His tabernacle.

Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle or through exposition :

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is a wonderful devotion that adores Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. Through a deeper love and closer relationship with Jesus, you acquire the strength, healing and peace to make it through your pilgrimage of life and to achieve your ultimate goal - Heaven and the Beatific Vision.

In many ways, Our Lord, is calling us to worship and receive Him in the Eucharist. He speaks this desire in many ways: through the Pope and the Magisterium of the Church, in the Bible ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 6 ), through his Blessed Mother in approved Marian apparitions, through the testimonies of Saints and Martyrs, through Eucharistic miracles, through Church approved messages given by Jesus by Divine Revelation, through our souls who long for Jesus in Communion, and through our suffering world which is in much need of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Unfortunately many of us disbelieve or have grown indifferent towards Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

COMMUNION IN THE HAND BY ONE NOT CONSECRATED

REMAINS A PROHIBITED AND CONDEMNED ABOMINATION

WITHIN THE HOLY AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH

"Communion in the hand" is a Protestant innovation foisted upon the Roman Rite Catholic world in the name of false ecumenism. The Novus Ordo practice of communion in the hand is rooted in the rejection of the Catholic doctrine on the Holy Eucharist and the denial of the Catholic priesthood.

The Church has condemned communion in the hand from the early centuries :

Pope Saint Sixtus ( 115-125 ). Prohibited the faithful from even touching the Sacred Vessels: "Statutum est ut sacra vasa non ab aliis quam a sacratis Dominoque dicatis contrectentur hominibus..." [It has been decreed that the Sacred Vessels are not to be handled by others than by those consecrated and dedicated to the Lord.]

Pope Saint Eutychian ( 275-283 ). Forbade the faithful from taking the Sacred Host in their hand.

Saint Basil The Great, Doctor of The Church ( 330-379 ). "The right to receive Holy Communion in the hand is permitted only in time of persecution." Saint Basil considered Communion in the hand so irregular that he did not hesitate to consider it a grave fault.

COUNCIL OF SARAGOSSA ( 380 ). It was decided to punish with EXCOMMUNICATION anyone who dared to continue the practice of Holy Communion in the hand. The Synod of Toledo confirmed this decree.

Pope Saint Leo The Great ( 440-461 ). Energetically defended and required faithful obedience to the practice of administering Holy Communion on the tongue of the faithful.

SYNOD OF ROUEN (650). Condemned Communion in the hand to halt widespread abuses that occurred from this practice, and as a safeguard against sacrilege.

SIXTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, AT CONSTANTINOPLE (680-681). Forbade the faithful to take the Sacred Host in their hand, threatening the transgressors with excommunication.

Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). "Out of reverence towards this sacrament [ the Holy Eucharist ], nothing touches it, but what is consecrated; hence the corporal and the chalice are consecrated, and likewise the priest's hands, for touching this sacrament." ( Summa Theologica, Pars III, Q. 82, Art. 3, Rep. Obj. 8 ).

COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545-1565). "The fact that only the priest gives Holy Communion with his consecrated hands is an Apostolic Tradition."

Pope Paul VI ( 1963-1978 ). "This method [on the tongue] must be retained." (Apostolic Epistle "Memoriale Domini" ).

Pope John Paul II. "To touch the sacred species and to distribute them with their own hands is a privilege of the ordained. ( Dominicae Cenae, sec. 11)

"It is not permitted that the faithful should themselves pick up the consecrated bread and the sacred chalice, still less that they should hand them from one to another." ( Inaestimabile Donum, April 17, 1980, sec. 9).

The Sacrifice of the Eucharist as the central act of worship of the Roman Rite Catholic Church. The "Mass" is a late form of mission (sending), from which the faithful are sent to put into practice what they have learned and use the graces they have received in the Eucharistic liturgy. The Mass cannot be understood apart from Calvary, of which it is a re-presentation, memorial, and effective application of the merits gained by Christ.

"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." ( Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew 26:26-28 ).

Pope Pius XII with Tiara and Sedalia

"The use of the Latin language, customary in a considerable section of the Church, is a manifest and beautiful sign of unity, as well as an effective antidote for any corruption of doctrinal truth." ~~ Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Mediator Dei #60, November 20, 1947

Traditional Holy Mass Propers For

† SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, SUPREME KING †

Missa Dignus est Agnus qui occísus est, accípere virtútem, et divinitátem et sapiéntiam, et fortitúdinen, et honórem

( "The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive the power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor" )
26 October 2008 Anno Dómini

"....our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places...."

"All whatsoever you do in word or work, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord"--- Blessed Apostle Saint Paul

"Let it not be as a murderer or a thief, a malefactor or a coveter of other men's goods that any of you suffer; but if it is for the name of Christian, let him be not ashamed, but glorify God in that name." --- Blessed Apostle Saint Peter ( First Epistle 4:15-16 )

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~~ Philippians 2:5-11

Color: Albus/White Vestments ~ Double of the First Class Observance

A very special 'Thank you' to the ASU.edu; fisheaters.com; Friends of Fatima; catholic.org; saintpatrickdc.org; and saints.sqpn.com, for edited commentaries and resources related to the presentation of today's Proper. Additional sources: Saint Andrew Daily Missal and the 1945 Marian Missal

Feast of
Christ the King

God made promises to Father Abraham and King David. These promises are revealed in Genesis 22:16-18 and II Kings 7:10-19 respectively:

Genesis 22:16-18

By my own self have I sworn, saith the Lord: because thou hast done this thing, and hast not spared thy only begotten son for my sake: I will bless thee, and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is by the sea shore: thy seed shall possess the gates of their enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice.

II Kings 7:10-19

And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before, from the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to thee, that the Lord will make thee a house. And when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and if he commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. But my mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before my face. And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever. According to all these words and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David.

And David went in, and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? But yet this hath seemed little in thy sight, O Lord God, unless thou didst also speak of the house of thy servant for a long time to come: for this is the law of Adam, O Lord God.

These prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, Who is King of Israel ("Christ" means "Anointed One," and the anointing referred to is the anointing King David received). Our Lord, though, is not only the ruler of the restored Davidic Kingdom (the Church), but is the King of Kings -- the King of All. The only way for peace to have a chance in this world is for all to see Him for Who He is: the King before Whom we must bow and Whom we must obey.

Though this Feast is a new one, promulgated by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in his Encyclical Quas Primas, it is a most awesome and important one! Vive Christus Rex!

On this day, we pray for the conversion of all to Christ, and for all governments to recognize Him as King and conform their laws to His teachings. This is the only way to peace!

Apocalypse 19:15-16 :

And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp two-edged sword, that with it he may strike the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God the Almighty. And he hath on his garment and on his thigh written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Today may receive a plenary indulgence by praying the Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart, going to Confession, and receiving the Eucharist. We beg God to bring all people to Him and to be our King. Read more about this on the page about Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. There will be a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass, too.

If you haven't consecrated your home by Enthronement of the Sacred Heart, today is another perfect day to do so! If you've already done so, it is a good day to renew the consecration!

Note: In the Novus Ordo, this Feast was moved from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday of the Season after Pentecost, which is the Sunday before Advent Sunday. The effect of this is to interrupt the relationship between the reign of Christ with His Saints, who are commemorated en masse on 1 November, and the necessity of our recognizing His Kingship now, during this "thousand years" of the Church Age. With the Feast moved to the very last Sunday in the Time After Pentecost, it leads one to believe that Christ isn't King now, and that all persons and nations don't need to recognize Him as King now -- but that He will be recognized as King only at the end of time when He reveals Himself at His Second Advent. In other words, the moving of the Feast symbolically defeats the very purpose of the Feast, which is to not only honor the very fact of His Kingship, but to pray for the conversion of all people and nations to His Church so that souls will be saved and the social order will conform to the moral law.

We adore thee, O Most Holy Trinity, and on our knees, we humbly ask your blessing, for by thy cross thou hast redeemed the many.

For God so loved the faithful that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but have everlasting life. ~~ Blessed Apostle Saint John 3:16

Introitus ~ Introit
Apocalypse V:XII, I ~ 5: 12, 1

Dignus est Agnus qui occísus est, accípere virtútem, et divinitátem et sapiéntiam, et fortitúdinen, et honórem. Ipsi glória et impériun in sæcula sæculórum. Psalm 71:1 Deus, judícium tuum Regi da: et justítiam tuam Fílio Regis. v. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancti sicut erat in principio et nunc, et semper, et saecula saeculorum. Amen. Repeat : Dignus est Agnus qui occísus est, accípere virtútem, et divinitátem et sapiéntiam, et fortitúdinen, et honórem....

T he Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive the power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor: to Him be glory and empire for ever and ever. ( Psalm 71:1 ) Give to the King, O God, Thy judgment, and to the King's Son Thy justice. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat :The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive the power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor....

ORATIO ~ COLLECT

Omnípotens sempitérne, Deus, qui in dilécto Fílio tuo, universórum Rege, ómnia instauráre voluísti: concéde propítius; ut cunctæ famfíliæ Géntium, peccáti vúlnere disgregátæ, ejus suavíssimo subdántur império: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per Dóminum.

Collect For The Intercession Of
The Blessed Virgin Mary

Deus, qui de beátæ Maríæ Vírginis útero Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiánte, carnem suscípere voluísti: præsta supplícibus tuis; utqui vere eam Genitricem Dei crédimus, ejus apud to intercessiónibus adjuvémur. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Collect For The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Pmnípotens sempítérne, Deus, da nobis fidei, spei, et caritátis augméntum: et ut mereámur ássequi quod promíttis, fac nos amáre quod præcipis. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum. Amen.

Collect For The Intercession Of The Saints

Acunctis nos quæsumus Dómine mentis et córporis defénde perículis: et intercedénte beáta et gloriósa semper Vírgine Dei Genitrice María, cum beáto Joseph, beátis Apóstolis tuis Petro et Paulo, et ómnibus Sanctis, salútem nobis tríbue benígnus et pacem; ut destrúctis adversitátibus et erróribus univérsis, Ecclésia tua secúra tibi sérviat libertáte. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Collect For The Living and the Dead

Omnipotens sempiterna Deus, qui vivorum dominaris simuesse praenoscis: te supplices exoramus; ut, pro quibus effundere preces decrevimus, quosque vel praesens saeculum adhuc in carne retinet, vel futurum jam exutos corpore suscepit, intercedentibus omnibus Sanctis tuis, pietatis tuae clementia omnium delictorum suorum veniam consequantur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Collect for God's Holy Church

Ecclésiæ tuæ, quæsumus, Dómine, preces placátus admítte: ut, destrúctis adversitát-ibus et erróribus univérsis, secura tibi sérviat libertáte. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

A lmighty and eternal God, Who hast wished to restore all things through Thy beloved Son, the King of the universe, graciously grant that all the families of the Gentiles separated by the wound of Sin, may be subjected to His most loving dominion, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God.

Collect For The Intercession Of
The Blessed Virgin Mary

O God, Who didst will that at the message of an angel Thy word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary: grant that we, Thy suppliants, who believe her to be truly the mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with Thee, through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Collect For The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of Faith, Hope and Charity: and that we may deserve to obtain what Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Collect For The Intercession Of The Saints

D efend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from all dangers of mind and body: and through the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, ever Virgin, mother of God, of Saint Joseph, of Thy holy apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, in Thy loving-kindness grant us safety and peace; that, all adversities and errors being overcome, Thy Church may serve Thee in security and freedom.

Collect For The Living and the Dead

O Almighty and Eternal God, Who hast dominion over both the living and the dead, and hast mercy on all Whom Thou knowest shall be Thine by faith and good works: we humbly beseech Thee that all for whom we have resolved to make supplication whether the present world still holds them in the flesh, or the world to come has already received them out of the body, may, through the intercession of all Thy saints, obtain of Thy goodness and clemency pardon for all their sins, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost; One God; forever and ever, Amen.

Collect For God's Holy Church

Graciously hear, O Lord, the prayers of Thy Church that, having overcome all adversity and every error, she may serve Thee in security and freedom.

Epístolæ ¤ Colossenses I:XII-XXX ~ Epistle ¤ Colossians 1:12-30

Léctio Pauli Apóstolii ad Colossenses.

Fratres: Grátias ágimus Deo Patri, qui dignos nos fecit in partem sortis sanctórum in lúmine, qui erípuit nos de potestáte tenebrárum, et tránstulit in regnum Fílii dilectiónis sua, in quo habémus redemptiónem per sánguinem ejus, remissiónem peccatórum. Qui est imágo Dei invisíbilis, primogénitus ómnis creatúræ; quóniam in ipso cóndita sunt univérsa in coelis et in terra, visibília et invisibília, sive throni, sive dominatiónes principátus, sive potestátes: ómnia per ipsum et in ipso creáta sunt: et ipse est ante omnes, et ómnia in ipso constant. Et ipse est caput córporis Ecclésiæ, qui est princípium, primogénitus ex mórtuis: ut sit in ómnibus ipse primátum tenens: quia in ipse complácuit omnem plenitúdinem inhabitáre; et per eum reconciliáre ómnia, in ipsum, pacífican's per sánguinem crucis ejus, sive quæ in terris, sive quæ in coelis sunt, in Christo Jesu Dómino nostro.

Lesson from the Epistle of Blessed Apostle Saint Paul to the Colossians.

Brethren, we give thanks to God the Father, Who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins; Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature for in Him were all things created in Heaven and on earth visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and in Him. And He is before all, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the Church. Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He may hold the primacy: because in Him it hath well pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; and through Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in Heaven, in Christ Jesus Our Lord.

GRADUAL : ¤ Psalm LXXI:XXXIII-XXXVII ~ 71:33-37

Dominábitur a mari usque ad mare, et a flumine usque ad términos orbis terrárum. v. Et adorábunt eum omnes reges terræ: omnes Gentes sérvient ei. Allelúja, allelúja. v. Daniel 7:14 Potéstas ejus, potéstas ætérna, quæ non auferétur: et regnum ejus, quod non corrumpétur. Allelúja.

He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. v. And all kings of the earth shall adore Him: all nations shall serve Him. Alleluia, alleluia. v. Daniel 7:14 His power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away: and His kingdom that shall not be destroyed. Alleluia.

EVANGELIUM ~ GOSPEL - Blessed Apostle Saint Joannem XVIII:XXXIII-XXXVII ~ John 18:33-37

† Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum. †
I n illo témpore: Dixit Pilátus ad Jesum: Tu es Rex Judæórum? Respóndit Jesus: "A temetípso hoc dicis, an alii dixérunt tibi de me?" Respóndit Pilátus: Numquid ego Judæus sum? Gens tua, et pontífices tradidérunt te mihi: quid fecisti? Respóndit Jesus: "Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo. Si ex hoc mundo esset regnum meum, minístri mei útiquè decertárent ut non tráderer Judeis: nunc autem regnum meum non est hint." Dicit ítaque ei Pilátus: Ergo Rex es tu? Respóndit Jesus: "Tu dicis, quia Rex sum Ego. Ego in hoc natus sum, et ad hoc veni in mundum, ut testimónium perhíbeam veritáti: omnis qui est ex veritáte, audit vocem Meam."

† A reading from the Holy Gospel by Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew †
A t that time, Pilate said to Jesus: Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered: "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me?" Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the chief priests, have delivered thee up to me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now My kingdom is not from hence." Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: "Thou sayest that I am a King. For this was I born, and for I this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth, Everyone that is of the truth, heareth My voice."

Homily For The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
October 23, 2005 Anno Domini

by Father Louis J. Campbell
"Qui legit, intelligat"
"He who readeth, let him understand"

To Know, to Love, Christ the King

With all the storms raging against body and soul these days, these are truly times of fear and trepidation for those who do not have the faith to trust totally in Jesus Christ and His promises of healing and comfort. To those who believe all He imparted it is the silver lining that spurs them on to hope in everlasting life.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Absolute Truth, Infinite Love, and Supreme Good entered our world at the Incarnation of the Son of God. At that moment, Jesus, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was already Christ the King. But although the Gospel has been preached for two thousand years, Jesus Christ is scarcely known, and loved little, and His Kingship is denied by the world.

Yes, throughout history Jesus has been the subject of the most sublime artistic works, and of innumerable books, movies and plays, many of them by the "enemies of the cross of Christ" ( Philippians 3:18 ), and His Name is constantly on the lips of the profane, but He reveals Himself only to His faithful disciples, as Blessed Apostle Saint John says in his first letter: "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And everyone who loves Him Who begot, loves also the one begotten of Him" (1 Blessed Apostle Saint John 5:1 ), and "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know Him" ( 1 Blessed Apostle Saint John 3:1 ). Jesus Himself berated His adversaries: "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would then know My Father also" ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 8:19 ).

Those who believe in Christ must obey His commands and seek Baptism, submitting themselves to His Church. Blessed Apostle Saint Peter compares Baptism to Noah's ark: "In that ark a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water. Its counterpart, Baptism, now saves you also… through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; Who is at the right hand of God, swallowing up death that we might be made heirs of eternal life…" (1 Blessed Apostle Saint Peter 3:20-22 ).

Contrary to the new un-biblical and un-traditional teaching that everyone in the world was justified at the Incarnation of the Son of God and have no need for Baptism, and that all are following different paths on their way to the "common Homeland," Christ Himself teaches: "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 3:3 ), and, "Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 3:5-6 ).

Clearly, then, only those born again in the waters of Christian Baptism are "spirit," while the un-baptized are "flesh." Our Lord sent His Apostles to preach to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ( Blessed Apostle Saint Matthew 28:19 ). How, then, shall the peoples of the earth believe and obey Christ the King unless the Church carries out its mandate to preach the Gospel. Sadly, the Conciliar Church preaches a "gospel of love" of merely human dimensions, a love attainable by all men of every religion or no religion, whether baptized or not, whether or not they know Jesus Christ, the King of Love, from Whom alone the Spirit of Love is given by the Father, as Jesus promised: "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said to you" ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 14:26 ).

Recently Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican permanent observer at the United Nations, gave an address to a Commission of the UN General Assembly in which he said:

"Religious freedom… is a condition for the pursuit of goodness and true happiness… The recognition of the primacy of the individual conscience, open to the truth, is basic to the dignity of the human person. The Holy See continues to draw strength from this conviction in defending vigorously freedom of conscience and religious liberty, at both the individual and societal level" ( New York, Oct.27, 2004 Zenit.org).

This represents a shameful sellout of the Catholic Church and its rights - and of the rights of Christ the King. This is the new doctrine of religious freedom officially taught by the Conciliar Church since Vatican II. But one is unable to make a valid choice between religions before hearing the Gospel, and having heard the Gospel, one is not free to choose between the revealed truth of the Gospel and the false religions and philosophies of this world, but is bound in conscience to choose the truth. There is no such thing as religious freedom, in the sense that one is in conscience free to choose between the various religions, as though the false religions could lay claim to the same authenticity as the one true religion of Jesus Christ.

Just as we are free to do good and not to do evil, we are free only to choose the truth. It is a misunderstanding of freedom to think that we are free to choose between truth and falsehood. We become free in choosing the truth, whereas if we choose falsehood we become enslaved. "If you abide in My word," says Jesus, "you shall be My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" ( Blessed Apostle Saint John 8:31-32 ). Those who reject Christ the King will end up choosing to follow the Antichrist.

"There was once a time," says Pope Leo XIII, "when States were governed by the philosophy of the Gospel. Then it was that the power and divine virtue of Christian wisdom had diffused itself throughout the laws, institutions, and morals of the people, permeating all ranks and relations of civil society. Then, too, the religion instituted by Jesus Christ, established firmly in befitting dignity, flourished everywhere, by the favor of princes and the legitimate protection of magistrates; and Church and State were happily united in concord and friendly interchange of good offices. The State, constituted in this wise, bore fruits important beyond all expectation, whose remembrance is still, and always will be, in renown, witnessed to as they are by countless proofs which can never be blotted out or ever obscured by any craft of any enemies…

"In the same way," says Pope Leo, "the Church cannot approve of that liberty which begets a contempt of the most sacred laws of God, and casts off the obedience due to lawful authority, for this is not liberty so much as license, and is most correctly styled by St. Augustine the 'liberty of self ruin,' and by the Apostle St. Peter the 'cloak of malice.' Indeed, since it is opposed to reason, it is a true slavery, 'for whosoever committeth sin is the slave of sin.' On the other hand, that liberty is truly genuine, and to be sought after, which in regard to the individual does not allow men to be the slaves of error and of passion, the worst of all masters; which, too, in public administration guides the citizens in wisdom and provides for them increased means of well-being; and which, further, protects the State from foreign interference" (Pope Leo XIII, Immortale Dei, On the Christian Constitution of States, 21,37, Nov. 1, 1885).

The wise words of Pope Leo XIII prompt us to pray, as we do today, with the Church: "Almighty and everlasting God, You have willed to restore all things in Your beloved Son, the King of the whole creation; mercifully grant that all families of nations that have been disunited by the wound of sin may become subject to His most sweet dominion. Amen." †

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

OFFERTORIUM ~ OFFERTORY ¤ Psalm II:VIII ~ 2:8

Póstula a me, et dabo tibi Gentes hereditátem tuam, et possessiónem tuam términos terræ.

Ask of Me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.

SECRETA ~ SECRET

Hóstiam tibi, Dómine, humánæ reconciliatiónis offérimus: præsta, quæsumus; ut quem sacrifíciis præséntibus immolámus, Ipse cunctis Géntibus unitátis et pacis dona concédat, Jesus Christus, Fílius tuus Dóminus noster: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per Dóminum.

Secret For The Blessed Virgin Mary

In méntibus nóstris, quæsumus, Dómine, veræ fídei sacraménta confírma: ut, qui concéptum de Vírgine Deum verum et hóminem confitémur; per ejus salutíferæ resurrectiónis poténtiam, ad ætérnam mereámur perveníre lætítiam. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Secret For The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Propitiáre, Dómine, pópulo tuo, propitiáre munéribus: ut hac oblatióne, plácatus, et indulgéntiam nobis tríbuas, et postuláta concédas. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum.

Secret For The Intercession Of The Saints

Exaudi nos, Deus salutaris noster : ut per hujus sacramenti virtutem, a cunctis nos mentis et corporis hostibus tuearis; gratiam tribunes in praesenti, et gloriam in futuro. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Secret For The Living and the Dead

Deus, Cui soli cogniuts est numerus electorum in superna felicitate locandus: tribue quaesumus; ut, intercedentibus omnibus Sanctis Tuis, universorum, quos in oratione commendatos suscepimus , et omnium fidelium nomina, beatae praedestinationis liber adscripta retineat. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Secret for God's Holy Church

Prótege nos, Dómine, tuis mystériis serviéntes: ut divínis rebus inhæréntes, et córpore tibi famulémur et mente. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

O Lord, we offer Thee this host for the reconciliation of humanity; grant, we beseech Thee, that Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Whom we immolate in this sacrifice, will bestow on all Gentiles the gifts of unity and peace, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Secret For The Blessed Virgin Mary

May this victim, we beseech Thee, O Lord, cleanse away our sins, sanctifying Thy servants in both soul and body for the celebration of this sacrifice, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Secret For The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Look graciously, O Lord, upon Thy people: graciously look upon our gifts,that, being appeased by this offering, Thou mayest both grant us pardon, and give us what we ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Secret For The Intercession Of The Saints

Graciously hear us, O God our Savior, and by the virtue of this sacrament protect us from all enemies of soul and body, bestowing on us both grace in this life and glory hereafter. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Secret For The Living and the Dead

O Almighty and Eternal God, O God, Who alone knowest the number of the elect to be admitted to the happiness of Heaven, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of all Thy saints, the names of all who have been recommended to our prayers and of all the faithful, may be inscribed in the book of blessed predestination. Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries; that, fixed upon things divine we may serve Thee in both body and mind, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost; One God; forever and ever, Amen.

Secret For God's Holy Church

Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries, that, cleaving to things divine, we may serve Thee both in body and in mind.

PREFACE OF CHRIST THE KING

Vere dignum et justum est, æqum et salutáre, nos tibi semper, et ubique grátias ágere: Dómine sancte, Pater omnípotens, ætérne Deus. Qui unigénitum Fílium tuum Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Sacerdótem ætérnum et universórum Regem, óleo exsultatiónis unxísti: ut seípsum in ara crucis, hóstiam immaculátam et pacíficam, ófferens, redemptiónis humánæ sacraménta perágeret: et suo subjéctis império ómnibus creatúris, ætérnum et universále regnum imménsa tuæ tráderet Majestáti: regnum veritátis et vitæ; regnum sanctitátis et grátiæ; regnum justítiæ, amóris et pacis. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dominatiónibus, cumque omni milítia cæléstis exercitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus, sine fine dicéntes. SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS...

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God Who didst anoint with the oil of gladness Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Priest and King of the universe: that, offering Himself as a stainless peace-offering on the altar of the cross, He might fulfill the pledges of man's redemption; and, having all creatures subject to His power, might deliver to Thy sublime majesty an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life; a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace. And therefore with the angels and archangels, with the thrones and domination, and with all the array of the Heavenly host, we sing a hymn to Thy glory and unceasingly repeat: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...

COMMUNIO ¤ Psalm XXVIII:X-XI ~ COMMUNION ¤ Psalm 28:10-11

Sedébit Dóminus Rex in ætérnum: Dóminus benedícet pópulo suo in pace.

The Lord shall sit King forever. The Lord will bless His people with peace.

POSTCOMMUNIO ~ POSTCOMMUNION

Immortalitátis alimóniam consec-úti, quæsumus, Dómine: ut, qui sub Christi Regis vexíllis militáre gloriámur, cum Ipso, in coelésti sede, júgiter regnáre possímus: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per Dóminum.

Postcommunion For The Blessed Virgin Mary

Trátiam tuam quæsumus, Dómine, méntibus nostris infúnde: ut qui, Angelo nuntiánte, Christi Fílii tui incarnatiónem cognóvimus: per passiónem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perducámur. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Postcommunion For The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Sumptis Dómine, cæléstibus sacraméntis, ad redemptiónis ætérnæ, quæsumus, proficiámus augméntum.Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum.

Postcommunion For The Intercession Of The Saints

Mundet et múniat nos quáesumus Dómine dívini sacraménti munus oblátum: et intercedénte beáta Vírgine Dei Genitríce María, cum beáto Joseph, beátis Apóstolis tuis Petro et Paulo, et ómnibus Sanctis; a cunctis nos reddat et pervérsitátibus expiátos, et advérsitátibus expedítos. Per eúmdem Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fiiium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Postcommunion For The Living and the Dead

Purificent nos, quaesumus, Omnipotens et misericors Deus, sacramenta quae sumpsimus : et, intercedentibus omnibus Sanctis tuis, praesta; ut hoc tuum sacramentum non sit nois reatus ad poenam, sed intercession salutaris ad veniam : sit ablution scelerum, sit fortitude fragilium sit contra omnia mundi pericula firmamentum ; sit vivorum atque mortuorum fidelium remissio omnium delictorum. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Postcommunion for God's Holy Church

Quæsumus, Dómine Deus noster, ut quos divína tribuis participatióne gaudére, humánis non sinas subjacére perículis. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fiiium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus, Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Fed with this immortal nourishment, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we who glory to fight under the standard of Christ the King, may forever reign with Him on the heavenly throne. Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.

Postcommunion For The Blessed Virgin Mary

Merciful God, who ceasest not to lavish upon us the riches of Thy sacraments; grant that we may ever draw near to Thine Altar with deepest reverence and with faith unwavering, through the Lord.

Postcommunion For The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

Having received the sacraments, O Lord, we pray Thee, by the intercession of blessed Matthew, Thine apostle and evangelist, that what has been celebrated for his glory may profit for the healing of our souls. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.

Postcommunion For The Intercession Of The Saints

Graciously hear us, O God our Savior, and, by virtue of this Sacrament, defend us from all enemies of soul and body, bestowing upon us Thy grace here and Thy glory hereafter.

Postcommunion For The Living and the Dead

May the sacraments which we have received purify us, we beseech Thee, O almighty and merciful Lord; and through the intercession of all Thy saints, grant that this Thy sacrament may not be unto us a condemnation, but a salutary intercession for pardon; may it be the washing away of sin, the strength of the weak, a protection against all dangers of the world, and a remission of all the sins of the faithful, whether living or dead, through the Lord.

Postcommunion for God's Holy Church

Protect us, O Lord, who assist at Thy mysteries, that, cleaving to things divine, we may serve Thee both in body and in mind.

PRAYER OVER THE MANY

Inclinantes se, Domine, majestati Tuaee, propitiatus intende; ut, Qui divino munere sunt refecti, caelestibus semper nutriantur auxiliis. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum. Qui vivis et regnas in cum Deo Patri in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, unum Deum. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

L ook down, O Lord, in Thy mercy, upon those who bow before Thy majesty; that they who are refreshed by Thy divine gift may ever be sustained by heavenly aid, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with You Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God; for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

V. Sit Nomen Domini benedictum.
R. Ex hoc nunc, et usque in saeculum.
V. U Adjutorium nostrum in Nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit cœlum et terram.
V. Benedicat vos, Omnipotens Deus:
V. Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus, descendat super vos, et maneat semper.
R. Amen.

V. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.
R. Now and for ever more.
V. U Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
R. Who made Heaven and earth.
V. May Almighty God bless thee:
V. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, descend upon thee, and always remain with thee.
R. Amen.

† - Holy Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us. - †

Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, Save us.

Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, Save us.

Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, Save us.

Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, Save us.

Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, Save us.

Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Price of our salvation, Save us.

Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, Save us.

Blood of Christ, river of mercy, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Victor over demons, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Courage of martyrs, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Strength of confessors, Save us.

Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Help of those in peril, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Relief of the burdened, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Solace in sorrow, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Hope of the penitent, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Consolation of the dying, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Peace and Tenderness of hearts, Save us.

Blood of Christ, Pledge of Eternal Life, Save us.

Blood of Christ, freeing souls from Purgatory, Save us.

Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, Save us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood, And made of us a kingdom for our God.

Let Us Pray:

Almighty and Eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily adore This Sacrifice for our salvation, and through Its Power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in Heaven. Through the will of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

Source: Treasury of Novenas, Father Lawrence G. Lovasik

CALENDAR of the SAINTS

26 October 2008 Anno Dómini

"....and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ~ ~ Apocalypse

Α ☧ Ω

Blessed Adalgott of Dissentis

A monk of Einsiedeln, became abbot of Dissentis Monastery in Switzerland in 1012.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Alanus and Saint Aldrus

5th century. Both Saint Alanus and Saint Aldrus were bishops of Quimper in Brittany. No reliable particulars have come down to us about them, except that they enjoyed a popular and liturgical cult from early ages.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Albinus of Buraburg

Also known as :

Albuin

Witta

Wittan of Buraburg or Fritzlar

The Irish or Anglo-Saxon monk of Iona named Witta had his name latinized to Albinus (white) when setting out as a fellow-worker with Saint Boniface to convert Germany. In 741, Saint Boniface consecrated Albinus bishop of Buraburg (Fritzlar) in Hesse, where he is still venerated. In Germany, he became known as Wittan.

Α ☧ Ω

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Alfred the Great

King of Wessex, scholar, and renowned Christian monarch. Alfred was born in 849, the fifth son of the Wessex king. During a journey to Rome in 853, he was accepted as a godson by Pope Leo IV . He was a great scholar, translating classics for his people, and early on seemed destined for a career in the Church. Instead, he became king and was forced to spend most of his reign in conflict with the Danes who were then threatening England. His work as a patron of the arts, literature, and especially the Church made him a beloved figure in England.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Amandus of Strasburg

Also known as :
Amand of Strasburg

Amatius of Strasburg

Amantius of Strasburg

First bishop of Strasburg.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Amandus of Worms

Fourth century bishop of Worms, Germany.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Aneurin

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Bean

On December 16, there is named in the Roman Martyrology and in certain Irish calendars a Saint Bean in Ireland, who had been confused with the St. Bean whose feast is still observed in the Scottish diocese of Aberdeen, but on October 26, as founder of the bishopric of Mortlach in Banff which was the forerunner of that of Aberdeen. Nothing else is known about him. The fourteenth century chronicler Fordun, states that he was made bishop by Pope Benedict VIII, at the request of Malcolm Canmore, who is said to have founded an episcopal monastery at Mortlach. If true, this would be between 1012 and 1024; but the See of Mortlach is generally said to date from 1063. St. Bean's dwelling place is supposed to have been at Balvanie, near Mortlach (Bal-beni-mor, "the dwelling of Bean the Great").

Α ☧ Ω

Blessed Bonaventura of Potenza

Also known as :

Bonaventure of Potenza

Carlo Antonio

Karl Antonius

Friar Minor Conventual at Nocera. Home missioner in southern Italy. Noted novice master. Died 26 October 1711 of natural causes while singing a psalm during a religious ecstasy.

Beatified : 26 November 1775 by Pope Pius VI (cultus confirmed).

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Cedd

day formerly celebrated on January 7. Cedd was raised together with his brother Saint Chad. He became a monk at Lindisfarne and in 653 was sent with three other priests to evangelize the Middle Angles when their King Peada was baptized by Saint Finan of Lindisfarne in 653 at the court of his father-in-law, Oswy of Northumbria.

After working in that field for a time he was called to harvest a new one in East Anglia (Essex), when King Sigebert was converted and baptized by Finan. He and another priest travelled throughout the midlands to evaluate the situation. Then Cedd returned to Lindisfarne to confer with Finan, who consecrated him bishop of the East Saxons in 654. Cedd returned to Essex and spent the rest of his life with the Saxons--building churches, founding monasteries (at Bradwell-on-the-Sea (Ythancaestir, Othona), Tilbury, and Lastingham), and ordaining priests and deacons to continue the work of evangelization.

Lastingham, originally called Laestingaeu, was built in 658 on a tract of inaccessible land in Yorkshire donated by King Ethelwald of Deira. Here Cedd spent 40 days in prayer and fasting to consecrate the place to God according to the custom of Lindisfarne, derived from Saint Columba. All three of the monasteries he built were destroyed by the Danes and never restored.

He attended the Synod of Whitby in 664, where he accepted the Roman observances, and died of the plague at Lastingham, Yorkshire. At the news of his death, 30 of his brethren among the East Saxons came to Lastingham to consecrate their lives where their holy father in faith had ended his. But they, too, were all killed by the same plague, except one unbaptized boy, who lived to become a priest and zealous missionary.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Cuthbert

Benedictine archbishop of Canterbury. He was a monk at Lyminge, in Kent, England, until about 736, when he was appointed the bishop of Hereford. About 740, he became the archbishop of Canterbury. He is remembered as one of Saint Boniface’s correspondents in England.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint

Α ☧ Ω

Blessed Damian dei Fulcheri

Also known as :

Damian of Finario

Damian of Fulcheri

Damian of Finale

Damian of Finarium

Damiano

Damianus

Born to wealthy Italian nobility. Kidnapped as an infant by a mentally ill man, his parents prayed fervently to the Virgin Mary for help; searchers were led to his hiding place by a miraculous light, and the baby was returned unharmed. Joined the Dominicans at Savona, Italy. Priest. Famous preacher throughout Italy with hundreds converted during his missions. Known as a miracle worker in life, there were miracles reported at his tomb, and he became the object of popular devotion almost immediately on his death.

Α ☧ Ω

Blessed Dominic Doan (Xuyen)

Born in Tonkin; died 1839; beatified in 1900. Dominic, member of the Dominican order, was beheaded with Blessed Thomas Du.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Eadfrid of Leominster

Founder of Leominster Priory and a priest of Northumbria and Mercia, England.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Eata of Hexham

Died c. 686. It is impossible to write about Eata, the 7th century English saint, without going back to Saint Aidan, and from Saint Aidan to Saint Paulinus of York, and from Saint Paulinus to Saint Augustine (Austin) of Canterbury, and from Saint Augustine to Saint Gregory the Great who began this chain reaction. Nor should we forget the Venerable Bede without whose Ecclesiastical History we would never have heard of Saint Eata, nor Saint Cuthbert, who was Eata's close friend.

In the 7th century, England was divided into the Heptarchy, seven independent kingdoms in none of which was Christianity firmly established. At the request of Saint Oswald, king of Northumbria, Saint Aidan had gone from Iona to Lindisfarne--the Holy Island--and from there had begun to evangelize the northern parts of England. Aidan himself and many of his monks came originally from Ireland and therefore followed the Celtic usages which differed in many ways from those of Rome.

Pope Saint Gregory's plan was to send a properly organized group to England, rather than rely on the isolated efforts of the northern missionaries. The man he chose was the prior of a monastery that he had founded in Rome, Saint Augustine of Canterbury. In 596, he landed in Kent with a group of 40 monks.

They had to start from nothing, but fortunately they quickly enlisted the support of Bertha, the wife of King Saint Ethelbert--just as Saint Paulinus won the support of Saint Ethelburga, sister of Eadbald, and Saint Remigius won that of Saint Clotilde, wife of Clovis. Augustine received the 'pallium' and became the first archbishop of England, establishing his see at Canterbury.

At the time of Augustine's death, which took place shortly after that of Gregory the Great, relations between the Roman and Celtic churches were still strained. Apart from their differences over usage and organization, the situation was complicated by the resentment felt by some of the Celts towards the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes who only a relatively short while before had driven them out of their own country and persecuted their religion. So it was left to a number of saints, among them Eata, to effect a union between the Celtic and Roman Christians, their personal saintliness persuading the ones to abate their racial pride and the others to make concessions.

The first saint who went to Northumbria was a Roman, Saint Paulinus, who had been sent by Gregory the Great to assist Saint Augustine of Canterbury. The next one was the Celtic Saint Aidan, who had established his monastery at Lindisfarne and who also founded a monastery at Ripon. It was at Ripon that Eata, who had been born an Anglo-Saxon and was one of the 12 English boys brought to Northumbria by Saint Aidan, was educated in the Celtic observance. When Saint Wilfrid arrived at Ripon, Eata left it to become abbot at Melrose, which was attached to Lindisfarne.

As a result of the Synod of Whitby, which was held in 664, the Roman usage was extended throughout England. Eata accepted the Roman liturgical observances.

Saint Colman, who had succeeded Saint Aidan as abbot of Lindisfarne refused to accept the decision and withdrew from his position. Reportedly he requested that Saint Eata take his place. At the same time Saint Cuthbert became prior, and they both fully accepted the Roman usage and liturgy.

In 678 Theodore, who had been consecrated in Rome as the new archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Saint Vitalian, met Eata in York and at once consecrated him as bishop of Bernicia. It was a wise choice, for Eata quickly showed himself to be worthy of his office. He and Saint Cuthbert were often together, travelling from Melrose to Ripon and to Lindisfarne. Later Eata and Cuthbert exchanged sees, and Eata became bishop of Hexham, where he remained until his death.

Saint Eata seems to have been a kind and gentle man, more so even than Cuthbert, and vastly more so than Colman or that other saint, Wilfrid, who quarreled so violently with Theodore. He died in 686 and was buried in the Benedictine Abbey of Hexham. There is a legend that when, in 1113, plans were made to disinter his body and take it to York, he appeared in a dream to the archbishop of York and told him to leave his mortal remains in peace.

Α ☧ Ω

Pope Saint Evaristus

Also known as : Aristus

Born in Bethlehem, Palestine; died c. 105-107. Evaristus was born like his Savior in Bethlehem. A Hellenic Jew, he was converted to Christianity and eventually reached Rome. There he accepted the dangerous office of pope, after the death of the fourth pope, Saint Clement, between the years 96- 100.

Saint Evaristus contributed to the growing organization of the Church. He is credited with the establishment of cardinal priests. He divided Rome into seven parishes, then appointed seven deacons to serve the city, just as the early apostles did to serve the poor of Jerusalem.

Evaristus conferred holy orders three times in December, when ordinations traditionally took place for moral and mystical reasons (according to Amalarius). Others say that ordinations took place during Advent because the bishops had more free time give proper attention to this important function, and because holy orders were always conferred during the seasons of fasting and prayer.

There is no direct evidence that Evaristus died a martyr's death, though most martyrologies list him as such. It is not unbelievable, however, because virtually any prominent Christian in the early centuries of the Church was likely to be brutally put to death because of his beliefs.

Papal Ascension : 99 A.D.

Died : 107 and buried in the Vatican near Blessed Apostle Saint Peter.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Felicissimus

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Florius

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Fulk

Bishop of Pavia, Italy, born in Piacenza, of Scottish descent. After studying in Paris, France, he became the bishop of Piacenza and was then sent to Pavia by Pope Honorius III.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Gaudiosus of Salerno

Seventh century bishop of Salerno.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Gibitrudis

Nun at Faremoutiers-en-Brie. Spiritual student of Saint Fara.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Gwinoc

Son of Saint Aneurin. Sixth century Welsh monk and poet.

Α ☧ Ω

Blessed Humbert

Seventh-eight century Benedictine monk at Fritzlar, Hesse. Prior at Buraburg.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Lucian

Spent his early life as a demon worshipper and sorcerer. When a Christian woman fended off his spells simply by making the Sign of the Cross, he gave up his idolatrous life and converted to Christianity. He turned his devotion to study of magic to a study of the faith, and like many a convert, spent the rest of his days explaining and working against the error of his earlier life. Martyred 250 A.D.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Marcian

A devil worshiper who converted to the Church and was martyred 250 A.D.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Quadragesimus

Shepherd. Deacon at Policastro, Salerno, Italy. According to Saint Gregory the Great, he raised a dead man to life.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Quodvultdeus

Fifth century North African church father. Known to have been living in Carthage c.407. Deacon c.421. Friend, spiritual student and correspondent with Saint Augustine of Hippo who dedicated some of his writings to Quodvultdeus. Bishop of Carthage. When Carthage was invaded by Arian Vandals under Genseric, Quodvultdeus and the bulk of his priests were loaded onto non-seaworthy ships and sent into exile, and an Arian patriarch was installed as bishop. Though they should have sank, the shop carried the Quodvultdeus and his men to safety to Naples. Quodvultdeus continued his ministry, fought the Pelagian heresy in Campagna, but never made it back to North Africa. The Arians would not permit a Catholic bishop to be appointed to Carthage for the next 15 years.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Rogatian

Martyr. A priest in Carthage, he was apparently martyred with a layman named Felicissimus. He is revered as a martyr on the basis of Saint Cyprian’s observation that they had “witnessed a good confession for Christ,” traditionally one of the euphemisms for martyrdom.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Rusticus

Bishop of Narbonne. Born at Narbonne or Marseille, in Gaul, he was the son of Bishop Bonosus and became a gifted preacher in Rome before entering the monastic life at Lerins, France. In 427, he was named bishop of Narbonne, enduring much upheaval in his diocese owing to the spread of Arianism and the advance of the Germanic tribes which were then besieging parts of Gaul. He asked to be permitted to resign, but Pope Leo I the Great convinced him to remain. He thus took part in the Council of Ephesus which condemned Nestorianism. He also built the cathedral at Narbonne.

Α ☧ Ω

Saint Sigibald of Metz

Died c. 740. As bishop of Metz from 716 to about 740, Sigibald promoted learning, built schools and abbeys (notably Neuweiter and Saint-Avold), and ably administered his see.

Α ☧ Ω

CHINESE MARTYRS

Prayerfully dedicated to the courageous and loyal
Faithful of China,
where
Holy Mother Church
has been sustained
on the sacrifice, arrest, torture, imprisonment and
blood of
Holy Martyrs.

VIETNAMESE MARTYRS

Prayerfully dedicated to the courageous, loyal and persecuted
Faithful of Vietnam,
where
Holy Mother Church
has been sustained
on the sacrifice, arrest, torture, imprisonment and
murder of
Holy Martyrs.

A Litany of the Martyrs of Vietnam

Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.

God the father of heaven;
God the son, redeemer of the world;
God the Holy Spirit;
Holy Trinity, one God;

Holy Mary;
Queen of martyrs;
Queen of all saints;

Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

Have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us.
Have mercy on us.

Pray for us.
Pray for us.
Pray for us.
Pray for us.

Saint Matthew Alonso Leciniana, pray for us. ~ January 22, 1745
Saint Francis Gil de Federich, pray for us. ~ January 22, 1745
Saint Hyacinth Castaneda, pray for us. ~ November 7, 1773
Saint Vincent Le Quang Liem, pray for us. ~ November 7, 1773
Saint Emmanuel Nguyen Van Trieu, pray for us. ~ September 17, 1798
Saint John Dat, pray for us. ~ October 28, 1798
Saint Peter Le Tuy, pray for us. ~ October 11, 1833 Saint Francis Isidore Gagelin, pray for us. ~ October 17, 1833
Saint Paul Tong Viet Buong, pray for us. ~ October 23, 1833
Saint Andrew Tran Van Trong, pray for us. ~ November 28, 1835
Saint Joseph Marchand, pray for us. ~ November 30, 1835
Saint John Charles Cornay, pray for us. ~ September 20, 1837
Saint Francis Xavier Can, pray for us. ~ November 20, 1837
Saint Francis Do Van Chieu, pray for us. ~ June 25, 1838
Saint Dominic Henares, pray for us. ~ June 25, 1838
Saint Vincent Do Yen, pray for us. ~ June 30, 1838
Saint Joseph Nguyen Dinh Uyen, pray for us. ~ July 4, 1838
Saint Peter Nguyen Ba Tuan, pray for us. ~ July 15, 1838
Saint Clement Ignatius Delgado, pray for us. ~ July 21, 1838
Saint Joseph Fernandez, pray for us. ~ July 24, 1838
Saint Bernard Vu Van Due, pray for us. ~ August 1, 1838
Saint Dominic Nguyen Van Hanh, pray for us. ~ August 1, 1838
Saint Anthony Nguyen Dich, pray for us. ~ August 12, 1838
Saint Michael Nguyen Huy My, pray for us. ~ August 12, 1838
Saint James Do Mai Nam, pray for us. ~ August 12, 1838
Saint Joseph Dang Dinh Vien, pray for us. ~ August 21, 1838
Saint Joseph Hoang Luong Canh, pray for us. ~ September 5, 1838
Saint Peter Nguyen Van Tu, pray for us. ~ September 5, 1838
Saint Francis Jaccard, pray for us. ~ September 21, 1838
Saint Thomas Tran Van Thien, pray for us. ~ September 21, 1838
Saint Vincent Nguyen The Diem, pray for us. ~ November 24, 1838
Saint Peter Dumoulin Borie, pray for us. ~ November 24, 1838
Saint Peter Vo Dang Khoa, pray for us. ~ November 24, 1838
Saint Peter Truong Van Duong, pray for us. ~ December 18, 1838
Saint Paul Nguyen Van My, pray for us. ~ December 18, 1838
Saint Peter Vu Van Truat, pray for us. ~ December 18, 1838
Saint Dominic Vu Dinh Tuoc, pray for us. ~ April 2, 1839
Saint Augustine Phan Viet Huy, pray for us. ~ June 12, 1839
Saint Nicholas Bui Duc The, pray for us. ~ June 12, 1839
Saint Dominic Dinh Dat, pray for us. ~ July 18, 1839
Saint Thomas Dinh Viet Du, pray for us. ~ Nov. 26, 1839
Saint Dominic Nguyen Van Xuyen, pray for us. ~ Nov. 26, 1839
Saint Thomas Nguyen Van De, pray for us. ~ December 19, 1839
Saint Francis Xavier Ha Trong Mau, pray for us. ~ December 19, 1839
Saint Augustine Nguyen Van Moi, pray for us. ~ December 19, 1839
Saint Stephen Nguyen Van Vinh, pray for us. ~ December 19, 1839
Saint Dominic Bui Van Uy, pray for us. ~ December 19, 1839
Saint Andrew Tran An Dung Lac, pray for us. ~ December 21, 1839
Saint Peter Truong Van Ti, pray for us. ~ December 21, 1839
Saint Peter Nguyen Van Hieu, pray for us. ~ Apr. 28, 1840
Saint Paul Pham Khac Khoan, pray for us. ~ April 28, 1840
Saint John Baptist Dinh Van Thanh, pray for us. ~ April 28, 1840
Saint Joseph Do Quang Hien, pray for us. ~ May 9, 1840
Saint Luke Vu Ba Loan, pray for us. ~ June 5, 1840
Saint Thomas Toan, pray for us. ~ June 27, 1840
Saint Anthony Nguyen Huu Quynh, pray for us. ~ July 10, 1840
Saint Peter Nguyen Khac Tu, pray for us. ~ July 10, 1840
Saint Dominic Trach, pray for us. ~ September 18, 1840
Saint John Baptist Con, pray for us. ~ November 8, 1840
Saint Paul Nguyen Ngan, pray for us. ~ November 8, 1840
Saint Joseph Nguyen Dinh Nghi, pray for us. ~ November 8, 1840
Saint Martin Ta Duc Thinh, pray for us. ~ November 8, 1840
Saint Martin Tho, pray for us. ~ November 8, 1840
Saint Simon Phan Dac Hoa, pray for us. ~ December 12, 1840
Saint Agnes Le Thi Thanh, pray for us. ~ July 12, 1841
Saint Peter Khanh, pray for us. ~ July 12, 1842
Saint Matthew Le Van Gam, pray for us. ~ May 11, 1847
Saint Augustine Schoeffler, pray for us. ~ May 1, 1851
Saint John Louis Bonnard, pray for us. ~ May 1, 1852
Saint Philip Phan Van Minh, pray for us. ~ July 3, 1853
Saint Joseph Nguyen Van Luu, pray for us. ~ May 2, 1854
Saint Andrew Nguyen Kim Thong, pray for us. ~ July 15, 1855
Saint Lawrence Nguyen Van Huong, pray for us. ~ February 13, 1856
Saint Paul Le Bao Tinh, pray for us. ~ April 6, 1857
Saint Michael Ho Dinh Hy, pray for us. ~ May 22, 1857
Saint Peter Doan Van Van, pray for us. ~ May 25, 1857
Saint Joseph Mary Diaz Sanjurjo, pray for us. ~ July 20, 1857
Saint Melchior Garcia Sampedro, pray for us. ~ July 28, 1858
Saint Francis Tran Van Trung, pray for us. ~ October 6, 1858
Saint Dominic Ha Trong Mau, pray for us. ~ November 5, 1858
Saint Dominic Pham Trong Kham, pray for us. ~ January 13, 1859
Saint Luke Pham Trong Thin, pray for us. ~ January 13, 1859
Saint Joseph Pham Trong Ta, pray for us. ~ January 13, 1859
Saint Paul Le Van Loc, pray for us. ~ February 13, 1859
Saint Dominic Dinh Cam, pray for us. ~ March 11, 1859
Saint Paul Hanh, pray for us. ~ May 28, 1859
Saint Emmanuel Le Van Phung, pray for us. ~ July 31, 1859
Saint Peter Doan Cong Quy, pray for us. ~ July 31, 1859
Saint Thomas Khuong, pray for us. ~ January 30, 1860
Saint Joseph Le Dang Thi pray for us. ~ October 24, 1860
Saint Peter Francis Neron, pray for us. ~ Novemeber 3, 1860
Saint John Theophane Venard, pray for us. ~ February 2, 1861
Saint Peter Nguyen Van Luu, pray for us. ~ April 7, 1861
Saint Joseph Tuan, O.P., pray for us. ~ April 30, 1861
Saint John Doan Trinh Hoan, pray for us. ~ May 26, 1861
Saint Matthew Nguyen Van Phuong, pray for us. ~ May 28, 1861
Saint Peter Almato Ribera, pray for us. ~ November 1, 1861
Saint Valentine Berrio Ochoa, pray for us. ~ November 1, 1861
Saint Jerome Hermosilla, pray for us. ~ November 1, 1861
Saint Stephen Theodore Cuenot, pray for us. ~ November 14, 1861
Saint Joseph Nguyen Duy Khang, pray for us. ~ December 6, 1861
Saint Joseph Tuan, pray for us. ~ January 7, 1862
Saint Lawrence Ngon, pray for us. ~ May 22, 1862
Saint Joseph Tuc, pray for us. ~ June 1, 1862
Saint Dominic Ninh, pray for us. ~ June 2, 1862
Saint Paul Duong, pray for us. ~ June 3, 1862
Saint Dominic Huyen, pray for us. ~ June 5, 1862
Saint Dominic Toai, pray for us. ~ June 5, 1862
Saint Peter Dinh Van Dung, pray for us. ~ June 6, 1862
Saint Vincent Duong, pray for us. ~ June 6, 1862
Saint Peter Thuan, pray for us. ~ June 6, 1862
Saint Dominic Mao, pray for us. ~ June 16, 1862
Saint Dominic Nguyen, pray for us. ~ June 16, 1862
Saint Dominic Nhi, pray for us. ~ June 16, 1862
Saint Andrew Tuong, pray for us. ~ June 16, 1862
Saint Vincent Tuong, pray for us. ~ June 16, 1862
Saint Peter Da, pray for us. ~ June 17, 1862

All holy men and women, intercede for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world; Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world; Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world; Have mercy on u us.