Source: From Sept. 2012 Solemn Charge

1. It has been too long (or never) since I have gone to confession, and I am afraid of that first part (It has been _______ since my last confession).
It seems many people are just plain afraid of telling someone that they haven’t been to confession in a long time (or never). If you have been struggling with this, know that the priest is acting in “In Persona Christi”, which means in the Person of Christ. Jesus wants you to come to Him no matter how long you have been away from Him. Remember the story of the prodigal son? The son took all of his inheritance and left his father’s house to live a depraved life, wasting the inheritance. The son returned looking for a job from his father. The father welcomed him back home and treated him like a king, forgiving the son and rejoicing that he returned. Jesus is the same way. He will always accept you with open and welcoming arms. The priest will mirror this. While he might remind you that it is important to confess regularly, he will gladly hear your confession because he wants you to rebuild your relationship with Christ. Be at peace, no matter how long you have been away, it is always better to return as soon as you can. The priest will not judge you for being away. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. You aren’t the only one with this dilemma, and you probably won’t be the person who has been away the longest that the priest has ever heard. Even if you are, that will most likely mean that the priest will give even more thanks to God for having the opportunity to welcome you back into the fold.

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Interview excerpt with Bishop Athanasius Schneider – Auxiliary of Astana in Kazakhstan
Full text of the interview can be accessed at http://www.lms.org.uk/news-and-events/interview-with-bishop-athanasius-schneider

‘To my knowledge and experience, the deepest wound in the actual crisis of the Church is the Eucharistic wound; the abuses of the Blessed Sacrament.

‘Many people are receiving Holy Communion in an objective state of mortal sin…This is spreading in the Church, especially in the western world. There people very rarely go to Holy Communion with a sufficient preparation.

‘Some people who go to Holy Communion live in irregular moral situations, which do not correspond to the Gospel. Without being married, they go to Holy Communion. They might be divorced and living in a new marriage, a civil marriage, and they go nevertheless to Holy Communion. I think this is a very, very grievous situation.

‘There is also the question of the objectively irreverent reception of Holy Communion. The so-called new, modern manner of receiving Holy Communion directly into the hand is very serious because it exposes Christ to an enormous banality.

‘There is the grievous fact of the loss of the Eucharistic fragments. No one can deny this. And the fragments of the consecrated host are crushed by feet. This is horrible! Our God, in our churches, is trampled by feet! No one can deny it.

‘And this is happening on a large scale. This has to be, for a person with faith and love for God, a very serious phenomenon.

‘We cannot continue as if Jesus as God does not exist, as though only the bread exists. This modern practice of Communion in the hand has nothing to do with the practice in the ancient Church. The modern practice of receiving Communion in hand contributes gradually to the loss of the Catholic faith in the real presence and in the transubstantiation.

‘A priest and a bishop cannot say this practice is ok. Here is at stake the most holy, the most divine and concrete on Earth.’

Traveling Portable Altars
http://www.stjosephsapprentice.com

 – Made from top grade Hemlock

– Contains two felt lined drawers for a mass kit (kit not included)

– Includes installation of your altar stone

– Meets most airline carry-on size and weight requirements

– Actual measurement: 22″x 14″x 9″ inches, with typical altar stone.
– 44 inches wide when fully opened
–
– Two drawers 10″x 8.5″x 5″ each to store a traveling mass – Hand engraved and gold painted IHS on front

– A perfect gift for your favorite traditional priest for Father’s Day!

Check out Fr. Z’s review here. Photo credit: St. Joseph’s Apprentice via Fr. Zuhlsdorf

Started as a Facebook group, We Are Praying for Priests was formed as a tribute to Bona F. Mangabat, who loved to pray and give support for priests. She died on May 7, 2011, and her daughter, Kisset (Heart Margarita), continued her legacy in supporting by prayers not only priests, but also religious, deacons and seminarians. By taking advantage of social media networks (primarily through facebook), the group has grown considerably in size. As of today, May 7, 2014, the group already has 6,854 members composed of both clergy and lay faithful coming from different countries all over the globe. Facebook postings vary from news articles about priests to special sacerdotal anniversary greetings. Oftentimes, prayer requests are also posted. On certain weeks, their facebook cover photo page highlights various communities of priests and religious.

On the occasion of their third anniversary, one of the group administrators, Chinkee Herrera, created the logo above. A symbol of prayer, which the group focuses on. Rosary symbolizes the prayer which the Blessed Virgin Mary has taught to help priests in their ministry. The stole represents the bonds and fetters which Jesus was bound during his Passion and Death. It is the sign which denotes the duty of the priest to spread the word of God. The hand above the praying hands denotes the sign of Jesus blessing as seen in most pictures and images. MMXI represents the roman numerals for 2011, the year We Are Praying for Priests was formed. Everyone is encouraged to check out any of the links below and join!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/prayforpriests/
http://prayingforpriests.tumblr.com/

As we can all recall, Chick-Fil-A was the center of controversy as they were accused of “forcing their religious views” on others when president Dan Cathy made his political leanings known regarding gay marriage.  You’ll never guess what the once demonized business is now forcing Continue reading →

We human beings like to be independent. Indeed, there is a legitimate independence which can motivate us to accomplish important duties for the good by industrious work and diligence. However, it is in our fallen human nature to want to push our independence to the extreme. For example, how easy it is for that self-reliant work ethic to become stubborn self-will, despite even our best intentions.

Read more here.

Recommendation to families the wonderful book published by our American bishops in the last few years entitled Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers (revised edition August 2007).  On page 134-136 for February 2^nd you will find the following:

Receiving Blessed Candles at Home

On February 2^nd, forty days after Christmas, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (see Lk 2:22-40).  Because it echoes the Christmas festival, this day is a celebration of light in darkness.  Its Gospel tells of the old man Simeon’s calling the infant Jesus a “light to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.” 

For centuries, the Church has blessed candles on this day.  Because of its simplicity and beauty, candles are used when the Church gathers for prayer, both in public places and in the home.  Candles blessed at the Mass for this feast day may be brought into the home. . .  These candles are lighted at ordinary times (at dinner, for example) and at special times such as during the Anointing of the Sick, or when Holy Communion is brought to a member of the family. 
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Understanding When to Kneel, Sit, and Stand at a

Traditional Latin Mass

A Short Essay on Mass Postures by Richard Friend

The author, a married father of three boys, lives in Southern California where he promotes the Traditional Latin Mass. He developed a love for the traditional liturgy through exposure to the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey, culminating in a rediscovery of the timeless beauty of the Mass of his birth.

Understanding when to kneel sit and stand (1)