"CUM GRANDE HUMILITATE!"

"Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words."

A special "Thank you!"
Goes out to
John Michael Talbot
for giving us permission
to use his song on our
"Come to the Quiet"
You Tube Video
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Showing posts with label St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish Richmond Indiana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish Richmond Indiana. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Starting Today! 9 Days For Life Novena

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Image result for groups of babies


May the tragic practice of abortion end. Prayers Our Father, 3 Hail Mary's,
Glory Be
Reflection At every stage and in every circumstance, we are held in existence
by never diminishes the value of a human life. God does not call us to 
perfection of God’s love. The presence of an illness, disability, or other 
challenging situation own lives and the lives of others as true gifts. 
Abortion tragically rejects the appearance or abilities, but to perfection in 
love. Christ invites us to embrace our all those involved. But Christ came 
that we “might have life and have it more truth that every life is a good and
 perfect gift, deserving protection. This violent practice ends the life of a 
human being at its very beginning and horribly wounds opened to the 
incredible beauty of every human life. Acts of Reparation (Choose
abundantly” (John 10:10), taking on human flesh for the sake of our 
redemption. May our culture experience the power of God’s transforming 
love, that all eyes may be one.) Take a break from television and movies 
today. Consider spending some of that cherish and protect this gift, even 
in the midst of fear, pain, and suffering. Give time praying with today’s 
reflection. Pray the short prayer “Every Life is Worth Living,” reflecting 
on the gift of human life. (Also available to order or download.) Heavenly 
Father, thank you for the precious gift of life. Help us to us love for all 
people, especially the most vulnerable, and help us bear witness to you feel
 called to do for today’s intention, the truth that every life is worth living. 

Grant us the humility to accept help when we are in need, and teach us to
be merciful to all. Through our words and actions, may others encounter
the outstretched hands of Your mercy. We ask this through Christ, our
Lord. Amen.
Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that


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Monday, January 20, 2020

It Is I Who Continues To Crucify Christ

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Even the devils were not solely responsible for crucifying Jesus; it was you who crucified him with them and you continue to crucify him by taking pleasure in your vices and sins.

Saint Francis of Assisi
The Admonitions




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Holy Humility

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St. Francis, seeing the charity of the brothers and Brother Masseo's humility, gave them a wonderful sermon on holy humility, teaching them that the greater gifts and graces which God gives us, the greater is our obligation to be more humble, because without humility no virtue is acceptable to God.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Little Flowers of St. Francis



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Vatican Prelate: U.S. Bishops Abandoned Pro-Life Teachings

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Exclusive Interview: Leading Vatican Prelate Says Document of US Bishops Partly to Blame for Election of “Most Pro-Abortion President”

Also says Bishops’ Catholic News Service needs to be given "some new direction"

By Hilary White, Rome Correspondent

ROME, January 28, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A document of the US Catholic Bishops is partly to blame for the abandonment of pro-life teachings by voting Catholics and the election of the “most pro-abortion president” in US history, one of the Vatican’s highest officials said in an interview with LifeSiteNews.com.

Archbishop Raymond Burke, the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, named a document on the election produced by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops that he said “led to confusion” among the faithful and led ultimately to massive support among Catholics for Barack Obama.

The US bishops’ document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” stated that, under certain circumstances, a Catholic could in good conscience vote for a candidate who supports abortion because of "other grave reasons," as long as they do not intend to support that pro-abortion position.

Archbishop Burke, the former Archbishop of St. Louis Mo. and recently appointed head of the highest ecclesiastical court in the Catholic Church, told LifeSiteNews.com that although “there were a greater number of bishops who spoke up very clearly and firmly ... there was also a number who did not.”

But most damaging, he said, was the document “Faithful Citizenship” that “led to confusion” among the voting Catholic population.

“While it stated that the issue of life was the first and most important issue, it went on in some specific areas to say ‘but there are other issues’ that are of comparable importance without making necessary distinctions.”
Archbishop Burke, citing an article by a priest and ethics expert of St. Louis archdiocese, Msgr. Kevin McMahon, who analysed how the bishops’ document actually contributed to the election of Obama, called its proposal “a kind of false thinking, that says, ‘there’s the evil of taking an innocent and defenceless human life but there are other evils and they’re worthy of equal consideration.’

“But they’re not. The economic situation, or opposition to the war in Iraq, or whatever it may be, those things don’t rise to the same level as something that is always and everywhere evil, namely the killing of innocent and defenceless human life.”

Archbishop Burke also cited the work of the official news service of the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference, that many pro-life observers complained soft-pedalled the newly elected president’s opposition to traditional morality.

“The bishops need to look also at our Catholic News Service, CNS, they need to review their coverage of the whole thing and give some new direction, in my judgement,” he said.



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Friday, December 20, 2019

In Favor Of Preaching

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Image result for Fr. Sengole Gnanaraj
Fr. Sengole Gnanaraj, pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Richmond, Indiana


"In prayer we walk with God and listen to him, and we walk with the angels. But in preaching, we have to descend to the human and live among others as one of them, thinking and seeing and hearing and speaking only on the human level. But, in favor of preaching, there is one argument which seems to count more than all the rest in God's eyes and that is this: the only-begotten Son of God, who is Infinite Wisdom, descended from the Father's embrace to save souls"...

Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Bonaventure - Major Life


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Monday, December 09, 2019

Happy Immaculate Conception Non-Feast Day!

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Remember, today is a 

"Holy Day Communion Service"
of  
"Non-Obligation!" 

(Whatever in the world THAT is...)



Please forgive us, Holy Mother, for ignoring your Feast Day... 
Please don't ignore our petitions as we have ignored you, Mary Most Holy...

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Friday, November 22, 2019

Only God Can Purify Us

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"God is teaching us over and over again that it is He who is purifying us, not we ourselves. He does this in His own way, at His own pace. When we run ahead of Him he leaves us on our own and we usually stumble."

Father John Catoir
"Enjoy the Lord: a Path to Contemplation"




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Lectio Divina

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"Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation."

St. John of the Cross



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The Ladder Of Monks

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The Four Rungs of the Ladder are as follows:


1.  LECTIO:

Reading is careful study of [Sacred] Scripture,
with the soul’s [whole] attention:

2.  MEDITATIO:

Meditation is the studious action of the mind to investigate hidden truth, led by one’s own reason.

3.  ORATIO:

Prayer is the heart’s devoted attending to God, so that evil may be removed and good may be obtained.

4.  CONTEMPLATIO:

Contemplation is the mind suspended -somehow elevated above itself - in God so that it tastes the joys of everlasting sweetness.



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A Prayer In Suffering

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By
Father Michael Scanlan

Grant me, O Lord, the grace to unite my sufferings with yours so that I may suffer as your true follower. I do not ask to be freed from afflictions since these are the reward of the saints; but I beg of you to make me find in calmness and resignation the true use of trials.

My God, I desire, I accept, I abandon myself lovingly to your holy will!


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(I really miss my dear friend and mentor, Fr. Mike. Rest in peace, good and faithful servant.)

Holy Humility

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Image result for lightning bolt



"It seems to me that holy humility is like the thunderbolt; for, even as the tunderbolt strikes a terrible blow, crushing, breaking, and burning whereon it lights, yet can we never find the thunderbolt itself, so does humility strike and disperse, burn up and consume every evil and vice and sin, and yet itself can nowhere be seen."

Little Flowers of St. Francis
Brother Giles
Part Four, Chapter III



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Thursday, November 21, 2019

The Fulfillment Of All Desire

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Ralph Martin


by
Ralph Martin


Are you interested in the Contemplative Life?

Drawing upon the teaching of seven Spiritual Doctors of the Church, Ralph Martin presents an in-depth study of the journey to God. This book provides encouragement and direction for the pilgrim who desires to know, love, and serve our Lord. I have personally read this book six times and grow deeper in my faith with every reading.

About the Author:

My friend, Ralph Martin, has been a leader in renewal movements in the Church for many years, and the author of many books, articles, and audio albums on contemporary issues in the life of the Church and the teachings of the saints. He is currently Director of Graduate Programs in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heat Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit and Assistant Professor of Theology. He continues to lead the work of Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic Renewal and Evangelization and hosts the weekly television program "The Choices We Face." He and his wife Anne are parents of six children and grandparents of six and reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.


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The Portiuncula: the Little Portion Blog Is Soon To Be Fourteen Years Old

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The following is the very first blog posting made on the Portiunculs: the Little Portion Blog Site on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006:


A Tepid Soul



When soul is tepid and little by little cools to grace, then flesh and blood leap forward to impose their needs.

St. Francis of Assisi
Mirror of Perfection, 15



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The Ladder Of Contemplation

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God is called and prayed as the dear spouse that is to come to this mourning soul that languishes in love. What does God then, whose help is ever upon the righteous and our ear at our prayer? He doesn't wait until the prayer is fully ended, but he pierces in the midst of the burning desire of that thirsty soul, and with a secret balm of heavenly sweetness softens the soul and comforts it, and makes it be so overcome with delight and joy that it forgets all earthly things for that hour, and he makes it to lose itself in wonder, as if it were dead from knowing our self. And as in fleshly works we are so overcome that we lose the guidance of reason and so become all fleshly, right so in the ladder of contemplation our fleshly stirrings are so cancelled out that the flesh does not win over the spirit but is become all spiritual.


Guigo II - The Ladder of Four Rungs



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In The Inner Wine Cellar

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In the inner wine cellar
I drank of my Beloved, when I went abroad
Through all this valley
I no longer know anything,
And lost the herd that I was following.
 
Now I occupy my soul
And all my energy in his service;
I no longer tend to the herd,
Nor have I any work
Now that my every act is LOVE.

Saint John of the Cross
Spiritual Canticle




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RULE OF LIFE FOR THE FRANCISCAN LAY APOSTOLATES (F.L.A.)

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This is the Rule of Life for the Franciscan Lay Apostolates. Apostolates live this Rule according to the Constitution of the .Franciscan Lay Apostolates.

THE PRIMITIVE RULE OF 1221
Here begins the Rule of the Continent Brothers and Sisters: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The memorial of what is proposed to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, living in their own homes, begun in the year of our Lord 1221, is as follows.

CHAPTER I: DAILY LIFE

1.  The men belonging to this brotherhood shall dress in humble, undyed cloth, the price of which is not to exceed six Ravenna soldi an ell, unless for evident and necessary cause a temporary dispensation be given. And breadth and thinness of the cloth are to be considered in said price.

2.  They shall wear their outer garments and furred coats without open throat, sewed shut or uncut but certainly laced up, not open as secular people wear them; and they shall wear their sleeves closed.

3.  The sisters in turn shall wear an outer garment and tunic made of cloth of the same price and humble quality; or at least they are to have with the outer garment a white or black underwrap or petticoat, or an ample linen gown without gathers, the price of an ell of which is not to exceed twelve Pisa denars. As to this price, however, and the fur cloaks they wear a dispensation may be given according to the estate of the woman and the custom of the place. They are not to wear silken or dyed veils or ribbons.

4.  And both the brothers and sisters shall have their fur garments of lamb's wool only. They are permitted to have leather purses and belts sewed in simple fashion without silken thread, and no other kind. Also other vain adornments they shall lay aside at the bidding of the Visitor.

5.  They are not to go to unseemly parties or to shows or dances. They shall not donate to actors, and shall forbid their household to donate.

CHAPTER II: ABSTINENCE

6.  All are to abstain from meat save on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, except on account of illness or weakness, for three days of bloodletting, in traveling, or on account of a specially high feast intervening, namely, the Nativity for three days, New Year's, Epiphany, the Pasch of the Resurrection for three days, Assumption of the glorious Virgin mary, the solemnity of the All Saints and of St. Martin. On other days, when there is no fasting, they may eat cheese and eggs. But when they are with religious in their convent homes, they have to leave to eat what is served to them. And except for the feeble, the ailing, and those traveling, let them be content with dinner and supper. Let the healthy be temperate in eating and drinking.

7.  Before their dinner and supper let them say the Lord's prayer once, likewise after their meal, and let them give thanks to God. Otherwise, let them say three Our Fathers.

CHAPTER III: FASTING

8.  From the Pasch of the Resurrection to the feast of All Saints they are to fast on Fridays. From the feast of All Saints until Easter they are to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays, but still observing the other fasts enjoined in general by the Church.

9.  They are to fast daily, except on account of infirmity or any other need, throughout the fast of St. martin from after said day until Christmas, and throughout the greater fast from Carnival Sunday until Easter.

10.  Sisters who are pregnant are free to refrain until their purification from the corporal observances except those regarding dress and prayers.

11.  Those engaged in fatiguing work shall be allowed to take food three times a day from Pasch of the Resurrection until the Dedication feast of St. Michael. And when they work for others it will be allowed them to eat everything served to them, except on Fridays and on the fasts enjoined in general by the Church.

CHAPTER IV - PRAYER

12.  All are daily to say the seven canonical Hours, that is: Matins, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. The clerics are to say them after the manner of the clergy. Those who know the Psalter are to say the Deu...
s in nomine tuo (Psalm 54) and the Beati Immaculati (Psalm 119) up to the Legem pone (Verse 33) for Prime, and the other psalms of the Hours, with the Glory Be to the Father; but when they do not attend church, they are to say for Matins the psalms the Church says or any eighteen psalms; or at least say the Our Father as do the unlettered at any of the Hours. The others say twelve Our Fathers for Matins and for every one of the other Hours seven Our Fathers with the Glory Be to the Father after each one. Ans those who know the Creed and the Miserere mei Deus (Psalm 51) should say it at Prime and Compline. If they do not say that at the Hours indicated, they shall say three Our Fathers.

13.  The sick are not to say the Hours unless they wish.

14.  All are to go to Matins in the feast of St. Maretin and in the great fast, unless inconvenience for persons or affairs should threaten.


CHAPTER V - THE SACRAMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS

15.  They are to make a confession of their sins three times a year and to receive Communion at Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. They are to be reconciled with their neighbors and to restore what be
longs to others. They are to make up for past tithes and pay future tithes.

16.  They are not to take up lethal weapons, or bear them about, against anybody.

17.  All are to refrain from formal oaths unless where necessity compels, in the cases excepted by the Sovereign Pontiff in his indult, that is, for peace, for the Faith, under calumny, and in bearing witness.

18.  Also in their ordinary conversations they will do their best to avoid oaths. Ans should anyone have sworn thoughtlessly through a slip of the tongue, as happens where there is much talking, he should the evening of the same day, when he is obliged to think over what he has done, say three Our Fathers in amends of such oaths. Let each member fortify his household to serve God.

CHAPTER VI - SPECIAL MASS AND MEETING EACH MONTH

19.  All the brothers and sisters of every city and place are to foregather every month at the time the ministers see fit, in a church which the ministers will make known, and there assist at Div
ine Services.

20.  And every member is to give one ordinary dinar 18. The treasurer is to collect this money and distribute it on the advice of the ministers among the poor brothers and sisters, especially the sick and those who may have nothing for their funeral services, and thereupon among the poor; and they are to offer something of the money to the aforesaid church.

21.  And, if it be convenient at the time, they are to have sine religious who is informed in the words of God to exhort them and strengthen them to persevere in their penance and in performing works of mercy. And except for the officers, they are to remain quiet during the Mass and sermon, intent on the Office, on prayer, and on thee sermon.

CHAPTER VII - VISITING THE SICK, BURYING THE DEAD

22.  Whenever any brother or sister happens to fall ill, the ministers, if the patient let them know of it, shall in person or through others visit the patient once a week, and remind him of pen
ance; if they find it expedient, they are to supply him from the common fund with what he may need for the body.

23.  And if the ailing person depart from this life, it is to be published to the brothers and sisters who may be present in the city or place, so that they may gather for the funeral; and they are not to leave until the Mass has been celebrated and the body consigned to burial. Thereupon each member within eight days of the demose shall say for the soul of the deceased: a Mass, if he is a priest; fifty psalms, if he understands the Psalter, or if not, then fifty Our Fathers with the Requiem aeternam (Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them) at the end of each.

24.  In addition, every year, for the welfare of the brothers and sisters living and dead, each priest shall say three Masses, each member knowing the Psalter is to recite it, and the rest shall say one hundred Our Fathers with the Requiem aeternam at the end of each.
 
25.  All who have the right are to make their last will and make disposition of their goods within three months after their profession, lest anyone of them die intestate.

26.  As regards 
making peace among the brothers and sisters or nonmembers at odds, let what the ministers find proper be done; even, if it be expedient, upon consultation with the Lord Bishop.

27.  If contrary to their right and privileges trouble is made for the brothers and sisters by mayors and governors of the places where they live, the ministers of the place shall do what they shall find expedient on the advice of the Lord Bishop.

28  Let each member accept and faithfully exercise the ministry of their offices imposed on them, although anyone may retire from office after a year.

29.  When anybody wishes to enter this brotherhood, the ministers shall carefully inquire into his standing and occupation, and they shall explain to him the obligations of the brotherhood, especially that of restoring what belongs to others. And if he is content with it, let him be vested according to the prescribed way, and he must make satisfaction for his debts, paying money according to what pledged provision is given. They are to reconcile themselves with their neighbors and to pay up their tithes.

30.  After these particulars are complied with, when the year is up and he seems suitable to them, let him on the advice of some discreet brothers be received on this condition: that he promise he will all the time of his life observe everything here written, or to be written or abated on the advice of the brothers, unless on occasion there be a valid dispensation by the ministers; and that he will, when called upon by the ministers, render satisfaction as the Visitor shall ordain if he have done anything contrary to this condition. And this promise is to be put in writing then and there by a public notary. Even so nobody is to be received otherwise, unless in consideration of the estate and rank of the person it shall seem advisable to the ministers.

31.  No one is to depart from this brotherhood and from what is contained herein, except to enter a religious Order.

32.  No heretic or person in bad repute for heresy is to be received. If he is under suspicion for it, he may be admitted if otherwise fit, upon being cleared before the bishop.

33.  Married women are not to be received except with the consent and leave of their husbands.

34.  Brothers and sisters ejected from the brotherhood as incorrigible are not to be received in it again except it please the saner portion of the brothers.

 CHAPTER VIII: CORRECTION, DISPENSATION, OFFICERS

35.  The ministers of any city or place shall report public faults of the brothers and sisters to the Visitor for punishment. And if anyone proves incorrigible, after consultation with some of th
e discreet brothers he should be denounced to the Visitor, to be expelled by him from the brotherhood, and thereupon it should be published in the meeting. Moreover, if it is a brother, he should be denounced to the mayor or the governor.

36.  If anyone learns that a scandal is occurring relative to brothers and sisters, he shall report it to the ministers and shall have opportunity to report it to the Visitor. He need not be held to report it in the case of husband against wife.

37.  The Visitor has the power to dispense all the brothers and sisters in any of these points if he finds it advisable.

38.  When the year has passed, the ministers with the counsel of the brothers are to elect two other ministers; and a faithful treasurer, who is to provide for the need of the brothers and sisters and other poor; and messengers who at the command of the ministers are to publish what is said and done by the fraternity.

39.  In all the above mentioned points no one is to be obligated under guilt, but under penalty; yet so that if after being admonished twice by the ministers he should fail to discharge the penalty imposed or to be imposed on him by the Visitor, he shall be obligated under guilt as contumacious.

HERE ENDS THE RULE OF THE CONTINENT.

Author: Cardinal Hugolino dei Conti dei Segni who wrote this Rule at the request of St. Francis of Assisi, 1221 A.D.



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Wednesday, November 20, 2019

We Seem To Think

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"Francis Marries Lady Poverty," A Frescoe  by Giotto di Bondone


by
PETER MAURIN

Saint Francis thought
that to choose the poor
is just as good
as if one should marry
the most beautiful girl in the world.
We seem to think
that poor people
are social nuisances
and not the Ambassadors of God.
We seem to think
that Lady Poverty
is an ugly girl
and not the beautiful girl
that Saint Francis of Assisi
says she is.
And because we think so,
we refuse to feed the poor
with our superflous goods
and let the politicians
feed the poor
by going around
like pickpockets,
robbing Peter
to pay Paul,
and feeding the poor
by soaking the rich.


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