Having Contempt For Vanities

 

"I would rather feel compunction, than know its definition."

THE IMTATION OF CHRIST

Thomas A Kempis

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BEGGING FOR STONES IN OZARK (MONROE COUNTY) OHIO

 

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The Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center​ spent this past week digging up the old foundations of my Great-Great-Great Grandfather Johnny Burkhard's old Barn, Garage, Chicken Coops, Tobacco House, and my Great-Uncles house foundation to come up with the stones to build our little Adoration Chapel. We still need an additional 100 stones and are asking our Monroe County, Ohio neighbors to drop off any extra cut sand stones they may have lying around their homes onto the property adjacent to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery on Ozark-Eddy Bridge Road .....

Around my Great Uncle Dutch Martin's homestead...

Clearing next to the cemetery to pour the footer.

Remnants of the old garage where we found around 20 cut sand stones.

Remnants of the old barn where we found nearly 40 cut sand stones.

We piled around 200 stones in the field next to the house while we searched for more.

Our biggest surprise was the number of giant cut stones we found in the old Tobacco House!

Once again, adding to the pile getting ready to run  them to the building site.

Spreading the stones out so the Stone Mason's can see them all and decide which one's should go where.

After we realized we were probably around 200 stones short to complete a 20' X 20' chapel, down the bulldozer went into the basement of Uncle Dutch's foundation to dig up all the field stones in the foundation so that we can mix both the cut sand stones and the field stones together to make it look beautiful!

We are begging the good people of Monroe County, Ohio who may have one or two cut stones on their property to please drop them off in the pile of stones next to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Ozark, Ohio so that we can complete our project. 

Thank you and may God bless you all !!!!

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Why Do Catholic Women Veil?

 Rejecting the “culture of cool”

On any given Sunday at any Catholic church in the US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, one is likely to see women and girls dressed in halter-necks, strapless dresses, shorts, super-tight jeans, and mini-skirts. Depending on the weather, one might also find flip-flops or ugg boots. In our parish, the extraordinary mi nisters sometimes choose to hand out communion in their sneakers, velour tracksuits and the occasional fanny-pack.

What does this say about the church? What does this say about our faith?

The reason we no longer dress well for mass is the same reason that 90% of US Catholics don’t bother to show up for mass at all: it just isn’t that important to us anymore.

Making an effort for love of God

Dressing well for mass is an external manifestation of the belithat what we are doing is important: its says that we care. It is representative of the respect we have for the other members of our parish. More importantly, however, it is also a sign of our respect for God in the Blessed Sacrament.

The same reasoning applies to the mantilla. It isn’t mandatory for us to veil. But we can if we want to. This applies to the novus ordo as much as it does to the extraordinary form. And if we truly believe that Christ is actually present before us in the Eucharist, then why wouldn’t we?

The importance of external acts of faith

External acts can orient as well as express our inner thoughts and disposition. This is why our mass (in both forms) is so rich in ritual and posture. These “externals” help keep our minds where they should be - on the mass and on Our Lord in the Eucharist. Veiling can do the same.

Ask yourself, why it is that brides still wear veils on their wedding day? One reason is that the veil indicates the solemnity of the occasion. It is a reminder that - for her - this day is unlike any other. It is also a physical sign of the gift of self that she intends to make through the Sacrament of Marriage. Both of these reasons (whether conscious or not) transform the bride’s veiling from being purely about the aesthetics into something else. Although she is the center of attention, her choice of garment, color and veil sends a message to those around her: “when you look at me and see my veil, remember that I am here to participate in something greater and bigger than myself.”

Some women choose to veil in church for the same reasons. The veil is a reminder that this place and moment in time is unlike any other and should be observed as such. It is also a sign of the spiritual gift of self that the woman intends to make to Our Lord during the mass and as she prays before the tabernacle.

In imitation of Mary

Other women choose to veil in imitation of the Blessed Virgin. They seek to follow her example of humility, modesty and purity - as well as the Jewish custom of covering one’s head - when they are near our Lord in the Tabernacle.

Why do I veil?

I veil because it matters to me that I am before God. I veil as an external manifestation of my belief that Christ is really present in the Eucharist. I veil because it helps me to be more reverent. I veil as an act of humility before God. I veil because I believe. I veil because I care.

 

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Chapel Veils

 

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Do You Mantilla?

 

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September 18th; Feast Day of St. Joseph of Cupertino (The Reluctant Saint)

 

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September 17th, Anniversary Of St. Francis Of Assisi Receiving The Stigmata

 

Two years before St. Francis gave his soul back to heaven, while he was staying in a hermitage called Alverna, after the place where it was located, he saw a vision from God of a man with six wings like a seraph standing above him with hands extended and feet together, affixed to a cross. Two wings were raised over his head, two were extended in flight, and two his his entire body.

When the blessed servant of God saw these things he was filled with wonder, but he did not know what the vision meant. He rejoiced greatly in the benign and gracious expression with which he saw himself regarded by the seraph, whose beauty was indescribable; yet he was alarmed that the seraph was affixed to the cross and suffered greatly. Thus Francis rose, one might say, sad and happy, joy and grief alternating in him. He wondered anxiously what this vision could mean, and his soul was uneasy as he searched for understanding. And as his understanding sought in vain for an explanation and his heart was filled with perplexity at the great novelty of this vision, the marks of nails began to appear in his hands and feet, just as he had seen them earlier on the crucified man above him.

First Life of Saint Francis

by

Thomas of Celano 

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Water My Heart With The Dew From Heaven

 

Pour forth Thy grace from above, water my heart with the dew of Heaven; send down the waters of devotion to wash the face of this earth, to bring forth good and perfect fruit.

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Empty Vessels

 

The Lord bestows His blessings where He finds the vessels empty.

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Fly To The Closet Of Thy Heart

 

"...Fly to the closet of thy heart, and there most earnestly implore the divine assistance." (Matthew 6:6)

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

Thomas A Kempis

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Cardinal Gregory Rebukes President Biden On Church Teaching

 

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United With Christ In The Sacrament Of The Eucharist

 

O unspeakable grace! O wonderful condescension! O infinite love, singularly bestowed upon man!

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

Thomas A Kempis

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Prepare Yourself For Christ With Great Diligence

 

"Shut out the whole world, and all the tumult of vices; sit like a sparrow solitary on the housetop (Psalm 101:8), and think of thine excesses in the bitterness of the soul (Isiah 38:15).

"For every lover prepareth the best and fairest room for his dearly beloved; and hereby is known the affection of him that entertaineth his beloved."

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

Book IV, Chapter 12

Thomas A Kempis

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The Orans Position Is Reserved For The Priest

 

The laity are not to assume the orans position during Holy Mass. I know this will make some people unhappy, but I think there is good reason for following this instruction. St. John Paul II stated, “…the particular gift of each of the Church’s members must be wisely and carefully acknowledged, safeguarded, promoted, discerned and co-ordinated, without confusing roles, functions, or theological and canonical status.”

While there are many opportunities to individualize our personal experience during the Mass, there are some aspects that should not be individualized because they can confuse people, distract people or otherwise diminish the beauty and power of the liturgy which has been around for 2000 years.

During the Our Father, the priest is standing in persona Christi, in the orans posture, speaking to God on our behalf. Prior to Vatican II, this was a prayer reserved solely to the priest. Since Vatican II, we are instructed to pray with the priest, but in words only, not by mirroring his gestures. 

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1 Timothy 2:8

 "I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without anger and contention."

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Deer Hunting at the Portiuncula Hermitage

 This is the way we go deer hunting in Ozark, Ohio. They come strolling up onto our front porch and we feed them from baby bottles and return them to their mothers. We have a herd of around 30 that play around the farm house and we protect them from predators, both human and animal.

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Chris Dickson Along With Vice President Mike Pence On 9/11 Anniversary

 

May God continue to bless my very dear friend of the past 35 years, former Vice President Mike Pence (R-IN) for the bravery he and his wife Karen showed during the 9/11 attacks. 

(Left to Right: LTC Robert "Buzz" Patterson, Major Chris Dickson, Vice President Mike Pence)

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Omne Quod Spirat, Laudet Dominum!

 

(Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!)

Praise the Lord in his sanctuary,

    praise him in the firmament of his strength.

Praise him for his mighty deeds,

    praise him for his sovereign majesty.

Praise his with the blast of the trumpet,

    praise him with lyre and harp.

Praise him with timbrel and dance,

    praise him with strings and pipe.

Praise him with sounding cymbals,

    praise him with clanging cymbals.

Let everything that has breath

    Praise the Lord! Alleluia.

Psalm 150: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

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Begging For Stones In Monroe County, Ohio

 

Jerusalem, Ohio Catholics are being asked to collect all their cut sandstones they are no longer using and drop them off at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery on Ozark-Eddy Bridge Road so that we can duplicate this Portiuncula Chapel located at the Franciscan University of Steubenville (see photo above).

Francis set to begging for stones with which to restore the church of San Damiano. He called to the passers-by: "Whoever gives me one stone will have one reward; two stones, two rewards; three stones, a treble reward!"

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of the Three Companions
CHAPTER VII

Please note : We are begging all of our Catholic brothers and sisters in Monroe County, Ohio to round up all their cut sandstones and dump them on the property just South of the Immaculate Conception Cemetery on Ozark-Eddy Bridge Road (in the direction of the large white house towards Woodsfield). These stones will be used to erect the Portiuncula Chapel.

Thank you and may God bless each and every one of you for your kindness and generosity.

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September 8th: The Nativity Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

 Happy Birthday, dear Madre!

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The Holy Sacrifice Of The Mass

 

Jesus instituted the Sacrifice of the Mass to remind us of His self-oblation upon Calvary. In it, He continues the work which began on Calvary. In each Mass, His body and blood are offered to the Father as an act of perfect adoration, thanksgiving, reparation, and petition for our needs. As Jesus once represented you and me upon the cross, so, now in each Mass, He represents you and me upon the altar.

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Happy Birthday, Fr. Timothy Davison

 

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How Great Is My Reverence To Jesus Christ?

 

"Come to me all you that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you." (Matthew 11:28)

"The bread I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world." (John 6:52)

"Take ye and eat; this is my body, which shall be delivered for you; this do for the commemoration of me." (I Corinthians 11:24)

"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him." (John 6:57)

"The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:64)

O sweet and amiable word in the ear of a sinner, that Thou, O my Lord and my God, shouldst invite the poor and needy to the Communion of Thy most sacred Body!

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Tepidity Toward Holy Commuinion

 

Large numbers of people travel back and forth to visit the remains of saints. With admiration and interest they view the magnificent buildings erected in honor of the saints, and they kiss their sacred bones, which are held in gold and silver. Too often, however, people are drawn to these relics and holy places by curiosity or some form of self-interest, rather than by contrition of sin and a desire to grow closer to Jesus. 

Upon the altar you will find no relics, nor a monument to someone's memory. What you will find is our Savior, Jesus Christ, alive as ever, all-powerful, all-loving, all-perfect. 

Consider how great must be the tepidity and negligence of this world, since so many fail to take advantage of Jesus' gift of Holy Communion. It is sad to see how few are drawn to Jesus with tender affection and wordless gratitude. In this sacrament Jesus offers Himself, in Whom lies all human hopes and and merits for salvation.

(Adapted from My Daily Bread by the Confraternity Of The Precious Blood)

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The Eucharist: The Body, Blood, Soul And Divinity Of Our Lord, Jesus Christ

 

When Jesus first began to tell His followers about Holy Communion, some of them objected. When they heard that they were to eat His body and drink His blood, a number of them left him. Jesus sadly looked on, as they walked away from Him, but He did not restrain them nor call them back. If He had meant those words in some symbolic or figurative way, or surely He would not have permitted those loved ones to leave Him. He would have called after them and shouted, "Come back! I'm just speaking in the abstract her, folks!" But no, He let them walk away! Why? Because meant what He said... IN SPADES !

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Lovers Of The Cross Of Jesus

"Many follow Jesus to the breaking of the bread, but few to the chalice of His Passion." ~ The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A' Kempis

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Choose A Secret Place To Thyself

 

Photo taken on Death Fork Creek at the Portiuncula Hermitage

"Choose a secret place to thyself; love to dwell with thyself alone; seek not to be talking with anyone; but rather pour forth prayers to God, that thou mayest keep thy mind in compunction, and thy  conscience clear." ~ THE IMITATION OF CHRIST by Thomas A' Kempis

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http://theyoke.org/a-time-to-become-holy.html

Dr. Alveda King along with Chris Dickson On Pro-Life Sunday

 

Pray Always