Roman Catholic Mass and Its Symbols: Part 1

Benedict: Vocations as a Sign of Hope Founded in Faith

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On the occasion of the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be held on 21 April 2013, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, I want to invite you to reflect on the theme: "Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith", which happily occurs during the Year of Faith, the year marking the 50thanniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

While the Council was in session, the Servant of God, Paul VI, instituted this day of worldwide prayer to God the Father, asking him to continue to send workers for his Church (cf. Mt 9:38).

"The problem of having a sufficient number of priests", as the Pope stated at the time, "has an immediate impact on all of the faithful: not simply because they depend on it for the religious future of Christian society, but also because this problem is the precise and inescapable indicator of the vitality of faith and love of individual parish and diocesan communities, and the evidence of the moral health of Christian families. Wherever numerous vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are to be found, that is where people are living the Gospel with generosity" (Paul VI, Radio Message, 11 April 1964).

During the intervening decades, the various Christian communities all over the world have gathered each year on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, united in prayer, to ask from God the gift of holy vocations and to propose once again, for the reflection of all, the urgent need to respond to the divine call. Indeed, this significant annual event has fostered a strong commitment to placing the importance of vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life ever more at the centre of the spirituality, prayer and pastoral action of the faithful.

Hope is the expectation of something positive in the future, yet at the same time it must sustain our present existence, which is often marked by dissatisfaction and failures. On what is our hope founded? Looking at the history of the people of Israel, recounted in the Old Testament, we see one element that constantly emerges, especially in times of particular difficulty like the time of the Exile, an element found especially in the writings of the prophets, namely remembrance of God's promises to the Patriarchs: a remembrance that invites us to imitate the exemplary attitude of Abraham, who, as Saint Paul reminds us, "believed, hoping against hope, that he would become 'the father of many nations,' according to what was said, 'Thus shall your descendants be'" (Rom4:18). One consoling and enlightening truth which emerges from the whole of salvation history, then, is God's faithfulness to the covenant that he entered into, renewing it whenever man infringed it through infidelity and sin, from the time of the flood (cf. Gen 8:21-22) to that of the Exodus and the journey through the desert (cf. Dt 9:7). That same faithfulness led him to seal the new and eternal covenant with man, through the blood of his Son, who died and rose again for our salvation.

At every moment, especially the most difficult ones, the Lord's faithfulness is always the authentic driving force of salvation history, which arouses the hearts of men and women and confirms them in the hope of one day reaching the "promised land".

This is where we find the sure foundation of every hope: God never abandons us and he remains true to his word. For that reason, in every situation, whether positive or negative, we can nourish a firm hope and pray with the psalmist: "Only in God can my soul find rest; my hope comes from him" (Ps 62:6). To have hope, therefore, is the equivalent of trusting in God who is faithful, who keeps the promises of the covenant. Faith and hope, then, are closely related. "Hope" in fact is a key word in biblical faith, to the extent that in certain passages the words "faith" and "hope" seem to be interchangeable. In this way, the Letter to the Hebrews makes a direct connection between the "unwavering profession of hope" (10:23) and the "fullness of faith" (10:22). Similarly, when the First Letter of Saint Peter exhorts the Christians to be always ready to give an account of the "logos" - the meaning and rationale - of their hope (cf. 3:15), "hope" is the equivalent of "faith".

Dear Brothers and Sisters, what exactly is God's faithfulness, to which we adhere with unwavering hope? It is his love! He, the Father, pours his love into our innermost self through the Holy Spirit (cf.Rom 5:5). And this love, fully manifested in Jesus Christ, engages with our existence and demands a response in terms of what each individual wants to do with his or her life, and what he or she is prepared to offer in order to live it to the full. The love of God sometimes follows paths one could never have imagined, but it always reaches those who are willing to be found.

Hope is nourished, then, by this certainty: "We ourselves have known and believed in the love that God has for us" (1 Jn 4:16). This deep, demanding love, which penetrates well below the surface, gives us courage; it gives us hope in our life's journey and in our future; it makes us trust in ourselves, in history and in other people. I want to speak particularly to the young and I say to you once again: "What would your life be without this love? God takes care of men and women from creation to the end of time, when he will bring his plan of salvation to completion. In the Risen Lord we have the certainty of our hope!" (Address to Young People of the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro, 19 June 2011).

Just as he did during his earthly existence, so today the risen Jesus walks along the streets of our life and sees us immersed in our activities, with all our desires and our needs. In the midst of our everyday circumstances he continues to speak to us; he calls us to live our life with him, for only he is capable of satisfying our thirst for hope. He lives now among the community of disciples that is the Church, and still today calls people to follow him. The call can come at any moment. Today too, Jesus continues to say, "Come, follow me" (Mk 10:21). Accepting his invitation means no longer choosing our own path. Following him means immersing our own will in the will of Jesus, truly giving him priority, giving him pride of place in every area of our lives: in the family, at work, in our personal interests, in ourselves.

It means handing over our very lives to Him, living in profound intimacy with Him, entering through Him into communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit, and consequently with our brothers and sisters. This communion of life with Jesus is the privileged "setting" in which we can experience hope and in which life will be full and free.

Vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life are born out of the experience of a personal encounter with Christ, out of sincere and confident dialogue with him, so as to enter into his will. It is necessary, therefore, to grow in the experience of faith, understood as a profound relationship with Jesus, as inner attentiveness to his voice which is heard deep within us. This process, which enables us to respond positively to God's call, is possible in Christian communities where the faith is lived intensely, where generous witness is given of adherence to the Gospel, where there is a strong sense of mission which leads people to make the total gift of self for the Kingdom of God, nourished by recourse to the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and by a fervent life of prayer. This latter "must on the one hand be something very personal, an encounter between my intimate self and God, the living God. On the other hand it must be constantly guided and enlightened by the great prayers of the Church and of the saints, by liturgical prayer, in which the Lord teaches us again and again how to pray properly."

Deep and constant prayer brings about growth in the faith of the Christian community, in the unceasingly renewed certainty that God never abandons his people and that he sustains them by raising up particular vocations - to the priesthood and the consecrated life - so that they can be signs of hope for the world. Indeed, priests and religious are called to give themselves unconditionally to the People of God, in a service of love for the Gospel and the Church, serving that firm hope which can only come from an openness to the divine. By means of the witness of their faith and apostolic zeal, therefore, they can transmit, especially to the younger generations, a strong desire to respond generously and promptly to Christ who calls them to follow him more closely. Whenever a disciple of Jesus accepts the divine call to dedicate himself to the priestly ministry or to the consecrated life, we witness one of the most mature fruits of the Christian community, which helps us to look with particular trust and hope to the future of the Church and to her commitment to evangelization. This constantly requires new workers to preach the Gospel, to celebrate the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So let there be committed priests, who know how to accompany young people as "companions on the journey", helping them, on life's often tortuous and difficult path, to recognize Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6), telling them, with Gospel courage, how beautiful it is to serve God, the Christian community, one's brothers and sisters. Let there be priests who manifest the fruitfulness of an enthusiastic commitment, which gives a sense of completeness to their lives, because it is founded on faith in him who loved us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:19).

Equally, I hope that young people, who are presented with so many superficial and ephemeral options, will be able to cultivate a desire for what is truly worthy, for lofty objectives, radical choices, service to others in imitation of Jesus. Dear young people, do not be afraid to follow him and to walk the demanding and courageous paths of charity and generous commitment! In that way you will be happy to serve, you will be witnesses of a joy that the world cannot give, you will be living flames of an infinite and eternal love, you will learn to "give an account of the hope that is within you" (1 Pt 3:15)!

From the Vatican, 6 October 2012

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Source: VIS

Latest Catholic Podcasts: Bishop Kevin C., Teresa Tomeo, Tim Staples

Some of the latest Catholic podcasts. 

Find many more  at player.fm/featured/catholic.

Bishop Kevin C.

Teresa Tomeo, host of Catholic Connection is a dynamic Professional Speaker and local Media Personality.

Tim Staples answers: Why was it necessary for Mary to be immaculately conceived?

Tim Staples answers: How do you explain the relationship between works and faith?

source:http://player.fm/featured/catholic

Pope Francis: General Audience Catechesis

In our continuing catechesis on the Creed during this Year of Faith, we now consider the meaning of Christ’s resurrection for us and for our salvation. The Lord’s death and resurrection are the foundation of our faith; by his triumph over sin and death, Christ has opened for us the way to new life. Reborn in Baptism, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and become God’s adoptive sons and daughters. God is now our Father: he treats us as his beloved children; he understands us, forgives us, embraces us, and loves us even when we go astray. Christianity is not simply a matter of following commandments; it is about living a new life, being in Christ, thinking and acting like Christ, and being transformed by the love of Christ! But this new life needs to be nourished daily by hearing God’s word, prayer, sharing in the sacraments, especially Penance and the Eucharist, and the exercise of charity. God must be the center of our lives! By our daily witness to the freedom, joy and hope born of Christ’s victory over sin and death, we also offer a precious service to our world, helping our brothers and sisters to lift their gaze heavenward, to the God of our salvation.

I am pleased to greet the visitors from the NATO Defense College and I offer prayerful good wishes for their service to international peace and cooperation. I also extend a warm welcome to the group of “Wounded Warriors” from the United States, with heartfelt prayers that their pilgrimage to Rome will bear rich spiritual fruit for them and their families. Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Denmark, Australia, the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Canada and the United States, I invoke the Risen Lord’s gifts of joy and peace.

English language summary of the General Audience catechesis, Wednesday, April 10, 2013. Source: Vatican Radio.

Browse Catholic Books and Gifts

New Translation of Wojtyla’s Classic Work, Love and Responsibility

Pauline Books & Media is excited to announce the release of a new translation of Love and Responsibility, masterfully completed by native Polish speaker Grzegorz Ignatik. Grzegorz, who holds a Sacred Theology Licentiate from the International Theological Institute in Austria, teaches at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio and is a PhD candidate in Theology at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, DC.

Originally published in Polish in 1960, Love and Responsibility is Karol Wojtyla’s (now Blessed John Paul II) groundbreaking book on human love that explores relationships between persons, especially concerning sexual ethics. This new translation contains extensive, helpful notes on language nuances, major concepts, and key terms that open Karol Wojtyla’s thought to an even wider audience in a time of continued relevance. The text used is the 2001 version published in Polish, which includes revisions of the original 1960 edition made by Blessed John Paul II himself. The first English publication of then-Cardinal Wojtyla’s article On the Meaning of Spousal Love is also included.

Mary Shivanandan, STD, Professor of Theology at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America, acclaims: “...it is impossible to do justice to the richness of this new translation...his [Ignatik’s] philosophical and theological background gives him a depth of interpretation and elucidation of the text.” Its release will be celebrated at a book launch held at the Institute on April 22, 2013. For more information on the event, please visit: http://www.johnpaulii.edu/events/view/love-and-responsibility.

Other Works by John Paul II

Urbi et Orbi Message, Pope Francis: Easter 2013

Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, Happy Easter!

What a joy it is for me to announce this message: Christ is risen! I would like it to go out to every house and every family, especially where the suffering is greatest, in hospitals, in prisons …

Most of all, I would like it to enter every heart, for it is there that God wants to sow this Good News: Jesus is risen, there is hope for you, you are no longer in the power of sin, of evil! Love has triumphed, mercy has been victorious!

We too, like the women who were Jesus’ disciples, who went to the tomb and found it empty, may wonder what this event means (cf. Lk 24:4). What does it mean that Jesus is risen? It means that the love of God is stronger than evil and death itself; it means that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom.

This same love for which the Son of God became man and followed the way of humility and self-giving to the very end, down to hell - to the abyss of separation from God - this same merciful love has flooded with light the dead body of Jesus and transfigured it, has made it pass into eternal life. Jesus did not return to his former life, to earthly life, but entered into the glorious life of God and he entered there with our humanity, opening us to a future of hope.

This is what Easter is: it is the exodus, the passage of human beings from slavery to sin and evil to the freedom of love and goodness. Because God is life, life alone, and his glory is the living man (cf. Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses, 4,20,5-7).

Dear brothers and sisters, Christ died and rose once for all, and for everyone, but the power of the Resurrection, this passover from slavery to evil to the freedom of goodness, must be accomplished in every age, in our concrete existence, in our everyday lives. How many deserts, even today, do human beings need to cross! Above all, the desert within, when we have no love for God or neighbour, when we fail to realize that we are guardians of all that the Creator has given us and continues to give us. God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones (cf. Ez 37:1-14).

So this is the invitation which I address to everyone: Let us accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish.
And so we ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the world.

Peace for the Middle East, and particularly between Israelis and Palestinians, who struggle to find the road of agreement, that they may willingly and courageously resume negotiations to end a conflict that has lasted all too long. Peace in Iraq, that every act of violence may end, and above all for dear Syria, for its people torn by conflict and for the many refugees who await help and comfort. How much blood has been shed! And how much suffering must there still be before a political solution to the crisis will be found?

Peace for Africa, still the scene of violent conflicts. In Mali, may unity and stability be restored; in Nigeria, where attacks sadly continue, gravely threatening the lives of many innocent people, and where great numbers of persons, including children, are held hostage by terrorist groups. Peace in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in the Central African Republic, where many have been forced to leave their homes and continue to live in fear.

Peace in Asia, above all on the Korean peninsula: may disagreements be overcome and a renewed spirit of reconciliation grow.

Peace in the whole world, still divided by greed looking for easy gain, wounded by the selfishness which threatens human life and the family, selfishness that continues in human trafficking, the most extensive form of slavery in this twenty-first century. Peace to the whole world, torn apart by violence linked to drug trafficking and by the iniquitous exploitation of natural resources! Peace to this our Earth! Made the risen Jesus bring comfort to the victims of natural disasters and make us responsible guardians of creation.

Dear brothers and sisters, to all of you who are listening to me, from Rome and from all over of the world, I address the invitation of the Psalm: “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever. Let Israel say: ‘His steadfast love endures for ever’” (Ps 117:1-2).

Dear brothers and sisters, who have come from all over the world to this Square, the heart of Christianity, and all of you joining us via communications media, I renew my wishes for a Happy Easter! Bring to your families and your nations the message of joy of hope and peace that each year is powerfully renewed on this day. May the Risen Lord, who defeated sin and death, support us all especially the weakest and those most in need. Thank you for your presence and the witness of your faith. A thought and a particular thanks for the gift of these beautiful flowers from the Netherlands. I affectionately repeat to all of you: May the Risen Christ guide you and all humanity on the paths of justice, love and peace!

CatholicTV Network’s Holy Week Broadcast Schedule

Mass from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame live at 10AM ET; Mass with the Holy Father from the Vatican at 11:30AM ET and 8PM ET; Mass from San Antonio’s San Fernando Cathedral at 4PM ET, and Mass from Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross with His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley at 7PM ET.

Tuesday, March 26
The Chrism Mass from Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross with His Eminence, Seán Cardinal O’Malley, will broadcast live at 11AM ET and rebroadcast at 4PM ET.

Holy Thursday, March 28
Masses will be broadcast at the following times:

The Vatican Chrism Mass with broadcast at 11AM ET, the Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper from Cathedral of the Holy Cross at 7:30PM ET.

Good Friday, March 29
The Stations of the Cross will broadcast at 12PM ET and 6PM ET; Liturgy of Good Friday with Cardinal O’Malley from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross will broadcast at 3PM ET; and the Vatican Good Friday service will broadcast at 5PM ET.

Holy Saturday, March 30
The Way of the Cross from the Coliseum in Rome will broadcast at 10:30AM ET; the Vatican Easter Vigil at 4PM ET (rebroadcast at midnight); The Great Vigil; first Mass of Easter with Cardinal Seán O'Malley will broadcast at 8PM ET (rebroadcast at 3:30AM); and the Mass from the National Basilica Mass from Washington, D.C. scheduled at 11:30PM.

Easter Sunday, March 31
Masses will be broadcast at the following times:

Mass on CW56 at 7AM ET (rebroadcast on CatholicTV at 7PM.); Notre Dame’s Easter Sunday Mass live at 10AM; Vatican Easter Sunday Mass at 11:30AM ET and 9PM ET; The Papal Easter Blessing at 3:30PM and 8PM; and Easter Mass from San Antonio at 4PM.

Vatican: Passion of Our Lord (Good Friday) Sermon

Good Friday Mass
Below we publish the official text of the 2013 Good Friday Sermon in St. Peter's Basilica, preached by Capuchin Friar Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher of the Papal Household:

JUSTIFIED AS A GIFT THROUGH FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith in his blood. He did this to show his righteousness [...] to prove at the present time that he is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus”(Rom 3:23-26).
We have reached the summit of the Year of Faith and its decisive moment. This is the faith that saves, "faith that overcomes the world" (1 Jn 5:5)! Faith – the appropriation by which we make ours the salvation worked by Christ, by which we put on the mantle of his righteousness. On the one hand there is the outstretched hand of God offering man His grace; on the other hand, the hand of man reaching out to receive it through faith. The "new and everlasting Covenant" is sealed with a handclasp between God and man.
We have the opportunity to make, on this day, the most important decision of our lives, one that opens wide before us the doors of eternity: to believe! To believe that "Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification" (Rom 4:25)! In an Easter homily of the 4^th century, the bishop pronounced these extraordinarily modern, and one could say existentialist, words: “For every man, the beginning of life is when Christ was immolated for him. However, Christ is immolated for him at the moment he recognizes the grace and becomes conscious of the life procured for him by that immolation” (The Paschal Homily of the Year 387 : SCh, 36 p. 59f.).

What an extraordinary thing! This Good Friday celebrated in the Year of Faith and in the presence of the new successor of Peter, could be, if we wish, the principle of a new kind of existence. Bishop Hilary of Poitiers, converted to Christianity as an adult, looking back on his past life, said, "before meeting you, I did not exist".
What is required is only that we do not hide from the presence of God, as Adam and Eve did after their sin, that we recognize our need to be justified; that we cannot justify ourselves. The publican of the parable came to the temple and made a short prayer: "O God, have mercy on me a sinner". And Jesus says that the man returned to his home "justified", that is, made right before him, forgiven, made a new creature, I think singing joyfully in his heart (Lk 18:14). What had he done that was so extraordinary? Nothing, he had put himself in the truth before God, and it is the only thing that God needs in order to act.
* * *
Like he who, in climbing a mountain wall, having overcome a dangerous step, stops for a moment to catch his breath and admire the new landscape that has opened up before him, so does the Apostle Paul at the beginning of Chapter 5 of the letter to the Romans, after having proclaimed justification by faith:
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we
boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
And not only that, but we
also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5: 1-5).
Today, from artificial satellites infrared photographs of whole regions of the Earth and of the whole planet are taken. How different the landscape looks when seen from up there, in the light of those rays, compared to what we see in natural light and from down here! I remember one of the first satellite pictures published in the world; it reproduced the entire Sinai Peninsula. The colors were different, the reliefs and depressions were more noticeable. It is a symbol. Even human life, seen in the infrared rays of faith, from atop Calvary, looks different from what you see "with the naked eye".

"The same fate”, said the wise man of the Old Testament, “comes to all, to the righteous and to the wicked...I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well"(Ecc 3:16; 9:2). And in fact at all times man has witnessed iniquity triumphant and innocence humiliated. But so that people do not believe that there is something fixed and sure in the world, behold, Bossuet notes, sometimes you see the opposite, namely, innocence on the throne and lawlessness on the scaffold. But what did Qoheleth conclude from all this? " I said in my heart: God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for everything" (Ecc 3:17). He found the vantage point that puts the soul in peace.
What Qoheleth could not know and that we do know is that this judgement has already happened: "Now”, Jesus says when beginning his passion, “is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people
to myself"(Jn 12:31-32).
In Christ dead and risen, the world has reached its final destination. Human progress is advancing today at a dizzying pace and humanity sees new and unexpected horizons unfolding before it, the result of its discoveries. Still, it can be said that the end of time has already come, because in Christ, who ascended to the right hand of the Father, humanity has reached its ultimate goal. The new heavens and new Earth have already begun.
Despite all the misery, injustice, the monstrosities present on Earth, he has already inaugurated the final order in the world. What we see with our own eyes may suggest otherwise, but in reality evil and death have been defeated forever. Their sources are dry; the reality is that Jesus is the Lord of the world. Evil has been radically defeated by redemption which he operated. The new world has already begun.
One thing above all appears different, seen with the eyes of faith: death! Christ entered death as we enter a dark prison; but he came out of it from the opposite wall. He did not return from whence he came, as Lazarus did who returned to life to die again. He has opened a breach towards life that no one can ever close, and through which everyone can follow him. Death is no longer a wall against which every human hope is shattered; it has become a bridge to eternity. A "bridge of sighs", perhaps because no one likes to die, but a bridge, no longer a bottomless pit that swallows everything. "Love is strong as death", says the song of songs (Sgs 8:6). In Christ it was stronger than death!

In his "Ecclesiastical History of the English People", the Venerable Bede tells how the Christian faith made its entrance into the North of England. When the missionaries from Rome arrived in Northumberland, the local King summoned a Council of dignitaries to decide whether to allow them, or not, to spread the new message. Some of those present were in favor, others against. It was winter and outside there was a blizzard, but the room was lit and warm. At one point a bird came from a hole in the wall, fluttered a bit, frightened, in the hall, and then disappeared through a hole in the opposite wall.

Then one of those present rose and said: "Sire, our life in this world resembles that bird. We come we know not from where, for a while we enjoy the light and warmth of this world and then we disappear back into the darkness, without knowing where we are going. If these men are capable of revealing to us something of the mystery of our lives, we must listen to them". The Christian faith could return on our continent and in the secularized world for the same reason it made its entrance: as the only message, that is, which has a sure answer to the great questions of life and death.

* * *
The cross separates unbelievers from believers, because for the ones it is scandal and madness, for the others is God's power and wisdom of God (cf. 1 Cor 1:23-24); but in a deeper sense it unites all men, believers and unbelievers. "Jesus had to die [...] not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God"(cf. Jn 11:51f). The new heavens and the new Earth belong to everyone and are for everyone, because Christ died for everyone.
The urgency that comes from all this is that of evangelizing: "The love of Christ urges us, at the thought that one has died for all" (2 Cor 5:14). It urges us to evangelize! Let us announce to the world the good news that "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because the law of the spirit which gives life in Christ Jesus has delivered us from the law of sin and death" (Rom 8:1-2).

There is a short story by Franz Kafka that is a powerful religious symbol and takes on a new meaning, almost prophetic, when heard on Good Friday. It's titled "An Imperial Message". It speaks of a king who, on his deathbed, calls to his side a subject and whispers a message into his ear. So important is that message that he makes the subject repeat it, in turn, into his hear. Then, with a nod, he sends off the messenger, who sets out on his way. But let us hear directly from the author the continuation of this story, characterized by the dreamlike and almost nightmarish tone typical of this writer:
" Now pushing with his right arm, now with his left, he cleaves a way for himself through the throng; if he encounters resistance he points to his breast, where the symbol of the sun glitters. But the multitudes are so vast; their numbers have no end. If he could reach the open fields how fast he would fly, and soon doubtless you would hear the welcome hammering of his fists on your door. But instead how vainly does he wear out his strength; still he is only making his way through the chambers of the innermost palace; never will he get to the end of them; and if he succeeded in that nothing would be gained; he must next fight his way down the stair; and if he succeeded in that nothing would be gained; the courts would still have to be crossed; and after the courts the second outer palace; and so on for thousands of years; and if at last he should burst through the outermost gate—but never, never can that happen—the imperial capital would lie before him, the center of the world, crammed to bursting with its own sediment. Nobody could fight his way through here even with a message from a dead man. But you sit at your window when evening falls and dream it to yourself”.
From his deathbed, Christ also confided to his Church a message: "Go throughout the whole world, preach the good news to all creation" (MK 16:15). There are still many men who stand at the window and dream, without knowing it, of a message like his. John, whom we have just heard, says that the soldier pierced the side of Christ on the cross "so that the Scripture may be fulfilled which says 'they shall look on him whom they have pierced"(Jn 19:37). In the Apocalypse he adds: "Behold, he is coming on the clouds, and every eye will see him; they will see him even those who pierced him, and all the tribes of the Earth will lament for him "(Rev 1:7).

This prophecy does not annouce the last coming of Christ, when it will no longer be the time of conversion, but of judgment. It describes the reality of the evangelization of the peoples. In it, a mysterious but real coming of the Lord occurs, which brings salvation to them. Theirs won't be a cry of despair, but of repentance and of consolation. This is the meaning of that prophetic passage of Scripture that John sees realized in the piercing of the side of Christ, and that is, the passage of Zechariah 12:10: "I will pour out on the House of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and consolation; they will look to me, to him whom they have pierced".

The evangelization has a mystical origin; it is a gift that comes from the cross of Christ, from that open side, from that blood and from that water. The love of Christ, like that of the Trinity of which it is the historical manifestation, is "diffusivum sui", it tends to expand and reach all creatures, "especially those most needy of thy mercy." Christian evangelization is not a conquest, not propaganda; it is the gift of God to the world in his Son Jesus. It is to give the Head the joy of feeling life flow from his heart towards his body, to the point of vivivfying its most distant limbs.

We must do everything possible so that the Church may never look like that complicated and cluttered castle described by Kafka, and the message may come out of it as free and joyous as when the messenger began his run. We know what the impediments are that can restrain the messenger: dividing walls, starting with those that separate the various Christian churches from one another, the excess of bureaucracy, the residue of past ceremonials, laws and disputes, now only debris.
In Revelation, Jesus says that He stands at the door and knocks (Rev 3:20). Sometimes, as noted by our Pope Francis, he does not knock to enter, but knocks from within to go out. To reach out to the "existential suburbs of sin, suffering, injustice, religious ignorance and indifference, and of all forms of misery."
As happens with certain old buildings. Over the centuries, to adapt to the needs of the moment, they become filled with partitions, staircases, rooms and closets. The time comes when we realize that all these adjustments no longer meet the current needs, but rather are an obstacle, so we must have the courage to knock them down and return the building to the simplicity and linearity of its origins. This was the mission that was received one day by a man who prayed before the Crucifix of San Damiano: "Go, Francis, and repair my Church".
"Who could ever be up to this task?" wondered aghast the Apostle before the superhuman task of being in the world "the fragrance of Christ"; and here is his reply, that still applies today: "We're not ourselves able to think something as if it came from us; our ability comes from God. He has made us to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; because the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life"(2 Cor 2:16; 3:5-6).
May the Holy Spirit, in this moment in which a new time is opening for the Church, full of hope, reawaken in men who are at the window the expectancy of the message, and in the messengers the will to make it reach them, even at the cost of their life.

Holy Week/Easter 2013 Apps and More for Catholics

Easter Resources to Bring You Closer to Your Faith

Easter brings the unparalleled joy to all Christians. It is the great feast.

On Good Friday Christ was sacrificed, taking away the sins of the world, destroying death and through his resurrection restoring our life. With certitude in the resurrection, we should experience true joy without a trace of sadness.

These few resources aim to bring you to your faith during Holy Week, Easter, and beyond. Check back often for more additions, and feel free to post your own favorite Holy Week and Easter resources.

Reflections
EWTN Easter Reflection

Mass
Sunday Mass Org Easter Sunday Mass

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Daily Reflections Video
Daily Readings
What We Believe

Apps
Divine Office - Audio Prayer - Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Catholic Church: Described as "an audio and text version of the official set of daily prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Catholic Church (Breviary). It wirelessly downloads several days of prayers at a time, without the need for iTunes synchronization or access to a computer."

iMissal Catholic Bible App (approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): iMissal offers a full liturgical calendar, daily Mass readings, the Order of the Mass, Mass videos from CatholicTV.com, unique Bible verses for every day of the year . . . and more.

Prayer 2000+ Catholic Prayers by DivineOffice.org: 2000+ Catholic prayers in English, Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, French.  Multilanguage Christian Prayers database. The ultimate reference to Catholic Prayers for your iPhone and iPod Touch!

iRosary This app makes it easier to find that difficult time to pray during your busy day.

Short Prayers - Helping you pray throughout the day with these short prayers. 

Podcasts
Divine Office - Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Catholic Church
Discerning Hearts - Kris McGregor interviews "today's best authors/teachers/spiritual leaders discussing topics that affect our everyday life."
EWTN Audio Library  

Lenten Reflections from CATHOLICISM 

Divine Office: Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Listen to the Divine Office

Liturgy of the Hours Vol. II:
Antiphon: 1043
Psalm: 1126

Christian Prayer:
Antiphon: 687
Psalm: 728

Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

Psalm 24

The Lords is the earth and its fullness,
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the waters he made it firm.

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things,
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

Who is the king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,
the Lord, the valiant in war.

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

Who is he, the king of glory?
He, the Lord of armies,
he is the king of glory.

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

from http://divineoffice.org

Young Australian Catholics on Pope Francis

While delivering his first Sunday prayers and blessing, the new Pope Francis delivered off-the-cuff remarks instead of reading from a written speech and ended his blessing with 'have a good lunch'.

Young Australian Catholics on Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Catholics Start Adapting to the 'Quiet Man' Pope

Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was a long shot, so is the Catholic world ready to take him on?


Catholics start adapting to the 'quiet man' pope

New! Saint of the Day iPhone App: St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

  "I highly recommend this wonderful prayer tool." –Archbishop Emeritus Daniel E. Pilarczyk
 
"...one of my favorite new spiritual tools." –Lisa Hendey (CatholicMom.com)



More Catholic apps

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;*
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

_______________________________________

Archbishop of Denver Invites Prayer for Pope Francis

“You are Peter, the rock,” said Jesus Christ to his apostle Simon Peter “and upon this rock I will build my Church. … I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 16:18-19).

For two thousand years, the successors of St. Peter have served as the rock—the “visible source and foundation” of unity in the life of the Church.  Today, Pope Francis takes up the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.   His leadership, his guidance, and his friendship with Jesus Christ will guide Christ’s disciples for the years to come.  

Please join me in giving thanks to the Father for the gift of Pope Francis.

Please join me too in prayer for his ministry. And let us commit to joining Pope Francis in a life of service, fidelity, and friendship with Jesus Christ, our savior and brother.

Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila
Archbishop of Denver

A Mass for the Election of the Pope will be celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception today at 5:30 p.m. by Msgr. Thomas Fryar. All priests of the Archdiocese of Denver are invited to concelebrate.

###                               

Papal Conclave to Begin Today

As the conclave begins today in Rome, we pray in a special way for the Cardinals who will elect the next Holy Father. This is a historic time for the Church, a time of deep prayer and reflection for Catholics worldwide and in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. We thank Benedict XVI for his great service to Christ Jesus and to the Church, and we pray for the Chair of Saint Peter, which will soon be filled by the next Bishop of Rome and Shepherd of the Universal Church. In the interim, we wait upon the decision of the Holy Spirit and we take comfort in the words of the 1 Samuel, “I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. I will build him a sure house and he shall go in and out before my anointed one forever.” Visit www.stlouisreview.com/papacy for all the latest in papal coverage including FAQs on the theology and history of the papacy. More about the background of the conclave at EWTN.

Catholic Priest to Receive Medal of Honor

More than 60 years after his death as a POW, Fr. Emil Kapaun to receive nation’s highest award for bravery

He was a soldier. He was a war hero. He was a priest. His Cause for Canonization is being considered by the Vatican. And now Fr. Emil Kapaun will receive the Medal of Honor from the President of the United States.

Fr. Emil’s heroic story will be told in the soon-to-be-released book “The Miracle of Father Kapaun,” published by Ignatius Press. One of the most remarkable aspects of his story surrounds the atypical movement of support for both his sainthood cause and his Medal of Honor award. The witnesses to both his sanctity and his bravery have come from non-Catholics, men of Jewish faith, Muslim faith and Protestant tradition, who served with Fr. Kapaun in battle or in the brutality of conditions where he drew his last breath – a prisoner of war camp.

Fr. Kapaun died as a prisoner of war, and the Korean War veterans who served with him, who were saved by him, have lobbied the Army for more than 60 years to award Kapaun the Medal of Honor for his acts of bravery. They have also spent years petitioning the Vatican to elevate him to Sainthood because of what they witnessed on the battlefield.

Roy Wenzl and Travis Heying, the authors of “The Miracle of Father Kapaun,” interviewed the dozens of men who survived the POW camp because of the courageous acts of this young priest. “They said he repeatedly ran through machine gun fire, dragging wounded soldiers to safety. In the prison camp, he shaped roofing tin into cooking pots so prisoners could boil water, which prevented dysentery. He picked lice off sick prisoners. He stole food from his captors and shared it with his starving comrades. Most of all, Kapaun rallied all of them, as they starved during subzero temperatures, to stay alive. When their future seemed hopeless, he persuaded them to hope. Hundreds died in the camps, but hundreds more survived,” recounts Wenzl and Heying.

One of the surviving POWs, who will be at the award ceremony in April at the White House, said Fr. Kapaun was murdered by Chinese prison camp guards in 1951 because he openly defied many of the camp rules, including praying the rosary with other prisoners. Mike Dowe, who like dozens of other survivors of the camp has petitioned both Congress and the Vatican for these honors, recalls that by the time Kapaun died, Protestants and men of other beliefs were praying the Catholic rosary and were openly resisting the Chinese torture.

Since opening Kapaun’s Cause for Canonization in 1993, there have already been several allegations of miracles – healings attributed to Fr. Kapaun’s intercession that defy scientific explanation. These cures have been witnessed once again by non-Catholics – doctors, in fact, who can attribute no logical answer to the healing of seriously ill or injured individuals.

The last surviving members of Fr. Kapaun’s immediate family and several of the living POWs who served with him will travel to Washington, D.C., for the Medal of Honor award ceremony on April 11.

CCC Responds to Pope Benedicts Resignation

The more than 500 priests and deacons of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy express our profound respect, admiration and filial love for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI as with great sadness we learn of his abdication from the Chair of Saint Peter at the end of this month. Father John Trigilio, President of the Confraternity, said: “Pope Benedict has been a bridge of continuity after the long and wonderful papacy of Pope John Paul the Great. He has also been a beacon of hope for orthodoxy of thought and for reverence in divine worship. We clergy are particularly grateful for his paternal love, example and piety as pope, bishop and priest. Viva il Papa”

A national association of priests and deacons dedicated to promoting ongoing spiritual, theological and pastoral formation in a fraternal setting, the CCC in the United States has fellow Confraternities of Catholic Clergy in Australia and in Great Britain. There was an international gathering of all three in Rome in 2010 where priests and deacons of this association attended the papal Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany. A convocation is planned every five years in Rome with the next one taking place in 2015.

Mr. Thomas J. McKenna, Executive Director of the CCC, expressed his thoughts on the Pope’s resignation. “We are all painfully aware of His Holiness’ declining health and while his resignation saddens us, his decision to surrender the keys of St. Peter for the good of Holy Mother Church is further witness of this great man’s wisdom and humility. As a true father, the Holy Father places the needs of his spiritual children first. That is why he feels his physical limitations prevent him from fully providing what his sons and daughters need.”

Fr. Trigilio is asking all the members of the CCC to offer special prayers of support for Pope Benedict as he prepares for his official relinquishment of papal authority on February 28th.

The CatholicTV Network to Hold Telethon

The CatholicTV Network will hold its 21st annual telethon on Friday, February 1, 2013 and Saturday, February 2, 2013.

The CatholicTV Network will hold its 21st annual telethon on Friday, February 1st, and Saturday, February 2nd. The telethon will air from 9AM to 9PM ET on Friday and 9AM to 10PM ET on Saturday.

The CatholicTV telethon will broadcast from the Msgr. Francis T. McFarland Television Center in Watertown, MA. CatholicTV president Father Robert Reed, Jay Fadden and Kevin Nelson will host this annual event; it is the major fundraiser for this fully viewer-supported Catholic television station.

The telethon features entertainment and highlights from the network's family-friendly, faith-filled programming. The 21st annual Telethon guest will include: Rockapella, Father Dan O’Connell, Matt Weber, Friends of the Orphans Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos Choir, Diana Doyle, Anne DiSanto, Pointe Blank, Spotlight’s “Film Fathers”, Christine Caswell, John Monahan, Hosts of The Gist, and Going My Way’s Father Chris Hickey and Father Paul Rouse.

Members of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Knights of Columbus will be among the volunteers answering phone calls during the telethon. Viewers can call 617-923-3450 to make a pledge to CatholicTV or visit: www.catholictv.com/donate to make an online donation.

Telethon donations will help CatholicTV deliver the Good News into millions of homes across the country.

Visit www.CatholicTV.com for more information.

Pauline Books & Media New App: Discover God's Blessings

Pauline Books & Media and the Daughters of St. Paul are pleased to announce the release of their latest Catholic app, Creating Abundance in 21 Days. This app guides you in a 21-day meditation so that you can discover the possibilities that are already yours as gifts from God. Whether you are consumed by negative thoughts, are worried about finances, or are struggling with stress, this app can help you arrive at a calmer, more relaxed state as you open yourself to God’s blessings, enriching your life in all dimensions.

This app features soothing, voice guided meditations and affirmations by Georgiana Lofty and original, calming music by Patrick Von Wiegandt. Georgiana is a licensed Marriage Family Therapist who holds a master’s degree in psychology and a doctorate in ministry. In addition to maintaining a private counseling practice in southern California, she facilitates meditation workshops that greatly improve people’s ability to connect with the abundant life that God has planned for them—in their personal growth, relationships, health, and faith. She has over 30 years of experience helping adults, children, and couples lead happier and more fulfilling lives. Patrick Von Wiegandt has 35 years of experience in the music and recording industry and has produced a series of meditative music and environmental sounds called “Sounds of Hawaii.”

Creating Abundance in 21 Days is available for download on your Android phone or tablet through Google Play or on your Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. For further information and press inquiries, please contact Ariana Tantillo, Marketing Assistant and Copy-writer, at 617-676-4490 ext. 4179 or e-mail atantillo@paulinemedia.com.

Pauline Books & Media is the publishing house of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international Congregation of women religious whose mission is evangelization through the means of social communication. They operate thirteen retail book centers in North America and a publishing and distribution facility in Boston, Massachusetts.

Turning the Pages of Catholic History

“Men are surprised by each new turn of the pages of the book of history.” With those words, esteemed historian James Hitchcock introduces readers to HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH – from the Apostolic Age to the Third Millennium. The new book is available now from Ignatius Press.

Hitchcock, a leading commentator on the Catholic Church in America and longtime professor of history at St. Louis University, maps a fascinating journey of discovery. HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH transports readers from Jesus’ call of the apostles and the birth of the Catholic Church, through the struggles of saints and sinners, the rise and fall of empires, the contributions of great Catholic thinkers and the holy lives of simple believers, to the Church’s place today as the longest-enduring social institution in human history. From Peter to Benedict XVI, Hitchcock recounts the divine and human drama of that great community of diverse believers known as the Catholic Church.

“While in every age the Church demonstrates her power to transform the world,” Hitchcock writes, “the moral weaknesses of both her leaders and her members are at the same time both a scandal and an ironic witness to her divine character – mere men could never have accomplished the good that the Church has achieved over two millennia. Left entirely to men, the Church ought to have perished at many points in her long history.”

Hitchcock is an able historian and superb writer, combining keen historical judgment with an entertaining and readable style. He surveys the grand sweep of Church history and the culture-shaping role the Church has played in world history. Only a historian of outstanding skill and intellectual stature could cover such a vast topic with such style, insight, and profound judgment.

This is no mere “historical textbook;” it’s a rich, adventurous true-story told in just as rich a fashion. HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is a compellingly hard-to-put-down book, more like an engrossing novel than a “history book.”

Endorsements of HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH already are impressive.

“To love the Church, we must understand her history,” said Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “As Blessed Pope John XXIII remarked, ‘History is our best teacher.’ Thank you, Dr. Hitchcock, for this timeless gift to the Church for the Year of Faith.”

“If you want an unforgettable account of the fullness and drama of the Christian story, read this book,” said Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia.

“The book is well-written,” said Glenn W. Olsen, emeritus professor of history at the University of Utah. “It is not burdened down with details or many footnotes, but is attached to a strong narrative line centering on meaning.”

“History is indeed the war of good against evil,” Hitchcock writes, “but the progress of that war is hidden from human eyes.” Nevertheless, HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH provides mere mortals a revealing glimpse into the shape of the war’s course.

Free online 3D tour of the birthplace of Jesus Christ

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, so why not learn about it with the free 3D online tour of his birthplace? Available now at Jerusalem.com

The Nativity Church 3D online tour enables anyone anywhere to take a 3D virtual tour of the birthplace of Jesus – the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

See, hear & feel the birthplace of Jesus Christ in a stunning 3D educational tour of Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Available for the first time directly on web browsers and for FREE!
Explore and learn about the birth of Christ, the 3 Kings who came bearing gifts, the star of the Magi and more. Read about different scared items in the Nativity Church, take a guided tour through the Church of the Nativity and listen to explanations about the Church of the Nativity and the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.

About the Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem marks the exact spot believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It is the oldest continuously operating church in the world and has been active for almost 1700 years!

The Church of Nativity is built over a cave which is traditionally believed to be the Manger in which the Virgin Mother Mary gave birth to Jesus. For this reason, the Church of the Nativity has been a site of pilgrimage since the second century and countless Christians gather here every year on Christmas Eve to pray and conduct mass. It has been named a World Heritage Site by the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Pauline Books & Media: App to Give the Gift of Hope

Pauline Books & Media and the Daughters of St. Paul are pleased to announce the release of their newest Catholic app: Light a Candle: Miracles Do Happen. This app brings directly to you—wherever you are—the warmth and comfort of the tradition of lighting candles in a church. Lighting candles for ourselves or for those we love is a special way to receive or give the gift of hope, especially during various liturgical seasons. The Light a Candle app features
seven chapels where you can light a candle:

• Nun’s Chapel; 
• Chapel of the Angels; 
• Chapel of Jesus, Master and Shepherd; 
• Chapel of Mary, Queen of Apostles; 
• Chapel of St. Joseph; 
• Chapel of St. Paul 

An inside look at the sisters from the Daughters of St. Paul community who are praying for you A link to send your prayer intentions directly to the sisters Prayers for many different occasions and specific needs Instrumental Christmas songs and other music sung by the sisters An option to share the God Loves You app with a friend The Light a Candle app is available for download on your Android phone or tablet through Google Play or on your Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.

Light a Candle: Miracles Do Happen

Nuns' Breakout Album Tops Billboard's Classical Music Chart

ADVENT AT EPHESUS, the Advent album from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, is No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s Traditional Classical Music Chart for the fourth straight week and is proof that the culture desires more of the sacred and divine in these preparatory weeks leading to the celebration of Christ’s birth. Rising above a group of Classical albums that includes Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, Fifty Shades of Grey Classical, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Once Upon a Christmas, and the London Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas Classics, ADVENT AT EPHESUS is a verified hit that will remain a classic for Advent seasons to come!

“Purchase your copy of ADVENT AT EPHESUS today to experience the sublime musical masterpiece contained in this holy album…and head to benedictinesofmary.org for a special end of Advent promotion and grab a copy for someone you love to enjoy for years to come. It’s clear that with a No. 1 ranking for the fourth straight week, ADVENT AT EPHESUS is here to stay and is a must-have for the collection! Even in these final Advent days leading to a grand celebration of Christ’s coming to earth, we hope the music and peaceful reflections found in ADVENT AT EPHESUS will continue to be loved by and shared with as many as possible!" said Monica Fitzgibbons, co-founder of De Montfort Music.

Since its Nov. 20 worldwide debut from De Montfort Music and Decca Records, ADVENT AT EPHESUS has blessed the world with the sacred and sublime music of a hidden and contemplative religious order tucked away on Missouri’s rural countryside. Hidden in prayer and sacrifice, their music now is available worldwide. In addition to the CD, the album is available as a digital download for all devices at a variety of online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the iTunes Store.

Captivating diverse audiences, ADVENT AT EPHESUS, which also captured an impressive top 200 ranking in Billboard’s mainstream chart, holds its spot this week amid all album categories.

The breathtaking release that has taken the world by surprise also ranks No. 9 on the Contemporary Christian chart, No. 10 on the Gospel chart, and No. 20 on the Internet Album chart.

“We want to again express our sincere gratitude to everyone who is supporting the album. We hope everyone will purchase this beautiful masterpiece, a labor of love given to the world by The Benedictines of Mary, which goes to help the sisters in their many needs as a growing contemplative community,” said Fitzgibbons.




This treasury of prayers, now released on Kindle, will help you go to the Lord with courage and pray to receive God's grace.


Sometimes, the Pope said of prayers and devotions, one goes to the Lord "to ask something for someone;" one asks for a favor and then goes away. "But that," he warned, "is not prayer," because if "you want the Lord to bestow a grace, you have to go with courage and do what Abraham did, with that sort of tenacity."

This comprehensive treasury of Catholic prayer includes everyday prayers, devotionals, how to pray the rosary, litanies, the Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic prayers, prayers to prepare for confession, prayers to the saints, Marian prayers, family prayers, and more.

Looking for great Catholic books? CNM resources offers a one-stop source to browse Advent and Christmas books as well as new and classic Catholic books.

In addition to classics and contemporary books, find many of the familiar books you've grown up with and loved. You'll also find biographies, history books, novels, and story books for all ages, including many lives of the saints for students and adults.

Here's a small sample of the kinds of books you can find.

Advent and Christmas With the Saints

From the Advent & Christmas Wisdom Series Features Advent meditations from many saints Details Advent and Christmas with the Saints offers spiritual sustenance from holy men and women whom we honor because of their close spiritual relationship with God. Readers walk day-by-day with the saints, recalling the Scriptures they read, meditating on the thoughts they had, praying as they might have prayed, and talking openly with God. Christians looking for a way to re-spiritualize their Christmas practices, prayer groups, small-faith communities, Bible study classes, teachers, clergy, and religious will cherish this guide to refocusing on the "reason for the season," the birth of the Messiah.

Advent Calendar

For each of the first 24 days of December, there is a mini board book that relates a Bible story, offers a special prayer or Psalm, or features a Christmas song. After reading each little book, you can hang it on your Christmas tree by its golden loop. A beautiful and unique way to celebrate Advent at home or school year after year. Full color. 10 pages per mini-book. Closed size case 14 1/8 x 13.

Advent of the Heart

Fr. Alfred Delp,S.J., was a heroic German Jesuit priest who was imprisoned and martyred by the Nazis in a Nazi death camp in 1945. At the time of his arrest, he was the Rector of St. Georg Church in Munich, and had a reputation for being a gripping, dynamic preacher, and one who was an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime. He was an important figure in the Resistance movement against Nazism. ' ' Accused of conspiring against the Nazi government, he was arrested in 1944, tortured, imprisoned, and executed on Feb 2, 1945. While in prison, Fr. Delp was able to write a few meditations found in this book, which also includes his powerful reflections from prison during the Advent season about the profound spiritual meaning and lessons of Advent, as well as his sermons he gave on the season of Advent at his parish in Munich. These meditations were smuggled out of Berlin and read by friends and parishioners of St. Georg in Munich. ' ' His approach to Advent, the season that prepares us for Christmas, is what Fr. Delp called an "Advent of the heart." More than just preparing us for Christmas, it is a spiritual program, a way of life. He proclaimed that our personal, social and historical circumstances, even suffering, offer us entry into the true Advent, our personal journey toward a meeting and dialogue with God. Indeed, his own life, and great sufferings, illustrated the true Advent he preached and wrote about. '' From his very prison cell he presented a timeless spiritual message, and in an extreme situation, his deep faith gave him the courage to draw closer to God, and to witness to the truth even at the cost of his own life. These meditations will challenge and inspire all Christians to embark upon that same spiritual journey toward union with God, a journey that will transform our lives.' ???As one of the last witnesses who knew Fr. Alfred Delp personally, I am very pleased this book will make him better known in America. The more one reads his writings, the more one clearly recognizes the prophetic message for our times! Like his contemporary, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Delp ranks among the great prophets who endured the horror of Nazism and handed down a powerful message for our times.

Angel Advent Candleholder Set

Advent candleholder display 4 Advent candles included Copper angel heralding the Lord Great for any table or counter Details This Advent candle holder makes a stunning centerpiece with its rich, antique copper tones and decorative detail. The candle holder is formed into the shape of an angel blowing a trumpet, with the words, "Prepare the way of the Lord" carved at the center. The angel figure heralds the arrival of The Savior with four taper candles (three purple, one pink). An Advent pamphlet is also included to help you celebrate the joy of lighting the Advent candles this Christmas season.

Advent/Christmas CD and Prayer Book: God With Us

New prayer book and CD: God With Us, by OCP composer Dan Schutte, reminds Catholics everywhere that amid the busyness of the Christmas and Advent seasons, God is all around.

“Because of the distractions and hectic pace of Christmas preparations, many of us find it difficult to keep our minds and hearts on the real Christmas story,” says Schutte. “I created God With Us to help people pause and remember that this is the season of hope…to open their hearts to receive God’s love.”

The 84-page prayer book consists of 12 different exercises that contain inspirational images, a reflection, prayers, a scripture passage and lyrics for a corresponding song. Additionally, God With Us includes self-reflection questions and keystone phrases to keep the reader introspective throughout the day.

God With Us is bundled with a companion CD featuring 12 songs (corresponding to the prayer exercises) written and recorded by acclaimed Catholic composer Dan Schutte.

“We’re surrounded every moment by God’s love. And, if people are inspired to do a bit more to nourish their spiritual selves, perhaps this little prayer book—with its music, scripture, images and reflections—can provide some structure and guidance” says Schutte.

The printed book and companion CD are available at ocp.org/GodWithUs. An iBook edition will be available through iTunes in winter of 2012.

Catholics Come Home Launches New Website

Catholics Come Home® announces the complete graphic and functional overhaul of its interactive website, CatholicsComeHome.org, along with new campaigns for Advent and the Year of Faith. The new site is easier to navigate, more appealing in design, and more robust in content, putting it at the forefront of cutting-edge Catholic websites.

The website launch comes as Catholics Come Home® begins its first international airing of evangomercials™ in the Archdiocese of Vancouver this Advent. A Catholics Come Home® campaign is also underway in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, beginning on Dec. 14.

These diocesan campaigns will air in conjunction with the new Catholics Come Home® “mini campaigns” this Advent and January. In response to the Vatican announcing the Year of Faith in October, Catholics Come Home® is offering its original diocesan partners the opportunity to continue their momentum of evangelization by airing TV and radio “mini campaigns” featuring its evangomercials™. A number of dioceses are participating, including the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and the Diocese of Venice, Fla., which means more souls will be reached in regions across the U.S.

“We hope that our updated website, Advent campaigns, and Year of Faith mini-campaigns will contribute to a greater revitalization of the Catholic Faith during this year in the Church,” says Tom Peterson, founder and president of Catholics Come Home®.