Edith Stein - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Crioss, Patron of Europe

Tuesday August 9th.

Sun Flowers 9th August

It is the feast day of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

A PostIt for Introduction to the Mass missed the fact that the celebration of Edith Stein is of one of the Patrons of Europe.

The last paragraph of the Reading of the Night Office puts to well the elements of her life.  

The elements in her life that formed her - Jewish, German, a philosopher, a woman, a Christian, a Carmelite - make her stand out. She was one of millions, but she was also outstanding, an exemplar, a witness, a martyr. Each one of us is a mystery. We respect mysteries not by solving them, but by contemplating them. The mystery of Edith Stein should prompt in us neither triumphal ism nor resentment. We cannot smooth all the rough edges, but we can ponder with humility. 

The Prayers of the Sacramentary. 

St. TERESA BENFDICTA OF THE CROSS - 9^th Aug.

Edith Stein was born of Jewish parents in 1891, becoming an influential philosopher following her extensive studies at major German universities. Following her conversion to Catholicism she became a major force in German intellectual life, entering the Discalced Carmelites in 1933. Sister Teresa Benedicta was arrested by the Nazi regime on August 2, 1942, along with all Catholics of Jewish extraction, and transported by cattle train to the death camp: of Auschwitz: where she died in the gas chambers that same year .•

Collect 
God our Father,

you give us joy each year in honouring

the memory of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

May her prayers be a source of help for us,

and may her example of courage and chastity be our inspiration.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFIS

Lord, receive our gifts

as you accepted the suffering and death

of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

in whose honour we celebrate this Eucharist.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after COMMUNION

Lord God, may the mysteries we receive
give us the spiritual courage which made
your martyr Saint Teresa benedicta of the Cross
faithful in your service and victorious in her suffering.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

The Nineteen Ways of Prayer of Dominic

Monday 8th Aug 2011 The MAGNIFICAT Monthly carries an insert of The Nineteen Ways of Prayer of Dominic - The Seventh Way of Prayer.

The Dominicant Centre provides the online text: Link below

Saint Dominic Feast 8th August

BIOGRAPHICAL DOCUMENTS

Edited with an Introduction by FRANCIS C. LEHNER, O.P.

Ed @ 1964 The Thomist Press. 



The Seventh Way of Prayer

WHILE PRAYING he was often seen to reach towards heaven like an arrow which has been shot from a taut bow straight upwards into the sky. He would stand with hands outstretched above his head and joined together, or at times slightly separated as if about to receive something from heaven. One would believe that he was receiving an increase of grace and in this rapture of spirit was asking God for the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the Order he had founded.

He seemed to seek for himself and his brethren something of that transcendent joy which is found in living the beatitudes, praying that each would consider himself truly blessed in extreme poverty, in bitter mourning, in cruel persecutions, in a great hunger and thirst for justice, in anxious mercy towards all. His entreaty was that his children would find their delight in observing the commandments and in the perfect practice of the evangelical counsels. Enraptured, the holy father then appeared to have entered into the Holy of Holies and the Third Heaven. After prayer of this kind he truly seemed to be a prophet, whether in correcting the faulty, in directing others, or in his preaching.

Our holy father did not remain at prayer of this type very long but gradually regained full possession of his faculties. He looked during that time like a person coming from a great distance or like a stranger in this world, as could easily be discerned from his countenance and manner. The brethren would then hear him praying aloud and saying as the prophet: "Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication which I pray to thee, when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple" (Ps. 27:2).

Through his words and holy example he constantly taught the friars to pray in this way, often repeating those phrases from the psalms: "Behold, now bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord ... in the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord" (Ps. 133:1-3), "I have cried to thee, O Lord, hear me; hearken to my voice when I cry to thee. Let my prayer be directed as incense in they sight; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Ps. 140:1-2). The drawing shows us this mode of prayer so that we may better understand it.

http://www.domcentral.org/trad/domdocs/default.htm   
CHAPTER FIVE

THE NINE WAYS OF PRAYER OF ST. DOMINICINTRODUCTION

The Nine Ways of Prayer of St. Dominic was written by an anonymous author, probably at Bologna, sometime between 1260 and 1288. The source of his information was Sister Cecilia of the Monastery of St. Agnes at Bologna (who had been received to the habit by St. Dominic) and others who had been in contact with the Holy Founder. This venerable document testifies to the eminent holiness of the Saint, showing something of his intimate life and intense love of God. The early manuscripts of the work were accompanied by miniature drawings to illustrate the various postures St. Dominic took while he was at prayer. Those in a Spanish manuscript of the Vatican Library,Codex Rossianus 3, are by a skilled miniaturist and done in brilliant colors which are still vivid. The sketches which accompany the present translation are adaptations by Brother Jerome Newell, O. P., of the ancient drawings.The Nine Ways of Prayer have been sometimes printed as a supplement to the Life of St. Dominic by Theodoric of Apoldia, though they form no part of that work. The reason for this is traceable to the visit of Conrad of Trebensee, Provincial of Germany, to Bologna in 1288, when he was in Italy to attend the general chapter. There he found The Nine Ways and other documents relating to St. Dominic and took them back to Germany for the use of Theodoric, who, at that time, was starting to work on his biography of the Saint (27).

TEXT
THE NINE WAYS OF PRAYER OF ST. DOMINICHoly teachers like Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory, Hilary, Isidore, John Chrysostom, John Damascene, Bernard, and other saintly Greek and Latin doctors have discoursed on prayer at great length. They have encouraged and described it, pointed out its necessity and value, explained the method, the dispositions which are required, and the impediments which stand in its way. In learned books, the glorious and venerable doctor, Brother Thomas Aquinas, and Albert, of the Order of Preachers, as well as William in his treatise on the virtues, have considered admirably and in a holy, devout, and beautiful manner that form of prayer in which the soul makes use of the members of the body to raise itself more devoutly to God. In this way the soul, in moving the body, is moved by it. At times it becomes rapt in ecstasy as was Saint Paul, or is caught up in a rapture of the spirit like the prophet David. Saint Dominic often prayed in this way, and it is fitting that we say something of his method.
Certainly many saints of both the Old and New Testament are known to have prayed like this at times. Such a method serves to enkindle devotion by the alternate action of soul upon body and body upon soul. Prayer of this kind would cause Saint Dominic to be bathed in tears, and would arouse the fervor of his holy will to such intensity that his bodily members could not be restrained from manifesting his devotion by certain signs. As a result, the spirit of the supplicant was sometimes raised up during its entreaties, petitions, and thanksgivings.
The following, then, are the special modes of prayer, besides those very devout and customary forms, which Saint Dominic used during the celebration of Mass and the praying of the psalmody. In choir or along the road, he was often seen lifted suddenly out of himself and raised up with God and the angels.

The First Way of PrayerSAINT DOMINIC'S first way of prayer was to humble himself before the altar as if Christ, signified by the altar, were truly and personally present and not in symbol alone. He would say with Judith: "O Lord, God, the prayer of the humble and the meek hath always pleased Thee [Judith 9:16]. "It was through humility that the Canaanite woman and the prodigal son obtained what they desired; as for me, "I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof" [Matt. 8:8] for "I have been humbled before you exceedingly, O Lord [Ps. 118:107]."

Comment Sunday Readings

Dear Anne Marie,

Many thanks.

The Reading, Ist.Kings 19: 9a, 11-13a silenced my whist too.

"Stand on the mountain before the Lord".

. . .

Donald

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Anne Marie. . .
To: Donald . . .
Sent: Sun, 7 August, 2011 21:33:20
Subject: Mass readings
I was very moved by the first reading today.  

A beautiful image of God in the gentle breeze.
I read it over and over again, not to understand it, not imagine it, not to compare it, or make links, but to feel it.  

Wonderful.

Anne Marie
Sent from my iPad

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

William,
Thank you.
The river over the bridge but no Chopper at your beck. 
Your own events catch up with Elijah and Peter.
. . .
Donald

In pictures: Carlisle floods

BBC
Carlisle was hit by floods at the weekend after a month's rain fell in 24 hours. Several people were airlifted from buildings.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: WILLIAM  . . .
To: Fr Donald . . .
Sent: Mon, 8 August, 2011 9:28:45
Subject: Re: [Blog] Mt 14:31 faith...doubt

Dear Father Donald,

 

There is a footbridge over the river in this city where pedestrians see the racing flood waters just beneath their feet through open slats. St. Augustine's words will now always come to mind as I cross it, bringing Peter's courage and cry to heart: all the world's swell and turmoil there beneath your feet that would surely engulf you, devouring, never sustaining.

 

The rushing water is sufficiently intimidating!

 

. . .in Our Lord,

William

Sunday, 7 August 2011, 20:43

 [Dom Donald's Blog] Mt 14:31 "O you of little faith, why did you doubt"Think, then, of this world as a sea, whipped up to tempestuous heights by violent winds. A person's own private tempest will be his or her unruly desires. If you love God you will have power to walk upon the waters, and all the world's swell and turmoil will remain beneath your feet. But if you love the world it will surely engulf you, for it always devours its lovers, never sustains them. If you feel your foot slipping beneath you, if you become a prey to doubt or realize that you are losing control, if, in a word, you begin to sink, say: Lord, I am drowning, save me! Only he who for your sake died in your fallen nature can save you from the death inherent in that fallen nature.  

[Edit. Augustine para 4]

Saint Edith Stein see previous Post 9 Aug 2010

http://nunraw.blogspot.com/2010/08/saint-edith-stein.html

Monday, 9 August 2010

Teresa Benedict of the Cross Edith Stein (1891-1942) nun, Discalced Carmelite, martyr

Mt 14:31 "O you of little faith, why did you doubt"

 

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Gospel: Matthew 14:22.;.33      Year A

KEY VERSE: "O you of little faith, why did you doubt" (v 31)

In the Night Office the Second Reading, the summary isso precise:

The sea with its wild tempests is a symbol of the world,
while Peter symbolizes the Church as a whole
and its individual members, who are strong when they rely on the Lord, but weak when they trust in themselves.

From a sermon by Saint Augustine (Sermo 76: 1. 4. 5. 8. 9: PL 38, 479-483)

• The gospel tells us how Christ the Lord walked upon the waters of the sea, and how the apostle Peter did the same until fear made him falter and lose confidence. Then he began to sink and emerged from the water only after calling on the Lord with renewed faith.
• Now we must regard the sea as a symbol of the present world, and the apostle Peter as a symbol of the one and only Church. For Peter, who ranked first among the apostles and was always the most ready to declare his love for Christ, often acted as spokesman for them all. F or instance, when the Lord Jesus Christ asked who people thought he was and the other disciples had cited various opinions, it was Peter who responded to the Lord's further question, But who do you say I am? with the affirmation: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. One replied for all because all were united.
• When we consider Peter as a representative member of the Church we should distinguish between what was due to God's action in him and what was attributable to himself. Then we ourselves shall not falter; then we shall be founded upon rock and remain firm and unmoved in the face of the wind, rain, and floods, which are the trials and temptations of this present world. Look at Peter, who in this episode is an image of ourselves; at one moment he is all confidence, at the next all uncertainty and doubt; now he professes faith in the immortal One, now he fears for his life.
• Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you upon the water. When the Lord said Come Peter climbed out of the boat and began to walk on the water. This is what he could do through the power of the Lord; what by himself? Realizing how violently the wind was blowing, he lost his nerve, and as he began to sink he called out, "Lord, I am drowning, save me"! When he counted on the Lord's help it enabled him to walk on the water; when human frailty made him falter he turned once more to the Lord, who immediately stretched out his hand to help him, raised him up as he was sinking and rebuked him for his lack of faith.
• Think, then, of this world as a sea, whipped up to tempestuous heights by violent winds. A person's own private tempest will be his or her unruly desires. If you love God you will have power to walk upon the waters, and all the world's swell and turmoil will remain beneath your feet. But if you love the world it will surely engulf you, for it always devours its lovers, never sustains them. If you feel your foot slipping beneath you, if you become a prey to doubt or realize that you are losing control, if, in a word, you begin to sink, say: Lord, I am drowning, save me! Only he who for your sake died in your fallen nature can save you from the death inherent in that fallen nature. 

Thomas Grotrian - concept of massed pipe parades

God Is The Best!

The Last *Hallelujah Psalm

Psalm 150:4

v4      Sing, "You are the best" to him with music.

     Use dancing and *drums, *strings and *pipes.   

http://www.funeralhelper.org/auld-lang-syne-caledonian-pipes-a-drums.html 

 The Scotsman  

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Pioneering-piper-with-a-place.6809971.jp?articlepage=2

Pioneering piper with a place in record books
dies at the age of 38

Third Avenue, New York, Tartan Day 2002, an event Thomas Grotrian helped launch.

Published Date: 30 July 2011

By Brian Ferguson

A MUSICIAN behind a string of record-breaking piping parades in Scotland's capital has died in a tragic accident in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Tributes have been paid to Thomas Grotrian, one of two pipers who took the concept of the massed parades overseas, to cities like New York, Paris, Shanghai and Rome, following their initial success in Edinburgh. 

The 38-year-old, from Edinburgh, is 

thought to have died suddenly after falling down a flight of stairs into a cellar at a party at a friend's house on Saturday. 

Mr Grotrian had moved to Canada to take up a post as marketing manager of the Nova Scotia International Tattoo in 2006.

The previous year he and long-time collaborator Magnus Orr, a fellow director of Epic Concepts, an Edinburgh-based events firm, had set a record by having around 8,500 pipers parade through Holyrood Park.

Previous records had been set on Princes Street in 2000 and 1995, when Rolf Harris agreed to learn the pipes to lead a massed parade through the city. The event attracted a crowd of 300,000 who flocked to see the Australian icon lead almost 3,000 pipers through the capital.

The first event was a fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care, where Mr Grotrian's mother Sarah worked as the charity's secretary at the time.

Rugby legend Gavin Hastings led the second event in 2000, when more than 7,000 pipers were involved.

Mr Grotrian and Mr Orr persuaded the authorities in New York to allow them to stage a huge parade of pipers down Fifth Avenue in 2002 during the city's Tartan Day celebrations, an event that is now an annual fixture.

The pair's efforts around the world, which secured the involvement of Prince Charles, Sir Sean Connery and Sir Jackie Stewart, saw the events raise more than £750,000 for the cancer charity.

Mr Orr, 41, said: "It was a huge shock to hear about Thomas. We were still very good friends, even though he was in Nova Scotia in recent years.

"It was his vision and determination that brought thousands of pipers and drummers together to march along Princes Street to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

"The really big one was the one in New York in 2002 when a huge parade was held down Fifth Avenue. Nothing of that kind had happened before. The authorities didn't want to allow it at first, but they couldn't really give us a proper reason why it shouldn't be allowed."

His mother, Ms Grotrian, who is now retired said: "He had been out with a group of friends celebrating someone's 40th birthday and was apparently about to go home when this happened.

"He always lived life to the full and had a great group of friends over there.

There is going to be a big memorial service for him in November and we'll be going over for that."

Richard Hambleton, managing director of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: "Thomas was a great friend of the Tattoo and it was always a pleasure working with him on his charitable fundraising pipe band parades, with which he became synonymous. He will be sorely missed."

Mr Grotrian's family is trying to organise a procession of pipers at his funeral, which is expected to be held at Channelkirk, near Lauder, in the Borders, on 11 August.

A MUSICIAN behind a string of record-breaking piping parades in Scotland's capital has died in a tragic accident in Nova Scotia, Canada. Tributes have been paid to Thomas Grotrian, one of two pipers who took the concept of the massed parades overseas,... FULL ARTICLE AT THE SCOTSMAN

http://www.ddaypiperbillmillin.com/caen/

Pipefest Normandy – Tribute to Thomas Grotrian

Thomas Grotrian was instrumental in developing the World’s biggest massed pipe band in Edinburgh, 1995.  It was his vision and determination that brought thousands of pipers and drummers together to march along Princes Street to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

It was this event that became the inspiration for Pipefest and since 1995, massed pipe band parades under the Pipefest banner have taken place in Edinburgh, New York, Chicago, the US Grand Prix, Indianapolis, Rome, Paris, Shanghai and Nova Scotia. Over £750,o00 has been raised for cancer charities by the players taking part and spectators along route. Highlights have included: the Millennuim Piping Festival attended by HRH Prince Charles; marching through Manhattan led by Sir Sean Connery and Mayor Bloomberg; marching under the Eiffel Tower in Paris; opening the US Grand Prix in a parade led by Sir Jackie Stewart; and Pipefest 2005 which attracted players from 32 countries.

After Pipefest 2005, Tom summed-up working on massed pipe band events: “we have had great fun”.  Indeed – there are many great memories, proud moments & fun times, all thanks to Tom!

WE SHARE THE SADNESS OF THIS NEW WITH TOM’S FAMILY,FRIENDS, PIPERS AND DRUMMERS AND THE PIPEFEST TEAM. WE SHALL MISS SUCH A DEVOTED, KIND AND HUMBLE MAN. R.I.P

Magnus

THE TIMES: legacy Guestbook on-line

THOMAS GROTRIAN

This Guest Book will remain online until 04/09/2011.http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/timesonline-uk/guestbook.aspx?n=thomas-grotrian&pid=152877132&cid=gbsrchres

St Waldef Abbot Melrose 3rd August

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: Donald

Sent: Thu, 4 August, 2011 11:41:40

Subject: Re: Saint of Melrose

Dear . . .,
 

One monk for the first time pointed to me THE TIMES Notice on Saint's day.

Thisone the Abbot of Melrose Abbey Saint Waltheof.

fr. Donald

The first time I have been shown the dailey Feature, Saint's Day in THE TIMES

Saint of the day: 3rd August

Saint Waldef

Abbot Melrose

Cistercian abbot. Of noble birth, St Waldef was born in 1100 and grew up in the Scottish court. He could have become a court cleric, but chose the monastic life, becoming an Austin canon at Nostell in Yorkshire.  In 1134, he became prior of Kirkham. In 1140 he was a favourite to become Archbishop of York but King Stephen prevented this because he felt he would be too sympathetic to Scotland.

St Waldef wanted to bring the Cistercians at Rievaulx and the Austins at Kirkham together, but the canons objected strongly. In 1149 he became abbot of Melrose, taking over from someone who had a notorious temper. St Waldef developed a reputation for great kindness, gentleness and humility.  He went on to found monasteries at Cultram and Kinross. In 1159 he was asked to be bishop of St Andrews but he refused as he knew death was near.

St Waldef was never formally canonised but a popular cult grew around him until the Reformation. During his life, many wonders were said to have taken place including visions at Christmas and Easter and miracles of multiplying food. 

                   We thank ICN for sending this message. 

---

Mt14:13 The Graces of the Multiplication of the Love of God

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: WILLIAM . . .
To: Fr Donald . . .
Sent: Tue, 2 August, 2011 9:34:33
Subject: Re: [Blog] Mt14:13 The Graces of the Multiplication of the L...

Dear Father Donald,

 

I am mesmerized by this extract from Benedict XVI Sacramentum Caritatis highlighted on your Blog:

 

The Eucharist reveals the loving plan that guides all of salvation history. There the Deus Trinitas, who is essentially love, becomes fully a part of our human condition. In the bread and wine under whose appearances Christ gives himself to us in the paschal meal, God's whole life encounters us and is sacramentally shared with us. God is a perfect communion of love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At creation itself, man was called to have some share in God's breath of life. But it is in Christ, dead and risen, and in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, given without measure, that we have become sharers of God's inmost life.

 

For me, Benedict XVI's words give express meaning to the mystical passage in 1 John 4 within the celebration of the Eucharist:

The church of Sancta Maria in Rhodes. 
It is run by the Franciscans. (photo Anne Marie)

1 Jn 4: 9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins...13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit

I shall yet be dwelling upon this remarkable piece of writing for days. The title of your post could be "The Graces of the Multiplication of the Love of God".

 

Thank you for presenting it to us.

 

. . . in Our Lord,

William

 

Nunraw YouTubes from friends enterprising

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Donald ...
To: Andy ...
Cc: Anne Marie .....
Sent: Mon, 1 August, 2011 15:51:19
Subject: Re: Video Breathless

Dear Andy,

This Email is awesome.

Beside the Paisley Lourdes YouTube behold the said Nunraw Video, i.e. side by side of Celtic Island YouTube collection.
Sancta Maria Abbey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJrO_zZ2qXw&feature=related

Amazing - I almost forgot.

I will promptly restore it to the Blog
 

Is the Paisley YouTube all your work?

Great. One snag is not being able to Copy the pictures, as e.g. the brilliant flowers etc.

In Dno

Donald

PS.

Here is another Nunraw YouTube

Sancta Maria Melody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trb7iUV1mw4&NR=1

                                                                                                    

---

From: Andy . . .
To: Nivard . . .
Sent: Mon, 1 August, 2011 11:14:23
Subject: Video    

Hi

Paisley Diocese had its Lourdes Day at Carfin yesterday at which the Diocesan Choir sang.

This is the Youtube link or you can click onto the image of flowers.

Enjoy

Andy

 

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Anne Marie ....
Sent: Monday, 1 August 2011, 11:05
Subject: VIdeo

I recorded some of the choir yesterday and put it into a movie file.  I have given you a link for Ecce Panis. It is on You Tube as the file is large.
I will put the rest together and make a wee disk, just to mark the occasion.

http://youtu.be/URBWr5ko7mI  

[Paisley Choir] 

1st August Portiuncula

Sancta Maria Abbey YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJrO_zZ2qXw&feature=related

Pope Intention for August, Apostleship of Prayer

Friday, July 29, 2011

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST

VATICAN CITY, 29 JUL 2011 (VIS) –

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for August is:

"That World Youth Day in Madrid may encourage young people throughout the world to have their lives rooted and built up in Christ".

His mission intention is: "That Western Christians may be open to the action of the Holy Spirit and rediscover the freshness and enthusiasm of their faith".

BXVI-PRAYER INTENTIONS/ VIS 20110729 (80)

http://visnews-en.blogspot.com/2011/07/benedict-xvis-prayer-intentions-for.html

INTERCESSIONS [MAGNIFICANT Sunday 31 July]

The Eucharist is the foundation of our lives. So we pray: ~ Give us the bread of life.  Lord hear us …

We are called to live lives of thanksgiving,

- that we may spread the joy of Christ everywhere. Lord hear us …~

We are called to feed the hungry,

- and give spiritual food to empty hearts. ~ Lord hear us

We are called to bring others to Christ,

- and live lives of witness to him. ~ Lord hear us

Personal intentions

General Intention - World Youth Day That World Youth Day in Madrid may encourage young people throughout the world to have their lives rooted and built up in Christ.

When the United Nations declared 1985 International Youth Year, Blessed Pope John Paul II added a Catholic dimension by proclaiming the first World Youth day. Many thought young people wouldn't care and wouldn't come, but Pope John Paul proved them wrong. World Youth day has been a continuing success. This August about a million young people will gather for WYD in Madrid, Spain. The Apostleship of Prayer will be there among them.
Pope Benedict XVI is asking us to pray this month that young people throughout the world may be "rooted and built up in Christ," an echo of St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians. Not coincidentally, this year's theme for World Youth Day picks up the same passage:Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.


http://apostleshipofprayer.org/reflectionsmonthly.html 

Portiuncula Indulgence is today!

http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2006/08/portiuncula-indulgence-is-today.html

Wednesday, August 2, 2006    

Portiuncula Indulgence is today!

Posted by Matthew

What is Portiuncula? The following is an excerpt from Major Life of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure.

" The Portiuncula was an old church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God which was abandoned . Francis had great devotion to the Queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to live there constantly in order to repair it. He heard that the Angels often visited it, so that it was called Saint Mary of the Angels, and he decided to stay there permanently out of reverence for the angels and love for the Mother of Christ.

He loved this spot more than any other in the world. It was here he began his religious life in a very small way; it is here he came to a happy end. When he was dying, he commended this spot above all others to the friars, because it was most dear to the Blessed Virgin.

This was the place where Saint Francis founded his Order by divine inspiration and it was divine providence which led him to repair three churches before he founded the Order and began to preach the Gospel.

This meant that he progressed from material things to more spiritual achievements, from lesser to greater, in due order, and it gave a prophetic indication of what he would accomplish later.

As he was living there by the church of Our Lady, Francis prayed to her who had conceived the Word, full of grace and truth, begging her insistently and with tears to become his advocate. Then he was granted the true spirit of the Gospel by the intercession of the Mother of mercy and he brought it to fruition.

He embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars."

Today the chapel of Portiuncula is situated inside the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels roughly 5 km from Assisi, Italy.

The Indulgence:

"The Portiuncula indulgence is the first plenary indulgence that was ever granted in the Church. There were indeed indulgences at all times, but they were only partial, and only a partial remission of the temporal punishments could be obtained by them. But, as already remarked, he who gains the Portiuncula indulgence is freed from all temporal punishments and becomes as pure as after holy baptism. This was also the reason why Pope Honorius was astonished when St. Francis petitioned for the confirmation of this indulgence, for such an indulgence, up to that time, bad been entirely unknown. It was only after he had come to the conviction that Jesus Christ himself wished it, that he granted the petition of the saint and confirmed the indulgence" (Source)

August 2nd is the feast of Portiuncula. A plenary indulgence is available to anyone who will

1. Receive sacramental confession (8 days before of after)

2. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass on August 2nd

3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a pray of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope.

Please tell every Catholic person you know that remission of the punishment for all sins committed from the day of baptism to the reception of the indulgence is available.

More Information:


Fr. Seraphim Beshoner is a third order Franciscan priest who does the podcast, Catholic Under the Hood, and he recently discussed this feast on one of his shows. Please check it out and pass the word along to everyone.

May the Merciful Jesus fill your heart with His gentle peace!

Note: An indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. More information can be found at Indulgences.