What Every Catholic Knew…

This question Christ asked of St. Margaret Mary, followed by “if you believe, you will see the power of my Heart in the magnificence of my love.”  He designated the First Friday of each month for devotion to His Sacred Heart.   We are to show our love for Him by assisting at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, receiving Holy Communion, and making reparation for sins against the Most Blessed Sacrament.

The Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque:

1. “I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.”
2. “I will establish peace in their homes.”
3. “I will comfort them in their afflictions.”
4. “I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death.”
5. “I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings.”
6. “Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.”
7. “Tepid souls shall grow fervent.”
8. “Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.”
9. “I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.”
10. “I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.”
11. “Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.”
12. “I promise thee in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.”

To fulfill the Nine First Fridays Devotion:

1) Attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and receive Holy Communion (in the state of grace) on each First Friday of the month.

2) The nine months must be consecutive.

3) Holy Communion must be received in honor of and in reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  The value of devotion to Our Lord’s Sacred Heart

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Learn about this devotion, and make every effort to practice the First Fridays devotion.

Recommended reading:

The Devotion to the Sacred heart of Jesus: How to Practice the Sacred Heart Devotion by Fr. John Croiset, S.J.

The Autobiography of Saint Margaret Mary

It takes a lot for a movie to make its way onto my “favorite movies ever” list.  Not only must the quality be there, but it must not offend my Catholic sensibilities either.  It also must be good enough for me to give up a couple of hours of would be sleep while my children are in bed.  Yes, its a bit to live up to, especially in the current condition of the media.  After watching Bella, however, a recent addition to my list was made.

This post is not about the movie itself, however.  It is about the book entitled Behind Bella: The Amazing Stories of Bella and the Lives it’s Changed.

I selected this book as my next product to review for two reasons.  I LOVE the movie, and I wanted to read something positive, something uplifting.   I certainly got it.  I started one night in bed, and stayed up until I finished it.  I have not done that with a book in quite awhile.

I do not want to give much detail about the first part of the book, suffice to say that one began to wonder how in the world this dvd ever made it into my living room.  The hurdles were large and many.  But it did not.  It did not make it through the powers and sources of the world.  It was by the power of God and those willing to “let go and let him” that brought this movie into being.   It reminds one of the story of The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson.  In the case of Bella, however, the big Hollywood names and easy to come by funding was not in the producer’s back pocket.  A former Mexican daytime soap star, fed up with the immorality within the mainstream media, was about all that was had.  And yet, by faith alone were connections made, finances acquired and the film finished.  Then they still had to get people to watch it.  A pro-life movie with no big name actors, no violence and no sex scenes.  It had to be by God’s grace alone.

The book details the story of how the movie continually overcame seemingly impossible obstacles.  More than once the reader thinks, “thats it.  Its over”, except that we know the eventual outcome.

I especially enjoyed the last parts of the book, which share the stories of those who lives were changed (and in some cases allow to even live) by the movie.  The actors were changed, the viewers were changed, and in some cases, children whose lives were going to be cut short were given a chance at life.  And that is bella.

(When I was contemplating a title for this post, I wanted something that conveyed the story of the movie.  I wanted something that described the stories that would result.  One word came to mind: beautiful.  It was only after I began typing my review that I remembered what bella is Italian for: beautiful.

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  God is still working in our lives, if only we will open our eyes to see Him, and open our hearts to do His Will.

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Buy Bella.  Watch it. Watch it again.  Buy a copy for a pregnancy center, that lives may be changed.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Behind Bella – The Amazing Stories about the Making of Bella and the Lives It’s Changed.

I usually avoid simply posting about another’s post, however, every once in awhile I read something I wish every Catholic had read.  The following is one of those exceptions.

(Taken from   http://catholicknight.blogspot.com/2007/12/chapel-veil-campaign.html):

Returning to this tradition will serve to further reinforce the message that the Catholic Church is the same today as it was yesterday, and the time honored customs of the Church have not died out, but on the contrary, live and breath through a new generation of Catholic women.

Sacred Scripture presents several reasons for wearing the chapel veil. St. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians (11:1-16) that Christian women must cover their heads because it is a Sacred Tradition commanded by our Lord Himself and entrusted to Paul: “The things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandments” (1 Cor. 14:37). “That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels” wrote St. Paul (1 Cor. 11:10). The invisible hierarchy should be respected because the angels are present at all Christian assemblies during worship, offering the Holy Sacrifice with us according to the honor due to God.  St. John the Apostle wrote: “And another angel came and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne.” (Rev. 8:3, see also Matt. 18:10). They are offended by a lack of reverence at mass. The women of Corinth, beset by modern sensibilities, started coming to church without their heads covered. When St. Paul heard of their neglect, he wrote and urged them to keep the veil. According to St. Jerome’s commentary Bible, he finally settled the matter by saying the head covering was a custom of the primitive communities of Judea, “the Churches of God” (1 Thess. 2-14, 2 Thess. 1-4) which had received this Tradition from early times (2 Thess., 2:15, 3:6).  The “veil” represented modesty in many religions and cultures, especially in Judaism which was the cradle of the early Christian Church.  A veil or head covering, is both a symbol and a mystical sacrifice that invites the woman wearing it to ascend the ladder of sanctity. When a woman covers her head in the Catholic Church it symbolizes her dignity and humility before God. It should not surprise us why so many modern women have so easily abandoned the tradition of the chapel veil (head covering) when the greatest meaning of the veil is modesty. It is purely an anti-Catholic culture that frowns on modesty. Do not be deceived, it was Secular feminism (a militantly anti-Catholic movement), that shunned Catholic women for wearing the chapel veil, telling them that a male dominated Church seeks to repress them. Such lunacy was nothing more than a lie straight from hell. If it were true, women would have been instructed to veil in the presence of men, but that is not the case at all.  Both Sacred Scripture and previous canon law instructed women to veil in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament (not men), and particularly during the public prayer of the holy mass. The veil is a sign of modesty before our Eucharistic Lord. It is NOT a sign of male dominance.  You can learn more about the custom of the chapel veil and what it means here.

‘The Chapel Veil Campaign’ is accompanied by a survey poll which can be viewed at the top of this blog. ‘The Catholic Knight’ requests that all you Catholic ladies out there review this material and prayerfully consider it. Then cast your vote in the accompanying poll to express your support for The Chapel Veil Campaign. Your vote of support will help other Catholic women muster the courage to do the same. The idea is to encourage young Catholic women all over the English-speaking world to put away the rebellion of the 1970s “hippy” generation, and start wearing the chapel veil again.

In the United States, the new English translation of the liturgy is currently scheduled to go into effect in 2010. That’s because the US Catholic bishops no longer have permission from the Vatican to celebrate the “defective” English translation of the Novus Ordo mass we’ve been using since the 1970s. Since permission to celebrate it has been revoked, the US Catholic bishops will be unable to delay the transition anymore.
The return of the chapel veil, along with the liturgical renewal in the English translation of the mass, will send a clear and definite signal to the world that English-speaking Catholics have not lost the time-honored traditions of our sacred Catholic faith.

I also recommend the website www.modestyveils.com, both for information and for ordering beautiful, inexpensive veils.

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  Women’s headcoverings were not done away with by Vatican II.  The tradition is beautiful and scriptural and should be continued.

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Prayerfully read over the information at the two above mentioned websites (and the many others that can be found).  If you are a woman, ask the Lord if He is calling you to veil.  If you are a man, gently encourage the Catholic women in your life to consider the same.

Blessed Joan of Toulouse

I am going to assume that you have never heard of this woman before.  In honor of her upcoming feast day (March 31st), let me introduce you:

In 1240, some Carmelite brothers from Palestine started a monastery in Toulouse, France. The great Carmelite priest, St. Simon Stock, passed through Toulouse twenty-five years later. A devout woman asked to see him. She introduced herself simply as Joan. She asked the priest earnestly, “May I be part of the Carmelite order as an associate?” St. Simon Stock was the head of the order. He had the authority to grant the woman’s request. He said “yes.” Joan became the first lay associate. She received the habit of the Carmelite order. In the presence of St. Simon Stock, Joan made a vow of perpetual chastity.
Joan continued her quiet, simple life right in her own home. She tried to be as faithful as possible to the rules of the Carmelites for the rest of her life. Joan went to daily Mass and devotions at the Carmelite church. She filled the rest of the day with visits to the poor, the sick and the lonely. She trained the altar boys. She helped the elderly and infirm by performing useful tasks and running errands. Joan prayed with them and brightened many lives with her cheerful conversations.
Blessed Joan carried a picture of the crucified Jesus in her pocket. That was her “book.” Every now and then, she would pull out the picture and gaze at it. Her eyes would light up. People said that Joan read some new and wonderful lesson every time she studied the picture.

(This description is borrowed from:  http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/saintday/m3.html)

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  The story of Blessed Joan.

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Make an effort to learn about our brothers and sisters who are enjoying the beatific vision, and are ready and willing to intercede on our behalf.

Okay, I have to admit.  When I was selecting my next product to review, I was a bit upset that the only choices were books I had already read, and a book by the Holy Father.  Don’t get me wrong; I most certainly love the Pope and greatly appreciate his wonderful teachings.  But as a homeschooling mother with young children who is currently pursuing the completion of her B.A., I simply do not have the quiet time to sit down and concentrate on such intelligent writing.  I used to use part of my weekly holy hour to read Pope Benedict’s “Jesus of Nazareth”.  It took me half a year to get half way through the book, and since the adoration schedule was changed and I am no longer able to go, I have not picked the book back up since.

The first part of the book, which focuses on the importance of the Apostles, especially in regards to the Church, was full of the insightful reflections I expect from our Holy Father.  In relatively few words, he is able to convey to the reader how very important the apostles were in the formation of the early Church, as well as their continued importance for the Church today.  His section on the Apostolic Tradition of the Church (which begins on page 39) is incredibly insightful.  I believe it should be required reading for all entering the Church as adults.

The second part of the book is made up of chapters, each of which is devoted to a particular apostles.  I really enjoyed these.  They give the reader wonderful insights into the lives of these men, who were so ordinary and yet extraordinary at the same time.  There is a special focus on St. Peter, and how his role as the Vicar of Christ developed.  Special attention is paid to how his encounters with Christ, both positive and negative, contribute to his new role.  It was surprising to see what encounters with Christ were the most formidable for Peter and the position he was to be given.

A big bonus with this edition is the absolutely beautiful illustrations chosen.  I wonder if the Holy Father picked them out himself.  If so, his taste in art is a wonderful as his taste in music!  I think I may have spent as much time contemplating the pictures as I did his words.

If you have yet to read any of the Holy Father’s writings, and feel at all intimidated at the thought of doing so, I suggest starting with this one.  It is not overwhelming, and can be easily read in short segments ( a huge plus, I believe, for mothers with small children).  The illustrations are beautiful, and have used this book many time for my five-year-old’s art lessons.  Despite my initial my intrepidation, this is a most welcome addition to my home library.

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  How important the roles of the Apostles, human faults and all, were in establishing Christ’s Church and continue to be today.

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Read this book.  It will be very edifying and insightful.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Apostles Illustrated Edition .

Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on trust.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting, gift us with Your Presence, so we can be gift to others in carrying out your work. Amen.

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  Fasting is about more than not eating meat, or more than one meal in a day.

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Fast through out Lent, and not necessarily from something physical.  Focus on ridding your self of a selected vice, replacing it with the opposite virtue.

I realize that too few Catholics have even heard of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, and even fewer know even a little bit about what it is.  The Pope’s biographer George Weigel has described the writings as a “theological time bomb”, and yet most people will not even know what hit them when it goes off.

Now, trying to “sum up” these writings is even more difficult, in my opinion, than making your way through the entire collected writings.  Yes, there are prevalent themes, but these in themselves contain so much that they hardly describe what one can expect from the writings themselves.

This brings me to the reason for my post.  I have been given the task of creating a flyer for our parish’s upcoming mission, during which the Theology of the Body will be presented.  How on earth do I summarize these brilliant thoughts on one sheet of paper?  How do I get those who read it to realize, “hey, this is about me”?  Upon snooping around online, I kept returning to one link.  The author, Anastasia M. Northrop, does a fantastic job of highlighting the main themes running through the writings, as well as bringing to the reader’s attention how the Theology of the Body applies to everyone.

http://www.jp2.info/Theology_of_the_Body.pdf

What I Wish Every Catholic Knew:  At least the basics of John Paul II’s Theology of the Body

What I Wish Every Catholic Would Do:  Read the above link, and seriously consider furthering your knowledge of this “theological time bomb.”

There is an ministry, albeit not a new one, called “Silent No More.”  They describe themselves as such:

“The Silent No More Awareness Campaign is an effort to make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women, men, and their families. Our hope is that the emotional and physical pain of abortion will no longer be shrouded in secrecy and silence, but rather exposed and healed. Believing that women deserve better than abortion we pray this effort will make abortion unthinkable as every culture develops ways to help women and men embrace their pre-born children.”

Recently, they have began a new initiative, the “Silent No More Campaign.”  The want to gather and mobilize all post-abortive men and women, encourage them to share their testimonies, and support them in vocalizing the true aftermath of abortion.

You may not be post-abortive, but with 1 out of every 4 woman having had at least one abortion, I guarantee you that you know at least one woman who has.  They need our support.  This is one way we as pro-life people can show that we care not just about the baby.  This is a way of highlighting the forgiveness and mercy found in Christ and His Church.  This is one way, and perhaps the way, of changing the hearts and minds of the people of this nation.

What I wish every Catholic knew: Women who have abortions, and the fathers of those babies, are hurting.  They need our compassion.  We need their truth to be known.

What I wish every Catholic would do: Visit the Silent No More website, and forward it along to all your friends and family.  All should know the truth of what abortion does to a woman, and all post-abortive women should be aware of the healing that is possible.

Every month, the Holy Father calls all Christians to pray for specific intentions.  During this month, he has asked us to pray for the family as a place for training in charity, and for the unity of all Christians (you can view the specific intentions on the link to follow).  Can you imagine if every Catholic was praying for the same intention each month?

What I wish every Catholic knew:  That the Holy Father was specific intentions he calls us to pray for every month.

What I wish every Catholic would do:  Bookmark the following link, and prayer along side the Holy Father each day.  It is one of the endless privileges of being Catholic!

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/papalPrayer.htm

(When I began to reflect on this reflect on this review, my first thought was “great.  Christmas is over.  Who is going to want to buy a Christmas book!?”  Then I realized it is currently on sale, so you may actually want to purchase it now!)

I was excitedly anticipating this book, and thrilled when I found out it was part of the review program.  I quickly selected it and anxiously awaited reading it to my oldest, who is five.  One Advent evening, we snuggled up in my bed (daddy was working the night shift), and I began to read.  Three pages into the book, and my daughter was gone.  But wait…this is NOT a bad review.  The book was simply too wordy, too long, for my five year old.  Mommy, however, could not put it down.

I was very surprised my the level of spirituality this book was expressing.  I have read many, many good Catholic books, but very few have said so much, in so few pages, so simply.  The book is beautiful!  The main characters are preparing to star in a live nativity.  Three is just one problem; The Baby Jesus is not live.  He will be played by a doll.  The girl who is to play Mary is not satisfied with this, and their quest to find a real baby ensues.  Their interactions with the other charcters highlight what true Christian should say when discussing problems.  God’s Providence is highlighted, and the solutions offered by all provide the reader with true and spiritually nourishing reflections.  I’m not exactly sure how to describe it, suffice to say that this is true Christian example on a level incredibly easy to understand.

So while my daughter may have found the story too long to keep her attention (and it may have just been a bad night), I thought it was beautiful.  It showed the reader how simple loving and trusting in God is meant to be.

(This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Mountain Miracle – A Nativity Story.)