
The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
"Unity must subsist in Truth!" - Fr. John Corapi
Here You Will Discover Hard Hitting, No Holding Back, Totally Faithful Catholic Blogging Under The Patronage Of St. Robert Bellarmine.
"There was in the College of Louvain, while Robert was residing there, one of the Society" (no very independent witness in the cause) "who had had, for many years, a running ulcer in his leg. Physicians and surgeons had tried all the succors of their art, but had not cured the wound.
The patient, therefore, anxious in mind, and seeing that human care was mastered by the pertinacity of the disease, began to consider within himself whether there was any man made after God's heart, by whose prayer a way to recovery might be opened to him. While he was thus meditating within himself, Bellarmine appeared to be an effectual and grateful offerer of prayer to God; and a hope sprang up within him that he might at once recover, if, after sacred confession, he could also be refreshed by him in the communion. His faith was not vain. The Rector consented.
He deposited the secret of his conscience in the ears of Robert, from his hand received the most holy Eucharist, and, behold, his leg was restored to soundness. The surgeon was astonished, when in two or three days he saw the wound covered with living and native skin, and the slightest trace of so long-disease did not remain upon the part."
In reply to a friend who asked him, some
years afterwards, by what means he made him
self so good an Archbishop during his residence
of three years in Capua, he gives this account :
"As when one looks into a mirror, I set my
mind to consider intently the life and conduct of
the most admired Bishops that had been in the
Church before me; endeavouring, by God's help,
to throw off all that was imperfect in myself,
and assume a new exterior, resembling theirs as
nearly as possible, that so I might adapt my
actions thereunto. Therefore read constantly
the histories of those Bishops, perusing in order
the volumes of Surius; and I read, especially,
the lives of the holy Popes Ambrose, Martin,
Augustine, Germanus, Anselm of Canterbury,
Antonine of Florence, Lawrence and others. But
I derived the greatest advantage from the narratives
of those most holy Prelates who went before me in
Capua, Ansbertus and Andoenus ; for both of them
perfectly sustained the name and office of Pastor,
nourishing the souls of their subjects with the
constant preaching of the word of God, their
bodies with liberal charities, and themselves with
the wholesome food of prayer."
In his encyclical Etsi minime, Pope Benedict XIV addressed this problem by proposing the catechism of Robert Bellarmine as the standard for teaching Christian doctrine (Kevane xxxi). Benedict says of it, “There is nothing more effective or opportune for guarding in advance against the errors which can creep into the situation of such a variety of Catechisms for children” (qtd. in Kevane xxxii). He also stated that if a local catechism must be used, care should be taken that nothing be added to it that contradicts Catholic truth, and that these truths are presented in a clear and comprehensive yet concise manner (xxxii).
In 1869, with the convening of the First Vatican Council, the Church again took up the problem articulated by Pope Benedict XIV. Besides the publication of two Dogmatic Constitutions (Dei Filius and Pastor aeternus), which themselves did much to solidify the Church’s teaching on Divine Revelation and the Infallibility of the Pope, steps were taken to compose a uniform catechism for use throughout the entire Church (xxxiv-xxxv). That the Church, after so many years, would still be concerned with a uniform presentation of the faith is a testament to her constant zeal and concern for the Deposit entrusted to her. She is always desirous to pass it on with the utmost fidelity and to nurture within the hearts of men a true and lasting increase in understanding and conversion to Christ.
The schema presented to the Council Fathers on January 14, 1870 expressed the intent of the Council:All the members of the Church of Christ diffused throughout the whole world should be of one heart and one soul; hence they must likewise be unified in their lips and their language. It must be recognized, however, that a variety in approach and method of teaching the rudiments of the faith to the faithful is no slight obstacle to this unity. Hence, with the approval of this Council, We shall take care to produce a Small Catechism by Our authority, which all are to use. Thus, the variety of small Catechisms will be removed for the future. (qtd. in Kevane xxxv)Again, the catechism of St. Robert Bellarmine was held as the standard to be emulated, and after some weeks of discussion, the project for a Small Catechism was brought to a formal vote and overwhelmingly approved by the bishops. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War forced the Council to suspend its work before the disciplinary decree for the Small Catechism could be officially promulgated (xxxvi). “Thus the pastors and the faithful continued after Vatican I with the Roman Catechism together with the several national and regional Catechisms for children as the ongoing teaching aids for handing on the elements and rudiments of the deposit of faith” (xxxvii).
Lord, have mercy | Lord, have mercy. |
Christ, have mercy | Christ, have mercy. |
Lord, have mercy | Lord, have mercy. |
God the Father of heaven | Have mercy on us |
God the Son, Redeemer of the world | Have mercy on us |
God the Holy Spirit | Have mercy on us |
Holy Trinity, one God | Have mercy on us |
Holy Mary | Pray for us. |
Holy Mother of God | Pray for us. |
Mother and Queen of the Society of Jesus | Pray for us. |
Our Lady of the Way | Pray for us. |
St. Joseph | Pray for us. |
St. John the Baptist | Pray for us. |
Sts. Peter and Paul | Pray for us. |
St. Ignatius Loyola | Pray for us. |
St. Aloysius Gonzaga | Pray for us. |
St. Francis Xavier | Pray for us. |
St. Edmund Campion | Pray for us. |
St. Francis Borgia | Pray for us. |
St. Claude de la Colombiere | Pray for us. |
St. Robert Bellarmine, Doctor of the Church | Pray for us. |
Spiritual Father of St. Aloysius Gonzaga | Pray for us. |
Spiritual Son of St. Ignatius Loyola | Pray for us. |
Spiritual Son of St. Francis of Assisi | Pray for us. |
St. Bellarmine, Defender of Holy Mother Church | Pray for us. |
Defender of the Holy Pontiff | Pray for us. |
Defender of the Teachings of the Church | Pray for us. |
Defender of the Society of Jesus | Pray for us. |
Defender of Catholic Education | Pray for us. |
Defender of the poor and sick | Pray for us. |
St. Bellarmine, Soldier against heretics | Pray for us. |
Soldier against heretical Kings | Pray for us. |
Soldier against spreading false doctrine | Pray for us. |
Soldier against wayward professors | Pray for us. |
Soldier against impure acts | Pray for us. |
Soldier for Holy Mother Church | Pray for us. |
Soldier for the Bishops & Cardinals | Pray for us. |
Soldier for the Society of Jesus | Pray for us. |
Soldier for Children of God | Pray for us. |
Soldier for the poor and sick | Pray for us. |
St. Bellarmine, Teacher of Martyrs & Saints | Pray for us. |
Teacher of Priest & Religious | Pray for us. |
Teacher of the Society of Jesus | Pray for us. |
Teacher of the Laity | Pray for us. |
Teacher of the Children of God | Pray for us. |
St. Bellarmine, Model for the Society of Jesus | Pray for us. |
Model for Cardinals & Bishops | Pray for us. |
Model for Priest & Religious | Pray for us. |
Model for Professors | Pray for us. |
Model for Apologetics | Pray for us. |
Model for Public Speakers | Pray for us. |
Model for Theologians | Pray for us. |
Model for Writers | Pray for us. |
Model for Spiritual Directors | Pray for us. |
Model for the Children of God | Pray for us. |
St. Bellarmine, Lover of the Triune God | Pray for us. |
Lover of Mother Mary | Pray for us. |
Lover of Holy Mother Church | Pray for us. |
Lover of the Teachings of the Church | Pray for us. |
Lover of Obedience | Pray for us. |
Lover of Charity | Pray for us. |
Lover of Purity | Pray for us. |
Lover of Prayer | Pray for us. |
Lover of Poverty | Pray for us. |
Lover of Meekness | Pray for us. |
Lover of Chasity | Pray for us. |
Lover of Patience | Pray for us. |
Lover of Humility | Pray for us. |
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, | Spare us, O Lord. |
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, | Graciously hear us, O Lord. |
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, | Have mercy on us. |
Let us pray, | |
O God, who, for the greater glory of your most Holy Mother Church, has raised to the altar a great defender and soldier for the Church. Grant that through the intercession of thy great servant Saint Robert Bellarmine that we may imitate his virtues in order to be happily crowned with him in heaven. Through our Lord, Jesus Christ. | |
Amen. |
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Here are two comments I have just lifted off a Catholic blog:
1. "There's this big, 'What if?'" said Catholic author Michael Sean Winters. "If Ted Kennedy had stuck to his pro-life position, would both the (Democratic) party and the country have embraced the abortion on demand policies that we have now? I don't think so."
2. "Russell Shaw, former spokesman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that when Kennedy defied the church on issues such as abortion and later, gay marriage, he reinforced a corrosive belief among Catholics that they can simply ignore teachings they don't agree with."
The real question posed by the situation is whether or not a Catholic university has a responsibility to give a public witness to the faith, D'Arcy states. "If not, what is the meaning of a life of faith? And how can a Catholic institution expect its students to live by faith in the difficult decisions that will confront them in a culture often opposed to the Gospel?" he wonders.
"In its decision to give its highest honor to a president who has repeatedly opposed even the smallest legal protection of the child in the womb, did Notre Dame surrender the responsibility that Pope Benedict believes Catholic universities have to give public witness to the truths revealed by God and taught by the church?" the bishop also asks.
Bishop D’Arcy then takes Notre Dame to task for its multi-year sponsorship of the play "The Vagina Monologues."
"Although he spoke eloquently about the importance of dialogue with the
president of the United States, the president of Notre Dame chose not to
dialogue with his bishop on these two matters, both pastoral and both with
serious ramifications for the care of souls, which is the core responsibility of
the local bishop," he says.
"Both decisions," Bishop D’Arcy reveals, "were shared with me after
they were made and, in the case of the honorary degree, after President Obama
had accepted."
"Ah, if we had the eyes of angels with which to see our Lord Jesus Christ Who is here present on this altar and Who is looking at us, how we should love Him! We should never more wish to part from Him, we should wish to remain always at His feet. It would be a foretaste of Heaven. All else would become insipid to us. But see, it is faith we lack. We are poor blind people; we have amist over our eyes. Faith alone can dispel this mist."
When the people left at noon, Susanna used to enter her husband's garden for a walk.Here are the steps Satan uses and how we can combat them at each level.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments.
Though both were enamored of her, they did not tell each other their trouble,
for they were ashamed to reveal their lustful desire to have her.
Quote from Anne Marie just moments ago, "Mom it's easier for a needle to go through a camel, than a rich man to enter heaven. That's what Jesus says."
Ethan asked me once"mommy if God made us from mud, how did he make our eye balls?" Then he said "maybe God forgot to give the blind man eyes & that's why Jesus put mud on them." I was speechless....
Whenever my Beau says "I love you mommy" he then says "but i love God the most, you're supposed to love God the most".What's your family funny?
"All right, I'll do it."
"Did you remember to wish your Godchild a happy birthday?"
Realizing my mistake, I said "Did you feel how hot it was today?"Getting out of bed, I called my brother to apologized and wished the boy a happy first birthday.
"The souls in Purgatory can pray for those who earnestly implore their deliverance of God, and who endeavour to obtain it by good works. For their prayers can but be useful to those persons whom they do not know, but whom God knows. Nothing then prevents them from begging God to assist these persons in necessity, to forgive their offenses, to preserve them from temptations, etc."
Then Go To . . .