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Seek to be a slave to Jesus Christ! We must retract ourselves from the wayward way of the secular culture, in which many are enslaved to. The more “worldly” one becomes, the further they are from the Church, and where the Church is there also is Jesus Christ. We must not continue to submit ourselves to happiness, as doing what makes one happy is to be of the world and not of Christ. For Christ does not offer happiness, He offers joy. As St. Therese of Lisieux remarked, “The world’s thy ship and not thy home.”
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There is a gashing wound in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. A wound that yearns for consolation. This wound in Jesus’ Sacred Heart, the heart the burns intensely for you, is caused by the waywardness of the secular culture that has peered into the lives of even some of the most devout and fervent people. In a world where secularism seems to trump and triumph in all situations, consolation to Jesus’ Sacred Heart is few and far between. Catholics must turn away from the secularist culture and turn towards Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart. Often there is a false narrative demonstrated by the current popular culture, in which love and peace are promoted among each other. Very rarely, if ever, does one make mention that true love and true peace can only come from Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Many of those who submit themselves to the culture and its agenda will say that they are a happy person. However, happiness is not a virtue. Happiness does not last as it is from the world. Jesus’ Sacred Heart, however, invites everyone to lasting happiness, the virtue of joy! When one allows Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart to penetrate in their soul, they are allowing Jesus to give them true love and true peace - joy. Again, popular culture attempts to normalize self-promotion and being self-centered. For centuries what the Church taught as sinful, is now being promoted and publicized as normal, as good, as “true love”, and a source to “true peace”. St. Claude La Colombiere once prayed, “Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach me an entire forgetfulness of myself, since that is the only way one can find entrance into You.” As St. Claude teaches, we must empty ourselves of ourselves and submit fully to Christ, to Jesus’ Sacred Heart. No Christian can live a completely independent life, that is a life where Jesus Christ is centered and a relationship with Him and His Church are front and center. The People of God need to submit themselves entirely to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to allow Jesus to take charge and ownership of their life. Although popular culture does a decent job of displaying itself as attractive and needed, I present to you the only thing that can satisfy and fill your soul: Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart, which has been greatly wounded by our offenses, is constantly burning in love for you. Every Christian should take the steps to unite themselves closely to Christ and to His Church. Again, popular culture being attractive has found its way into Holy Mother Church, as St. Pope Paul VI alluded, “the smoke of Satan has entered the Church.” To begin to seek the Heart of Jesus, to console the Heart of Jesus will create great strides in your relationship with Christ and His Holy Church, continuing to be inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit. No one person will ever experience true love until they adore, contemplate, and console Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart. Oh, how good and pleasing a thing it is to dwell in the Heart of Jesus! Who is there that does not love a heart so wounded? Who can refuse a return of love to a heart so loving? -St. Bernard
When settling into this current global crisis the summit of the Christian life was taken away, the public celebration of Holy Mass. Within days thousands of Catholic parishes across the world began to live-stream a priest celebrating Holy Mass. Virtually any person could turn on their TV and watch “Mass” --or so we thought! Like clockwork, Catholics around the world would put on their TV a priest in some distant place celebrating Mass and would ponder at a screen for an hour attempting to align their aspirations to that of the celebration of Mass. Although modern technology may allow one to think they are seeing the same thing as if they were actually in a church building, the reality is they are watching a bunch of tiny pixels of color. At first, it very well could have been met with good intentions. Since the public celebration of Mass was barred, it seemed feasible to turn on the TV and in some way “watch” Mass and remotely participate. Most likely many people even observed the different positions (sit, stand, kneel) while watching Mass. Although, after a while, these motives can be relaxed, one could now sit in a recliner the entire Mass and even wear pajamas or eat breakfast. These behaviors while watching a TV Mass can very well impact one’s mindfulness when returning to the public celebration of Mass. The Catholic celebration of Holy Mass cannot be simplified to a simple click on the TV and time spent gazing in front of a screen. The Holy Sacrifice of Mass is a sacrifice. It is the re-entrance to Calvary at the very moment Jesus Christ is bound to the cross, the tool of our Eternal Salvation. Jesus Christ gives to us His very Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. The greatest sense of community we can have is that of belonging in the Communion of Saints, actively inviting the saints into our lives and to guide us and intercede for us. While TV Mass can look attractive, easy, and perhaps even relaxing, these things discredit our Holy Church and the irreverence stemming from such action pierce the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is much more efficacious and beneficial to the soul, and pleasing to God to observe private prayer during this time. By praying the Holy Rosary, the Liturgy of the Hours, Scripture, or other fitting prayers in front of a crucifix or a statue can bring the soul much closer to God than that of a TV or computer screen. The difference between private prayer and a TV Mass? Effort. If one truly wants to live their Catholic religion it takes effort. To have a relationship with Christ takes effort. Christ cannot be simplified to a click on a remote, one person cannot decide how they will be Catholic, but rather how they will choose to follow the teachings of Christs Church! Although our immediate future is uncertain, our eternal future is certainly in our hands. Make your soul pleasing to God, and seek to console Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart. Your soul is yearning, not for a TV Mass, but for personal and private communication with The Creator, the Merciful Father. You can learn how to pray a "dry Mass", here. This article is solely for those who have found themselves tuning into Mass via TV due to the current global crisis. TV Mass can very well be beneficial for those who are permanently home-bound and too sick to get to a parish church. If you are home-bound, I highly reccomend tuning into the Daily Mass broadcasted be the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) or some beautiful Latin Masses from the Priests Fraternity of St. Peter at LiveMass.org. God bless you!
Imagine if there was a Marian Procession through the streets of every city and town across the world during the month of May. Our Lady, in all of her glory, being brought out into the streets of her children to call them back home to the Catholic Church. In the eighteenth century when Rome honored pagan goddesses during the month of May, it was a Catholic priest who called on the intercession of the Blessed Mother and dedicated the month to her. Father Latomia, S.J. wanted to stand against the infidelity and immorality that many of Rome’s college students were adhering to. Pope Pius XII declared that May would be honored as the month of Mary, after declaring that the feast of the Queenship of Mary would be observed on May 31st. Fr. Latomia was seeing the infidelity and immorality of the people then, and we can all clearly see such infiltration today. Pagan idols and false gods may very well be receiving much more “worship” today than ever before. Many submit themselves to false truths, false religions, and false gods - all of whom will not grant Eternal Salvation. St. Thomas Aquinas explains in the Summa, “There is no entering into salvation outside the Church, just as in the time of the deluge there was none outside the ark, which denotes the Church.” In this time of turning to falsehoods, who should we turn to? Ultimately, we should turn to Christ. In this month of Mary, we should go ad Jesum per Mariam (to Jesus through Mary). In fact, we should constantly be turning to Jesus through and with Mary. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the sure sign of salvation. As Mary herself ushered in salvation, we too can turn to her to be led to salvation and a deeper union with Christ. The Blessed Mother sits on her throne in the Kingdom calling her children to come to Christ and His Catholic Church. The Blessed Mother crushes the head of the serpent who is the father of secularism, of lies, and the source of damnation. St. John Damascene prayed, “Devotion to you, O Blessed Virgin, is a means of salvation which God gives to those whom he wishes to save.” In this time of secularism, there are two things we must do to reclaim May as the month of Mary, but also to invite the Blessed Mother into our own lives. First, we must turn away from the secular culture and run to Mary. We must be devoted servants of Jesus and Mary! Again, Mary is the source of salvation. Saint Anselm said, ”It is impossible to save one's soul without devotion to Mary and without her protection.” Pick up the Rosary and pray it! Consecrate yourself and family to the Blessed Mother. Secondly, we must bring Our Lady to the streets of the world. We must be willing to publicly pray the Holy Rosary. Invite your pastor to process the streets of your city with an image of the Blessed Virgin. Allow Mary to be the bright star in the streets that draws the Children of God back to His Church. St. Thomas Aquinas said, “As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary.” Reclaim your salvation and claim Mary as your Blessed Mother! "So your strength is failing you? Why don't you tell your mother about it? . . . Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she—your holy mother Mary—offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace . . . and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle." --St. Josemaria Escriva
We are just days away from the climax of the Church year, the holiest days of the entire year. However, the majority of Catholics will be confined to their homes during these holiest days of the year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This year is going to be different, no doubt, and we should try our very best to observe these holy days as best we can. Below I have put forth several things we can all do to observe these days. I would encourage each of us to find some sort of “TV Mass” to help us better observe these days and enter into the Sacred Liturgy: Traditional Latin Mass, here Live from Rome with the Holy Father, here or via EWTN Novus Ordo Mass, here Palm Sunday:
For many people, especially the children, the highlight of Palm Sunday is the distribution of the palm branches during Holy Mass, commemorating our Lord’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. As Mother Angelica would suggest, use your imagination! Three of the Holy Gospels mention Palm Sunday, and only one of them mentions actual palm branches; the other two gospels mention leaves and branches. Get a branch, get a green leaf, a green flower, etc. these all will suffice for your observance at home. Perhaps use some paper and paper and cut your own palm branches out - get creative! No matter your choice to observe this significant part of Palm Sunday, our Lord will be pleased. In the rite of St. Pius V, the Passion of Our Lord according to St. Matthew is sung. Reading this account of Our Lord’s Passion aloud from the Sacred Scriptures may allow one to enter more deeply into Holy Week. Satan's greatest enemy and arguably his only enemy is the Holy Catholic Church and Her lay faithful. When we reflect on the last year, perhaps we think of the scandal, the Pew Research Poll’s statistic suggesting that 70% of Catholics don’t believe in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist, the confusion from Rome in October 2019, the growing number of “nones” (those not affiliated with any religion), and perhaps now the Coronavirus Pandemic. The evil one would want us to spend much time thinking on these things, questioning these things, and making ill decisions on them. However, our Merciful God invites us to be consoled and grow closer to Him in each of these situations, in the end, God will reign.
In the midst of all that was occurring, the call from God that I received was to rise and defend Holy Mother Church! That has come to you now, in the form of this private association for the faithful. Since December we have brought to you numerous articles and reflections from young traditional Catholics. The words that I constantly hear from our readers is how their faith and spirit has been renewed after reading an article written by a young person on their love for tradition, but especially their love for our Catholic faith. We must continue to all work to set the hearts of both the young and the old on fire for Christ and His Catholic Church. We are in some uncharted times in the Church and world! Below you will find LINKS to watch Daily Mass, as well as links to pray the Holy Rosary, Vespers (Evening Prayer), and live Adoration. Click the PURPLE text to go to link. All times are in Eastern time zone. Traditional Latin Mass St. John Cantius Church: Sunday: 8:30 AM, 1:30 PM \\ Weekday: 9:00 AM FSSP Apostolates: Multiple times/locations offered, use link to check times St. Vitus Parish, FSSP (Los Angeles): Monday-Saturday: 10 PM \\ Sunday: 12 PM Sacred Heart Parish, ICKSP (Limerick, Ireland): Sunday: 6:30 AM \\ Mon-Fri: 3:30 PM Novus Ordo - Ordinary Form of Mass St. John Cantius Church: Sunday: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM (Latin) \\ Weekday: 8:00 AM St. Mary of Pine Bluff (Fr. Richard Heilman): Weekday: 8:30 AM St. John the Baptist Parish (Fort Wayne, Ind.): Tuesday-Sunday: 6:30 AM Casa Santa Marta (His Holiness, Pope Francis): Daily at 2 AM (Italian) Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament/Other Prayers: Sunday @ 3:00 PM: Rosary and Solemn Vespers from St. John Cantius Church Weekdays @ 5:30 PM: Rosary and Vespers from St. John Cantius Church Daily Vespers, Rosary, and Prayer during Epidemics via Seth Ball Facebook Page: TIME TBA on PAGE Other helpful links/articles: Praying a "Dry Mass": By Seth Ball  The Catholic Church is facing some very uncharted times. The public celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been suspended or canceled in virtually every state in the United States. Whether we have the option to go to Mass or not, the obligation is still there. We still have an obligation to God on Sundays and Holy Days to set time a part for worshiping Him. Below is the format for praying a "dry mass", which was a devotion used in the Middle Ages when a priest was not available. Order for Praying a "Dry Mass": Missa Sicca Pro Ecclesia Domestica (Dry Mass for the Domestic Church) Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Entrance Ant. Hail, Holy Mother! The Child to Whom you gave birth is the King of Heaven and Earth. The King shall desire your beauty, for He is your Lord, and you must worship Him (Ps. 44:11). Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, amen. Hail, Holy Mother! The Child to Whom you gave birth is the King of Heaven and Earth. The King shall desire your beauty, for He is your Lord, and you must worship him. The Confiteor I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed (strike breast three times): through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the saints, to pray to the Lord Our God for me. + May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to life everlasting. Amen. The Kyrie Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. The Gloria (omitted during Lent) Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give You thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, Heavenly King, O God, Almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. You are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Prayer Let us pray. God our Father, You give joy to the world by the incarnation of Your Son. May we welcome Jesus into our hearts with that same love which Mary loved Him, for He lives and reigns … Reading (Read a selection from any Old Testament or New Testament book.) Alleluia (omitted during Lent) Gospel (Read a selection from any Gospel.) The Nicene Creed Preface Let us pray. It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give You thanks, Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For out of compassion for the waywardness that is ours, He humbled Himself and was born of the Virgin; by the passion of the Cross He freed us from unending death, and by rising from the dead He gave us life eternal. And so, with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions and with all the host and powers of Heaven, we sing the hymn of Your glory, as without end we acclaim: The Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Invocation of the Saints Almighty God, may our prayers be joined to the intercession of the glorious every virgin Mary Mother of God; also of the blessed Joseph, her spouse, and likewise of your blessed Apostles and martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus, Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, of all thy saints. Grant for the sake of their merits and prayers in all things we may be guarded and helped by Your protection. + Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen. Prayer for the Living Be mindful, O Lord, of N… our Pope, N… our Bishop, N… our Priest, Your servants and handmaids N… and N…, and of those entrusted to my care, for whom this sacrifice of praise is offered, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered by Your ordained priests throughout the world. Grant, O Lord, the redemption of their souls and the hope of their safety and salvation. Prayer for the Dead Be mindful, also, O Lord, of Your servants and handmaids N... and N... who are gone before us with the sign of faith and who sleep the sleep of peace. To these, O Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, grant, we beseech You, a place of refreshment, light and peace. + Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for Eternal Happiness To us also Your sinful servants, who put our trust in the multitude of Your mercies, vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with Your holy Apostles and martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and all your saints. Into their company we beseech You admit us, not considering our merits, but freely pardoning our offenses. + Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Our Father Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. The Last Gospel (John 1:1–14) Hail Mary In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy City of Rome has become deserted. The entirety of Italy has been “shut down”. Saint Peter’s Square has been blocked off to the public. Saint Peter’s Basilica’s doors are locked. The people of Italy will have to forgo receiving Jesus in the Eucharist until April 3, 2020 (the Friday before Palm Sunday). In the 2000-year history of the Catholic Church, this has never happened.
For centuries, when communities were plagued with disease, the Church was the one place the people of God could go and confide. Furthermore, the Church always bridged the people to God during the deadliest of plagues and war. Now, the Church of Rome is quite literally building a wall and keeping God away from His people. While the Holy City is being kept closed, Church leaders around the world are taking similar “precautions”. We should all long for one thing, that is Eternal Glory with Jesus Christ. Most Christians if asked would most likely say that if they were to die they would go to Heaven. However, Jesus himself says in Luke 13:24 that the gate into Heaven is “narrow”, He continues saying “many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
St. John Vianney once remarked to his parishioners: “O my dear parishioners, let us endeavor to get to heaven! There we shall see God. How happy we shall feel! If the parish is converted we shall go there in procession with the parish priest at the head. … We must get to heaven!” |
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