St. Faustina, Messenger of Mercy

Saint of Divine Mercy

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Faustina who was a young Polish nun who received the message of Divine Mercy in a series of visions from Christ.

Simple and Humble
Faustina was a young, uneducated nun who belonged to the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kracow, Poland. Because of her simple upbringing, Faustina's duties included humble tasks like gardening and kitchen work. Despite the humble exterior, Faustina enjoyed a remarkable interior life. She received a series of visions from Christ instructing her on his Divine Mercy. St. Faustina collected notes of all the visions and messages she received from Jesus. These eventually were compiled into her Diary of Divine Mercy.

Extraordinary Gifts
In addition to the visions of Christ, she also demonstrated extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, including bilocation, the hidden stigmata and the reading of hearts. Faustina died from tuberculosis in 1938. She was 33 years old.

Divine Mercy Pope
After Faustina's death, the Archbishop of Kracow, Karol Wojtyla initiated talks with Rome for her cause for sainthood to be opened. While at the Second Vatican Council, "he approached Cardinal Ottaviani about the desire of the faithful in Poland to have Saint Faustina raised to the honours of the altar" (Divine Mercy Apostolate). Little did he know that years later as Pope John Paul II he would oversee her canonization on April 30, 2000, on Divine Mercy Sunday.

Pope Benedict's Message on Mercy

Divine Mercy Quiz

Take the Divine Mercy quiz HERE.

St. Mary Magdalene: Apostle to the Apostles

Patron of Penitent Sinners
Today the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene who was one of Christ's closest followers and one of the few who remained at the foot of the cross while all the others fled. St. Thomas Aquinas and others have referred to her as the Apostle to the Apostles she was the first to see the risen Lord and took that news to the apostles. According to EWTN, Mary Magdalene is the patron of contemplative life; converts; glove makers; hairdressers; penitent sinners; people ridiculed for their piety; perfumeries; pharmacists; reformed prostitutes; sexual temptation; tanners; women.

Apostle to the Apostles
In 2007, while reflecting on the role of women in the early Church, Pope Benedict XVI examined the life of Mary Magdalene.

The Gospels then tell us that the women, unlike the Twelve, did not abandon Jesus in the hour of his Passion (cf. Mt 27:56, 61; Mk 15:40). Among them, Mary Magdalene stands out in particular. Not only was she present at the Passion, but she was also the first witness and herald of the Risen One (cf. Jn 20:1, 11-18). 

It was precisely to Mary Magdalene that St. Thomas Aquinas reserved the special title, "Apostle of the Apostles" (apostolorum apostola), dedicating to her this beautiful comment: "Just as a woman had announced the words of death to the first man, so also a woman was the first to announce to the Apostles the words of life" (Super Ioannem, ed. Cai, § 2519). [Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, Feb. 14, 2007]

Further Reading

Mary Magdalene has long been confused for the adulterous prostitute described in Luke 7:36-50. Additionally she has been associated with gnostic myths most recently made popular by Dan Brown. Here is some additional reading to help you discover the real Mary Magdalene who has been a popular saint since the early centuries.

• Excerpt from The Da Vinci Hoax entitled The Magdalene: Saint, Sinner or Goddess?
• Audio Interview with Amy Welborn author of Decoding Mary Magdalene
• Mary Magdalene and Peter: Pattern for the Ages by Dr. Marshall
• Learning from the Saint Who was the Apostle to the Apostles by Bert Ghezzi & Brandon Vogt

Apostleship of Prayer Video

Faith is Not Irrational:Fr. Barron's Commentary on Lumen Fidei

From The Practicing Catholic

There is an urgent need, then, to see once again that faith is a light, for once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim. The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence. A light this powerful cannot come from ourselves but from a more primordial source: in a word, it must come from God. Faith is born of an encounter with the living God who calls us and reveals his love, a love which precedes us and upon which we can lean for security and for building our lives. Transformed by this love, we gain fresh vision, new eyes to see; we realize that it contains a great promise of fulfilment, and that a vision of the future opens up before us. Faith, received from God as a supernatural gift, becomes a light for our way, guiding our journey through time. (Lumen Fidei, 4).

Faith, Hope and Charity
Last Friday, Pope Francis published his first encyclical entitled Lumen Fidei (Light of Faith). The encyclical closed out the three part series initiated by Pope Benedict on the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity (see CCC 1812-1829). Pope Benedict began by writing on charity in Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) and followed it up later with Spe Savli (Saved by Hope). In Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis concludes the third installment on faith, which Pope Benedict had already begun writing before his resignation. Francis described the encyclical as having been written by four hands.

Faith is Not Irrational

In this video, Father Robert Barron gives an overview of the encyclical, highlighting a key point that faith is not irrational.

Spiritual Toolbox: What is the Triduum?

Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the shortest season on the Catholic Liturgical Calendar - The Triduum and the end of Lent. The term literally means "three days" and refers to the the three days of Christ's passion and death leading up to his glorious resurrection on Easter. The main lesson we can draw about this season is that we should experience it in its the totality. I recently wrote in a post on holiness, in which I argued that God provides us with all the tools necessary to answer the call to be holy. One of those tools is the liturgy. I cannot think of a richer liturgy than that celebrated on the three days of the Triduum.

Perhaps, like me, you found yourself lacking this Lenten season. Maybe you failed to practice all the good intentions of more prayer, daily Mass, or some other spiritual exercise. While all those practices are all important to our spiritual growth, we can still realign ourselves through the liturgy of the Triduum. It's not too late. Isn't incredible that the Lord is constantly giving us opportunities to reorient ourselves to Him?

Here is a video of Pope Benedict explaining the meaning of Triduum last year:

Here are some additional resources to use in reflection for the next three days:

• Holy Week Retreat, Father Pablo Straub
• The Easter Triduum: Entering into the Paschal Mystery, Carl E. Olson
• 18 Questions on the Paschal Triduum, USCCB

I still think Father Corapi's Triduum talks were some of the best on the subject. While he may no longer be in public ministry, that does not undermine the truth of what he taught. Regardless of what the real circumstances of his case were, he was never accused of teaching falsehood. If you do an Internet search (keywords: Father Corapi + Triduum), the talks can still be located.

Joe Catholic & the Catechism

Photo by Thicke

If you will notice from the image above, the Joe Catholic logo includes a representation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church - the green book with the keys.  We included this to symbolize that we are men faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Yesterday morning, the men of Joe Catholic packed into a classroom to gather to break open the Catechism. Why? Because many of us had never even opened a Catechism let alone own one AND, more importantly, because our Holy Father instructed us to read the Catechism.

Year of Faith
When Pope Benedict announced that the Church would be celebrating a Year of Faith, he suggested we read the documents of the Second Vatican Council and that we read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). This makes sense because this year is the 50th anniversary of Vatican II and it is also the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism.

Norm for Teaching the Faith
The CCC is only the second universal catechism handed down by the Church. The Catechism of Trent is the other and it was written in 1566 primarily for priests. The CCC is one of the fruits of Vatican II and it is intended as resource for ALL members of the Church. Blessed John Paul II called the CCC "a sure norm for teaching the faith" and he asserted that it would help "serve the renewal" of the Church. He continued in Fidei Depositum (Deposit of Faith), explaining that the CCC "is a statement of the Church's faith and of Catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium."

Important Functions
According to the USCCB, the CCC serves several important functions. They include: 

• Conveying the complete, essential and fundamental content of Catholic faith and morals in a summative way.
• It acts as a point of reference for the development of national and diocesan catechisms like the "burgundy" one developed by the USCCB.
• It is a positive, objective and declarative exposition of Catholic doctrine.
• It aids those who have a duty to catechize, namely promoters and teachers of catechesis. I contend this includes parents, who are the primary instructors of the faith to their children.

Four Pillars of the Faith
Pope John Paul II called the Four Pillars of Faith the "four movements of a great symphony." They include: 

1. Profession of Faith (The Apostle's & Nicene Creeds) - what the Church believes 
2. Celebration of the Christian Mystery (The Sacraments & Liturgy) - what the Church celebrates
3. Life in Christ (Commandments and Beatitudes) - what the Church lives
4. Universal Call to Prayer (Our Father) - what the Church prays 

CCC's Organization
The Catechism is made up of 2,865 paragraphs. This is how we find things in the CCC - we look up the paragraph number that has been referenced. I liked the way the New Evangelizers referred to the CCC as being written like an encyclopedia, dictionary and history book all in one. In the back of the "big green" version of the CCC are a number of cross reference tools for scripture, papal documents and documents of the councils. It is written in easy to understand prose and calls upon Sacred Scripture and the writings of the Church fathers, the saints and the Magisterium.

How to Use the CCC

When you first look at the CCC, it can look a bit intimidating because it is as thick as many phone books (do people still use those or are they just thrown in the recycling bin?). While one can certainly read it from cover to cover as FlockNote has attempted through daily emails, it is not necessary nor intended to be read that way. Instead, it is meant to be used as a reference for studying or growing deeper in the faith. Have a question about faith and morals? Pop open the Catechism. 

Tips to Get Started

I recommend two ways to get started reading and utilizing the Catechism of the Catholic Church. First, I recommend sitting down with the family and just looking up answers to common questions you or your children may have. Make it fun. Let the kids ask the questions to see what you can find. Remember to be patient because so many of us have become spoiled by the likes of Google searches. You might actually have to narrow down or even change the key words or terms you are using to look up in the INDEX. For example, yesterday we were looking up cloning. There is no reference to cloning in the index, but there is one for LIFE and a subcategory for "snares of human life." That's where we found our answer.

During Lent we are urged to pray, fast and give alms. The Catechism is a great source for learning more about improving your prayer life. As we continue the period of Lent, we could read portions of the Catechism devoted to Prayer.

Plenary Indulgence

If you didn't have enough reason to open the CCC. Here's one more.  The Church has attached a plenary indulgence to the study of the Catechism. Joe Catholic intends to sponsor two more talks on the CCC in the coming months. Here are the requirements (remember that the other requirements of a plenary indulgence are required too):

(A) Each time they attend at least three sermons during the Holy Missions, or at least three lessons on the Acts of the Council or the articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in church or any other suitable location. (USCCB)

Special First Friday Reflection

I still haven't fully processed that the Chair of St. Peter is vacant. I do however take solace in Pope Benedict's address at his final Wednesday audience:

Dear friends! God guides His Church, he sustains her always, and especially in difficult times. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the only true vision of the Church and the world. In our heart, in the heart of each of you, may there always be the joyous certainty that the Lord is near us, he does not abandon us, he is near us and surrounds us with his love.

I came across this video reflection that helped me; perhaps it will help you as well:

Sede Vacante

The Vatican website now reflects the state of the Church - the seat is vacant.

Let us pray for the Church, the members of the College of Cardinals and the Bishop Emeritus of Rome, Benedict.

Here is a video of Benedict's departure:

The Pope App

As we count the hours to the end of Pope Benedict's pontificate and await the beginning of the Conclave, we might want an easy way to keep up with all things from the Vatican. The Pope App is the perfect way to accomplish this.

After initially opening the app to the title page, the screen opens to an image which lets you know when you can follow the pope live. For example in this image taken a few minutes ago, we can see it will be 3 hours until the pope can be seen live.

The Pope App is organized into 9 different screens. These include the ability to view LIVE feeds, check a calendar of upcoming EVENTS, read messages From the Pope, see NEWS, view IMAGES, archived VIDEOS, and WEBCAMS from the Vatican. The app even includes a page dedicated to all things VATICANO.

The LIVE feed not only shows the events that are upcoming, but also allow you to set reminder alarms to check in. This will come in handy once the Conclave begins.

The NEWS feed captures articles on the pope and his messages. They come from a variety of sources including Vatican Radio and L'Osservatore Romano.

The Vaticano page links to several media outlets from the Vatican including the Pope's twitter feed that will continue to be active assuming the new pope chooses to tweet.

The Pope App is powered by the official Vatican Media and is currently only available in iOS format (Apple products). The app is FREE.

Pope Benedict's Last Audience

Here is a video presentation of Pope Benedict's last General Audience:

Here is the complete text of his audience:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I offer a warm and affectionate greeting to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors who have joined me for this, my last General Audience. Like Saint Paul, whose words we heard earlier, my heart is filled with thanksgiving to God who ever watches over his Church and her growth in faith and love, and I embrace all of you with joy and gratitude.

During this Year of Faith, we have been called to renew our joyful trust in the Lord’s presence in our lives and in the life of the Church. I am personally grateful for his unfailing love and guidance in the eight years since I accepted his call to serve as the Successor of Peter. I am also deeply grateful for the understanding, support and prayers of so many of you, not only here in Rome, but also throughout the world.

The decision I have made, after much prayer, is the fruit of a serene trust in God’s will and a deep love of Christ’s Church. I will continue to accompany the Church with my prayers, and I ask each of you to pray for me and for the new Pope. In union with Mary and all the saints, let us entrust ourselves in faith and hope to God, who continues to watch over our lives and to guide the journey of the Church and our world along the paths of history. 

I commend all of you, with great affection, to his loving care, asking him to strengthen you in the hope which opens our hearts to the fullness of life that he alone can give. To you and your families, I impart my blessing. Thank you!

I am not going to lie; I teared up. Let us pray for Pope Benedict, the College of Cardinals and Holy Mother Church.

Year of Faith & The Catechism

Universal Catechism
When Pope Benedict announced that the Church would be celebrating a Year of Faith, he suggested we read the documents of the Second Vatican Council and that we read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). This makes sense because this year is the 50th anniversary of Vatican II and it is also the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism.

Norm for Teaching the Faith
The CCC is only the second universal catechism handed down by the Church. The Catechism of Trent is the other and was written in 1566 primarily written for priests. The CCC is one of the fruits of Vatican II and is intended as resource for ALL members of the Church. Blessed John Paul II called the CCC "a sure norm for teaching the faith" and he asserted that it would help "serve the renewal" of the Church.

Four Pillars of Faith
The CCC is organized into four pillars of the faith: Profession of Faith (The Creed), Celebration of the Christian Mystery (The Sacraments & Liturgy), Life in Christ (Commandments and Beatitudes) and the Universal Call to Prayer (Our Father). The CCC is written like an encyclopedia and organized by paragraph numbers. In the back of the "big green" version are a number of cross reference tools for scripture, papal documents and documents of the councils. It is written in easy to understand prose and calls upon the writings of the Church fathers, the saints and the Magisterium.

This weekend the men of Joe Catholic will be breaking open the CCC and reviewing how to implement it into our daily lives. Please enjoy this video from Father John Riccardo of Our Lady of Good Counsel. The first 5 minutes are dedicated to talking about the CCC and the Year of Faith.

Additional Resources on CCC:

• Joe Catholic Toolbox - introduction to CCC and links to free copies of CCC and documents about the CCC; includes video from the New Evangelizers
• Read the Catechism in a Year
• USCCB's Online CCC as eBook 
• Catholic Cross Reference - online tool that allows you to cross reference the CCC with scripture, papal documents and the documents of Vatican II

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Today's Feast of the Chair of St. Peter takes on a whole new meaning in light of the fact the Chair of Peter will literally be vacant in less than a week. Perhaps some of us have taken the news of Pope Benedict's renunciation of the papal office with more than just sadness. Perhaps some of us are worried about the future of the Church during this period of uncertainty. We find our answers and solace in today's scriptures.

From Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

And from the Gospel of St. Matthew:

And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [Emphasis added]

 In honor of Pope Benedict, I have added this video when he met with the priests from the Diocese of Rome in which, given the special circumstances, the invocation "Tu es Petrus" was sung.

Pope's Resignation & the Media

If you are like me, you are probably still a bit numb from the news that Pope Benedict XVI has announced his resignation as pope effective February 28th. Over the coming weeks we are going to hear all sorts of news stories in the secular press. I recommend we stay abreast of this historic moment in the Church by following ongoing developments on reliable Catholic news feeds. Here are some recommendations:

• National Catholic Register - written news feed
• Catholic News Agency - written and video news feeds
• EWTN - links to news and live streaming of programming

Here's a sample of video from Catholic News Agency:

Pope Benedict XVI Announces His Retirement

Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will retire at the end of the month.

For more details including a copy of the Pope's statement read the report at Catholic News.

UPDATE: Here's a nice video from Rome Reports recalling Pope Benedict's announcement as the new pope in 2005.

Saint Talk: St. Stephen, the First Martyr

The Martyr, Swartzruber

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and patron of deacons. Stephen is described in the Acts of the Apostles (6:4) as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Stephen "did great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). Eventually, his works angered the enemies of the early Church so they trumped up charges against Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. During the trial, Stephen recounted the entire salvation history from Abraham to the crucifixion of Christ, chastising his accusers for failing to believe in Jesus. This enraged his captors and they took him out of Jerusalem to be stoned. As they prepared to stone Stephen, they lay their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. While he was being stoned, Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right of the Father. Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" and then, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:58-60). These prayers are remarkably similar to Christ's words on the cross: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34) and "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" (Acts 23:46)

From Pope Benedict's Angelus message:

Finally, St. Stephen is a model for all those who want to serve the New Evangelization. He shows that the novelty of proclamation does not primarily consist in the use of original methods or techniques, which certainly have their uses, but in being filled with the Holy Spirit and allowing ourselves to be guided by Him. The novelty of proclamation lies in immerging ourselves deeply in the mystery of Christ, the assimilation of His Word and of His presence in the Eucharist, so that He Himself, the living Jesus, can act and speak through His envoy. In essence, the evangelizer becomes able to bring Christ to others effectively when he lives of Christ, when the newness of the Gospel manifests itself in his own life. We pray to the Virgin Mary, so that the Church, in this Year of Faith, sees more men and women who, like St. Stephen, know how to give a convinced and courageous witness of the Lord Jesus
Read more: National Catholic Register

Stephen's martyrdom is significant in the history of the Church. His faithful example and intercession affected Saul profoundly. (I believe this scene is beautifully portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the TV mini-series Peter and Paul.) "If Stephen had not prayed to God, the Church would not have had Paul" (St. Augustine, "Sermons", 315, 7).

Pope Benedict's Christmas Homily

Pope Benedict XVI began his Midnight Mass homily by saying:

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Again and again the beauty of this Gospel touches our hearts: a beauty that is the splendour of truth. Again and again it astonishes us that God makes himself a child so that we may love him, so that we may dare to love him, and as a child trustingly lets himself be taken into our arms. It is as if God were saying: I know that my glory frightens you, and that you are trying to assert yourself in the face of my grandeur. So now I am coming to you as a child, so that you can accept me and love me.

To read the rest of the sermon continue here.... 

Or watch a video clip of the Mass below. Merry Christmas
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Recommended Reading from Gathering

It occurred to me that I should start posting separately all the book resources I recommend during the gatherings. So beginning today, I will post recommended reading on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month following our normal gatherings. If you click on the titles, the link will take you to the appropriate Amazon page to review the books.

Anima Christi: Soul of Christ, Sister Mary Francis

Handbook of Catholic Apologetics: Reasoned Answers to Questions of Faith, Peter Kreeft

Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict Opens Door to Year of Faith

Image from Catholic News Agency

Pope Benedict XVI opened the Year of Faith with a call to share the faith in our daily lives.  Specifically, in his homily the Pope said, “People of faith are needed who, with their own lives, point out the way to the Promised Land and keep hope alive.” He went on to say that our faith must be informed by the truth of Catholic teaching. He explained that "the new evangelization [must] neither remain just an idea nor be lost in confusion, it needs to be built on a concrete and precise basis, and this basis is the documents of the Second Vatican Council”.

Toolbox: Have You Read the Catechism?

Today we begin the Year of Faith. Today also marks the 20th Anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Blessed John Paul II called the CCC "a sure norm for teaching the faith" and he asserted that it would help "serve the renewal" of the Church. In this spirit of renewal, Pope Benedict XVI said in Porta Fidei that one of the things we the faithful can do during this year is to read the Catechism.

Do you own a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)? If you are serious about learning your Catholic faith, you MUST own a copy of the CCC and more importantly you have to read it.

How to Get a Copy of the Catechism
Daily Email, Flocknote
Free Online, USCCB
eBook & Paperback, USCCB

Additional Resources
FAQ about the CCC from USCCB
Porta Fidei
Opus Dei Prelate's October Letter

Be sure to check out That Catholic Show's funny and informative video "Night of the Living Catechism."

Remembering 9/11Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer at Ground Zero

Photo I took at Ground Zero, May 2004

Eleven years after that traffic Tuesday morning, our country still struggles to heal. While we remember those who were lost that day, let us pray for true peace that can only be found in our Lord.

When Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States in 2008 he prayed at Ground Zero. I have included a video of his prayer. The text of the prayer follows below the video should you wish to pray it too.

O God of love, compassion, and healing,look on us, people of many different faiths
and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.
We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here—
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and
Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.
We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.
We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.
God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.
God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.
Pope Benedict XI--Prayer at Ground Zero
New York, 20 April 2008

What is The Year of Faith?

I mentioned in yesterday's post that we are approaching the beginning of the celebration of the Year of Faith. Pope Benedict XVI announced the Year of Faith last October. Below is a video from Rome Reports which outlines some of the activities, events and teachings that will take place during the year.

Additional Resources:

Fr. Robert Barron's Word on Fire Blog
USCCB - US Bishop's YOF website
Vatican Year of Faith Website