Fratres Sunday Mass Readings: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 07.06.08

Reading 1
Zec 9:9-10
Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim [...]

Fratres Sunday Mass Readings: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 07.13.08

Reading 1
Is 55:10-11
Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me [...]

The Human Experience: movie review by Stephanie Block

Produced by Grass Roots films, “The Human Experience” explores human suffering and redemption with a true-life story. Worth watching.
I just had the pleasure of attending a screening of “The Human Experience” last night.  It’s a full-length, award-winning movie produced by the Catholic production company “Grassroots Films.” 
The movie opens with one of its characters – a [...]

A Spring of Grace in the Desert: Novena To Merciful Love

FIRST DAY
Introductory Prayer
My Jesus, I am deeply sorry when I consider the many times I have offended you.
However, with a Father’s heart you have not only forgiven me but with the words “Ask, and you shall receive” you invite me to seek from you whatever I need.
With complete confidence I appeal to your Merciful Love [...]

On Reserving Priestly Ordination To Men Alone: ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS Apostolic Letter of Pope John Paul II

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate,
1. Priestly ordination, which hands on the office entrusted by Christ to his Apostles of teaching, sanctifying and governing the faithful, has in the Catholic Church from the beginning always been reserved to men alone. This tradition has also been faithfully maintained by the Oriental Churches.
When the question of the ordination [...]

Mary Through the Ages, Her Beauty Bespeaks the Beauty of God by Sylvie Barnay

For us she is the Mother of God. The centuries hail her as Queen of Heaven. The Gospels call her Mary. In the Middle Ages she was known as Nostra Signora (Our Lady), in more modern times Madonna (My Lady) and in the contemporary age, Immacolata (the Immaculate One).
Through the passing of time those [...]

Text: Regarding the Crime of Attempting Sacred Ordination of a Woman: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
General Decree
Regarding the crime of attempting sacred ordination of a woman
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to protect the nature and validity of the sacrament of holy orders, in virtue of the special faculty conferred to it by the supreme authority of the Church (see canon 30, [...]

In Honor of the Beast?

IT WAS NIGHT.
The following is a pictorial report of the Palm Sunday 2008 Mass at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Mn. The commentary below are direct quotes taken from the parish website. The author is Nancy Lynch, a parishioner.
             “Palm Sunday is finally here. We are so prepared to participate in the liturgy…”

             “We [...]

Holy See - US Joint Statement: Oval Office of the White House 04.16.08

At the end of the private meeting between the Holy Father Benedict XVI and U.S. President George W. Bush, the Holy See and the Office of the President of the United States of America released a joint declaration:
President Bush, on behalf of all Americans, welcomed the Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and thanked [...]

Pope Benedict XVI: Celebration of Vespers and Address to Bishops of the United States of America 04.16.08

Dear Brother Bishops,
It gives me great joy to greet you today, at the start of my visit to this country, and I thank Cardinal George for the gracious words he has addressed to me on your behalf. I want to thank all of you, especially the Officers of the Episcopal Conference, for the hard work [...]