Category Archives: Holy Days and Sundays

Ember Days of Lent 2021

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Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday constitute the Ember Days of Lent. I mentioned them last year or the one before, as a weapon in the spiritual warfare for these times. Ember Days are like mini-Lents situated four times throughout the year. The first one begins right after Ash Wednesday, perhaps as a means of ‘strengthening’ the penitent for the Lenten journey. You know how it is, Lent begins, we’re all pious and devout and intent on having the ‘best Lent ever’ and dont’cha know it, one week in and we’ve already given up what we’re giving up!

From the Catholic Encyclopedia on New Advent:

“Ember days (corruption from Lat. Quatuor Tempora, four times) are the days at the beginning of the seasons ordered by the Church as days of fast and abstinence. They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday, and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross). The purpose of their introduction, besides the general one intended by all prayer and fasting, was to thank God for the gifts of nature, to teach men to make use of them in moderation, and to assist the needy.”

From the blog of the FSSP:

What are the dates of Ember Days? They have fluctuated throughout history. The upcoming Ember Days of Lent were not originally linked to the first week of Lent but to the first week in March. Francis Mershman in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1908) affirms: “They were definitely arranged and prescribed for the entire Church by Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) for the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after 13 December (S. Lucia), after Ash Wednesday, after Whitsunday, and after 14 September (Exaltation of the Cross).” This was expressed in the old English rhyme:

Fasting days and Emberings be
Lent, Whitsun, Holyrood, and Lucie.
Or even a shorter mnemonic: Lenty, Penty, Crucy, Lucy.

Courtesy: FSSP Missive: Ember Days of Lent

The next Ember Days are the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after Pentecost.

I hope your Lent is going well; unlike some years, I will not be blogging daily. I do hope you are using a nice Catholic daily devotional to help you with Lent. If not, frequent meditations on the Passion of Christ are always fruitful. Stations of the Cross booklets are alway great to use, including mine! Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics.

 

 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Conversion of St. Paul

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Today is January 25th, the day set aside on the Church calendar to celebrate the Conversion if St. Paul the Apostle. You know the story: Paul, still known as ‘Saul,’ a particularly zealous Pharisee who took special delight in arresting and bringing to capital punishment followers of “the Way,” as the Jewish sect that recognized Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, was on his was to Damascus with authorization to cleanse that city of these followers. While en route, he was struck down by an apparition of Jesus.

From the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Ch. 9:3-9

And as he made the journey, it happened that he was approaching Damascus. And suddenly, a light from heaven shone around him.

And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.”

And he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

And the Lord said to him, “Rise up and go into the city, and there you will be told what you ought to do.” Now the men who were accompanying him were standing stupefied, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no one.

Then Saul rose up from the ground. And upon opening his eyes, he saw nothing. So leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

And in that place, he was without sight for three days, and he neither ate nor drank. 

Courtesy: Sacred Bible: Catholic Public Domain Version

And we know the rest. He became the Apostle to the Gentiles, extending the Kingdom of God to lands beyond the original birthplace of the Way.

I like this feast day for personal reasons. First, my name is Paul. Second, it’s about his conversion; the transformation from a former manner of living to a better one that is in service to the Lord. I connect that with my own reversion to the Faith after about 15 years of being away, followed by the onset of sobriety.

Sometimes conversions take time. Mine took about eight years. Others can happen right away. Like a bolt of lightning, something happens which tells you that God wants something better for you and you must follow. There are many inspirational stories in Catholic devotional books and ‘lives of the saints’ of people converting very quickly, almost ‘miraculously,’ from a life of sin to one of holiness.

The point is, anyone’s conversion is possible. No matter how infused with secularism and materialism one is, the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother can break through the barriers and reach the interior of a person. The power and attraction of the ‘world’ may seem irresistible and insurmountable, but with God, all things are possible.

One additional point is, He may use others as the instrument of conversion. If you are reading this blog fairly regularly, you or another you know probably trod the path of conversion from an addictive life to a sober one. Perhaps one reason for that is for you to be an instrument of conversion for others. You may be the only Gospel, or Catechism that another person sees any given day. Your actions and words may be the springboard from which another person begins their journey.

Something to ponder…If He used St. Paul for the purposes He intended, what might He use you for?

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Year of St. Joseph

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On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis issued the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde which established these upcoming twelve months as the “Year of St. Joseph.” This had long been speculated by those who do that sort of thing, and they were finally proven correct. Like other “Year of’s…” the faithful among us are to delve more deeply into the lives of the saint or doctrine so honored and to become more spiritually enriched as a result.

I really enjoy these “Year of…” declarations. My wife and I still continue the practice we did when Pope Francis announced the Year of Mercy a while back; that of jointly praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I had dug more deeply into St. Faustina’s Diary throughout that Year and added several more books to my Divine Mercy bookshelf. For the previous “Year of Faith” I studied the Catechism of the Catholic Church and studied a few other books on Catholic Dogmas and Doctrines.

This Year of St. Joseph will be no different. I already had a collection of books on the Foster Father of Our Lord and Saviour, but hadn’t yet gotten to reading them. That will change. First up to be read will be The Life and Glories of St. Joseph by Edward Healy Thompson, M.A. From TAN Book’s description, “No words of St. Joseph are recorded In Scripture. In fact. little mention is made of him there. Yet. despite these seeming limitations. the Church nonetheless possesses an indescribably rich knowledge of St. Joseph and of his cultus. This book will astound most readers both with its scope and with its profundity. Based mainly on Scripture. but supported also by Tradition and the depositions of saints. it is a carefully reasoned analysis of the entirety of that great saint’s role in the history of Salvation and the life of the Church. Includes details about his spiritual life and noble lineage; how he was prefigured in the Old Testament; his relationship to Mary and Jesus; why he has been named by Pope Pius IX “The Patron of the Universal Church;” and so forth. Many beautiful insights.” 

As with other “Year of…” declarations, we will have to opportunity  to gain Plenary Indulgences. These are pious practices that we can perform that, if fulfilled correctly and with the proper attitude, can obtain for us the complete remission of our sins.

These pious acts “must be accompanied by sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the pope’s intentions; the usual conditions to obtain any plenary indulgence.”

The pious acts for gaining the indulgences are listed here, in this article from CNA, as well as at: Aleteia.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Feast of All Saints

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(NOTE: Reblogged from 2008 and expanded.)

November 1st is the Feast of All Saints, which serves as the Feast day for everyone in Heaven, whether officially canonized or not.

This is an important feast day as it reminds all of us of those who made it, who had run the race and fought the good fight and have arrived at their true home.

These serve as examples to us. They were like us. Suffered the same pains, experienced the same joys. The had a life, like ours, regardless of the era in which they lived. Whether they are known to us because of what they left behind, or are completely unknown and we will not meet them until we (hopefully) arrive there, if they made it, so can we.

They are important to us, these saints. As they are now in God’s domain and have lived lives of virtue and submission to God’s will, they can intercede for us still here on Earth. We can pray to them so that they can offer our requests to God, much like how we can pray for each other’s intentions, but more powerful.

God hears all of our prayers, so in essence we can just go straight to Him, but a consistent theme in how God does things is that He appears to want to do things in cooperation with us. That’s love, I guess.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Did you know that the Catholic Church once had thirty-six Holy Days of Obligation?

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A Holy Day of Obligation (HDO) is a day on the Catholic Church’s Liturgical Calendar when Catholics are obligated to go to Mass; their significance lies in honoring Our Lady, Our Lord, and major saints. All Sundays have been obligatory in addition to the HDOs (except when lifted by the Bishop in certain times) but nowadays, depending upon the country you live in, only a half a dozen or so other days are HDOs. Did you know that the Catholic Church once had thirty-six Holy Days of Obligation, in addition to Sunday Mass?

Here is a list of all thirty-six. I am posting this because in these perilous times, we need to increase our piety and connections to the Church Triumphant. Although the obligation has been removed, (and in many cases, the dates have been moved around in 1955 through 1962), you can still attend Mass or view it online. Perhaps even just pray novenas to whomever is honored or some other devotion to them. The current HDO’s are in black, suppressed ones in red. What is notable is that all Twelve Apostles were honored with an HDO. Pope St. Pius X reduced them in number in 1911.

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION

and

SUPPRESSED FESTIVALS (former HDOs)

ALL SUNDAYS and Feasts of each of the Twelve Apostles

January 1 Circumcision of Our Lord/Mary Mother of God

January 6 Epiphany

February 2nd Purification/Candlemas

Feb 24: St. Matthias

March 19th St. Joseph, Spouse of the BVM

March 25th Annunciation

May 1st SS Phillp and James

May 3rd Holy Cross

June 11th St. Barnabas, Apostle

Easter Monday

Easter Tuesday

WhitMonday -(Monday after Pentecost, a/k/a WhitSunday)

WhitTuesday-(Tuesday after Pentecost a/k/a WhitSunday)

Corpus Christi

Ascension Thursday

June 24th Nativity of St. John the Baptist

June 29 SS Peter and Paul

July 25th St. James, Apostle

July 26th St. Anne (Mother of the BVM)

August 10th St. Lawrence

August 15 Assumption

August 24th St. Bartholomew, Apostle

September 8th Nativity of the BVM

Sep 21: St. Matthew

September 29th St. Michael the Archangel (Michaelmas)

October 28th SS Simon and Jude, Apostles

November 1 All Saints

November 30 St. Andrew, Apostle

December 8 Immaculate Conception

December 21st St. Thomas, Apostle

December 25th Christmas

December 26th St. Stephen, Protomartyr

December 27th St. John the Evangelist, Apostle

December 28th Holy Innocents

December 31 St. Sylvester

The Principle Patrons of One’s Country, City, etc.

SOURCE: an old out-of-print prayer book of mine referred to these; I subsequently double checked with online references including Wikipedia, Catholic Encyclopedia (on New Advent) and a sedevecantist site (typically bad for contemporary issues, but useful for pre-Vatican II information.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Queenship of Mary

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Today, August 22nd, is a special day for everyone devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Traditional Liturgical Calendar it is the celebration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (which became a moveable memorial feast day in the New Calendar after Vatican II). In the New Calendar, it is the feast day of the Queenship of Mary.

This is one of those times when I think the New Calendar ‘gets it right,’ for just one week ago was the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven (and did I ever mess up in not writing about it; there’s always next year.) Today would mark the Octave, or eighth day of the feast. Octaves were much more popular a long time ago than in the post-Vatican II era. Octaves were celebrations of an important feast day for eight days; for example, Easter and Christmas are Octaves in the New Calendar, therefore it is ‘as if’ Christmas Day or Easter Sunday stretches out for eight days. Octaves establish that feast as being Really Important. So, the Queenship of Mary would be a perfect way to mark the Octave of the Assumption in that since Mary was Assumed into Heaven body and soul due to the divine prerogatives granted to her by virtue of her Immaculate Conception, what else could have happened on her glorious entry into Heaven than for her to be crowned Queen of the Universe and of All Creation?

Take Mary as your Queen. Consecrate yourself to her by either the method according to St. Louis de Montfort or St. Maximilian Kolbe. Entrust yourself to her motherly care and allow her to guide you in your daily actions. With her as a Mother, your sobriety is assured as your love for her and her Son Jesus will take away any need or desire for the drug or the drink.

 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Martyrdom of Peter and Paul

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Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter was the ‘Rock’ upon which Christ built His Church and served as Her first Pope; and Paul, becoming the Apostle to the Gentile nations.

Both serve as guides to our Faith; Peter, being that first Pope, can symbolize fidelity to Her traditions, apostolic authority and the unity of Her teachings. Paul can symbolize evangelical zeal and utter devotion to spreading the Gospel regardless of the physical or material cost. He loved Christ so much that “it was no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Paul directly received the Gospel from Our Lord, possibly during the three days he was disabled in Damascus. This establishes that Paul’s message was actually Jesus’. (So much the contention that “Jesus never said anything about insert favorite depravity here in the Gospel.” Yes, He did; through Paul.)

The two bear witness to Christ and His mercy. Peter denied Christ three times on Holy Thursday and was forgiven when asked three times by Jesus before His Ascension “Do you love me…. feed my sheep, etc.” Paul was forgiven despite being the biggest persecutor of the Early Christians.

Despite theses deep failings, Jesus still used them to establish His Church and expand it throughout the world.

Always hope for us, who deny Christ far more often than Peter did in a day; and Paul, in tacitly abetting in the persecution of the Church by not standing up to it.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is an old and extremely popular devotion; although it has faded somewhat during the 20th century, it appears to me to be reviving. Some have said that the Divine Mercy Devotion is a ’reboot’ of the Sacred Heart Devotion; a close comparison reveals much similarities and

It is concerned with the intense and overwhelming love that Jesus Christ has for humanity, so much so that He gave Himself up for us as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins and remains with us today in the Real Presence of the Blessed Sacrament. A component of the devotion is our love for Him in return, a love that has reparative aspects as we love and offer sacrifices to Him on behalf of this that do not love Him (or know of His love.) More-so, the reparative elements are in light of blasphemies, sacrileges and other sins of hate against Our Lord. We love Him in return for His love for us, and our love makes up for the lack of love others have for Him, often manifesting in acts of hate.

The devotion began in the 17th Century when Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, an Augustinian nun renowned for her piety and incredible humility. He grieved over the growing coldness of human hearts toward Him and in His love and Divine Mercy. Much of this coldness arose as a result of the heresy of Jansenism, which essentially teaches that God is harsh and judgmental, and few are saved since humanity is so depraved and evil due to sin. For some reason Jansenism became very popular in Europe, particularly in France. I think Calvinism was happier.

I looked up Jansenism in the Catholic Encyclopedia; apparently Jansenism arose from a text written by Archbishop Cornelius Jansen of Ypres, Belgium, that wasn’t published until some time after his death. He, himself, appears to have died in the graces of the Church and allegedly wrote a testament submitted his work to the judgment of the Church. His executor unsuccessfully tried to suppress the work, he failed and copies of it were published and distributed widely, attracting devotees. You can read all of that here and decide for yourself: Jansenius and Jansenism

I have links in the sidebar regarding the Sacred Heart Devotion; I’ve also written about it here: Sacred Heart Post Archives. Last year’s post on the Sacred Heart Solemnity was really great! 🙂

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Back to Mass!

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This next Sunday I get to go to Mass again! With the recent alleviation of COVID-19 cases, restrictions on public gatherings have lessened and the local Bishop has lifted most objections on Mass attendance. Social distancing must be maintained, a cap of total number of attendees is still in place and the Mass obligation is still lifted. Those who are sick or who still feel uncertain about their safety can still remain home and watch streamed Masses.

Not me. Technically I can use “feeling uncertain about safety” as an excuse as I am susceptible to COVID-19. But my Mass is a lightly attended TLM in the best of times so I’m saddlin’ up and goin’ in.

It is the External Solemnity of Corpus Christi. (“External” as in the Solemnity is actually today, the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, but where it isn’t observed as such it is transferred to the following Sunday.)

Whatever. I’m going to Mass! I’m going to Mass!! I’m going to Mass!!! I’m going to Mass!!!!

It’s been three months…. No Eucharist….  Palm Sunday missed…. Easter Sunday missed….Divine Mercy Sunday missed… Ascension… Pentecost… Trinity Sunday. We’ve taken hits.

Now that we know what we’ve been missing, perhaps we can appreciate it more and become more faithful, observant, and orthodox Catholics.

 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Faustina has been added to the Liturgical Calendar!

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In an announcement carried here: (CNA,) “Pope Francis has decreed that St. Faustina Kowalska’s feast day be added to the Roman Calendar as an optional memorial to be celebrated by all on October 5.

The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship issued the decree May 18, the 100th anniversary of the birth of St. John Paul II, who canonized St. Faustina on April 13, 2000, making her the first saint of the new millennium.

The decree said that Pope Francis had taken the step in response to petitions from pastors, religious men and women and associations of the faithful, and “having considered the influence exercised by the spirituality of St. Faustina in different parts of the world.”

Courtesy: CNA.

This is interesting. I had once thought it odd that she didn’t have a date on the Universal Calendar, but then considered that she was the “Apostle of Divine Mercy” and as such she was more about spreading devotion to the Divine Mercy Message rather than attracting much attention to herself. But I suppose that if this does attract greater knowledge of Divine Mercy beyond the time around Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, then so be it.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)