Sacred Heart Novena

Just a heads up reminder that the Feast of the Sacred Heart is coming up on June 8th, which means that the Sacred Heart Novena has begun. (Either today or tomorrow. As I’ve said before, I can never figure out when a novena begins. I ‘swear’some begin 10 days prior to the date, other 9.) Anyway, the website Pray More Novenas has a great one for you to use. Just click on that link, it’ll take you right to it (they say it begins today.).

Everything I’ve blogged about before, on the Sacred Heart: Sacred Heart Posts Archive

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!!)

Where I’m at

Well, I was going to try and catch up on some overdue blogging and wrap up this month devoted to the Blessed Mother by finishing up a draft post about a wonderful book I have on a Marian devotion, but unfortunately the website where you can purchase the book appears to be offline. It’ll have to remain in draft mode until I can found out about the publisher. (It’s a book that basically convinced me to consecrate this blog to the Blessed Virgin.)

So, just an arbitrary, gratuitous post about various things, kind of like a “Where I’m at” post.

OK, so “Where am I at?”

I’ve gotten deeper into appreciating the Tridentine Rite Mass. As I’ve blogged before in Spiritual progression, Latin style that I started attending the Mass in the Extraordinary Form (The “Latin Mass,” or “TLM.”) I’ve attended six so far. I’ve taken to studying the Missal I’m using to get a better understanding of the Mass and its parts and also what to do. The Missal, known as the Saint Andrew Daily Missal, is one of the best available, according to various online opinions. It is a bit dated, using as it does the Roman Calendar as of 1945, rather than the 1962 Calendar approved for use by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 in Summorum Pontificum. Nevertheless, from what I have learned, it is essentially accurate if all you are doing is attending Sunday Masses; if you are blessed enough to reside in an area that offers a daily Mass in the Extraordinary Form, it may be less useful. Some feast days were moved around or added, and the Holy Week liturgies were changed from 1955 and again in 1960 or 1961. Where it excels is in the copious notes for each Sunday and Feast day; very informative catechesis on the history and liturgy of the day, as well as doctrinal notes. These beautifully illuminate the background of the Mass. You develop a love for the Church in Her development throughout history as well as a love for the liturgy.

And as I said in that blogpost I linked to, it has caused me to stay offline more than usual, apart from checking into Facebook, etc.

What else am I doing? Spending more time on my novel. No, I’m not saying anything about the plot. 😛 Since Winter is finally over, I’m spending more time outside, doing yardwork and getting my vegetable garden ready. Planting is planned for this Sunday and/or Monday, weather permitting.

OK, that’s all for now about me.

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. Matthias, Apostle and a patron of alcoholics

Today is the feast of St. Matthias, a disciple of Jesus who was selected to replace Judas Iscariot.

I read today in my Laudate app on my Kindle Fire that he is a patron of alcoholics. Wow, we have an apostle who is our patron?! I had to look that up!

Although St. Matthias left behind no existing writings, (all works attributed to him are regarded as having been written by heretics who borrowed his name to lend authenticity to their errors,) several of his teachings while he preached in Ethiopia and elsewhere have been quoted by several Church Fathers, especially Clement of Alexandria. They refer to the need to “combat the flesh” which is subject to many temptations and errors. The flesh must be mortified so that we can enjoy the workings of the Holy Spirit.

The one problem that I have with any of this is that the sources all cite works that are possibly either apocryphal or outright heretical. Even Clement of Alexandria is suspect, having been on the Roman calendar until being removed from it 500 years ago due to suspicions.

Anyway, there isn’t anything wrong with mortification, especially if care is done to avoid excesses. The emphasis on the flesh in teachings attributed to St. Matthias appear to be influenced by Gnosticism, which held that flesh and matter were evil. Setting that aside, many online Catholic resources of solid orthodoxy accept his patronage of alcoholics (someone’s gotta look after us 😉 ) and thus I think ‘It can’t hurt.” 🙂

And so we alcoholics and addicts have an Apostle to call our very own.

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!!)

Mother’s Day!

In the United States, today is Mother’s Day. It’s also the 101st anniversary of the first apparition of the Blessed Mother at Fatima, Portugal. It’s nice that the two days coincide for a change, a secular and religious holiday.

Just a reminder that if you haven’t called her yet, Mom is waiting to hear from you. Say your Rosary!

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!!)

Spiritual progression, Latin style

NOTE: Parts of this post were copied and edited from my other blog, In Exile.

For the past three Sundays I’ve attended the “Traditional Latin Mass” instead of the typical English one you’re probably used to. Formally called the “Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite,” (“EF” for short) it differs from the usual Mass (the “Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite,” or “OF” for short) in its solemnity, richness of ritual and use of Latin. It’s also old, dating from the 16th Century, although in some variations it goes back over a thousand years before then.

I had long been wanting to go, but for various reasons haven’t been able to. Those reasons are largely resolved (perhaps it was just time) and so I went on April 22nd.

I loved it. Even before it commenced I felt that I was in the presence of something awesome. Something ancient and sacred was about to happen.

I had some idea of what to expect; I had gone to one before, perhaps 15 years ago. I had no clue then as to what was going on. This time I was better informed from prior study.

I loved it, although I still didn’t quite understand everything. My knowledge of Latin is bad.

The priest is offering the sacrifice on behalf of the people; we observe and unite our prayers to his. The offering of the Mass is between him and God, we are present but in a less participatory role than in the OF. I may have said this with less than precise terminology. If in error, I will accept charitable correction. But this is what I believe I’ve gleaned from my study and observation. The Mass is a sacrifice, the priest offers it, we observe. The OF Mass has altered this understanding, and I think the manner in which it was done has been detrimental to contemporary Catholicism. The emphasis seems to have shifted from worshiping God to the Mass being some sort of communal celebration about us.

Anyway, it was a transcendental experience; despite my newness to it I sensed that something was different, something otherwordly was taking place. A kind of awesome mystery. I felt completely detached from the outside world, something that rarely ever happens to me at an Ordinary Form Mass. This is actually one reason why I haven’t blogged in nearly a month. It’s odd, but this disconnectedness has rendered in me a lack of desire to engage much in online activity. I spend some time on Facebook and MeWe and elsewhere, but not for as long as usual. This week I was hardly online at all.

I can just imagine the experience may intensify after I am more familiar with the Mass.

This is the “Mass of the Ages,” the Mass the Catholic Church celebrated for centuries prior to Vatican II. I felt somehow connected to those who had celebrated it before… not just ordinary priests and laity, but saints. This is the Mass that St. Maximilian Kolbe offered; the Mass that St….. think of your favorite saint from centuries ago, he or she celebrated or attended this Mass.

They say that Vatican II created a rupture in the continuity of tradition between the contemporary Church and the one of ages past. I will not comment on that but it is apparent that we lost a lot. Although I will not become bitter, angry and resentful over “what we lost,” for you and I well know what those emotions can lead to, I will develop a much greater interest in the liturgy and its importance in life. I already have to some great degree taken the liturgy to be something more than something done on Sundays or how you pray. I do live a fairly liturgical life: from taking a keen interest in the liturgical seasons and deriving a personal connection or life application from them to praying the Divine Office. The liturgical year contributes to the ebb and flow of my life, almost like the temporal seasons and their connection to growing things.

I will be attending the Mass in both forms. My wife shows little interest in the EF. That’s all right. I like a good OF Mass said with due and proper attention to the rubrics. (The OF lends itself to abuse.) Besides, the readings aren’t the same, and for now it feels odd to not attend the Mass 99% of Catholics attend (just a guess at the percentage.)

I will blog about this over time. There is definitely something of value here to the recovering alcoholic and addict; the feeling of transcendental holiness and other-worldliness has got to be a sure “cure” for the people, places and things plaguing life. This is why I titles this post, “Spiritual progression, Latin style;” I feel that my growth as a Catholic, my spiritual development, has taken a quantum leap upward.

I’m going again tomorrow!

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!!)

Connect with me on MeWe!

I won’t bother going into details, but Facebook (perhaps you’ve heard of it) has been getting into trouble recently. Actually, for a number of years there have been controversies about the place. People have been trying to discover and develop alternatives to it for almost as long as there have been issues. Google came close with Google+, but apparently it hasn’t been the “Facebook killer” it was touted to be (and there is reason to think that it wasn’t intended to actually “knock off” Facebook, but the tech press is as believable as any other.)

But now, with recent allegations of privacy and trust breaches, there may be a tide of members emigrating from Facebook to a rival. Enter MeWe, a social network that’s actually been around for about four years, but until now been populated mostly by “early adopters” (techie people who try new things before anyone else) and segments of the population that have been targeted by Facebook for various offensive behaviours (gun enthusiasts, anti-vaccination advocates, and privacy-conscious folks amongst others.)

MeWe touts itself as a “privacy-focused” network, where there are no ads, no tracking and no BS. (I wonder why they don’t like people with Bachelor of Science degrees. Oh, well, to each their own.) In short, they’ve set themselves up as a counter to Facebook. If you’re used to Facebook, it may take a little getting used to the different site navigation, but it is learn-able if you have a little patience and just click on things to see what happens. There are also help Groups for people with questions.

I joined MeWe about three years ago but never really did much with it as I tolerated the recurring issues with Facebook. Besides, everyone I know is on there, and there are a number of Groups that are informative for my interests. My activity came and went, depending upon how often Mike, of the What Does Mike Think? blog hassles me to get over there. 😉

But what was a trickle of memberships is apparently turning into a gusher. At least based upon the number of my Facebook friends who have made the move. And so I have been spending quite a bit of time these past few days on MeWe, hunting down people I know and exploring Groups. One reason why I’ve not blogged these past several days, despite intending to. 🙁

SO here is your invitation to connect with me on MeWe! Here is the link to my profile on MeWe.

MeWe doesn’t support Pages like Facebook and Google+, so this blog doesn’t have a dedicated account there. I might create another MeWe account, just for Sober Catholic. If/when I do, there will be a post about it.

I hope to see you there!

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!!)

It’s Three O’Clock Somewhere

I just finished praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet as it’s the Hour of Mercy (3PM) in my timezone. This reminded me that I had an idea for a blogpost with the title of this post. And as it’s been a week since my last post and I don’t want my boss angry over any slacking.

To paraphrase a popular Country music song, “It’s Three O’Clock Somewhere,” meaning that somewhere on this planet it is 3:00, the Hour of Mercy, the hour when Jesus died on the Cross on that original Good Friday. You see, if you’re a devotee of the Divine Mercy Message your are encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet during that hour.

But not all of us can. Work and other obligations get in the way. We sometimes forget. But fear not! Our twenty-four hour planetary rotation comes to the rescue because regardless of what time it is where you live on Earth, It’s Three O’Clock Somewhere!!!

Somewhere, it is the Hour of Mercy. That it’s not where you are shouldn’t matter because someone, maybe even many someones, are commemorating the hour Christ died by reciting the Chaplet. You can join them!

Yes, it is best to do it when it’s 3PM in your locale, thus keeping the devotion going worldwide for twenty-four hours. But like I said earlier in Pray for us sinners, “Someone, somewhere, right now, is praying…” when you can’t.

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!!)

Way, Truth, Life

In the Gospel according to St. John (Ch. 14, V. 6), Jesus says “…I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life…”

(Courtesy Sacred Bible: Catholic Public Domain Version)

Jesus is our Master, but if we exert our self, as in our self-will and self-love, Jesus ceases being the Way. We are our own “way.” He ceases being the Truth, for we follow our own, or another’s “truth.” And He ceases being the life for us, as we thus embark on the path towards death.

He is “the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” when we abandon our ways, out truths and submit our life to Him.

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!!)

Divine Mercy Sunday: A great day for those who’ve really messed things up

There was a windstorm where I live last Wednesday and we lost power for just over two days. I actually did have some plans for blogging, but with no power, there’s no Internet and so no blogging.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday and I do hope that you took advantage of the tremendous source of healing, forgiveness and grace that this day brings. I posted before about this day, and perhaps next year I will, God willing, post more in the days leading up to it. It is a tremendous source of healing and consolation, a way to hit the “reset” button on your life, especially if you are disposed to that.

To whet your appetite, the following are two important excerpts on Divine Mercy Sunday from St. Faustina’s Diary, “Divine Mercy in My Soul,” where she wrote down her spiritual experiences during the 1930s when Jesus was communicating with her by interior locutions (the numbers refer to the paragraphs in the Diary where they can be found.)

300on this day, tell the whole world of My great mercy; that whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment.

Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.

Oh, how much I am hurt by a soul’s distrust! Such a soul professes that I am Holy
and Just, but does not believe that I am Mercy and does not trust in My Goodness.
Even the devils glorify My Justice but do not believe in My Goodness.
My Heart rejoices in this title of Mercy.

699My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that
day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear
to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no
mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity.
Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender
mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will contemplate My love and mercy
throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of
tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after
Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.

Much of this you can obtain at other times of the year; you can receive a plenary indulgence by going to Confession just before Mass, as well as on other designated days (Holy Days of Obligation.) A plenary indulgence is, according to the website of the Catholic Bishop’s of the United States: “Furthermore, for reception of a plenary indulgence, which grants the remission of all temporal punishment due to sin, in addition to this good work or act of devotion, the Church specifies four conditions: (1) sacramental confession, (2) reception of Holy Communion, (3) prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, and (4) complete detachment from all sin, even venial sin. It must not be thought, however, that such acts of ours are somehow of themselves sufficient to earn the remission of the temporal punishment for sins. Our efforts, themselves the work of God’s grace, express our openness to receive God’s mercy. In the work of our salvation, it is always God’s grace that is primary, with a power that far exceeds all our efforts.”

Courtesy: USCCB

I went to Confession on Sunday, just before the Vigil Mass for Sunday. I usually go twice a month. It does make a difference. For those of you who are fearful of Confession, don’t be! Work your way up, go once, then try again in a few weeks. It gets easier the more you go as you get used to it that way. Trust me, I actually look forward to going.

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!!)

Pray for us sinners

A thought had popped into my mind while praying the Rosary today…

The line in the second verse, “…pray for us sinners…” struck me.

It reads “pray for us sinners,” not “pray for me, a sinner.”

The Rosary is the devotional prayer most closely associated with Catholics. And rightly so, with the prayer’s popularity over the centuries and given that at any one time, there are probably hundreds of thousands (or more!) Catholics praying it around the clock, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Someone, somewhere, right now, is praying a Rosary. Which mean that given the “pray for us sinners,” wording, there are thousands of people asking the Blessed Mother’s intercession for everyone and for each other, including you, right now.

A sobering thought, especially if you’re going through a bad time. You are not alone. Someone, actually, a whole massive number of someones, are praying for you right now.

Maybe you should pick up a Rosary and pray for them in return.

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!!)