Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ (Saint Jerome)

Today is the feast of Saint Jerome. Saint Jerome is the patron saint of Scripture Studies because he collected hundreds of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin manuscripts of the Bible, translated the Bible into Latin, and wrote extensive commentaries on the Sacred Scriptures. He was a man of the Bible.

Saint Jerome is known for his famous assertion that to be ignorant of Scripture is to be ignorant of Christ. This quote, from the Patron of Scripture Studies, is a wonderful reminder to Protestants that the Catholic Church has a long-standing tradition of biblical study and memorization.

Here's the well-known quote in context - from his prologue to the book of Isaiah. Interestingly enough, Saint Jerome calls the prophet Isaiah both an Apostle and Evangelist since he reveals so much about Christ, even before the Savior's birth:

I interpret as I should, following the command of Christ: Search the Scriptures, and Seek and you shall find. Christ will not say to me what he said to the Jews: You erred, not knowing the Scriptures and not knowing the power of God. For if, as Paul says, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, and if the man who does not know Scripture does not know the power and wisdom of God, then ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.

Therefore, I will imitate the head of a household who brings out of his storehouse things both new and old, and says to his spouse in the Song of Songs: I have kept for you things new and old, my beloved. In this way permit me to explain Isaiah, showing that he was not only a prophet, but an evangelist and an apostle as well. For he says about himself and the other evangelists: How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news, of those who announce peace. And God speaks to him as if he were an apostle: Whom shall I send, who will go to my people? And he answers: Here I am; send me.

No one should think that I mean to explain the entire subject matter of this great book of Scripture in one brief sermon, since it contains all the mysteries of the Lord. It prophesies that Emmanuel is to be born of a virgin and accomplish marvellous works and signs. It predicts his death, burial and resurrection from the dead as the Saviour of all men. I need say nothing about the natural sciences, ethics and logic. Whatever is proper to holy Scripture, whatever can be expressed in human language and understood by the human mind, is contained in the book of Isaiah. Of these mysteries the author himself testifies when he writes: You will be given a vision of all things, like words in a sealed scroll. When they give the writings to a wise man, they will say: Read this. And he will reply: I cannot, for it is sealed. And when the scroll is given to an uneducated man and he is told: Read this, he will reply: I do not know how to read.

Should this argument appear weak to anyone, let him listen to the Apostle: Let two or three prophets speak, and let others interpret; if, however, a revelation should come to one of those who are seated there, let the first one be quiet. How can they be silent, since it depends on the Spirit who speaks through his prophets whether they remain silent or speak? If they understood what they were saying, all things would be full of wisdom and knowledge. But it was not the air vibrating with the human voice that reached their ears , but rather it was God speaking within the soul of the prophets, just as another prophet says: It is an angel who spoke in me; and again, Crying out in our hearts, Abba, Father’, and I shall listen to what the Lord God says within me.

Ex Prólogo commentariórum sancti Hierónymi presbýteri in Isaíam prophétam (Nn. 1. 2: CCL 73, 1-3)

What does the Bible say about Saint Michael?

Saint Michael the Archangel is mentioned only four times in Scripture. Twice in Daniel (10:13 ff. and 12:1), where he is the special guardian of the chosen people of Israel, once in Jude (5:9) disputing with the devil over the body of Moses, and once in Revelation (12:7–9), where he defends the Mother of Christ and the Church by fighting against Satan and his demons.

Saint Michael also plays an important role in apocryphal books such as in the ‘Assumption of Moses’, in ‘Enoch’, and in the ‘Ascension of Isaiah.'

In these books, Michael appears as the great captain ‘who is set over the best part of mankind’. This tradition gives way to the Catholic belief that Michael is the patron of Catholic armies, and also a protector of individual Christians against the devil. Tradition also assigns him the role of leading the soul to God at the hour of death for judgment - something mentioned in the Offertory of the Roman Mass for the Dead {Signifer S. Michael repraesentet eas in lucemsanctam} until the liturgical revisions of 1970.

The feast day of September 29 apparently comes from the dedication of basilica of Saint Michael on the Via Salaria on September 30th.

Another tradition states that Saint Michael appeared to Pope Saint Gregory the Great over the Moles Hadriani (the modern day Castel di S. Angelo) while the pontiff was processing through Rome praying an end to a plague.

One more fun fact. In Egypt, the Christians believe that Saint Michael is the patron of the Nile River; that he is responsible for the tides of this great river.

Origin of the Saint Michael Prayer (Pope Leo XIII)

Today is the feast of Saint Michael (Michaelmas) and we do well to pray to this great angel and saint to protect and guard the Catholic Church from her enemies

According to legend, Pope Leo XIII (reigned from 1878-1903) composed the now famous "Prayer to Saint Michael" after celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with a group of cardinals. During the Mass, the Holy Father fell to the floor at the foot of the altar. It seemed that the Holy Father had died or suffered from a stroke. Suddenly, the Pope revived and said, "What a horrible vision I was allowed to see."

Apparently the pontiff saw a future influx of demonic forces into the Catholic Church. He subsequently authored the following prayer to Saint Michael, seeking to gain further protection for the Church. Pope Leo XIII also ordered this prayer it be prayed by the priest and faithful at the end of every low Mass.

Latin
Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperat illi Deus; supplices deprecamur: tuque, Princeps militiae coelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

English:
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle, be our safeguard and protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

You can also read the "Long" Saint Michael Prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII here:

The "Long" Saint Michael Prayer.

New Video: *The Catholic Perspective on Paul* Book

Please watch the book trailer (below) for the new book The Catholic Perspective on Paul. If you can't see it, click here.

Please share the video with others via Facebook or email with the buttons below. Thank you!

Martin Luther's belief in the Immaculate Conception of Mary

Here are some surprising words. It seems that Martin Luther, that once Augustinian priest turned Revolutionary, upheld belief in the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception (even before it was declared a dogmatic doctrine in 1854 by Pope Pius IX). The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception holds that Mary was preserved from original sin at her conception and from all sin during her life - that she was conceived, lived, and died without any taint of sin.

The eminent Lutheran scholar Arthur Carl Piepkorn (1907-73) has also confirmed that Luther believed in the Immaculate Conception even as a Protestant. Here is Martin Luther in his own words:

"It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary’s soul was effected without original sin; so that in the very infusion of her soul she was also purified from original sin and adorned with God’s gifts, receiving a pure soul infused by God; thus from the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin" 

- Martin Luther's Sermon "On the Day of the Conception of the Mother of God," 1527.

"She is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin—something exceedingly great. For God’s grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil. 

- Martin Luther's Little Prayer Book, 1522.

Both quotations derive from Luther's writings after his break from Rome.

Far be it from me to approve of Luther. I only list these quotes to show how far Protestantism has come from it's quasi-Catholic origin. If only Lutherans would return to this single doctrine of their founder; how quickly our Lady would turn them into true Catholics!

Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us!

Watch the new promo video for Taylor's book - The Catholic Perspective on Paul:

Witchcraft, Penance, and Excommunication

Our culture is increasingly open to that which was formally known as "witchcraft" - namely the casting of spells, the consulting of mediums or palm-readers, the observation of horoscopes, and recourse to so-called "psychics" for crime work, etc. These practices are popularized by contemporary movies and television shows.

I am surprised by how often my own students talk about these things, though, of course, they do not engage such practices. Still, it seems that young people are more aware of these practices than I had been as a teenager in the public school system.

Witchcraft is no longer a thing of the past - secular people are turning to it as their favorite form of "spirituality." As Christians, we must be on guard. Occult ritual and "witchcraft" have always been taken seriously by both biblical Judaism and the Catholic Church. Take for example the following examples.

In A.D. the Council of Elvira Canon 6, refused the Last Rites to those who had killed a man by a spell {per maleficium} since such a crime could not be effected without idolatry, i.e recourse to the black arts. This likely refers to some sort of poisoning since "potion-making" is associated with witchcraft.

Similarly canon 24 of the Council of Ancyra (314) imposes five years of penance upon those who consult magicians, and here again the offence is treated as being a practical participation in paganism. Similar penalties were enacted at the Eastern Council in Trullo (692). Early Irish canons also treated sorcery as a crime worthy of excommunication until adequate penance had been performed.

Engagement with the occult arts is a crime against the First Commandment and a mortal sin. We must warn are young people that these are serious sins - not something to be taken lightly. Even worse, engagement with the occult powers opens our soul to the devil and makes us eligible for demonic possession.

St Pius X and Communion with Russian Churches

This is from the Transalpine Redemptorists via Eric Sammons' excellent Divine Light blog.

Apparently Pope Saint Pius X allowed communicatio in sacris (i.e. shared communion) with the Orthodox with the Russian Orthodox in certain cases:

Most Blessed Father!

Andrew Szeptycki, Metropolitan of Halycz, Metropolitan of Kiev and Administrator of all Russia at the foot of His Holiness most humbly asks that faculties may be conceded to himself and also to confessors in communion (capable of being communicated) for dispensing secular faithful from the law which forbids communicatio in sacris with the Orthodox as many times as they will judge it in conscience to be opportune.

Our Most Holy Father Pope Pius X deigned to sign with his own hand this document written by me with the words “May be tolerated”.

My only worry is that the document isn’t the original and that it doesn’t bear an official protocol number.

I’m not doubting the document, I’m only saying that people may find the document dubious without the actual signature or protocol number.

ad Jesum per Mariam,
Taylor

I'm in Denver: Augustine Institute

I'm having to write this post on my phone so please excuse the brevity.

I'm in beautiful Denver giving a couple talks at the Augustine Institute on the Book of Revelation and the Catholic tradition.

The Augustine Institute is fantastic. Please visit their site. It is very well done.

Augustine Institute
Augustine Institute is a catholic graduate school for the new evangelization. We now have a Catholic Distance Education program.
www.augustineinstitute.org/

Godspeed
Taylor Marshall

Saint Augustine's Advice about "Bad Priests"

I am very blessed to know so many good and dutiful priests. However, I realize that Church History reveals that not every priest fulfills his divine office with love for Christ. One of Christ's Twelve Apostles was a thief, betrayer, and apostate. As I like to say, Christ had a 8.3% clergy failure rate - one bad apple among twelve.

We live in an era where the media has focused upon priests who have failed to fulfill the cruciform pattern of Christ's selfless and pure love. With this in mind, Saint Augustine reminds us that we must not follow their example, but we must not reject the message of Christ. The sins of the clergy cannot negate the love of Christ. 

In the following passage, Saint Augustine addresses clergy who do not fulfill their office as preachers and moral examples to the laity. Saint Augustine tells the flock: "Do what they say, not what they do."

Well then, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!” What must you shepherds hear? Thus says the Lord God: behold, I am above the shepherds and I will call them to account for the sheep in their hands.

Listen, sheep of God, listen and learn: God will call the bad shepherds to account for his sheep and for their deaths. As he says elsewhere in Ezekiel: Son of man, I have appointed you as sentry to the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them in my name. If I say to a wicked man, “Wicked wretch, you are to die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin but you yourself will have saved your life.

You see, brethren? Do you see how dangerous it is to keep quiet? If you remain silent, you die; and rightly. You die for your impiety and sin – it is your negligence that kills you. He who has said, As I live, says the Lord might have found a living shepherd – but since the shepherd was negligent, not warning those he had been given authority over, those whose sentry he was, he will die justly and the sentry will be justly condemned. But if – the Lord continues – you say “you are to die” with one I have threatened with the sword, and he does not avoid the sword and it comes and kills him, he will die in his sin but you will have set your soul free. That is why we must not keep silent – and you, even if we did keep silent, must listen to the words of the true Shepherd in holy Scripture.

Since I raised the question, let us see if he takes the sheep from the dead shepherds and gives them to good ones. I certainly see him taking the sheep from the bad shepherds: I am above the shepherds, and I shall take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock. In this way the shepherds will stop feeding themselves. For when I say to them, “Feed my sheep,” they feed themselves and not my sheep. I shall not allow them to feed my flock.

How does he stop them from looking after his sheep? Do whatever they say, but do not do what they do. It is as if he were saying, “Their words are my words but their actions are their own.” When you avoid what the bad shepherds do, they are not in charge of you any more: when you follow what they say, it is my words you are following and it is I who am tending you.

Powerful words!

Saint Augustine, pray for us.

Godfather III: The real life Vatican Bank Scandal Archbishop?

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse in the media:

...a new Vatican Bank scandal...

By the way, the article mentions the "scandals in the 1970s and 1980s under American Archbishop Paul Marcinku".

If you've seen Godfather III, the banking archbishop who works with the Corleoni's (in the film, he's always chain-smoking smokes cigarettes) is supposed to be real-life Archbishop Paul Marcinku who was tied up in the Vatican Bank scandal and rumored to be involved in Pope John Paul I's death. In Godfather III, he is named "Archbishop Gilday" (see photo above).

Koran Burning? CTales poll results are in

The results from the CTales Koran Burning Paul are in.

When asked the question: "Should Christians burn the Koran?" readers answered in the following way:

• 11% answered, "Yes: the Koran is demonic."
• 2% answered, "Yes: it's sends a message to jihadists."
• 80% answered, "No, it's disrespectful."
• 1% answered, "No: the Koran is venerable."
• 3% answered, "I'm not sure..."

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Great Photo: Pope Benedict with Illuminated Cross

This picture was taken of the Holy Father in Glasgow. The sun is reflecting off the cross of his staff. Amazing.

Photo from spiritdaily.com.

President Obama Leaves out Creator

From Obama’s speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on September 15, 2010:

“So let me close by saying this. Long before America was even an idea, this land of plenty was home to many peoples. To British and French, to Dutch and Spanish, to Mexican — (applause) — to countless Indian tribes. We all shared the same land. We didn’t always get along. But over the centuries, what eventually bound us together — what made us all Americans — was not a matter of blood, it wasn’t a matter of birth. It was faith and fidelity to the shared values that we all hold so dear. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed with certain inalienable rights: life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

But this is what  the U.S. Declaration of Independence really says:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

For a man who has a team of speech writers who are likely brilliant and check their sources, I can't imagine that this omission was an accident...

Is the Abp. of Canterbury Getting B16-Slapped?

Is the Archbishop of Canterbury getting b-slapped, that is, B16-slapped?

It's inconceivable that our Holy Father Pope Benedict would slap or lay hands on Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the world's Anglicans. Nevertheless, as I watch scenes of the Holy Father walking around with the Queen or sitting in Westminster hall, I can't help but notice the sheepish Archbishop of Canterbury keeping his head down in the background.

The power of the Pope in the presence of the Archbishop subtly mocks the established Protestantism of England. When you see the Successor of Saint Peter, Pope Benedict XVI, sitting enthroned at Westminster hall, you can't help but think: "Yeah, all these churches, even the souls of the people, belongs by irrevocable right to the Holy Catholic Church. The traditions, the buildings, and even the anointed monarchy go back to England's papist roots.

I wager that Rowan Williams (whom I believe is the second worst "Archbishop of Canterbury" after Thomas Cranmer) feels dwarfed. I also bet that he and others realize the Pope's presence is a quiet judgment against a 500 year experiment that has failed miserably under Rowan's watch: nationalized Protestantism in the form of Anglicanism.

Details Regarding the Stigmata of Saint Francis

Today commemorates the stigmata of Saint Francis - the five wounds of Christ miraculously formed in His flesh. These nails could move within the wounds. Here's the account from the Fioretti:

On the death of St Francis his glorious, the sacred stigmata were seen and kissed, not only by the said Lady Jacopa and her company, but by many citizens of Assisi; among others by a knight of great renown, named Jerome, who had doubted much, and disbelieved them; as St Thomas disbelieved the wounds of Christ.

And to assure himself and others, he boldly, in the presence both of the brethren and of seculars, moved the nails in the hands and feet, and strongly pressed the wound in the side. By which means he was enabled to bear constant witness to the truth of the miracle, swearing on the Gospels that he had seen and touched the glorious, holy stigmata of St Francis, the which were seen and touched also by St Clare and her religious, who were present at his burial.

Here is another description of the wounds and their fleshly nails:

For upon his hands and feet began immediately to appear the figures of the nails, as he had seen them on the Body of Christ crucified, who had appeared to him in the likeness of a seraph. And thus the hands and feet appeared pierced through the midst by the nails, the heads whereof were seen outside the flesh in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, and the points of the nails stood out at the back of the hands, and the feet in such wise that they appeared to be twisted and bent back upon themselves, and the portion thereof that was bent back upon themselves, and the portion thereof that was bent back or twisted stood out free from the flesh, so that one could put a finger through the same as through a ring; and the heads of the nails were round and black. In like manner, on the right side appeared the image of an unhealed wound, as if made by a lance, and still red and bleeding, from which drops of blood often flowed from the holy breast of St Francis, staining his tunic and his drawers.

Clearly, this stigmata of the Seraphic Father Saint Francis was different from that of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.

Revealed: Pope Benedict's Official Vatican Portrait

Master artist Igor V. Babailov, M.F.A. has completed the new official portrait of HIs Holiness Benedict XVI (see photo of the painting above), entitled: "The Truth, The Way and The Life: A Portrait of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI," Oil on Canvas, 72" x 48" ( 183 cm x 122 cm ).

I love it. It's rather stunning. I would have opted away from the statue of Christ in the background and featured only the Holy Father on a dark background. Nonetheless, it's well done.

Number Analysis of Catholics in Great Britain

The Pope has arrived in Great Britain. England has been a Protestant nation for 500 years, yet Catholicism has gained a major foothold. I noticed that there seems to be general growth in numbers except for in two areas: marriages and Catholic schools.

The following interactive  link allows you to examine the growth (and demise) of Catholicism in the UK over the past 30 years. Pretty interesting...

Catholicism in the UK in numbers: How Catholics and Catholicism in the UK in 2010 compare to the first Papal visit in 1982.

Video: Pope Meets Queen Elizabeth

Kind of a bummer that the Queen of England greets the Vicar of Christ with only a handshake...

JH Newman's Feast Day: Not the day he died, but the day he converted

Usually when someone becomes a blessed or saint, that person's liturgical calendar commemoration is assigned to the day of his or her death (e.g. St Maximilian Kolbe died on August 14 so that's his feast day).

No so with John Henry Newman. Instead, the Catholic Church has chosen the day he converted to Catholicism from Anglicanism: October 9th.

This is interesting and noteworthy. It communicates that he is a special patron of converts.

Was Mary a Martyr?

Was the Blessed and Immaculate Mother of God a martyr? Unlike Saint Peter, she was not crucified upside down. Unlike Saint Paul, she was not decapitated. Unlike Saint Lawrence, she was not burned alive. Rather, Sacred Tradition holds that she fell asleep peacefully surrounded by the Apostles of Christ her Son. So then, it seems that Mary is not a martyr. Yet, Saint Bernard and many eminent saints and doctors of the Church have described her as the greatest martyr of the Catholic Church - "the more than martyr" to use the words of Saint Bernard.

The prophet Simeon prophecied of the Blessed Mother's martyrdom when he said to her:

"And your own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed" (Lk 2:35).

What did Simeon mean when he told Mary that a sword would pierce her soul. The Church has unanimously taught that this occurred when she looked upon her Son's dead body on the cross, pierced withe lance of the Roman. Her motherly soul was so sorrowful, so pained, that it might be rightly said that she suffered more than any other human alive. She knew that her Son was divine, that He was sinless, that He was innocent, that He bore the sins and crimes of the world.

Saint Bernard speaks of Mary's "martyrdom" in this moment in this way:

  The martyrdom of the Virgin is set forth both in the prophecy of Simeon and in the actual story of our Lord’s passion. The holy old man said of the infant Jesus: He has been established as a sign which will be contradicted. He went on to say to Mary: And your own heart will be pierced by a sword.

  Truly, O blessed Mother, a sword has pierced your heart. For only by passing through your heart could the sword enter the flesh of your Son. Indeed, after your Jesus – who belongs to everyone, but is especially yours – gave up his life, the cruel spear, which was not withheld from his lifeless body, tore open his side. Clearly it did not touch his soul and could not harm him, but it did pierce your heart. For surely his soul was no longer there, but yours could not be torn away. Thus the violence of sorrow has cut through your heart, and we rightly call you more than martyr, since the effect of compassion in you has gone beyond the endurance of physical suffering.

  Or were those words, Woman, behold your Son, not more than a word to you, truly piercing your heart, cutting through to the division between soul and spirit? What an exchange! John is given to you in place of Jesus, the servant in place of the Lord, the disciple in place of the master; the son of Zebedee replaces the Son of God, a mere man replaces God himself. How could these words not pierce your most loving heart, when the mere remembrance of them breaks ours, hearts of iron and stone though they are!

  Do not be surprised, brothers, that Mary is said to be a martyr in spirit. Let him be surprised who does not remember the words of Paul, that one of the greatest crimes of the Gentiles was that they were without love. That was far from the heart of Mary; let it be far from her servants.

  Perhaps someone will say: “Had she not known before that he would not die?” Undoubtedly. “Did she not expect him to rise again at once?” Surely. “And still she grieved over her crucified Son?” Intensely. Who are you and what is the source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than at the passion of Mary’s Son? For if he could die in body, could she not die with him in spirit? He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known. She died in spirit through a love unlike any other since his.

The Cross of Christ as Treasure

A discourse of St Andrew of Crete on the Holy Cross as Christ's glory and triumph:

We are celebrating the feast of the cross which drove away darkness and brought in the light. As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure. Rightly could I call this treasure the fairest of all fair things and the costliest, in fact as well as in name, for on it and through it and for its sake the riches of salvation that had been lost were restored to us.

Had there been no cross, Christ could not have been crucified. Had there been no cross, life itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if life had not been nailed to it, there would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled, we should not have attained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life and the gates of paradise would not stand open. Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled.

Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honourable. It is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found their consummation – very many indeed, for both his miracles and his sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honourable because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world.

The cross is called Christ’s glory; it is saluted as his triumph. We recognise it as the cup he longed to drink and the climax of the sufferings he endured for our sake. As to the cross being Christ’s glory, listen to his words: Now is the Son of Man glorified, and in him God is glorified, and God will glorify him at once. And again: Father, glorify me with the glory I had with you before the world came to be. And once more: “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” Here he speaks of the glory that would accrue to him through the cross. And if you would understand that the cross is Christ’s triumph, hear what he himself also said: When I am lifted up, then I will draw all men to myself. Now you can see that the cross is Christ’s glory and triumph.

12 Tips for Praying the Family Rosary daily (Attention Catholic Dads)

A reader of CTales recently wrote me privately about "tips" for starting a daily family Rosary.

The Family Rosary is one of those bedrock devotions for the family recommended by the saints and spiritual masters. The Blessed Virgin Mary herself asked all Christians to pray the "one third {i.e. 5 decades} of the Holy Rosary daily" in her message at Fatima.

The Popes have also attached a "plenary indulgence"  to those who pray 5 decades of the Rosary "as a family" (when the other usual conditions are met*). This plenary indulgence cannot be obtained by private recitation - only in the context of a "family" recitation. This stipulation demonstrates that the Catholic Church privileges praying the Rosary as a family. The reason for this is that the Rosary is the "rose garden" of sanctify for children. As the Holy Spirit teaches us: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Saint Louis de Montfort gives us another eight more reasons for praying the Rosary daily:

1. It gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2. It purifies our souls, washing away sin.
3. It gives us victory over all our enemies
4. It makes it easy for us to practice virtue
5. It sets us on fire with love of Our Blessed Lord
6. It enriches us with graces and merits
7. It supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellow men, and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God
8. It gives us the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the science of salvation through our meditations on His life, death, Passion and glory.

Okay, are you convinced? The family Rosary is the most powerful tool you have for edifying your family in grace.

So how do you get a bunch of children under the age of reason (or above the age of reason) to pray 5 decades of the Rosary every day? How can they sit still for 15 minutes? Is it possible?

Here are some tips on how to maintain the daily family Rosary. My wife and I have five children ages 8, 6, 6 (twins), 4, and 2. We pray five decades every night - though there are exceptions. We're not perfect, but we try.

Twelve Tips for Praying the Family Rosary Daily

1. Pray using alternation (The father prays first half of Our Father and everyone else prays second half - same goes for Hail Mary and Glory be).
2. Pray the Rosary after dinner but right before bed - this means homework needs to be finished before dinner. Homework kills the Rosary if you don't stay on top of it. You'll also need to say goodbye to watching prime time television - since this is the ideal window of praying together as a family.
3. Pray the Holy Rosary always at the same place at the exact same time. Devotions become strong - even invincible - by constant custom and habit.
4. Pray the Rosary in a special room and set up a little altar with a Bible on it, candles, a statue or image, holy water, or a relic.
5. Dim the lights and light the candles when you begin. If you let the little ones light the candles - they will love it. Kids love fire. Make this a "special time" different from other times. We even burn incense on our domestic altar on feast days. (You can do this easily by placing a little metal screen over a votive candle and then by placing a few grains of incense on the screen. It's fast and easy. This way you don't have use charcoal.)
6. Maybe begin with a hymn or Bible reading to slow things down and set the tone.
7. The father sets the example. I recommend that the father kneel for the whole Rosary. This communicates importance and solemnity to the Rosary. Children attach importance to what dad does, e.g. mowing lawn, going to work, driving the "dad car," etc.
8. Make it a rule that the child who prays all the responses and volunteers to lead a mystery (10 beads) gets to stay up 10 minutes more than everyone that night - at our house this means you get to watch baseball or have a book read to you. This may be the most important tip. Kids under 7 or 8 need this sort of incentive. If you tell a 6 year old, pray the Rosary so that you receive grace and sanctity - they don't get it. If you say, pray the Rosary so that you can stay up and read a book with me - they'll hit their knees and pray like angels.
9. The one who gets to stay up also gets to blow out the candle at the end. This gives another incentive to pray the prayers - especially for the younger ones. For some reason, blowing out the candle is a really big deal to younger children. (Kids love fire!!!). You'd be amazed how a four year old will attempt to stay still if he can only place a grain of incense on a flame or blow out a candle. (Did I mention that kids love fire?)
10. End with invoking everyone's patron saint (your children's names, confirmation names, and other patrons). E.g. "Saint Thomas: pray for us. Saint Jude: pray for us. Saint Anne: pray for us." Always finish with St Joseph and then Holy Mary Mother of God. Then say "Sacred Heart of Jesus: have mercy on us," three times. If you're shooting for the plenary indulgence, make sure to pray an Our Father and Hail Mary for the Pope.
11. If family Rosary is new, start with one decade for a week. Then go to three for a week. Then go to five decades on the third week. Then don't ever stop. 
12. After the daily Rosary is established in your home, have each child announce a mystery and pray the whole decade. This gives them confidence in praying and makes it natural. Plus, they'll learn to memorize all the mysteries of the Holy Rosary - which means they will have memorized the biblical account of Christ's life, death, and glory! This is why the Rosary is called "the Bible on beads."

If you do this, then you'll be producing saints for the future. If you're an older reader of CTales and your children are grown up - please pray for all the younger parents so that they can persevere in this. It's not easy at first - and we newer parents need all the help we can get!

ad Jesum per Mariam,
Taylor

* The other usual conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence (full remission of temporal punishment - the kind remitted in purgatory) is to receive Holy Communion on that day, receive the sacrament of Penance within "about 20 days," prayer for the Pope, and full detachment from all sins.

Meet the Beatified Priest who received John Henry Newman into the Catholic Church (Bl. Dominic Barberi)

Blessed Dominic Barberi

The beatified priest who received

JH Newman into the Catholic Church

Here's another lesser known fact: John Henry Newman was received into the Catholic Church by a priest who is also a "Blessed" - Blessed Dominic Barberi, an Italian Passionist missionary then living in England. 

Blessed Dominic Barberi, although an Italian, had followed the "catholicizing" Anglican Oxford Movement (then led by the Anglican priest John Henry Newman) with great interest.

In his 'Letter to University Professors at Oxford' Dominic had expressed his hope for the conversion of England to the Catholic Faith, and his belief that the men of Oxford would be instrumental in such a conversion. No doubt, Blessed Dominic Barberi offered many sacrifices and penances for this goal.

Dominic publicly criticized the Anglican claim that the 39 Articles (the official Protestant creed of the Anglican Church) could be interpreted in a Catholic light - something that John Henry Newman had attempted to achieve in his (in)famous "Tract 90."

In October of 1845, Dominic Barberi visited Littlemore where John Henry Newman made his general confession to him. Newman relates in his Apologia of how Dominic arrived soaked from the rain and as he was drying himself by the fire Newman knelt and asked to be received into the Catholic Church. This event is marked by a sculpture in the Catholic Church of Blessed Dominic Barberi at Littlemore. Two of Newman's companions at Littlemore were also received and Dominic celebrated Mass for them the following morning. Newman and Dominic always afterward followed each others careers.

On October 9 2010, John Henry Newman will join the ranks of the "Blessed" alongside his spiritual father - Blessed Dominic Barberi.

Blessed Dominic Barberi, pray for us and for all Anglicans seeking reunion with Rome.

Poll: Should Christians Burn the Quran?

There's been a lot of debate about "Quran burnings" in the news. I'm interested in what the average reader of CTales thinks about all this?

Please select one of the following five choices below:

If you like, please tell all of why you voted the way you did by leaving a comment in the combox below.

Meet "Idiot" - A Real Tenth Century Theologian

We don't often think of "idots" as being theological geniuses - but Catholic Church History knows of one such "Idiot."

According to Saint Robert Bellarmine, Idiota or "The Idiot" flourished about the year 902. The writings of "The Idiot" are written in "a simple, clear, and pure style - replete with Christian wisdom."  Idiota's published works are:

"Treatise on the Blessed Virgin"
"Treatise on the Religious Life"
"Spiritual or Mystical Eye"
"Commentary on Psalm 15"
"Meditations" in six books:

1. De amore divino;
2. De Virgine Maria;
3. De vera patientia;
4. De continuo conflictu carnis et animæ
5. De innocentia perdita;
6. De morte.

Some scholars speculate that "The Idiot" of the tenth century is the French theologian Raymund Jordan - the once abbot of Selles-sur-Cher. No knows for sure.

So next time someone calls you an "idiot" - take it as a compliment - and pray to that pious, anonymous man: "The Idiot."

Dominicans under Mary's Mantle of Protection

I post a lot about the Franciscans, but I have love for Dominicans, as well. Here is an old holy card depicting Dominican friars and sisters under the Blessed Mother's mantle of protection. Quite simple and beautiful.

Something to think about:

• Mary gave us the Holy Rosary through the Dominicans
• Mary gave us the Holy Scapular through the Carmelites
• Mary preserved the orthodox faith regarding the Immaculate Conception through the Franciscans

She gives gifts to all.

Mary the Dawn, Christ the Perfect Day! (Beautiful Poem)

Below is a poem that beautifully expresses the relationship between Mary and Jesus. Protestants and any others who have problems with "Marian devotions" may find this poem helpful as it demonstrates what true devotion to Mary is all about - leading us to Jesus her Divine Son!

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple's Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven's Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother's Son
By all things blest while endless ages run. Amen.

Mary's Birth is a "Double Grace" (St Andrew of Crete)

The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today is the celebration of the Birth of our Immaculate Mother. Saint Andrew of Crete explains why it signifies a "double grace" for us:

"Today the Virgin is born, tended and formed and prepared for her role as Mother of God, who is the universal King of the ages.
Justly, then, do we celebrate this mystery since it signifies for us a double grace. We are led toward the truth, and we are led away from our condition of slavery to the letter of the law. How can this be? Darkness yields before the coming of the light, and grace exchanges legalism for freedom. But midway between the two stands today’s mystery, at the frontier where types and symbols give way to reality, and the old is replaced by the new. Therefore, let all creation sing and dance and unite to make worthy contribution to the celebration of this day. Let there be one common festival for saints in heaven and men on earth. Let everything, mundane things and those above, join in festive celebration. Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator."

 - Saint Andrew of Crete, Oratio 1: PG 97, 806-810

My New Book: The Catholic Perspective on Paul!

My new book The Catholic Perspective on Paul (part 2 in the "Catholic Origins" trilogy) is finally edited and the cover is ready! Above is a sneak peak of the cover art by Steven Nelson {smnelsondesign.com}.

In the next month or so I'll release a free chapter from the book.

Click the following link to check out the book's Table of Contents: Table of Contents for The Catholic Perspective on Paul.

I hoping for a release date of October 31, 2010 (take that, Martin Luther!).

Godspeed,

Taylor Marshall

Saint Paul, pray for us!

I'll be on the radio today from 4pm - 5pm

Today (Aug 31, 2010) I'll be on 910 AM Guadalupe Radio in Dallas/Fort Worth Texas from about 4pm till 5pm. Please tune in!

Why is Pope Benedict emphasizing Latin?

Damian Thompson's wonderful blog notes that the Holy Father will celebrate John Henry Newman's Beatification Mass in Latin (Novus Ordo) in order to emphasize the universality of Christ's Church.

This follows news that the Holy Father and his personal assistant celebrate the Holy Mass according to the 1962 Missal in private as a private devotion. What does all this mean?

By using Latin the Holy Father stresses three things:

1. First, the use of Latin emphasizes the continuity of the Catholic Church over time - the Catholic Church did not become a "new Church" in the 1960s, nor did it imbibe a "new spirit." It's the same old Church - our Mother.
   
2. Second, the use of Latin emphasizes that the Church is truly universal. Latin is a "dead language" - but not really. It is used by the Church, but not in common discourse. This means that Latin belongs to no nation, and yet to every nation. When we use Latin, we place everyone on an even playing field. Latin discourages nationalism at the expense of our highest identity as Christians.
   
3. Third, Latin emphasizes the Roman-ness of Catholicism - it proclaims the universal jurisdiction of the Pope as Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Christ on earth. The Bishop of Rome is not merely "first among equals." Rather, the Bishop of Rome holds a unique and divinely instituted office. Rome (not Constantinople, not Canterbury, not Moscow, not even Jerusalem) is the divinely appointed earthly capital of the Church.*

Personally, I think this is all very positive. There has been a general tendency to undermine the role and place of the Pope in an attempt to defend the sacramental and juridical role of the diocesan bishop. Moreover, as everyone knows, liturgical abuse is everywhere. Benedict seems to be making slight and subtle correctives in this regard.

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Benedicto. 

Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, 

et beatum faciat eum in terra, 

et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. 

Amen.

*My third book (due in 2011) in the "Origins of Catholicism" trilogy, entitled The Eternal City: Rome and Origins of Catholic Christianity explores the divinely instituted role of the city of Rome in the Old Testament and in the New Testament up until Constantine. It seeks to show the biblical and theological arguments for Roman supremacy.

Amazing Photo of Pius XII before becoming Pope

I just found this photo of Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli) in 1924. Pacelli was elected to the Throne of Saint Peter in 1939.

I thought that I'd pass it along...

The Antichrist's Abolition of the Holy Mass (Franciso Suarez, d. 1617)

The Fathers and Doctors of the Church interpret the words of Daniel chapter 12 to mean that the Antichrist will abolish and prohibit the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of Mass for 1,290 days (i.e. 3 1/2 years).

Francisco Suarez (revered scholastic of the 16th-17th century) suggests that after the death of the Antichrist, the world will remain for an additional forty-five days - apparently allowing for a brief vindication and revival of the Catholic Church. He bases this on the following passage in Daniel 12:

11 And from the time when the continual sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination unto desolation shall be set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred ninety days.

12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh unto a thousand three hundred thirty-five days.

Suarez notes that the Antichrist reigns in terror for 1,290 days, but that the prophet also adds that the blessed will endure until the 1,335th day of this time - that is, for an additional forty-five days after the the time of trial.

Any thoughts?

"Star Trek Stage" for J.H. Newman's Beatification

I love John Henry Newman and I have been looking forward to his beatification. Today, the "stage" for his beatification was revealed. See photo above.

Can it be? It is so sad. Is this the Catholic Church or the set for Star Trek?

J.H. Newman, I'm sorry. Pray for us.

Does anyone like this? Is it beautiful? Is it Christocentric?

Godspeed,
Taylor

Hamas guns down Pregnant Israeli Woman

Four Israelis were killed on Tuesday night when gunmen opened fire on their car at the entrance to Kiryat Arba, near Hebron, in the West Bank.

The attack occurred around 7:30 P.M. on Route 60, when shots were fired at a private vehicle near the Bani Naim junction, south of Kiryat Arba. Preliminary reports showed the gunmen approached the vehicle and shot the victims multiple times at point-blank range.

Magen David Adom reported that the victims were two men aged 25 and 40 and two women, also aged 25 and 40, one of whom was pregnant.

By Anshel Pfeffer, Amos Harel and News Agencies
Read the full story.

Interesting History of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (or of Perpetual Succour) is a Byzantine icon from the late middle ages and has resided in Rome since the late 1400s. The Eastern Catholics call it "Holy Theotokos of the Passion."

The image depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary wearing a blue mantle and veil. On the left side is the Archangel Michael, carrying the lance and sponge of the crucifixion of Jesus. On the right is the Archangel Gabriel carrying the cross and nails. The Christchild rests in her arms and looks intently at the cross.

Tradition states that the icon memorializes an occasion in which the young Christ awoke from a dream in which He saw the instruments of His passion. Mary comforted Him, but remained solemn since she knew that that the dream was a portent of her Son's future passion. The icon brilliantly captures both the reality of the incarnation and the reality of the crucifixion of Christ in one single image that mystically links the events to Mary - who was present for each.

The icon was brought to Rome by a pious merchant, who desired that the picture should be exposed in a church for public veneration. It was exposed in the church of San Matteo, Via Merulana, between St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.

The rascally French invaded Rome in 1812 and destroyed the church - and the icon disappeared.

In 1865, the icon was rediscovered to the joy of many. Pope Pius IX as a boy had prayed before the icon in the church of San Matteo before it was lost during the French invasion. Pius IX took great interest when the icon was finally rediscovered - since he had been especially devoted to it. He subsequently approved a liturgical feast in commemoration of the icon. The Redemptorists especially revered the image for its profound spiritual meaning.

Today it is one of the most popular images of Our Lady and it is one of the few images that is universally revered in every rite of the Catholic Church - East to West.