Steve Jobs of Apple Doesn't Eat Meat on Fridays...

...actually Steve Jobs doesn't eat meat at all.

He is a "pescetarian." That is, he eats fish, but no other meat.

Next time someone is complaining about not eating meat on Fridays, bring up Steve Jobs.

Fun-fact #2: Steve Jobs is adopted and his birth father is a Muslim from Syria.

Godspeed,
Taylor

Why 33 Is the Perfect Age...

The significance of the age of 33:
Christ died at the age of 33.
Saint Joseph was also 33 years old when he took for wife the Virgin Mary, according to visions of Mary Agreda.
Saint Ambrose baptized the to-be Saint Augustine when Augustine was 33 years old. Also, Augustine was a bishop for 33 years.
According to Mary Jane Even, the Virgin Mary would have never changed physical appearance since her 33th year on earth, her beauty being both internal and external.
"Turning Thirty-Three" can be used as a euphemism for dying, as in, "Gramps just turned thirty-three."

Here are other "33 facts":
If you take the numeric value of the word "Amen" in Hebrew, it adds up to 33 (AMEN: 1+13+5+14=33).
There are 33 Doctors of the Church
The Basilica of saint Peter in Rome counts 33 chapels: 29 in the Basilica itself and 4 of more in the crypt.
His Holiness John Paul I reigned as Pope for 33 days.
Each of the three sections of Dante Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso) consist of 33 cantos.
Humans are born with 33 vertebrae.

Godspeed,
Taylor

Recommended Children's Book: The Weight of a Mass

This book, The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith, is currently my favorite book to read to our children. I really can't recommend it enough. It recounts how an old widow begged a baker for bread in exchange for a Mass intention. Truly beautiful and great for children...and parents. I subtly teaches the weight of just one single Mass.

Three Biblical Reasons Fasting and Self-Denial

Every year at the beginning of Lent, I'm encouraged and excited about it. However after a few weeks (like today), I start growing weary of the fasting and penance. So in order to remind myself of why we're keeping Lent, here are more reflections on what Bible teaches about fasting and self-denial:

1. Fasting as a Preparation for a Divine Event
In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, self-denial is a way of preparing spiritually for something spiritually important. Of course, in Lent we are spiritually preparing the the Easter celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead. Moses fasted for forty days in preparation for receiving the Ten Commandments (Ex 34:28). The prophet Daniel fasted for three weeks before receiving his vision (Dan 10:2-6). Elijah the prophet fasted forty days before God spoke to him (1 Kings 19:8). And we all know that Christ our Savior fasted for forty days in preparation for His temptation by the devil and for the beginning of His ministry (Mt 4:1-11, Lk 4:1-13).

2. Fasting as Penitence
A few weeks ago we looked at the Bible verses for penitence or repentance. The fact is that we are sinners. Self-denial, then, has a twofold purpose. First, penance is a outward sign of an inward contrition. We outwardly express to God our inward sorrow for sin.

Secondly, penance or self-sacrifice is a remedy for future sin. If you teach yourself to say "no" to good things (meat, desserts, comforts, marital pleasure) then you strengthen your will to resist bad things (sin). For example, you're not going to be able to rescue someone pinned under a car (a bad thing) if you don't daily lift weights and build muscle (a good thing).

The concept of penance or self-sacrifice is all over the Bible. Jonah prophesied the destruction of pagan Nineveh, but the Ninevites fasted as a sign of repentance and God spared them (Jonah 3:3-9). The Jewish Day of Atonement was an annual day of obligation of fasting for all Hebrews (Numbers 29:7). In fact, whenever Israel sinned, they "humbled themselves," wore sackcloth, put on ashes, and fasted in order to show God their sorrow for sin (cf. Judges 20:26, 1 Sam 7:6).

3. Fasting for Sorrow
In the Bible, sometimes fasting simply shows sorrow. When tragic things happen, we sometimes lose our appetite naturally. This human experience is also found in Scripture. King David fasted as a sign of grief when Abner was killed (2 Samuel 3:35). There was also a seven-day fast at the death of Saul (1 Samuel 31:13). During Holy Week, and especially on Good Friday, we should be fasting for sorrow, because the "Bridegroom has been taken away from us" (cf. (Matthew 9:14-15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35).

So keep up your penance and reflect on Christ as the Crucified One in order to find strength. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! We're almost half way through Lent.

The Humility of Christ Becoming Human (St Leo the Great)

Below is a beautiful passage from Pope Saint Leo the Great. He describes how Christ's incarnation "enlarged" humanity but did not "diminish" His divinity:

  He took the nature of a servant without stain of sin, enlarging our humanity without diminishing his divinity. He emptied himself; though invisible he made himself visible, though Creator and Lord of all things he chose to be one of us mortal men. Yet this was the condescension of compassion, not the loss of omnipotence. So he who in the nature of God had created man, became in the nature of a servant, man himself.

  Thus the Son of God enters this lowly world. He comes down from the throne of heaven, yet does not separate himself from the Father’s glory. He is born in a new condition, by a new birth.

  He was born in a new condition, for, invisible in his own nature, he became visible in ours. Beyond our grasp, he chose to come within our grasp. Existing before time began, he began to exist at a moment in time. Lord of the universe, he hid his infinite glory and took the nature of a servant. Incapable of suffering as God, he did not refuse to be a man, capable of suffering. Immortal, he chose to be subject to the laws of death.

  He who is true God is also true man. There is no falsehood in this unity as long as the lowliness of man and the pre-eminence of God coexist in mutual relationship.

  As God does not change by his condescension, so man is not swallowed up by being exalted. Each nature exercises its own activity, in communion with the other. The Word does what is proper to the Word, the flesh fulfils what is proper to the flesh.

  One nature is resplendent with miracles, the other falls victim to injuries. As the Word does not lose equality with the Father’s glory, so the flesh does not leave behind the nature of our race.

  One and the same person – this must be said over and over again – is truly the Son of God and truly the son of man. He is God in virtue of the fact that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He is man in virtue of the fact that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

-Ex Epístolis sancti Leónis Magni Papæ (Epist. 28, ad Flavianum, 3-4: PL 54, 763-767).

Happy solemnity of the Annunciation and Incarnation! God is with us. Go to the Tabernacle. He waits for you.

Demons Dare Not Speak Against Mary (Father Amorth)

Happy feast day of the Annunciation and Incarnation.

In elder times, this day was sometimes called "Lady Day" in reference to our Blessed Lady's "yes" to God with regard to the Incarnation of Christ.

Our Lady's sanctity and role in salvation are highlighted by the the vanquishing power of Mary over the demons.

The chief exorcist of Rome, Father Gabriel Amorth, wrote an excellent book An Exorcist Tells His Story. It's a difficult book to read, but it reminds you of the overarching reality that Christ has already and continues to crush the head of Satan.

Interesting fact: According Fr. Amorth and other exorcists, demons are not allowed to blaspheme the Blessed Virgin Mary. They curse the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and also the saints. But they never curse Mary and shrink back from doing so. The hypothesis is that Christ prevents the demons from doing this or that it has something to do with the prophecy in Gen 3:15 about enmity between Satan and "the Woman" who bore the Christ Child.

Interesting to consider, if you ask this Papist.

Buy Father Amorth's book here:

John Paul 2 Wanted Confession DURING Sunday Mass

In some parishes throughout the world (and even at St Peter's in Rome), priests hear confessions during Holy Mass - I've seen it with my own eyes in Saint Peter's in Rome. In fact, in many places, priests hear confessions before Mass, during Mass, and after Mass. At one parish, there is a priest in the confessional from 7am till 2pm (7 hours)! These priests are very devoted to what Saint Paul the Apostle called ministry of reconciliation (ministerium reconciliationis in the Vulgate - 2 Cor 5:18). Deo gratias!

There is always a steady line of people at the back of the Church waiting for confession.

Sometimes visitors remark in dismay, "What? Confession during Mass? Doesn't that detract from the Eucharist?"

Is there a good answer to this question?

I was speaking with a wonderful diocesan priest who informed me that none other than His Holiness John Paul II specifically asked that Catholic priests to offer confession DURING Holy Mass when a second priest is available. Confession during Mass isn't some medieval confusion or preference of the traddies. It's the explicit desire of our last Holy Father - John Paul II.

Here's the complete quote from His Holiness Pope John Paul II in his Motu Proprio Misercordia Dei (April 7, 2002) in which he asked for confessions during Masses.:

2. Local Ordinaries, and parish priests and rectors of churches and shrines, should periodically verify that the greatest possible provision is in fact being made for the faithful to confess their sins. It is particularly recommended that in places of worship confessors be visibly present at the advertised times, that these times be adapted to the real circumstances of penitents, and that confessions be especially available before Masses, and even during Mass if there are other priests available, in order to meet the needs of the faithful.

If other priests are available there should be confessions "especially" before Masses and "even" during Mass

Pretty interesting.

Thanks be to God for the sacrament of penance. It's one of my favorite things about being Catholic.

Interest Rates, Usury, and the Council of Nicea

Many people like to say, "Oh the Catholic Church can and does change. Just as the Church "changed her mind" on usury, so the Church can "change her mind" about ______ (Fill in the blank: abortion, contraception, women's ordination, etc.).

Is this true? Did the Church flip flop on the moral issue of usury?

First what is "usury"? Usury is charging excessive interest. Not interest per se. Even the Dominicans of Salamanca of the 16th century recognized this (and also the problems of inflation and price flux).

The key text however in this debate should be Canon XVII of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea in AD 325, which reads:

Since many clergyman have been induced by greed and avarice to forget the sacred text, "who does not put out his money at interest", and to charge one per cent a month on loans, this holy and great synod judges that if any are found after this decision to receive interest by contract or to transact the business in any other way or to charge a rate of fifty per cent or in general to devise any other contrivance for the sake of dishonourable gain, they shall be deposed from the clergy and their names struck from the roll.

So a priest who charged interest over one percent a month was to be convicted and thus laicized (i.e. struck from the canonical roll of the bishop). So what is "one per cent per month"? It is what we would call today an annual percentage rate of 12.7%. That's a pretty high rate given our current Fed established rate.

Thus, the ecumenical council of Nicea I, made a provision for a limited form of loaning money - even for the clergy.

One more thing to be said is that our contemporary "money" is a fiat currency that is not backed by any limited natural element like gold. Hence, new money can be printed and consequently, we experience inflation (i.e. the more dollars in existence leads to a less valuable dollar over time). Since inflation constantly eats away at the value of a paper currency, "loaning" money without interest is actually unjust since it does not recognize the continual depletion of value of currency in such a situation.

Disclaimer: I'm against debt and I agree with the divinely inspired Book of Proverbs - he who enters into debt enters into a kind of slavery. See Prov 22:7.

Oldest Man in the Bible: Methuselah

Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, is is the oldest person in the Bible at the age of 969.

According to the Jewish scholar Rashi, God delayed the Flood specifically because of the seven days of mourning in honor of the righteous Methuselah.

Methuselah is mentioned in Genesis 5:21–27 and in the New Testament at Luke 3:37.

For more read the article on New Advent: Methuselah.

The Miracle of the Sun Symbolizes the Mysteries of the Rosary

Immediately after the Blessed Virgin Mary's Miracle of the Sun in 1917, Lucy, Jacinta, and Francisco witnessed three apparitions. Lucia described them this way:

After Our Lady had disappeared into the immense distance of the firmament, we beheld St. Joseph with the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed in white with a blue mantle, beside the sun. St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands. When, a little later, this apparition disappeared, I saw Our Lord and Our Lady; it seemed to me that it was Our Lady of Sorrows. Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done. This apparition also vanished, and I saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”

So then the three extra apparitions were as follows:

1. The Holy Family - Jesus Mary and Joseph
2. Our Lady of Sorrows
3. Our Lady of Mount Carmel

What is the significance of these visions and their order? It seems to me that the reveal the historic ordering of the life Mary. Even more notable is that they mirror the three traditional sets of mysteries for the Holy Rosary:

1. Joyful Mysteries (which include Joseph)
2. Sorrowful Mysteries (which depict the sufferings of Jesus and Mary)
3. Glorious Mysteries (which culminate in the Queenship of Mary)

So then, the visions and their order are not at all arbitrary - they follow the pattern of the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

I would only add that the depiction of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for the Queenship of Mary is not at all surprising since we on earth enroll as her visible subjects by wearing the Holy Scapular. Christ's reign through Mary is thereby manifested on earth through the Holy Scapular.

We must recall that the order of these mysteries is the same for all of us. We begin in a domestic setting - a family. We then endure the sufferings of this life - we carry our cross with Christ. Lastly, we receive our heavenly reward - to reign with Christ and Mary in glory.

Meet John of St. Thomas

Some of my research for my doctoral dissertation has led me to learn more about a wonderful scholar of the Catholic Church: John of St. Thomas.

John of St. Thomas was born 9 June 1589 in Lisbon, Portugal and died at Fraga, Spain on 17 June 1644. He joined the Dominicans in 1613 and dedicated his life to studying the teachings of Saint Thomas Aquinas.

He was so faithful to Saint Thomas Aquinas that in his last illness he could declare that, in all the thirty years he had devoted to study, he had not taught or written anything contrary to St. Thomas Aquinas.

He was known for his humility and holiness. His works comprise his Cursus philosophicus Thomisticus and the Cursus Theologici (18 volumes!).

Unfortunately, I cannot unearth a picture of him. If you have one, please send it my way.

The Sinlessness and Assumption of Joseph

Many great saints, doctors, and theologians have taught the sinlessness of Saint Joseph, and also his bodily assumption.

Please keep reading below to learn more, or just listen to this excellent homily (from www.AudioSancto.org) for more on "The Holiness of Saint Joseph":

http://www.AudioSancto.org/auweb/20061224-The-Holiness-of-Saint-Joseph.mp3

The Sinlessness of Saint Joseph
Francisco Suarez, Jean Gerson, and Saint Alphonsus Ligouri each teach that Saint Joseph was sanctified and regenerated in his mother's womb prior to birth. As you know, our Blessed Mother was sanctified at the very moment of her conception in the womb of Saint Anne - this is the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In the case of Joseph, this sanctification occurred after his conception and before his birth.

Sacred Scripture teaches us that the Prophet Jeremiah and Saint John the Baptist received this honor of sanctification in the womb. The eminent theologians above, notably Saint Alphonsus - a doctor of the Holy Church, extend this privilege to Saint Joseph. They even teach that Saint Joseph was confirmed in the grace, which means that he was so filled with grace that he never committed a mortal sin or a deliberate venial sin.

The great doctor of the Holy Church Saint Bernard taught: "Power is given to some of the saints to help in particular necessities; but to St. Joseph power is given to help in all necessities."

The Bodily Assumption of Saint Joseph
Francis Suarez maintained St. Joseph was taken up into heaven bodily. St. Bernardino of Siena, Gerson, and St. Vincent Ferrer held the same. St. Francis de Sales points out the fact that nobody claims the tomb of St. Joseph and that there are no relics of this saint. Then he continues in Les Vrais Entretiens Spirituels:

Surely, when Our Lord went down into Limbo, St. Joseph addressed Him in this wise: "Be pleased to remember, Lord, that when you came down from Heaven to earth I received you into my house and family, that I took you into my arms from the moment you were born. Now you are going back to Heaven, take me with you (body and soul). I received you into my family, receive me into yours; I took you in my arms; take me into yours; I looked after you and fed you and guided you during your life on earth; stretch forth your hand and lead me into life everlasting."

Some have speculated that Saint Joseph was among the "saints" who were resurrected shortly after the death of Christ on Good Friday:
"And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many" (Mt 27:51-53).

Here's the Saint Joseph homily again:

http://www.AudioSancto.org/auweb/20061224-The-Holiness-of-Saint-Joseph.mp3

Painting: Saint Joseph...with his Father-in-Law

I just came across this great painting of Saint Joseph and his father-in-law Saint Joachim by Albrecht Dürer. As you know, Saint Joachim is the father of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

Other than Jesus Christ, I imagine that these two men were closest to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Photo: Blessed Andres Sola Molist

This past Epiphany (2011), Father Joseph Mary McShane of the Franciscans of the Immaculate selected my special patron saints for the year of 2011. This year I received St Francis, St Jerome, St Faustina, Bl Andres Sola Molist, and the Marian title Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

I wasn't too familiar with Blessed Andres Sola Molist, but I'm learning more about him. That's him in the photo above. He was a young priest who received martyrdom in Mexico on the 25th of April, 1927.

Amazing Photo: Japanese Ship Resting on House

Let us continue to pray for the Japanese. Here is an interesting photo of a ship resting on top of a house after the tsunami. Notice the second boat in the background.

Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki, pray for Japan.

Something to think about:

If something catastrophic happened to the region in which I live (flood, earthquake, terrorist attack, tornado) how could I live and how could I help others?

Do I have a serious first aid kit? Do I need to store some food? Do I need a few hundred dollars in currency on hand (banks require electricity)? Could I cook? How could I filter clean water? How could I hear emergency broadcasts? Could I stay warm? These are questions facing the Japanese. Perhaps it's time for us to think about what it would mean to be ready. Hopefully nothing like this happens to us, but if it should, how can we protect our family, neighbors, and friends?

7 Reasons to Frequent Confession during Lent

His Holiness John Paul II who went to confession weekly, said:

"It would be an illusion to seek after holiness, according to the vocation one has received from God, without partaking frequently of this sacrament of conversion and reconciliation. Those who go to Confession frequently, and do so with the desire to make progress, will notice the strides that they make in their spiritual lives."

So here are seven reasons to begin frequent confession this Lent (weekly or every other week):

1. Priestly absolution is a generous gift that Jesus gave us.

Christ gave us this Sacrament and wants us to enjoy His grace through it. He told His first priests, the Apostles:

Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins are forgiven (John 20:22).

Christ gave us this sacrament of grace and forgiveness because He loves us. It is a divine gift of mercy and love - not merely an obligation.

2. You are a sinner.

We are a sinners and we need to examine the sinful patterns of our hearts and have a priest give us absolution, counsel, and penance.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn 1:8).

We are often not honest with our hearts and it takes an objective "physician of souls," to help diagnose us spiritually. If you injured your hand or back, you would consult a doctor. If you injured your soul through sin, shouldn't you see a priest?

3. Confession is a means of grace.

Confession shouldn't be terrifying. It is peaceful. We get excited over baptisms, weddings, and ordinations. Why not this remedy for our greatest Christian struggle? Why not be excited about Christ's forgiveness being declared by His appointed deputies - the priests of His Church.

4. You may have committed mortal sin.

There is a such thing as mortal sin:

If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal. (1 Jn 5:16)

Mortal sin is deadly and it separates our souls from the pure eternal life that exists within the Blessed Trinity. Contrition and priestly absolution restores our hearts to a position of love toward God and our neighbors. The absolution infuses our souls with grace. It ratifies our contrition.

5. Guilt is unpleasant.

Often Satan weighs us down with guilt. Guilt can be a good thing if we transform it into repentance. Of course, Satan hates this and God and the angels love it. So free yourself from guilt and hear a tangible person with priestly authority say, "I absolve you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

6. Confession unites you more fully to the Church.

When you make your confession to a priest, you acknowledge that you have sinned not only against God, but against every single other Christian because by your sin, you have weakened the universal witness of every single Christian. You have given the non-believer the excuse that "All Christians are hypocrites." When you go to Confession you acknowledge that you have caused every Christian to suffer by your sins.

"If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together" (1 Cor 12:26).

The priest, who represents both God and the Church by his ordination and office receives your repentance and you have the assurance of not only God's forgiveness, but also the implicit forgiveness of the entire Church.

7. Receiving the Eucharist becomes even more powerful.

When you receive the Holy Eucharist you receive the true Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ our Redeemer. When you confess your sins in a sacramental way, you also have a stronger sacramental union with Christ in the Eucharist. Also, if you are living in mortal sin, you should NEVER receive the Eucharist because you blaspheme Christ and set yourself up for greater judgment and eternal damnation! Consequently, confession heals and deepens your devotion to Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Video: Pope Benedict Receiving Ashes on Ash Wednesday

Notice that in Rome, the ashes are imposed on the crown of the head, not on the forehead.

Great music, by the way.

Godspeed,
Taylor

Lent: The Meaning of the Number 40 in the Bible

In Sacred Scripture, the number forty is a sign of penance:

• God made it rain for forty days and forty nights in the days of Noah (Gen 7:4 - by the way they only ate fish on the ark, not meat)
• Moses spent forty days fasting on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18)
• The People of Israel people wandered forty years traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33)
• Elijah spent forty days and forty nights walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8)
• Jonah prophesied forty days of judgment for Nineveh to repent (Jonah 3:4).
• Jesus fasted for forty days days in the wilderness, and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-2, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-2)
• Jesus was also in the tomb for about forty hours.

Clarification on Lenten Fasting

A few days ago I put up a post citing the canon law regarding fasting and abstinence for Lent. Some faithful readers complained that the part on fasting wasn't clear. the Deacon Carl Thelin graciously provided an easy summary. He writes:

Probably the best direction concerning Fast and Abstinence is:

• Fasting everyone 18 thru 59th birthday.
• Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are both fast and abstinence.
• All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence for those 14 and older.

I sincerely apologize if anyone was confused. I hope Deacon Thelin's summary above is helpful.

ad Jesum per Mariam,
Taylor

Today: Begin Your Novena to Saint Joseph!

We are now officially nine days from the feast day of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and Guardian of the Holy Family. Let's begin the novena!

If you've been reading the newspapers or following events on the internet, you know that there are many crises in the Church throughout the world: scandals, martyrdom, controversies. Let's begin today and ask Saint Joseph to protect our Holy Mother the Church. Oh how our Lord Jesus loves Saint Joseph!

Here's the Novena (Nine Day Invocation) for Saint Joseph's intercesssion:

Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

Memorare to Saint Joseph

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.

Ash Wednesday: The Official Catholic Rules for Fasting and Abstinence

UPDATED March 11, 2011

In the United States pregnant women, nursing women, people over 60 and children under 14 are not obligated to fast.

Here's what the current Code of Canon Law says:

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference [for Americans, this refers to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops], is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence [not eating meat] and fasting [not eating food - see clarification below] are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year [translation: no meat for those fourteen and up]. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority [18], until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

Can. 1253 The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.

According to the United States bishops, "fasting" on Ash Wednesday for a Catholic Christian entails two collations (small, light snacks) and one full meal on Ash Wednesday - all without meat.

Clarification from Deacon Carl Thelin:
Probably the best direction concerning Fast and Abstinence is:
Fasting everyone 18 thru 59th birthday.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are both fast and abstinence.
All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence for those 14 and older.

SOURCE:  "Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 

Beautiful Photo: Padre Pio Receiving Holy Communion

 

Even though St Pio was a priest, he received the Holy Eucharist on the tongue. Even though he had the wounds of Christ is his holy and venerable hands, he received the Holy Eucharist on the tongue.

Incidentally, our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI is instructing everyone to receive Holy Communion on the tongue at all of his public Masses.This is something that our Holy Father is publicly embracing. As the chief shepherd of the entire Church and as the "chief liturgists of the liturgists" His Holiness is leading the Church with this example and pattern.

If you want to start receiving our Holy Lord on the tongue at Holy Communion, and don't know how, here are: Five Easy Tips on Receiving Holy Communion on the Tongue.

For Lent - Top 10 Bible Verses on Penance

John the Baptist - A Biblical Saint of Perfect Penance

Here are the Top Ten Bible verses on Penance. In Greek, we often find in Scripture the Greek term "metanoia" which is a deep "transformation of mind" of conformity to God. In Latin, we find "agite paenitentiam" or "do penance." Protestant commentators begining with Martin Luther criticized this translation because they felt that it emphasized outward acts and not an inward transformation. The Church responded by arguing that "agite paenitentiam" or "do penance" is a perfectly sound interpretation because inward repentance always leads to an outward expression. Moreover, in secular texts "agere paenitentiam" often refers to simple inward remorse. Nevertheless, just as faith without works is dead, so also repentance without penance is dead.

So here are the "top ten" penance passages in Sacred Scripture. I'm leading off with Luke 13:3 because, for me, that is the most powerful passage regarding penance.

Luke 13:3

No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.

{This is a solemn promise of Christ to all of us. Unless we do penance, we will "perish."}

Job 42:6

Therefore I reprehend myself, and do penance in dust and ashes.

Ecclesiasticus 2:22

If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men.

{If we don't experience discipline in this life, we shall experience it in the next.}

Jeremiah 31:19

For after thou didst convert me, I did penance: and after thou didst shew unto me, I struck my thigh: I am confounded and ashamed, because I have borne the reproach of my youth.

{Notice here, that penance comes after conversion.}

Lamentations 2:14

Thy prophets have seen false and foolish things for thee: and they have not laid open thy iniquity, to excite thee to penance: but they have seen for thee false revelations and banishments.

{Here the spiritual leaders of Israel have wrongly induced the people to follow after false revelations or apparitions. Instead, they should have led the people to penance. Incidentally, Saint Francis is the perfect example of the right leader. He doesn't appeal to apparitions or even to his stigmata. He appeals to the power of prayer, fasting, and penance.}

Ezekiel 18:21

But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and justice, living he shall live, and shall not die.

{This is the great promise for Lent. If we humble ourselves and live sacrificially, we will have life. God is merciful and loving and He desires our transformation into the image of Christ His Son.}

Matthew 3:8

Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.

{Here we find that true repentance requires fruit - it requires outward acts that conform to the inward reality.}

Matthew 11:20

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance.

{This is a sobering verse. Christ doesn't work miracles where the people don't repent. Divine power is restricted by human pride.}

Romans 2:4

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and patience, and longsuffering? Knowest thou not, that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance?

{The love, mercy, and benignity of God brings us to a true repentance. Notice that being mean and hateful does not bring others to penance.}

Apocalypse 2:5

Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance.

{Here "do penance" and "do the first works" are paired together. Penance has an outward dimension, because sin also has an outward dimension. The horrifying truth is that Christ will snuff out the Church of any region if they don't live a life of penitence.}

Give your watch and glasses to the Immaculate Mary...

Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe provides us with a beautiful little custom that you can do to show your complete devotion to Jesus through Mary.

Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe used to place his watch and eye-glasses at the foot of a statue of the Immaculate each evening. By this gesture he meant to entrust to her all the time and space at his disposal" (Fr. Stefano Manelli's Devotion to Our Lady, p. 91).

How beautiful! As a married man and father, I have come to learn that it is the little gestures (little notes, pats on the heads, kisses, reminders) that are the important acts of love. They are the acts of love that cannot be faked. So then, let us try to work in little acts of love throughout the day in order to show God our love for Him, for Mary, and for all the saints and angels.

St Maximilian Maria Kolbe, pray for us.
Immaculate Conception, pray for us and pity us.

ad Jesum per Mariam,
Taylor

PS: If you want a great little book to read during Lent, please get Father Manelli's book Devotion to Our Lady. It's short and easy to read. Best of all it's only $5. You won't be disappointed. You can order it here for $5.00. If you're wealthy or you're a priest with the means, please consider buying many copies for your friends, family, and parish. Consider it as Lenten alms.

The Holy Eyes of Saint Dominic and Holy Purity for Men

Someone once asked Saint Dominic why he kept his eyes lowered to the ground during most the day.

The saint's response: "So that my eyes might be pure when I one day behold the Blessed Mother."

Incidentally, here is a good custom for men who try to keep their eyes and hearts pure. I have memorized the following Bible verse and I recite it when I am tempted by the eyes:

"I have made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as look upon a virgin" (Job 31:1).

It's very effective and it's also worthy invoking the Dominican St Thomas Aquinas who is said to have been one of the purest men ever to live.

My suspicion is that Thomas Aquinas was gifted with so much intelligence and knowledge since he practiced a perfect mortification of the passions. When the flesh is tempered, the mind is truly free to perceive profound mysteries.

St Dominic and St Thomas, pray for us.

Short Video: Political History of Middle East

With all the problems in North Africa and the Middle East, this video is very instructive. It's a short video showing the imperial war history of the middle east from from 3,000 B.C. till A.D. 2,006. It takes about one minute. Amazing.

Watch brief video: Imperial History of the Middle East.

Is Facebook Evil?

 

Father Gary Selin of Denver is always sending me great links and notes. Recently, he passed along this provocative article from the New Atlantis entitled "Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism." I'd encourage you to read it.

The article brings up the topic that usually comes up with Facebook debates: does Facebook dissolve the meaning of "friend." As you probably know, Facebook depends on linking with other people that you know (or perhaps do not know). Facebook renders these "linked people" as "friends." It is now so common that people now use the word "friend" as a verb. For example: "Will you friend me on Facebook?" or "Sorry, I don't friend my students until after they graduate."

The other problem with social networks like Facebook is that we are tempted to create alternative personalities. Facebook offers us the opportunity to "sell ourselves" in a positive light. Nobody is going to identify themselves as "constantly in-and-out of relationships, unemployed, alcoholic, and thoroughly obsessed with collecting Transformers memorabilia" on their Facebook profile. When people list "Favorite Books," they don't list a bunch of lust-in-the-dust novels or "the Twilight series." No, they list exotic "smart people books" like "Tolstoy's War and Peace," or even better, "Shakespeare's Plays - All of them"

The temptation to "pad your Facebook profile" is real. For many people, Facebook serves as your relationship resume - and they want it to look good!

So the question is this: Does Facebook hurt or help society? Does it increase relationships or make them more shallow? If the film-version of books leads to the end of reading books, is Facebook the end of true friendship?

In particular, I know that some priests (and even bishops) use Facebook and some do not. Same goes for religious. Yet, I also know clergy and religious who are deeply opposed to it. (Wasn't a Dominican nun recently dismissed from her convent for "too much Facebooking"?).

Anyway, please read the New Atlantis piece and feel free to leave your opinion in the comments box.

"Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism" 

ad Jesum per Mariam,

Taylor

Faith Alone Cannot Save by Saint Maximus (7th century)

St Maximus the Confessor (d. 662)

In The Catholic Perspective on Paul I spill a lot of ink over the "faith alone" controversy, particularly as it touches Saint Paul's epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians.

Here's a little YouTube video that we made that addresses the epic problem that "Father" Martin Luther introduced when added "faith alone" to his German translation of Romans:

Below is a wonderful passage from St Maximus the Confessor who died in 662. Maximus was the defender of the orthodox and Catholic doctrine that Christ had two wills (divine and human) in complete synergy and agreement. For Maximus the synergy of Christ's human will to the divine will was a model for all humans - that we should conform our wills to the will of God. Thus, Maximus anticipated and refuted the errors of John Calvin by 1,000 years.

Here is what St Maximus says about "faith alone" and "works."

A charitable mind is not displayed simply in giving money; it is manifested still more by personal service as well as by the communication of God’s word to others: In fact, if a man’s service toward his brothers is genuine and if he really renounces worldly concerns, he is freed from selfish desires. For he now shares in God’s own knowledge and love. Since he does possess God’s love, he does not experience weariness as he follows the Lord his God. Rather, following the prophet Jeremiah, he withstands every type of reproach and hardship without even harbouring an evil thought toward any man. 

For Jeremiah warns us: Do not say: “We are the Lord’s temple.” Neither should you say: “Faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ can save me.” By itself faith accomplishes nothing. For even the devils believe and shudder. 

No, faith must be joined to an active love of God which is expressed in good works. The charitable man is distinguished by sincere and long-suffering service to his fellow man: it also means using things aright.

Saint Maximus the Confessor, Centuria 1, cap. 1, 4-40: PG 90, 962-967.

As Catholics, we hold with Saint Paul and Saint James that we are "justified by "faith and works." However, our faith is never oriented to our works. We don't have faith in our works nor do we trust in our works. We have faith in Christ. Our works alone could never merit the love of God.