Day: May 13, 2018

St. Robert Bellarmine

St. Robert, a native of Montepulciano and of the noble family of Bellarmine, had for his mother the most pious Cynthia Cervini, sister of Pope Marcellus II. From the first he was conspicuous for exemplary piety and most chaste manners, earnestly desiring this one thing, to please God alone and to win souls to Christ. He attended the college of the Society of Jesus in his native town where he was highly commended for his intelligence and modesty. At the age of eighteen, he entered the same Society at Rome, and was a model of all religious virtues. Having passed through the course of philosophy at the Roman College, he was sent first to Florence, then to Monreale, later to Padua to teach sacred theology, and afterwards, to Louvain where, not yet a priest, he ably discharged the office of preacher. After ordination at Louvain, he taught theology with such success that he brought back many heretics to the unity of the Church, and was regarded throughout Europe as a most brilliant theologian; and St. Charles, bishop of Milan, and others keenly sought after him. Continue reading →

The Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary

St. John the Evangelist saw a Woman clothed with the sun, crowned with twelve stars, and the moon under Her feet. Holy Mother Church recognizes this Woman as none other than the Blessed Virgin Mary, with Her virtues and Her privileges, especially that of Her Divine Maternity. Thus originated the “Little Crown of the Twelve Stars of the Blessed Virgin”,which St. Joseph Calasanctius, St. John Berchmans, and many other saints made it a practice to recite frequently. In order to make this beautiful prayer more attractive, St. Louis Marie de Montfort added to each Hail Mary one of the praises of Our Lady with the invocation, “Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!” Continue reading →

Dominica post Ascensionem ~ II. classis

Introitus
Ps 26:7; 26:8; 26:9

Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to thee, allel. My heart bath said to thee: I have sought thy face, thy face, O Lord, I will seek: turn not away thy face from me, allel. allel. The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? (Ps. XXVI. 7-9.)

INSTRUCTION ON THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

The Church’s Year
By Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine

This Sunday and the whole week should serve as a preparation for the festival of Pentecost, that we may be enabled by good works and pious devotional exercises, to receive the gifts of the Holy Ghost. At the Introit the Church sings:

INTROIT

Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to thee, allel. My heart bath said to thee: I have sought thy face, thy face, O Lord, I will seek: turn not away thy face from me, allel. allel. The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? (Ps. XXVI. 7-9.) Glory be to the Father, etc.

COLLECT Almighty, everlasting God, grant us ever to have a will devoted to Thee, and to serve Thy majesty with a sincere heart. Through .etc.

EPISTLE (1 Peter IV. 7-11.) Dearly beloved, be prudent, and watch in prayers. But before all things, have a constant mutual charity among yourselves; for charity covereth a multitude of sins. Using hospitality one towards another without murmuring: as every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the words of God: if any man minister, let him do it as of the power which God administereth; that in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Continue reading →