I was born in 1970, so my understanding of the Catholic Church before that comes from various media and talking with people from that time. However, I think it can be said that the average Catholic in the U.S. in the early and mid-20th century followed the basic precepts laid down by the Church authority… Read More »
This is an excellent little video on St. Bernadette:
From the LP A Day of Pilgrimage at Lourdes Notice the great zeal in the prayers at the beginning of this sample. One might almost call it “charismatic,” but this is 1955 (or perhaps even earlier, since the LP was released in 1955). I find this LP to be a beautiful expression of faith.
Westminster Records released classical music for the most part. Here, however, is something quite Catholic and quite unusual for the label. “A Day of Pilgrimage at Lourdes” is a sound documentary, without commentary, of various events and celebrations that occurred on the Feast of the Sacred Heart in either 1954 or 1955. I’m not sure… Read More »
Fr. Charles De Keyser, S.S.S., wrote years ago that “Our Lady understood the primacy of the Mass more perfectly and participated more fully in the Mass than any other creature.” This makes sense. She would have had a great understanding of what was happening at those early Eucharistic celebrations–the greatest of anyone, in fact. “Being… Read More »
A favorite talk of mine of the late Holy Father is this talk at Knock – here is an excerpt. Here I am at the goal of my journey to Ireland: the Shrine of Our Lady at Knock. Since I first learnt of the centenary of this Shrine, which is being celebrated this year, I… Read More »
I thought this entry in her blog was an amazing synthesis of thought, and a great meditation to boot. Heavy stuff.
Here’s something I experienced from the most recent pilgrimage. Besides our tour of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, I was able to spend some quiet time there on the last day of the pilgrimage. I saw a priest praying his breviary at a bench in the back part of Mount Calvary, opposite the altar… Read More »
I’m developing an archive of rather obscure Catholic audio files… mainly from LPs and reel to reel tapes of yesteryear. These are things which I presume to be in the public domain or have received permission to post. You will find something for a variety of ages and tastes there (i.e. lives of saints, radio… Read More »
This is one great song. It’s not going to be a big hit. It could be, but listen to the lyrics: You have not called me to be successful. You have called me to be faithful. I can do small things with great love and make my life something beautiful for God. Yesterday is gone.… Read More »
When we feel utterly unworthy to approach her adorable Son, we may speak to Him through the Heart of Mary. When we are disappointed in earthly loves, we may be very sure of meeting no sorrow or distress where no one ever sought comfort in vain, or cried for aid without obtaining relief. When the… Read More »
Fr. John Vaughan wrote quite well on love here: WHAT the sun is in the material order, that love is in the social and moral order. As the sun burnishes the tips of the mountains, lights up the valleys, and converts seas and rivers into liquid gold, making a Paradise where but a moment ago… Read More »
You can watch a TV show to find out. Here’s an episode The Message of Divine Mercy focused on the relationship between the Divine Mercy message and the Eucharist.
This is quite cool. It was put on YouTube for the month of May, but applies anytime. There is more that can be done in this sort of venue. Who is ready to take the challenge? More young people can put together videos like this.
On Calvary, Mary united herself to the sacrifice of her Son and made her own maternal contribution to the work of salvation, which took the form of labour pains, the birth of the new humanity. In addressing the words “Woman, behold your son” to Mary, the Crucified One proclaims her motherhood not only in relation… Read More »