Pleasure in serving God
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 26, 2026 at 12:00AM in Sunday Sermons
Bernhard Plockhorst
(1825–1907)
"Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice."— Phil. iv. 4.
"It has often been noticed, my dear brethren, and we every day come across examples of it, that when things are going well men think very little about God and about the practice of their religious duties. We may almost say that, as things are at present, most men will not perform their duty to God unless they are driven to do so by something unpleasant and hard to bear. It is when a man is taken ill that he sends for a priest and makes his confession and receives the Sacraments; as soon, however, as he gets well it is only too probable that he will return to his old ways.
Now, this shows that the service of God is felt by a great many to be a heavy burden and yoke. And I am sorry to say that this feeling is not confined to those whose passions and low propensities are so strong as to hold them down for a great part of their lives in slavery and subjection to sin and vice. Many even of those who have freed themselves for the most part from this degrading bondage seem far from the possession of that spirit of holy joy with which every one trying to serve God should be filled. Many even of these seem to find the yoke of the Lord a heavy one: and if they do not cast it off, it is chiefly because they are afraid to do so.
Now, I am not going to say a word against the service of God which springs from the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom.” The fear of God is not merely good-it is necessary for salvation. But it is only the beginning, not the perfection of wisdom. Moreover, it should not be the habitual dominant and constant motive of our religious life it should serve as a motive to fall back upon when higher motives are not felt. As St. Ignatius says: We should ask of God the grace to fear Him, so that if and when through our faults we grow forgetful of God's love, the fear of punishment may hold us back from offending Him. In other words, we ought, as a rule, to be serving God from love and holy joy rather than from fear and dread.
This is the teaching of the Holy Scripture, and especially of the great Apostle our patron, St. Paul. The text is but a sample of similar injunctions which might be found in every one of his Epistles "Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice." Do not be always looking upon the service of God as a heavy burden and yoke to which you must be driven as a fear of punishment, but let that service fill your souls at all times with delight and satisfaction. This is what St. Paul enjoins. Why is it not so with us? Why should it be so?
Well, there are ten thousand reasons why the service of God should be delightful and satisfactory; but I can refer to one only this morning— one, however, of which I think that we can all feel the force. As a rule, the man who is carrying on a profitable and successful business is, so long as everything goes well, tolerably happy. You don't see him going about with a long face, and although he may grumble a little, as most men do, you can see that he does not mean it. Now, if this is the case in the midst of the uncertainties which are inseparable from all human transactions, what ought to be the satisfaction and contentment of a man who has seriously taken in hand the one necessary business? For how does the case stand with such a man? The man who has seriously taken in hand the business of saving his own soul must succeed - for him there is no such thing as failure. So long as he is willing he must be prosperous. And why? Because he has Almighty God as a partner. And God is ready to give him what I hope it is not irreverent to call unlimited credit. In this life he pours into his soul His heavenly grace, and this grace gives to all his actions a value which gives him a right to an eternal recompense. No action from morning to night, from week's end to week's end, but may be made profitable and fruitful, if done with a right intention, and, of course, if there is nothing sinful in it. This is the position in which any and every man may be placed and may remain if he so wills, and of the sense and judgment of a man who is not satisfied by such terms I have but a poor opinion." (Third Sunday after Easter - Five-minute Sermons from the Paulist Fathers 1893)
SS. Cletus and Marcellinus, Popes and Martyrs, A.D. 89 and 304
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 26, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"Saint Cletus was the third bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Linus, which shews his eminent virtue among the first disciples of St. Peter. He suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Domitian. St. Marcellinus succeeded St. Caius in the bishopric of Rome in the year 296. He acquired great glory in those stormy times of persecution, and is always styled a martyr, though he did not actually shed his blood in the cause of religion,
April 25. Rogation Days, Prayer without Ceasing
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026 at 12:00AM in Tradition
Prescribed days of prayer and penance in
spring. Two sets of rogation days were kept since early Christian
times: the Major Rogation on April 25, the Feast of St. Mark; and the
Minor Rogations on the last three days before Ascension Thursday. They
were instituted to appease divine justice, ask for protection, and
invoke God's blessing on the harvest. (Catholic Dictionnary, Catholic
Culture)
Rogation is simply an English form of the Latin rogatio, which comes
from the verb rogare, which means "to ask". The Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday before Ascension day, were called Rogation days or days of
solem supplication and prayer. On these days the priest and people went
in procession, singing the litanies, to beg God’s blessing upon the
fruits of the earth, and be preserved from pestilence, famine, ect.
(Right Rev. Dr. Challoner)
Litany of the Saints
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of Virgins,
St. Michael,
St. Gabriel,
St. Raphael,
All ye holy Angels and Archangels,
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits,
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Joseph,
All holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
St. Peter,
St. Paul,
St. Andrew,
St. James,
St. John,
St. Thomas,
St. James,
St. Philip,
St. Bartholomew,
St. Matthew,
St. Simon,
St. Thaddeus,
St. Matthias,
St. Barnabas,
St. Luke,
St. Mark,
All holy Apostles and Evangelists,
All holy Disciples of the Lord,
All Holy Innocents,
St. Stephen,
St. Lawrence,
St. Vincent,
SS. Fabian and Sebastian,
SS. John and Paul,
SS. Cosmas and Damian,
SS. Gervase and Protase,
All holy Martyrs,
St. Sylvester,
St. Gregory,
St. Ambrose,
St. Augustine,
St. Jerome,
St. Martin,
St. Nicholas, p
All holy Bishops and Confessors,
All holy Doctors, pray for us.
St. Anthony,
St. Benedict,
St. Bernard,
St. Dominic,
St. Francis,
All holy Priests and Levites,
All holy Monks and Hermits,
St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Agatha,
St. Lucy,
St. Agnes,
St. Cecilia,
St. Catherine,
St. Anastasia,
All holy Virgins and Widows,
All holy Saints of God, intercede for us.
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.
From all evil, deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin,
From Thy wrath anger,
From sudden and unprovided death,
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and all ill will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From lightning and storms,
From the scourge of earthquake,
From plague, famine, and war,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,
Through Thy Coming,
Through Thy Nativity,
Through Thy Baptism and holy Fasting,
Through Thy Cross and Passion,
Through Thy Death and Burial,
Through Thy holy Resurrection,
Through Thy admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete,
In the day of Judgment,
We sinners, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst spare us,
That Thou wouldst pardon us, .
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
That Thou wouldst govern and preserve Thy holy Church,
That Thou wouldst preserve our Holy Pope and all orders of the Church, in holy Religion,
That Thou wouldst humble the enemies of holy Church,
That Thou wouldst give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
That Thou wouldst grant peace and unity to all Christian people,
That Thou wouldst recall all who have wandered from the unity of the
Church, and lead all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel,
That Thou wouldst confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service,
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That Thou wouldst give eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors from eternal damnation,
That Thou wouldst give and preserve from harm the fruits of the earth,
That Thou wouldst grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That Thou wouldst graciously hear us, Son of God,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us,
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, who art in heaven, ....
Psalm 69
O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me.
Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek my soul.
Let them be turned backward, and blush for shame that desire evils to me.
Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame that say to me: ‘tis well, ‘tis well.
Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee. And let such as love Thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified.
But I am needy and poor; O God, help me.
Thou art my helper and my deliverer: O Lord, make no delay.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
V. Save thy servants.
R. Who hope in Thee, O my God.
V. Be unto us, O Lord, a tower of strength.
R. From the face of the enemy.
V. Let not the enemy prevail against us.
R. Nor the son of wickedness have power to hurt us.
V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
R. Neither requite us according to our iniquities.
V. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff N....
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon
the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
V. Let us pray for our benefactors.
R. Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy Name’s sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. Amen.
V. Let us pray for the faithful departed.
R. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. For our absent brethren.
R. Save thy servants who hope in Thee, O my God.
V. Send them help, O Lord, from thy holy place.
R. And from Sion protect them.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Prayer
Let us pray.
O God, whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our
humble petition: that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the
chain of sin, may be the compassion of Thy goodness mercifully be
absolved.
Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord the prayers of Thy
suppliants, and forgive the sins of those that confess to Thee: that, in
Thy bounty, Thou mayest grant us pardon and peace.
In Thy clemency, O Lord, show Thine unspeakable mercy to us: that
Thou mayest both loose us from all the punishments which we deserve for
them.
O God, who by sin art offended, and by penance pacified, mercifully
regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication to Thee, and turn
away the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins.
Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant N, Our
Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him according to Thy clemency into the way
of everlasting salvation, that by Thy grace he may both desire those
things that are pleasant to Thee, and perform them with all his
strength.
O God, from Whom are all holy desires, right counsels, and just
works, give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give:
that both our hearts, given over to Thy commands, and our times, the
fear of our foes removed, may by Thy protection be peaceful.
Inflame, O Lord, our reins and hearts with the fire of the Holy
Ghost: that we may serve Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a
clean heart.
O God, the Creator and redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the
souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins: that
through pious supplications they may obtain that pardon which they have
always desired.
Prevent, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy inspirations,
and further them by Thy assistance: that every word and work of ours may
begin always from Thee, and by Thee be likewise ended.
Almighty, everlasting God, who hast dominion over the living and the
dead, and art merciful to all, of whom Thou fore-knowest that they will
be Thine by faith and good works: we humbly beseech Thee, that they for
whom we intend to pour forth our prayers whether this present world
still detain them in the flesh, or the world to come hath already
received them out of their bodies, may, through the intercession of all
Thy Saints, by the clemency of Thy goodness, obtain the remission of all
their sins, Through our Lord Jesus Christ Who liveth and reigneth with
Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end.
May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us. Amen
And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in Peace.
St. Mark, Evangelist
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 25, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. Mark the Evangelist by Valentin de Boulogne
St. Mark, Evangelist
"He was a disciple of St. Peter, and one of the Evangelists. Pray that the Gospel may be the rule of your life; and while you profess a faith of what it teaches, see that your practice be not a confutation of your profession. Pray for all those who read the Gospel, that they may not wrest it to their own perdition, through presumption and rashness; but being assisted by the same spirit, by which it was written, may be led into all truth.
St. Mark went into Egypt, and was the first who preached the Christian faith at Alexandria, where by his labours the Church was established, and by his example the faithful were trained up in that exact discipline conformable to the rules of the Gospel, that they were a pattern to all believers, and admired even by the enemies of their faith. And after having suffered great persecution, he was called to the reward of his labours, in the fourteenth year of the Emperor Nero. Pray for all who embrace the true faith; and for all the professors of it; that they may live up to the maxims of the Gospel, and give no occasion to unbelievers to blaspheme the name of Christ. There is nothing so scandalous, as a wicked life, joined with the true faith: it carries everywhere contagion with it, infecting both friends and enemies. There is nothing so provoking to Almighty God, as it involves a contempt of His greatest mercies, and therefore draws down His heaviest judgments. Pray for the reformation of all believers, that infidelity may not be the punishment of abused Christianity. (...)." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringa, Martyr, A.D. 1622.
by VP
Posted on Friday April 24, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
For some time he practiced the law as a counselor at Colmar, with great reputation, but still greater virtue. He abstained from all invective, detraction, and whatever might affect the reputation of any adversary. He conceived a disgust, however, for a profession, which was to many an occasion of sin; and determined to enter among the Capuchin friars. He first received holy orders, and having said his first mass in their convent at Fribourg, he consecrated himself to God by taking the habit. From that moment, humiliations, mortification, and implicit obedience were his delight. In regard to dress and furniture, he always chose that for his own use, which was the least valuable and convenient. His life was a continued prayer and recollection; and at his devotions he seemed rather like an angel than a man.
When he had finished his course of divinity, St. Fidelis was employed in preaching and hearing confessions. He reformed many by his zealous labors, and converted several Calvinists. When a pestilential fever infected the Austrian army, he exercised wonderful charity in assisting the sick and dying. He also exerted himself indefatigably in composing differences between neighbors, and relieving those who were in distress. He was most devout to the Blessed Virgin, and regularly recited the holy rosary. By her prayers and those of other saints, he begged that he might shed his blood in the defense of the Catholic faith. His prayer was granted. For the Calvinists were so incensed against him, for his pious labors to convert them, that they murdered him in the year 1622, the forty-fifth of his age.
Pray for all who are engaged in the holy ministry, and laboring for the conversion of souls. To contribute to the conversion of a sinner, is something more excellent than to raise the dead to life. The soul, which from the death of sin is raised to the life of grace, passes from slavery to the devil, to the dignity and privileges of a child of God. By this divine adoption, she is rescued out of the abyss of infinite misery, and exalted to the most sublime state of glory and happiness, in which all the treasures of grace and of heaven are her portion for ever." The Catholic Year by Fr. John GotherThe Lukewarm Priest
by VP
Posted on Friday April 24, 2026 at 12:00AM in Articles
Peter Fendi: Fridolin Assists with the Holy Mass
"(That) priest is certainly greatly to blame who is filled with the spirit of the age that he ridicules every pious devotion, even those devotions approved of by the Church; who is, on principle, opposed to pious sodalities and confraternities; who makes light of the rosary, the medal, the scapular and so on; who never encourages the people to practice frequent Communion; who discourages and even opposes those who wish to enter the convent, especially when they are useful to himself; who is, on principle, opposed to missions, to retreats and the like; who looks upon Catholic Schools as a foreign notion, or at least as an unnecessary luxury; who takes more interest in fairs and dances than in teaching his poor children the catechism; who finds more pleasure in fast horses than in the conversion of sinners; who spends more time in carousing, in visiting the theaters and watering places than in instructing the ignorant and praying before his Lord hidden in the tabernacle.
Such a priest is clearly a stumbling block to many on the way of salvation. But let us forget that he is also an enemy of souls, who is ever guided by rash, imprudent zeal; who sends people to the convent who have no marks of a divine vocation; who encourages young men to study for the priesthood, who are slaves of the most shameful vices; who allow frequent Communion to worldly-minded young women, passionately addicted to so-called fashionable, yet really indecent dances; who show an insane jealousy of their neighboring priests, especially if these priests have the good or ill fortune to be religious!
(…) He is not very strict in observing the rubrics. He rushes through his breviary with little attention and devotion. He confesses but seldom, and even then with little preparation. He hurries through Mass without preparation or thanksgiving, without devotion or recollection. The lukewarm priest may labor much, but his motives are merely natural. His actions are not prompted by the inspirations of grace. Hence he makes so little progress in the path of virtue. He preaches to others, but how does he practice what he preaches? He prays in the name of the Church, but does he pray from his heart? (…) Every day at the altar, he opens heaven to others, while his own heart has no desire for heaven.
Every day our Lord comes down from heaven to cast fire upon his heart, and his heart remains cold; the fire of divine love will not burn. If a man takes every day the most nourishing food and yet does not get strong, he must certainly be sick; there must be something wrong!" Source: The Catholic Priesthood, Michael Muller p68
Prayer for Priests Who Have Become Unfaithful to Their Vocation
Divine Savior Jesus Christ, Thou are the
Good Shepherd who gives His life for His sheep. Oh, be in a very
special way the Good Shepherd of those poor lost priests who are also
appointed by Thee to be leaders of Thy people, but who have broken the
oath of their holy ordination and have become unfaithful to their
exalted calling. Bestow upon these poorest of the poor the very fullness
of that pastoral solicitude with which Thou dost so faithfully seek the
sheep that are lost! Touch their hearts with the irresistible ray of
grace which emanates from Thine all-merciful love! Enlighten their minds
and strengthen their wills, that they may turn away from all sin and
error and come back to Thy holy altar and to Thy people. O most
compassionate Savior! Remember that Thou didst once redeem the souls of
Thine erring priests with Thy Precious Blood and in infinite
preferential love didst impress upon them the indelible character of the
priesthood. Put wholly to shame those miserable helpers of Satan who
lay snares for the virtue of priests and endanger the holy ideal of the
priesthood. Most graciously accept our prayers and sacrifices for poor
priests who have gone astray and hear our earnest petition. Amen
St. Anthony of Padua, defender of the Holy Eucharist, obtain for us holy priests.
St. John-Mary Vianney, model of sacerdotal holiness, obtain for us holy priests.
St. Francis Xavier, patron of missionary priests, obtain for us holy priests.
St. Therese of the Child-Jesus and of the Holy Face, victim offered for
the sanctification of priests, obtain for us holy priests.
Saints and Servants of God, obtain for us holy priests.
#12 Acts of Adoration Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in reparation for all the offenses committed against Him by mankind
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 23, 2026 at 01:00AM in Thursday Reparation
12. We adore Thee, O amiable Jesus, and revere the sacred mystery of the Blessed Eucharist, revealed by Thy divine word, taught by the Church, and proved by miracles; And to repair the doubts which men have had of Thy real presence in the Holy Sacrament, we offer up to Thee the due submission shown by the Prophets to Thy divine oracles. Eternal praise and thanksgiving be to the Most Holy and Most Divine Sacrament.
O Queen of heaven and earth, hope of mankind, who adores thy Divine
Son incessantly! We entreat thee, that, since we have the honor to be of
the number of thy children, thou would interest thyself in our behalf
and make satisfaction for us, and in our name, to our Eternal Judge, by
rendering to Him the Duties which we ourselves are incapable of
performing. Amen.
St. George, Martyr, Patron of England, A.D. about 303.
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 23, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. George was a martyr. Pray for all those who suffer for their faith, that they may be strengthened from above. Pray for all others under whatever kind of trouble, that God would give them patience, and be their comfort.
Authentic history
furnishes us with very few particulars relating to this martyr, besides
his being a soldier in Cappadocia, and being put to death under
Dioclesian for the Christian faith. But the extraordinary devotion of all Christendom to this saint, is an authentic proof how glorious his triumph and name have always been in the Church. According to the best accounts, he was born in Cappadocia, of noble Christian parents. After the death of his father, he went with his mother into Palestine. Having embraced the profession of a soldier, he was made a tribune, or colonel in the army. For his courage and conduct, he was soon preferred to higher stations by the Emperor Dioclesian. When that Prince waged war against the Christian religion, St. George laid aside the marks of his dignity, threw up his commission and posts of honor, and complained to the emperor himself of his severe and cruel edicts. He was immediately cast into prison, and tried, first by promises, and afterwards by the rack, and tortured with great cruelty; but nothing could shake his constancy. The next day he was led through the city and beheaded. St. George is usually painted on horseback,
and tilting at a dragon under his feet; but this representation is no
more than an emblematical figure, purporting that by his faith and
Christian fortitude he conquered the Devil, who is called the dragon in the Apocalypse. The general opinion of his
courage in his military profession, and great constancy in his
suffering for justice and truth, has been a motive to our forefathers to
choose St. George for the patron of this nation. They hoped by his charity to obtain of God
a plentiful benediction in all public affairs, and success to their
arms. The same considerations may be motives to us this day to enquire into
ourselves, and see how much we want his charitable assistance, in order
to obtain those so necessary qualifications, which rendered him so
eminent to the Christian world, his courage
and constancy. Without these, we can neither do what we are commanded,
nor suffer what Providence has ordained for us. One that was a soldier
is a proper patron for Christians. For, whatever their sex or condition be, they are soldiers of Christ, their whole life is a warfare upon earth, they have many battles to fight, they are to meet very powerful enemies in the field; and without great courage and perseverance, they can never hope for victory.
Courage is necessary in the discharge of our common duties; because of the great opposition we meet with, from the general corruption of those with whom we live and converse. Custom and practice have given such authority to sinful liberty and neglect, that a compliance seems expected from all: and those who refuse to go along with the stream, must look to be charged with pride, singularity, and bigotry. Now while this seems to concern our reputation, those who have not courage to bear the stroke, surrender and yield; and by joining in what they disapprove, show that it is fear that carries them on; and that they would be virtuous, if they were but bold enough to be so. This fear puts numbers upon complying with all the extravagances of fashion and the age: and though sensible how disagreeable, and even opposite many of these are to the spirit of the gospel, yet awed by what the world will say, they choose to follow what they condemn, and become children of the world, because they dare not be the disciples of Christ.
The priest as one chosen from among men
by VP
Posted on Wednesday April 22, 2026 at 12:00AM in Tradition
Blessed Noël Pinot, Priest and martyr: (1747-1794)
"We recognize the priest as one chosen from among men to serve men in the affairs of God. He is the minister of reconciliation with God, the teacher of the truth, and one who offers the sacrifice, who administers the sacraments, who prays for the people. We distinguish in him that double character of man and priest; we recognize the divine character of the priesthood which forces us to bend the knee to him for the forgiveness of sins and to receive from his hands the holy sacrifice of the Eucharist. His ordination has conferred upon the man the character of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. In the parish he is the ambassador of God, the administrator of the sacraments, the guardian of the sacred deposit of faith, the defender of the people's rights, and the unselfish friend of everyone. From the cradle to the grave, he touches intimately the lives of his people and brings to them in all the circumstances of life the blessing of the Divine Savior of whom he is the commissioned minister. The people feel that in the true priest there is no taint of selfishness, and that he is willing to sacrifice his life in order that the spiritual interests of his people may not suffer " Source: Bishop James Conaty, Our Young People, 1912
Prayer to Blessed Noel Pinot for Priests under Persecution:
Blessed Noel Pinot, who shared in the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus, the Sovereign Priest, deign to show us, your servants, the power of your intercession. Enlighten and strengthen priests; render them, like you, invincible in their defense of the Faith. Foster priestly and religious vocations in our parishes; fill those aspiring to the priesthood and the religious life with an ardent zeal. Obtain for the faithful the grace to better know and practice their religion. Ensure that families are faithful in carrying out their duties and grant that they be humble and respectful towards their pastors.
Preserve children and the youth from the many perils which threaten their beliefs and virtues; undo the plots of those who wish to tear them away from the maternal bosom of the Church. As you did during your life, aid the sick and the infirm; strengthen those who suffer and struggle. Finally, bless and crown with success the apostolic labors of the ministers of Christ and of all the Church militant, with the aim of restoring to our dear France (country) the reign of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Blessed Noel Pinot, pray for us.
General Vicar A. Oger, Angers, France (July 10th, 1944)
SS. Soter and Caius, Pope and Martyrs, A.D. 177 and 296
by VP
Posted on Wednesday April 22, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
" Saint Soter was raised to the papacy, upon the death of St. Anicetus in 173. By the sweetness of his discourses, he comforted all persons with the tenderness of a father, and assisted the indigent with liberal alms, especially those who suffered for the faith. He liberally extended his charities, according to the custom of his predecessors, to remote churches, particularly to that of Corinth, to which he addressed an excellent letter, which was read for edification on Sundays at their assemblies to celebrate the divine mysteries, together with the letter of St. Clement, pope. St. Soter vigorously opposed the heresy of Montanus, and governed the Church to the year 177, when he was put to death for the Christian faith, under Marcus Aurelius.
St. Caius succeeded St. Eutychian in the apostolic see, in the year 283. The Church then enjoyed a calm, but was soon after disturbed by a tumultuous persecution for two years, on the death of Carinus. St. Caius encouraged St. Sebastian and the other martyrs and confessors. However, to preserve himself for his flock, he withdrew for a time to avoid the fury of the storm. Having sat twelve years, he died on the 21st of April, 296; his great sufferings having obtained him the title of martyr.
Pray for the present bishop of the holy see of Rome, and for all bishops and pastors of Christ's Church; that whether in peace or persecution, they may ever bear testimony to the truth.
Their lives are powerful persuasives to virtue, if they live up to
their character: and to licentiousness, if they give countenance to it.
If they are unfaithful, let not this make you question the truth of what you profess. Your faith is built on the truth of God, and the promises of Christ: and however individuals may fail, these can never fail. Let the ill conduct therefore of others make you fear and tremble, and humbly distrust yourself, but not God's power, His goodness, or His truth. Learn the value of crosses and sufferings. Those Christian heroes, of whom the world was not worthy, all suffered, and were persecuted in many ways. These crosses ensured to them their greatest crowns" The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
