St. Anicetus, Pope and Martyr, A.D. 173.
by VP
Posted on Friday April 17, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was born in Syria, and succeeded St. Pius in the see of Rome, in the latter part of the reign of Antoninus Pius. He sat about eight years, from 165 to 173. He is styled a martyr in the Roman and other martyrologies. If he did not shed his blood for the faith, he at least purchased the title of martyr by great sufferings and dangers. His vigilance protected his flock from the wiles of the heretics, Valentine and Marcion, instruments whom the devil sent to Rome, seeking to corrupt the faith in the capital of the world.
Pray for the present Pope, for all prelates and pastors, and for the whole Church; that as God has promised to lead it into all truth, so by their care who watch over it, it may be delivered from all abuses and scandals. Pray for all those who are divided from it, whether by heresy or schism.
Praise and bless God for His goodness to this holy martyr. For what could nature do amidst so many difficulties, and the terrors of a
cruel death, if God had not raised it above itself, and by His grace
taught it to overcome? For this mercy to His servant, bow down, adore
and bless His name; and as you rejoice in His triumphs, let it be the subject of your joy, that God is glorified in poor creatures like ourselves. Yet while you celebrate the triumph of this martyr, pray that this solemnity may be to you an increase of God's mercy, that you may find some portion at least of that holy spirit in yourself, which you honour in His servant.
For as often as the memory of the martyrs occurs, so often you are reproached with the evidence of your own weakness; and you cannot see their courage and patience, without condemning your own great indisposition of soul, who can discover so little of that
in yourself, which you admire and honour in them. Beseech God therefore
to hear you, and by His grace to overcome your weakness, change your
unhappy temper, and bring you nearer to the happy disposition of the martyrs." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
#11 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 16, 2026 at 01:00AM in Thursday Reparation
11. We adore Thee, never failing bounty and goodness! And to repair manʼs offensive diffidence in Thy tender mercy, we offer up to Thee the steadfast reliance and assurance of the holy Patriarchs in Thy promises. 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.
Saint Bernadette Soubirous
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 16, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
Sister Bernadette Soubirou, from Lily of Mary 1918
Father Price's Daily Prayer: O Mother Immaculate, Patron of America, who, through little Bernadette,
bade us pray and work for the conversion of the countless souls now
perishing. I offer all the prayers, actions, and sufferings of this day
and every day of my life for their conversion, and I beg of thee to
bless my resolution to do what I can throughout my life to bring about
their salvation. Hail Mary
St. Bernadette, Pray for Father Price.
Imprimatur: Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D. May 2 1949
" A priest (NB. Fr. Thomas F. Price) who has been deeply interested in all that concerns Maryknoll from its beginning expresses in printed form from time to time his particular devotion to Bernadette of Lourdes as the little client of Mary Immaculate. Realizing as he does that the Immaculate Conception is the sole National Patron of America, he has aimed consistently during his priestly life to deepen love in American Catholic hearts for her who, inspired by God, exclaimed, "Behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed!" One of this priest's books, Bernadette of Lourdes has been constantly on The Field Afar table, and is known to many of our readers. Another has just taken its place there: The Lily of Mary, a charming little volume that contains a short life of Bernadette of Lourdes." The Field Afar, Volumes 11-12 July 1918, page 101
St. Encratia, Virgin and Martyr, A.D. 303.
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 16, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"She was a holy virgin, born in Portugal; but coming with her father to Saragosa in Spain, and seeing there the great cruelty of Dacian in persecuting the Christians, she was so strongly moved with holy zeal in their behalf, that she publicly reproached him with his barbarous proceedings. Upon which he was so enraged, that he put her to all the torments that a malicious cruelty could suggest, tearing her flesh with hooks of iron, cutting off her breast, and laying open her liver and bones. He then ordered her to be thrown into prison, to die a lingering death under the corruption of her wounds. Thus she finished a glorious combat at the commencement of the fourth century.
Can you Christian, now complain of what you suffer? Your troubles are no other way great, than as your want of patience makes them so. Stand by this martyr of Christ, and compare. And yet she rejoices, while you are complaining. She casts the devil
into despair, while you are pleasing him by your fretful impatience.
Repent, ask pardon for what is past, and by your prayers and tears
prevail on Heaven to grant you a better
spirit. Grieve not at your troubles, but at your weakness: for this is
your only affliction. All others may help you on your way: this only puts you back. While you see how much the patient suffering of the martyrs
was to their advantage, you plainly see likewise how much you are a
loser by your impatience. You see how great is your indiscretion, who
being industrious in managing temporal affairs to your own interest, are
so very careless in the greater concern, as to neglect the improvement of opportunities daily offered for your salvation. You see how much you are your own enemy, in complaining of the injuries which others offer you, and at the same time doing your own soul more hurt by your impatience, than the whole world could do against you. Amend in earnest, and beg God's grace for your entire reformation." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Basilissa and Anastasia, MARTYRS, A.D. about 65.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday April 15, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"Two noble women, who were disciples of the apostles SS. Peter and Paul at Rome. They were some of the first who suffered martyrdom. Their spirit was according to the Gospel in relieving those who suffered by the cruelty of the Emperor Nero, and comforting such as were obliged to retire. Being seized by the emperor's order, they were so little apprehensive of his threats, that they even raised his fury by defending the innocence of those whom he had put to death. Upon which he commanded their tongues and feet to be cut off, and afterwards finished their sacrifice by the sword.
Strange difference between that primitive age and this! Then it was the great solicitude of Christians to signalize themselves by their generous charity to the distressed, and to prepare for a glorious death. And now the great concern is to be remarkably vain, and to waste all that in extravagance and idleness, which should be the help of the poor. And can you Christian answer this method, that God's blessings being now multiplied to you in peace, you should be less faithful in his service? Let not your plea be in the necessity of complying with the world; for this is a necessity grounded on the love of the world; and had you the spirit of the primitive times, you would soon rank the greater part of this necessity under another head, even that of superfluity and extravagance, The only thing necessary, is to save your soul: study this point and it will soon change all your present ideas.
The martyrs gained in every way by their sufferings, but you lose by not making a good use of what
you suffer. You lose when you meet with ill-treatment from your
neighbours; laying then aside all mildness, discovering impatience, and
treating them with passion. You are losers as often as you are
contradicted or opposed, especially by those to whom you are not well affected. You are losers, when you fall under trouble or distress, or are visited with sickness, violence of pain, or loss of friends. In all this confess your weakness, and earnestly beg help of God's goodness." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
SS. Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, MARTYRS, A.D. 229.
by VP
Posted on Tuesday April 14, 2026 at 12:00AM in Poetry
Pray for all those who suffer for their faith, or labour under any oppression or trouble, that God would give them courage and patience, support them against all dejection of spirit, and teach them to make a right use of their sufferings. Put up the same prayers for yourself.
Pray for all those who embrace the true faith, that with it they may begin a new life, follow the rules of the Gospel, and by their good example contribute to the salvation of others.
Pray for those whose quality and estates set them in a rank above their neighbours; that they may make a Christian use of all their blessings, that they may not rob their own souls or the poor, either by prodigality, or hard-heartedness; but by their moderation give good example, and by their charity learn to lay up treasures in heaven.
Pray for those who seem most obstinate against the truth; and for all oppressors and persecutors. Remember to despair of none, since you see that those who lead others to execution may come to lay down their necks on the same
block. Your virtue and patience may be a help to this; and by these you
may not only possess your own soul, but contribute to save the souls of others." The Catholic Year by Rev. John Gother.
St. Hermenegild, Martyr, A.D. 586.
by VP
Posted on Monday April 13, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was converted from the Arian heresy to the Catholic faith: upon which his father Leovigild, king of the Visigoths in Spain, and an Arian, was so exasperated against him, that he cast him into prison, and loaded him with chains. But perceiving all his cruelty to be fruitless, he ordered him to be murdered on Easter Eve, for refusing to receive the Holy Communion from an Arian bishop. Some time after, being sensible of his error and his crime, he acknowledged the truth of the Catholic faith, though overawed by his people, he never had courage to profess it. And so he died, having first recommended his son Reccared to the care of an orthodox bishop, by whose means, being reclaimed from Arianism, he became the happy instrument of the conversion of the whole nation of Spain in the sixth century.
Learn what your duty is, when for the sake of truth, your parents and dearest friends become your greatest enemies. Christ and His faith are to be preferred to them all; and you cannot be a true disciple, but by forsaking them, and abandoning yourself to their displeasure and cruelty. This martyr, in despising a crown, has taught you to despise all worldly advantages for the sake of Christ. This is the command of the Gospel, and the way to heaven. Pray that this may be your rule whenever you shall be brought into these straits: that you may seek first the kingdom of God and His justice, and make all considerations of flesh and blood give way to this. Pray likewise for all those who are at present under this trial. It is a work of great difficulty, and requires a very powerful grace to renounce all the comforts of tender parents, and the hopes of this world, for the sake of truth, which works only by faith, and has its rewards at a distance. Let them have therefore the assistance of your charity.
Pray for the reclaiming of all those who are the abettors of errors; and beg that none may be obstinate against that light which God gives them, or neglect to follow it, through fear, or human respects. The thoughts of what the world will say, and the difficulty of changing, are temptations to be overcome only by the grace of God." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Steadfastness
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 12, 2026 at 12:00AM in Sunday Sermons
The Disbelief of Saint Thomas (Incredulité de Saint Thomas) - James Tissot
"Jesus saith to him: because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed."-St. John xx. 29.
"When Our Lord appeared to the disciples and gave them the commission to forgive sins, and thus instituted the holy Sacrament of Penance, St. Thomas was not present; and when the other disciples told him what had happened, and that He had shown them the wounds in His hands and in His feet, he refused to believe them; he declared he would not believe unless he himself should see them also. He said: "Unless I shall see the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
This disposition of St. Thomas was very wrong. He ought to have believed without hesitation. He had seen our Lord work miracles without number; he had seen Him give sight to the blind, even those blind from birth; make the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak; he had seen Him raise the dead to life, raise Lazarus after being dead and buried already four days. He knew that our Lord had predicted His resurrection. He ought to have believed, and he sinned in not believing. He was obstinate in unbelief, refusing to credit the testimony of his companions, whom he knew to be honest and trustworthy.
Our Lord in the kindness of His heart forgave him, and made him put his finger into the print of the nails and into the wound in His side to convince him, and also to convince us by His testimony of the reality of His resurrection. But at the same time He rebuked him, and taught us all a grand lesson. He said: "Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed; blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We have the faith on the testimony of the apostles and disciples who recorded it in the Gospels, and who sealed their testimony in their own blood.
We have the testimony of all the disciples who repeatedly saw our Lord after His resurrection, sometimes a great number of them, over five hundred at once.
We have the testimony of the Catholic Church; of all those millions on millions who have lived from that day to this; of the wonderful providence of God and His care of His Church until now.
This ought to be enough. This ought to be enough to make us say our act of faith, "O my God, I believe whatever Thy Holy Church proposes to my belief, because Thou hast revealed it to her. Thou who canst neither deceive nor be deceived."
This is the age of unbelief. Very great numbers of men are occupied in trying to undermine the faith. The newspapers are full of infidel objections. The press is teeming with works written expressly to destroy the faith. The flimsiest reasons are brought forward with a bold face as if they were unanswerable. The very fact that the things of God and religion are so high and incomprehensible is brought forward as the principal reason why they are not to be believed.
We have believed once for all, on the truest and most solid evidence. Our business now is to "live by faith." To put in practice the precepts of our faith, and to follow the example of the Author and Finisher of our faith, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are not of those who are to be "beat about by every wind of doctrine.” We are not to be moved by the vain babblings of men, who are wise in their own conceit and think they know everything, though they know very little after all. We will not imitate St. Thomas in his unbelief, and refuse to believe the wonderful things of God because they are so high and wonderful, but imitate him when in wonder and admiration he cried, "My Lord and my God." Believing in the testimony of God and His Church, and putting away all sceptical and imaginative doubts, we shall receive the blessing pronounced by our Lord: "Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." (Low Sunday - Five minute Sermons by the Paulist Fathers)
Low Sunday: GOD OR THE WORLD?
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 12, 2026 at 12:00AM in Sunday Sermons
The Disbelief of Saint Thomas (Incredulité de Saint Thomas) - James Tissot
“The friendship of this world is an enemy of God.” — JAS. lv. 4.
1. The love of God and of the world.2. What is meant by the world.
3. We have to be in the world; the evil and the dangers of it.
4. How to overcome the world: Its twofold attack: adversity, pleasure. The victory won by faith.
"1. St. Augustine tells us that there are two loves, which make two different cities or kingdoms: the love of God, spiritual and infused, which makes the city of God, the Church of the elect; the love of the world and of self, so centered as to exclude God, that makes the city of the wicked, which is the kingdom of the devil, by whom it is possessed and ruled. "Know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God ? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God." (James iv. 4.) This is the friendship that makes men insubordinate, disobedient, and displeasing to God. "Love not the world," says St. John, "nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.” (I John ii. 15.) But let us beware of unreality and exaggeration; instead of doing good they do harm. So let us see plainly and exactly what is meant by the world and the friendship of the world.
2. By the world here is meant vain and vicious men, who love carnal, transitory, and earthly things inordinately — that is, to the exclusion of God —and these very things themselves, which such men seek and desire, grasp and cling to, that they may be enriched, praised, and exalted in this short life. Here is the evil and danger of it all.
3. We are in the world, and have to be in the world and mix with the world; where is the evil, then, in loving the things of the world ? God’s love has to be first and foremost in our hearts, and wherever and whenever things of the world seek to take this first place, there is the evil and the danger. Therefore duty to God constantly calls upon us to despise, break with, and even to hate the things and friendships of this world, inasmuch as they hinder us, or actually pervert us, from seeking and loving God. "For all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but of the world." (1 John ii.16.) We must, then, thus far overcome the world that we shall not allow it or any creature friend of it so to entice us that, for the desire or love of it, we shall transgress the law of God.
As "the friendship of this world is an enemy of God," as the text tells us, we see plainly that we cannot be friends with both. God and the world have nothing in common; their ends are diametrically opposed to each other. The world bows down to wealth, influence, success; Christ blesses poverty, meekness, persecution. The world makes the most of the present and the things of life, for it knows in its heart that it passeth away. Christ bids us remember that we are pilgrims and wayfarers here, to rejoice if the world hates us, for our true home is heaven, whither we are tending. "Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you." (1 John iii. 13.)
4. A twofold attack does the world advance against the servants of Christ. Adversity threatens that we may lose courage, and through fear be induced to sin. The world tried this for three hundred years of persecution in the early ages; it has tried it again in later times in many countries, and especially in England and in Ireland. And the glorious martyrs gave a triumphant answer, and gladly laid down their lives for the love of God. And the martyrs of more recent times vied in courage and alacrity with the martyrs of the olden days. The children of the Church had not changed with the lapse of centuries. In the same blessed choir of martyrs we behold Ignatius of Antioch and Fisher of Rochester, Cyprian and Thomas More, Lawrence and Campion the Jesuit! And the second mode of attack is an insidious one— the seductions of pleasure and prosperity, amusements and love, to entice and attract, to deceive and ensnare the hearts of the unwary and imprudent. This is the attack to which, in our days, so many, especially the young and impulsive, fall victims. Too self-willed to heed warnings, resenting interference, they are swept on with the crowds of pleasure-seekers, forgetful of God and their souls; the love of the world slowly but surely possessing itself of their heart and ruling it. He alone can withstand this attack who, with the eye of faith, looks up to God, and for His love and honor despises and rejects the blandishments of all created things.
St. John tells us what power it is that overcomes the world - our faith: "This is the victory that overcometh the world, our faith” (1 John v. 4) - the faith that tells us Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Judge, and therefore that our lives and hearts should be all for Him. A lively, strenuous faith pleases God so much! It is above all riches and honors and the substance of this world. It is the gift of God, but we can pray for it, and pray for more and more of it. The Gospels bid us do it. "And Jesus saith, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And immediately crying out, with tears, he said, I do believe, Lord: help my unbelief." (Mark ix. 22, 23.) "And Jesus saith, Have the faith of God. . . . Whatsoever you ask when ye pray, believe that you shall receive; and they shall come unto you." (Mark xi. 22, 24.)
Let us pray for the love of God and the contempt of the world, with faith such as this. Then victory would be ours. May that faith be ours which, as St. Augustine says, "saves sinners, opens the eyes of the blind, cures the sick, baptizes, justifies, restores poor penitents to God’s favor, increases the merits of the just, crowns martyrs, preserves all in a sinless life, and places the elect with the angels in their eternal inheritance.” May the great and Blessed God deign to bestow this faith upon us all!"
Source: Short sermons, by Rev. Fr. Hickey 1913, Low Sunday
Keep a constant eye on the needs of your flock...
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 12, 2026 at 12:00AM in Books
Be mindful that the slightest negligence on your part renders you culpable in the eyes of God for He will demand a rigorous account of all the souls committed to your care. I will require his blood at thy hand, says Sacred Scripture in Ezechiel (3,18)."
Source: The Priest His Dignity and Obligations by St. John Eudes
Litany to Obtain Holy Priests
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, hear us
Christ, Graciously hear us
God, Our Heavenly Father, have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God, The Holy Ghost, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, Three Persons in one God, have mercy on us
Lord, obtain for us priests
Lord, obtain for us holy priests and make us docile to their teachings
Holy Mary, Queen of the Clergy, obtain for us holy priests
Saint Joseph, Patron of the Church, obtain for us holy priests
Saint Michael, splendor and protector of the Church militant, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Saints and Archangels, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Martyrs and Virgins, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Bishops and Confessors, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Priests and Doctors, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Founders of religious orders, obtain for us holy priests
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.
To celebrate with reverence the Holy Mysteries, obtain for us holy priests
To offer every day the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, obtain for us holy priests
To feed the people of God with the Bread of life, obtain for us holy priests
To promote the splendors of the Divine Worship, obtain for us holy priests
To regenerate souls through baptism, obtain for us holy priests
To instruct the faithful in the Holy Faith, obtain for us holy priests
To keep the faithful in the fear of the Lord, obtain for us holy priests
To announce to all the Word of God, obtain for us holy priests
To unmask and combat false doctrines, obtain for us holy priests
To fortify the Faith of those who doubt, obtain for us holy priests
To support and encourage those who fail, obtain for us holy priests
To raise up those who fall and to reconcile them to God, obtain for us holy priests
To bring back to God those who rejected Him, obtain for us holy priests
To protect christian morality, obtain for us holy priests
To fight with zeal the corruption of morality, obtain for us holy priests
To bless holy unions, obtain for us holy priests
To defend the honor and sanctity of marriage, obtain for us holy priests
To strengthen the happiness of our christian families, obtain for us holy priests
To fortify and console our sicks and those who suffer, obtain for us holy priests
To assist our dying ones, obtain for us holy priests
To lead our dead to eternal happiness, obtain for us holy priests
To pray and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for our dead, obtain for us holy priests
To give glory to God, and to give grace and peace to souls of good will, obtain for us holy priests.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
The Lord chose for Himself priests so that they will offer Him a worthy thanksgiving.
Let us pray: God Almighty and merciful, favorably grant the prayers of
Your faithful and grant to those whom You have given the immense
generosity of your clemency, to be elevated to the service of the
heavenly mysteries, to become worthy ministers at Your sacred altars, so
that their teachings be confirmed by your sanctification, through Our
Lord Jesus-Christ, Amen.
