CAPG's Blog 

Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, Who hast entrusted the whole work of Thy redemption, the welfare and salvation of the world, to priests as Thy representatives, through the hands of Thy most holy Mother and for the sanctification of Thy priests and candidates for the priesthood I offer Thee this present day wholly and entirely, with all its prayers, works, sacrifices, joys, and sorrows.

Give truly holy priests who, inflamed with the fire of Thy divine love, seek nothing but Thy greater glory and the salvation of our souls.

And thou, Mary, good Mother of priests, protect all priests in the dangers of their holy vocation and, with the loving hand of a Mother, also lead back to the Good Shepherd those poor priests who have become unfaithful to their exalted vocation and have gone astray.

Capg

St. John Vianney, Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh NC

 
St. John Vianney, Who Accepted the Cross, O holy priest of Ars, as a young seminarian you encountered many obstacles on the road to the Priesthood, but you realized that to suffer was to suffer with Christ on Calvary, and so, if following our Lord meant taking up His cross, you lovingly embraced it. Your motto in life became loving while suffering and suffering in order to love. You did not get discouraged, but your strong faith united you closer to Jesus every day of your life.

Oh great St. John Vianney, you know what is needed for Father ___ʼs salvation: a strong faith able to accept the will of God in all things. To serve Christ, he too must take up his cross and follow Him. By your prayers, obtain for him a heart full of courage and strength. Obtain for Father ___ that same courage and strength to follow Jesus wholeheartedly even if it means following Him to Calvary. Intercede for him before the Lord that he may do the will of God, obey the commandments, and loyally love the Church, the Bride of Christ.

Novena Prayer:

O holy Priest of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney, you loved God and served Him faithfully as His Priest. Now you see God face to face in heaven. You never despaired but persevered in your faith until you died. Remember now the dangers, fears and anxieties that surround Father ___ and intercede for him in all his needs and troubles especially console him in his most difficult moments, grant him serenity in the midst of crisis, and protect him from evil. O St. John Vianney, I have confidence in your intercession.
Pray for Father ___ in a special way during this novena.

Source: Cure d'Ars Prayer Group

 Catholic bishops approve Communion document aimed at possible rebuke of Biden

"The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted overwhelmingly to draft a formal document on the meaning of the Eucharist after a contentious debate on whether President Biden and other politicians who support abortion policies are worthy of receiving Communion at Mass. 

More than 73% of the U.S. bishops casting ballots at a virtual conference this week supported tasking the USCCB's doctrine committee to draft language on maintaining consistency with the Eucharist. A section of the document is expected to include a specific admonition to Catholic politicians and other public figures who disobey church teaching on abortion and other core doctrinal issues. 

The Eucharist:

“And this food is called among us Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these…but…likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word…is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.” source: Justin's Martyr First Apology, 66)

"Henry VIII: the sole head of the English Church; which, tho’ it shocked many squeamish consciences to swear to, yet we find none of any note that had the courage to refuse the oath, except John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, and Sir Thomas More, late Lord-Chancellor, who both lost their heads for it." Source: The Parliamentary Or Constitutional History of England, from the Earliest Times, to the Restoration of King Charles II. J. and R. Tonson, 1762.

St. John Fisher, Tower of London 1535 :

"Woe to us who have been born in this wretched age, an age - I say it weeping - in which anyone who has any zeal whatever for the glory of God, and casts his eyes on the men and women who now live, will be moved to tears to see everything turned upside down, the beautiful order of virtue overthrown, the bright light of life quenched, and scarce anything left in the Church but open iniquity and feigned sanctity. The light of good example is extinguished in those who ought to shine as luminaries to the whole world, like watch-towers and beacons on the mountains. No light, alas! comes from them, but horrid darkness, and pestilent mischief, by which innumerable souls are falling into destruction."Source: Life of Blessed John Fisher: Bishop of Rochester, Cardinal of the Holy Roman and Martyr Under Henry VIII By Thomas Edward Bridgett, 1890.

Prayer for Holy Bishops

"Lord, according to Your promise that the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit for such work. The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard by the fire of the Holy Ghost.

"So. good Lord, do now in like manner again with Thy Church Militant; change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones; set in Thy Church strong and mighty pillars, that may suffer and endure great labors, watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat; which also shall not hear the threatenings of princes, persecution, neither death but always persuade and think with themselves to suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments, for the glory and laud of Thy Holy Name. By this manner, good Lord, the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout all the world.

"Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy Church."

This prayer was spoken by St. John Fisher in a sermon in 1508. Twenty-seven years later he underwent martyrdom on Tower Hill in London during the reign of Henry VIII.

Source: St. John Fisher Forum

Lord, You wondrously raised up St. Joan, the Virgin, to defend the Faith and her country.

Through her intercession grant that the Church may overcome the snares of her enemies and enjoy unbroken peace.

Amen.

Source: CAPG

 1. The Priest’s Saturday brings about an intimate union between priests and people. Surely the people will welcome with great joy the opportunity thus given to co-operate, by prayer and sacrifice, with the priest in all the work that he does for the parish. They will thus merit to have, and will efficaciously make, zealous and holy priests. Experience shows that also the children easily understand the Priest’s Saturday and enter with joy upon this apostolate.

2. Especially the sick, the convalescent, and the body disabled. Who are often so deeply pious and abounding in virtue, will find Priest’s Saturday a great and apostolic field of holy endeavor and their lonely days will take on a new and profound significance as they realize that a marvelous life-work lies open before them. Such unselfish and holy effort in behalf of priests, such prayers and sacrifices, will yield most glorious fruits and the world will soon feel the blessed influence of the Priest’s Saturday.

3. New vocations to the priesthood will be aroused and fostered, and surely in many a woman’s soul, as she prays and sacrifices for the sanctification of priests, the hidden wish will be felt: “ Oh, if I myself might become the mother of a priest!”

4. God grant that all take part in this great “apostolate to the apostles”! Surely it is a thing most pleasing to God and most fruitful in blessings here upon earth even as it redounds to the salvation of countless souls. Spread this idea wherever and whenever you can. Be a promoter. Get others to spread and promote it. Remember that concern for the sanctification of priests is most dear to the Sacred Heart of the Divine Savior and to the Sweet Heart of His Blessed Mother. It is their concerns. (Tr. W. H. , S.D.S.)

imprimatur: +Paulus Petrus, Epps. Sinus Viridis 22 Jan. 1935. The Salvatorian Fathers.

Imprimatur: Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D. May 2, 1949

Source: Cure d'Ars Prayer Group

Our Lady, Mother of Sorrows pray for Priests, your special sons. Strengthen their faith and love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, so that they may turn to Him for the grace they need to live a life faithful to their calling. Bring comfort, consolation and courage to those who are suffering under the weight of the Cross. Give them the love of your Son and zeal for the honor and glory of God, and the salvation of souls. Amen

Source: CAPG

Fr. Tighe holding the Curé d'Ars' Heart, St. Joseph Catholic Church, May 2020.

O God, Thou didst raise Thy servant, Father Philip Tighe, to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, according to the Order of Melchizedek, giving him the sublime power to offer the Eternal Sacrifice, to bring the Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ down upon the altar, and to absolve the sins of men in Thine own Holy Name. We beseech Thee to reward his faithfulness and to forget his faults, admitting him speedily into Thy Holy Presence, there to enjoy forever the recompense of his labors.This we ask through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Source: CAPG

The public prayers of the Church, other than those in the great sacrifice of the Mass, are contained in the Breviary.

The whole Office for each day consists of:
Matins, or Morning Song;
Lauds, or the Divine praises;
Prime, Tierce, Sext, and None, or the prayers for the first, third, sixth, and ninth hours, the old Roman division of the day
Vespers, or Even Song;
and Compline, or the Conclusion

. This office was originally chanted daily by the faithful, and is still chanted by some religious orders, the preservers of primitive tradition and fervor. It is daily recited by the clergy; and on Sundays and holidays the Vespers are publicly chanted as part of the solemn worship of the day, to enable the faithful to join in so holy and venerable a form of prayers. The chant is inseparable from worship; and the Church, selecting the solemn Gregorian tones, condemns the frivolous worldly music, which it so little resembles.

All the parts of the office consist of psalms and canticles from the Scripture, with lessons also from Scripture, or the Holy Fathers, and appropriate to the day.

The psalms in the Vespers for Sundays are the 109th, and the following, including the 113th, although, very frequently, the 116th is substituted for the last of these. This series of psalms is most suitable to the ordinary wants of the Church on her weekly festivals. The first is a kind of commemorates of all the great mysteries of our redemption; the second alludes to the praise of God "in the congregation;" the third commemorates the graces and privileges of the just; the fourth is a psalm of praise, as is also that substituted occasionally for the fifth; the fifth celebrates the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. All are prophecies of our Lord and of His Immaculate mother, as well as of the Church. In them we chant Christ, our Lord, as priest forever, offering sacrifice, like Mechizedec, in the form of bread and wine; as Lord of Lords, and King of kings; as true to His promises of ever abiding by His Church, investing her with miraculous powers; and ever spreading the mystic banquet: in them we chant Him as our Redeemer and our God, whom we adore; in them we chant that Immaculate Virgin - the "joyful mother of many children," - and with her raise our hearts and voices to glorify God.

It is not, then, an unmeaning service; but one most appropriate and consoling. Hence, though it is not of obligation to attend Vespers, as it is to hear Mass, all the saints and spiritual writers of the Church urge the faithful to be present at it with piety and devotion. For there is always more benefit and comfort to be derived from the public offices of the Church, than from private devotions, God having ordained that communion of prayers should always have the preference.

Source: St. John's manual : a guide to the public worship and services of the Catholic Church, and a collection of devotions for the private use of the faithful.

O Saint Louis IX, inspire our bishop and priests to preach the Faith with courage, constancy, and love. Strengthen them to combat every evil.Pray that God will raise up courageous and honorable civil leaders who will enact laws respecting the dignity of human life and enforce them with justice, truth, and charity.

Pray for all faithful men and women that they will live virtuous and peaceful lives as they journey toward their final goal of Heaven.

Pray that all children may keep their baptismal innocence and be spared from every evil.

Pray that the sanctity of human life will be forever respected. Pray for an increase in holy vocations to the priesthood and religious life.And Saint Louis, as you have left your earthly throne to assume your heavenly throne, pray that we will one day share with you the eternal crown of salvation after our earthly lives are ended. Amen.

Source: CAPG