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Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Anthony of Padua, NC

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, glory of the Christian people, joy of the universal Church, salvation of the world, pray for us, and awaken anew among the faithful the devotion toward the Most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be rendered worthy to receive It daily.

"Devotion to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

We invoke the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus, and our tender Mother, under the title of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, because she is the Mother of the Savior, Who lives in the Eucharist, and because it is from her that he takes the flesh and blood with which He nourishes us; because, moreover, she is the sovereign dispenser of all grace, and consequently of those graces contained in the august Sacrament; and, finally, because she was the first to practice the duties of the Eucharistic life, showing us by her example how to assist becomingly at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, how to communicate worthily, and to visit the Most Blessed Sacrament frequently and with piety.

The Cardinal-Vicar has graciously granted leave to the Sons of the Venerable Père Eymard- the Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament- to erect in their church of San Claudio, Rome, a chapel and an altar in honor of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and to have her picture publicly exposed to the veneration of the faithful. May this example be followed in America; let us hope that ere long many new altars and shrines shall be dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament. ( From Emmanuel, May, 1910.)

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Prayer to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

O MARY, Sweet Mother of Jesus and our own tender mother, we love to call you Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, because you were the first tabernacle of the Most High and the first adorer of Our Lord and Savior. You have, indeed, given us the Blessed Eucharist. It was your "fiat," your acquiescence in the Incarnation of the Son of God the Divine Word - that began the great mystery of the union with us which Jesus accomplished during His mortal life, and which He continues in the Holy Eucharist. And after Our Lord's ascension into heaven, you became the model and mother of all adorers of Jesus in the Tabernacle by adoring and serving Him with loving assiduity.

Pray for us who have recourse to you, that we may love Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist ever more and more with a love like that which inflamed your own immaculate Heart, O Mary, so that we may seek in all things His pleasure and His glory, and may daily grow more like to Him, and thus be able to exclaim with the burning heart of the great apostle, St. Paul: I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.

It is your mission, dear Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, to form Jesus in His adorers. Dying for love of us, He, in His agony on the cross, bequeathed you to us as our mother, and confided us to your maternal care; help us, then, to be more devoted to Him in the sacrament of His love; help us to show our love for Him by striving to draw others to the love of His sacred Heart, and by our constant efforts to imitate His meekness, humility, and patience, His poverty, obedience, and purity, His boundless and all-embracing charity, and, indeed, all those virtues which He taught us in His mortal life from Bethlehem to Calvary, and of which He continues to give us an example in His Eucharistic life upon the Altar. May His Kingdom be established in the whole world; may He live and rule in all hearts. Blessed and praised every moment be the most holy and divine Sacrament. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us pray that we who now adore and love Jesus here below under the veil of the sacred species, may one day have the joy to behold Him in His unveiled beauty in the realms above, and to sing His praises with the angels and the saints, and above all with you, dear Mother, in eternal tabernacles. Amen." With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections Father Lasance

"He spoke often with enthusiasm of the wonderful holiness which would exist in the world if all priests really followed their vocation, and gave themselves up without reserve to the good of souls. When he had to preach the clergy retreats his words made an indelible impression on the hearts of those who heard him and the very doors of the chapel were crammed with eager listeners. Once, at Spello, he was asked to give conferences to the clergy of the town and neighborhood. His success was such that no one would miss a single one of his instructions, and the convents were closed so that all the religious, without exception, might be able to attend them. He took special pains with those who had the power of hearing confessions, for they were the most actively employed in saving souls. Such was the work done by our saint among the Roman clergy." Catholic Saints

Saint Pancratius

"The training of Youth: If they whom God has charged with directing youth, took care to form the heart rather than the intelligence, virtue would not have to wait for ripeness of years in order to manifest itself fully. If instruction be of great account in a worldly sense, education is more precious still from the Christian point of view, for this it is which forms saints.

Youth is seldom thought capable of great virtues; the error is a grave one, however, as might be shown by manifold instances. The following will suffice for the purpose. Pancras was only fourteen years old when the persecution of Dioclesian broke out. Easy would it have been for him to dissemble as to his religious belief, or to guarantee his life by a falsehood; but he belonged to a Christian race. His uncle Denys was in bonds for the faith; the example and words of the old man kindled the courage of the child. He was the first to encounter martyrdom by decapitation, gathering in the prime of youth the palm destined for the labors of a lengthened life.

Moral reflection: "The just that is dead condemneth the wicked that are living, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust." Wisdom 4. 16". Pictorial half hours with the Saints, Abbe Lecanu 1865

Prayer:

"Divine Grace, which called you to the crown of martyrdom, selected you, O Pancras, from the distant land of Phrygia, and led you to the Capital of the Empire — the center of every vice and every error of paganism. Your name, like that of millions of others who were better known to the world, had else been quite forgotten. But now, though your earthly career was soon ended, the name of Pancras is loved and venerated throughout the whole Earth: it is breathed at the altar in the prayers which accompany the Sacrifice of the Lamb. How came you, dear youthful martyr, by this celebrity which will last to the end of the world? It was because having imitated Jesus’ Death by suffering and shedding your blood for His Name, you have been made a sharer in the glory of His immortality. In return for the honor we pay you, deign to aid us by your protection. Speak of us to Jesus who is our Divine Master, as He was yours. In this valley of our exile, we sing our Alleluia for His Resurrection which has filled us with hope. Obtain for us, by your prayers, that we may sing Alleluia with you in Heaven where it will be eternal, and be prompted not by the gladness of hope, but by the bliss of possession." Dom Prosper Guéranger

"O glorious Saint Pancratius, who, in the flower of youth, which for thee was especially rich in the promises of the world didst renounce all, with true greatness of mind, to embrace the faith and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ in a spirit of burning love and profound humility; and who didst joyfully offer thy live for Him in a sublime martyrdom: now that thou art all-powerful with Him hear our prayers. Obtain for us a lively faith that shall be a shining light upon our earthly path, and ardent love of God above all things and of our neighbor as ourselves; a spirit of detachment form the good things of earth and a contempt for the vanities of this world; the grace of true humility in the exemplary profession of the Christian life.

We pray thee in especial manner for all young men. Remember that thou art the patron of youth; do thou therefore by thine intercession, make all young men clean of heart and fervent in piety, and bring them safe to our Lord. Do thou obtain for all of us the happiness of heaven. Amen." The Raccolta

• The Feast of Saint Pancratius (New Liturgical Movement)
  

St. Francis Di Girola

"It would be superfluous to enlarge upon the particular virtues of our saint; his public life being rather the subject of this history. Yet are we unwilling to pass over unnoticed, his great and fervent love of Jesus Christ. Especially he honored and worshiped him in his divine infancy, his sacred passion, and his adorable sacrament. When he meditated upon these mysteries, he was always absorbed and penetrated with love; and when he approached the sacrament of the altar, his countenance glowed, as though he stood before a fire. Nothing provoked his indignation, or drew down his severe rebuke, so much as disrespect towards the blessed Eucharist. He removed many abuses: he would not suffer any levity in the church; and once reproved a lady of quality who had remained seated during the consecration. In like manner he was tenderly devoted to our blessed Lady. For twenty-two years he preached a sermon in her praise and honor every week."

Source: EWTN

Public Domain wikimedia

"Justice and Divine Mercy: When God has resolved to punish the world by great calamities, He raises up saints, who, by means of their prayers, may disarm His justice, and who, by their charity, will satisfy the wants of the poor. St. Antoninus, archbishop of Florence, was of this heavenly temper. The plague had dealt destruction throughout his diocese in 1448; this was followed by a desolating famine, the town and suburbs were in part destroyed but the earthquakes occurring in 1453 and the two succeeding years. Antoninus lavished every care on the dying, and induced his clergy to act in like manner. Of an exemplary simplicity in his tastes, he economized his income for the benefit of the poor, whom he truly loved, being all gentle and affable, and knowing well how to win their affection. Holding in no account whatever he possessed, he gave everything away with liberal hand; and when he had parted with all, he set about collecting more, that he might still give. He was wont to pray with the fervor of an anchorite; and hence it was generally said that Florence owed its preservation to the favor with which God regarded the archbishop. He died in 1459, full of days, and honored with abundant miracles.
Moral reflection: Thus it is in God are found centering "severity and mercy, justice, and peace." (Psa. Lxxxiv.11.)"
Pictorial half hours with the Saints, Abbe Auguste Francois Lecanu 1865

Prayer:

"Pray, O holy Pontiff, for the descendants of them that were faithless to the promise sealed on the very altar on which your hands so often offered up the Sacrifice of unity and peace. Disciple of the great Dominic, inheritor of his burning zeal, protect the holy order which he founded and of which you are so bright an ornament. Show that you still love it. Give it increase and procure for its children the holiness that once worked such loveliness and fruit in the Church.

Holy Pontiff, be mindful of the faithful who implore your intercession at this period of the Year. Your eloquent lips announced the Pasch, so many years, to the people of Florence, and urged them to share in the Resurrection of our Divine Head. The same Pasch, the immortal Pasch, has shone once more upon us. We are still celebrating it. Oh pray that its fruits may be lasting in us, and that our Risen Jesus, who has given us Life, may, by His grace, preserve it in our souls for all eternity." Dom Prosper Guéranger

Apparition of the Cross over Jerusalem

Mary as Mother of Priests is in the Dominican Priory Church of the Holy Cross in Leicester. by Lawrence OP

The Priest's Saturday:

It is something quite simple and easy, yet immeasurable great in its results. You should make it a point to offer the Saturday after the First Friday of each month to your Savior, through the hands of Mary, the great mediatrix of all graces, for the sanctification of all the priests and students for the priesthood throughout the whole world. For this purpose you should give the Saturday wholly and entirely to Him, that is to say, Holy Mass, Holy Communion, all prayers, labors, sacrifices, joys and sorrows. Whatever you cannot do on this day (Holy Mass and Holy Communion) you ought to supply immediately on Sunday. So there is really nothing new for you to do. You merely offer up this Saturday (or even every Saturday or some other day) for the sanctification of priests. It is not a case of any sodality of fraternity or anything like that. Like the First Friday in honor of the Sacred Heart, the Priest's Saturday seeks to become something religiously observed by all the Catholics of the world.

(...) Concern about the holiness of priests is the concern of the Heart of the Divine Savior and of His blessed Mother. Therefore, you also should be sure to take part in this "apostolate to the apostles. " The Holy Father, all bishops, all priests, all students for the priesthood, and especially also your own pastor, earnestly beg of you thus to participate."

Priests' First Saturday

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. Amen

In addition to the above make it a point also to recite frequently the following:

Divine Savior, Jesus Christ, Who Hast entrusted the weal and woes of Thy Holy Church to priests, with all the fervor of my heart I recommend to Thee the wants of my pastor and all priests. Enrich them more and more with true priestly sanctity. Give them generous, all embracing, apostolic hearts, full of love for Thee and for all Thy souls, so that they, being themselves sanctified in Thee, may sanctify us who are confided to their care, and may lead us safely to heaven. Bestow upon them in rich abundance all Thy priestly graces!

Let them ever give us a glowing example of love and fidelity towards Holy Mother Church, towards the Pope, and bishops, and grant that by word and example they may shine as models of every virtue.

Most loving Jesus, bless all their priestly labors and sacrifices! Bless all their prayers and words at the altar and in the confessional, in the pulpit, and in school, in confraternities, and at the bedside of the sick!
Protect and preserve them in all dangers from within and from without.

Divine Savior, give to Thy Church priests who abound in true holiness! Call many good boys and young men to the priestly and religious state! Aid and sanctify all those who are to become Thy priests! And to the souls of departed priests grant everlasting rest.

But to me give a true spirit of faith and humble obedience, in order that in my pastor I may ever behold the representative of God and willingly follow all his teachings. Amen

Source: Priest's Saturday Series, #2 Prayers and Devotions for Priest's Day. used with permission

Papal Bull: Horrendum illud scelus ( August 30, 1568):

Quite opportunely the Fifth Lateran Council [1512-1517] issued this decree: "Let any member of the clergy caught in that vice against nature, given that the wrath of God falls over the sons of perfidy, be removed from the clerical order or forced to do penance in a monastery" (chap. 4, X, V, 31).

So that the contagion of such a grave offense may not advance with greater audacity by taking advantage of impunity, which is the greatest incitement to sin, and so as to more severely punish the clerics who are guilty of this nefarious crime and who are not frightened by the death of their souls, we determine that they should be handed over to the severity of the secular authority, which enforces civil law.

Therefore, wishing to pursue with greater rigor than we have exerted since the beginning of our pontificate, we establish that any priest or member of the clergy, either secular or regular, who commits such an execrable crime, by force of the present law be deprived of every clerical privilege, of every post, dignity and ecclesiastical benefit, and having been degraded by an ecclesiastical judge, let him be immediately delivered to the secular authority to be put to death, as mandated by law as the fitting punishment for laymen who have sunk into this abyss."

Perseverance and Success: St. Helen, the pious mother of Constantine the Great, had conceived the purpose of restoring to the veneration of the faithful the saving wood whereon the Son of God expiated the sins of the world. When nearly eighty years old she repaired to Palestine, to carry out the holy search; but the pagans had for three centuries concealed from the reverence of the faithful this precious memorial, and no one knew what had become of it. Acting on vague suggestions, however, the princess undertook the task of directing excavations to be made towards the summit of Calvary, and, contrary to general expectation, first one cross was discovered, then a second, and subsequently a third, but without an indication to show the reliable worth of either. As perplexity increase, St. Macarius, bishop of Jerusalem, caused a sick woman to be brought to the spot, who, by contact with one of the crosses, was straightway cured; he had a dead body exhumed, and the dead was restored to life. Thenceforth to doubt was no longer possible; this was the Holy Cross of the Savior; it was borne aloft in triumph, and Christendom at large raised its loud acclaim.

Moral reflection: In every undertaking, the beginning merely does not suffice. "Whosoever shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved. St. Matthew 24. 13.

Little Pictorial of the Saints 1910 Abbe Lecanu

"Nikolai Romero Brelinsky, 26, spent his first four years at St. Charles as a seminarian for the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C. He then took a year off for further discernment, working as a Catholic school teacher and Director of Religious Education at his home parish in North Carolina.

It was his close friendship with several Diocese of Allentown seminarians, and his interactions with priests of our Diocese, which prompted him – when he returned to seminary studies at St. Charles Borromeo – to set his goal on being a priest for the Diocese of Allentown.

Brelinsky is the second oldest of eight children. Like several of the men about to become transitional deacons, he was homeschooled during his high school years, a time when his close contact with our faith made it easier, he says, to answer the Lord’s call to the Priesthood.

He is a member of Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Reading, and is a son of Gregory and Tara Brelinsky."

Source: Five Seminarians to Be Ordained Transitional Deacons, the Final Step Before Becoming Priests of the Diocese of Allentown