Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, priest and Stigmatist
by VP
Posted on Tuesday September 23, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
Mgr. Giuseppe Petralia, Bishop of Agrigento in Sicily said:
"I believe that the moments in which this priest was truly Christ's
Cyrenean were those in which he celebrated Mass. Artists have attempted
to interpret the meaning of Padre Pio's Mass and I feel sure that
theologians will also have a lot to explore in that extraordinary Mass. I
believe that Padre Pio received the grace and the burden not merely of
renewing in a mystical manner the sacrifice of the cross but of living
over again in his heart and in his body the tragedy of the Passion. He
was made to suffer in those moments the agony of Gethsemane, the
scourging in the praetorium, the crowning with thorns, the mockery of
the crowd, of the Sanhedrin and the Roman soldiers, the humiliation of
the unjust sentence, the carrying of the cross, and the crucifixion with
all its torments and humiliations. This was Padre Pio's Mass: a genuine
participation, a mission of reparation." ------Padre Pio: His Life and Mission, pp. 99-100.
Fall Ember Days
by VP
Posted on Tuesday September 23, 2025 at 12:00AM in Prayers
"The Observance of ember-days is of great antiquity in the Church. Their connection with the ordination of the ministers of religion renders them particularly worthy the regard of the faithful. We cannot be too deeply impressed with the blessing granted a people, whose priests are according to Godʼs own heart. To obtain such, no humiliation should be deemed too great; no supplication should be neglected. Whilst therefore we thank God for the fruits of the earth, and humble ourselves for the sins we have committed, we should beg God to supply his Church with worthy pastors." St. Vincentʼs Manual, 1854
Ember days are:
Wednesday: the day Christ was betrayed (Fast and half-abstinence)
Friday: Christ was crucified (Fast and abstinence)
and Saturday: the day Christ was entombed. (Fast and half-abstinence)
These fasts were instituted to sanctify each season of the year, and
thus obtain the favors of God, especially His mercy. They were also
established to obtain the blessing of the Almighty on the fruits of the
land. In spring we pray for fertility; in summer, for preservation of
the crops; in autumn, for a good harvest; and in winter we offer up our
grateful thanksgiving for the blessings received.
The Church, too, wishes us to pray for those who are to be ordained
priests on these days, that they may obtain the graces necessary to
fulfill all their obligations, and the virtues that adorn their sacred
calling. “And when they had ordained for them priests in every church,
and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in Whom
they believed.” (Acts xiv.22.)
As alms generally accompany fasting and prayer, a donation toward the
education of priests for the foreign mission would be in keeping with
the spirit of the Church on these occasions. We ought also to pray for
vocations, especially for the foreign missions. “The harvest is great,
but the laborers few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He
send laborers into the vineyard.” (Matt. ix. 37,38.).
These days should also remind us of asking ourselves how we stand with
regard to God. If there be anything troubling our conscience, we ought
to set it right, and then make good resolutions for the coming quarter.
Thus, keeping ourselves always ready for the final summons, death will
be disarmed of its terrors, and the close of life will be marked with a
beautiful serenity.
“And grant us, while by fasts we strive
This mortal body to control,
To fast from all the food of ins,
And so to purify the soul.”
Source: Curé d'Ars Prayer Group
St. Linus, POPE AND MARTYR, A.D. about 68.
by VP
Posted on Tuesday September 23, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"ST. LINUS was bishop of Rome, and the immediate successor of St. Peter. He presided over the church twelve years; and having faithfully discharged all the duties of a good pastor, was put to death by the sword, about the year 68. Pray for the present bishop of that holy see, and for all the pastors of the Church, that they may be animated with the primitive spirit, and edify all by word and good example. Beg courage and patience for all that suffer and are in trouble. While you are going on in all the methods of softness and pleasing your
self, and read every day of so many servants of God
renouncing this world and all its charms, laboring to overcome their
interior corruption by generous mortifications, and rejoicing to suffer
for Christ; ought not this to raise in your heart some more noble
resolutions of being no longer a slave to
vice, vanity, sloth, and self-love? Are not you born for a better
world, as well as they? Do not you desire heaven for your inheritance?
Why then are you indulging yourself in lazy sleep, while others are laboring for heaven? Why are you courting the world in all the methods of vanity,
while others are seeking to be glorious in heaven, by renouncing these
shadows? Why do you study your palate, spend your time in idleness,
diversions, and intemperance? This is not the way to a happy eternity. Take then another way, and be ashamed to spend that upon a moment, which might be the purchase of what is eternal. The sufferings of the martyrs often call upon you to pray for courage and patience for yourself and all others in time of trouble. Learn something from such repeated examples. If you cannot so far understand the value of patient suffering, as to seek it; accept however of that part which God shall appoint for you. Be once in earnest, and prepare for embracing your present trial or submitting to the next that comes. What kind of Christian are you, if you are only then patient and in good humour, when you have nothing to try you?" The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
