Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
by VP
Posted on Wednesday March 25, 2026 at 03:00AM in Tradition
"THIS being the day on which the Son of God became incarnate, and took flesh of the Blessed Virgin Mary, give thanks to Almighty God for this his infinite mercy in sending his only Son for the redemption of man. Offer yourself for his servant for ever, who for your sake stoops below the degree of a servant. Admire and honour the humility of the Blessed Virgin; who being chosen Mother of Christ, styles herself only his handmaid: and let her humility be your pattern.
The mercy of this day, when God sent his only Son, to become man for our salvation, ought to imprint so lively an idea in the hearts of all Christians, as to lay a foundation of perpetual praise, adoration, and thanksgiving; and oblige them to be faithful in his service for ever. To be wanting in these duties, is a sufficient conviction that they either do not think, or do not believe. For what less can it be than insensibility, to behold this goodness, and not to adore it; to receive such mercies from the hand of God, and to remain cold and ungrateful under them? An eternal homage and fidelity are therefore the indispensable obligations of every Christian; and those who dispense with themselves, do in fact renounce this sacred character. Are we thus to live on, stupid and unthinking, and be sensible of no other effect of these mercies, but that of our greater condemnation, which we shall draw upon ourselves by our neglect, ingratitude, and contempt? While we see the Almighty do so much on his part, something certainly ought to be done on ours. And what can we do better, than follow the pattern before us?
The second Person of the Blessed Trinity this day assumes our human nature, and becomes man. By this ineffable union of God and man, he has taught us that man may be united to God. This then ought to be the concern of our whole lives, to extend in some manner the Incarnation of the Son of God: that as he is made man, so we by putting on Christ, may be so closely united to him, as to become divine. This union is consummated in heaven, where the blessed souls are wholly absorbed in God: but it is begun, and may be much advanced on earth, whilst Christians being made the adopted children of God, by a participation of the divine nature, may be able to say: We live, and not we, but Christ lives in us. Happy those Christians, who arrive at this point: and happy we, could we this day effectually embrace the method of coming to it.
This can be done only by our constant endeavours to crucify within us the old man, with all its corrupt inclinations and desires, which carry us with violence to sin, to the earth and creatures; and to follow those new impressions, which we receive from God, which separate us from all earthly affections, and raise us to the love of God, and seeking heavenly things. This is taking part with Christ, who, coming to remedy the dismal effects of Adam's fall, teaches his followers to renounce and make war against all that concupiscence, pride, and perverseness, which they inherit from the sin of Adam. For, since Christ and the life which he gives are contrary to Adam, and to the impressions received from him; Christians who put on the new man, and have the spirit of Christ abiding in them, must manifest this new life by stifling all sinful inclinations, and bringing forth the fruits of his Holy Spirit.
In this manner, Christ being the light, which directs their judgment and reason, he being the rule, by which they govern their will and affections; and the source of all that they undertake and do; Christ lives in them, and their life becomes the life of Christ. And though they are still sensible of many corrupt inclinations and natural suggestions in favour of flesh and the world; yet inasmuch as they carefully watch over these, and labour to suppress them, they serve only for their exercise, and daily afford them new matter of triumph. But it cannot be said that they live by them, but rather that they are dead to the world, and have crucified their flesh with its vices and concupiscences." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Prayer to Mary for the Holy Church
Queen of heaven, thy immense love for God maketh thee likewise love His Church. We pray thee, come to its help amidst the ills under which it is now suffering, rent asunder as she is by her own children. Thy prayer, being a mother's, can obtain all from that God Who loveth Thee so well. Pray then, pray for the Church; ask for enlightenment for so many unbelievers who are persecuting it, and obtain for faithful souls the necessary strength to resist being caught in the snares of the unbelievers who would drag them down into their own ruin.
Source: St. Alphonsus' prayer-book, 1888The Salvation of Souls is the Great Work of Priests
by VP
Posted on Wednesday March 25, 2026 at 02:00AM in Meditations
North Carolina Catholic, Use with permission from the Catholic Raleigh Diocese
"To all foregoing considerations permit me to add that the salvation of souls is the great work of priests, whose holy office was founded simply for man's salvation. How weighty are the obligations of priests! What a burden is laid upon their shoulders! Listen to the words of the Prophet Ezechiel, " I will seek that which was lost; and that which was driven away, I will bring again. And I will bind up that which was broken and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve: and I will feed them in judgment." (Ezech. 34, 16). Five things must be observed to discharge these sacerdotal obligations.
The first is for the priest to conduct himself so that his life may be a model of priestly devotion. "Be Thou an example of the faithful in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity." (1 Tim. 4, 12). "In all things shew thyself an example of good works, in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity." (Titus 2, 7). A priest should be such that he may say at all times, " For we are the good odour of Christ unto God" (2. Cor. 2, 15). Thus, he should be a living example of charity, purity, sobriety, humility and patience. He should be like John the Baptist, " A voice of one crying in the wilderness" (Luke 3, 4) that is, crying to sinners in the wilderness of the world: "Do penance".
Do you not know that the robe of the Great High Priest was adorned with little bells to show, as st. Jerome explains, that the priest should be totus vocalis, all voice, and that everything about him should be a tongue preaching and instructing those who come in contact with him.
Nothing is so potent as the example given by the priest be it good or bad. Thus, St. Gregory says that priests deserve eternal damnation as often as they give bad example to those confided to their care.
The priest should be "a burning and shining light". (St. John 5, 35), burning before God, shining before men; burning in prayer, shining in action; burning by example, shining by doctrine. "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven," says St. Matthew (5, 16). And St. Bernard says that "the light shed by a priest must be so strong and so bright that the wind of vanity will not extinguish it."
The second thing that the priest must do is to instruct the faithful on their Christian obligations.. He must teach them to know and love God, to fear and serve Him through obedience to His Commandments. He must lead them to know their Savior, His principal mysteries, Jesus and Mary, the Church and the Sacraments. They must be made to pray in gratitude and petition for pardon and help. They should learn to recite their daily prayers with utmost care, the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, the Creed and the Confiteor. Through exhortations from the pulpit and in catechism classes, the priest should encourage the faithful to cooperate to the fullest extent in their own salvation.
Thirdly, he should eradicate spiritual disorders from the lives of the flock. To do this he must know this people and their conduct. He should be unsparing in his pains to track down and root out evils which may exist; he should frequently visit the schools to instruct and guide the young in the way of salvation. He should enjoin great respect for the church and all holy places, insisting on proper deportment there at all times. He should keep everything pertaining to the altar in good order and see that the liturgical functions are carried our with the dignity becoming the King of heaven and earth.
Fourthly, the priest should practice charity. He should be affable and kind to all without distinction. He should be assiduous in visiting the sick, especially those in danger of death. He should console the afflicted and the needy, and be ever kind to the poor. He should advise those who seek his fatherly counsel, correct those who are wayward and seek to put an end to any quarreling among his parishioners.
Fifthly, he must administer the Sacraments with holiness, for the glory of God and becomingly lest though carelessness he neglect any requisite. Above all else, he should apply himself heartily to the administration of the Sacrament of Penance, for though it he will know the state of his people, their spiritual needs and weaknesses. Through it he will find the means of curing the ailments of their souls. He will open to them unexplored avenues of grace, will spread before them in his instructions and encouragements a banquet of heavenly delicacies.
These are the chief obligations of the priest and he must be ever vigilant lest even one souls be neglected or lost for the Sovereign Pastor will hold him responsible, and the price of Christ's Blood will be visited upon him: "I will require his blood at thy hand." ( Exech. 3, 20). I mention neglect for this makes him a murdered in God's eyes, a murdered of souls committed to his charge.
St. John Chrysostom observes that when priest allow themselves to fall into sin, the people quickly follow. Every soul will be held to a strict accounting of his misdeeds, but the priest will also be held responsible for those of his flock who fall because of his example.
"If each individual soul will find it difficult to render an account of his works on judgment Day, " says St. Augustine, "What must be said of priests, who must give an accounting of the souls committed to their care?"
Source: The Priest His Dignity And Obligations St John Eudes
Day 36. Lent with the Cure d'Ars: Clear your minds
by VP
Posted on Wednesday March 25, 2026 at 02:00AM in Lenten Sermons
"If you desire the worship that you give to God to be pleasing to Him and valuable for the salvation of your soul, put it properly into practice.
Begin by preparing for holy Mass as soon as you are awake, uniting yourself to all the Masses which are being said at that moment. When the bell rings to call you to the house of God, consider the fact that it is Jesus Christ Himself calling you. Start out immediately, so that you will have a moment to meditate upon the tremendous act at which you are about to assist.
Do not say, like those people who have no religion, that you have plenty of time, that you will be there soon enough. But say, rather, with the Holy Prophet: "I rejoice when I am told that we are going into the house of the Lord." When you come out from your home, think about what you are going to do and what you are going to ask of God.
Begin by clearing your mind of earthly matters so that you will be thinking of God only. Avoid all sorts of unnecessary conversations which serve no other purpose than to make you hear Mass badly. When you enter the church, recall to yourself what the holy patriarch Jacob said: "How awesome is this place! How holy it is! It is truly the house of God and the gateway to heaven!" When you get to your place, humble yourself profoundly as you think of your own unworthiness and the greatness of your God, Who, nevertheless, in spite of your sins, wishes to suffer you in His holy presence.
Make an act of faith with all your heart. Ask God to give you the grace to lose none of the many favors which He grants to those who come here with good dispositions. Open your heart so that the word of God may enter it, take root in it, and bear fruit there for eternal life.
Before leaving the church, do not fail to thank God for the graces He has just given you and go straight home, fully occupied with the thoughts of what you have seen and heard.
Yes, my dear children, if we conducted ourselves in this manner, we should never come away from the services of the Church without being filled with a fresh desire for heaven and a new disgust for ourselves and the things of this earth. Our hearts and our minds would be given over altogether to God and not at all to the world. Then the house of God would truly be for us the gateway to Heaven. That is what I desire for you"
Source: The Sermons of the Cure d'Ars 1960 (Public Domain)
Prayer for Lent: O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of Thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Source: Lent with the Cure d'Ars Compiled by the CAPG