Immaculate Conception in Delta B.C.

http://www.icdeltaparish.com/

 

Sts Joachim & Ann Parish in Aldergrove B.C.

A different parish every week during lent.

Sts Joachim & Ann Parish in Aldergrove B.C  http://www.stsjoachimandann.ca/

Medal of St. Benedict

My kids gave me a St.Benedict medal for my birthday.....cool.
Deo Gratias.

On the front of the medal we find St. Benedict holding a Cross in one hand, and the Rule of St. Benedict in the other. At his sides are the words "Crux S. Patris Benedicti" ("The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict"), and below his feet: "Ex S M Casino MDCCCLXXX" ("From the holy mount of Casino, 1880"). On that date, Monte Cassino was given the exclusive right to produce this medal, and special Jubilee indulgences were added. Still on this front side of the medal we find inscribed in a circle the words:

"Ejus in obitu nostro presentia muniamur" ("May his presence protect us in our hour of death").

The reverse side of the medal is where the real exorcistic force reveals itself. In the center is a Cross. The Cross, which St. Benedict so loved and often used as a powerful exorcism, is the sign before which even Dracula shrinked. The vertical beam of the Cross bears the letters C.S.S.M.L., and the horizontal beam, the letters N.D.S.M.D. These are the first letters of the words:

CRUX SACRA SIT MIHI LUX, May the Holy Cross be a light unto me,
NON DRACO SIT MIHI DUX. And may the Dragon never be my guide.

The four large letters at the corners of the Cross, C S P B, stand for CRUX SANCTI PATRIS BENEDICTI: The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict.

We are not through yet. In addition to the "Pax" ("peace") motto at the top, we find the following letters in a circle around the margin of this side: V.R.S.N.S.M.V.: S.M.Q.L.I.V.B. It almost looks masonic; except, of course, the Benedictines are quite willing to tell you what the letters stand for, and they are enough to make any secret society get the shakes:

VADE RETRO SATANA; NUNQUAM SUADE MIHI VANA.
Get behind me, Satan; Never suggest vain thoughts to me.

SUNT MALA QUAE LIBAS;
The cup you offer is evil;

IPSE VENENA BIBAS!
Drink the poison yourself!

This richly indulgenced medal can be worn around the neck, or be attached to one's Rosary, or simply kept in a pocket or purse. The pious intention of wearing such an object, together with the Church's powerful blessing and intercessory power, make it into an unspoken prayer which has been shown to be of great help in maintaining holy purity, bringing about conversions, protecting against inclement weather and contagious disease.

Certainly if every reader of this book would wear the St. Benedict's Medal, a new wave of exorcism would descend like a storm on the camps of God's enemies.

Papal Medallions Pt.2

Here are some more Papal Medallions that one of my boys received as a Christmas gift. You can find the others in the May.7, 2011 posting.



 Once again...has anyone seen these before?

                       

Catholic Mexico

BTS from our last trip to Mexico ( with a disposable camera )

                               

 Perpetual adoration chapel

 Saint Pius X...with missing thumb

Viva Cristo Rey!

Street Art in Rome

This guy is pretty good.

Blessed Pope Urban II

A thousand years later...what would Blessed Pope Urban II do today?

Council of Clermont 1095

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-5vers.html

Pope Urban II gave a Speech at the Council of Clermont in 1095 to garner support for a crusade to rid the Holy Land of the Turks who had overtaken most of Asia Minor. The following is an overview of different accounts of the Pope’s speech. Throughout all the accounts the same theme is repeated although using different methods of attraction. In some cases men are asked to mark themselves on the forehead or on their clothing with the sign of Christ’s passion, the cross.

Fulcher of Chartres states that Crusaders should fight so that more Christians are not killed and more Christian land is not occupied. The crusaders should fight because Christ commands it, not just the Pope. In this speech the Pope also appeals to remission of sins for those who will go out and fight for this cause.

Robert the Monk’s version of the speech of Clermont 1095 appeals to scripture verses. It is a very passionate speech that entices those who are listening that God is speaking to them through the Biblical scriptures. This version of the speech is very graphic and aims to tug on the hearts of every Christian who is listening. The descriptive tortuous acts are crying out for vengeance. Robert the Monk wants to compare fighting for the Holy Land to emulate that of nobility such as King Charles the Great.

The Gesta version is from an un-named source that focuses on the words of Christ. That if one is to be in eternal glory with Him one must suffer greatly. This version also mentions that the Pope traveled and spoke his speech everywhere he went to garner support.

Balderic of Dol version is an intense, spirited account that begins by painting the invaders as animals that should be flogged. Balderic writes that a true Christian soldier is one who kills for Christ and one who is prepared to die for Christ. The things of this world are not important (not even your wives). Balderic adrenalized the listeners by comparing this new crusading army just as important as the battles of Israel in the Old Testament.

Guibert de Nogent wrote an account that reminds the Christian faithful that they have been given a new life in Christ, and all that they have is owed to Christ, without Christians there is nothing. There is also an appeal on grounds of simple humanity and morals, even if one were not a Christian one should find the atrocities going on to be unacceptable. The Pope also gives his apostolic blessing to those who would take up this fight and blesses their family members under the protection of the Papacy as well.

Pax Christi

Holy Father Steps Down

Fratres carissimi
Non solum propter tres canonizationes ad hoc Consistorium vos convocavi, sed etiam ut vobis decisionem magni momenti pro Ecclesiae vita communicem. Conscientia mea iterum atque iterum coram Deo explorata ad cognitionem certam perveni vires meas ingravescente aetate non iam aptas esse ad munus Petrinum aeque administrandum.
Bene conscius sum hoc munus secundum suam essentiam spiritualem non solum agendo et loquendo exsequi debere, sed non minus patiendo et orando. Attamen in mundo nostri temporis rapidis mutationibus subiecto et quaestionibus magni ponderis pro vita fidei perturbato ad navem Sancti Petri gubernandam et ad annuntiandum Evangelium etiam vigor quidam corporis et animae necessarius est, qui ultimis mensibus in me modo tali minuitur, ut incapacitatem meam ad ministerium mihi commissum bene administrandum agnoscere debeam. Quapropter bene conscius ponderis huius actus plena libertate declaro me ministerio Episcopi Romae, Successoris Sancti Petri, mihi per manus Cardinalium die 19 aprilis MMV commisso renuntiare ita ut a die 28 februarii MMXIII, hora 20, sedes Romae, sedes Sancti Petri vacet et Conclave ad eligendum novum Summum Pontificem ab his quibus competit convocandum esse.
Fratres carissimi, ex toto corde gratias ago vobis pro omni amore et labore, quo mecum pondus ministerii mei portastis et veniam peto pro omnibus defectibus meis. Nunc autem Sanctam Dei Ecclesiam curae Summi eius Pastoris, Domini nostri Iesu Christi confidimus sanctamque eius Matrem Mariam imploramus, ut patribus Cardinalibus in eligendo novo Summo Pontifice materna sua bonitate assistat. Quod ad me attinet etiam in futuro vita orationi dedicata Sanctae Ecclesiae Dei toto ex corde servire velim.
Ex Aedibus Vaticanis, die 10 mensis februarii MMXIII

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

Roman Holiday

Here are a few photos from my last trip to Rome.