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First Sunday after Easter - Holy Melodies of Love

4/10/2021

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My dear Children: On two different occasions Christ said to His Apostles, "Peace be to you." Peace is one of the most precious of all earthly goods and without it men cannot be contented or happy.

We can say with truth that he who has peace is happy. A light-hearted shepherd-boy was tending sheep, one bright spring morning, in a flowery valley, between wooded hills, and singing and skipping about for very joy. The prince of the country, who happened to be hunting in the district, saw him, called him, and said: "Why are you so peaceful and happy, my little fellow?"

The boy did not know the prince and replied: "Why should I not be happy and at peace with the world? Our most gracious prince himself is not richer than I am." "Indeed!" said the prince; "let me hear all that you have." "Why," replied the boy, "the sun in the bright blue sky shines as pleasantly for me as for the prince, and hill and valley are as green for me as for him. I value my hands more than a hundred thousand crowns, and I would not sell my eyes for all the jewels in the prince's treasury. In addition to this, I have all that I desire; because I never wish for anything more than I need. Can you say that the prince has more?" The good prince laughed, made himself known to the lad, and said: "You are right, my good boy; and the prince perfectly agrees with you." What salt is to food, peace is to life. The best dishes do not taste well when salt has been omitted in their preparation, and all we may possess, good health, great riches, honor and reputation, cannot constitute happiness without peace. What an unhappy home where father and mother do not agree. As soon as they open their eyes in the morning, anger and bitterness arise with them, and they quarrel from morning till night. In consequence of such discord families are often reduced to poverty. If there be a happy life it is a peaceable life. Nothing tends so much to make life sweet and agreeable as peace.
 
On the banks of a certain river which flows through the southern part of this country there was, in the year 1834, a village of huts erected by negroes. Through the zeal of missionary fathers who dwelled there, many embraced the Catholic religion. So long as the good fathers remained, these poor negroes gave great edification by their fervor and piety, but when the fathers left, this fervor began to diminish. Strife arose and evil tongues made trouble, especially between a certain man and his wife, and their quarrel was carried so far that they even refused to eat at the same table. Their unholy conduct became a source of scandal to the community.

When one of the missionaries happened to visit the village he was informed of the quarrel of this couple. He directed that they should be brought before him and said unto them: "My children, you must mutually forgive each other. Jesus Christ commanded that you should love one another. In the name of Jesus Christ, therefore, forget the past and renew the love you formerly had for each other."

The missionary's words caused a great change of heart to come upon them, and they exclaimed: "O Father, it is true that we have sinned, and we humbly ask God's pardon." Then, turning towards his wife, the husband said: "I forgive you; will you also forgive me ?" "From my heart!" she answered.

The good Father fervently thanked God for this happy change. "My children," he said, "I feel assured that from this time your lives will be full of peace and harmony." The solemn promise they had made was sincere, as was proved by their fidelity in keeping it.

Children, we must learn to preserve peace by being patient with others. Each and every one of us has his faults. None of us are saints. We may find many things in our companions hard to bear; we must look up to Jesus and the saints, who endured the greatest insults with heavenly patience.

There was a little girl whose name was Louise. One evening after her good mother had tucked her into bed and kissed her goodnight, she said: "I was a peace-maker to-day, mamma." "A what, dear?" said her mother, who had never heard her use that big word before. "A peace-maker," said Louise. "You know what that means, mamma, don't you ?" "But how were you a peace-maker, Louise? I did not know there was any quarreling." "Oh, it was not anything like that," said Louise; "it was just that I knew something and didn't tell it." Then, of course, her mother knew that her little daughter had heard some mean, naughty story about one of her little friends and had kept it to herself and told no one. In the same, beautiful way, you and I, like little Louise, can be peacemakers.

We can suppress bad stories by not telling them. We can kill bad thoughts by not harboring them. We can be silent about the bad, and think and speak and feel only about the good.

The blessing of peace shows itself when we share the joy and sorrow of our fellow man, sharing happiness and pain like the members of one large family. Sympathy unites the hearts, whilst the want of sympathy separates them. Oh, how it does hurt us to see those who are near and dear to us care nothing about our welfare.

Felix Mendelsohn was one of the greatest musicians of the world. His beautiful music is loved and played wherever people love and play music. One day he went to an old cathedral where there was a wonderful organ. Felix had often had a desire to play it. On entering the sacred edifice he found an old man in charge of everything around the church. He asked permission to play the organ, but the old man shook his head, and said, "No, no, no, that can never be;" no stranger can ever be permitted to play that wonderful instrument. Mendelsohn begged so hard to be allowed to play that at last the old man gave his consent and the great musician began to play. The man listened and never in all his life had he heard such wonderful music.

Now, boys and girls, your life and mine are just like a great music instrument. There often comes One to us who asks permission to make use of our talents and of our time. He is not a stranger. His name is Jesus, and if we let Him, He will bring forth from our lives the most beautiful music. He will turn our discords into peace, and fill all life with harmony and happiness.

Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. These words show how dear to God is the cause of peace, since our Lord pronounces blessed those who promote it, and declares that they are the true children of His heavenly Father. Peace with God and peace with one another. Whoever, therefore, promotes this two-fold peace by converting the sinner to God, and by healing or preventing quarrels among men, inherits this blessing, and shows himself to be a true disciple of Jesus and child of God.
 
Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921
 



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Easter Sunday - Easter Joys

4/3/2021

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My dear Children: Today all Christendom is filled with joy and gladness; and in every land is heard the oft-repeated Alleluia. In all tongues and climes hymns of praise and thanksgiving ascend to the throne of God.

Why this joy? It is on this day the voice of God is heard assuring us that the dead can and will rise again, to enter upon a new and never-dying life. Sometimes a little child dies. That only means that the beautiful angel-like spirit which is in each one of us has left this child's body and flown up to God in heaven. It is bitter for us to lose those we love, but they are happy to go to God. We know that this is true, because after Jesus had died on the cross, after His body had been laid in the grave, His spirit came back to His body, to show us that if we are God's children death is nothing to be afraid of. This is the day Jesus came back to tell His dear friends that they must not be sad because He died.

You have just learned from the gospel how soldiers were placed near the grave to guard it, but the second night, towards morning, when it was beginning to get light, there was a noise and a shaking of the ground, and a beautiful angel came down from heaven and rolled the huge rock back from the cave. The soldiers trembled with fear and ran away.

Among the friends who came to visit Jesus at the tomb was Mary Magdalen. She had loved Jesus with all her heart, for He had been very good to her, making her life, which had been sinful and bad, sweet and good. She came to find the grave empty, and leaving the spot with a heavy heart she turned back. On her way out she met a man in the garden. Her eyes were so full of tears that she could not see plainly, and she supposed that He was the gardener. He asked her: "Why weepest thou ?" She answered:

"Sir, if thou hast borne Him away, tell me where thou hast laid Him?"  Then the man said, in a voice she knew and loved more than any voice on earth, "Mary !" Who do you think it was ? It was Jesus, and when she heard His voice she turned, and knelt at His feet, crying with great joy, "Master!"

So Jesus came to His disciples, to one by one, or two or three together. And at last they all knew that He was really risen from the dead—that He was alive. And they learned, too, what we must learn and never forget, that as Jesus rose from the dead, so we and all those we love rise also. Sometimes when we go to sleep at night it is dark and stormy and we feel tired and fearsome, but when we wake in the morning the sky is blue, the sun is shining and we are cheerful. Dying is very much like this; falling to sleep here, when our course is run, and we are tired after all our trials and tribulations, and waking in heaven with Jesus.

That is why Jesus came back on that Easter morning after He had died on the cross; to show us that death is nothing to be afraid of, for it means going to be with Him.

When the pagans were leading St. Pionius to the place of martydom, they were surprised to see the joy that lighted up his countenance, and how eagerly he ran towards the place of His death.
"What makes you so happy?" they asked him, "and why do you run forward with so much eagerness to death?" "You are mistaken," answered the martyr, "I am not going to death; I am about to begin a life that will never end." This is how the saints spoke of what the world calls death.

However long or sweet may be the pleasure of the draught of life, and health, and prosperity, all finally come to the one bitter drop at the bottom of the cup. And that is death. The Church, the divinely instituted Guardian of God's word, tells us that Christ has conquered death. All who die shall rise again from the dead, because our Saviour Jesus Christ, first of all, rose from the dead, and promised that the change of a similar resurrection should come upon all mankind. Bitter as death may be, the hope of the resurrection is a complete antidote. A "happy death" is a common saying among Catholics. It is a resurrection to eternal life.

In the life of the holy martyr Pamphilius we read that many pagans who saw the great joy that filled the Christians, when they were condemned to die for Jesus Christ, wondered how they could be so happy. And when they were told that it was because they were so soon to see God in heaven and to enjoy the happiness God had prepared for them, they also wished to become Christians, that they might share in that happiness.

They had not long to wait for the martyr's crown. For the Prefect of Cesarea, hearing of what had taken place, sent soldiers to bring them before him. One of the first questions he put to them was: "What country do you belong to ?" "Our country is heaven," was the answer; "it is there where our God and our Saviour dwells. After He had suffered and died, and rose again from the dead, He went up to heaven to prepare a place for us. So heaven is our home."
The Prefect was very angry at the tone of confidence in which they said these words and commanded them to suffer the most inhuman tortures.

Children, many Catholics think so much of the world that they seem to forget that the world is not their proper goal. Judging from the lives of some Christians, a person would not think that they ever think of death.

Many years ago there was a certain lord who kept a fool in his palace, as many great men did for their amusement in those days.

Now, this lord had given the fool a staff and charged him to keep it till he met with one that was a greater fool than himself, bidding him, if he met with such a one, to deliver the staff to him. Not many years after, the lord fell sick, and, indeed, was sick unto death.

The fool came to see him, and the sick master told him that he and hast made no orders for thy comfort in a place from which thou wilt never return? Take my staff, for I am not guilty of any such folly as this."

Children, we will ask ourselves, have I a right to participate in the Easter joy of to-day, or am I only making an outside show, while my conscience tells me I am a hypocrite? What kind of a life would I rise to on the day of resurrection if I died' tonight? What would Jesus Christ find in me that looks like Him, and therefore give me a share in His glorious resurrection ? Dear Children, that is what He wants to find in us all. Let us now rise from all that is deadly or corrupt in the life we are leading, and Jesus will be sure to find in us what will entitle us to a resurrection to eternal happiness.
 
Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921


 

 

 
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Palm Sunday - Perseverance

3/27/2021

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"Hosanna to the Son of David," is the joyful acclamation with which the Jews greeted our Lord to-day as He made His entrance into the royal city. But how quickly that has changed, for within a few days after the same people begin to cry out: "Crucify Him." Who would imagine such inconstancy possible? Sad to say, children, this occurs every day. Just think what have you done, for as often as you commit a mortal sin you have rejected Jesus and crucified Him anew. The glorious Hosanna which arose in your heart at the reception of Holy Communion was by your sinful deeds exchanged for the fearful "Away with Him, crucify Him." You have, indeed, done this, and not like the Jews through blindness, but with the full knowledge that Jesus is your Saviour. You have been shamefully inconstant to Him, who has never injured you, who loved you and died for you. Should not the greatest sorrow penetrate your hearts? Should you not with your whole heart renew your resolution to remain loyal to your Saviour.

A pious mother who had brought up her son with great care, seeing him about to leave her to enter the world, desired to give him a lesson. For two days she gave him nothing to eat but sweet food. At first the young man was pleased with it, thinking that his mother was very kind to him before leaving home. But when the evening of the first day had come, he asked her to give him some solid food. But she told him that he must be content.

The next day when he received the same kind of food, he became so disgusted with it that he could not even look at it, and he asked his mother to give him some plain bread. His mother said to him: "My dear child, I had a special object in placing before you all these dainty dishes. You are about to enter the world that is full of wickedness and ungodliness. It will put before your eyes many pleasing things— glory, honor, riches and pleasures. They simply dazzle the eye. They may be very pleasant for the moment, but they engender remorse. Do not allow yourself to be deceived by them. Yesterday I saw how you loved the sweets I placed before you. Today you are filled with disgust. So it is with those who allow themselves to be deceived by the world. Pleasures soon bring bitterness. Learn a lesson, as soon as you are tempted by these things, thrust them aside and be content with the plain food of the Christian—that is bearing patiently with all your crosses here on earth, that you may obtain an eternal reward in Heaven."
What will it avail us to begin in the grace of God if we do not persevere in it? Not the beginning, but the end of life decides our fate. Judas began well, but how did he end? On the other hand, St. Mary Magdalen and the good thief on the cross persevered in good, that is why they ended as elect children of God.

In a certain college there lived a boy by the name of Paul who was remarkable amongst all the other boys for his gentleness, his piety, and his good conduct; every one loved him. To look at him one would have thought that he had never committed any sin. But such was not the case. There had been a time when that boy, now so gentle, so mild and good, had been a slave to sin. The following is the story of his life and conversion; it was himself who told it to one of his masters: "I was once a good boy; so long as I was near my good mother, and until I was eleven years old, I did not know what mortal sin was. At that time it happened that one day when I was in the fields playing with my companion who was a little older than myself, he taught me to do what was a mortal sin. From that moment I became most unhappy; I could find no peace night nor day, because I knew that if I died in that state I should be sent to hell for all eternity.
"What made my state more awful still was this, that I also went and made two other innocent companions commit a grievous sin. When I came to this college I was quite as bad. I was perfectly miserable, and when I saw others who were so pious and so good I wondered if it. were possible that I could be like them.

"Some of my companions came and asked me to become a member of one of the sodalities of the children of Mary. I joined it just for appearance's sake. It was then for the first time I heard of that little prayer: “O my Queen and my Mother, protect me, help me, for I am thine.' I began to say it every day, and it was not long before I went to confession. I made a good confession; and oh, how happy I felt then.

"But I began to think of the terrible things I did in making the two children commit sin, so I am going to become a brother of that religious community which has specially for its object the pious education of the young, that I may be the means of saving more souls than I may have caused to be lost.

"Temptations often come back to me; but when they come I immediately remember the little aspiration: 'O my Queen and my Mother.' I at once say it, and then the temptation soon goes away."

Take away perseverance and what remains ? All else is vain and useless ; to no purpose all your good works and piety, mortification and mercy, to no purpose so many sufferings endured. Perseverance is the crown of all good, for without it we cannot obtain that which alone is good and desirable. Perseverance is the narrow way through which we must force ourselves at any cost. Perseverance is the pearl of all graces, since those who have obtained it now dwell in the land of peace and happiness.

There was once a rich count called Otho, who had a daughter whom he loved with great affection. One day the child was amusing herself with some beads of glass, with which she seemed to be much pleased. Her father was sitting by the fire watching her. My child," he said, "these are pretty beads you are playing with." Yes, papa, they are very beautiful, and I am delighted with them." Well, then," said the father, "take them up and throw them all into the fire." The child looked up into her father's face to see if he was in earnest. One glance told her he was. "Well, dear child, you may do as you please, but you know that when I ask you to do something, it is always because I, who love you so tenderly, see that it will be best for you." The girl at these words gathered up the beads and threw them into the fire. Her father said nothing, but he seemed much pleased at the ready obedience of his dear little girl.

"Now, my child, you will soon see how your father can reward you for that heroic sacrifice you made to please him. He then drew forth from a little draw a little casket and drew out a beautiful necklace, made of glittering diamonds. "This, my child, is for you. I wanted to see if you loved me more than yourself. Take this then, my dearest little one, and when you wear it, it will remind you that your Father in Heaven will reward you with a reward surpassing all understanding in the world to come, if you obey Him in this life, and sacrifice everything rather than displease Him by breaking His commandments."

The saints have persevered unto the end and what they have done we also with a good will can accomplish. Children, we must faithfully cooperate with the graces which our Lord will abundantly grant us for our salvation. We must fight the good fight, scrupulously avoid the dangers and occasions of sin, be diligent in prayer, in the reception of the sacraments and mindful of our last end.

Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921
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Passion Sunday - Jesus Our Model of Meekness

3/20/2021

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My dear children: What a great insult is not offered to the All holy Son of God. The innocent Saviour is told to His face that He had the devil. And yet, what answers our Lord to such a blasphemy? Does He call the lightning from Heaven ? Does He command the earth to open and swallow them? He surely had the power and the right to do so. But the Sacred Heart of Jesus knows no revenge. It breathes only love, meekness and pardon.

Meekness, children, is that virtue which keeps in subjection the emotions of anger, which so often arise within us, by sentiments of peace. It keeps the soul calm and tranquil; it makes us act towards our neighbor with sympathy and kindness, and banishes all harshness from our words and actions.

A young gentleman who did not like St. Francis de Sales went one evening to his house and raised a great tumult under the very window of the room where the saint was sitting by making his dogs bark loudly and his servants cry out most insulting words. He did this that he might show his hatred for the saint; but St. Francis seemed not to pay any heed to what he was doing. Seeing that the saint was not in the least disturbed by the noise, the man had the audacity to go into his house, and even into the room where the saint was sitting, and to utter words of the greatest insolence before his very face. Yet the saint made no reply. This made the man still more angry, and he became even more insolent than before, and continued his insulting language till he became exhausted. At length, seeing he could not make the saint angry, he went away.

As soon as he had gone out, the friends of the saint asked him how he had been able to bear so patiently such insolence. St. Francis answered: "It is not because I did not feel it, for in my heart I was much tempted to rise up and order him away; but I have long ago made an agreement with my tongue that when my heart is disturbed it is to not say one word till the angry feeling has died away. It was in this manner that I was able to bear so patiently with him who spoke to me with so much anger." How do we act when insulted? Have we for our enemies only words of love? How often do we not act contrary to the beautiful example of Christ? At the least insults our proud soul blazes forth like so many darts of fire.

Sad to say, many Christians are transformed into furious animals at any inconsiderate word or a harmless joke. Must we not blush with shame when we consider the meekness of our Redeemer? You curse, your Saviour blesses; you wish to annihilate your enemy and Jesus bestows benefits on him. What can you expect from God in life and death when you trample under foot His commandment of loving your enemy? You deprive yourself of the grace and love of God. Your heart has become a home of Satan.

A woman went to a priest to complain of her husband's passion and temper and angry words. The priest who knew that her tongue also was very busy, gave her a small bottle of pure water. "Take this," he said, "and when next your husband gets angry, take a mouthful and you will soon find the value of it; your husband will remain quiet." An opportunity soon presented itself, and she followed the advice she had received; the same a second time, and a third, with the marvelous results that were promised ! Returning to thank the priest for what she considered a miraculous water, he said: "There's no miracle in the water: your own tongue has done the good by keeping silence for once; the only merit the water has is to have forced you to keep silence, for you were unable to talk whilst you had your mouth full."

The beautiful example of our Saviour teaches us how we should behave when the passions of others fall upon us and we are made the butt of accusations, just or unjust. How worldly is not your conduct on such occasions; the world counts it true valor and justice to give tit for tat, to take tooth for tooth, and eye for eye. A calm denial or a dignified silence is the Christian way, the better way. One word brings on another, you would act like the Jews who began to throw stones-r-you bring about deadly feuds, bodily injuries and perhaps bloodshed and the jail. A cow kicked a lantern over and Chicago was on fire for days. Some frivolous accusation that you pick up, while you should let it fall, starts within, you a fire of anger that makes a ruin for your whole spiritual life and throws disorder all around you. Peace flies from your homes, your social surroundings, your own hearts; the very horrors of hell are around you. Christian charity has been wounded to death and the slightest of blows has done it. One-half of the sins of the world would be done away with if only the lesson of this Gospel were taken to heart and put into practice.

There was once a shepherd boy named David who lived out on the hills day and night, taking care of his father's sheep. He was living so happily, singing and playing his harp. At the same time there lived a king in the city near by, who was as sad as David was joyful. The king lived in a great, beautiful palace, his robes were made of purple and gold, and he feasted on the finest food in the land—yet he was filled with sadness.

"What shall we do for him ?" the people asked. "What will make our king happy again and brave, as he used to be?" A soldier who remembered the shepherd boy out on the hills proposed to send for him. The people could hardly wait for him to come, for they learned that he played a harp and sang so well. This was their last hope of curing the king.

At last David came, his golden hair shining, his face full of joy. His harpstrings were twined with sweet, fresh lilies to keep the strings from breaking in the heat. Do you think he was afraid? He was only a boy, you know. All the people were watching him as he approached the tent where the king lay sick. He was not afraid of the lion that stole the lamb. Whom did he trust to help him then? So now again he trusted God to help him cure the great king. For a moment he knelt in prayer upon the sand outside the tent, then lifting the tent curtain he went in, saying: "Here is David, thy servant." There was darkness, but in the middle of the tent he saw something very dark, an object moving about. It was the king, miserable and half dead leaning upon the wooden bar which went across the tent.

Quickly David took the lilies off the harpstrings and began to play. He played first the tune all the sheep knew, soft and sweet, which brought them home one after another as the stars come out. Then he played other tunes. At last the great figure moved. He moved his head, and the red and blue jewels flashed. And as David began to sing about the king, the wonderful soldier he had been, the king stood up and laid one of his large hands on the boy's head. He was better, David knew, but not well yet. Throwing aside his harp, he began again to sing. He sang about God now, of His love for animals, and of His love for us. It was such a wonderful song, it filled the whole tent with joy and gladness.

When David finished that song he stole quietly out of the tent and ran home in the night, joyfully, oh, so joyfully, for he knew that king Saul was well again. He was the great, brave king he used to be; the shepherd boy had cured him.

We cannot play the harp or sing as David did, but we can all have joyful, shining faces such as his was, and be as meek and as humble. Shall we try to see how bright and cheerful we can look? Remember how one happy boy healed a great, wretched king, and see what we can do.
Fortify yourselves with the armor of holy meekness, and whe ever you are insulted, should you be tempted to take revenge, take immediate recourse to prayer and say: "For the love of you, O Jesus, I will forgive with my whole heart.”  The true Christian wards off, he does not give the thrust, he does not shoot back. He pities his enemies for the evil they do; he forgives them and prays for them, as our Lord has commanded. This is Christian charity and humility as well.
 
Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921

 


 

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The Second Sunday of Lent - Our True Home

2/28/2021

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My dear children: Last Sunday we found our dear Lord in the desert, today we see Him on Mount Tabor transfigured. What a change! from fasting and prayer in the desert to glory and beauty on the mountain. Our Lord wants to teach us how well we shall be rewarded if for His sake and for the salvation of our soul we fast and pray; then we shall see God in all His infinite glory and majesty in heaven, and full of rapture we shall cry out: Lord it is good for us to be here.

Although we labor for our temporal life we must not forget to labor for our eternal life. Religion obliges us to keep the commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. The man who obeys God and His Church, if he prays, hears the Word of God and frequently receives the Sacraments worthily, that person labors for eternal life.

I have heard of a lady who had a very strange dream. You know how strange most of our dreams are. And this was a strange dream. She was a very rich woman, and the people said that she was a very good woman. One night she dreamed that she went up to heaven and one of the angels showed her through the streets of the beautiful city. She saw such beautiful houses and palaces as she had never seen before. At last she came to one that was just being built. It was more beautiful than those around it, and she asked her guide whose it was. "Oh," said the angel, "that is for your gardener."

The lady was much surprised, and said : "For my gardener ! Why he is only a poor man and has always lived in a little bit of a house." The angel said nothing, but led her on through the streets and avenues of the city. Soon they came to a plain-looking house, low roofed and very simple. Of course it was beautiful, for everything is beautiful in heaven, but it was not like the other fine palaces she had seen. Then she asked the angel whose the little low cottage house was. The angel said, "This is to be your house." "Mine?"said the lady. "Why, I have always lived in a mansion down on the earth” "Yes, I know," said the angel, "but the Great Builder is doing the best He can with the material that is being sent up."

That is a strange dream, but you know what it means. We are all building our lives and characters for heaven, and we are doing it now. Every kind deed, and every true word and every beautiful thought dedicated to God are stones in the building. The kind of house we will live in will depend on the kind of stuff we are putting into our lives now.

There are many who do not labor for eternal life. They give way to curses and blasphemies, they desecrate Sundays and holidays, they are disobedient to their parents and grieve them; they live in enmity with their neighbors and commit frauds and injustices; they eat meat on Fridays and days of abstinence; they neglect to hear Mass on Sundays and holy days, and they keep away from confession and Holy Communion. Why are there so very many who do not labor for eternal life? It is simply because they never think of heaven, they never say to themselves: It is good to be in heaven. They do not consider what a great blessing heaven is, what unspeakable happiness the saints enjoy.

One day a little boy presented himself before the King of Cochin China, who was persecuting the Church and the Christians. He threw himself on his knees before him and asked permission to speak. The permission being granted, he said : "Mandarin, cut off
my head with the sword, that I may go to my country."

"Where is your country?" asked the judge. "It is in heaven," replied the child. "And where are your parents ?" "They are gone home to heaven, and I want to follow them. Oh, sir, give me a stroke with the sword and send me there too."

The mandarin was struck with admiration at the faith and courage of the boy, but refused to grant him his request. But this child received from God the glory of the martyrs on account of his great desire of being a martyr.

Our Divine Lord tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away. A pious life has many pains and hardships. The Christian who conquers himself is a greater hero than the general who takes fortresses and subdues mighty kingdoms.

There was once a pious widow who did not enjoy much worldly wealth, but possessed that which is so much more precious, the one true Faith. She had a little daughter by the name of Dorothy, who, when she grew up to be a big girl, began to show signs of thoughtlessness, and many a time did the poor mother weep over the faults of her dear child.

When she was ten years old, her mother, although she was poor, sent her to a convent to live for a time under the care of the pious Sisters. Dorothy remained in the convent for two years, after which time she returned to her mother's home. But what a change had come over her during these two years. People who knew her before she went to the convent could not believe that she was the same girl.

She who had been so disobedient and idle was now an example to all her companions by her gentleness, patience, obedience and piety, although she was only a little more than twelve years old. In a short time the people came to know that she was really good.

The priest of the place was full of joy when he saw in his parish one who gave such good example. One day he said to Dorothy: "Tell me what has made you so good ?" "Father," she meekly answered, "I am not good, but I would like very much to be good, and I am trying very hard to be good. "When I was in the convent, one of the Sisters' asked me if I wanted to be good. I said: 'Yes Sister, I would like to be very pious.' 'Then,' said she, 'the easiest way to be pious is to take Jesus Christ for your model, and whatever you do, do it to please Him!'

So when I rise in the morning and say my prayers I think I see the Child Jesus rising when His mother called Him. When I am at work I think I see Jesus helping St. Joseph or Mary in the house; and when I am told to do anything I think I see my dear Jesus told by His Blessed Mother to do this or that, and that I see Him doing it immediately.' "But my child," said the priest, "when people were speaking against you, and calling you a hypocrite, did you not feel angry with them?" "Ah, dear Father," she replied, "that was a heavy cross; but the Sisters had told me that I would have many crosses to bear if I wanted to be good, so when I heard the falsehoods they were telling about me, and the names they called me, I remembered how the Jews called Jesus names and He said nothing, but only prayed to God for their forgiveness. So I did the same." "Then you do sometimes find it difficult to be good?" "Ah, yes, Father, sometimes I am very much tempted, and sometimes I become so very sad and weary that I often think that it is no use trying to be good. But then I remember that Jesus Himself was sometimes weary and sad, especially that time when He saw so many people turning their backs upon Him and leaving Him. Then I think Him saying to me: 'And you my daughter, are you also going to leave me? Surely you will not sin against me after I have been so good to you ?'
"Then I say, 'No, my God, I will never leave Thee. To whom should I go if I left Thee? I will love Thee in weariness as well as in joy till I die; but O my God, help me." "My dear child," said the priest, "you have learned your lesson well, and what is far better, you know how to practice it. Go on as you are doing, fight the good fight and you will have gained much merit for heaven."
What is better than to take Jesus as our model and do everything as Dorothy did for His sake? As long as we are in this world we must fight against sin and our own evil inclinations, and if we do that we shall one day see God in heaven; that is what is meant by the good fight.

The thought of the joys of heaven should encourage us in all our toil and sufferings. Say frequently: it is good to be in heaven. With this maxim on our lips and in our hearts we will be brave enough to toil and suffer and finally merit heaven.
 
Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921


 

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Catechism Stories with Comprehension Questions

2/12/2021

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I came across some beautiful Catechism stories with Questions from a book titled, "Catholic Education Series."  It has an imprimatur of 1908. I made files of them to share with my children during Holy Week as the stories pertain to that time in the Life of Christ.  There are comprehension questions after each lesson that I made worksheets out of as well.  Feel free to print them and use them for your family.  I wish that I had the whole set of these.  They are lovely.
lenten_catechism.docx
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lenten_catechism_worksheets.docx
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A Blessed Ash Wednesday - Lenten Printables to Share

2/12/2021

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We would like to share a couple of printables that we use each Lent to help us keep on track.  The child can either mark off each day as it passes or place one of the Sacred Heart stickers on their cross in the appropriate spot.

May you all have a blessed and fruitful Lent.
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my_lenten_cross.pdf
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sacred_heart_stickers.pdf
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Lent is Just Around the Corner - Sharing a few Lenten Projects Below

2/12/2021

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With Ash Wednesday fast approaching I thought I would share with you some of our past posts with  Lenten printables you may find useful.  May you all have a blessed and fruitful Lenten Season!

My Lenten Cross Printable

Stations of the Cross and Stabat Mater printing book.

Station of the Cross and Stabat Mater handwriting book.

Prayer for Everyday of Lent printing practice.

Prayer for Everyday of Lent handwriting practice.
 
Stations of the Cross Coloring Book.


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Lenten Lapbook and Tutorial

2/12/2021

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Sharing our Lenten Lapbook again for those who have asked for it. 
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Sacrifice after Sacrifice, Prayer by Prayer,
The day of our Redemption
will soon be here.

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As we prepare for Lent, which starts on Ash Wednesday we thought we would share a tutorial on piecing together our Lenten Lapbook. At the bottom of this post are the files for the lapbook. Just below is a tutorial on making a single copy of the lapbook.  Thank you to my dear friend CeAnne for making this tutorial for us its beyond my ability.

What you will need:
 - 16 Sheets of Cardstock (regular paper will do if that is what is to be had)
- 2 sheets of Address Labels (We used Avery's 1" x 2 5/8" #8160)
Again if all that is had is card stock or plain paper, use scissors and glue to accommodate.
- 1 or 2 purple file folders (any purple will do,we used this box so that we could use the other colors for things such as blue in May for our Blessed Mother, but these or these over on Amazon will work too.  (And no I'm not an affiliate ;) )
- A color printer (black will do too, just color items in by hand)
- Scissors
- Glue
- 1 sandwich bag that seals
-Stapler
-Small piece of purple ribbon or string
-Willing hands and a Lenten spirit!

Start by Printing and Prepping Your Pieces

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Please note: When printing, check your printer settings. All printers are different, but on mine the default is not set to a specific printer. In my print screen, I have to open the page setup, select my printer. If I print without doing this the size of the image on the paper is not right. Its very important when printing on the address labels that this is done right. 

Print Your Cover - There are two Choices

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1.) Print one of the two Lenten Lapbook covers, for EACH of the Lapbooks you plan on making. Carefuly and slowly color the picture of Our Lord that you chose. Cut out along the edges of the image. 

Print the History of Lent and All for Jesus Booklets

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2.) Print the History of Lent and All for Jesus Booklets, in color, double sided.  Cut along the outside edge of both books, DO NOT CUT DOWN THE MIDDLE (insert mother voice here to children… may need to be repeated, or maybe tri-peated? ;) ) Fold down the middle of each booklet. Either at this point or once your lapbook is put together, read with your child the History of Lent. Then fill out the All for Jesus Book with things that your child plans on doing more of and things that your child will plan on doing less of during Lent. Set aside these books as we will put the lapbook together once all the elements are ready to go.

Print the Countdown Cross

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3.) Print one copy, per lapbook you are making, of the Lenten Countdown Cross. Print in Color, single sided on card stock (if you are using card stock). Cut on the outside edge of the cross. DO NOT (in mother voice again) cut the lines inside the cross. Set aside for later.

Print the Holy Week Matchbox Booklets

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4.) Print the Holy Week Matchbox Booklets AND the Passion Sunday File (with other pieces),   2 sided, in color. Cut each piece out around the outside bounding box. Set aside for later.

Print the Stations Pocket & Resurrection Flip Book

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5.) Print out the Stations Pocket and Resurrection flap book. Single sided, in color. Cut along the outside edges, do not cut the lines inside the book. 

If you want color the outside flaps of the Resurrection Flip book yellow and write He has Risen! On one flap. Using the picture of the Resurrection (printed in the step above), glue it to the inside square of the flap book. Fold the sides in starting with the top flap, then counter clock-wise. The last flap gets tucked under the first to hold it closed. For th e Stations pocket, fold the large flap back on the line then fold in the side flaps. Glue the back of the side flaps to the back flap to make a pocket.5.) Print out the Stations Pocket and Resurrection flap book. Single sided, in color. Cut along the outside edges, do not cut the lines inside the book. 

Print the Stations of the Cross

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7.) Print the Stations of the Cross. Cut to fit the pocket that was printed above, so that they are all similar in size making sure not to cut off any words or parts of the picture. We have one child that was able to do this fine and the other I drew lines around with a ruler and blue pen to give him some guides. If you wish, lovingly, reverently, while meditating on each picture, color the pictures of Our Lord's Way of the Cross. 

Now Print your Stickers

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8.) Print the Sacred Heart and Flower Stickers on the address labels. Make sure to check your printer settings (see above). Print single sided in color. Cut down each set of 5 (with the Avery labels there is a non sticker gutter there) and then cut down each row. Store in a plastic bag. The Sacred Heart Stickers will be used to count down the days of Lent with on the count down cross. The flowers are placed on the Crown of Thorns for every good deed and sacrifice the child does so that by Easter they have turned the Crown of Thorns into a wreath of flowers for Jesus.

Putting it All Together! Lets start with folding the folder!

First open your file folder like a book….

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Next, fold the right side to the middle of the folder...

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Once you have folded the right side in it will look like this...

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Now fold the other side so that it lines up with the cut of the side you just folded.

When you get it folded it will look like this, divided into 4 sections. Since that branding mark was showing inside our folder, I turned it over and creased the folds in the opposite direction.
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Time to start placing the pieces in their new home….

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Glue HALF of your cover piece to the left side, of the front of your file folder.
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Glue the Crown of Thorns to the lower right of the cross. The middle of the Crown will have the crease of the folder behind it, that is ok, it will fold with the folder.
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Open your folder like a book and glue your Lenten Cross Count Down in the center.
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Add the History of Lent Book to the left top side of the folder. Glue the All for Jesus book to the top right of the folder. 
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Fold your Holy Week Match Books: Fold the picture part at the line over the text. For the two small ones that will be the only step, just folding them in half.
If the matchbook is longer, fold UP the bottom part under the picture part.
Glue in your lapbook in order (Palm Sunday, Passion Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Black Friday and Holy Saturday) placing the glue on the back part which should be white allowing the book to still open. 
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Glue the back of the Stations of the Cross pocket to the lower left hand corner. Glue the Prayer in Commemoration of Our Lord's Passion between the Crown of Thorns and All for Jesus book. To the back of the folder staple the bag at the top between the seal of the bag on only the BACK side of the seal. Then place your stickers inside and this will allow you to seal and re-seal the bag while keeping the stickers with the lapbook for the next 40 days.
Punch a hole in the flap of the front cover and also in the side of the file folder just opposite. Tie a ribbon or string in a bow to secure the lapbook closed. Write My Lenten Lapbook and place authors name on it.

Enjoy using your lapbook throughout Lent to encourage sacrifices, to teach children to forget themselves and think of others and also to pray to Our Dear Lord.

stations_of_the_cross.pdf
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inserts_for_lapbook.pdf
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flower_stickers.pdf
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sacred_heart_stickers.pdf
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Your Cross

2/1/2021

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                                              YOUR CROSS

The everlasting God has in His wisdom forseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost Heart.

This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His Divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you.  He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from Heaven, a special greeting from  God to you, an alms of the all-merciful  love of God.

                                                                 ~ St. Francis de Sales
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Firmness of Faith

1/11/2021

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To be firm in faith is not to be easily shaken and turned aside from what it teaches. Many Catholics live in what may be called an un-Catholic atmosphere. What they hear said around them and what they read are things fitted to make them forget the teachings of their faith, or worse still to make them distrustful of their true Mother the Church. Thus the practice of their faith grows weak, though in theory they remain Catholics. When they judge of things or come to a decision in regard to acting this way or that, it does not occur to them that the Catholic faith should be their guide.

Now, Faith is God's great gift to man, on which depending and by which acting man may rise above the things that are and may lay hold of the things that are to be, in the better world.

It is the "substance of things to be hoped for and the evidence of things that appear not."
This does not mean that reason's work is useless, but rather that divine faith is neither its outcome nor its conclusion. Reason examines the evidence upon which a revelation is guaranteed as coming from God and when that is found to be sufficient, the understanding aided by a good will accepts the doctrine revealed, however impenetrable to the glance of reason, solely on the authority of God revealing it. [Such as the article of Faith which must be believed: One-Holy-Catholic-Apostolic]

Thus faith is a submission, an obedience, a captivity. Thus, also, we find our Blessed Lord demanding the simplicity of "little children" from those whom He invited to enter His Kingdom. It is true He gave proofs of His Mission, of His Divinity, but whenever proposed His doctrine as a matter of discussion: He taught like a master, "like one having authority," and demanded obedience.

When, therefore, we pray for firmness of faith we pray for the subduing of pride, of wilfulness, of prejudice, and for an increase of childlike simplicity and trustfulness — in order that God's revelation may shine with full clearness upon the mind and hold the
understanding and will in firm adhesion to its truth.

Messenger of the Sacred Heart ~ February 1891

                                                         The Victims of Sensuality

EVERY man has two lives: one of the senses, to eat, drink, play and enjoy, and with this he begins as a child; the other of reason, to understand his duty in life and to live up to it, uprightly and honorably, facing difficulties and keeping at peace with God and man, and, since reason is Christian, to lead the life of faith, which is that of the Saints. Some men remain children always in their love of the life of the senses; and as this is against reason, they become unreasonable, and as it is against the law of God, which faith teaches, they become filled with sensual sins. All their thoughts go out to gratifying their appetites.

There is a grave reason why sins of sensuality are become more frequent in our day. It is easy to travel and see all sides of life; and the newspapers bring to everyone's door the knowledge and frequent thought of sins that St. Paul says are not even to be named among Christians. Then comfort is now considered a necessity, and luxuries are easily obtained, while Christian mortification is little thought of. The pride and independence of life, to which men are trained from their youth up, prepare the soul for gross sins. For only the humble fear of God is the beginning and lesson and root of wisdom, even all wisdom itself.

Yet the heart of the sensual man is still open to God's grace, and grace is given to prayer. Sensuality, it is true, hardens, but the soul wearies of its slavery; and the thought of death, when the senses shall rot away in corruption, gives a loathing for the unreasonable and un-Christian life of sin. That these thoughts, and the grace of purity given by God, may have their due effect among the poor victims of sensuality.  If any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God Who giveth to all men abundantly? Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God?

Messenger of the Sacred Heart ~ In the year of Our Lord 1891

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Catholic Family Calendar for the Year of Our Lord 2021

12/7/2020

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Every year I make a Catholic Calendar for our family.  You may view and or print the FREE PDF file below. PLEASE NOTE:  This is not an official calendar of the Catholic Church. It was put together by a lay person for her own family using the Saint Andrew Daily Missal, Imprimatur 1951.  All meditations taken from: Whom the Lord Loveth,” Imprimatur 1919
 

2021_catholic_calendar.pdf
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Prayers for the Advent Wreath

11/29/2020

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Below is a printable file for the Advent prayers we say during Advent when lighting our wreath at dinner.
advent_prayers.pdf
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Prayers for Our Country

11/16/2020

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Dear Readers,

As you probably know our country is in turmoil and we are afraid of things that may be coming.  There are many instances throughout history that evil has been subverted through the intercession of the blessed Virgin and her most holy Rosary.  Please add the good of our country to your Rosary intentions.  Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us! May God's will be done. 

In the Sacred Hearts of our Lord and Lady,
The Willson Family
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Christmas Customs

11/16/2020

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We should strive ever to emphasize the fact that Christmas is the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The greeting cards we send at the holy season should be a manifestation of our Catholic family, season, and a reminder to them that we are praying that they may know Christ more intimately and love Him more ardently. Your cards to non-Christian friends may be a means of causing them to make inquires in regard to the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas derives its name, "Christ's mass," from the Mass offered in honor of the Birth of Christ. Its early English form was written as "Christes Maesse," and in the course of  the change of the English language it eventually became Christmas. In the earliest days of the Church this feast did not exist. Greater stress was placed on the Feast of the Epiphany, because it commemorates the day on which our Saviour was made known to the Gentiles, when the Wise Men came to adore Him. The Feast of the Nativity came gradually into existence in the fourth century. Its first mention is made by the great Christian writer, Clement of Alexandria, about the year 200, and shows that it was celebrated on May 20. About the year 300, the Latin Church began to observe it on December 25, because an ancient tradition assigns that day as the probable date of the Birth of our Saviour.

Love of the Babe of Bethlehem, who was born to redeem us, caused Catholics, in centuries long gone by, to introduce into our churches a representation of the crib, the Divine babe, the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, and the shepherds. St. Francis of Assisi deserves the credit of making this practice popular. His zeal prompted him to place at Graccio a representation of the cave of Bethlehem. His plan permitted the Faithful vividly to grasp the story of Bethlehem and to realize the poverty and suffering of our Saviour in the bleak, cold stable where He was born. The plan has spread to churches in all parts of the world.

On the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, it is customary to put the statues of the Wise Men beside the crib. In the early Church, this feast was celebrated with great solemnity because it was the day on which our Saviour was made known to those who were not of Israel. In the fourth century, the Feast of the Nativity came into its own and was given first importance, though in many Catholic countries the custom exists of giving all Christmas presents on the Feast of the Epiphany, since on that day the Wise Men brought gifts to our Saviour.

The Christmas tree is of recent origin. It represents for us the Tree of the Cross. Bethlehem and Calvary are ever associated together in our Christian thoughts, for Christ was born to die on the Tree of Ignominy and thus redeem a sinful world. The lights placed upon the Christmas tree have for us a symbolical meaning. They portray the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

Our modern Santa Claus, a crude, ridiculous figure, can be traced back to that gentle lover of children - St. Nicholas. This Saint's feast is celebrated on December 6, and parents and friends gave children presents on that day. The Dutch settlers in New York brought this custom with them to the New World, and the giving of presents on December 6 and on Christmas Day became somewhat confused. St. Nicholas was contracted into "Santa Claus" and, with the increasing pagan idea of the Yuletide, became the rollicking, bewhiskered figure so alien to the true Christmas spirit.

Let our children look to the Christ Child for their Christmas presents. There is no need of deception here, and of shattering childish faith. The Christ Child exists; He loves the little ones and He wishes them to love Him. We have no use in a Catholic home for the fraudulent Santa Claus and the pagan Christmas he now symbolizes. Let the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ be for young and old a day of spiritual joy and of close union with the Saviour whom we love.

Source: Could You Explain Catholic Practices, Imprimatur 1937

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All Saints Day - Raise Your Eyes to Heaven

11/1/2020

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On this glorious day the Church opens to our view the gates of heaven, in order to show us the great number of her children who there enjoy the eternal reward of a good life.

There we see the prophets of God, who were faithful to His word; the Apostles who fearlessly preached the word of God all over the world; the holy martyrs who shed their blood and gave their lives for the truth; the confessors who not only in word but in deed practiced virtue; the beautiful virgins who preserved their purity. There we will see saints in every condition of life, from every calling: the young, the old, the rich, the poor, and so great is their number that they cannot be counted. They are clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands, and standing around the throne of God they sing celestial hymns. What a great happiness to celebrate this day in heaven! Will it not be a great joy for us one day to be in paradise, there with the angels and saints to sing the praises of God!

St. Francis heard an angel play on a harp, and he was so enchanted by it that he lost all knowledge of time and forgot where he was. On this earth there are continual trials, but in heaven with the angels and saints we have nothing more to suffer; we shall have the same riches as God, and be glad with His gladness.

"And thus we shall always be with the Lord." consoling thought! Shall we all who are on this earth be in heaven? will no one be excluded? Is it possible that any of my young friends will be excluded from heaven?

Perhaps not a few will meet with that fate; for those only shall possess the kingdom of God who have imitated the lives of the saints: those who have faithfully served God, who have lived a good life, who have not sullied their souls by great sins, or if they have committed any, have repented of them.

Those will go to heaven who have observed the law of God exactly and have done much good. Raise your eyes to heaven. My dear young people, and see those who are there and what they have done. The Apostles who consecrated themselves to the service of religion, and labored incessantly to spread the Gospel over all the world; the martyrs, who were real soldiers in resisting the tyrants in their attempts to make them give up the faith; repentant sinners, who punished their bodies for their sensuality; old men who were faithful to the end of a long life; young men and women who early in life opened their ears to the voice of God, and followed the teaching of Christ; boys and girls, who merited heaven for having pleased the Master of heaven and earth by their beautiful lives and deaths. My dear young friends, how ashamed we ought to be when we read of so many great examples of holy lives while we do so very little, and still expect to get to heaven! These saints avoided sins and even imperfections; and rather than do anything to offend God, they preferred to suffer the most horrible torments. On the occasion of sin, did you say, "I will not commit it?" When you were with a companion who used bad language, did you say to him, "Be silent," or go away from him?

The saints prayed day and night; they did not content themselves with such short prayers as we say. We do not love prayer, we omit it on any excuse. Some of the saints were sinners at one time, but by the grace of God they rose from their fall, and performed the most severe penances until the hour of their death. Once a great sinner went to confession to St. Vincent de Paul. After hearing him the saint gave him a penance for seven years. As the man was really penitent, this did not dismay him; he thought it rather a
small punishment for such grievous faults. "Father," said he, "do you think I can save my soul by doing so small a penance?" "Yes," said the saint. "Fast on bread and water three times a week for these years." The sinner wept bitterly, and thanked God he had obtained pardon so easily. Seeing the sincerity and depth of the man's sorrow the saint remitted the penance and told him to recite three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys. The penitent had scarcely finished his penance when he fell dead at the saint's feet. Afterwards he appeared to St. Vincent and told him that his penance had been accepted by God as sufficient, and that he even did not have to pass through purgatory, because God had taken his real sorrow as full atonement for his sins. We frequently have great difficulty in disclosing our sins; shame, not sorrow, often closes our mouths. The saints did not shrink from suffering as we do; with us the least trouble is a great trial we prefer, come what may, a pleasant life.

The saints looked upon this life as a pilgrimage to their fatherland; they yearned for heaven. Everything in this world disgusted them, while we are attached to the world and its vanities. "We have no longing for heaven, we would live here forever if it were possible. Heaven requires violence and exertion; cowards and lazy people will not get there; if you continue to live in this manner, you will never be saints in heaven. St. Augustine says if you do not do all in your power to imitate the lives of the saints you shall not have a share in their happiness. On this day, then, let us make a firm resolution to imitate the saints, to detest sin, to practice virtue and to do all the good we can. Pray to the saints, and especially to your patrons, that they may intercede for you before Our Lord until you shall have arrived safely in heaven.

Pray also to the Queen of all saints, the most holy Mary, that she, too, may interest herself in your spiritual welfare that you may begin now to work out your salvation and persevere in this work until the end.

"Queen of all saints, pray for us."

Sermons for Children's Masses, Imprimatur 1900
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17th Sunday after Pentecost -        Instruction on the One and Only Saving Faith

9/27/2020

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 Taken from:  “EXPLANATION of the EPISTLES  and GOSPELS  for the SUNDAYS, HOLYDAYS, and FESTIVALS throughout  THE ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR”  By: Rev. Leonard Goffine, Imprimatur 1918           

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." (Ephes. iv. 5. 6.)

THESE words of the great Apostle of the Gentiles show clearly, that it is not a matter of indifference, what faith or religion we profess. Yet in our times so poor in faith, we often hear the assertion from so-called enlightened men: "It is all the same to what religion we belong, we can be saved in any, if we only believe in God and live uprightly." This assertion is impious! Consider, my dear Christian, there is but one God, and this one God has sent only one Redeemer, and this one Redeemer has preached but one doctrine, and has established but one Church. Had God wished that there should be more than one Church, then Christ would have founded them, nay, He would not have preached a new doctrine, established a new, Christian Church; for the Jews also believed in one God. But Jesus cast aside Paganism and Judaism, promulgated a new religion, and founded a new Church. Nowhere does He speak of Churches, but always of one Church. He says that we must hear this Church, and does not add, that if we will not hear this Church, we may hear some other. He speaks of only one shepherd, one flock, and one fold, into which all men are to be brought. In the same manner He speaks always of one kingdom upon earth, just as there is only one kingdom in heaven; of only one master of the house and one family, of one field and one vineyard, whereby He referred to His Church; of one rock, upon which He would build His Church. On the day before His death, He prayed fervently to His Heavenly Father, that all who believe in Him, might be and remain one, as He and the Father are one, and He gave His disciples the express command to preach His gospel to all nations, and to teach them all things, whatsoever He had commanded them. This command the apostles carried out exactly. Everywhere they preached, one and the same doctrine, establishing in all places Christian communities; which were all united by the bond of the same faith. Their principal care was to prevent schisms in faith, they warned the faithful against heresy, commanded all originators of such to be avoided, and anathematized those who preached a gospel different from theirs. As the apostles, so did their successors. All the holy Fathers speak with burning love of the necessary Unity of faith, and deny those all claim to salvation who remain knowingly in schism and separation from the true Church of Christ.
    Learn hence, dear Christian, that there can be but one true Church; if there is but one true Church, it naturally follows that in her alone salvation can be obtained, and the assertion that we can be saved by professing any creed, is false and impious. Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, speaks of but one Church, which we must hear, if we wish to be saved. He who does not hear the Church, He says, should be considered as a heathen and publican. He speaks furthermore of one fold, and He promises eternal life only to those sheep who belong to this fold, obey the voice of the shepherd and feed in His pasture. The apostles were also convinced that only the one, true Church could guide us to salvation. Without faith it is impossible to please God, writes St. Paul to the Hebrews, (xi. 6.) and this faith is only one, he teaches the Ephesians. (iv. 5.) If the apostles had believed that we could be saved in any religion, they would certainly not have contended so strenuously for unity, they would not have declared so solemnly, that we should not belong to any other than to Christ alone, and that we must receive and obey His doctrine. As the apostles taught so did their successors and all the Fathers agree that there is no salvation outside of the true Church. St. Cyprian writes: "If any one outside Noah's ark could find safety, then also will one outside the Church find salvation." (De unit. eccl. c. 7.) From all this it follows, that there is only one true Church which insures salvation, out of which no one can be saved.
    But which is this Church ? The Roman Catholic, Apostolic Church, for she alone was founded by Christ, she alone was watered with the blood of the apostles and of thousands of holy martyrs, she alone has the marks of the true Church of Christ, [see the Instruction for the first Sunday after Easter] against which He has promised that the powers of hell shall not prevail. Those who fell away from the Church three hundred years ago, do, indeed, contend that the Church fell into error and no longer possessed the true, pure gospel of Jesus. Were they right, Jesus might be blamed, for He established this Church, promising to remain with her and guide her through the Holy Ghost until the end of the world. He would, therefore, have broken His word, or He was not powerful enough to keep it. But who dare say this? On the contrary, she has existed for eighteen hundred years, whilst the greatest and most powerful kingdoms have been overthrown, and the firmest thrones crumbled away. If she were not the only true and saving Church, founded by Christ, how could she have existed so long, since Jesus Himself said: Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (Matt. xv. 13.) If she were not the Church of Christ, she would have been destroyed long ago, but she still stands today, whilst her enemies who battled against her have disappeared, and will continue to disappear; for the gates of hell shall not prevail against her, says our Lord. He has kept His promise and will keep it, notwithstanding all the oppositions and calumnies of her implacable enemies.
    You see, therefore, my dear Christian, that the Catholic Church is the only true, the only saving Church; be not deceived by those who are neither cold nor warm, and who say: "We can be saved in any religion, if we only believe in God and live uprightly," and who wish to rob you of your holy faith, and precipitate you into the sea of doubt, error, and falsehood. Outside of the Catholic Church there is no salvation; hold this firmly, for it is the teaching of Jesus, His apostles, and all the Fathers; for this doctrine the apostles and a countless host of the faithful have shed their blood. Obey the teaching of this Church, follow her laws, make use of her help and assistance, and often raise your hands and heart to heaven to thank God for the priceless grace of belonging to this one, true Church; forget not to pray for your erring brethren, who are still outside of the Church that the Lord may lead them into her, that His promise may be fulfilled: THERE WILL BE ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD!
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Holy Cross Day - September 14th

9/1/2020

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                                                                                    THE STORY OF THE HOLY CROSS

THE Saints of God have ever loved to venerate the instrument on which the Lord of men and angels died to procure the salvation of the world, and the story of the invention or finding of the Cross may well close these sketches of their lives, for it is by that Cross they have obtained their crown in heaven.

A British lady named Helena—the mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor was converted to Christianity about the year 311, and some fifteen years afterwards she so earnestly desired to visit those places rendered sacred by the life, death, and glorious resurrection of our Divine Lord, that she started to  Jerusalem on pilgrimage.

But where once the Holy Sepulchre had been, a temple in honour of Venus was raised; one dedicated to Jupiter stood close by, and Christians were thus driven from the spot where they had loved to pray. The Cross of the Sinless One was hidden from the sight of men, for it was the custom to bury in the earth the cross on which criminals had met their death, as well as every other instrument of their suffering. St. Helena longed to find the sacred wood, and though three hundred years had gone by since that death on Calvary, she set a number of working people to dig deeply into the earth at the spot where it seemed most probable the treasure might be found.

It was not in vain. After long and patient search they discovered the sepulchre, and next came upon three crosses, to one of which some writers affirm there was the title affixed, "Jesus of Nasareth, King of the Jews." The nails were also found which had pierced the sacred hands and feet of the Saviour of the world.

In order that there might be a full assurance as to which of these three was the Cross of Christ, Macarius, the Bishop of Jerusalem, had them carried to one who at that time lay sick in Jerusalem, for he had a strong faith that by the infinite power of God the wood of the Redeemer's Cross would certainly restore health. He was not mistaken, for at the touch of that Holy Cross, health and strength were restoredto the sick person, and then St. Helena knew that she had indeed discovered the object of her desire.

A portion of it was sent to Constantine, some was entrusted to the care of the Bishop of Jerusalem, while the remainder was reverently conveyed by Helena herself to Borne, there to be deposited in the church which she caused to be erected in honour of the Holy Cross. One of the nails is said to have been placed in a costly diadem which St. Helena gave to her son, the other three were also carefully preserved.

Constantine built a magnificent Basilica upon the spot where the Cross was discovered, and the day following its solemn consecration, the sacred wood was exposed for the veneration of a vast crowd there assembled.

In the year 614, Jerusalem was conquered by the Persians, and they carried away to their own country the Cross of Christ. Heraclius, the Christian Emperor, sued for peace in vain, he was tired of war and dispirited by reason of the many and great losses which had befallen his army, so he began to give himself to fasting and prayer, imploring the help of the Almighty against his adversaries.  At length these supplications were answered, and the Persians were not only defeated, but forced to retreat into their own land.

Peace was now made, one of its conditions being the restoration of the Holy Cross, after it had been lost to Jerusalem for full fourteen years. Great was the rejoicing of the Christians then, glad indeed were they to regain the symbol which tells ever of the love of Christ in suffering for us. Heraclius the Emperor desired to make his thanksgiving by bearing the Cross upon his own shoulders up the rough mountain road our Divine Lord had traversed some six hundred years before, bowed beneath its heavy burden. In his costly imperial garb, glittering with gold and gems, Heraclius raised the Cross and strove to mount the steep ascent, but some strong though invisible power hindered him, so that he was unable to advance even one pace.

The Patriarch sees this, and he can tell the reason. "Oh Emperor!" he cries; " thou canst not indeed carry this sacred wood up this rough path clad in rich robes and costly ornaments. It was in poverty and in humiliation that Christ bore the Cross, and thou must imitate Him if thou wouldst indeed bear it also."

Upon this, Heraclius cast aside his glittering garments, he even removed his shoes, and barefooted and meanly clad, he went along the Via Crucis and placed the Cross on Calvary's height. When, in the year 635, this pious Emperor saw that Jerusalem would shortly fall into the hands of enemies, he carried the Holy Cross to Constantinople for safety; but it is believed that some small portion was still preserved in the city, for when the Crusaders had gained possession, we hear of them bearing a part of the Cross, which from century to century had been carefully concealed from the Turks.

In the year 1239, a portion of the sacred wood was sent to St. Louis of France, who built a palace to keep so sacred a relic, and when it was being conveyed to him, he went out to meet it barefoot and with uncovered head.

A large fragment of the Cross is also preserved at Rome.

We are told by tradition that once upon the eve of some great battle a luminous cross appeared to the Emperor Constantino. He was not a Christian then, but he had heard of the God of Christians, and i n his anxiety he called upon Him to aid his army in the coming struggle. About the hour of noon on the day before the encounter was to take place, Constantine beheld a bright Cross in the sky having inscribed upon it in Greek letters," In this conquer." That night Our Lord Himself appeared in vision to him and bade him use the image of the Cross as his standard in the battle field. Constantine obeyed, and was victorious over his enemy.

"In this conquer." What a motto for us all as we strive to battle against the temptations of the world, our great enemy, and our own weak flesh. Only the Cross can be our safeguard as we pass through life, only the daily following in the way of the Cross can prepare us for the crown hereafter.

"In this conquer." A mighty warfare rages against the Church of God in these days, even though it may often be a covert warfare.

Which shall be the standard under which we fight? shall we be the soldiers of the Cross, or the enemies of the Crucified One?

The holy Apostle St. Paul gives our answer; let us pray that from our inmost hearts we maybe enabled by Divine Grace to say with him, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
                                                                                                                                                                                                  THE END.

What a comforting story for the times we life in, as Catholics we can say with Constantine, "In this sign we shall conquer."  Onward Christian soldiers!
                                      
                                                                                                                                          Source: Stories of the Saints for Children, Vol IV, 1878
A coloring picture can be found below.

exaltation_of_the_holy_cross.pdf
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Printed Versions of Some of our Printing and Handwriting Books Now Available on Etsy

8/10/2020

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As always our handwriting downloads are FREE for anyone to print and bind themselves and they can find them here. I have had many ask for printed versions and so I have decided to offer printed copies of Saintly ABC's - Our Preschool Letter Recognition and Printing Practice, Catechism in Rhyme,  Handwriting with the Saints and the Stabat Mater in both Printing and Handwriting. They are now available to purchase and you can find them here. You can view each of these books in their entirety on our handwriting page.
God bless you all!
 
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2020 - 2021 Maidens for Mary and Crusaders for Christ Student Planners

8/10/2020

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The student planners for the 2020 - 2021 school year are finished.  You may download and print them for free and they can be found here.   Or if you choose to purchase a printed copy they can be found here.  The printed version will be ready to ship June 1st.  

Please note: I'm not a professional, I made these to fill a need I have for my own children. Feel free to download and print them for your own family's use. I have copyrighted them so please abide by all copyright laws.  If you would kindly bring to my attention any mistakes you find, I will be very grateful.   God bless you all in the coming school year!
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The Litany of the Saints and the Litany of the Passion Handwriting Books

8/9/2020

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I have added two more handwriting books to our little collection.  You can find them below and here. If you wish to purchase a printed copy you can do that here.
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litany_of_the_saints_-_handwriting.pdf
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litany_of_the_passion_-_handwriting.pdf
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Calling Good Evil and Evil Good

7/12/2020

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Source: Dangers of the Day, by Rt. Rev. John S, Vaughn, Imprimatur 1909

SINCE the Providence of God has placed us in this world for the express purpose of being tried, no watchfulness or prudence upon our part will enable us to escape altogether from temptation.
Whether we live in the midst of the noisy world and occupy ourselves in trade and business, or whether we fly into the silent desert and lead a life of perpetual solitude and prayer, it is all the same: we shall most certainly have our spiritual battles to fight and our spiritual enemies to overcome.

The poor may not have the same trials as the rich, nor servants and dependents the same difficulties as masters and mistresses; but all of us, without exception, and whatever may be our
calling, are sure to meet with many tribulations of one kind or another, and to have our virtue thoroughly exercised during the course of our earthly career, be it short or be it long.

The devil, the world and the flesh are our chief enemies; and so persistent are they that it is impossible to continue long without experiencing their hostility. Yet the manner in which they make their assaults differs very considerably from age to age. Sometimes they will seek to lead us astray by exciting fear and terror, while at other times they will rather strive to beguile us with soft and honeyed words; the end sought is always the same, the means employed are often quite opposite.

In this connection, we are forcibly reminded of one of .Aesop's well-known fables. We refer to that in which he represents the Sun and the Wind disputing with each other as to which of them exercised the greater influence and power over the world of men. Since each claimed the superiority, and neither would yield to the other, they finally consented to try their skill upon a poor belated traveler, who chanced to be pursuing his way, along a rugged and difficult ascent, toward his native village, and then to abide by the result. The victory was to be declared in favor of the competitor who should first compel the traveler to remove a thick cloak that was now hanging loosely from his shoulders.

The Wind was the first to essay the task. It blew and blew and blew with all its might and main, and raised such a blast that the traveler could scarcely keep his footing. It caught up the dust and scattered the withered leaves and the dry twigs far and wide, and enveloped the unfortunate man in a perfect whirlwind. Then it seized hold of his cloak by every available fold and lappet, and tugged and pulled and wrestled and strove with relentless energy, until it had worked itself into a regular frenzy of passion.

But all to no purpose; in fact, the more violently the Wind howled and raged and beat upon the traveler, the more tightly and resolutely did he grasp his cloak, and the more closely did he draw its folds about him. The Wind, utterly disgusted, then subsided, and, abandoning the useless struggle, defied the Sun to succeed any better.

The Sun, nothing loath, at once issued forth in all its glory from behind a dark cloud, and darted down its fiery rays upon the weary pedestrian. Already hot and tired, he became yet more so. But the Sun, without pity, continued to shoot down its scorching beams upon him with ever increasing fierceness. At last the wretched man, panting for breath and perspiring from every pore, began to loosen the folds of his cloak, and, finally unfastening it, threw it off altogether. Thus the Sun easily won in the contest. Its quiet, penetrating action proved far more efficacious and powerful than all the bluster and noisy violence of the Wind.

In this ingenious story we find a very excellent and apt illustration of the two different plans the devil makes use of in order to persuade us poor travelers, wending our way along the strait and difficult path of virtue, to divest ourselves of the supernatural garment of divine grace. In bygone days, we were in imminent danger from the fierce winds and storms of cruel persecution. The old Roman emperors left no stone unturned in their efforts to crush out and utterly destroy the infant Church. Their arguments were torture, fire and the sword, ruthlessly applied century after century, until, literally, millions had been butchered and done to death on account of their loyalty to Christ and the Gospel.

In England, too, after a thousand years of comparative religious peace, a similar spirit took possession of the King and his greedy and servile minions. The glorious Catholic Faith, that for ten long centuries had been England's boast and England's glory, was forbidden by Act of Parliament. The heaviest penalties were enforced upon all who preferred the law of God to the law of man. Thousands of persons, of both sexes and of all ages, whose only offense was loyalty to God and to conscience, were fined, imprisoned, racked, tortured, or transported beyond the seas. They were stripped of all they possessed, and, in many cases, hanged and drawn and quartered, without pity and for what? For holding what countless generations of Englishmen had held before them—namely, that the Pope is the divinely appointed representative of Christ upon earth, and the supreme spiritual head of His Church; and for denying that which no Christian till then had ever been called on to affirm—namely, that the King, within his own dominions, is supreme, not only in civil and worldly matters, but in those also which are purely religious and ecclesiastical. As a consequence, the noblest heads rolled on the block, and the grandest and most splendid characters were brutally murdered at the behest of an infamous and adulterous King.

Such times are happily passed, or survive as mere memories amongst us; and full liberty now exists, at least in English-speaking countries, for everyone to believe or to disbelieve, just as his fancy or his inclination may suggest. Indeed, nowhere (except in France?) does there seem any likelihood of the cloak of divine grace being rudely torn from our backs by the storm of direct persecution. Still, though this form of danger no longer menaces us, there is yet considerable risk lest, under the pressure of another and a more insidious power, we should be induced to cast off our cloaks—in other words, to renounce our allegiance to God—of our own free will.

The old serpent still lives. His hatred and malevolence are as deep and as strong as ever, but he has changed his tactics. He no longer exhibits himself as " the roaring lion" described by St. Peter, "going about seeking whom he may devour," and striking terror and consternation into every breast by his threats of torture and of death. No. In these days he generally seems to prefer the disguise he assumed in the Garden of Eden. As a deceitful and wily serpent, he strives to insinuate himself into our hearts by the exercise of duplicity, craft, and cunning.

This I take to be one of the special dangers of these times, against which I wish now to warn the gentle reader. The devil's modern and up-to-date weapons are deceit, falsehood, and misrepresentation. Indeed, God seems to send a special message to us, in this twentieth century, from the remote past. For He certainly refers to modern and up-to-date methods when, speaking by the mouth of His prophet Isaias, He denounces and anathematizes all those followers of Satan "who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."* In any case, these inspired words most accurately describe the system and plan followed by the three great enemies of our salvation, in this highly refined, enlightened and boastful twentieth century. The world no longer looks with favor on persecution. It has gone out of fashion, like the pointed shoes and stiff frills of a former generation. Yet the world is still our enemy, and it is still our duty to be ever on our guard against it.

The world! But perhaps the reader will ask what I mean by "the world." Let me, then, say that I mean what the disciple St. John meant when he said: "Love not the world. "f I mean what St. Paul meant when he wrote to the Romans (xii, 2): "Be not conformed to this world." In fine, I mean what Jesus Christ meant when He said:  "Fear not: I have overcome the world." Yes, this
is the world to which I refer. It is the enemy of God; it is continually striving by every means within its reach to draw us away from the service of God, and to plunge us into sin, and to deprive us of all the great sources of grace and strength, especially of prayer and the sacraments.

Such is its set purpose. And what are the means it employs? Well! Now that harsher means are frowned down upon, it has recourse to every kind of stratagem, deception, and misrepresentation; so that, unless we are able to detect its sophistries and to see through its cunning, we shall be in imminent risk of losing our souls.

Suffer me to explain. The world is far too astute openly and frankly to condemn what is good. If it attempted such a thing, we should see through its malice at once, and be put on our guard. Consequently, it most carefully conceals its enmity under an assumed and hypocritical appearance of friendship. It makes great professions in order to deceive us and lead us astray. It encourages vice by calling it virtue, and will so deck out and adorn evil that the unwary will often mistake it for good. By these means thousands allow themselves to be taken in. An example or two will enable us to see how this plan works. Thus, if a man be conceited and arrogant, domineering with his servants, and overbearing and imperious with his friends, quick to pick a quarrel, and hyper-sensitive and exacting about what he is pleased to call his rights, and so forth, he can be described only as a proud man. Now, if he realizes and acknowledges that he is proud, there are great hopes of his ultimate conversion and repentance. But if he refuses even to call it "pride," if, on the contrary, he calls it "firmness" or "courage" or "justice," or any other high-soundingname,—how will he ever fight against it?

The very first step in his reformation must be to diagnose his case correctly, and to recognize the truth. Until he can acknowledge to himself, with all sincerity, "I am a proud man," he will never acquire the virtue of true humility; no, nor even set out in quest of it. Similar observations may be made in many other cases. Take, for instance, any religious duty that we, as Catholics, are called upon to perform,—let us say the duty of fasting or almsgiving. It is astonishing how easily the world will persuade us to neglect it, and on wholly false grounds. To understand the situation, it must be borne in mind that most people suffer far more from eating too much than from eating too little. So eminent a physician as Dr. Vorke Davies, to quote a single authority, says: "There is far more harm done by taking too much food than there is by taking too little, and it is only in very exceptional cases that injury results from the latter cause; whereas an enormous amount of discomfort, disorder, and disease, and even curtailment of life, arise from excess in eating." Indeed, it is said that thirty per cent of the diseases for which medical men prescribe, arise from eating too much. Yet people pretend they can not now even abstain! The medical faculty are constantly prescribing for persons whose ailments arise (though they seldom venture to say so openly) from over-indulgence. Doctors tell us that the weekly abstinence on Friday, and the occasional fast-days throughout the year, are excellent even from a hygienic point of view, and that any one in ordinarily fair health would be all the better for their observance. But we have not the spirit of self-denial and are unwilling to deprive ourselves of anything; consequently, we persuade ourselves that we are far too delicate to follow the Church's prescriptions, and would seriously injure ourselves by taking an ounce less than our appetite demands. " The wish is father to the thought," and will lead us to accept dispensations which we really have no business to seek. Mundus vult decipi. The world wishes to be deceived, and so do many of us also.

We allow ourselves to be similarly cajoled in the matter of almsgiving and the disposal of our wealth. Our bountiful God, in the pages of Holy Writ, frequently points out the obligations and the spiritual advantages of giving to those in need. " By charity of the Spirit serve one another," He says; and, "He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly."  So again: "According to thy ability be merciful. If thou have much, give abundantly; if thou have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little. . . . For alms deliver from all sin and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness." And many other similar texts occur throughout the Bible. In these words God urges us to lay up for ourselves eternal treasures in heaven, and to make compensation for our innumerable offenses and failings; assuring us at the same time that whatever we give to the indigent in His name. He will take as given to Himself. "As long as you did it to one of these My least brethren you did it to Me."

Now, our spiritual enemies are naturally unwilling that we should reap all the advantages that are so closely bound up with the exercise of generosity and compassion toward the poor, and will do all they can to dissuade us from carrying out the recommendations of Holy Scripture. Yet, if they are to succeed, they are well aware that they must act very cautiously. They dare not show their hand, by openly condemning that which God commends; so, while admitting the excellence of generosity in general and in the abstract, they cunningly suggest a thousand plausible reasons which relieve us  individually from any such obligation. Thus, one man will say: "Oh, I make it a rule never to give anything to a beggar in the street!" Not, of course, because he is ungenerous. No! That must never be even hinted at. But simply because "beggars are always, or nearly always, impostors, and I should be encouraging idleness." Indeed, he will willingly admit that " almsgiving is a most admirable thing, but we must not countenance imposture. Besides, the recipients are sure to spend it in drink." But neither will these men bestow a penny upon beggars who came to their doors. Not because they are unwilling to part with their money—at least, that is not the reason they care to allege,—but because " one beggar will attract another, and the constant visits of these tatterdemalions become a regular nuisance. Besides, it would never do to entice tramps and doubtful characters about the house." Thus, for
one reason or another, they excuse themselves from giving anything to anybody.

In some cases a man's income, though considerable enough, is not equal to his pretensions, and he is anxious to keep Up appearances. He occupies a certain position or rank in society, and every farthing is needed if he is to continue living in his present style, and to retain his customary staff of servants and dependents. He is really very sorry, or imagines he is. In fact, he does not hesitate to say that were he only as wealthy as A or as B, it would be positive joy to him to found hospitals and to erect churches, schools, and orphan asylums.

In short, he quite envies millionaires and possessors of colossal fortunes their opportunities and all the good they might do; and consoles himself by thinking how very much more generous he would be than they are, were he but treated half so well by Dame Fortune. But, alas! with his modest revenues, it is as much as he can do to clothe and educate his children, and live up to the requirements of his position. Further, he reflects that he is bound to put something by for a rainy day, and that "it won't do to be improvident." And so, for one specious
pretext or another, life passes, and he rests perfectly satisfied, though he never makes any real sacrifice for the sake of God or for the sake of His poor suffering brethren.

Observe, I do not wish to imply that there is never any grain of truth or of reason in the foregoing statement. Quite the contrary. The very danger of such arguments is precisely in the fact that there is just enough of truth in them to render them effective; just enough reason to quiet our consciences, and to persuade us that all is as it should be. It is a well recognized fact that there is no lie so difficult to deal with as a lie which is half a truth, and great candor is needed to detect its real character. Pure brass we may always know, but when mixed with gold it may often pass for the more precious metal.

But to continue. Excessive parsimony is simply niggardliness and stinginess. It is not prudence. True. But if we will insist upon calling it prudence, we cover up its hideous deformity, we hide its repulsive nature, and we represent it as a positive virtue. Then, under that guise, we do not hesitate to cultivate and practice it. Instances of self-deception are constantly thrusting themselves under our notice. What are we, for example, to think of a lady who laments in agonizing tones that she really can not afford ten shillings for some starving orphans or destitute children, when we find her a day or two later offering ten guineas in the advertising columns of the Morning Post for the recovery of her lost cat or stolen poodle? Or how shall we fittingly describe a wealthy nobleman whose family claims make it quite impossible for him to send a five pound note to a struggling mission, but who can, nevertheless, afford to bet five hundred pounds on a losing race horse?

This system of self-deception pursues us through life, and affects all our relations with the supernatural. Even the most sacred duties are often neglected on account of it; and yet we fail to see through the cunning of the devil, who deceives us. Consider, for instance, the duty of receiving Holy Communion, the greatest of the sacraments, in which Our Lord Himself comes to strengthen our weakness, and to help us by His powerful grace to overcome concupiscence and to vanquish all the enemies of our salvation.

The very great importance of this sacrament is reason enough to induce the Evil One to do all he can to prevent our making use of it. Yet he is far too astute to hint that it is a bad thing to approach the Holy Table. Oh, dear; no! He is much too diplomatic. He declares it to be a most excellent practice, at least in the abstract. He merely throws out doubts as to whether we, with our delicate chest, or with our tendency to bronchitis or asthma, ought to go. He demands, quite casually of course, whether it is "not just a little risky, especially on these cold, raw mornings, to go out fasting."

He becomes so very, very solicitous for our health, and would persuade us that we are far too delicate to expose ourselves to catching cold. Perhaps he even recalls to our minds how our medical adviser warned us that we should be more careful, and never leave the house until we had reinforced ourselves by at least a cup of tea and a slice of bread and butter. He may even add that "good people are scarce," and that "prudence is the better part of valor." And thus, without alarming us, or creating so much as a suspicion of his perfidy, or uttering even one syllable directly against Communion, which we might resent he succeeds, all the same, in keeping us from the sacrament. We postpone our Communions till the weather grows warmer and more settled. Weeks develop into months, and what is the consequence? Well! We have deprived ourselves of great graces; we have acquired a habit of postponing our Communions; we come to think less highly of this gift of God; and the end aimed at by the devil is secured quite as fully as if the penal laws against Communion were still in full force.

The fallacy of the whole argument, and the measure in which we deceive ourselves, are made manifest by a glance at our conduct in purely worldly matters. Thus, how very often it happens that, though we are too delicate to breathe the morning air, we are not too delicate to go out to late dinners or parties, and to come home in the dead of night through the cold, damp atmosphere of the reeking streets! Or we can pass the night in a hot, stuffy ballroom, and dance
till the day is dawning, and can then expose ourselves to the inclemency of the weather, on our way home, in the early hours, without any one taking us to task for our imprudence. The plain fact is that where ecclesiastical observances and religious duties are concerned, we are influenced and swayed by arguments which are summarily dismissed as utterly trivial and baseless when directed against our pleasures and amusements. In thousands of similar ways we allow ourselves to be cajoled, to our great spiritual hurt.

Among so many other instances that suggest themselves, it is difficult to make a selection. Perhaps the question of reading may serve our purpose. As we are well aware, the book-market is flooded to overflowing with a most varied assortment of literature. There are good books in abundance, but there is also an enormous and ever-increasing assortment of worthless books,—books vicious and demoralizing in tendency, and corrupt and depraved in tone; together with tales and stories which are sensuous and immoral, and sometimes obscene. There is nothing useful or really instructive in the class of publications to which I am now referring. They are full of hidden dangers, unbecoming conversations, suggestive dialogues between imaginary persons of opposite sexes, of impossible love scenes, and situations of a compromising character, which, even if they do not defile the heart and excite the passions, at all events fill the imagination with impure images and forms, and familiarize the mind with every sort of horror and abomination. (The same can be applied to the movies and music of the day)

There is, of course, a vast difference between one book and another, but it is not too much to say that some of the romances of the present day are such that any really good Catholic would feel bound to leave them severely alone. He can not read them without exposing himself to dangerous temptation. Will the world advise the purchase of such scandalous works? Will it openly counsel their perusal? Certainly not. At least, it is far too tactful to express itself in that blunt way; for some of us might resent it. Besides, it may accomplish its evil purpose yet more effectively in another manner; by inquiring, for instance, quite innocently: "Oh, by the way, have you seen So and So's last delightfully naughty book?"—"No?"—"Oh, how very odd!

Why, everybody is talking about it. And it is so very awkward, don't you know, not to be able to join in the conversation! One looks so foolish when one knows nothing about what is on everybody's lips. Do you say one ought not to read it? Oh, nonsense! It can't be so bad as all that. We are no longer children; and surely we can not be expected, in these days, to live with our head in a well, and to be ignorant of all that is passing around. As well become a recluse altogether, and live on beans in a hermitage," and so forth. And we, gentle readers, alas! are influenced by such banter. Thus, without appearing to approve in the least degree of immoral or infidel books, the devil, nevertheless, manages to get his own way. We read them on some worldly and wholly inadequate pretext; but we read them all the same, and irreparable harm is done. In one word, we are constantly being deluded by those who "put light for darkness, and darkness for light."

How many a silly worldling, when he comes to be judged, will find nothing better to say in his defense than to repeat the words of his mother Eve: Serpens decepit me—"The serpent deceived me!"

It is the same everywhere. How often, to take a somewhat different illustration, indecent pictures and statuary are displayed in drawing-rooms, and in halls of public buildings and even of private houses, on the ground that they administer to aesthetical taste and promote a love of
art! I do not wish to imply that every statue or painting is indecent merely because it is undraped; but I am referring to genuinely indecent and suggestive representations, whether draped or not. They are a source of much temptation, and often do a great deal of harm; yet they are retained, and left exposed to every eye, on the plea of their artistic merits, and because they are thought to reveal the talents and the genius of some famous wielder of the brush or the chisel. The devil eases the consciences of such exhibitors by laying all the stress on plausible motives, and by closing their eyes to the evil; for, provided he can introduce the poison of sin into our minds, he cares little about the nature of the spoon with which he administers the deadly draught.

Innumerable other instances might be mentioned, but I have probably presented a sufficient variety to illustrate my theme, and to enable the thoughtful reader to realize the special danger which, at the present day, besets us from this source. It may be well to remark that the present age is an age of deceit. Fraud is practiced everywhere. Traders and merchants and sellers do not scruple to deceive their customers, when they judge they can do so with impunity. The Chamber of Commerce Journal (April, 1907) informs us that "needles made in Germany and Austria are imported into France, and marked 'Redditch.' English hosiery is imitated in Germany and sent to America and other countries, marked as British goods. Linen made on the Continent is labelled as Irish linen, and sold in Egypt and other places."

In fact, goods of all kinds are offered to the public under false names, to make them sell. Chalk is put in the milk, sand in the sugar, and water in the wine. Paste is passed off for diamonds, shoddy for leather, and cotton for wool. We have lying advertisements, misleading prospectuses, and quack medicines. Every purchaser is afraid of being cheated; and in matters of business, commerce, and exchange, a brother can scarcely trust a brother.

This spirit of deception penetrates everywhere, not excepting the supernatural. It affects the minds of unthinking Catholics, even as regards their highest spiritual interests, and their duty to God. They grow lax and fall away into easy and negligent ways, simply because they do not, or will not, see things as they really are. They so dress up and disguise evil that they mistake it for good, and call light darkness and darkness light, and deliberately live in an atmosphere of untruth.

The remedy consists in courageously throwing off the mask of deception which evil still wears, and in beginning at once to call things by their rightful names. Let men learn above all things to know themselves, and to read their own characters aright; and then they will at least understand what is wrong and defective, and what it is precisely that they have to struggle against and overcome. So long as they insist on describing "cheating" as a trick of the trade, and "avarice" as a form of thrift, and "pride" as firmness, and "insolence" as courage, and speak similarly of all the other forms of human weakness and wickedness, they do but canonize vice and connive at evil. And unless that habit it reformed but little amendment can be expected.

Let us, then, arouse ourselves, " knowing that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. . . The night is passed and the day is at hand. Let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day"; and no longer "call evil good, and good evil; nor put darkness for light, nor light for darkness; nor bitter for sweet, nor sweet for bitter."
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The Marks of the Church

7/6/2020

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"All things that are read in the Holy Scriptures, we must hear with great attention to our instruction and salvation; but those things especially must be committed to memory that serve most to confute heretics; whose deceits cease not to circumvent or ensnare all the weaker sort and the more negligent persons. "                                                                                                                                                                                        ~ S. Aug,. Tract, 2, in Epis. Joan.

My dear Readers, This lesson from my young children's catechism really explained well the Marks of Holy Mother Church.  It brought up many questions and gives one much food for thought . . . . . . . .

The information below would go very well with our Marks of the Church Lapbook, which can be found at the bottom of this post.  The source for this lesson is: "To the Heart of a Child," Imprimatur 1918.

Tom Hunter had been brought up without any religion. Yet he believed that there is a God, and that he had a soul and he was in dead earnest about saving that soul. In walking through the streets he had noticed a great many churches and he made up his mind to visit one each Sunday until he should find out what was necessary to save his soul.

At the end of a year he had visited fifty-two churches and yet he was as much in the dark as when he had started. He took a long walk into the country and sat down in a quiet nook where he could be alone and have time to think the matter over. Each minister had claimed to be able to lead him to Heaven and yet no two of them agreed upon what was necessary to get there. One said there was no Hell, another said there was; one said Christ was God, another said He was not one said there was no such thing as confession, another said he would hear his confession if he wanted to go very much, but that he did not like to do it. In one church they passed around cake and wine to make them think of the Last Supper, in another they said Christ was present in the bread and wine but that they could not say just how. One said all that was necessary was to read the Bible, another said the Bible was old-fashioned and that no one believed in it nowadays.

Poor Tom's brain was in a whirl. How could he ever decide what to do when each church contradicted the others? To make matters worse he discovered that even ministers of the same church do not agree. Suddenly a little rabbit leaped past him and Tom said to himself: "If I should say that little rabbit is black and someone else should say it is white and a third person that it is grey, we could not all be right —not more than one could be right, and if the rabbit is really brown, we should all be wrong. So if each church tells me something different, they cannot all be right—not more than one can be right—and perhaps they are all wrong. There is only one thing 'that all the ministers agree in and that is in warning me to keep away from the Catholic Church. That is very strange. Why should they all take a stand against the Catholic Church? I shall try to find out. At least I shall call on the Catholic priest this very evening and if he can help me no more than the ministers have, I do not know where I shall ever find how to save my soul."

That evening Tom rang the bell at the priest's house and was shown into a small study. In a moment he was shaking hands with Father Carey, who told him to be seated and asked what he might do for him. Tom told his trouble and when he had finished, Father Carey said : "My dear friend, you are right in saying that if there is a true church and God expects you to belong to it, there must be some way by which you can surely tell it. "If you want a good baseball, you look for the trade-mark and buy a League ball. If you want a good tennis-racket, you look for the mark that tells you the make. If you buy a watch, you do not look at the case only, you look for the name that tells you what make it is, so that you may be sure that the works are good. You would not buy any one of these articles because the clerk who sold them was polite or because he told you they were good. No, you must have a stronger proof, you must see the mark that stamps them. Isn't that so? See how careful the United States Government is in marking the money it mints, so that if anyone should try to make any like it, it could be detected at once. Now, is not religion much more important than money? And don't you suppose that if God has made a church, He has taken care to mark it, so that everyone can see that He is its Maker?

''We know from the Bible and from history, just as well as we know that Columbus discovered America, that 1900 (2015) years ago Christ, Who is God, made a Church and said that all must belong to it. For 1500 years everybody knew which was the Church Christ had made. Then just as men have made counterfeit money, money that looked genuine but is not, and have deceived thousands of people but could not deceive the Government experts, so men have made counterfeit churches and have deceived millions of people but they cannot deceive God. As there are certain marks by which a genuine dollar bill can be told from a false bill, so there are certain marks by which God's Church can be told from the false churches."

"Tell me the marks. Father," cried Tom, "because I want to belong to the church that was made by God."

"Very well," said Father Carey. "They are very simple so that anyone who really wants to find them, can do so. In the first place, Christ started His Church on the Apostles at Jerusalem in the year 36. He made St. Peter the Head, the Rock on which He built His Church, the Shepherd of His Flock. Now the true Church must be that same Church, its bishops must be the successors of the Apostles and must have received their power from them, whilst its Head must be the successor of St. Peter and have the same power that he had."

"That's easy," said Tom.

"History proves," continued Father Carey, "that the Catholic Church has always existed since the days of the Apostles and is the same Church as that of the Apostles, for its bishops and its Pope today are the successors of the Apostles and of St. Peter. St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome and Benedict XV is the present Bishop of Rome, and between the two there has been an unbroken chain of 258 Bishops of Rome or Popes. Is not that a pretty strong proof? How else do we prove that Woodrow Wilson is the successor of George Washington and that the Government of the United States today is the very same Government as that of which Washington was the first President?"

"Did you ever think how this city is supplied with water? First there is the reservoir at the waterworks. The water-mains carry the water from the reservoir and the pipes are connected with the mains. When you turn on the faucet in your house, you get the same water that was in the reservoir. As the city grows, more mains are laid."

"Now Christ is the reservoir, for He has all power, and the Apostles were the first water-mains and received their power from Christ. As the Church grew, more bishops were needed and so new bishops were made. They received all the power that the bishops had who consecrated them, just as when water-mains are needed, new ones are attached and receive all the water that flows through those with which they are connected. Priests are the pipes and get their power from the bishops. Thus in perfect connection has the power of Christ come down to the present day through the bishops of the Catholic Church. What would you think of a man who would build a beautiful home and run water-pipes through it but never connect them with the water-main? How much water do you think he would get when he turned on the faucets?"

"So the first Protestants cut off their connection with God's Church and their bishops and ministers are like empty water-mains and pipes, without any power whatever. They can make as many of them as they like, but of what good are they? You might as well have no pipes in your house, if no water runs through them."

"Now then, my little friend, one great mark of the true Church is that it is Apostolic, which means that it is the Church that Christ founded upon the Apostles."

"That is such a clear mark. Father," said Tom, "that I should think it was enough."

"Hold on, my boy," said Father Carey. "There are three others. The Church of God is well marked, as everyone must be able to find it, for Christ said that every lamb and every sheep must be brought into the one Fold of which He is the Shepherd. Are you too tired for more tonight?"

"Go on. Father. Please tell me more. I never heard anything like this in the other churches."

"All right then.—In the second place, the true Church must teach exactly what Christ taught and if it teaches exactly what Christ taught, it must teach the same today as it did 1900 years ago and it must teach the same in Detroit as it does in Rome, in Paris, in London, in South America, in Asia, in Africa. Now we know from the Bible, in which are written many things that Christ taught, and from the writings of the first bishops of the Church, some of whom were taught by the Apostles themselves, and from the written accounts of the meetings or councils of the bishops and the pope that have taken place every now and then since the first meeting at which St. Peter was present—we know from all these sources that the Catholic Church has never changed in her teachings and teaches the same today as she has always done."

Is this what we see today if we look at what comes out of the Vatican?  Are those in the Vatican teaching the same truths that the Catholic Church has always taught? 

''You told me this evening that you had discovered that even ministers of the same church do not agree in what they believe. If you like you can speak to a number of Catholic priests—take those that were brought up in different countries—go to the German, the French, the Italian, the Polish churches. You will find that all agree exactly. How is this ? Because they all believe and teach exactly what Christ taught. If one of them should teach anything different, the Church would throw him out, for Christ said: 'He that heareth you, heareth Me. And he that despiseth you, despiseth Me.' And, 'If he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen.' ''Then too, all Catholics receive the same sacraments and all obey the Shepherd whom Christ appointed, viz. : the Pope, the Bishop of Rome. This is the second great mark of the True Church, Tom, and it is what we mean when we say that the Church is One."

"My mind is clearing, Father. Everything you say has such a ring of truth about it and you are so certain. The ministers hesitated when I questioned them. They did not seem quite sure of their ground.'' "The third mark of the true Church is that it is Catholic. Before the Apostles left Jerusalem to preach the Gospel in different parts, they drew up a short form of belief known as the Creed of the Apostles, or the Apostles' Creed. In this Creed we find the words : 'I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.' From that day to this, the Church of Christ has always been known by the name 'Catholic'"

"I heard the Protestants say that same Creed, Father. They do not really believe in the Catholic Church?"

'They most certainly do not. If they did they would be Catholics and not Protestants."

"Then why do they say they believe In the Catholic Church?"

"My friend, did you ever hunt for a thing in the dark that you could easily have found in the light? Just so. Their minds are in darkness and they do not see. They do not mind saying: I believe in the Catholic Church,' whilst all the time they are protesting against it, any more than they mind reading in their Bibles that Christ said at the Last Supper: This is My body,' whilst at the same time they deny that It is His body."

"But to return. The word 'Catholic' means 'universal,' that is, for the whole world as long as the world lasts. Christ said : 'Behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world' (Matt., xxviii, 20). So His Church must last until the end of the world. And He said : 'Going, therefore, teach ye all nations.' Now the true Church is Catholic because it has lasted through the nineteen centuries, since Christ started it, and it will last until the end of time. It is Catholic because it has taught all nations, though not all nations have received its teachings. "Go where you will, into every corner and hidden away place in the world and there you will find a Catholic priest. No Protestant Church can call itself Catholic in any sense of the word. Not one of them started until fifteen hundred years after the Catholic Church was founded and not one of them has gone into every part of the world. There is no prouder title under Heaven, and I glory in calling myself a Catholic!"

"The fourth mark of the true Church is its 'Holiness.' Christ made His Church to bring men to Heaven. The Catholic Church is holy in its Founder, Christ, and it is holy in the lives of millions of its children. True, there are many bad Catholics and there will always be black sheep in the Fold, but nowhere can you find such holiness as in the lives of numbers of Catholics. See the thousands of priests and sisters who have given up all they owned and all they loved to follow Christ more closely; and there are thousands of working men and women who are being made holy by frequent and daily Communion.

A Catholic who receives the sacraments often and keeps devoutly the feasts and fasts of the Church, will be holy; whilst a bad Catholic is bad because he does not live up to the teachings of the Church: ''Every man, woman and child that is called saint (as St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Catherine, St. Teresa, St. Agnes), was a Catholic. Not a year passes but in some part of the world Catholics are tortured and put to death because they will not be traitors to God, because they will not give up their faith."

"If I were to add a fifth mark to the true Church, Tom, I would say that it is 'persecution.' Christ said: If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you' (John, xv, 20) ; 'Yea, the hour cometh,  whosoever killeth you, will think that he does a service to God' (John, xvi, 2). Look about. Which is the church that is persecuted? Which is the church that is hated, that is lied against? I'll wager you have heard ^ good many lies against the Catholic Church but you will never hear the Catholics lying about the Protestants. Why, if a man comes to town and lies most horribly against the Catholic Church, he will have a large audience and make his fortune!".

"I could not understand before. Father, why all the ministers warned me to keep away from the Catholic Church."

"Just last night," continued Father Carey, I baptized a young woman who has suffered a great deal for the Faith. She told me that when she spoke of attending the Episcopalian Church, her parents made no objection; when she attended service at the Presbyterian Church they encouraged her and when some friends took her to the Baptist Church, they were pleased. But one day she spoke of joining the Catholic Church. They threw up their hands in horror and threatened to put her out of the house."

"Yes the world hated Christ and nailed Him to a cross and it still hates His Church. When Jesus was dying, He prayed for the men who were killing Him and said- 'They know not what they do' (Luke, xxiii. 34) It is the same now. Men do not know what they are hating when they hate the Catholic Church. There is not a man, woman or child in the whole world who would not be a Catholic tomorrow if he knew what the Catholic Church really is.

"Father, I want to save my soul," cried Tom. I want to be a Catholic!"

"My little friend, come and see me tomorrow evening."

"I will, Father, and may I bring my chum?"

"Bring all you can, my boy."

Hmmmmm, this lesson really makes one think. . . . . . . .

Questions
(1) What are the four marks of the true Church?
(2) What do you mean by saying that the Church is Apostolic?
(3) What do you mean by saying that the Church is One?
(4) What do you mean by saying that the Church is Catholic?
(5) What do you mean by saying that the Church is Holy?

If we really think about it can we find these four marks in the Vatican today?


Source:  To the Heart of a Child, Imprimatur 1918

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Feast of Corpus Christi - Our Daily Bread from Heaven

6/8/2020

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The Church today celebrates the most joyful feast of the year. Look over this wide world, travel through all the great cities in which Catholic hearts are beating, go into the smallest villages - yes, wherever there is a priest - and there you find gladness and rejoicing today. And why is this, my dear children? Because on this glorious day we observe the feast of Corpus Christi. * Today our holy Church carries about publicly in solemn procession her God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, that all may fall on their knees and devoutly adore Him, since faith teaches us that Jesus Christ, the Man-God, is really and truly present before us under the appearances of bread and wine.

The great love of our dear Saviour found a way in which He could still remain with us after His ascending into heaven; He instituted the Holy Eucharist, wherein He is present as God and man. We are, therefore, as blest as the people who lived at the time when Christ walked upon the earth, for we have the same Christ Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist. Do not think that Christ has changed in the least respect; what he was in the days of His earthly life, He is today - a God of love and mercy. Every one who comes to Him in any need and asks with humility will receive help and comfort.

The venerable Father Alvarez one day saw Jesus in the Holy Eucharist with His hands full of graces, seeking, as if it were, for those to whom He could give them.

A little English boy heard that Jesus was present in the holy Tabernacle, and that He listened to the prayers of those who went there to speak to Him. One day he went to the church to pray for the conversion of his father. Going into the sanctuary, he climbed upon the altar and, sitting near the door of the Tabernacle, knocked at it, saying: "Are you there, Jesus? But there was no answer. He knocked again, saying the same words: Are you there, Jesus? They told me at Sunday-school that you were here."

He listened for an answer, but still no answer came. "Perhaps the dear Jesus is asleep; I will quietly awake Him. O my dear little Jesus," he said gently, "I believe in Thee and I love Thee; answer me, I beseech Thee!" Jesus could not refuse the simple and humble prayer of the child, said with so much confidence. A voice came from the tabernacle, saying: "Yes, my dear child, I am here. My love for you makes me stay here always. What do you want of Me today, my dear little brother?" The child answered in a voice broken by sobs: "My father is not a good man, O my Jesus; make him good, and he will serve Thee and love Thee!" "Go, my dearest child, I will grant your prayer."

The child went home all radiant with joy; Jesus had told him that his prayer would be granted. On the following day his father went to church, made a good confession, and became a fervent Christian.

Children, that same Jesus is present on the altar in your church. He is there because He desires to bestow on you great graces. Oh, then, when you go into church, kneel reverently and lovingly before the altar and say to Him: "My dearest Jesus, I firmly believe that Thou are really present on this altar, and I love Thee with my whole heart."

It was not enough for our diving Saviour to be always present among us and to offer Himself daily for us; He also wishes to come into our hearts and to be most closely united to us; for this reason He instituted the Holy Eucharist as communion. When we go to communion Jesus comes to us. What graces may we not expect from Him! Wherever our divine Saviour went during his earthly life He left traces of His merciful love and blessings. He entered the house of Zachary and sanctified John the Baptist, who was to prepare the way for Him; He was present at the marriage in Cana in Galilee and changed water into wine; He came into Peter's house and cured his sick mother-in-law. Will He not, therefore, bestow graces upon the soul to whom He comes? Oh, what thanks do we owe to our divine Saviour for giving us a sacrament so holy as the Holy Eucharist! How anxious we should be to have a share in the graces of this wonderful sacrament by devoutly praying to Him on the altars of our churches, by often attending Mass, and by frequent and worthy communions.

In the fourteenth century there lived a holy virgin named Imelda. At the age of eleven she had been admitted into the Dominican Convent in the City of Bologna, in Italy. It is here she became the joy and the pride of the Sisters. Above all things, it was her delight to spend hours in prayer before the Holy Sacrament, and her most longing desire was to be allowed to make her first Holy Communion. This, however, had not been allowed by her confessor on account of her youth; nevertheless, she often and earnestly begged him to admit her to the heavenly banquet. 

It happened one day on the eve of our Lord's Ascension, that all the Sisters were approaching the  altar to nourish their souls with the Body of Christ in Holy Communion, while Imelda alone was prevented from sharing the Sacred Feast. She was overwhelmed with grief, and, kneeling before the altar, she poured out the longings of her soul at the feet of her Beloved, protesting that her only desire on earth was to be united to Him in the Divine Sacrament. At the same moment a sacred Host was seen descending from above, until it remained in the air over the head of the Holy Virgin. Her confessor, seeing what had happened, hurried to the spot and, reverently taking the Host upon the little silver plate called the paten, placed in upon the tongue of the devout Imelda. No sooner had she received the sacred Host, than the love  which flooded her soul at the receiving of her divine Spouse filled her with such wonderful happiness that she fainted away in death - actually dying of holy happiness - and she was carried in the arms of her Beloved to Paradise, there to adore and enjoy Him forever.
My dear children, learn from holy Imelda how you ought to spend not only the day of your First Communion, but every day that you go to the altar to receive the Holy Sacrament. Happy is that child who dies soon after his First Communion; his passage to heaven is easy and sweet. If God leaves you on earth for a time, try to make every Communion as  fervent as your first one, and when the time comes for you to die, your passage to heaven will also be as happy and sweet as was that of the child saint, holy Imelda.

Source: Anecdote - Sermonettes for Children's Masses, Imprimatur 1900

Below you will find two links to some lovely books on Holy Communion.....
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Little Manual of the Sacred Heart

6/8/2020

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June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so I thought I would share this lovely prayer book dedicated to His Sacred Heart. 
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