AMONG THE SAINTS – MARTYRS who in Catholic devotion are invoked with special confidence, because they have proved themselves efficacious helpers in adversity and difficulties, there is a group venerated under the collective name of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, although many of them have a devoted following as individual Saints.  They are invoked against throat ailments, lightning, diabolical possession, fire, family troubles, etc. These Saints are invoked as a group, apart from individual patronage, because of the epidemic called the “Black Plague,” which devastated Europe between 1346-1349. Among its symptoms were a turning black of the tongue, parching of the throat,[…]

Until the promulgation of Inter Oecumenici in 1964, the blessing of Rosaries was a reserved blessing, and only priests of the Dominican Order could bless them. That is why the traditional Roman Rituals do not contain a blessing for Rosaries. It would be appropriate to seek the Dominican Priest (Order of Preachers) to bless your rosary, however,  your local priest will be more than happy to bless your rosary as well. “The Dominican Order, which from its very beginning has been most devoted in honoring the Blessed Virgin, and by which the institution and propagation of the Confraternity of the Rosary was accomplished, holds as[…]

All Saints’ Day falls on November 1, followed by All Souls’ Day on November 2, and is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.  According to the liturgical calendar of 1962, when November 2nd falls on a Sunday, All Souls’ Day is transferred to Monday, November 3rd. This feast day celebrates all God’s holy ones, known and unknown, from the first martyrs to the recently canonized, and everyone in between. Throughout their lives these holy men and women were looking forward to their Master’s return. When the Lord knocked, these good and faithful servants at once opened to[…]

Mary’s Peace Prayer Mary, Mother of God my mother, Queen of Peace, ask your Son Jesus to give me the gift of peace. Pray for me for peace; peace in my heart, peace of mind and of soul, peace in my family, peace with all whom I meet, the peace of Jesus. Jesus, my Lord and Savior, my Brother, King of Peace, I come to you with Mary, Queen of Peace, to ask you humbly for a new outpouring of the gift of peace. Pour out on me your Holy Spirit of Peace. Give me peace, Jesus, peace within myself,[…]

According to ancient tradition assigning certain gemstones to certain months. Gemstones, especially their colors, have stood for certain virtues and values from ancient times. Never should we look upon the wearing a gemstone necklace, or rosary as a “charm,” but always as a sacred symbol of the supernatural protection offered directly by our Triune God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Gemstone rosaries and religious jewelry provide a constant physical reminder of the love and fidelity we share with Almighty God and the communion of saints. The following information comes from “My Prayer Book: Happiness In Goodness, Reflections,[…]

Mary Help of Christians – Sancta Maria Auxilium Christianorum Mary Help of Christians (Latin: Sancta Maria Auxilium Christianorum; Spanish: Nuestra Señora María Auxiliadora; Filipino: Maria, Mapag-ampon sa mga Kristiyano), is a Roman Catholic Marian devotion with a feast day celebrated on May 24. Saint John Chrysostom was the first person to use this Marian title in year 345 as a devotion to the Virgin Mary. The Church has traditionally focused on two aspects of Our Lady’s help on this feast day. Firstly, the Church focuses in this feast upon the role of Our Lady’s intercession in the fight against sin[…]

Ven. Innocent XI, Br. January 28, 1688;Innocent XIII, June 4, 1721;Leo XIII, August 19, 1895. The following indulgences may be gained by persons who possess blessed objects which have touched the holy places and sacred relics of the Holy Land. i. Plenary, in articulo mortis, at the point of death. I, II. Should Confession and Communion be impossible, the invocation of the Holy Name of JESUS with contrition, at least in the heart, suffices. ii. Plenary, on Christmas Day, the Epiphany, Easter Day, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi, the Purification, Annunciation, Nativity B.V.M., Nativity of St John Baptist,[…]

Catholics searching for the traditional Catholic Bible in English should look no further! In 1546, the Council of Trent affirmed the Latin Vulgate Bible as authentic and declared that “No one (may) dare or presume under any pretext whatsoever to reject it” (4th Session, April 8, 1546). The Douay-Rheims Bible is an English translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, a version universally used in the Church for over 1500 years, itself precisely translated from the original Hebrew and Greek by St. Jerome (A.D. 340-420). The Douay-Rheims was completed in 1609, and is therefore older than the King James Version, the[…]