Some of the richest treasures of the traditional Roman Liturgy are the Votive Masses near the back of the St. Andrew’s Missal (1945 Edition). These devotions were systematically and purposely stripped out of the church’s life, as Fr. John Zuhlsdorf noted, to weaken our Catholic identity and to make us more susceptible to the winds of the world with its shifting fads and mores. The votive masses were an easy target for the radical reformers, and because many faithful are now frozen at 1962 as per Summorum Pontificum, so you might hear ‘Recordare domine’ Mass only in an independent chapel[…]

“The More You Honor Me, The More I Will Bless You” It is veneration of the Son of God, who in the form of an infant chose a stable for a palace, a manger for a cradle, and shepherds for worshipers. Our Savior grants special graces to all who venerate His sacred Infancy. The image of the Child Jesus known as the “Infant Jesus of Prague” was in reality of Spanish origin. In the 17th century, this beautiful statue was brought by a Spanish princess to Bohemia and presented to a Carmelite monastery. For many years this statue has been[…]

Our Holy Church has always recognized the value of rites and ceremonial observances, not only for increasing the solemnity of her services but for arousing a spirit of devotion in those who minister at them and those who attend them. And because a religious practice happened to be of Jewish origin or had been used in the rites of paganism, the Church does not therefore look upon it as something to be necessarily condemned or forbidden. She has taken some of the details of her liturgy not only from the ceremonial law of Moses, but even from pagan worship. On[…]

“Let all things be done decently, and according to order.” ~ 1 Corinthians 14:40 As it is not always possible for a Priest to be present at the actual moment of death, especially in large parishes, and more especially where the parish covers a large territory, the faithful should themselves endeavor to assist their dying brethren after the Priest has administered the last sacraments. When they see that the patient’s end is approaching, they should light a blessed candle and assist him [if patient doesn’t have a highly contagious disease] to hold it in his hand, at least during the[…]

“Our Blessed Mother has been invoked under the beautiful title of Our Lady of Consolation since the fourth century – and probably for even longer than that. History records that St Eusebius of Vercelli, who was a heroic defender of the doctrine of Christ’s Divinity in an age when Arianism was gaining influential followers, brought back an icon of Our Lady of Consolation from Egypt in 363 when he was returning from exile. As part of the Traditional Missal, the Feast of Consolation occurs on the Saturday after the Feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, which falls on August 28th.[…]

A daily prayer for priests and religious although is a simple thing, is one of the most charitable and noble acts. We pray for those who thirst for the salvation of souls, and those who suffer for defending authentic Catholic doctrine. Satan works hard to tempt our priests, but we need to help them with our prayers and sacrifices. O Jesus, Eternal Priest,Keep Thy priests within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart,where none may touch them.Keep unstained their anointed hands,which daily touch Thy Sacred Body.Keep unsullied their lips,daily purpled with Thy Precious Blood.Keep pure and unworldly their hearts,sealed with the[…]

The following guide on the Anointing of the Sick comes from an informative and rare book: “Saints to Help the Sick and the Dying“. The purpose of this book is to bring before the minds of the faithful, in all walks of life, priests and Religious as well, the various saints who are invoked against specific ailments and diseases. The book also includes a chapter on the Sacraments of Confession, Communion of the Sick,  and the Last Rite prayers (the rite is sublime) from the Roman Ritual. THE ANOINTING IN THE sorrow-laden hour of sickness we turn to the Church for[…]

Fr. Z Calls for an Association of Prayer for the Reversal of Traditionis Custodes! Those who join make a simple commitment to make these two offering to the Blessed mother for the reversal of Traditionis Custodes and the draconian crackdown on the Latin Mass associated with it: – recite the beautiful and powerful Memorare prayer DAILY; – make an act of physical or material penance for the two intentions ONCE A WEEK. You can read Fr. Z’s post here and sign up for the association. You can also see how many have already joined and committed to spread the message.  Memorare in Latin Memorare[…]

“AND it came to pass, that as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” ~ Luke 11:1, Douay-Rheims Bible. Prayer is man’s richest boon. It is his light, his nourishment, and his very life, for it brings him into communication with God, who is light [St. John viii. 12], nourishment [Ibid. vi. 35], and life [Ibid. xiv. 6]. But of ourselves we know not what we should pray for as we ought [Rom. viii. 26]; we must needs, therefore,[…]

Are you in the miserable state of sin? Then call on Mary and say to her, “Ave,” which means “I greet thee with the most profound respect, thou who art without sin,” and she will deliver you from the evil of your sins. Are you groping in the darkness of ignorance and error? Go to Mary and say to her, “Hail Mary,” which means “Hail, thou who art bathed in the light of the Sun of Justice,” and she will give you a share in her light. Have you strayed from the path leading to heaven? Then call on Mary,[…]

Our Lady of Olives is to be situated within the larger context of the biblical symbolism of the Olive tree. In the Bible, but also in patristic and medieval writings, the olive tree–together with the vine and wheat ears–was considered a symbol of heavenly blessings, prosperity and fecundity in times of peace. The olive tree is also a symbol of spiritual excellence and distinction such as reconciliation with God, rectitude and innocence as well as fruitfulness of good works. This symbolism applied to Mary is a sign of faithful and loving dedication to the Lord but also a symbol of[…]