The Marian Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Tom Perna

Today in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, we celebrate the Marian memorial known as Our Lady of Sorrows. This traditional devotion, which helps us understand Mary’s role in the suffering of Our Lord Jesus Christ, began in 1814 by Pope Pius VII. Many of the Church Fathers and other saints wrote on how Mary is united with Christ in his suffering and how we are to suffer with Christ as well. Focusing on the Cross, which is how Christians should unite their suffering with Christ, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen says this,

“Unless there is a Cross in our lives there will never be a resurrection. The Christian law of life is we have to die in order to live. Now I do not mean and He did not mean physically dying. He meant mortification, self-denial, the application of the Cross in our lives.”

If you don’t know or haven’t realized it yet, suffering is very much a part of the Christian lifestyle, and although following Christ brings us happiness and joy, suffering is something that we all must learn to embrace. Jesus says in the Scriptures, pick up your cross and follow me. He does not say if you follow me, life will be a bed of roses.

As Catholics, we are reminded of this very concept every time we walk into a Catholic Church and see the crucifix in the sanctuary. As she is in all things that pertain to the Christian faith, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the perfect example for us when it comes to suffering with Christ. Although she was free of all sin because of her Immaculate Conception, she still had to endure great pains and mental suffering as she watched Jesus’ Passion and Death.

To wrap up today’s short blog post, here are the many other posts I have written in previous years that focus on the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother and Lady of Sorrows.

1. “Mondays with Mary” – 7 Quotes by Pope St. John Paul II on Our Lady of Sorrows

2. “Mondays with Mary” – Our Lady of Sorrows

3. “Mondays with Mary” – Marian Reflections from St. Alphonsus Ligouri

4. “Mondays with Mary” – The Burial of Our Lord, and the Loneliness of the Blessed Virgin

5. “Mondays with Mary” – The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Mary at the Foot of the Cross

6. “Mondays with Mary” – The Suffering of Mother Mary

7. “Mondays with Mary” – Jesus, Mary, and the Cross

8. “Mondays with Mary” – Mary Under the Cross

9. “Mondays with Mary” – The Method of Praying the Rosary of the Mater Dolorosa

10. “Mondays with Mary” – Pope St. John Paul II on the Suffering of Mary

11. “Mondays with Mary” – The Prophecy of Holy Simeon

12. “Mondays with Mary” – Litany of the Mater Dolorosa

13. “Mondays with Mary” – The Blessed Sorrowful Mother at the Cross through the words of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

If you are interested in hearing 5 very good homilies on suffering, I would suggest listening to the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time homilies from the our parish priests on iTunes and Google Play Music.

Our Lady of Sorrows…Pray for Us

The 30th Anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II Visit to Phoenix, Arizona

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Tom Perna

Pope St. John Paul II after the Papal Mass in Phoenix, Arizona.

On September 14, 1987, I had the privilege to attend the Papal Mass of Pope St. John Paul II at Sun Devil Stadium along with my Mom and cousin. It was an awesome celebration and one that I remember to this day. I was only 13 years old and really didn’t know much about the life of the Holy Father at that time. It wouldn’t be until six years later that I finally began to learn more about Pope St. John Paul II. Since then, I have studied, read, and written about Pope St. John Paul II.

While on this side of heaven, he became one of my heroes. I was also able to see him at World Youth Day 1993 in Denver, Colorado and then seven years later at World Youth Day 2000 in Rome, Italy. His influence on my life is hard to describe at times. I enjoy talking about him often with family and friends. Many know that I am a JP2 junkie.

Today, September 14, 2017, is the 30^th Anniversary of his Papal Visit to Phoenix, Arizona. Although it was 30 years ago, I still remember it so vividly, as you read above. Pope St. John Paul II still is a major impact in my life as a Catholic, and as someone who studies the faith academically and teaches it to others, he is an important figure in the Church today. His writings will impact the Catholic Church for centuries to come. There are countless blog articles on this very site written either about him or quoting him.

The liturgical vestments worn by Pope St. John Paul II at the Papal Mass here in Phoenix.

Pope Saint John Paul II…Pray for Us

Here is a picture that was sold back in 1987 to commemorate his visit to Phoenix. It hangs framed at the entrance of my home.

“Mondays with Mary” – The Marian Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Tom Perna

This coming Wednesday, September 13, is the memorial of another great Early Church Father and Doctor of the Church, and a saint that is recognized by both the Eastern and Western lungs of the Catholic Church – Saint John Chrysostom. Known as “Golden-mouthed” because of the eloquence of his preaching, St. John Chrysostom has been honored since the Early Church for his many writings and spectacular words. If you were unfamiliar with this amazing saint of the Early Church before today, I would encourage you to read my two articles on him here and here.

As I have done in the past, and most recently over the past two weeks, here is a Marian Prayer from the aforementioned Saint and Doctor of the Church. I said it last week and I say it again today – I find great consolation in these Marian prayers because it proves to me again and again how important the Blessed Virgin Mary has always been in the life of the Catholic Church. So many of the great Saints have written prayers specifically for her intercession throughout the centuries, notably in the Early Church. It also proves to me that the Blessed Mother has been a valid character in the life of the Church since then and not just made up over time or more emphasized in recent centuries.

Hail, O Mother! Virgin, heaven, throne, glory of our Church, its foundation and ornament. Earnestly pray for us to Jesus, your Son and Our Lord, that through your intercession we may have mercy on the day of judgment. Pray that we may receive all those good things which are reserved for those who love God. Through the grace and favor of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be power, honor, and glory, now and forever. Amen.

Sassoferrato – Virgin Mother

Mary, Holy and Most Perpetual Virgin…Pray for Us

St. John Chrysostom…Pray for Us

Source:

“All About Mary.” Prayers of Saints to Mary : University of Dayton, Ohio, 18 Feb. 2016, udayton.edu/imri/mary/p/prayers-of-saints-to-mary.php#anchor4.

“Mondays with Mary” – The Marian Prayer of St. Gregory the Great

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Tom Perna

Yesterday, in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, we celebrated the 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, however, September 3, is also the memorial for one of the great Early Church Fathers as well as a Pope and Doctor of the Church – Saint Gregory the Great. If you were not aware of his story and importance in the life of the Catholic Church, I would also encourage you to read this article I wrote on him a few years ago.

As I say in that article, he is the “Greatest of the Greats.” Many of his contributions to the Catholic Church are still in use today. He is the Early Church’s version of beast mode (in a good way) and serious BA (ha ha!). Get to know him, if you don’t already, because he is pretty awesome.

As I have done in the past, and most recently last week, here is a Marian Prayer from the aforementioned Saint and Doctor of the Church. I find great consolation in these Marian prayers because it proves to me again and again how important the Blessed Virgin Mary has always been in the life of the Catholic Church. So many of the great Saints have written prayers specifically for her intercession.

Mary, you are the vessel
and tabernacle containing all Mysteries.
You know what the Patriarchs did not know;
you experienced what was not revealed to the Angels;
you heard what the Prophets did not hear.
In short, everything that was hidden
from preceding generations
was made known to you;
even more, most of these wonders depended on you. Amen.

Our Lady, the Tabernacle that carried Christ Himself…Pray for Us

Saint Gregory the Great…Pray for Us

12 Quotes by Saint Augustine of Hippo

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Tom Perna

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Augustine of Hippo, one of the great Doctors of the Church and one of the most popular canonized saints of the Catholic Church. He has been influencing Catholics to study their faith for over 1600 years, as well as bringing many sinners to Jesus Christ through his amazing conversion story.

Since he has influenced many with his writings over the centuries, I wanted to provide you with some quotes of his, which focus on a wide range of theological topics. Although there are countless writings and I could give you hundreds of quotes, here are 12 solid quotes from the Doctor of Grace himself –

1. “This is what you should think, if you wish to see God: ‘God is Love,’ What has love? What form has it? What height? What feet? What hands? No one can say. Yet is had feet, for they lead to the Church; it has hands for they care for the poor; it has eyes, for through them the needy one is known.”

2. “Too late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient and so new, too late have I loved you! You were with me, but I was not with you. You cried out and pierced my deafness. You enlightened my blindness. I tasted you and I am hungry for you. You touched me, and I am afire with longing for your embrace.”

3. “Understanding is the reward given by faith. Do not try to understand in order to believe, but believe in order to understand.”

4. “If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is still humility. Not that there are not other precepts to give, but if humility does not precede all that we do, our efforts are fruitless.” (Wow…this one makes you think!)

5. “God has no need of money, but the poor have. You give it to the poor, and God receives it.”

6. “Do not grieve or complain that you were born in a time when you can no longer see God in the flesh. He did not in fact take that privilege from you. As He says: ‘Whatever you have done to the least of my brothers, you did to me.’”

7. “Men go abroad to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.” (How true is this in the modern age!)

8. “Out of the forward will lust had sprung; and lust pampered had become custom; and custom indulged had become necessity. These were the links of the chain; this is the bondage in which I was bound.”

9. “Christ martyrs feared neither death nor pain. He triumphed in them who lived in them; and they, who lived not for themselves but for him, found in death itself the way to life.”

10. “If they, why not I? – If these men and women could become saints, why cannot I with the help of Him who is all-powerful?”

11. “If a man wishes to take your coat, give him also whatever other articles of clothes you may have.”

12. “Imagine a man in whom the tumult of the flesh goes silent, in whom the images of earth, of water, of air, and of the skies cease to resound. His soul turns quiet and, self-reflecting no longer, it transcends itself. Dreams and visions end. So too does all speech and every gesture, everything in fact which comes to be only to pass away. All these things cry out: ‘We did not make ourselves. It is the Eternal One who made us.’”

St. Augustine of Hippo…Pray for Us

“Mondays with Mary” – The Marian Prayer of St. Augustine of Hippo

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Tom Perna

Since today, August 28, is the memorial of one of the great Doctors and Early Church Fathers, St. Augustine of Hippo, I thought I would provide for you a Marian Prayer composed by the Doctor of Grace himself. Although St. Augustine lived over 1600 years ago, the Catholic Church still finds great amounts of orthodox theology from his many writings.

If you are not aware of his life and amazing conversion story, written by his own hand and titled, Confessions, I would suggest you research it this week. Because of his influence in the life of the Church and in my own daily work, I have personally written about him 6 times, which includes this blog post and the other one from today that gives you some more quotes from his different writings.

This is image is ‘Our Lady of Ostra Brama’ (Our Lady of Mercy). She is the patroness of the Marian Province in the United States.

Today’s Marian Prayer, written by the aforementioned saint, is a prayer dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy. If there were ever a saint that understands mercy and reconciliation with God, it would be the great saint of Hippo.

Blessed Virgin Mary,
who can worthily repay you with praise
and thanks for having rescued a fallen world
by your generous consent!
Receive our gratitude,
and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins.
Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven
and enable them to make our peace with God.

Holy Mary, help the miserable,
strengthen the discouraged,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for your people,
plead for the clergy,
intercede for all women consecrated to God.
May all who venerate you
feel now your help and protection.
Be ready to help us when we pray,
and bring back to us the answers to our prayers.
Make it your continual concern
to pray for the people of God,
for you were blessed by God
and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world,
who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

Our Lady of Mercy…Pray for Us

St. Augustine of Hippo…Pray for Us

The Queenship of Mary: 7 Blog Posts on the Marian Feast

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Tom Perna

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is one of the many Marian feasts of the Catholic Church, and a topic, just like the Assumption, I have written about quite often on here. Below you will find links to the 7 blog posts on the Queenship of Mary, some that come from my weekly series – “Mondays with Mary.”