Another Doctor of the Church? Hildegard of Bingen

The doctor-maker is in.

According RomeReports, Pope Benedict is scheduled to declare Hildegard of Bingen a Doctor of the Church in 2012.  She is known for her mystical visions.

That's simply amazing once again!

It seems that in our time when theology is heavily academic and secularized, raising someone to the honors of the 34th official doctors shows how holy doctrine doesn't depend on worldly scholarship.

This is comforting, especially for yours truly, who has sat in numerous theology classes and felt like I couldn't meet the standards of secular analysis like many of my classmates.

If true, she's also going to be the 4th woman Doctor of the Church.

I'd like to study more of her visions.

One of my favorite is Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich, after whom the movie The Passion of the Christ was based.

For now, Benedict will make history with his declaration of another doctor. 

Thanks be to God!

Life of St. Maria Goretti (in Chinese)

I was studying the life of St. Maria Goretti today. 

Normally, I wouldn't put up the story.  But this particular site had the story of her life in Chinese.  I hope that those in China will learn from her heroic life.

Here is her story in Chinese: http://www.mariagoretti.org/MariaBioAsian.htm

Here is the source in English: http://www.mariagoretti.org/mariabio.htm

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us.

Saint-To-Be Pedro Calungsod

The rumors were true.  They were actually fact.

Blessed Pedro Calungsod will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI!

Deo gratias!

I am most encouraged that a young catechist will be raised to the honors of the altar.  Thank you, God!

"God, I Trust in You!"

Continued Prayers for the Society of St. Pius X & the Holy Father....in Latin

A few days ago, I blogged about praying for the Society.  It was the first time for me to blog about the Society, and lo and behold a statement comes forth.

If the press statements are reliable, it seemed that the superior of the Society recently stated that, at this point, forward movement was not possible without some clarifications from the Holy See.

I don't remember the exact phrasing, but it seems that further conversation is needed with the proposed Preamble and the proposed Personal Prelature.

Well....

...I'm NOT deterred with prayer!

That's all I'm going to say at this point.

Well...

...maybe not.

Won't you join me, dear class, in prayer?! 

Let us pray and entrust this matter to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to St. Pius X.

As I wrote this a few minutes ago, I wrote the Hail Mary first in English and then in Latin.  Since the Society is fond of Latin, I changed this and have, in honor of these efforts at reconciliation, posted the prayers of the holy Rosary in Latin.

I only know the Salve Regina in Latin.  Perhaps this is a good time for me to learn the prayers in Latin.  We'll see.

This reminds me of that scene from Saving Private Ryan (1998) where the Allies invade Normandy.  One of the soldiers, under fire, prayed the rosary in Latin.

Well, here you go.  We're under fire for sure....and are expected to perform exemplary in battle -- spiritual battle of course.

Lord Jesus, Son of David, hear our prayer!   In Your Most Precious and Holy Name!  Amen.


THE PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY 

Sign of the Cross:

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen

Apostles' Creed:
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad infernos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer:
PATER NOSTER, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

The Hail Mary:
AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Glory Be:
GLORIA PATRI, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Oratio Fatimae (The Fatima Prayer)
Domine Iesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferiori, perduc in caelum omnes animas, praesertim eas, quae misericordiae tuae maxime indigent.

Hail, Holy Queen:
SALVE REGINA, Mater misericordiae. Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae. Ad te Suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, Advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.
V. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genitrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

Praying for the Society of St. Pius X & the Society's Response to Pope's Invitation for a Personal Prelature

For the past few weeks, the Society of St. Pius X has been on my mind.  I have no particular agenda other than the unity that Christ willed for his Church.

I have attended the Ordinary Form of the Mass ever since I started practicing my faith many, many years ago.  I accept the Second Vatican Council, including the documents on religious liberty and non-Christian religions.  These are enough reasons for members of the Society to hold me anathema.

But when I first heard of Pope Benedict's outreach to the Society, my thoughts immediately turned to the Queen of Heaven.  We must pray for the situation.  Many Vatican II Catholics are sympathetic to the issues raised by the SSPX.

The time is ripe under this papacy for development in a way that would respect the Society's issues yet reconcile the situation.  It had to happen under Benedict, whom Fr. Z calls the Pope of Christian Unity.  If it doesn't happen now, there may be major set back.  But if there is success, then maybe the Society could bring their reform issues to the table for further discussion.

I mean, look at the Anglican Ordinariate and now the Ordinariate for the USA this Jan. 1, 2012.  Look at the progress made with the Eastern Catholic Churches.  Look at the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei.  These are only some structures in place in the Catholic Church that show how these are gifts from Heaven.

Please take the offer, SSPX!

I know some of my word choices could have been better above, but I rest in the words of Our Lord who prayed for the unity of His disciples so that the world may believe.  From the point of view of this Novus Ordo Catholic, if the Society were to accept a Personal Prelature, then what good would be done to the Church!

I would definitely visit the Society and attend Holy Mass under the Society's auspices should this take place.  I'd like to learn more about the Society.

So, dear class, let us pray.

And let us ask Pope St. Pius X for his intercession in this matter, too.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Pausing to Say, "Thank you, O Lord."

For this Thanksgiving season, Mr. P. wants to say "Thank you, Lord."

Here are two prayers to make sure you learn.

GRACE BEFORE MEALS: Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts which we are about to receive from Thy bounty through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

THE HOLY MASS: The best way to say thank you to God is to attend Mass.  Even more, to receive Holy Communion in the state of grace. 

Also, during the month of November, remember, the Church prays for the souls of the dead.  We cannot forget the poor souls in purgatory.  Have Mass offered for them.  Pray the rosary for them.

Here's another prayer to learn:

REQUIEM:  + Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.  Amen.

Okay, so that's actually three -- not two -- prayers to learn: Grace Before Meals, the Requiem, and the Holy Mass, especially the new translation of the Third Roman Missal.

Class dismissed.