Mary: Ghanem was my mentor. Michael is my mentor now.
Judy: Dr. Bodo Fritzen was my favorite professor and mentor. He just died last year. What a great person! He taught me so much, and although a Mormon, respected my Faith.
Who are your favorite saints?
Would you like to send in a list of your favorite saints (with or without images)? You can say why you like them best or simply send a list.
*These are my favorite saints: the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. John Paul II, St. Edith Stein, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. Gianna Molla.
Judy
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St. Therese with the Holy Family
*My favorite saints are the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, (Holy Family), and St. Therese, the Little Flower.
Mary
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*St. Therese of the Child Jesus, All Carmelite Saints, St. Padre Pio, St. Mother Teresa, St. Rita of Cascia.
Veronica
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*Of the Carmelite Saints: St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Elizabeth of The Trinity, St. Raphael Kalinowski; St. Clare, St. Francis, St. Colette, St. Scholastica, St. Hildegard, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Mary of Egypt, St. Padre Pio, St. Zosimas, St. Imelda
Linda
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*St. Joseph, St. Padre Pio, St. Jude, St. Pope Pius X, St. Bernadette, St. Faustina, St. Dymphna, St. Philomena
Gail
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*Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. Therese the Little Flower, St. Miriam Baouardy, St. Elijah the Prophet
Lili
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*My favorites are St. Joseph, St. Therese, the Little Flower; St. John of the Cross, Pope St. John Paul II, St. Martin De Porres.
Pat
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*My favorite saints are St Therese of Lisieux and St Francis of Assisi.
Kathy
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*My favorite saints are St. Teresa of Jesus, St. John of the Cross, and the Little Flower, St. Therese.
Sue
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St. Raphael the Archangel is my favorite one. Regardless, I love all the Carmelite Saints and Blesseds such as the Prophet Elijah, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Plus, others like St. Brigitte of Sweden, St. Catherine of Siena, St Hildegard von Bingen, St. Jerome, St. John Chrisostomos, St. Irenaeus, etc.
Ana
A very popular saint: St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower
Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Carmelite Saints for Vocations for Priests and Brothers to Carmel
(This novena should be accompanied by some fasting, great or small, and possible abstention from smoking or drinking alcohol and/or limitation of media usage. It may be prayed at any time, but August 7 โ 15 is suggested.)
โA priest is not a priest for himself. He is a priest for you.โ โ St. John Vianney
Opening Prayer for each day:
Dear Queen of Carmel and saints of Carmel, we humbly beg you to intercede with Our Lord so that new vocations to the Carmelite priesthood may flourish worldwide as soon as possible, if it be in accord with Your Divine Will.
DAY 1: OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
With special focus on saying โyesโ to God
Prayer: Our Lady of Carmel, Queen of the Clergy, we ask your intercession today for an increase in vocations to the Discalced Carmelite Order throughout the world. Dearest Blessed Mother, you are the Immaculate Conception, the Ark of the New Covenant, and the fairest of our race. You taught us how to entrust our lives completely to the Divine Will. You lived a life of charity and service to Jesus and St. Joseph.
In this same spirit of devotion and sacrifice, please intercede with our heavenly Father to fill His Carmelite monasteries with more Fathers and Brothers. May our present Fathers serve humbly, devoutly, and lovingly as ministers of Godโs sacred Altar. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Carmel, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. DAY 2: ST. JOSEPH
With special focus on the virtue of obedience
Prayer: Holy St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, Guardian of Our Savior, humble Carpenter of Nazareth, and Patron Saint of the Universal Church, you were a holy and righteous man. You were completely obedient to whatever God asked of you.
O St. Joseph, we implore to intercede with those whom God is calling to Carmel. Please pray that they follow your example of devoted obedience to the call of Our Father in Heaven to be holy. Please keep families holy so that they can freely offer their children to a life of serving God. Amen.
St. Joseph, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. DAY 3: ST. SIMON STOCK
With special focus on brotherhood
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Prayer: St. Simon Stock, you served in the brotherhood of Our Lady of Mount Carmel by being
an early Superior General of the Carmelite Order in 1237 in England. Oral tradition tells us that
her favor and you prayed with great emotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel during a time of great
difficulty for the Order. Our Lady answered your prayer.
you were blessed with an apparition of Our Lady who gave you the Holy Scapular as as a sign of
Queen of Carmel, please hear our prayer to increase vocations to the Carmelite Fathers
throughout the world. We petition you through the prayer of St. Simon Stock: Flos Carmeli.
O Most Beautiful Flower of Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven,
holy and singular,
who brought forth the Son of God,
still ever remaining a Pure Virgin,
assist us with making vocations flourish in Carmel.
O Star of the Sea, help and protect us!
Show us that thou art Our Mother.
St. Simon Stock, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 4: ST. TERESA OF JESUS
With a special focus on vocations to Carmel
St. Teresa, Daughter of the Church, you initiated the great reform in convents throughout Spain, and eventually, the world. Dear saint, you brought in St. John of the Cross to reform the monasteries, helped create the classic contemplative life in prayer for Discalced Carmelites, founded convents, wrote many books, inspired countless others, and lived the holy life of a saint, always with obedience and love.
In this same spirit of Carmel, please intercede with us to Our Lord to send many vocations to the Discalced Carmelite Order. We will never cease praying to you and will always need you and love you. As you wrote:
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Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You,
always follow Your plans,
and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will.
Grant that in all things, great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever You require of me.
Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace,
so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honor.
May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me,
in me, and through me. Amen.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 5: ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS
With a special focus on the virtue of charity
Prayer: Beloved St. Theฬreฬse of great faith and charity, you wanted to become a missionary, but instead accepted Godโs will by remaining in your small convent in Lisieux. There you practiced your Little Way and wrote the autobiography that would influence people throughout the ages, spreading the message of mercy and love. As a Carmelite Sister, one of your principal duties was to pray for the Church, and you did this with great fervor.
Dearest St. Theฬreฬse, we ask your blessed intercession today for more vocations to the priesthood and brotherhood of the Discalced Carmelite Order. Please ask our Lord to form young people in the way of love, as He guides them to be instruments for Our Lord and servants of His Church.
โWe must forget ourselves, and put aside our tastes and ideas, and guide souls not by our own way, but along the path which Our Lord points out.โ -St. Theฬreฬse of Lisieux
St. Theฬreฬse, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. DAY 6: ST. RAPHAEL KALINOWSKI
With special focus on the virtue of trust in God through adversity
Prayer: Saint Raphael, you showed strength in adversity by serving in the military and, as a prisoner, as as a slave laborer in Siberia. Eventually, you became a Discalced Carmelite Friar, spiritual director, and Father Prior. Dearest saint, please help us to accept the difficulties of life and to live gladly for the glory of God. Pray that we grow strong in our faith and in love for one another.
O beloved saint
St. Raphael Kalinowski, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 7: THE 16 CARMELITE SISTERS OF COMPIEGNE
With special focus on martyrdom
Prayer: Beloved Sisters of Compieฬgne, as martyrs on the guillotine during the Reign of Terror, many credit you with stopping the French Revolution. With your Canoness, St. Teresa of St. Augustine, you inspired others throughout the ages to be courageous in defense of your faith and your God.
Carmelite Sisters and Martyrs of the French Revolution, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 8: ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
With special focus on spirituality
Prayer: St. John, you reformed the Carmelite Order, and along with St. Teresa, founded the Discalced Carmelite Order. You were persecuted by your own fellow friars. You wrote about
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, you moved the hearts of your companions with your example of perseverance
and love for the Immaculate Virgin. We are begging you to obtain from Our Heavenly Father
vocations for priests and brothers to your beloved Carmelite Order.
Lord our God, you called the 16 Carmelite Sisters of Compieฬgne to show witness to love by their
martyrdom to restore peace to France. Through their intercession, please fill the monasteries of
Discalced Carmel with new vocations. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
the dark night of the soul, which would result in detachment from earthly things and transformational union with God. O beloved saint, we beseech you to intercede for us to the Lord God Almighty to send more vocations to the Discalced Carmelite priesthood and brotherhood.
As you wrote:
โCast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you, do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be wrong to Him.โ
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 9: ST. TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS
With special focus on surrender to the Divine Will
St. Teresa, you were a Discalced Carmelite Sister, teacher, writer, and philosopher. You entered Carmel with a distinct calling from Our Heavenly Father. Dear saint, you believed that if anyone came to you, you wanted to lead them to Him, so you became a martyr for Jesus, His Church, and your Jewish people. Please heed our prayer and intercede for us to have more vocations to the Discalced Carmelite priesthood and brotherhood, through Christ Our Lord.
As you wrote:
โO my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.โ
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, Munster, Indiana Carmel
(Sources: Aleteia, Britannica; Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, Carmelites of Boston; Catholic Doors; Catholic Online; Catholic Strength; Catholic Tradition; Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, Office of Vocations; EWTN; Lifesite Ministries; The Spiritual Life; the USCCB; Vatican News Services )
Flames of love
โLet us remain then very far from all that sparkles, let us love our littleness, let us love to feel nothing, then we shall be poor in spirit, and Jesus will come to look for us, and however far we may be, He will transform us in flames of love.โ ~ St. Therese of Lisieux
The Angelus
What Is The Angelus?
Among our many Catholic devotions, few are more beautiful or have been contemplated more often than the Angelus.
Designed to commemorate the mystery of the Incarnation and pay homage to Maryโs role in salvation history, it has long been part of Catholic life. Around the world, three times every day, the faithful stop whatever they are doing and with the words โThe Angel of the Lord declared unto Maryโ begin this simple yet beautiful prayer. But why do we say the Angelus at all, much less three times a day?
A review of Church history shows that this devotion did not appear suddenly, but developed over several centuries.
Called By the Bell
Most Church historians agree that the Angelus can be traced back to 11th-century Italy, where monks said three Hail Marys during night prayers, at the last bell of the day. Over time, pastors encouraged their Catholic flocks to end each day in a similar fashion by saying three Hail Marys. In the villages, as in the monasteries, a bell was rung at the close of the day reminding the laity of this special prayer time. The evening devotional practice soon spread to other parts of Christendom, including England.
Toward the end of the 11th century, the Normans invaded and occupied England. In order to ensure control of the populace, the Normans rang a curfew bell at the end of each day reminding the locals to extinguish all fires, get off the streets and retire to their homes. While not intended to encourage prayer, this bell became associated nevertheless with evening prayer time, which included saying the Hail Mary. Once the curfew requirement ended, a bell continued to be rung at the close of each day and the term curfew bell was widely popular, although in some areas it was known as the โAveโ or the โGabrielโ bell.
Around 1323, the Bishop of Winchester, England, and future Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop John de Stratford, encouraged those of his diocese to pray the Hail Mary in the evening, writing, โWe exhort you every day, when you hear three short interrupted peals of the bell, at the beginning of the curfew (or, in places where you do not hear it, at vesper time or nightfall) you say with all possible devotion, kneeling wherever you may be, the Angelic Salutation three times at each peal, so as to say it nine times in allโ (Publication of the Catholic Truth Society, 1895).
Meanwhile, around 1318 in Italy, Catholics began saying the Hail Mary upon rising in the morning. Likely this habit again came from the monks, who included the Hail Mary in the prayers they said before their workday began. The morning devotion spread, and evidence is found in England that in 1399 Archbishop Thomas Arundel ordered church bells be rung at sunrise throughout the country, and he asked the laity to recite five Our Fathers and seven Hail Marys every morning.
The noontime Angelus devotion seems to have derived from the long-standing practice of praying and meditating on Our Lordโs passion at midday each Friday. In 1456, Pope Calixtus III directed the ringing of church bells every day at noon and that Catholics pray three Hail Marys. The pope solicited the faithful to use the noonday prayers to pray for peace in the face of the 15th-century invasion of Europe by the Turks. The bell rung at noontime became known as the โPeaceโ bell or โTurkishโ bell. In 1481, Pope Sixtus IV was petitioned by Queen Elizabeth of England, wife of King Henry VII, to grant indulgences for those who said at least one Hail Mary at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. There is evidence that a bell was rung at those times.
The Angelus Today
By the end of the 16th century, the Angelus had become the prayer that we know today: three Hail Marys, with short verses in between (called versicles), ending with a prayer. It was first published in modern form in a catechism around 1560 in Venice. This devotion reminds us of the Angel Gabrielโs annunciation to Mary, Maryโs fiat, the Incarnation and Our Lordโs passion and resurrection. It is repeated as a holy invitation, calling us to prayer and meditation. For centuries the Angelus was always said while kneeling, but Pope Benedict XIV (r. 1740-1758) directed that the Angelus should be recited while standing on Saturday evening and all day on Sunday. He also directed that the Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven) be said instead of the Angelus during the Easter season. Over the years many of the faithful have focused the morning Angelus on the Resurrection, the noon Angelus on the Passion and the evening Angelus on the Incarnation.
It is said that over the centuries workers in the fields halted their labors and prayed when they heard the Angelus bell. This pious practice is depicted by Jean-Francฬงois Milletโs famous 1857 painting that shows two workers in a potato field stopping to say the Angelus. There are also stories that animals would automatically stop plowing and stand quietly at the bell.
Like a heavenly messenger, the Angelus calls man to interrupt his daily, earthly routines and turn to thoughts of God, of the Blessed Mother, and of eternity. As Pope Benedict XVI taught last year on the feast of the Annunciation: โThe Angelโs proclamation was addressed to her; she accepted it, and when she responded from the depths of her heart ... at that moment the eternal Word began to exist as a human being in time. From generation to generation the wonder evoked by this ineffable mystery never ceases.โ
A significant part of this traditional devotion is not only the ringing of a bell to announce the time of prayer but the manner in which the bell is rung. The ringing consists of three strokes of the bell, each followed by a pause, and then nine strokes. John Sullivan, in his 1917 book, โExternals of the Catholic Church,โ writes: โThe manner of ringing the Angelus seems to have
varied little since the beginning of the devotion.... Old monastic records, going back to the fifteenth century, show that the bell-ringer was directed, โto toll the Ave-bell nine strokes at three times, keeping the space of one Pater and Ave between each of the three tollings.โโ
(Source: D.D. Emmons, Simply Catholic)
Prayers for Healing from Lourdes
Prayer to be said when using Lourdes Water
Blessed be the Holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Mother, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Lourdes, heal us for the greater glory of the Holy Trinity. Our Lady of Lourdes, heal us for the greater glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lady of Lourdes, heal the sick, convert sinners. Health of the sick, Help of the suffering, pray for us. Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse in thee. St. Bernadette, pray for us! Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes Prayer for healing
O ever-Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comforter of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings; look with mercy on me. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with complete confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests (mention your petition). Through gratitude for your favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that I may one day share your glory. Amen.
To Heal a Friend
Think, O God, of our friend who is ill, whom we now commend to Your compassionate regard. Comfort him upon his sickbed, and ease his suffering. We beg for deliverance, and submit that no healing is too hard for the Lord, if it be His will. We therefore pray that You bless our friend with Your loving care, renew his strength, and heal what ails him in Your loving name. Amen.
Prayer for Healing I
Lord, look upon me with eyes of mercy, may your healing hand rest upon me, may your life-giving powers flow into every cell of my body and into the depths of my soul, cleansing, purifying, restoring me to wholeness and strength for service in your Kingdom. Amen.
Prayer for Healing II
O God who are the only source of health and healing, the spirit of calm and the central peace of this universe, grant to me such a consciousness of your indwelling and surrounding presence that I may permit you to give me health and strength and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Healing III
Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to you. Allow Your healing Hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others; touch my heart with Your courage and infinite Love for all; touch my mind with Your Wisdom, and may my mouth always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in all my needs, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which you have created, now and forever. Amen.
St. John Paul II's Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit, I ask you for the gift of Wisdom to better know You and Your divine perfections, for the gift of Understanding to clearly discern the spirit of the mysteries of the holy faith, for the gift of Counsel that I may live according to the principles of this faith, for the gift of Knowledge that I may look for counsel in You and that I may always find it in You, for the gift of Fortitude that no fear or earthly preoccupations would ever separate me from You, for the gift of Piety that I may always serve Your Majesty with a filial love, for the gift of the Fear of the Lord that I may dread sin, which offends You, O my God.
(This prayer resulted a half century later in his Encyclical on the Holy Spirit, Dominum et Vivificantem.)
Bishop Strickland quotes Saint John Henry Newman
The following was written by St. John Henry Newman. It appeared in the popular periodical Magnificat recently. I encourage all of us to ponder the saints words and take them to heart.
Who are you?
God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow, I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an archangel in His โ if, indeed I fail, God can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham. Yet I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness or perplexity or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end which is quite beyond us.
He does nothing in vain. He may prolong my life; He may shorten it. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about. O Adonai, O Ruler of Israel, You who guide Joseph like a flock, O Emmanuel, O Sapientia, I give myself to You.
I trust You wholly. You are wiser than I โ more loving to me than I am to myself. Deign to fulfill Your high purposes in me โ whatever they may be โ work in and through me. I am born to serve You, to be Yours, to be Your instrument. Let me be Your blind instrument. I ask not to see. I ask not to know. I ask simply to be used.
Saint John Henry Newman
From Magnificat Dec. 13, 2020
St. Augustineโs powerful prayer for bravery
God of our life,
There are days when the burdens we carry
chafe our shoulders and weigh us down;
when the road seems dreary and endless,
the skies grey and threatening;
when our lives have no music in them,
and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage.
Flood the path with light, turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise;
tune our hearts to brave music;
give us the sense of comradeship
with heroes and saints of every age;
and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage
the souls of all who journey with us
on the road of life,
to your honor and glory. Amen.
St. John of the Cross: Advice from a Mystic on Accepting Solitude
By Philip Kosloski I April 7, 2020
St. John of the Cross gives a few helpful tips on how to handle being alone.
Solitude, even for religious men and women, can be difficult to endure. As humans, we are naturally social creatures and crave interaction with others.
However, it is also beneficial to spend time alone, something which many religious freely choose for the rest of their lives.
St. John of the Cross gives a few helpful tips to those struggling with solitude in Sayings of Light and Love. The key is to accept the solitude you experience and strive to listen to God as he seeks to teach you.
1.Donโt look behind
If you desire to discover peace and consolation for your soul and to serve God truly, do not find your satisfaction in what you have left behind, because in that which now concerns you, you may be as impeded as you were before, or even more. But leave as well all these other things and attend to one thing alone that brings all these with it (namely, holy solitude, together with prayer and spiritual and divine reading), and persevere there in forgetfulness of all things.
2. Keep Heaven in mind
Preserve a habitual remembrance of eternal life, recalling that those who hold themselves the lowest and poorest and least of all will enjoy the highest dominion and glory in God.
3. Recognize that God is with you
Enter within yourself and work in the presence of your Bridegroom, who is ever present loving you.
4. Do not let anything disturb your heart
Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it; reflect that all must come to an end.
5. Draw closer to God in solitude
The further you withdraw from earthly things the closer you approach heavenly things and the more you find in God!
Reflections on the Amazon, Idols, and Traditional Catholics
During the Amazonian Synod of October of 2019, we watched as representatives from the Amazon and a lone Franciscan monk created a circle in the Vatican Gardens, bowing down to worship rough-hewn figures called โPachamamas.โ Many wondered at the origin and history of these Pachamama figures.
The Vatican Ceremony (above) which initiated the uproar over the possible worship of the statuettes
Pachamama Origins
Evidently, the authentic Pachamama figure was the Incan fertility goddess of agriculture who lived beneath the Andes Mountains, not from the Amazon rain forests of South America (Maestro, 2019). Her name emanates from the quechua language (Wiki Didactic, 2013). For many indigenous peoples, she is mother earth. She represents nature; consequently, her displeasure with the natives creates earthquakes. The people around her drank maize chicha (beer) and celebrated through the sacrifice of llamas (The Broom Closet, 2013). Though from the quechua, the Amazonian peoples also worshipped the mother earth goddess who provided everything in nature for them. Ultimately, the Pachamama was supplanted with imagery of the Blessed Mother when the conquistadors conquered the Incas in the 1500s (The Broom Closet, 2013).
Pachamama as a mountain in the Andes
Andean, Original Pachamamas with Religious Imagery
An example of this transition of the original fertility goddess to Catholic versions of Mary is the Bolivian Virgin (below).
The Bolivian Virgin
She can be compared with the Andean Pachamama with respect to the mountain-shaped, triangular gown and its naturalistic details: โNote also how the cosmic, naturalistic imagery of the Andes is integrated with the Baroque liturgical symbolism of Spanish Catholicism, presided over by Christ and the Father in liturgical attire, thereby bringing the natural cosmos of the earth into the supernatural cosmos of the Churchโ (JMC Maestro, 2019). That is, through inculturation, pagan art became Christianized.
This example of Spanish art rendered from the Pachamama tradition also demonstrates the mountain-shaped dress resplendent with birds and flowers, with the intent of adding to Andean devotion. As Damian (1995) notes, "The one consistent feature that appears as a dominant stylistic and iconographic trait in Cuzco paintings of the Virgin is the triangular shape of Mary's dress, a reference to the shape of a mountain and, especially, her role as Pachamama, the Earth Mother" (pp. 50-51).
The Virgin Mary of Bolivia with agricultural details in the shape of a mountain
The Statuettes from the Synod and Problems with its Usage
On the other hand, the โPachamamasโ shown at the Synod appear to be primitive woodcarvings (see below).
The Synod Pachamama
This contradiction between the actual, historical Pachamama of the Andes and the now infamous statuettes of October, 2019, is substantiated by a friend who was born and raised in the Amazon area of Peru, who has traveled back there repeatedly throughout the years. She has never seen the Synod image (left) before. Further, she speculates that this carving is part of the New Age Movement, and most probably, was created by an artist in Manaus, Brazil, making its appearance sometime within the last ten years and moving around in city churches in the Amazon area. Apparently, an itinerant team in charge of spirituality bought some of these statuettes at an artistsโ market in Manaus, Brazil (EN News, 2019). And so, they traveled in a circuitous route to the Vatican.
According to Father Simon (2019), the Vatican Office officially stated that โPachamamas are symbols of Amazonian realities and experiences with not only cultural, but also religious motivations.โ The issue with this depiction of the statuettes representing mother earth, a pagan goddess, and the โhighest divinity of the Andean peopleโ (Caserita, 2019) is that it assumes that this figure stands over the creation and movement of the earth, directly contradicting Catholic belief that God is the Creator and Mover of heaven and earth (CCC, 325).
The Amazon Area
My friend explained that the Amazon area is in multiple countries of South America, the largest of which is Brazil; it is sparsely populated outside of the large cities and towns. There are still tribes living in the rain forest who are uncivilized and without human contact. Some have never heard of Christianity. The greater part of the Amazon population, however, live in the cities and consist of mixed nationalities, not indigenous peoples. These people are already Christianized โ it would not be necessary to use any fertility goddess to spread Christianity among themยญยญยญยญยญยญ.
The Issues
First of all, the name โPachamamaโ was misrepresented โ the term refers to a goddess of the Andes, not of an Amazon rain forest. Wasnโt the whole point of the Synod to focus on the issues of the indigenous people of the Amazon? Secondly, In its depiction as โmother earth, the statuettes take away from Catholic belief of God as the Creator of heaven and earth (CCC 325); and third, though blessed, the statues as such may not be worshipped. Sacramentals are to remind us (as Catholics) of Our Lord, Our Lady, and the saints, but we would never worship the objects themselves. If the meaning behind the unfamiliar objects is not clarified or is officially considered โmother earth,โ the actions could be interpreted as idol worship. This is against our core beliefs:
I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place
of slavery. You shall not have any other gods besides me. You shall not carve idols
for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below
or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or worship
them - Exodus 20: 1-4.
You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image
or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it;
for I am the LORD your God โ Ezekiel 20:24
Scripture constantly recalls this rejection of โidols, [of] silver and gold, the work
of menโs hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.โ These
empty idols make their worshippers empty: โThose who make them are like them;
so are all who trust in them.โ - CCC: 2112
Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever
he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demonsโฆ
Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is therefore incompatible with
communion with God. โ CCC: 2113
So what can we do?
As Catholics, we need to stay true to our Faith. Here are some suggestions:
ยท Attend Holy Mass as often as possible in our local, traditional churches
ยท Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
ยท Attend Adoration
ยท Pray the Holy Rosary daily
ยท Pray for the Church, Pope Francis, cardinals, bishops, and clergy
ยท Study Church history
ยท Talk with others and speak up!
ยท Join local pro-life and pro-family teams
ยท Read as much as possible about what is going on in the Catholic Church and in the world
ยท Think and pray about what you can do in this spiritual crisis
ยท โBe not afraid!โ
Videos to Watch
Dr. Taylor Marshall: How do I live as a Traditional Catholic? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5igC1X2kxg&t=1631s
John-Henry Westen with Alexander Tschugguel : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt0QddQkyU0
References
Butler, R.A. (1 April 2019). Mongabay: The Rain Forest. Retrieved from https://rainforests.mongabay.com/
Caserita Handicraft, retrieved from https://info.handicraft-bolivia.com/Pachamama-Mother- Earth-a346
Damian, C. The Virgin of the Andes: Art and Ritual in Colonial Cuzco ( 1995). Grassfield Pr.
EN News (19 October 2019). Retrieved from https://gloria.tvpost9WAEcFzDmGDA6MWGqC4QgQAnU
Mariani, D. (15 November 2019) Interview with Fr. Rich Simon. Relevant Radio, Green Bay, WI
Maestro JMC (12 November 2019) Divine Foolishness: Perennial Reflections. Further Thoughts on Pachamama and the Virgin of the Andes. Retrieved from https://divinefoolishness.blogspot.com/
The Broom Closet (28 April, 2013). Pachamama, Incan Earth Goddess. Retrieved from https://broomcloset.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/pachamama-incan-earth-goddess/
Wiki Didactic (January 13, 2013). What is the meaning of Pachamama? Retrieved from https://edukalife.blogspot.com/2013/01/concepts-and-definition-of-pachamama.html
Salve Regina
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiรฆ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevรฆ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.
--Blessed Herman
The Eucharistic Miracle at Santarem
A blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you!
May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Numbers 6:24-26)
Felix: Strength in Love
From The Catholic Moment
by Ann
As my life changes, I find myself experiencing God-given opportunities. One such opportunity was given to me a few months ago when one of our Labrador Retrievers suddenly became gravely ill and lost his ability to walk. I took the opportunity to keep vigil by his side throughout the night. The next morning, he tried his best to be near me, so I sat on the floor with him and tried to remember how tiny he was on the day he was born, how I held him in the palm of my hand, how he grew and grew and brought me through many rough times. Then I said my morning prayers with him and prayed the Rosary for him and I asked God to give me strength and courage to face what could be happening.
In going to the veterinarianโs office, I made several phone calls to update my husband, who had gone to work, but I was alone and had to render this decision. I stayed with our Labrador through it all for I knew he would never have left my side; he would have protected me, come what may.
Then, he was gone and I was bringing him home. I wondered what to do; I couldnโt leave him for hours until my husband arrived home. I asked God to help me do what I must. I was given strength โ not just physical strength, but strength in love. As I removed him from the van and wheeled him through the yard, I thought of how our Mother Mary was able to receive Jesus into her arms. I thought of how love becomes more than any word โ love that is so deep and caring, filled with tenderness, a love that flows from within us without question or concern. We are absorbed in the one we love. The loss, the pain are not what we see, love becomes much more.
As I stood in the grave and laid him down, I found comfort in knowing I gave him all I could and that I cared for him as no other would have. I know that Mary was walking with me and that I understood more about love.
Prayer of a Pilgrim
The Pilgrim Prayer from the Camino
Pilgrim Prayer from the Camino in Spain, 2018
from Sharon
The Chaplet of St. Michael
In 1751 Saint Michael appeared to Antonia dโAstonac, a Carmelite nun in Portugal,
and told her that he wished to be honored by nine salutations corresponding to the
nine Choirs of Angels, which should consist of one Our Father and three Hail Marys in
honor of each of the angelic choirs.
St. Michael promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during
life for those who practiced this devotion in his honor.
The Chaplet was approved and indulgenced by Bl. Pope Pius IX in 1851.
The chaplet is begun by saying the following invocation on the medal of St. Michael:
O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the
beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations
in honor of the nine choirs of angels.
1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim, may the
Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.
2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim, may the
Lord vouchsafe to grant us grace to leave the ways of wickedness to run in the paths
of Christian perfection. Amen.
3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones, may the
Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.
4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominions, may the
Lord give us grace to govern our senses and subdue our unruly passions. Amen.
5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers, may the Lord
vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord
preserve us from evil and suffer us not to fall into temptation. Amen.
7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may
God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels, may the
Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works, in order that we gain the
glory of Paradise. Amen.
9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels, may the Lord
grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted hereafter to
eternal glory. Amen.
Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading angels:
St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, our Guardian Angel.
The chaplet is concluded with the following prayers:
O glorious Prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of
souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King, and our
admirable conductor, thou who dost shine with excellence and superhuman virtue,
vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil, who turn to thee with confidence, and enable
us by thy gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.
Prayer
Almighty and Everlasting God, who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for
the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel, St. Michael,
Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee, to be delivered from all our
enemies that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be
conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through
the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Source: Our Lady of the Rosary Library)
Prayer for Religious
Psalm 51
Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Pentecost, 1942
Who are you, sweet light that fills me and illumines the darkness of my heart? You guide me like a mother's hand, and if You let me go, I could not take another step. You are the space that surrounds and contains my being. Without you it would sink into the abyss of nothingness from which You raised it into being. You, closer to me than I to myself, more inward than my innermost being -- and yet unreachable, untouchable, and bursting the confines of any name: Holy Spirit -- eternal love! Are you not the sweet manna which flows from the heart of the Son into mine, food for angels and for the blessed? He who from death to life arose, has awakened me, too, to new life, from the sleep of death, new life He gives me day by day. Some day His abundance will completely flow through me, life of Your life -- yes, You Yourself: Holy Spirit -- eternal life!
Are you the ray that flashes from the Eternal Judge's throne to pierce into the night of my soul, which never knew itself? Merciful, yet unrelenting, it penetrates the hidden crevices. The soul takes fright at sight of her own self, makes room for holy awe, for the beginning of that wisdom descending from on high, and anchoring us securely in the heights, -- for Your workings, which create us anew: Holy Spirit -- all-penetrating ray!