Offer your Communion for the Holy Souls

Purgatory is a scene of affliction and anguish, inasmuch as God's justice gains compensation for the portion of sacrifice and love we have refused Him here below.



Holy angels, guardians of those blazing chasms, help me to call to mind those souls, so holy and resigned, from the bowels of flames that torment them. Make us recognize among them our fathers, our mothers, our sisters and brothers. Let their cries, so tender and heart-rending, capable of splitting the mountains and mollifying cruelty itself, reach and penetrate our ears.

All the above text is by Father Charles Arminjon, from the book The End of the Present World. Father Arminjon goes on to say, "Saint Jerome and several Doctors are of the opinion that, when the Holy Sacrifice is being offered for the intention of a deceased person, he ceases to suffer the pains of Purgatory for the whole duration of the ceremony."

It is still October, not quite the month of the Holy Souls, but knowing what we do about the Holy Souls, imagine what your offering of Holy Communion can do for them. They can only participate in the Eucharistic Sacrifice by our intercession. Our prayers and good works do much to alleviate their suffering, but it is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that earns them the most relief. Remember them at every Mass throughout the year.

What I am Reading

A few weeks ago, a friend gave me the book, The End of the Present World, (and the Mysteries of the Future Life) by Father Charles Arminjon. It was written in the late 1800's, and was read by Saint Therese of Lisieux at the age of fourteen. St. Therese stated: Reading this book was one of the greatest graces of my life. I read it at the window of my study, and the impression I received from it is too intimate and too sweet for me to express...All the great truths of religion, the mysteries of the eternity, plunged my soul into a happiness not of this earth.

It is a book about the Antichrist. It is a book about the end of the world as we know it. It is about the devastation and treachery of the Antichrist, but it is also about the triumph of Jesus Christ. The book goes into great detail about the the signs that must appear before the end of the world; the signs of the Antichrist and how to recognize him; the four last things, and how not to be deceived.

I can`t put it down. I am going to pass it on to Shirley after I read it.

St Wenceslaus' Deeds of faith

The following story is an interesting addition to the post below "Name this Saint". It is from the 1849 book called Deeds of Faith, written by John Mason Neale, who also wrote the poem and Christmas Carol, Good King Wenceslaus.

Deeds of Faith was originally published in 1849 and was dedicated to Neale's daughter Agnes, for whom these stories were written. The purpose of the book, according to the Preface, was "to lead children to take an interest in Ecclesiastical History..." It consisted of 16 stories of saints and martyrs. The "Legend of S. Wenceslaus," the 11th story, is Neale's recounting of the legend of Saint Wenceslaus, about whom Neale also wrote a Saint Stephen's Day poem and carol, "Good King Wenceslaus." Source


THE LEGEND OF S. WENCESLAUS.

The holy Christmas-tide was drawing nigh. The Church was already far advanced in Advent; and was now bidding her children to look forward to the coming King. Winter had set in over Germany with unusual severity; hedges, fields, and ways, were blotted out in the deep soft snow; the creaking of the rude waggons was silent; the labourer was idle; the plough was in the shed; the spade and mattock in the tool-house.

King Wenceslaus of Bohemia sat in his palace. He had been watching, from the narrow window of the turret-chamber where he was, the sunset, as its glory hung for a moment on the western clouds, and then died away over the Erzgebirge, and the blue hills of Rabenstein. Calm and cold was its brightness; the colours that but now were of ruby and jasper, faded into purple, and were lost in grey; a freezing haze came over the face of the earth; the short winter day was swallowed up of night. But the crescent moon brightened towards the south-west; and the leafless trees in the castle gardens, and the quaint turrets and spires of the castle itself, threw clear dark shadows on the unspotted snow.

Still the King gazed forth on the scene, for he had learnt to draw lessons of wisdom from all these daily changes that we so little regard; and he knew that God speaks to us by this beautiful world; he was able, in a very true sense, thus to make the nights and days, the summer and winter, to bless the Lord, and to praise Him and magnify Him for ever. And so, in that sunset, he saw an emblem of our resurrection; he felt that the night would come, the night in which no man could work; but he knew also that the morning would follow, that morning which shall have no evening.

The ground sloped down from the castle towards the forest. Here and there on the side of the hill, a few bushes, gray with moss, broke the unvaried sheet of white. And as the King turned his eyes in that direction, a poor man—and the moonshine was bright enough to show his misery and his rags— came up to these bushes, and seemed to pull somewhat from them.

"Without there !" cried King Wenceslaus. "Who is in waiting !" and one of the servants of the palace entered, and answered to the call.

"This way, good Otto," said the King. " You see that poor man on the hill-side. Step down to him and learn who he is, and where he dwells, and what he is doing; and bring me word again."

Otto went forth on his errand, and the King watched him down the hill. Meantime the frost grew more and more intense; the east wind breathed from the bleak mountains of Gallicia; the snow became more crisp, and the air more clear. Ten minutes sufficed to bring back the messenger.

"Well, and who is it?" inquired King Wenceslaus.

"My liege," said Otto, "it is Rudolph the swineherd, he that lives down by the Brunweiss. Fire he has none, nor food neither: and he was gathering a few sticks where he might find them, lest, as he says, all his family perish with cold. It is a most bitter night, Sire."

"This should have been better looked to," said the King; "and a grievous fault is it that it has not been. But it shall be amended now. Go to the ewery, Otto, and fetch some provisions, of the best; and then come forth, and meet me at the wood-stacks by S. Mary's Chapel."

"Is your Majesty going forth?" asked Otto.

"To the Brunweiss," said the King; "and you shall go with me; wherefore be speedy."

"I pray you, Sire, do not go yourself. Let some of the men-at-arms go forth. It is a freezing wind; and a league it is at least to the place."

"Nevertheless," said Wenceslaus, " I go. Go with me, if you will; if not, stay; I can carry the food myself."

" God forbid, Sire, that I should let you go alone. But I pray you to be persuaded."

" Not in this," said Wenceslaus. " Meet me, then, where I said; and not a word to anyone besides."

The noblemen of the court were in the hall, where a mighty fire went roaring up the chimney, and the shadows played and danced on the steep sides of the dark roof. Gaily they laughed, and lightly they talked, and they bade fresh logs be thrown into the chimney-place; and one said to another, that so bitter a winter had never been known in Bohemia.

But in the midst of that freezing night, the King of Bohemia went forth. He had put on nothing to shelter himself from the nipping air; for he desired to feel with the poor, that he might feel for them. On his shoulder he bore a heap of logs for the swineherd's fire; and stepped briskly on, while Otto followed with the provisions. He, too, had imitated his master, and went in his common garments; and over the crisp snow, across fields, by lanes where the hedgetrees were heavy with their white load, past the frozen pool, through the little copse, where the wind made sweet melody in summer with the leaves, and rivers of gold streamed in upon the ground, but now silent and ghastly — over the stile where the rime clustered thick, by the road with its ruts of mire, and so out upon the moor, where the snow lay yet more unbroken, and the wind seemed to nip the very heart.

Still the King went on first: still the servant followed. The Saint thought it but little to go forth into the frost and the darkness, remembering Him Who came into the cold night of this world of ours; he disdained not, a King, to go to the beggar, for the King of Kings had visited slaves; he grudged not to carry the logs on his shoulder, for the LORD of all things had carried the Cross for his sake. But the servant, though he long held out with a good heart, at each step lost courage and zeal. Then very shame came to his aid; he would not do less than his master; he could not return to the court, while the King held on his way alone. But when they came forth on the white, bleak moor, his courage failed.

"My liege," he said, "I cannot go on. The wind freezes my very blood. Pray you, let us return."

"Seems it so much?" asked the King. "Was not His journey from Heaven a wearier and a colder way than this ?"

Otto answered not.

"Follow me on still," said S. Wenceslaus. "Only tread in my footsteps, and you will proceed more easily."

The servant knew that his master spoke not at random. He carefully looked for the footsteps of the King: he set his own feet in the print of his lord's feet.

And so great was the virtue of this Saint of the Most High, such was the fire of love that was kindled in him, that, as he trod in those steps, Otto gained life and heat. He felt not the wind; he heeded not the frost; the footprints glowed as with a holy fire, and zealously he followed the King on his errand of mercy.

The Deception behind Twilight

These well-spoken words are not mine; they are taken from Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, President of Human Life International. His logic is right on when it comes to the widly popular Twilight series:


Vampire Logic

With the issuing of the third movie in the Twilight series I have to speak out about our culture's twisted fascination with vampires. I don't hesitate to tell people that I am totally disgusted with the new fad sweeping over our youth culture these days. It is not just kids that are taken up with the wiles of the dark world either: many moms of teens are swooning for them too. I think that these seductive creatures are simply the spawn of the Harry Potter culture that has for over a decade now been indoctrinating kids to think that the occult world is normal and that all this evil messaging is harmless when dressed up as entertainment. That's vampire logic - and just what the devil wants us to think.

Gone are the days of Bella Lugosi's Dracula (1931) where good was good and evil was evil. A crucifix would drive Dracula away and then he had to go into his infernal coffin when the first streaks of dawn appeared. He was in every way presented as a creature of evil, dark of heart and dread to encounter. He drank human blood too, a feature that was supposed to strike terror in every person who valued his life's essence. The image of a blood-sucking creature who lives in slime and darkness and will pounce on you to drain out your very essence should terrorize every decent person. This is because vampires used to be images of demons. That's what demons are all about: the vanquishing of all human decency and life. They represent the spiritual vortexes of the demon world that drag down to the depths of hell all who fall prey to their wiles.

But, my, how vampires have come up in the world these days.

Nowadays vampires are divided into good and bad - no longer intrinsically evil. The good ones rescue vulnerable women instead of biting them and, allegedly, drink only animal blood (well, we haven't seen the last Twilight movie yet...). And crucifixes? Don't think you'll see any of those driving away bad guys in these movies. The heroes are the "good" vampires, not the Church or religious faith in Christ.

These super-star vampires also walk around in sunlight and, as a matter of fact, their skin just happens to glisten like diamonds when exposed to direct sunlight. Isn't that wonderful? The glam vamps are gentlemen, chaste and well-intentioned, yet they are always hovering around the edge of "falling" and in seductive situations which cause young people to think that they are capable, like their hero vampire, Edward Cullen, of going just so far and pulling back, out of self-control. That's teaching them to play with fire, not a real chastity message for kids.

The worst part of this fascination with vampires from a faith point of view, however, is its blasphemy of the Eucharist. "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you," said our Blessed Lord in Chapter 6 of John's Gospel. He is the One who offers His flesh and blood for the life of the world. The vampires eat (bite) the flesh and drink the blood of victims rather than give their own to redeem others. Their bites corrupt and transform their victims into vampires like themselves. They have no life in them. They are the "living dead" by their own estimate.

How sad that this generation has been so taken in by those who represent the very antithesis of the core reality of our Faith - the Eucharist. Vampire logic is anti-Eucharistic logic, and it's very dangerous for our kids. In their obsessive fascination with such darkness, kids (and adults) turn their backs on the One who actually died for them.

To those who say, "Oh, Father, it's only harmless entertainment," I say simply: You've been warned.

Book Spotlight

Editor's Review: By David Kupelian

Americans have come to tolerate, embrace and even champion many things that would have horrified their parents' generation – from easy divorce and unrestricted abortion-on-demand to extreme body piercing and teaching homosexuality to grade-schoolers. Does that mean today's Americans are inherently more morally confused and depraved than previous generations? Of course not, says veteran journalist David Kupelian. But they have fallen victim to some of the most stunningly brilliant and compelling marketing campaigns in modern history.

"The Marketing of Evil" reveals how much of what Americans once almost universally abhorred has been packaged, perfumed, gift-wrapped and sold to them as though it had great value. Highly skilled marketers, playing on our deeply felt national values of fairness, generosity and tolerance, have persuaded us to embrace as enlightened and noble that which all previous generations since America’s founding regarded as grossly self-destructive – in a word, evil.

In this groundbreaking and meticulously researched book, Kupelian peels back the veil of marketing-induced deception to reveal exactly when, where, how, and especially why Americans bought into the lies that now threaten the future of the country.

For example, few of us realize that the widely revered father of the "sexual revolution" has been irrefutably exposed as a full-fledged sexual psychopath who encouraged pedophilia. Or that giant corporations voraciously competing for America's $150 billion teen market routinely infiltrate young people's social groups to find out how better to lead children into ever more debauched forms of "authentic self-expression."

Likewise, most of us mistakenly believe the "abortion rights" and "gay rights" movements were spontaneous, grassroots uprisings of neglected or persecuted minorities wanting to breathe free. Few people realize America was actually "sold" on abortion thanks to an audacious public relations campaign that relied on fantastic lies and fabrications. Or that the "gay rights" movement – which transformed America's former view of homosexuals as self-destructive human beings into their current status as victims and cultural heroes – faithfully followed an in-depth, phased plan laid out by professional Harvard-trained marketers.

No quarter is given in this riveting, insightful exploration of how lies, both subtle and outrageous, are packaged as truth. From the federal government to the public school system to the news media to the hidden creators of "youth culture," nothing is exempt from the thousand-watt spotlight of Kupelian's journalistic inquiry.

In the end, "The Marketing of Evil" is an up-close, modern-day look at what is traditionally known as "temptation" – the art and science of making evil look good.

You can order the book here.

What I'm Reading

We are going away for the weekend, and I thought I would bring along a book that was given to me by my very absent blogging buddy, Dr Bombay. I love Catholic fiction - there isn't much of it, it seems, and this book looks good. Written in 1907 by Robert Hugh Benson, a Catholic priest and monsignor who was once an Anglican priest, here is the description Baronius Press gives the book:

Described by Fulton Sheen as one of the three greatest depictions of the advent of the demonic in world literature, Lord of the World is science fiction with a difference. The West has succumbed to a sort of international socialism. The forces of secular materialism, relativism and state control are everywhere triumphant. Protestantism is no more, and Catholicism – which had made some major advances in the first half of the twentieth century – has been devastated by the development of new psychologies and the exodus of intellectuals in the wake of an Ecumenical Council. Euthanasia has become an instrument of the state, Esperanto the universal second language. Nevertheless, although organised religion has largely collapsed in the face of institutional secularism, a vague, humanistic religiosity – militantly hostile to the exclusive and supernatural claims of the Church – is present everywhere. Finally, the East, which has amalgamated into a single, pantheistic bloc, continues to pose a military threat. Enter Julian Felsenberg – diplomat, scholar, guru, Antichrist...

Wish list

Currently, the Canadian dollar sits at about $0.78 US. That means we are paying almost 25% more for items priced in US dollars. Just two short months ago, our currency was very close to being equal.

Wouldn't you know, I just found something I wish I had come across when our Loonie was actually worth something - a gem of a little booklet titled The Rosary Album but it's priced in US currency, so it'll have to wait. As always, when I come across a treasure like this, I will be ordering more than one, and giving several copies away to my readers who want to be able to avoid distractions while praying the rosary.



A VISUAL AND SCRIPTURAL MEDITATION ON THE ROSARY.

A top favorite of young children and adults! Booklet includes over 200 original black and white illustrations (one for each bead!) by the late Mr. Michael Buccino. The artist began these drawings to help his children meditate more easily on the Rosary. "I came up with the idea that if they had a book with pictures it might keep their minds on meditating while they were praying and would be better able to concentrate on the Rosary. So I got started working on the Rosary Album, which took me 18 years to put together. The book has brought the rosary to life."

There is a picture and scripture verse for each bead. The Litany of Our Lady (with illustrations) is also woven into each mystery. For all ages.

Wanting for nothing

Deuteronomy 32:35 Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time

Why does God allow the sinner to prosper? We all know of people who possess no faith, totally rejecting God and all His goodness, yet go merrily about their lives wanting for nothing. They amass sin upon sin, yet there never seems to be any consequences for their misdeeds. Their spiritual life is void, but temporally, they have it all. Good luck seems to befall them in all they do. God does not rain chastisements down on their heads; in fact He seems to ignore them.

Indeed, that is exactly what He is doing. According to St. Alphonsus de Liquori, in his book Preparation for Death, if God does not send such sinners a sudden death, making them die in their sins, He will instead deprive them of His abundant graces, leaving them only with sufficient grace with which they can, but will not, save their souls. When God deprives a soul of His grace, there is nothing to protect it from the temptations and onslaughts of the devil. The sinner, abandoned, then despises God, opening his soul to evil. Their obstinacy in sin, harness of heart and the blindness of their understanding, says Alphonsus, will render their salvation morally impossible.

God does not chastise these sinners in this life, appearing instead to allow them all they desire, but will punish them instead in the next world, says St. Alphonsus. According to this holy author, who calls this practice abuse of Divine Mercy, they will suffer as many hells as they have committed sins.

Book Giveaway at Seeking Jesus

My sister Shirley, of the blog Seeking Jesus is giving away five copies of the book The Incredible Catholic Mass, by Fr. Martin von Cochem. (Click here for the post with the giveaway). This is a book that opens your mind to the sacred mysteries of the Mass, and inspires one to holiness. It is an absolutely incredible read. This book was sent to me a few years ago by my blogging partner Dr. Bombay (who happens to have very good taste in books!). After I read it, I passed it on to Shirley, and now five lucky others will soon be holding this helper to heaven in their hands.

Here is the excerpt from Tan Publishers:
An absolute revelation to most Catholics! Based on the Traditional Latin Mass, but actually about the essence of the Mass itself. Shows it is not just a prayer, but a powerful sacrifice given to us by Almighty God to fulfill all our spiritual needs. You will divide your life into "before" and "after" you read this book. Going to Mass will never be the same again, once you appreciate the significance of every Mass (as explained by this book). Every Catholic needs to read this! Impr. 450 pgs, PB

Precious time

POUSSIN, Nicolas
1594 - 1665
From the collection of the Duke of Rutland's Trustees, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Lincolnshire.

A dying man is anointed with oil in accordance with the rite of the ancient Christian church. Mourners are in various attitudes of grief: his mother holds his head; his wife sits at the foot of the bed; behind her, his daughter joins her hands in prayer. This sombre scene is lightened by Poussin's use of colour and by the presence of a maidservant on the far right who is clearly not emotionally involved.

"There is nothing more precious than time; but there is nothing less esteemed and more despised by men of the world. This is what St. Bernard deplores when he says: 'Nothing is more precious than time, but nothing is regarded more cheaply.' The same saint adds: 'The days of salvation pass away, and no one reflects that day which has passed away from him can never return.'

You will see a gambler spends nights and days in play. If you ask him what he is doing, his answer is I am passing the time.' You will see others standing several hours in the street, looking at those who pass by, and speaking on obscene or useless subjects. If you ask them what they are doing, they will say: 'We are passing the time.' Poor blind sinners!-who lose so many days; but days which can never return.

O time despised during life! You will be ardently desired by worldlings at the hour of death. They will then wish for another year, another month, another day; but they will not obtain it; they will then be told that time shall be no longer theirs. How much would they then pay for another week, or another day to settle the accounts of their conscience? To obtain a single hour, they would, says St Laurence Justinian, give all their wealth and worldly possessions. But this hour shall not be given.

From Preparation for Death by St. Alphonsus de Liquori

Wise Words

It is so easy to notice the faults of others that we often forget our own faults, and Thomas Kempis, is his little book, My Imitation of Christ, makes a good reflection on how to admonish ourselves not to notice the defects of others.

He tells us to be patient in bearing the faults of others, because we also have many things that others have to put up with, even though we tend to overlook our own faults. He goes on to say that if we can't make our own selves perfect, how can we expect others to be able to perfect, and pleasing to us all the time?

"We would willingly have others perfect and yet we mend not our own defects. We would have others strictly corrected, yet we are not willing to be corrected ourselves. The large liberty of others displeases us, yet we would not want to be denied anything we ask for. Thus it is evident how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance we weigh ourselves."

Wise words.

Humilty check

Luke 14:11 Because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

Signs of a lack of humility, from the Furrow:

1. Thinking what you do or say is better than what others do or say
2. Always wanting to get your own way
3. Arguing when you are not right, or even when you are - insisting stubbornly with bad manners
4. Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand that you do so
5. Despising the point of view of others
6. Not being aware that all your gifts and qualities are on loan from God
7. Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour and esteem; even the ground you walk on or the things you own
8. Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation
9. Speaking badly about yourself, so that others may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you
10. Making excuses when rebuked
11. Hiding some humiliating faults from your spiritual director so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you
12. Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you
13. Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you
14. Refusing to carry out menial tasks
15. Seeking or wanting to be singled out
16. Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or your skill, your professional prestige...
17. Being ashamed of not having certain possessions

Taking or Receiving?

I often hear liberal Catholics say that Communion in the hand was instituted at the Last Supper. They reason that Jesus must not have fed the apostles with His own hands, so therefore it is the traditional Catholics who are getting it wrong, by insisting on receiving Communion on the tongue. Is that so?

Though the visions of the mystic, Anne Catherine Emmerich are not Scripture, she does relate a very interesting account of the Last Supper in her book, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ:

Again he prayed and taught; his words came forth from his lips like fire and light, and entered into each of the Apostles, with the exception of Judas. He took the paten with the pieces of bread (I do not know whether he had placed it on the chalice) and said: 'Take and eat; this is my Body which is given for you.' He stretched forth his right hand as if to bless, and, whilst he did so, a brilliant light came from him, his words were luminous, the bread entered the mouths of the Apostles as a brilliant substance, and light seemed to penetrate and surround them all, Judas alone remaining dark.

It's worthwhile to note that Communion in the hand remains an indult, which means it is allowed by special permission. The traditional method is to receive on the tongue. Which do you prefer?

More on Mary

St Alphonsus Liguori is probably the best spiritual writer there ever was. His books seem to be inspired by God, and one of the things I really like about them, is the way he concludes every chapter with a prayer and spiritual reflection. In one of his prayers in The Glories of Mary, he says that if we loved her as we should, then we would become like her.

I love thee then, O, my Mother, but at the same time I fear that I do not love thee as I ought; for I hear that love makes lovers like the person loved. If then, I see myself so unlike thee, it is a mark that I do not love thee. Thou art so pure, and I defiled with many sins; thou so humble, and I so proud; thou so holy, and I so wicked. This, then, is what thou hast to do, O Mary; since thou loves me, make me like thee. Thou hast all the power to change hearts; take, then, mine and change it. Show the world what thou can do for those who love thee. Make me a saint; make me thy worthy child. This is my hope.

Beautiful, isn't it? By the way, I'm still waiting to give away a new copy of The Glories of Mary.
Any takers?

The Glories of Mary

I just started reading The Glories of Mary, by St. Alphonsus de Liquori. It is an amazing book, and is considered St Alphonsus' masterpiece. He wrote it to defend Mary's sublime position in traditional Catholicism against certain writers of his time, who were preaching the errors of Jansenism, and ridiculing devotion to the Mother of God. This book is his answer to the critics of his time, and has promoted devotion to Mary ever since:

How great, then, should be our confidence in this queen, when we know on the one hand how powerful she is with God, and on the other how tremendously rich in mercy she is - so much so that there is not a person on earth who does not share in Mary's kindness. The Blessed Virgin herself revealed this to Saint Bridget. "I am the queen of the world and the Mother of Mercy. I am the joy of the just and the gate that opens up to sinners the way to God. There is no sinner on earth so abandoned that, while he lives, he will be deprived of my mercy. If he receives no other grace, he will receive at least the grace to be less frequently tempted by the devils than he would otherwise be."

"Nobody," adds Our Lady, "provided he has not been already definitely damned (and this refers to the final irrevocable sentence of damnation), is so cut off from God that he will not return to God and find mercy if he calls on me. Everybody calls me the Mother of Mercy, and indeed it is God's mercy that has made me merciful." She concludes with these words: "He will be very miserable who does not approach me, merciful as I am, when he can do so." There is no doubt then that that man will be miserable forever in the life to come who in this life can have recourse to Mary (who is so compassionate and so eager to help everyone), but who refuses to do so and thus damns himself.

Come, then, you and I - if we want to be saved, let us hasten to the feet of this sweetest of queens. If we are frightened and discouraged at the sight of our sins, we must realize that it was precisely for this that Mary was made the queen of mercy, to protect and save the greatest and most abandoned sinners who beg her for help. These sinners are to be her crown in heaven, according to the words of her divine spouse: "Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come; you shall be crowned...from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards" (Cant 4:8). What else are these dens of wild beasts and monsters but wretched sinners? Their souls have become dens of sin and they are the most hideous monsters that can be found. It is these same miserable sinners, comments the Abbot Rupert, the sinners you have saved, O Mary, who will crown you in heaven. Their salvation will be your crown, a worthy and becoming crown for a queen of mercy.

If you have been wanting a copy of this particular book, here is your chance to get it for free. I will send a copy to one of the people who respond to this request. Just leave a comment below, and then I will choose one person from those who reply, and have the book sent to the winner directly from the publisher.

Free Books!

I've finally started to set up a reading/prayer room in our new house, and as I go through my Catholic books, I find I have some duplicates, and some others I would like to give away. If anyone would like a copy of the book The Dogma of Hell, plus How to Avoid It, by Fr. Schouppe & Thomas A. Nelson, published by Tan, please leave a comment here, and email me with your contact info. You can find my email address by clicking on my profile. (Oh, the ones in the bookcase are keepers, sorry!)

I will be giving away some others in the next few weeks, and as I get further organized, I will be posting them here.

A story of repentance

One of the good things about moving is that you have to unpack all your forgotten items, and I've come across some pretty interesting books and other things I forgot I had. I've been setting up my reading room, putting all my books away, and I find myself spending more time reading than unpacking! One little booklet that really captured my attention is one that I read only once, years ago. It's called, Mama, Why did you kill us? and is the true story of a woman who aborted seven of her unborn babies, and her story of repentance and conversion. It has an imprimatur and nihil obstat and contains the story penned by a woman who asked a priest to publish it ten years after her death in 1945. It really is an amazing story, and now that I've taken time out to read the booklet and tell you about it, I have to get back to work. I have lots more books to go through!

Book Excerpt

AN ANGEL TO WATCH OVER ME
True Stories of Children's Encounters with Angels
by Joan Wester Anderson

When nine-year-old Buddy awakened on that Saturday before dawn, there was almost two feet of snow on the ground. However, he wasn't about to let a little bad weather keep him from a most important job. Buddy had just become an altar boy, and was assigned to serve the 6 a.m. mass today.

When Buddy came downstairs, however, his mother was still in her bathrobe. "The roads haven't been plowed, honey," she said, peering out at the dark deserted street. "I can't drive you to church--we'd get stuck. Maybe you'd better stay home."

"No, Mom." Buddy was firm. After all, a promise was a promise. "I can walk, honest. It'll be fun."

Buddy's mother looked doubtful. It was almost two miles to church. But their little Ohio town was peaceful and safe. What harm could possibly come to her son? And she was proud that he took his responsibilities so seriously. "Well..." she smiled. "Be sure to bundle up."

At first, since his route was downhill, breaking a path through the new snow was fun. Buddy hiked down the middle of Main Street in the dim dawn, with no people or cars around. It seemed like a winter wonderland, all quiet and clean. But as Buddy kept walking, the drifts seemed higher and higher. His legs began to ache. He longed to reach the church so someone there would help him in, and sit him near a heater to warm his quickly-freezing fingers and toes.

Finally, Buddy came to the front of the church. Just a few more steps.. Dismayed, he realized that the snow on the church stairs was completely undisturbed. He was the first one there. But the journey had taken so much longer than he'd expected. Shouldn't the priest or other people have arrived by now? Using the side of his boot, Buddy pushed the snow aside, until he could finally drag open the front door.

At last! He fell inside, then stared at the cold empty interior. By the light of the just-rising sun, he could see the clock above the door. It was already 6:15. He had been the only one to struggle through the snow. There would be no mass today.

Buddy knelt in a back pew for a moment, where he began to realize just how worn out he was. His legs throbbed from pushing through the drifts, and now he would have to do it all over again. "God," Buddy murmured, "please help me get home." Slowly he turned and went out. The way home seemed endless, each step a struggle. For every little distance that Buddy gained, he seemed to fall back even farther, pushed by the rising wind and his own exhaustion. Although it was now light out, there was still no one about, no one to ask for shelter or help. Buddy had to go uphill, and he looked with dread at the long distance remaining.

He wasn't going to make it. He knew that now for sure. His legs had been pushing through almost-waist-high snow for hours, and all he wanted to do was to lie down, to end this terrible journey and close his eyes...

Suddenly there was someone behind him. A large man, with tender eyes, was looking down at Buddy, smiling at him. Surely Buddy should have heard the sound of the man's boots crunching the snow as he'd walked up from behind. But there hadn't been a sound. Buddy stared at the stranger. There was a scarf hiding most of his face, but oddly, Buddy felt no fear of him. The man said nothing. He simply picked Buddy up from behind, lifted him over his head, set Buddy on his shoulders and began to walk.

How strong he was! And where had he come from? Buddy felt exhilarated yet peaceful, all at the same time. It seemed that he and the man were wrapped in a circle all their own, an awesome connection that Buddy didn't want to break by asking questions. Yet he would have to tell the stranger where he lived. But as they approached the house, the stranger turned and walked right down Buddy's long front sidewalk. How had he known?

They reached the porch, and the man silently lowered his head and helped Buddy slide off his shoulders. "Thank you, sir." Buddy immediately turned around for a last view. But there was no one behind him. No one at all. And although Buddy could see footprints up the sidewalk to where he now stood, there were no tracks leading away from the porch.

Buddy stood in astonishment, surveying the scene. His rescuer had gone as quietly as he'd arrived. It took awhile before Buddy realized who the stranger really was. And he hasn't seen him again. "But I don't need to," Buddy says today. "I know he's still here, ready to help me again when I need him."

The Book Challenge

I've been challenged by my blogging partner, Dr. Bombay, to see how many books I can read this summer. He even sent me three books to get me started. I love a good challenge, and this is a good one. Especially for me, who spends way too much time on the internet. Having a laptop contributes to high internet use, because I take it to work with me, and go on the internet in between ambulance calls, and when I go away for a few days, I usually bring my laptop.

I'm looking for good book suggestions from my readers, not because I want to win this challenge, but because of it, I have gotten back into the habit of reading everyday. I'm going to run out of books if I don't get some new ones, so if you have any good suggestions, and I know you do, please leave them in the combox for me.

Right now I am finishing up "The Incredible Catholic Mass" by Father Martin von Cochem, and next is The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall sent to me by my friend Karin of the blog Wife and Mom of Two. Then I'm planning on reading the Great Facade by Christopher Ferrara, also sent to me by a friend. That should take me up to mid June, and after that I'll be looking for new titles. What have you been reading?

A Book That Exposes the Destructive Feminist Agenda

Any woman who is called a misogynist by other women gets my attention. I haven't read this book yet, but it's on my list. The author was labelled a traitor to women for writing this book, and there's an interesting interwiew here with the book's author, Kate O'Beirne. She says that she has never believed that men and women were interchangeable, that marriage was a patriarchal plot, or that women's equality rested on abortion rights. Kate calls feminists losers by nature, because their goal of a sex-blind society is frustrated by biology.

Yes, it looks like an interesting book, indeed.