Get In Your Spiritual Game

Last weekend I attended a men’s conference at a local parish. The keynote speaker was Danny Abramowicz, a former wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints.

He talked about his life in football and his re-conversion to the Faith. A fascinating story.

He also introduced everyone to his “Spiritual Workout” which is included in his book. If you like sports analogies and are looking for a step-by-step manual for improving your spiritual life, this is a great book. Each chapter starts off with a section about football and then relates it to spiritual growth. There is a brief timeout section to consider the main points and then each chapter ends with a quick action plan.

There isn’t anything groundbreaking in this book as Catholic spiritual growth has been written about countless times over the past 2000 years. This is just a unique spin on the topic from a former All-Pro NFL receiver who likes to mix the Faith and football.

Remembering Vincent on September 27th.

Do you feel, like so many of us, that we are living in an age of less kindness and more selfishness, of so much more materialism and too little charity? Today is the feast day of a great saint, St. Vincent de Paul – a man of tremendous goodness, charity and wisdom – a true champion of the poor and the forsaken.

We’d like to share with you, some wisdom from the sermons and writings of St. Vincent De Paul, a hero for this day and for everyday:

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“However great the work that God may achieve by an individual, he must not indulge in self-satisfaction. He ought rather to be all the more humbled, seeing himself merely as a tool which God has made use of.”

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“We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.”

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“The Church teaches us that mercy belongs to God. Let us implore Him to bestow on us the spirit of mercy and compassion, so that we are filled with it and may never lose it. Only consider how much we ourselves are in need of mercy.”

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“Extend your mercy towards others, so that there can be no one in need whom you meet without helping. For what hope is there for us if God should withdraw His Mercy from us?”

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“The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For, as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it.”

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“Free your mind from all that troubles you; God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this (choice) without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God, because he sees that you do not honor him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what your heart desires.”

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“Human nature grows tired of always doing the same thing, and it is God’s will that this because of the opportunity of practicing two great virtues. The first is perseverance, which will bring us to our goal. The other is steadfastness, which overcomes the difficulties on the way.”

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“We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God.”

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“Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of God. For, according to Our Lord’s words, it suffices for perfection to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. Now who denies himself and takes up his cross and follows Christ better than he who seeks not to do his own will, but always that of God? Behold, now, how little is needed to become as Saint? Nothing more than to acquire the habit of willing, on every occasion, what God wills.”

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“Even though the poor are often rough and unrefined, we must not judge them from external appearances nor from the mental gifts they seem to have received. On the contrary, if you consider the poor in the light of faith, then you will observe that they are taking the place of the Son of God who chose to be poor. Although in his passion he almost lost the appearance of a man and was considered a fool by the Gentiles and a stumbling block by the Jews, he showed them that his mission was to preach to the poor: “He sent me to preach the good news to the poor.” We also ought to have this same spirit and imitate Christ’s actions, that is, we must take care of the poor, console them, help them, support their cause.Since Christ willed to be born poor, he chose for himself disciples who were poor. He made himself the servant of the poor and shared their poverty. He went so far as to say that he would consider every deed which either helps or harms the poor as done for or against himself. Since God surely loves the poor, he also love whose who love the poor. For when on person holds another dear, he also includes in his affection anyone who loves or serves the one he loves. That is why we hope that God will love us for the sake of the poor. So when we visit the poor and needy, we try to be understanding where they are concerned. We sympathize with them so fully that we can echo Paul’s words: “I have become all things to all men.” Therefore, we must try to be stirred by our neighbors’ worries and distress.”

Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

What Should the Pre-Vatican II Mass be Called?

Fr. Z is taking a poll. My personal favorite, the Missal of Blessed John XXIII isn’t on the list. I think that if that caught on as the common name it would cause mental agony to those who brand the Blessed Pope as the great liberal who freed the Church from 1900 years of tradition and doctrine.

Why You Need to Be Very Careful When Choosing a “Catholic” College

Georgetown University, former Catholic university run by the former soldiers of the Faith, the Jesuits, has decided that it won’t look at the purpose of a student group when giving out school money. The decision came about because the student group, Law Students for Choice Murder, was initially denied school funds.

At what point do we actually admit that some of these schools aren’t Catholic at all and that the Jesuit order on the whole is a 5th column in the Church? It will be interesting to see what the bishop of Washington does in response.

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Baby Pictures!

Yes, we still live in the dark ages of film cameras so we had to wait for my mom to send us some digital digital images of Maria. Maria was born at home with a midwife assisting. So far we have had six of our seven kids at home and the experience has been much better than our one experience with a hospital.

While Paula was in early labor daddy made chocolate chip cookies. Yum!

Nana holding Maria. Umbilical cord hasn’t been cut yet.

Andrew learned how to ride a bike last week. He’s the first one of our kids to figure it out and boy is he proud!

ColdFusion developer security guidelines

No matter what programming language you use to create your web store, you need to stay on top of security concerns. This thirty page guide from Adobe provides a good checklist of best practices for securing a Cold Fusion server.

Even better, they provide code samples to go with the list so you can see the practices in action.

read more

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The Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles and Martyrs, is October 28

“Simon was a simple Galilean, a brother of Jesus, as the ancients called one’s close relatives — aunts, uncles, first cousins; he was one of Our Lord’s four first cousins, with James the Less, Jude and Joseph, all sons of Mary, the wife of Alpheus, or Cleophas, either name being a derivative of the Aramaic Chalphai. The latter was the brother of Saint Joseph, according to tradition. All the sons of this family were raised at Nazareth near the Holy Family. (See the Gospel of Saint Matthew 13:53-58) Simon, Jude and James were called by Our Lord to be Apostles, pillars of His Church, and Joseph the Just was His loyal disciple.

Saint Simon the Zealot or the Zealous, was the name this Apostle bore among the twelve. He preached in Egypt, Mauritania (Spain), and Libya, leaving behind him the fertile hills of Galilee, where he had been engaged in the healthful cultivation of the vineyards and olive gardens. He later rejoined his brother, Saint Jude, in Persia, where they labored and died together. At first they were respected by the king, for they had manifested power over two ferocious tigers who had terrorized the land. With the king, sixty thousand Persians became Christians, and churches rose over the ruins of the idolatrous temples.

But the ancient enemy, who never sleeps, rose up, and when the two went elsewhere the pagans commanded them to sacrifice to the sun. Both Apostles, just before that time, had seen Our Lord amid His Angels. Simon said to Jude, “One of the Angels said to me, I will take you out of the temple and bring the building down upon their heads. I answered him, Let it not be so; perhaps some of them will be converted.” They prayed for mercy for the people and offered their lives to God. Saint Simon told the crowd that their gods were only demons, and ordered them to come out of the statues, which they did, revealing themselves under hideous forms. But the idolaters fell on the Apostles and massacred them, while they blessed God and prayed for their murderers.Saint Jude has left us a short but powerful epistle, written after the death of his brother James, bishop of Jerusalem, and addressed to the new Christians being tempted by false brethren and heretics. ”

– translated from “Lives of the Saints for Everyday” by Abbe Jaud.

 

 

 

Defenders Of The Faith In Word And Deed Author: Fr. Charles Connor

Forgotten Catholic Heroes   Author: Michael Genin

Mysteries, Marvels, Miracles In the Lives of the Saints   Author: Joan Carroll Cruz	The Primitive Church: The Church in the Days of the Apostles   Author: Rev. D. I. Lanslots, O.S.B.
The Saints Show Us Christ: Daily Readings on the Spiritual Life   Author: Fr. Rawley Myers	Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church   Author: Pope Benedict, XVI
The Twelve: The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary   Author: C. Bernard Ruffin	We Look for a Kingdom: The Everyday Lives of the Early Christians   Author: Carl J. Sommer
St. Jude: Novenas and Prayers	St. Jude Thaddeus: Helper In Desparate Cases

To browse our selection of books on the Early Church and the Apostolic Age please click here.

 

To browse our selection of books on the Lives of the Saints please click here.

 

 

“Devotion to the Blessed Virgin

‘All generations will call me blessed’: ‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’ The Church rightly honors ‘the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God’, to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.’ The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an ‘epitome of the whole Gospel,’ express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.”

– from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 971

 

 

 

 

 

The Church dedicates the month of October each year as the “month of the Holy Rosary”

 

 

Brown Wood Sterling Rosary	Deluxe Black Wood Rosary
Red Cloisonne Heart-Shaped Bead Rosary   Pewter Crucifix and Center	Crystal Beads Sterling Rosary

We carry one of the largest selections of rosaries anywhere. Are you looking for a truly special and unique gift or devotional item? From
simplest wood or stone beads, to precious metals and beautiful gemstones, you will find the perfect rosary when you browse our extensive collection here.

Gold and Silver Crucifixion Rosary Box	Mother of Pearl Rectangular Rosary Box
Gold with Ruby Mary Rosary Box	Our Lady of the Streets Rosary Box

 

To browse our complete selection of rosary boxes and cases, please click here.

We offer a rosary repair service, please click here for more information.

We also make custom rosaries, please click here for information about our custom rosary services.

 

 

Are you a Catholic sports fan or do you know one?! We have a great book, a great gift idea for you! Danny Abramowicz was recently in our area to speak at a diocesan men’s retreat, attended by hundreds of men, and his book was an enormous hit! Danny is an engaging speaker and writer. We recommend the book and we have even discounted it’s already very reasonable price for you. Take a look.

 

Spiritual Workout Of A Former Saint

Author: Danny Abramowicz

 

 

Here’s another great gift idea for Catholic sports fans or Catholic youth who are involved in athletics:

 

 

 

 

Champions of Faith DVD

 

 

 

 

A Special Seasonal Announcement from Aquinas and More Catholic Goods for Autumn and Advent:

2008 Ordos (for each Province and Diocese in the U.S.) are now available, please click here for information.

2008 Calendars are now available, please click here to view our selection.

Christmas cards are now available, please click here to view our selection.

Prayer on the Feast of the Holy Apostles Saint Simon and Saint Jude

O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles,

and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray

that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we

may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with

You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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The Latest Catholic Carnival Is Up

Veggie Tales Rule.

October 18 is the Feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist

Participation in Christ’s prophetic office

Christ . . . fulfills this prophetic office not only by the hierarchy . . . but also by the laity. He accordingly both establishes them as witnesses and provides them with the sense of the faith [sensus fidei] and the grace of the word.

To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of each believer.

Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, ‘that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life.’ For lay people, ‘this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world.’

This witness of life, however, is not the sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . of to the faithful.

Lay people who are capable and trained may also collaborate in catechetical formation, in teaching the scared sciences, and in the use of communications media.

In accord with the knowledge, competence, and preeminence which they possess, [lay people] have the right and event at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church, and they have a right to make their opinion known to the other Christian faithful, with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons.”

– from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 904-907

Introduction To The Catechism Of The Catholic Church Authors: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Pope Benedict, XVI

Companion To The Catechism Of The Catholic Church: A Compendium Of Texts Referred To In The Catechism Of The Catholic Church

Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Hardcover	Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Hardcover
General Directory For Catechesis	United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
The One-Minute Apologist: Essential Catholic Replies to Over Sixty Common Protestant Claims Author: Dave Armstrong	The Belief Of Catholics   Author: Msgr. Ronald A. Knox, M.A
Biblical Basis For the Catholic Faith   Author: John Salza	The Everyday Apostle: Commonsense Ways to Draw Others to Christ   Author: Fr. Edward F Garesche, S.J.
How Not To Share Your Faith: The Seven Deadly Sins of Catholic Apologetics and Evangelization   Author: Mark Brumley	The Scriptural Roots of Catholic Teaching   Author: Chantal Epie

To browse through more books on Catechesis, please click here.

To browse through more books on Apologetics and Sharing or Defending the Faith, please click here.

October is the Month of the Rosary

 

We carry one of the largest selections of rosaries anywhere. Are you looking for a truly special and unique gift or devotional item? From simplest wood or stone beads, to precious metals and beautiful gemstones, you will find the perfect rosary when you browse our extensive collection here.

We also make custom rosaries, please click here for information about our custom rosary services.

“Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture

God is the author of Sacred Scripture. ‘The divinely revealed realities, which are contained and presented in the text of Sacred Scripture, have been written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.’

‘For Holy Mother Church, relying on the faith of the apostolic age, accepts as sacred and canonical the books of the Old and the New Testaments, whole and entire, with all their parts, on the grounds that, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they have God as their author and have been handed on as such to the Church herself.’

God inspired the human authors of the scared books. ‘To compose the sacred books, God chose certain men who, all the while he employed them in this task, made full use of their own faculties and powers so that, though he acted in them and by them, it was as true authors that they consigned to writing whatever He wanted written, and no more.”

– from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 105-106

Resources we recommend for the Study of the Sacred Scriptures:

 

	The Catholic Bible Study Handbook: A Popular Introduction to Studying Scripture (Second Revised Edition)   Author: Jerome Kodell, O.S.B.	The Essential Bible Handbook: A Guide For Catholics   Author: Fr. Thomas M. Santa, C.Ss.R.
	A Practical Commentary On Holy Scripture   Author: Most Rev. F. J. Knecht, D.D.	You Can Understand the Bible   Author: Peter J. Kreeft, Ph.D.
	Dictionary of the Bible   Author: John McKenzie	The Collegeville Atlas of the Bible   Authors: James Harpur, Marcus Braybrooke
	The Bible is a Catholic Book   Author: Michael Patrick Barber	Where is That in the Bible? 2-DVD Set   Author: Patrick Madrid

Icon of St. Luke writing the first icon

Some historical detail about St. Luke the Evangelist and Apostle:

“St. Luke was a native of Syrian Antioch, a Disciple from amongst the Seventy, a companion of the holy Apostle Paul (Phil 1:24, 2 Tim 4:10-11), and a physician enlightened in the Greek medical arts. Hearing about Christ, St. Luke arrived in Palestine and here he fervently accepted the preaching of salvation from the Lord Himself. Included among the Seventy Disciples, St. Luke was sent by the Lord with the others for the first preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven while yet during the earthly life of the Savior (Lk 10:1-3).

After the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Saints Luke and Cleopas on the road to Emmaus. The Disciple Luke took part in the second missionary journey of the Apostle Paul, and from that time they were inseparable. At a point when all his co-workers had left the Apostle Paul, the Disciple Luke stayed on with him to tackle all the toiling of pious deeds (2 Tim 4:10-11). After the martyr’s death of the First-Ranked Apostles Peter and Paul, St. Luke left Rome to preach in Achaeia, Libya, Egypt and the Thebaid. In the city of Thebes he finished his life in holy martyrdom.

Church tradition ascribes to him the writing of the first icons of the Mother of God. “Let the grace of He born of Me and My mercy be with these icons” — said the Blessed Virgin in beholding the icons. St. Luke wrote likewise icons of the First-Ranked Apostles Peter and Paul. His Gospel was written by St. Luke in the years 62-63 at Rome, under the guidance of the Apostle Paul. St. Luke in the preliminary verses (1:3) spells out exactly the aim of his work: he recorded in greater detail the chronological course of events in the framework of everything known by Christians about Jesus Christ and His teachings, and by doing so he provided a firmer historical basis of Christian hope (1:4). He carefully investigated the facts, and made generous use of the oral tradition of the Church and of what the Blessed Virgin Mary Herself had told him (2:19, 51).

In the theological content of the Gospel of Luke there stands out first of all the teaching about the universal salvation effected by the Lord Jesus Christ, and about the universal significance of the preaching of the Gospel. The holy disciple likewise wrote in the years 62-63 at Rome, the Book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles. The Acts, which is a continuation of the Four Gospels, speaks about the works and effects of the holy Apostles after the Ascension of the Savior.

At the center of the narrative is the Council of the holy Apostles at Jerusalem (year 51 AD), a Church event of great critical significance, with a dogmatic basis for the distancing of Christianity from Judaism and its independent dispersion into the world (Acts 15:6-29). The theological objective of the Book of Acts is that of the Dispensation-Economy of the Holy Spirit, actualized in the Church founded by the Lord Jesus Christ, from the time of the Ascension and Pentecost to the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

– from the Patron Saint Index and the Catholic Encyclopedia

 

 

A Special Seasonal Announcement from Aquinas and More Catholic Goods for Autumn and Advent

2008 Ordos (for each Province and Diocese in the U.S.) are now available, please click here for information.

2008 Calendars are now available, please click here to view our selection.

 

Christmas cards are now available, please click here to view our selection.

 

Blogroll Update

Today I finally did some blogroll cleanup and found that a few sites have gone away and also noticed that several that I regularly read weren’t on the list. I especially recommend the New Liturgical Movement and What Does the Prayer Really Say? in light of all the liturgical news lately.

We have a list of blogger affiliates on the sidebar. These blogs have signed up as affiliates with Aquinas and More and link to our store. Bloggers that use our store as their first stop for product links earn 10% (Amazon pays 4%). Interested?