Volume II/Issue 40/August 2019

Feeding Ourselves Spiritually

A priest friend of mine wrote a short consideration recently: "What we need as Christians is to be able to feed ourselves. How many are there who sit helpless and listless, with open mouths, hungry for spiritual things, and a Priest or a famous Catholic Speaker has to feed them, while the Scriptures are a feast prepared, into which they never venture to spend time in or mediate on."

When we are born we are first fed milk. Soon we are fed more complex foods. Then the day comes, when we are handed the spoon and taught how to feed ourselves. As we grew older, we were taught how to use a fork and then a knife. We learned how to serve ourselves. Eventually we learned how to cook and provide for ourselves.

Spiritually we begin after Baptism as spiritual infants and are expected to grow up. "As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation: If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet." (I Peter 2:2-3) We begin with spiritual milk, but should grow to be ready for spiritual meat. "I gave you milk to drink, not meat; for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able; for you are yet carnal." (I Corinthians 3:2) We are expected to grow up to be spiritual and able to feed ourselves and even provide many of our meals for our own self. The Corinthians were still expecting Saint Paul to feed them from afar, when they should have learned how to feed themselves. We are expected to do the same thing.

We spend an hour a day in eating and more time in preparation. Do we spend a similar amount of time in spiritual pursuits, which feed the soul? How many of us are overeating at the table, while starving our souls, when we should cut back at the dinner table, and spend more time at the spiritual table?

A good sermon or article can be a spiritual banquet, and we should feast in this way as often as possible. However, we cannot always go to spiritual banquets elsewhere, but must prepare our own right at home. In fact, we should have a daily spiritual banquet with the Holy Trinity and the Word of God. In fact, this article is the fruit of just such a banquet at home with the Trinity.

My priest friend is urging us to grow up spiritually and stop depending on others to help us become saints. We should not ignore the helps God gives us, but He may also take them away, especially if we are too dependent on them. Let us consider this well: am I able to prepare a spiritual banquet? Can I even make a spiritual grilled cheese sandwich? In fact, can I even feed myself, if someone brings me spiritual food? Have I progressed past needing someone to feed me a spiritual bottle of milk?

"For whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God: and you are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." (Hebrews 5:12) It is possible for us to regress and fall back. I recall when my grandmother was past 85 and went into the hospital. In the hospital, they had to feed her, because she was not up to it. She had dementia at the time. When she got back the nursing home, they advised us they wanted to get her back to feeding her own self, because if she gives this up, she will deteriorate even faster. I recall seeing her a few days before she died at age 91, sitting up and feeding her own self. We also should be feeding ourselves spiritually, until we die. We should not allow ourselves to fall back in the spiritual life. If we see ourselves doing so, let us get on a special spiritual diet to restore our spiritual heath.

What happens when we are sick? We change our diet to a simpler lighter diet. Our goal is to get back to eating normally. We know we are getting better, when we can add our regular foods back to our diet. Spiritually, when we become spiritually sick through sin, we need to chastise our body and bring it into subjection. (I Corinthians 9:27)

What does a spiritual banquet look like? When we think of banquets, we think of the worldly affairs with music, good food and drink.

Let us begin with the music. "Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord;" (Ephesians 5:19) We find the psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles in Sacred Scripture. And notice, we are not playing Gregorian chant, but making melody in our hearts. Occasionally playing something like Gregorian chant may be helpful, but a healthy dose of silence is necessary. I silence you will possess your souls. "Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the wilderness: and I will speak to her heart." (Osee 2:14)

Let us come to the food. For our daily bread (Luke 11:3) we must go to church to receive the Holy Eucharist. At home, we can begin feasting with a sincere Spiritual Communion. And would should partake of Spiritual Communion several times in the day. "And the tempter coming said to him: If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:3-4) The Word of God is part of our spiritual food, and we should feast upon this holy Word daily. The Scriptures need to become an integral part of life.

"But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your choice: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you would rather serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15) Scriptures such as this one should be constantly in our minds and our hearts. In fact, some have the habit of printing out Scriptures and put them on the wall. In this case one would print out: "my house we will serve the Lord."

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength. And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart: And thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate upon them sitting in thy house, and walking on thy journey, sleeping and rising. And thou shalt bind them as a sign on thy hand, and they shall be and shall move between thy eyes. And thou shalt write them in the entry, and on the doors of thy house." (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) Notice that the Chosen People were commanded to write these words not only in their hearts and teach them to their children, but they should write them on the doors of their houses as a constant reminder to give themselves completely and without reserve to Almighty God.

"And all in Moses were baptized, in the cloud, and in the sea: And did all eat the same spiritual food, And all drank the same spiritual drink; (and they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.)" (I Corinthians 10:2-4) Jesus Christ provides us with our spiritual drink. Our personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the perfect addition to our spiritual banquet.

Let us conclude with an idea from the VIE Catholic Radio Station. One of the programs is named Sacred Moments. In addition to our hour of prayer, we should also have sacred moments throughout our days. It can be a minute or an hour. Some pious thought comes into our mind and we consider it and take it to heart. We can call thee sacred moments, spiritual snacks.

The Funny Pharmacy

A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones. - Proverbs 17:22 

  

The Pope Speaks: August 2019

Important Principles From Apocalypse

Some believe we are in Apocalyptic times and have read this book of Sacred Scripture out of curiosity, trying to discern what is going to happen next in the world. While doing this, it is easy to skip over or even miss the good advice found that applies to us today, even if these are not apocalyptic times. Let us consider some of these principles.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death." (Apocalypse 12:11)

We love our lives unto death, when we bow to the desires of our lower nature rather than sanctifying ourselves and spending our time and effort on Almighty God and completing His holy will in our lives.

"And in their mouth there was found no lie; for they are without spot before the throne of God." (Apocalypse 14:5)

One of the marks of these times is the fact that lying has become a way of life for so many people. Some lies are excused as little white lies, when in fact they may even be mortal sins. Laxity is a sign of the times. Jesus said: "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:36-37)

"A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart." (Proverbs 18:2) Another version translates this as: "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion." We should only express our opinion, when it is necessary and otherwise remain silent. "A time to keep silence, and a time to speak." (Ecclesiastes 3:7) Notice that silence comes first. One of the Fathers of the Church observed that God gave us two ears and one mouth, and that we should listen more than we speak.

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying: Go out from her, my people; that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and the Lord hath remembered her iniquities." (Apocalypse 18:4-5)

When we remain in the world and conform ourselves to its perfidious maxims, we participate in her sins and become worthy of the plagues God will send upon the world. Saint Paul reminds us: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) We see by this that non-conformity with the world is a practice for all ages, not just those surrounding the time of Antichrist. Saint John Vianney identifies three classes of people, those who are totally worldly, those who are totally Godly, and those who want to have one foot in the world and another in the Church. This last class wants to find an easy way to heaven through Purgatory, while indulging in the pleasures of the world. They walk a tight rope of near occasions of sin, which they hope to avoid, but... Saint John then concludes, "You are either totally for God or you are totally for the world; there is no middle ground." This middle ground is actually the road to hell, which is cleverly disguised. How many who indulge in deliberate venial sin finally cross the line and commit a mortal sin? How many treading this fine line actually know where the line is between venial and mortal sin? Usually they keep moving theline further and further into the area of mortal sin, believing their own sins are mere trifles, when all sin is an offense against God.

"He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches:"

Throughout Apocalypse chapters two and three we read about the seven churches. And seven times we are bidden to hear what the Spirit (the Holy Ghost) has to say to the churches." Let us consider some of this sage advice.

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of the temptation, which shall come upon the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Apocalypse 3:10)

Notice that God will protect us in the hour of temptation, if we keep the word of patience. Patience is a common theme in Apocalypse. "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints." (Apocalypse 13:10) "Here is the patience of the saints, who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Apocalypse 14:12) One would think that keeping the Commandments would go without saying, it is so reasonable, but we are often reminded of these in Sacred Scripture, because we easily turn aside from the Commandments.

"In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (Apocalypse 2:16)

Jesus said: "No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3,5) The theme of penance is found throughout Apocalypse: "But I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first charity. Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance." (Apocalypse 2:4-5) "Have in mind therefore in what manner thou hast received and heard: and observe, and do penance. If then thou shalt not watch, I will come to thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come to thee." (Apocalypse 3:3) "Such as I love, I rebuke and chastise. Be zealous therefore, and do penance." (Apocalypse 3:19)

"And the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither did they penance from their murders, nor from their sorceries, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts." (Apocalypse 9:20-21)

Apocalypse chapters six, eight and nine describe a series of plagues and chastisements that appear t come before the reign of Antichrist. Notice after all of these chastisements from Almighty God what people don't do. People do not do penance. And so the Holy Ghost is reminding us of the necessity of penance, which begins with following the advice Jesus gave to two people: "Go now and sin no more." (John 5:14; John 8:11) We need to step away from our lives of mediocrity and a lax attitude towards sin, and get serious about becoming a saint.

"And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and it was given unto him to afflict men with heat and fire: And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues, neither did they penance to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues for pain: And they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and wounds, and did not penance for their works." (Apocalypse 16:8-11)

The pouring out of the seven vials appears to be during and after the time of Antichrist. People, who have seen all of the plagues mentioned earlier in this holy book have now seen the reign of Antichrist and the preaching of the Two Witnesses (Apocalypse 11). And yet, people have not gotten better; they have gotten worse. Now they are blaspheming Almighty God in addition to refusing to do penance for their sins.

If God wills that we actually see apocalyptic times, we need to be ready, because the trials we will see will cause many to fall away from Almighty God and join the world. Many will fall completely away from the Faith under the persecution of Antichrist, which will be the worst in human history.

 

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Saints from East and West

Saints whose feasts are celebrated this month

August 17 (Byzantine) - Holy Hieromartyr Myron

The Holy Martyr Myron was a presbyter in Achaeia (Greece), and lived during the third century. He suffered in the year 250 under the emperor Decius (249-251). The presbyter was gentle and kind to people, but he was also courageous in the defense of his spiritual children. One time, on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, he was celebrating Divine-services. The local governor Antipater came into the church with soldiers so as to arrest those praying there and to subject them to torture. Seeing this, Saint Myron began heatedly to plead for his flock, denouncing the governor for his cruelty. The saint was delivered over to torture, -- they took him and struck at his body with iron rods. They then threw the presbyter into a red-hot oven, but the Lord preserved the martyr - at the very moment when about 150 men at a nearby pagan temple were scorched by the oven fire. The governor then began to demand the martyr to worship idols. Having received from Saint Myron a firm refusal, Antipater ordered the leather thongs to be cut from his skin. Saint Myron took one of the leather thongs and threw it in the face of his tormentor. Falling into a rage, Antipater gave orders to strike Saint Myron all over his stripped body, and then to deliver the martyr over to wild beasts for devouring. But the beasts would not touch him. Perceiving himself defeated, Antipater in his blind rage committed suicide. They then took Saint Myron to the city of Kizika, where he was beheaded by the sword (+250).

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July 27 - St. Joseph Calasanctius

Joseph Calasanctius was the youngest of five children borne by Maria Gaston to her husband Pedro Calasanz. He was born in his father's castle near Peralta de la Sal in Aragon in the year 1556, and in due course was sent to study the humanities at Estadilla, where his virtue and religious observances were regarded with considerable disrespect by his fellow-students. His father wanted him to be a soldier, but Joseph had other ideas and induced Don Pedro instead to send him to the University of Lerida, where he took his doctorate in law before going on to Valencia. It is said that he left this university in order to escape the attentions of a young kinswoman, who subjected him to a temptation similar to that undergone by his namesake many centuries before at the court of Pharaoh; certainly he continued his theology at Alcala, and in 1583 he was ordained priest, being already twenty-eight years old. Soon the fame of Joseph's wisdom, learning, and goodness was spread abroad, and after varied experience he was appointed by the bishop of Urgel vicar general of the district of Trempe. He was so successful here that he was sent to deal with the Pyrenean part of the diocese, which comprises the valleys of Andorra of which the bishop of Urgel was joint sovereign prince (he still holds the title) as well as ordinary. This lonely and inaccessible region was in a terrible state of religious and moral disorder, and St Joseph conducted a long and arduous visitation of which the first task was to bring the clergy to a sense of their responsibilities and obligations; on its completion he returned to Trempe and remained there until he was made vicar general of the whole diocese. But for some time Joseph had been listening to an interior call to undertake a quite different sort of work; at length he resigned his office and benefices, divided his patrimony between his sisters and the poor, reserving a sufficient income for himself, endowed several charitable institutions, and in 1592 left Spain for Rome.

Here Joseph met an old friend of Alcala, Ascanio Colonna, already a cardinal, and for five years he was under the direct patronage of the Colonnas. During the plague of 1595 he distinguished himself by his devotion and fearlessness, and entered into a holy rivalry with his friend St Camillus of Lellis as to who should expend himself the more freely in the service of the sick and dying. But during these years St Joseph never lost sight of the work which had drawn him to Rome, namely, the instruction of young children, of whom there were so many, neglected or homeless, in the most urgent need of interest and care. He had become a member of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, whose business it was to teach both children and adults on Sundays and feast-days, and in so doing was brought home vividly to St Joseph the state of degradation and ignorance in which so many of the children of the poor lived. He was soon convinced that periodical instruction was utterly inadequate to cope with the situation; and that free day-schools for both religious and secular education were required. He therefore first of all invited the official parish-schoolmasters to admit poor pupils to their schools without payment, but they would not undertake the extra work without a rise in salary, and this the Roman senate refused to grant. He approached the Jesuits and the Dominicans, but neither order could see a way to extending its activities, for their members were already fully engaged. St Joseph then came to the conclusion that it was God's will that he should begin the work himself, single-handed if necessary. Don Antonio Brendani, parish-priest of Santa Dorotea, offered him the use of two rooms and his own services, two more priests joined them, and in November 1597 a public free school was opened.

At the end of a week the school had a hundred pupils and before long many more, and the founder had to engage paid teachers from among the unbeneficed clergy of the city. In 1599 it was moved into new quarters and St Joseph obtained permission from Cardinal Ascanio to leave the Colonna household and take up his residence on the school premises with the other masters; they lived a quasi-community life and the founder acted as superior. During the following couple of years the pupils increased to seven hundred, and in 1602 another move was made, to a large house adjoining the church of Sant' Andrea della Valle. While hanging a bell in the courtyard St Joseph fell from a ladder and broke his leg, an accident the effects of which were a source of lameness and pain for the rest of his life. Pope Clement VIII having made a grant towards the rent, and people of consequence having begun to send their children to the school, the parish-schoolmasters and others began to criticize it with some vehemence; complaints of its disorders were made to the pope and he directed Cardinals Antoniani and Baronius to pay it a surprise visit of inspection. This was done and as a result of their report Clement took the institution under his immediate protection. In similar circumstances the same course was taken and the grant doubled in 1606 by Paul V. But these difficulties were the beginning of trials and persecutions which beset St Joseph until the end of his life. Nevertheless during the succeeding five years the work prospered and grew in spite of all opposition, and in 1611 a palazzo was purchased to house it near the church of San Pantaleone; there were about a thousand pupils, including a number of Jews whom the founder himself invited to attend and encouraged by his kindness. Other schools were opened, and in 1621 the teachers were recognized as a religious order, of which St Joseph was named superior general. He did not let the cares of the generalate diminish either his religious observances or his care for the needy, the sick, and any to whom he could be of service. About this time there came to Rome, with his wife and family, an English gentleman, Mr Thomas Cocket, who by abjuring Protestantism had brought himself within reach of the penal laws; him the saint assisted, and the pope followed his example. assigning a pension to the refugee converts. For ten years the congregation continued to prosper and extend, and spread from Italy into the Empire.

In 1630 was admitted to the institute at Naples one Mario Sozzi, a middle-aged priest, who in due course was professed. For several years his froward and perverse behaviour made him a great nuisance to his brethren but, having by a show of zeal gained the good will and influence of the Holy Office, he contrived to get himself, in 1639, made provincial of the Clerks Regular of the Religious Schools in Tuscany, with extraordinary powers and independence of the superior general. He proceeded to administer the province in the most capricious and damaging way, harmed as much as he could the reputation of St Joseph with the Roman authorities, and at length denounced him to the Holy Office. Cardinal Cesarini, as protector of the new institute and in order to vindicate Joseph, ordered Father Mario's papers and letters to be seized; these included some documents of the Holy Office and that congregation, spurred on by Sozzi, straightway had St Joseph arrested and carried through the streets like a felon. He was brought before the assessors and only saved from imprisonment by the intervention of Cardinal Cesarini. But Father Mario was unpunished, and continued to plot for control of the whole institute, representing St Joseph to be too old and doddering for the responsibility; he managed by deceit to get him suspended from the generalate and contrived that a visitor apostolic be appointed who was favourable to himself. This visitor and Father Mario became in effect in supreme command, and St Joseph was subjected by them to the most humiliating, insulting and unjust treatment, while the order was reduced to such confusion and impotence that the loyal members were unable to persuade the superior authorities of the true state of affairs.

Towards the end of 1643 Mario died and was succeeded by Father Cherubini, who pursued the same policy. St Joseph bore these trials with marvellous patience, urging the order to obey his persecutors for they were de facto in authority, and on one occasion sheltering Cherubini from the violent opposition of some of the younger fathers who were indignant at his treachery. The Holy See had some time previously set up a commission of cardinals to look into the whole matter, and at length in 1645 it ordered the reinstatement of St Joseph as superior general; this announcement was received with great joy but led at once to renewed efforts on the part of the malcontents, who had the support of an aggrieved female relative of the pope. They were successful, and in 1646 Pope Innocent X published a brief of which the effect was to make the Clerks Regular of the Religious Schools simply a society of priests subject to their respective bishops. Thus in his ninetieth year St Joseph saw the apparent overturning of all his work by the authority to which he was so greatly devoted and the indirect disgrace of himself before the world; when the news was brought to him he simply murmured, "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

The business of drawing up new constitutions and regulations for the shattered institute of Religious Schools was entrusted to Father Cherubini, but within a few months he was convicted by the auditors of the Rota of the maladministration of the Nazarene College, of which he was rector. He retired from Rome in disgrace, but returned in the following year to die, repentant of the part he had played and reconciled to St Joseph, who consoled him on his death-bed. A few months later, on August 25, 1648, St Joseph himself died, and was buried in the church of San Pantaleone; he was ninety-two years old. There is an obvious parallel between this history and that of St Alphonsus Liguori and the early days of the Redemptorists, and during the troubles of his young congregation St Alphonsus used to encourage and fortify himself by reading the life of St Joseph Calasanctius; he was canonized in 1767, six years before the death of Alban Butler, who only gives to him a brief notice, wherein he is referred to as "a perpetual miracle of fortitude and another Job" - a comparison made by Cardinal Lambertini (afterwards Pope Benedict XIV) before the Congregation of Sacred Rites in 1728. The failure of St Joseph's foundation was only apparent. Its suppression was strongly objected to in several places, and it was reconstituted with simple vows in 1656 and restored as a religious order in 1669. Today the Clerks Regular of the Religious Schools (commonly called Piarists or Scolopi) flourish in various parts of the world.

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Books to feed your faith!

Chiles Rellenos

Ingredients
4 poblano peppers
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups cotija, mozzarella, or monterey jack cheese, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
2 eggs, separated

Directions
Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.

Place poblano peppers on a baking sheet. Broil until skin bubbles and areas of burned skin appear. Dip peppers into boiling water for about 30 seconds, then place immediately into ice water. When peppers are chilled, remove skin. Slit peppers lengthwise and remove veins and seeds.

Stuff each pepper with 1/4 the cotija cheese and secure pepper openings closed with toothpicks. Place flour into a shallow bowl and dip each pepper in the flour; set aside for coating to set.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Beat egg whites in a glass or metal bowl until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the tip of the peak formed by the egg whites should stand up. Gently whisk egg yolks into whites. Dip floured peppers into egg mixture to coat.

Fry peppers in the hot oil until browned and the cheese has melted, flipping once, about 5 minutes per side.

 

Father's Favourite Flatbread

Ingredients
3 to 3 1/4 cups (361g to 390g) All-Purpose Flour
1 1/4 cups (283g) boiling water
1/4 cup (43g) potato flour or 1/2 cup (43g) dried potato flakes
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons (25g) vegetable oil
1 teaspoon instant yeast

Directions
Place 2 cups of the flour into a bowl or the bucket of a bread machine. Pour the boiling water over the flour, and stir until smooth. Cover the bowl or bucket and set the mixture aside for 30 minutes.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the potato flour (or flakes) and 1 cup of the remaining flour with the salt, oil and yeast.

Add this to the cooled flour/water mixture, stir, then knead for several minutes — by hand, mixer or bread machine — to form a soft dough. Add additional flour only if necessary; if kneading by hand, keep your hands and work surface lightly oiled. A 5-minute knead in the bread machine, once it gets up to full kneading speed, is fine. Let the dough rise, covered, for 1 hour.

Divide the dough into 8 pieces (each about the size of a large plum, around 3 ounces), cover, and let rest for 15 to 30 minutes.

Roll each piece into a 7" to 8" circle, and dry-fry them (fry without oil) over medium heat for about 1 minute per side, until they're puffed and flecked with brown spots. Adjust the heat if they seem to be cooking either too quickly, or too slowly; cooking too quickly means they may be raw in the center, while too slowly will dry them out.

Video sermons and instructions: Timeless timely truths for living the Faith

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The Necessity of Mortification

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Assumption 2012

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Show Me Your Scars

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What are the Ten Commandments?

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VIE CATHOLIC RADIO EVENTS FOR AUGUST

National Radio Day is approaching on Tuesday, August 20. And to celebrate, VIE Catholic Radio is doing a weeks worth of special programming, August 19th through the 24th that is dedicated to celebrating and remembering Catholic radio programs that either went off the air or changed their format over the years. Not only radio programs but we will remember the Saints of the past who proclaimed the gospel...even before there was a radio!

Radio Programs that are being highlighted the week of the 19th of August include:

Sunday Sermon:
You can listen to five Sunday Sermons, including one by Saint Alphonsus, and Saint John Vianney each day that could cause permanent life changes by stepping on your toes!

Life Is Worth Living:
Fulton Sheen's renowned and inspiring television series was watched by millions of viewers from all walks of life and every religious belief. His timeless insights give wise, personal and inspiring guidance on the problems affecting our lives in today’s world. His talks cover an amazing variety of subjects, from the character of the Irish to the handling of teenagers. He discusses education, Christianity, relativity, and world affairs. He speaks about love, conscience, fear, motherhood, work. He tells amusing anecdotes, recites poetry, and ponders the fate of the free world as well as America’s destiny.

Fulton Sheen's Catechism:
...is a 50 part series on the fundamental teachings of the Catholic Church recorded in 1965 in the privacy of his own study. This Catechism program is truly priceless! Fulton Sheen's captivating voice and message comes through loud and clear, even for today.

Family Theater:
Family Theater is a dramatic radio show which was produced by Family Theater Productions, a film and radio studio extension of the Family Rosary Crusade founded by the Holy Cross Priest, Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, as a way to promote family prayer. The motto of Holy Cross Family Ministries is "The family that prays together stays together."

The Bible Comes Alive:
Your Story Hour produces family-friendly radio dramas based on the Bible, historical heroes, and true-to-life adventures. Our stories--brought to life by talented voice actors, descriptive sound effects and compelling music--teach Christian values, positive character traits and principles for good decision-making.

Ranger Bill:
Ranger Bill is a Christian radio program from the 1950s. Ranger Bill stars Miron Canaday as the title character and Stumpy Jenkins. And Ed Ronne Sr. as Grey Wolf. The main character, Ranger Bill, is a forest ranger located in the town of Knotty Pine along the Rocky Mountains. The show describes the various tales of the adventures of Ranger Bill and his friends

Father Charles Coughlin:
In today's America, Father Coughlin would be considered somewhat of a paradox. Although many of his estimations – such as fiscal irresponsibility causing the Great Depression – have been deemed by history as accurate, his unwavering faith in God and the Catholic religion would work to make him a social pariah whom no one would take seriously when voicing political advice.

The bygone era in which Coughlin's voice was heard the clearest seems thousands of years removed from modern society, yet remains so close you can almost hear the cries of war and hunger if you choose to listen carefully.

There will never be another Father Coughlin in America, or the entire world. His is a long-dead voice in a free country, rarely resurrected by those who wish to harness the power of his commitment and dedication.

Keys To The Kingdom:
This is the story of a man who served God in the way God wishes to be served, with humility. Of necessity this is a short story of a long, full life, a vision in to the heart of a priest swiftly blurring. In the eyes of God this man might be a saint, in the eye of the church memory of his work might not survive his modest epitaph but in the hearts of some men there was the certainty that he’d receive the keys to the kingdom of heaven...

The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Throughout the tumult of two thousand years a story has lived, a story of a man whose influence was widespread, whose life affected many people then and now. Many people called him the master, his friends worshipped him, and his enemy feared him. From a humble beginning to a world shaking end the greatest life ever lived has come down through the centuries as the greatest story ever told. Such was the effect of The Greatest Story Ever Told that during its first year on the air it won many awards and was enthusiastically received by clergy men of all denominations.

This religious drama is filled with compassion and significance as it tells the story of the life of Jesus and was undoubtedly ambitious for its time, having a full orchestra as well as a sixteen-voice chorus.

Father Flanagan Boys Town:
Have you ever met a really bad boy? You may think you have, but I'll wager you've never met any like the fire breathing little demon like in our story tonight. That's Eddie. In the opposite corner is a tall, grey haired man who has spent a lifetime believing that there is some good in everybody. That's Father Flanagan. Then he meets Eddie... It's one of the greatest stories you've ever heard.

Hour of St. Francis:
“The Hour of St. Francis” is a radio program that began in December of 1946 and continued through the 1950s. Each fifteen minute episode presented a dramatic story — often a “modern day parable” which looked at a moral issue or a particular virtue. The Hour, sponsored by the Third Order of St. Francis, was founded on the belief that sound Catholic teaching and religious inspiration can be combined with entertainment. It was the project of Fr. Hugh Noonan, O.F.M., of St. Joseph’s Church in Los Angeles. He wanted stories that tackled practical problems of modern men and women.

Eternal Joan:
The Eternal Joan is CBS Radio Theater’s adaptation for radio of the story of Joan of Arc. Joan D’Arc, a young peasant girl not yet 19 years old was burnt at the stake in the French city of Orléans on the 30th May 1431 by the English occupation in France for her part in the fight against the English occupation of France. She claimed that the voice of God was instructing her to take charge of her country’s army and lead it to victory. In 1456 she was cleared of all the accusations against her and several hundred years later in 1920 she was officially declared a saint.

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Catechism Catch-Up  

 

The Resurrection of the Dead

Living Catholic:
 

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How Can I Gain And Keep The Hearts Of My Children?