It's Ironic that Today's Funeral for Pope Benedict...

...takes place on the feast day of a pope martyr, St. Telesphorus who occupied the chair of Peter from 125-136 and died during the first year of of the reign of Antoninus Pius, although there appears to be some confusion since Antoninus became emperor in 138 and Telesphorus is said to have died in 136, two years earlier. 

St. Telesphorus, pray for us.

They Gave the Last Full Measure! Pray for the Fallen Who Died in Service to God, Family, and Country.

My dad lost many of his classmates in the attack on Pearl Harbor. I thank God he wasn't on the Arizona or the only one of the ten children he and my mom reared would be the oldest, my brother Ray, who was in utero that day. May God have mercy on all those we remember today. I plan to visit a cemetery and say a Hail Mary at the graves of those who died in battle in any of our wars. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Take Your Children to a Cemetery Today to Pray for the Dead!

Why are we here? Really? What is life on earth all about?

Some think it's to "eat, drink, and be merry", acquire as many toys as you can, seek power and prestige and the money that brings it (and surrounds you with sycophants who flatter and cajole).

Is that what it's all about? Is that ALL it's about?

HELL NO! (And I mean the hell part literally.)

How many are dancing merrily along the primrose path to perdition? It seems like a pleasant saunter, but those foolish souls who choose it are missing the big picture. They spend all their energy on what is essentially the first ten feet of the journey that ends here:

Remember: Memorial Day's Not Just About the Picnic and the Potato Salad!

If you're having a big family celebration, how about adding a decade of the rosary to the program in honor of all those men and women who died in service. They gave the "last full measure of devotion;" can we give a few minutes of prayer for the repose of their souls?

May the Divine Assistance be always with us and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

In Memory of Fr. Constantine Belisarius who entered into Eternal Life on November 27, 2016

I only met Fr. Belisarius a few times, but I was impressed and humbled when he encouraged me in my little writing apostolate. It was a personal blessing! Forgive me if I describe him as "well-rounded" which, with his long white beard and cheerful smile always made me think of St. Nicholas. How appropriate that this dear man went to the Lord on the first Sunday of Advent. I can imagine him on Christmas day filling our stockings with prayers and blessings as we muddle on in the Valley of Tears. The article after the break was sent as an email by one of my readers. I reprint it here with her permission and with gratitude. As I read it I was reminded of Yeats famous quotation, "The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity." How many of the dissenters in our Church bubble over with zeal as they undermine the faith? How many of those in the hierarchy, called to promote the faith "lack all conviction" having traded it for the Almighty tax exemption. How many failed to protect the little lambs in the flock and allowed the sodomite wolves to prey on them without interference? Fr. Belisarius was not one of them. He was a simple, humble priest who truly loved children and God's people. May the Lord bless us with many more like him. 

Fr. Constantine, pray for us. 

A Day to Remember: Filled with Grace!

Twenty-nine years ago today, my Dad entered into eternal life. Today, one of the youngest of his great-grandchildren, Maximilian Edward, our newest grandchild, was baptized into the Holy Catholic Church. As I looked around at our children and grandchildren gathered around the baptismal font, I thought of all the branches on Dad and Mom's family tree. With ten children who all married and had children of their own, most of whom are now married and have children of their own -- well it's a legacy of love and life that stretches from the year they married, 1940, until today. I think mom and dad had 39 grandchildren, but that count may be off. I've totally lost track of the number of their great-grandchildren. And we look forward to many, many great-great grandchildren and beyond.

Do you ever think of your ancestors and pray for them? Especially those who passed on the faith? It has become a regular prayer for me. Thank you, dear ancestors, for loving and sharing the faith so that I could be a Catholic today passing the faith on to my own grandchildren. I can't think of a greater gift to give or be given.

Lord, if any of those dear ones are still in Purgatory, please release them today because of their faithfulness in transmitting the faith to their children and grandchildren.

St. Joseph, protector of the family, pray for us.

All Souls Day: Visit a Cemetery and Pray for the Dead

Today is All Souls Day when Catholics are encourage to pray for the dead. This is the one day of the year that one can gain a plenary indulgence only for someone else, i.e., a member of the Church Suffering in Purgatory. Anyone who visits a cemetery and prays for the dead there and performs the usual requirements (goes to mass on the day of the indulgence and confession within a week before or after, prays for the intentions of our Holy Father, and is detached from sin) can gain full remission of sins for someone in Purgatory. Wouldn't it be wonderful on Judgment Day to have numerous souls greeting you with joy and thanksgiving because you shortened their time of suffering? And wouldn't it be wonderful to think of those souls praying for you when you are in need?

No good deed, after all, will go unrewarded. And the best rewards are not tangible here on earth; they are the prayers and sacrifices that bring us closer to God.

So if you haven't visited a cemetery yet today, it's not too late. If you didn't go to Mass this morning, you can still gain this indulgence between All saints day and the octave, every day in fact. So take advantage of these days to pray for your loved ones who have gone before you in the sign of faith. And may God give us all the grace of final perseverance.

Correction: A partial indulgence is gained for visiting a cemetery and devoutly praying for the dead. To gain a plenary indulgence it's necessary to visit a cemetery each day within the octave of All Saints. If you are like me and consider cemeteries holy ground, it is an easy daily work to perform.

Pray for the Repose of the Souls of Those Killed on 9/11/01

We know not the day or the hour. Be ready at every moment. Dedicate your day to God when you rise. Speak to him often throughut the day. Make and act of contrition and thank him for the day when you go to bed. The only thing that matters is the state of our soul at death when we will hear either "Well done good and faithful servant.) or "Depart from you evildoer." Which will it be? We know not the day or the hour.