Fr. Z's Blog

Let us, upon our knees, pray in a special way to God the Holy Spirit during this time between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost. This is one way to pray.  I invite the readership to join in. MANNER OF PRAYING THE NOVENA Each day the meditation and prayer for the particular day is said, followed by 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 7 Glory be to the Father, followed by the Act of Consecration and the Prayer for the Seven Gifts. SECOND DAY OF THE NOVENA Come. Father of the poor. Come, treasures which endure; Come, Light of all that live! The Gift of Fear The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial submission to our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God. “They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls.” Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen. (Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts) ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY GHOST On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light, and listen to Thy voice, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood, and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Amen. PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into Heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen. Share/BookmarkThe post A Novena of Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Day 2 (Audio) appeared first on Fr. Z's Blog.The post A Novena of[...]

Let us, upon our knees, pray in a special way to God the Holy Spirit during this time between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost. This is one way to pray.  I invite the readership to join in. MANNER OF PRAYING THE NOVENA Each day the meditation and prayer for the particular day is said, followed by 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and 7 Glory be to the Father, followed by the Act of Consecration and the Prayer for the Seven Gifts. FIRST DAY OF THE NOVENA Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give! Only one thing is important — eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared — sin. Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for “The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us.” Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen. (Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father 7 TIMES. Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts) ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY GHOST On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Thy light, and listen to Thy voice, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood, and adoring His opened side and stricken Heart, I implore Thee, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee always and everywhere, “Speak Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” Amen. PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST O Lord Jesus Christ, who before ascending into Heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen. Share/BookmarkThe post A Novena of Prayer to the Holy Spirit: Day 1 (Audio) app[...]

UPDATE: I adjusted a volume/balance problem. ___ Today is the 20th Anniversary of St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis, which removes all doubt about the impossibility of the ordination of women to the priesthood. To celebrate this wonderful anniversary, I give you a podcast. I read, for your edification, the Apostolic Letter, and then the CDF’s official Response to a dubium about the level of assent to be given and the level of teaching of the Apostolic Letter, and then the Commentary on the whole matter from the CDF which was surely penned by Card. Ratzinger, then the Prefect. Here are links to the texts themselves: Ordinatio sacerdotalis in Latin and English.  Check these for the footnotes, which I don’t include in the reading. The CDF’s Response to the Dubium in Latin and English. Concerning the Reply of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the Teaching Contained in the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis In this you will hear the beginnings of different version of the Creed.  There is one by Gounod, Arvo Paart, Palestrina and Mozart.  Enjoy! Share/BookmarkThe post PODCAzT 139: 20th Anniversary of ‘Ordinatio sacerdotalis’, on the ordination of women appeared first on Fr. Z's Blog.The post PODCAzT 139: 20th Anniversary of ‘Ordinatio sacerdotalis’, on the ordination of women appeared first on Fr. Z's Blog.

From 2012: Please use the sharing buttons! This series of daily, 5 minute long podcasts during the Easter Octave is intended to give you a small boost every day, encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today is Saturday in the Octave of Easter, Saturday “in albis“. Happy Easter to all! The Roman Station is St. John Lateran. The custom of Roman Stations continues all through the Octave of Easter, which ends tomorrow. A hint at the thought: “To each person, whatever his condition, even if it were the most complicated and dramatic,the Risen One repeats: “Fear not!”; I died on the Cross but now “I am alive for evermore”; “I am the first and the last, and the living one”. – John Paul II   Share/BookmarkThe post OLDIE PASCHALCAzT 53 Easter Saturday – “To each person, whatever his condition…” appeared first on Fr. Z's Blog.The post OLDIE PASCHALCAzT 53 Easter Saturday – “To each person, whatever his condition…” appeared first on Fr. Z's Blog.

From 2011: These 5 minute daily podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day and a little insight into Easter and its Octave. Today is Friday in the Octave of Easter. Happy Easter to all! The Roman Station is St. Mary of the Martyrs, the Pantheon. The cu stom of Roman Stations continues all through the Octave of Easter. A hint at the thought: “Understand this, O beloved: The mystery of the passover is new and old, eternal and temporal, corruptible and incorruptible, mortal and immortal in this fashion” – Melito of Sardis Subscribe on iTunes. Be sure to “update“! Share/Bookmark

From 2011: These 5 minute daily podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day and a little insight into Easter and its Octave. Today is Wednesday in the Octave of Easter. Happy Easter to all! The Roman Station is Dodici Apostoli, Twelve Apostles. The custom of Roman Stations continues all through the Octave of Easter. A hint at the thought: “For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. The Lord gives rest to those who come at the eleventh hour, even as to those who toiled from the beginning.” – St. John Chrysostom Subscribe on iTunes. Be sure to “update“! Share/Bookmark

FROM 2011: These 5 minute daily podcasts are intended to give you a small boost every day and a little insight into Easter and its Octave. Today is Wednesday in the Octave of Easter. Happy Easter to all! The Roman Station is St. Lawrence outside-the-walls. The custom of Roman Stations continues all through the Octave of Easter. A hint at the thought: “All of you who stand fast in the Lord are a holy seed, a new colony of bees, the very flower of our ministry and fruit of our toil, my joy and my crown.” – St. Augustine of Hippo Subscribe on iTunes. Be sure to “update“! And from the much-missed Vincenzo long ago… Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is the 5th Sunday of Lent, 1st Sunday of the Passion. Passiontide begins. Examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0533Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is Saturday in the 4th Week of Lent.  This is a 1st Friday! Examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0432Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is Friday in the 4th Week of Lent.  This is a 1st Friday! Examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0431Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is Thursday in the 4th Week of Lent. Examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0430Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is the Wednesday in the 4th Week of Lent. Today, enjoy a taste of joy in anticipation of Easter and then examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0429Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is the Tuesday 4th Week of Lent. Today, enjoy a taste of joy in anticipation of Easter and then examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today I use a cut from the new CD of music for Lent by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0428Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is the Monday 4th Week of Lent. Today, enjoy a taste of joy in anticipation of Easter and then examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today I use a cut from the new CD of music for Lent by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0426Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark

Please use the sharing buttons?  Thanks! Today is the 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday. Today, enjoy a taste of joy in anticipation of Easter and then examine your consciences and then… GO TO CONFESSION! These daily podcasts for Lent are intended to give you a small boost every day, I persevere in this daily project in thanks to my donors. a little encouragement in your own use of this holy season. Today I use a cut from the new CD of music for Lent by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles.  http://www.wdtprs.com/lentcazt14/0426Lent2014.mp3 Share/Bookmark