St. Praxedes - July 21st
This Roman maiden came from a family of saints who had been converted by the great Apostles Peter and Paul. When she and her sister, St. Pudentiana, were left with a huge fortune by their holy father, Senator Pudens, they used it all for God. Together they prayed, read sacred books, helped the poor, and comforted the Christians suffering in prison for the Faith.
When St. Pudentiana died, Praxedes continued doing the same good deeds alone. Although the Christians were being persecuted terribly and she helped them in every way she could, the Saint herself was never arrested. Perhaps because she came hid Christians in her home, gave all her money away, and even buried the bodies of the martyrs.
Her heart broke to see how the Christians had to suffer, especially when she had nothing left to give away. It was then that she asked God to take her to Heaven, since she could not be of any service any more.
Today I will offer to Our Lord a few little sacrifices for the persecuted Christians in different parts of the world.
7/21/08
Padre Pio and America
Padre Pio and America
By: Frank M. Rega
First titled, The Holy Man on the Mountain, this book tells the fascinating life story of Padre Pio, with emphasis on his life as a seminarian, young priest and his early decades at San Giovanni Rotondo. Incredible is the number of times the Capuchins sent him home sick unto death while a seminarian and young priest and how he was finally sent to remote San Giovanni Rotondo “for a couple of weeks of mountain air”. He never left. But from this small, remote mountain friary, he became world famous and exercised unbelievable influence on the entire world–though early on, he was forbidden by his superiors to preach, to write or to correspond. A few clerics developed enmity toward Padre Pio, resulting several times in orders from his superiors that he be moved. It is simply hilarious to learn why he never was–though being under obedience, he was entirely willing to do so.
The author also weaves in the Saint’s early work with L’Americana, Mary Pyle, his “foreign ambassadress,” and then with the American GI’s who came to visit him during WWII, when San Giovanni Rotondo was liberated from the Germans. Padre Pio developed a special love for Americans and America–to the point that he wished that all Americans would become his spiritual children.
This book demonstrates Padre Pio’s great love for his parents, his amazing sense of humor, his abstemious eating, his uncanny knowledge of people (even before they visited), and his profound supernatural awareness. In sum, Padre Pio and America is an inspiring book that will instill a profound awe in readers because it shows the impact a truly saintly priest can have on all who come into contact with him–and in Padre Pio’s case, even on the whole world!
First titled, The Holy Man on the Mountain, this book tells the fascinating life story of Padre Pio, with emphasis on his life as a seminarian, young priest and his early decades at San Giovanni Rotondo. Incredible is the number of times the Capuchins sent him home sick unto death while a seminarian and young priest and how he was finally sent to remote San Giovanni Rotondo “for a couple of weeks of mountain air”. He never left. But from this small, remote mountain friary, he became world famous and exercised unbelievable influence on the entire world–though early on, he was forbidden by his superiors to preach, to write or to correspond. A few clerics developed enmity toward Padre Pio, resulting several times in orders from his superiors that he be moved. It is simply hilarious to learn why he never was–though being under obedience, he was entirely willing to do so.
The author also weaves in the Saint’s early work with L’Americana, Mary Pyle, his “foreign ambassadress,” and then with the American GI’s who came to visit him during WWII, when San Giovanni Rotondo was liberated from the Germans. Padre Pio developed a special love for Americans and America–to the point that he wished that all Americans would become his spiritual children.
This book demonstrates Padre Pio’s great love for his parents, his amazing sense of humor, his abstemious eating, his uncanny knowledge of people (even before they visited), and his profound supernatural awareness. In sum, Padre Pio and America is an inspiring book that will instill a profound awe in readers because it shows the impact a truly saintly priest can have on all who come into contact with him–and in Padre Pio’s case, even on the whole world!
To order this book, go to:
Meaning of the Ceremonies at The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
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The Meaning of the Ceremonies at
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Adapted from
Fr. John Young’s (SSPX) Sermon
1. The priest going into the sanctuary with the acolytes and praying at the foot of the altar represents Christ praying in the Garden of Olives with His selected Apostles.
2. The priest bowing low during the Confiteor represents Christ prostrating Himself on the ground and sweating blood.
3. The priest ascending and kissing the altar represents Judas betraying Our Lord with a kiss.
4. The priest reading the Introit represents Our Lord asking the Romans: “Whom do you seek?”
5. The thrice repeated Kyrie Eleison represents Peter’s threefold denial of Our Lord.
6. The Gloria in Excelsis Deo represents Christ telling Pilate that He is a King.
7. The first Dominus Vobiscum represents Christ looking at Peter and converting him.
8. The reading of the Epistle represents Christ questioned by Pilate.
9. The reading of the Gospel represents Christ being questioned by Herod.
10.The reading of the Creed represents Christ telling Pilate that He is the only-begotten of God and that He shall come again in the clouds to judge the world.
11.The uncovering of the chalice represents Christ being stripped of His garments.
12.The offering of the host represents Christ being scourged.
13. The offering of the chalice represents Christ being crowned with thorns.
14.The washing of the priest’s fingers represents Pilate washing his hands before the people and proclaiming that he is innocent of the blood of this just Man.
15. The priest turning and saying: “Orate Fratres” represents Pilate taking Christ before the crowd saying: “Behold the Man”.
16. The priest reading the Preface represents the death sentence of Christ read by Pilate.
17. The silent recitation of the Canon represents Christ’s silence when interrogated by Pilate.
18. The priest extending his hands over the chalice at the Hanc Igitur represents Simon of Cyrene extending his hand to help Jesus carry His Cross.
19. The consecration of the host represents Christ being nailed to and elevated on the Cross.
20. The consecration of the wine represents Christ’s blood flowing from the Cross.
21. The priest breaking the silence of the Canon with the words “Nobis quoque peccatoribus” represents the good thief asking to be remembered by Our Lord.
22. The priest reciting the Our Father represents the Seven Last Words on the Cross.
23. The breaking of the Host represents Christ’s death upon the Cross and the earthquake that followed.
24. The dropping of the piece of Host into the chalice represents Christ’s soul going down to Limbo.
25. The Agnus Dei represents the conversion of the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Christ.
26. The “Domine non sum dignus” represents the bystanders beating their breasts and confessing that this Man is the Son of God.
27. The priest receiving Communion represents Our Lady receiving the Body of Jesus into her arms.
28. The Communion of the faithful represents the Apostles putting the Body of Jesus into the sepulcher.
29. The priest cleansing the chalice represents Christ being anointed by the holy women.
30. The priest cleansing the chalice represents Christ being anointed by the holy women.
31. The priest saying the Ite Missa Est represents Christ telling His Apostles to go preach the Gospel.
32. The final blessing represents Christ blessing His Apostles before His Ascension.
33. The Last Gospel represents the Apostles preaching the Gospel to the whole world.
