St. Andrew Advent Novena

In preparation for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray this Advent Novena starting St. Andrew’s Day through midnight on Christmas Eve (11-30 through 12-24). Join us!

Pray this prayer every day 15 times:

+Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.

In that hour vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Relationship Advice from J.R.R. Tolkien

When J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a letter to his son Michael (then in his tweens) giving relationship advice, it being late January of the year 1941 while Michael was recovering from an injury at the hospital in Worchester, he explained at length how things had gone in his own life. The letter comes as close to a biography of Tolkien’s life up until that point as it gets, and the last lines of it (as printed in Humphrey Carpenter’s 1981 edition of “The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien“, Letter 43, quoting from page 53f.) have been oft quoted:

“Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: The Blessed Sacrament … There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves on earth, and more than that: Death. By the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste (or foretaste) of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, which every man’s heart desires.” —J.R.R. Tolkien

As relationship advice goes, I dare say it is somewhat surprising. Why? Because it goes far beyond the ordinary advice a father would give his son when it comes to such matters. And yet, as far as I can see, there is no better advice.

Michael went on to marry Joan Griffiths with whom he had three children. One might have expected him to become a priest after such advice, but that was the choice his older brother John instead. As a sidenote, it might be of interest that John Tolkien became an exorcist even before being ordained.

The rosary is the scourge of the devil. — Pope Adrian VI

The rosary is the scourge of the devil

The rosary is the scourge of the devil.
~ Pope Adrian VI

The rosary is the scourge of the devil. ~ Pope Adrian VI

Learn more about the (only!) Dutch pope here:

Wikipedia entry about the 16th century Pope Adrian VI

The 1908 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia characterised the task that faced him: “To extirpate inveterate abuses; to reform a court which thrived on corruption, and detested the very name of reform; to hold in leash young and warlike princes, ready to bound at each other’s throats; to stem the rising torrent of revolt in Germany; to save Christendom from the Turks, who from Belgrade now threatened Hungary, and if Rhodes fell would be masters of the Mediterranean – these were herculean labours for one who was in his sixty-third year, had never seen Italy, and was sure to be despised by the Romans as a ‘barbarian’.

In Utrecht they still point out this house to strangers, And name it after him: the house of pope Adrian, Still his bust stands in its façade. Less elevated Was the ancestry of this pope, the son of a boat builder, His name is still proudly spoken by thousands of tongues, Only briefly, but with honor, he wore the papal crown.

In Utrecht they still point out this house to strangers,And name it after him: the house of pope Adrian,Still his bust stands in its façade. Less elevatedWas the ancestry of this pope, the son of a boat builder,His name is still proudly spoken by thousands of tongues,Only briefly, but with honor, he wore the papal crown.

The Very Basics of Repentance in C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”

The Very Basics of Repentance in C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”

If you have ever read C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”, even just in parts, you may remember the light, almost jovial style of it. Small wonder: “Mere Christianity” is a collection of radio talks turned book format. In it, C.S. Lewis aims to sum up what all Christians can agree upon, regardless of denomination. For this reason, you can find there many Christian concepts boiled down to the principles involved, with one of them being the very basics of repentance.

C. S. Lewis Mere Christianity book cover

“Now what was the sort of “hole” man had got himself into? He had tried to set up on his own, to
behave as if he belonged to himself. In other words, fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature
who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms. Laying down your arms,
surrendering, saying you are sorry, realising that you have been on the wrong track and getting ready
to start life over again from the ground floor—that is the only way out of a “hole.” This process of
surrender—this movement full speed astern—is what Christians call repentance. Now repentance is
no fun at all.


“It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit
and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means killing part of
yourself, undergoing a kind of death. In fact, it needs a good man to repent. And here comes the catch.
Only a bad person needs to repent: only a good person can repent perfectly. The worse you are the
more you need it and the less you can do it. The only person who could do it perfectly would be a
perfect person—and he would not need it.


Remember, this repentance, this willing submission to humiliation and a kind of death, is not
something God demands of you before He will take you back and which He could let you off if He
chose: it is simply a description of what going back to Him is like. If you ask God to take you back
without it, you are really asking Him to let you go back without going back. It cannot hap pen. Very
well, then, we must go through with it. But the same badness which makes us need it, makes us
unable to do it. Can we do it if God helps us? Yes, but what do we mean when we talk of God helping
us? We mean God putting into us a bit of Himself, so to speak. He lends us a little of His reasoning
powers and that is how we think: He puts a little of His love into us and that is how we love one
another.”

Interested to read more but not interested in buying a copy of C.S. Lewis’ book? No problem at all! The text is available in pdf format on the inernet – for free.

C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” pdf

Solo Dios basta

October 15th: Happy Feast Day of St. Teresa of Ávila

Detail of St. Theresa, 1827, by French painter François Gérard

Happy Feast Day of St. Teresa of Ávila, who was the first female to be declared Doctor of the Church. As one can imagine, she did not live life for herself, at all, after she had been shown her place in hell IF she were to continue living a rather tepid religious life and thus squander the gifts Our Lord had given her. So don’t be surprised when you do read her own writing and find her style very down to earth, much like a mother teaching her daughters.

The prayer “Nada te turbe” is attributed to Teresa, having been found in her breviary. Here is an English rendering:

“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” ~ St. Teresa of Ávila

Teresa of Ávila, by Peter Rubens, 1615. This is the portrait of Teresa that is probably the most true to her appearance. It is a copy of an original 1576 painting of her when she was 61.

Rather than reading about her, I suggest reading what she herself wrote. The Interior Castle is well worth your time and contemplation.

“Perhaps we do not know what love is, nor does this greatly surprise me. Love does not consist in great sweetness of devotion, but in a fervent determination to strive to please God in all things, in avoiding, as far as possible, all that would offend Him, and in praying for the increase of the glory and honor of His Son and for the growth of the Catholic Church.” ~ St. Teresa of Avila, An excerpt from “Interior Castle”

Wikipedia about this wonderful saint

oldest known depiction of St. Francis (detail)

October 4th: Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi!

It is October 4th today, and always a special day for us here because it is the feast of the saint most dear to us. Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi to y’all! In honor of the first saint to receive the stigmata, enjoy a few depictions of St. Francis, along with my favorite St. Francis quote:

“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received–
only what you have given.”

St. Francis by Albert Chevallier Tayle
St. Francis by Albert Chevallier Tayle
Stained glass window of St. Francis in St Damiano
Stained glass window of St. Francis in St. Damiano
St. Francis embracing Christ by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
St. Francis embracing Christ by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
MASTER of St Francis (active c. 1260-1280 in Umbria)

Scenes from the Life of St Francis: Francis Preaching to the Birds
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi
St. Francis talking to the wolf of Gubbio (Carl Weidemeyer, 1911)
St. Francis talking to the wolf of Gubbio (Carl Weidemeyer, 1911)
St. Francis with stigmata
St. Francis with the stigmata
The Cross of St Damiano
The Cross of St. Damiano
October Our Lady of the Rosary

October: Our Lady of the Rosary

The month of October is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. During her last apparition at Fatima on October 13, 1917, Mary specifically referred to herself as “The Lady of the Rosary.”  If you are not in the habit of praying the Rosary but have considered learning or starting again to pray it, this is the perfect month to do so.

Our Lady of the Rosary
Our Lady of the Rosary

On October 7th, the RCC celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. According to tradition, Our Lady famously appeared to St. Dominic de Guzman and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary (as we know them today) to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one true Catholic faith. Since then, the Rosary has been an infallible source of grace and strength to those who pray it. At Fatima, for example, Our Lady instructed the three children she appeared to to learn how to read and write so that they could pray the Rosary and spread the devotion to it.

Saints who prayed the Rosary

If and when you pray the Rosary, you are in very good company, both today and throughout the ages. Here is a short, by no means comprehensive list of saints who prayed the Rosary.

  • St. Benedict XVI
  • St. Bernadette Soubirous
  • St. Anthony Mary Claret
  • St. Dominic
  • St. Josemaria Escriva
  • St. John Paul II (who aded the Five Luminous Mysteries)
  • St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  • St. Louis de Montfort (who happens to be a relative of ours)
  • St. Pio of Pietrelcina
  • St. Pius V
  • St. Pius X
  • St. Francis de Sales
Don’t know how to pray the Rosary?

There are many books on how to pray the rosay, and what to contemplate while praying the many Ave Marias. If you are just starting out, here are a few links that might help you:

How to Pray the Rosary in English

The Prayers of the Rosary in Latin

Gregorian Chant Sung Rosary

Mater Dolorosa in Stone

How the Pray the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady Chaplet

Halfway between the birthday of Our Lady on September 8th and the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15th, I’d like to introduce the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady chaplet, and explain how to pray it. Since September is particularly dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, this is the perfect month to learn how to pray this chaplet. It commemorates the seven swords that pierced the heart of Our Lady as she suffered with her son.

Our Lady pierced by seven swords
How to pray the Chaplet

This chaplet is somewhat similar to the Rosary, although using Rosary beads for it can be a little confusing. The reason is that for this chaplet, you pray seven sets of seven Ave Marias, and the ten-plus-one beads of the usual Rosary or tenner doesn’t lend itself very well to the purpose. But what did the Lords gave us fingers for?

When you start the chaplet, make the sign of the cross and pray:

“Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us.”

Then say the Sorrow you are meditation on, and pray seven Ave Marias. At the conclusion of each set of seven, pray:

“Holy Mother hear my prayer, and renew in my heart each wound of Jesus my Savior.”

Repreat this until you have meditated on all seven Sorrows.

Stabat Mater Tryptichon

What to Meditate On

In this chaplet, we remember each of the seven sorrows of Our Lady while praying the seven Aves mentioned above. These are:

  1. The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34-35)
  2. The Flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-21)
  3. The Loss of Jesus for Three Days (Luke 2:41-50)
  4. The Carrying of the Cross (John 19:17)
  5. The Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:18-30)
  6. Taking Jesus Down from the Cross (John 19:39-40)
  7. Placing Jesus in the Tomb (John 19:39-42)
Mater Dolorosa

How to Conclude the Chaplet

When you are done with the last Sorrow, pray this closing prayer:
“O Mary, you truly became the Queen of all martyrs as these seven bitter swords of sorrow pierced your Immaculate Heart! By the merits of your tearful distress obtain for us and for all sinners the graces of perfect contrition and conversion. Help us always, dear Mother, to imitate you by taking up our crosses and following Jesus with limitless love and generosity. Amen.”

Seven Swords Pierced Mary's Heart

Short Version

If you are looking for a short prayer to pray this month in particular, or to add to your usual Rosary, the opening prayer, said three times, may serve, so I will repeat it here once more:

“Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us.”

Pietà photo 1888

September: Our Lady of Sorrows

The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, Mater Dolorosa: On September 15th, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Our Lady of Sorrows

From very early on, Mary was keenly aware that the Son of God, who was also her son, was born to suffer, to be the “man of sorrows” the prophet spoke about. This month, September, we particularly remember Mary’s role in the life and passion of Our Lord, how she suffered when He was still a child during the flight to Egypt and when Simeon prophesied over the child Jesus during the Presentation. More suffering followed when she lost Jesus for three days when He was twelve, and finally when she went with Him every step of the way during His passion. She was the first to pray the Stations of the Cross, even as they were unfolding.

Stabat Mater

Many Western composers have put to music a hymn from the 13th century, “Stabat Mater”, “The Mother was standing”. On the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, this hymn is sung at the liturgy.  The first two stanzas run:

Stabat mater dolorósa
juxta Crucem lacrimósa,
dum pendébat Fílius.		At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last:
Cuius ánimam geméntem,
contristántem et doléntem
pertransívit gládius.		Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has pass’d.

Of course, there are a lot more stanzas to it, and if you are looking for a version of the Stabat Mater online, you will find anything from three-minute videos to over an hour long compositions. I happen to like this rendering of Antonio Vivaldi‘s version a lot:

Andreas Scholl: Stabat Mater

The Prophesy of Simeon

The sword that “at length” pierces Our Lady is a reference to the prophesy of Simeon:

“And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35, KJV)

Since Mary’s sorrows are seven in number, depictions of Our Lady of Sorrows with seven swords piercing her, or Mary surrounded by pictures showing her seven sorrows, are numerous.

During the month of September, many people pray the Seven Sorrows of Mary in much the same way they otherwise pray the Stations of the Cross.