Bishop Strickland...

One of the "good ones" that is out there speaking the Truth!
Tweeting the truth and articles that need to be shared!!!
If you are on Twitter...Follow @Bishopoftyler (Bishop J. Strickland)

What is truth? (Quid est Veritas?)

Question asked by Pilate to Jesus Christ...

The perfect answer...by the perfect man, Jesus Christ:

"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)

Quid est Veritas? Article HERE

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Also...this timely and needed article by Msgr. Charles Pope
"True Reform Will Come ~ If You and I Remain Steadfast" ~ HERE

A KEY POINT & TAKE-AWAY from this article that I think is worth noting is this:
Remain Steadfast...
We are such an "instant society" that we can hardly hold our attention for long...
We do not really play the long-game...
Of interesting note...Neither did the Apostles...
As stated in the article:
After Jesus told them all that one would betray Him, they inquired about it and then quickly changed the conversation to which one of them was the greatest.
Classic distraction technique utilized by the evil one!!! We puny humans can hardly hold our attention on one thing for very long...That is satan's goto fault within us! He is playing the long-game (although he will not win) and gaining many souls.

Look around...pay attention, see what the top 3 items/stories people are "worked-up" over today and then check that again in 3-4 weeks... Lucky if one still remains...

We are part of the Body of Christ...the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church! What does she tell us? What is the #1 precept of the Church?

You shall attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation (& hopefully, able to receive the Eucharist)...
...this is what grounds us and brings us back to the focus we should have...our eternal salvation and that of our loved ones and who we are responsible for!

Monthly Confession, The Divine Office / Liturgy of the Hours, Daily Prayers (our conversation w/ God), Daily Scripture Reading (God's conversation w/ us), Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Daily Examine, other various devotions, etc.

Think about all the things Holy Mother Church has for us to remain grounded and steadfast, if we would only heed her advice!

Rogation Days...

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week are called Rogation Days.
HERE is something about it from fisheaters.
HERE is something about it from new advent.

Below is taken from my prayer book, Blessed Be God (bold is mine).

Rogation Days
In the 5th century, St. Mamertus, Bishop of Vienne, appointed three days of public prayer and procession for his diocese in consequence of certain great calamities, such as fire, earthquakes, and other scourges which were devastating his country. During these processions, Litanies were recited to appease the anger of God. This custom later became universal, and the three days before Ascension were set aside by the Church as the time for these public prayers. Even before St. Mamertus, it was customary in Rome to have a procession of this kind on St. Mark's day, April 25th, which procession became known as the Greater Litanies. The three days before Ascension are called Rogation Days, or days of intercession. At the present time these are days of special prayer for the coming harvest. The Litany of the Saints is most appropriate for these days.

Ant. Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you; for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
V. He heard my voice from His holy temple.
R. And my cry before Him came into His ears.

Let us Pray
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we, who in our affliction confide in Thy loving kindness, may be ever defended by Thy protection against all adversity. Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

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Litany of the Saints (Video-Latin / Video-English)
Have a blessed week & use the Rogation Days...PRAY with strong BELIEF and FAITH that what you ask for, you will be granted. These are days of intercession, so interceed!

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This Thursday, May 30th (The "real" Ascension)... USA celebrates it on the following Sunday, but we should acknowledge that it is really on Thursday...

Ascension Day
Ant. God is ascended in jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet. Alleluia.
V. The Lord is in Sina, in the holy place. Alleluia.
R. Ascending on high, He hath led captivity captive. Alleluia!

Let us Pray
Grand, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Redeemer, to have this day ascended into heaven, may ourselves dwell in spirit amid heavenly things. Through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has written on the Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis...
FULL TEXT of his documents below:
HERE (Nat'l. Catholic Register)
HERE (Catholic News Agency)

As always...thoughtful and holy thoughts...good Shepherd!

A couple of reviews and commentaries on his writing below:
Benedict Speaks (R.R. Reno ~ First Things)
Benedict Addresses Sex Abuse Scandal (CNA)
Initial Reaction (Fr. Z's blog)

Good Shepherds...

Another good article to read & reflect on:
Chaput, Sarah & Schneider Weigh In on Our Troubled Times (Crisis Mag.)

Shepherd that speaks the TRUTH

Read these two articles by the fantastic Cardinal Sarah:
'As a Bishop, it is my duty to warn the West'; An Interview with Cardinal Sarah
&
Cardinal Sarah Sounds the Alarm (American Conservative)

Long but important Read...

Bishop Athanasius Schneider: On the question of a Heretical Pope

HERE from Rorate Caeli

HERE from One Peter Five

I have to admit...if I read too much from these two sites, I become "human" in the sense that I, too, want to fight...to protect...to beat down those who oppose the Church!

I love tradition...I love the Church...I love Jesus Christ our Lord!!!

I, as a man, want to protect it (Him)... BUT...that is not my job...sinful & weak as I am.

My "job" is to know, love and serve the Lord!!!

To have faith that God will handle the situation! 

If he chooses to use me, He will provide me with the necessary wisdom & knowledge to do so...my human emotions are not those he will (likely) utilize!

By faith, man completely submits his intellect and his will to God. With his whole being man gives his assent to God the revealer. Sacred Scripture calls this human response to God, the author of revelation, "the obedience of faith." ~ CCC 143

To summarize this article in my simplistic terms...

HAVE FAITH!!!

God will provide the answer in HIS time...which is not human time! 

He has a plan! Trust in Him!

This does not mean to do nothing, BUT, at the same time, do not suggest that WE will solve this problem. Do not despair! 

Jesus Christ is the HEAD of the body, of which we are a PART...the solution will come from the TOP...from the HEAD

So...

...PRAY, PRAY & PRAY some more...Fasting and Mortification won't hurt either!

Live your life, be a disciple of Christ...so that others "want" what you have!!!

Great Reads to Reflect On

Chaput: "God doesn't lose'
...Good article that re-affirms just who wins in the end & how we need to "handle" or "check" our emotions...especially anger!

Bishop Schneider's Analysis...Just the Answer we are looking for
Summary of Bishop Scheider's article that is also posted

Discovering Tradition: A Priest's Crisis of Conscience
One that needs some reflection to discern...
But stirs up some questions and emotions that I have had about the Church as it pertains to V2!

Cardinal Sarah: God never abandons His Church

Divine Office...

HERE
Outstanding talk by The Liturgy Guys (HERE) on the Liturgy of the Hours (Brievery) or "rightly" referred to as...The Divine Office!

This is the Prayer of Christ to the Father...The public prayer of the Church...Christ, Our Head Leads us, His body, in prayer to our Father!
Our Brother taught us how to pray and this Office (or work) of prayer is just that...It is our adopted brother, Jesus Christ, praying and continuing to pray, and we are able to join Him in doing so.

They "unpack" Chapter 4 ~ "The Divine Office" of  Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC)
This is the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy solemnly promulgated by Pope Paul VI, Dec. 4, 1963...
And something, as potential deacons, we should learn a thing or two about.

Just their "unpacking" of this first statement (83 SC) is mind-blowing. You could listen to the first part of this and just reflect...and be in awe!
Listen and LEARN... 
We are praying with, in, and through Jesus Christ!!!
WOW!!!
Bold emphasis is mine

Christ Jesus, high priest of the new and eternal covenant, taking human nature, introduced into this earthly exile that hymn which is sung throughout all ages in the halls of heaven. He joins the entire community of mankind to Himself, associating it with His own singing of this canticle of divine praise (SC 83).

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Hence all who render this service are not only fulfilling a duty of the Church, but also are sharing in the greatest honor of Christ's spouse, for by offering these praises to God they are standing before God's throne in the name of the Church their Mother (SC 85).

Reflect on this before you think you HAVE to do Morning/Evening Prayer...Re-read SC 85 and understand just WHO you are in front of when praying this Office!

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Pray the Divine Office, and you will "hear" the voice of our Lord...There is NOT a good reason NOT to pray the office... 

The divine office, because it is the public prayer of the Church, is a source of piety, and nourishment for personal prayer (SC 90).

Your personal prayer life will grow when you pray the Office...

As a beginner, I thought I was praying the office, but in reality, I was reading the office. 
All good prayer takes 2 things:
1) Devotion ~ doing it for the Love of God...
2) Attention ~ this determines how efficacious your prayer will be...
I am by no means an expert or full grown in my prayer life, but I feel that I am now praying more than just reading the office. And there is a noticeable difference within me. Moving from reading to praying takes time, intention and focus. But most of all time...the structure can be frustrating at first, but as you work thru it and take TIME to learn, it becomes easier...be patient...it will bear great fruit!