Immaculate Conception Novena

 

This novena runs from November 29th through December 7th, the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.

Part I: Hymns

Hymn I: O Purest of Creatures

For days 1, 4, and 7.

Text: Fr Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)
Tune: “Maria Zu Lieben”, from Paderborn Gesangbuch (1765)

O purest of creatures! sweet Mother, sweet Maid;
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother, and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world.
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church - all her eyes are on thee.
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair;
For the empire of sin, it had never been there;
None had e'er owned thee, dear Mother, but He,
And He blessed thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea.

Hymn II: Hail, Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star

For days 2, 5, and 8.

Text: Fr. John Lingard (1771–1851)
Tune: “Stella” by Henri Frederick Hemy (1818-1888)

Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star,
Guide of the wanderer here below,
Thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Sojourners in this vale of tears,
To thee, blest advocate, we cry;
Pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
And sooth with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.

And while to Him Who reigns above
In Godhead one, in Persons three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.

Hymn III: O Maid Conceived Without a Stain

For days 3, 6, and 9.

Text: Author Unknown (1871)
Tune: “Horsley” by William Horsley (1844)

O Maid conceived without a stain,
O Mother bright and fair;
Come thou within our hearts to reign,
And grace shall triumph there.

Hail, Mary, ever undefiled,
Hail, Queen of purity!
Oh! make thy children chaste and mild,
And turn their hearts to thee.

Thou art far purer than the snow,
Far brighter than the day;
Thy beauty none on earth can know,
No tongue of men can say.

O Mother, of all mothers best,
Who soothest every grief,
In thee the weary find their rest,
And anguish'd hearts relief.

Oh! then for us, thy children, plead,
Thy pity we implore;
That we, from sin and sorrow freed,
May love thee more and more.

Part II: Prayer and Responsories

Prayer of Pope Pius XII

Enraptured by the splendor of thy heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into thine arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in thy most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.

Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of the sublime gifts with which God hath filled thee, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of thy conception until the day on which, after thine assumption into heaven, He crowned thee Queen of the Universe.

O crystal Fountain of Faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of All Holiness, captivate our hearts with thy heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of Evil and Death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of hell!

O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy church, make all men feel the attractions of Christian goodness. In thy name, resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.

Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with thee, we may repeat before thy throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around thy altars: 

V. Thou are all fair, O Mary.

R. Thou art all fair, O Mary.

V. And the original stain is not in thee.

R. And the original stain is not in thee.

V. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.

R. Thou art the joy of Israel.

V. Thou art the honor of our people.

R. Thou art the advocate of sinners.

V. O Mary.

R. O Mary.

V. Virgin, most prudent.

R. Mother, most tender.

V. Pray for us.

R. Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord.

V. In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.

R. Pray for us to the Father Whose Son thou didst bring forth.

Part III: Collect

TLM Collect for the Immaculate Conception

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. Let us pray. O God, Who, by the foreseen merits of the death of Christ, didst shield Mary from all stain of sin and preserve the Virgin Mother immaculate at her conception so that she might be a fitting dwelling place for Thy Son, cleanse us from sin through her intercession so that we also may come to Thee untainted by sin. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. 

R. Amen.

Family Hymn

The Holy Family

Reason

I was inspired to write this hymn/poem after reading Dear Newlyweds: Pope Pius XII Speaks to Married Couples and studying the work of Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey and the Enthronement to the Sacred Heart in the home. We finally did the Enthronement of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts on Laetare Sunday during the pandemic shutdown in 2020.

The hymn is meant to be sung to the tune Rustington by Charles H. Parry (1897). The text is now copyrighted through the Library of Congress.

Hymn Text

1.  Joyfully to celebrate we
Come, Lord, singing unto Thee,
Asking Thee to bless our fam’ly
Through Thy holy Wisdom’s Seat.*
Unto Thee we come for healing,
Unto Thee we come for love,
Unto Thee we come for blessing
From Thy holy Throne above.

2.  And we come with supplication
For our humble fam’ly life:
Save us from all vain contention,
Save us from all selfish strife.
May our arms embrace each other,
May our lips speak kindliness;
May our labor and our leisure
Be in Thee true godliness.

3.  Sacred Heart, Thou King of our home,
Keep us all in harmony,
As the organ and the voices
Blend together beauteously.
Make our home a place of bounty
And of understanding love;
May our hearts trust in each other
And in Thine unending love.

4.  Mother Mary, Queen of our home,
Reigning here, show forth thy pow’r!
Graciously dispense all graces
To these hearts and souls of ours!
Be thou here, who art our Mother,
Keep us in thy folded arms,
Grant us joy and banish anguish,
Be our refuge from all harm.

5.  May we imitate the goodness
Of the Holy Family,
Where Saint Joseph ruled with meekness
Jesus and His Mother sweet.
Good Saint Joseph, faithful guardian;
Mother Mary, purest Maid;
Little Jesus, Who, obedient,
Grew in wisdom and in age.

6.  Praise we sing to God the Father,
And His Sole-begotten Son,
And to God the Holy Spirit,
Everlasting Three-in-One!
May we ever sing Thy goodness,
May we ever bless Thy Name,
And in one unceasing chorus
All Thy glorious wonders claim. Amen.

 

* This line may be replaced by any of these lines:

     Christmas and its Octave: On this merry Christmas Feast.

     Epiphany and its Octave: At Thy great Epiphany.

     Feast of the Holy Family: On this Holy Fam’ly Feast.

     Eastertide: At Thy Resurrection Feast.

     Ascensiontide: At Thy great Ascension Feast.

     Pentecost and its Octave: At descent of Paraclete.

     Sacred Heart of Jesus: Through the Heart of Christ the King!

     Christ the King: On this Feast of Christ the King.

     American Thanksgiving: On this grateful harvest feast.

     Wedding Day: At our joyful wedding feast!

     Wedding Anniversary: On our anniversary.

     Other family feasts: On this day of special feast.

© 2021 David Varella

Great Saint Dymphna

The Beheading of Saint Dymphna, by Godfried Maes (1688)

About Saint Dymphna

Saint Dymphna is the patroness of the mentally ill, those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. This was because of the depression of her father, who wanted to marry her after his wife died. Because of her refusal to marry him, he beheaded her. Mental illnesses abound in our day, and we must pray for all those who suffer from such disorders. Loyola Press has this to say about Saint Dymphna's story:

Born during the 7th century to Irish royalty, St. Dymphna’s mother, the queen, had the girl baptized and raised in the faith in secret because of her husband’s pagan beliefs. When Dymphna was only fourteen, her beloved mother died and the king went mad in his great state of grief. He decided that he wanted to marry Dymphna, his own daughter, because she looked so much like her mother. Dymphna, who had made a vow of virginity before God, was horrified by her father’s proposal and adamantly refused.

To escape the king’s inevitable outrage over her rejection, Dymphna fled the kingdom. She was accompanied by her confessor, Fr. Gerebran as well as several faithful servants from her father’s court. The group settled in Belgium in a city called Gheel near a shrine of St. Martin of Tours. While there, Dymphna used her wealth to care for the sick and poor of the region.

Unfortunately, her father discovered her whereabouts and he sailed to Gheel in the hopes of bringing her back with him. Upon his arrival, the king continued his attempts to convince Dymphna to marry him, promising great wealth and esteem if she accepted his offer. Still, she would not change her mind, staying true to her vow of virginity and refusal to enter an incestuous relationship. In his anger, the king ordered his men to kill Fr. Gerebern while he himself beheaded Dymphna. She was only fifteen years old at the time.

Reason

There is an excellent novena to Saint Dymphna for those who are suffering mental illness, as well as one traditional novena to her for all the Christian world. When I pray novenas, I like to add hymns to the beginning before the prayers. To me, adding hymns to novenas is an expression of Christian joy, and it follows the precepts of Saint Paul, "be ye filled with the holy Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19). I found an interesting song to Saint Dymphna, but no hymn, so I wrote a hymn of my own. It is meant to be sung to the tune Aurelia by Samuel S. Wesley (1864). The text is under copyright.

Hymn Text

1.  We hail thee, great Saint Dymphna,
O hear our fervent plea
For all the Christian people
Who now do cry to thee:
Help us attain to Heaven,
Ask God, His grace to send,
To persevere in virtue
And ordered peace within.

2.  We hail thee, great Saint Dymphna!
Please intercede for all
Who suffer great depression
And bitterness of soul.
Let us not be despondent
Who call upon thine aid,
But quell the great depressions,
And anxious minds allay.

3.  We praise thee, great Saint Dymphna,
For all thy courage bold,
Resisting thou thy father
When his own mind went cold:
When in his great depression,
And heeding ill advice,
He would not bend to reason,
And took thy youthful life.

© 2021 David Varella

Petitions to Saint Joseph

 

Ite ad Joseph! Go to Joseph!

Reason

This hymn was written as a prayer to Saint Joseph, Light of Patriarchs. The time has come for a resurgence of true Christian patriarchy, based on the Catholic Faith and the attitude of chivalry. There is a vast difference between worldly patriarchy and Christian patriarchy. When feminism proclaims to be against patriarchy, it rejects worldly patriarchy and starves for Christian patriarchy. The lack of distinction between the two is the reason feminism indiscriminately rejects all patriarchy, and it thereby starves itself of Christian patriarchy.

In this age of relativism (denial of any objective truth), feminism (rejection of patriarchy), and effeminacy (men living for pleasure and comfort), it is now more important than ever to run to Saint Joseph, the Light of the Patriarchs. We have an uphill battle in front of us to reclaim surrendered ground, but if we run to Saint Joseph, we can be confident of plenty in spite of famine.

The text is meant to be sung to the tune Ellacombe (1784) and is now under copyright in the Library of Congress.

Hymn Text

1.  Saint Joseph, as a husband,
Like thee, I made a vow
To cherish, love, and honor,
As only love knows how.
Help me be pure and faithful
And patient as thou art,
And help my understanding
The seasons of the heart.

2.  Saint Joseph, as a father,
Thou knowest my own care,
To raise my children rightly,
With strength of character,
To form in them good conscience
All pure, upright, and just;
Saint Joseph, help me to be
The father that I must.

3.  Saint Joseph, in our culture
The Christian life has waned,
And with it, shriveled manhood
Has tried to stake its claim.
The time has now arisen
For patriarchs once more –
O win us grace and virtue,
True manhood to restore.

4.  Help us to be courageous,
To stand for truth and life,
Where e’er the Spirit leads us
To shine our holy light,
To keep the flame still burning
Of our Baptismal grace,
And ne’er through sin to lose it,
Nor Holy Ghost displace.

© 2021 David Varella

The Sorrows and Joys of Saint Joseph

The child Jesus leaning into Saint Joseph for security. Source unknown to the author of this blog.

 

Reason

During an email exchange with a priest acquaintance of mine, I shared with him my first hymn to Saint Joseph, and he mentioned that he and his friend were looking to write one on the topic of the Seven Sorrows and Joys of Saint Joseph. I had not heard from him in a while, and I thought the topic interesting for a hymn, but to my knowledge, not much more came of it.

Due to the winter storms in Texas in February this year, the house we were renting had burst pipes in several places, causing the ceiling to collapse in four different rooms. With the house flooded and most of our belongings damaged, we were living out of a hotel for one month. During that time, I asked Saint Joseph to help us quickly find a new place to stay, as our landlord let us out of the lease due to the damage in the house. I promised Saint Joseph that if he were to help us find a house quickly, I would write him a hymn on the topic of his seven sorrows and joys. The move-in date for a new lease on a new property was March 19th, his feastday. This is the poem I wrote in fulfillment of that promise. It is meant to be sung to the tune Lancashire, by Henry T. Smart (1836). The text is now under copyright through the Library of Congress.

Hymn Text

1.  O Joseph, man of silence, how heavy was thy care
When thou didst find the Virgin, by God a Son to bear.
Thy sorrow turned to joy when, at the angel’s command,
Thou welcomed her to thy home and took her sweetest hand.

2.  O Joseph, man of duty, how saddened was thy heart
When thou couldst find no dwelling, e’en though thou didst thy part;
And Christ was born in stable so lowly, crude, and bare,
But great thy joy to greet Him as angels sang Him there.

3.  O Joseph, man obedient to all the angel said,
Who, at His circumcision, witnessed His first Blood shed –
A vision of the Passion gave sorrow to thy soul,
But great thy joy when naming “Jesus” the Infant Lord.

4.  O Joseph, mighty ruler of Holy Family,
Thy sorrow was the greatest upon the prophecy
That Christ would suffer greatly and Mary’s soul pierced through,
But great thy joy to hear Christ as Light and Glory, too.

5.  O Joseph, faithful guardian of Christ, the Bread of Life,
Thou savedst God the Savior from Herod’s wicked strife;
Thy sorrow at this hatred towards God the King of all
Was turned to joy when thou didst see Egypt’s idols fall.

6.  O Joseph, man of vision, from exile to return,
The cruél Archelaus was ruling in his turn;
How great thy joy in hearing to go to Nazareth,
Where thy delight was home life until thy blesséd death.

7.  O Joseph, man of patience, how sorely wast thou tried
When thou didst lose the Christ Child, and sought the Lord to find.
How great thy joy, Him finding, and thou wast filled with awe
At Christ teaching in wisdom the doctors of the Law.

© 2021 David Varella

Hymn to Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church

 

Reason

Last year, in 2020, I was working toward my consecration to Saint Joseph. I was to make the consecration on May 1st, the feastday of Saint Joseph the Worker. The day before my consecration, I could not find any suitable traditional English hymn to this wonderful man, this protector of the Holy Family and patron of the Universal Church. So I did what anyone would do: I wrote my own. It is meant to be sung to the tune Regent Square by Henry T. Smart (1867). The text is now under copyright through the Library of Congress.

Hymn Text

1. Holy Joseph, great defender
Of God’s holy Mysteries,
Who didst guard the Bread of Heaven
From the evil enemy,
Holy Joseph, holy Joseph,
Do thou guard our family. 

2. Silent Joseph, humble servant
Of the greatest plan Divine,
When the angel brought the message
Thou didst do the task assigned.
Silent Joseph, silent Joseph,
Help us all God’s will to find.

3. Noble Joseph, kingly leader
Of the Holy Family,
Thou didst rule the Virgin-Mother
And God's Son, the Prince of Peace.
Noble Joseph, noble Joseph,
Help our virtue to increase.

4. Purest Joseph, faithful husband
Of the Blesséd Virgin Queen,
Thou whose heart rejoiced to greet her
In thy fam’ly life unseen,
Purest Joseph, purest Joseph,
Help us treasure purity.

5. Skillful Joseph, clever tradesman,
Carpenter at Nazareth,
Model of all those who labor,
Teaching Christ, thy work was blest!
Skillful Joseph, skillful Joseph,
Help us always give our best.

6. Peaceful Joseph, little Jesus
Calmly sleeps upon thy breast,
Showing us that after labor,
In thine arms we’re not distressed.
Peaceful Joseph, peaceful Joseph,
Help us live the Sabbath rest.

7. Hardy Joseph, strong and valiant,
Terror to the fiends of hell,
Grasp the demons by the tail and
Cast them under Mary’s heel!
Hardy Joseph, hardy Joseph,
Help us fight temptation well.

8. Blesséd Joseph, thou didst speak with
Christ and Mary ev’ry day,
And as thou wast wont to love them,
Show us thine exalted way:
Blesséd Joseph, blesséd Joseph,
Teach us how like thee to pray.

 9. Dear Saint Joseph, to thy keeping
We entrust our family: 
Guard, protect, and lead us onward
To the final victory!
Dear Saint Joseph, dear Saint Joseph,
Bring us to eternity!

© 2021 David Varella

St Lawrence Giving the Wealth to the Poor, painting by Palma il Giovane, 1581-1582.

 

The National Treasure

St. Lawrence, whose feastday is August 10th, was asked by the Roman Prefect to gather together the treasures of the Church and submit them to the Roman government. When confronted in this manner, he gathered together all the poor and the forsaken, telling the Roman Prefect that these poor and forsaken are the true treasures of the Church. For that, he was sentenced to Martyrdom by fire. It is also devoutly believed that he, in humor (an aspect of joy), told his executioners to turn him over because he was already done on one side.

The story of St. Lawrence producing the "true treasures of the Church" has been on my mind as of late. There is an attempt going on to require women to register for the draft. There is a quote from the linked article:

“By reforming the Selective Service to be gender-neutral based registration, we draw on the talents of our entire nation in the time of a national emergency,” [Rep. Chrissy] Houlahan said. “The current male-only registration sends a message to women not only that they are not vital to the defense of the country, but also that they are not expected to participate in defending it.”

This is a dangerous and insidious lie. Women are vital to the defense of the country without having to register for the draft. If both men and women are drafted during a national emergency or for a state of war, what will happen to our children? Will they be left to themselves? Will they be cared for? By whom, by the state? Put in foster homes? Making both men and women register for the draft is dangerous because it leaves the care and education of our children entirely in other people's hands. I am reminded of a quote by the Venerable Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty:

The Most Important Person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral — a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body... The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation... What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?

Maybe it is time we follow in the footsteps of St. Lawrence and gather together our grandmothers, our mothers, our wives, and our daughters, and all go to the steps of Capitol Hill and say, "These are the true treasures of our homes and our Country, these are the reason we are willing and bold to fight, so that we may put an end to the evil before us in order to defend what is behind us: our homes, our children, our mothers, our wives, our daughters. We choose to fight in order to defend them, and to prevent them from having to experience the horrors and evils of war." Of course, we cannot do that because to go to Capitol Hill right now would be to witness a defense in preparation of war: there are still fences topped with concertina wire and guarded by the National Guard.

Chivalry and truth are not dead among the common citizens, but it is evident that they are dead among the ruling elite, that elite which seeks to destroy the family by any and every means possible, including the UN's "Sustainable Development Goals" and the requirement of women to register for the draft. The family is what they aim to destroy because the family is what Satan aims to destroy.

We must resist this evil of their requirement of women to register for the draft. It is unconscionable for us to remain silent in the face of this evil. We may not be able to physically be at Capitol Hill in order for us to show our representatives our true treasures, but we definitely should contact them: speak up, speak out, and then also storm Heaven with prayer. John Stuart Mill once wrote, “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.” Let us not be among such cowardly "good men", but let us be courageous. Silence is not an option for truly good men.

We are not telling women that they are unimportant for national defense, but that they are very important precisely where they are. Whether they are homemakers or have chosen some other profession (and yes, homemaking is a profession), then they must serve faithfully wherever they are. That is where they serve the best in a national emergency. Such women are vital for national defense, and they know their worth — they do not need a political elite to tell them their worth by voting to require them to register for the draft.

Joyful in Tribulation

Aragorn laughing in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

 

Joy: The Purpose of This Article

Last week, Pope Francis issued the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes (TC), in which all the Faithful who attend the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) were grouped together as those who resist Vatican II (V2) and the Liturgical Reform called for by the Council. There is a small faction of those who do resist V2, but most of us do not. There is a vast difference between V2, which did call for some reform, and those changes made in the "spirit of V2". The former can boast of formulating documents of varying degrees of importance, while the latter in many cases cannot boast of actually following the documents. What we got in the way of reforms was very often tragic, especially in the area of ecumenism.

Nonetheless, my purpose here is to articulate neither a defense of V2 nor an understanding of right reforms, both of which are being done by others more capable than I and more intelligently gifted. What I really want to stress here is the fruit of the Holy Spirit called joy. In these times, joy cannot be underestimated or overstated. It is difficult to find joy when we feel that we have been beaten by the crook of our shepherd or lashed by the pen of one who is our father and yet who does not understand us. Joy is our true patrimony as Christians, and we should not underestimate its power: with joy, we become the bonus odor Christi, the sweet fragrance of Christ through which we attract others to the truth. 

Collect for Holy Joy 

In the Ordinary Form of the Holy Mass, there is a Collect for the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, a Collect we would all do well to remember and to pray:

O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

There is an entire Apostolic Exhortation of Pope St. Paul VI devoted to the topic of Christian Joy, called Gaudete in Domino. An entire Apostolic Exhortation! Add to that the section of Pope St. John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Dies Domini in which he discusses the holy joy of Sundays.

Joy in the Scriptures

Here is a list of ten Scriptures with regard to holy joy.

1. "Go, eat fat meats, and drink sweet wine, and send portions to them that have not prepared for themselves: because it is the holy day of the Lord, and be not sad: for the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10, DRB).

Let us not be sad or downcast. Let us rejoice exceedingly in the God who made us, and who has fitted to us this yoke of suffering. This is "the holy day of the Lord", and Satan will do all he can to steal from us the sense of holiness and the joy of the Lord. Satan wants us weak and divided, and we must not give him the opportunity to achieve his nefarious ends.

2. "Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: if I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy" (Psalm 136:6, DRB).

Even though we endure the present affliction, we must make Jerusalem the beginning of our joy. At the TLM, the beauty is such that heaven, the heavenly Jerusalem, bends down and touches earth once again. The beauty of the TLM is the heavenly Jerusalem whence our joy springs forth: it is the beginning of our joy, our joy which should be carried out from Holy Mass into the world in which we live and work.

3. "Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: the Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful." (Psalm 125:2-3, DRB).

The Lord hath done great things for us! Was not Summorum Pontificum a great thing? Was not Ecclesia Dei a great thing? If God has done these great things for us, then we rejoice at what he has done, and we look forward with joy to the full freedom of the TLM once again.

4. "Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants round about thy table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord." (Psalm 127:3-4, DRB).

The blessing of family for the just man is a source of great joy. It is also true for the Catholic Priest, who is alter Christus, another Christ, because his spouse is the Church, the Bride of Christ, and her children are also his spiritual children.

5. "Hitherto, you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24, RSV-CE).

Let us ask for what is good for us, spiritually and corporally (for we are not pure spirits as are the angels). In the 54-day Rosary Novena, the first half is praying in petition, and the second half is praying in thanksgiving that God has granted our prayer even before it is answered. If we have this attitude of thanksgiving regardless of whether our prayers are answered in the manner we wish them to be, how can joy not exude from our very being?

6. "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, RSV-CE).

In the world we have tribulation, but what is most difficult to accept is that much of our tribulation also comes from those who are our shepherds and fathers, because they do not understand us. So be it. God sees all. Let us rejoice in our suffering, knowing that Christ has already overcome and conquered the world.

7. "But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, [kindness], goodness, longanimity, [gentleness], faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law." (Galations 5:22-23, DRB).

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let us pray for the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, especially the fruit of joy.

8. "Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8, DRB).

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good" (Luke 6:45), so if we fill our minds and hearts with good things, we will rejoice exceedingly in the good.

9. "You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountain" (Isaiah 12:3, DRB).

This one is from the Easter Vigil Mass, but this translation reveals that it is at the Savior's fountain that we will draw waters with joy. What is that fountain but His most Sacred Heart, whence flowed blood and water?

10. "And he saw his children's children to the fifth generation. And after he had lived ninety-nine years in the fear of the Lord, with joy they buried him." (Tobit 14:15d-16).

Has anyone heard of burying a beloved man with joy? It is that way for a just and virtuous man, that even when he is gone from us, so much of his wisdom and joy remain with us and in us.

Joy in the Catechism of the Council of Trent

This excerpt is taken from the Catechism of the Council of Trent, and sheds glorious light on what I am trying to convey.

Patience and Joy under Continued Affliction

Next we must remember that if by prayers and supplications we are not delivered from evil, we should endure our afflictions with patience, convinced that it is the will of God that we should so endure them. If, therefore, God hear not our prayers, we are not to yield to feelings of peevishness or discontent; we must submit in all things to the divine will and pleasure, regarding as useful and salutary to us that which happens in accordance with the will of God, not that which is agreeable to our own wishes.

Finally, the pious hearers should be admonished that during our mortal career we should be prepared to meet every kind of affliction and calamity, not only with patience, but even with joy. For it is written: All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution; and again: Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God; and further: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so enter into his glory? A servant should not be greater than his master; and as St. Bernard says: Delicate members do not become a head crowned with thorns. The glorious example of Urias challenges our imitation. When urged by David to remain at home, he replied: The ark of God, and Israel, and Juda, dwell in tents; and shall I go into my house?

If to prayer we bring with us these reflections and these dispositions, although surrounded by menaces and encompassed by evils on every side, we shall, like the three children who passed unhurt amidst the flames, be preserved uninjured; or at least, like the Machabees, we shall bear up against adverse fortune with firmness and fortitude.

In the midst of contumelies and tortures we should imitate the blessed Apostles, who, after they had been scourged, rejoiced exceedingly that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for Christ Jesus. Filled with such sentiments, we shall sing in transports of joy: Princes have persecuted me without cause; and my heart hath been in awe of thy words; I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great spoil.

Poetry, the Language of the Heart

I once heard it said that love is the deeds of the heart, but poetry is the language of the heart. We need to make the pursuit of joy not simply an intellectual matter, but a matter of the heart. So without further ado, a poem on joy by John Keble (1792-1866), an Anglican priest and contemporary of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman:

A fragment of a rainbow bright
Through the moist air I see,
All dark and damp on yonder height,
All bright and clear to me.

An hour ago the storm was here,
The gleam was far behind;
So will our joys and grief appear,
When earth has ceased to blind.

Grief will be joy if on its edge
Fall soft that holiest ray,
Joy will be grief if no faint pledge
Be there of heavenly day.

There are plenty of other poems, but this one contrasts sorrow and joy in a way that we can very much feel deep within ourselves these days. Joy is likened to a rainbow, and sorrow to a storm -- and what a storm we find ourselves in! Nonetheless, we can find some joy within, even if it is like the fragment of a rainbow, not a full rainbow.

Another little quatrain illustrates the importance of joy in Catholic life:

Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!

It was written by Hilaire Belloc (1870-1953), and it perfectly illustrates the joy we should have as Catholics. That does not mean that we don't feel sadness, but that we choose to act with cheerfulness and joy and affability, as St. Philip Neri would say.

The Patron Saint of Laughter and Joy

St. Philip Neri is the patron saint of laughter and joy. I highly recommend this article about him, from which comes this prayer:

St. Philip, you converted countless souls to a greater love for God by befriending them and treating them with courtesy and kindness. Please pray for us to grow in the virtue of affability and joyfulness, which shone through all your words and actions, so that we, too, may win many souls for Christ. Amen.

Let us strive to live by these quotes of St. Philip Neri:

“Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life; wherefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits.”

“The true way to advance in holy virtues is to persevere in a holy cheerfulness.”

“First let a little love find entrance into their hearts, and the rest will follow."

It is said that at one point, St. Philip cut off half his beard so that he would remember not to take himself too seriously. Imagine a Priest giving a sermon with half a beard -- the laughter that would ensue even from the Priest himself would have been contagious holy joy!

St. Thomas More's Prayers for Good Humor

St. Thomas More also used to pray for good humor, which is one aspect of holy joy.

Lord, grant me a holy heart, that sees always what is fine and pure and is not frightened at the sight of sin, but creates order wherever it goes. Grant me a heart that knows nothing of boredom, weeping, or sighing. Let me not be too concerned with the bothersome thing I call myself. Lord, give me a sense of humor, and I will find happiness in life and profit for others. Amen.

Pope Francis uses one prayer for good humor written by this same Saint, and even though we are hurt right now by him who is our Holy Father, we must not cease to pray for him despite the pain we feel. Sirach tells us, 

He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.... Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience, that a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end. The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children.... Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his life; and if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten. (Sirach 3:6,9-11a,14-15, DRB, emphasis mine). 

May we still honor our Holy Father, and relieve him by our prayers and our holy joy, and not judge him harshly, because we must not return evil for evil, but instead we must be merciful.

Conclusion: Perseverance in Holy Joy

I hope we can all persevere in the virtue of joy. It is needed much more than ever now, when the temptation of current events is to discouragement and despondency. We can even be tempted to a spirit of fighting those who misunderstand us, but "our war is not against flesh and blood", so it would be counterproductive and even against the will of God for us to fight them. Let us persevere instead in cheerfulness and holy joy, despite what we may feel inside, and maybe one day those who misunderstand us will be changed and made better by the goodness within us.

How To Have A Godly Exodus 90

The Law, Scripture, Prayer, and Penance

I have observed and attempted the Exodus 90 (E90) program. I did it for a while last year, but I discussed it with my spiritual director (a priest), and then decided that the program was not for me (I came to this conclusion after some prayer and the realization that it was negatively affecting my health). A short time later, I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia, in large part due to the cold showers, and then I missed days at work due to the pneumonia. 

There are many who have chosen to do the E90 program, and it can be of great benefit to men, but I have noticed some flaws in the program. If any decide to undertake the program, these are my recommendations for making a good E90.

1. Everything must be ordered to charity. If someone goes out of their way to bake you some dessert, or they prepare a meal for you on your fast day, or they buy you a soda, accept it humbly and silently. Especially if you are a seminarian or a priest, many cultures will go out of their way to offer you their best, and it would be offensive not to accept it. This does not mean that you go out seeking it, but if it comes your way, do not refuse it. The sacrifice of your own will for the sake of charity is more pleasing to God than fulfilling every one of your E90 commitments flawlessly.

2. The program must be tempered by silence about that fact that you are doing the E90 program. I am not saying that you must be super secretive about it, but that you do not openly offer the unnecessary information that you are doing it. I see lots of Facebook profile pics with the E90 logo, and I hear talk of people refusing foods or girlfriends with the explanation that, "Oh, no, I cannot.... I am on Exodus 90." Such a statement only engenders pride. My advice is to definitely not say that. When I was on it, a simple, "No, thank you," sufficed, while members of my family marveled and wondered what had gotten into me. I chuckled slightly, but moved on without a word. Why? Because our Lord told us, "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father." Three times in the same chapter of Saint Matthew, our Lord says to give alms and pray and fast in secret, assuring us that, "your Father who sees in secret will repay you." Simple, but difficult. 

The readings from the Mass of Ash Wednesday are perfect for E90; if you are preparing for this challenge, I strongly recommend that you reflect on them. 

• The first reading of Ash Wednesday is from Joel, and it has more to do with you and your fraternity doing E90 together: "Blow the trumpet in Zion! Proclaim a fast, call an assembly; gather the people, notify the congregation...." 
• The second reading is a reminder of why you are doing E90 in the first place: "be reconciled to God." 
• The Gospel, from Saint Matthew, has much more to do with you individually, and how you begin and live the E90 program: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. ... But when you give alms...when you pray...when you fast...your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

3. There is a requirement on no dating. This should definitely be the case for seminarians and priests (no kidding!), but for the common layman? Instead of no dating, perhaps it would be good to give a series of talks on how to be a gentleman, on how to live holy purity while dating (including on setting up safeguards to defend holy purity), or on how to communicate respectfully and maturely with the feminine sex, or on what the purpose of dating and/or courtship should be (it's for discerning marriage, for discovering whether the woman one is dating is a suitable candidate to become one's wife and the mother of one's children; any prolonged dating without this express purpose becomes dangerous to the moral virtues of purity and chastity).

Proper etiquette in dealing with the feminine sex is a desirable and necessary quality. Opening doors for women, getting up and offering them the seats when there is only standing room left, tipping one's hat to them, doffing one's hat to kiss one's girlfriend/fiance on the cheek, avoiding the use of foul language in the presence of women (foul language should be avoided anyway, but especially in front of women): these and other such skills are called common courtesy, and they show women that you are capable of being a good husband to them and a good father to their children.

4. Married men must exercise prudence in how they live the daily commitments of E90. If one is prone to respiratory illnesses (as I am), they should state up front to their fraternity that they cannot do the cold showers (my mistake was not having done this up front). If a married man is considering doing E90, it is required that he talk to his wife about it. My suggestion: if you are married, listen to your wife's advice, because she should be your closest adviser. Often, when a man truly listens to his wife's prudent advice on matters such as this, even if she is suggesting that now may not be the right time to do E90, the man usually will not regret having heeded this advice.

5. Finally, if you are going to do this program, it is best to do it sometime during or soon after high school, before you get married. And if you have ever been a Catholic seminarian, especially a novice of the Legionaries of Christ (which I was for two years), then chances are, you've already met and exceeded the E90 program, and you are not missing anything if you decide not to do it. A priest once told me that priests should not have to do this because they should already be giving everything they have to God for the salvation of souls, that the priest's whole life should be a sacrifice and a daily offering to God.

Most importantly, I am not saying not to do it at all, but I am warning that, if not done with the right intention interiorly and with the right comportment exteriorly, the E90 program can actually become a danger to the soul because of the high level of pride it can engender. So if you do it, do it well, do it in a way that doesn't make others around you have to mortify themselves, and do not publicly and gratuitously tell everyone you meet that you are doing this program. Wait to tell others until after you are done.

Joyful Welcome, Baby Dear!

Gaudium Magnum Annuntio Vobis:

Natus Est Nobis Filiam!

Et Nomen Suum Est:

Elizabeth Therese Varella.

Translation: A great joy I announce to you: a daughter has been born to us! And her name is: Elizabeth Therese Varella.

I chose the title, "Joyful Welcome, Baby Dear!" for this article because when my grandmother would embroider blankets for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, that was always the message. And why not be joyful at the birth of a little one? "Lo, sons are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward" (Psalm 127:3). And also, Psalm 128 is also a good one to know, because children are a blessing, and those who have children are blessed more than they who have monetary riches:

1. Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!

2. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

4. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.

5. The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!

6. May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!

First Visit with Deacon Denis from our Parish

First Yawn 

First Smile 

First Look of Contentment

Alert after First Bath

We have chosen the name Elizabeth after Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), a great educator and saint, and the foundress of Catholic schools in America.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Filicchi Portrait, 1804

We have chosen the name Therese, after Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face (1873-1897). She became a Carmelite novice at an unusually early age, made vows as a Carmelite nun, and died very young. She preserved her innocence throughout her short life, and she was very devoted to the Child Jesus. At one time, she said that if one is afraid of approaching Jesus the Judge, let him approach Jesus as a Child, because who is afraid of a little child? She has been given the title of "Doctor of the Church" because of her "Little Way." Her autobiography, Story of a Soul, is truly a delight to read, and I highly recommend it.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus
A.K.A. St. Therese of Lisieux

Little Elizabeth Therese was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) the day she was born due to dropping oxygen saturation levels in her blood. While the oxygen saturation levels have been resolved and stabilized, she is still in the NICU because she prefers to sleep now rather than anything else, including eating, so an NG tube was put through her nose to her stomach to feed her with. This should resolve in a couple of days.

Due to the unknown duration of her stay in the NICU, the date of her baptism has not yet been set, but we have already selected the couple who will be her godparents. The Catholic Church has always supported infant baptism, in obedience to the Lord's command, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven" (St. Matthew 19:14). It is also worth noting that, although infants and small children do not have the reasoning ability to make a formal act of faith, the faith of the parents suffices and speaks for the faith of the child. Such is a Scriptural stance: in the Old Covenant, the circumcision of infant males on their eighth day of life outside the womb made them children of Abraham and partakers of the Old Covenant laws, rituals, and customs. The infant males were not able to make a formal act of faith and acceptance of the Jewish way of life, but the faith of the parents sufficed and spoke for the faith of the child. And yet circumcision in the Old Covenant was merely a shadow and a type of the Sacrament of Baptism in the New Covenant.

To all who have been walking with us, especially those praying for our family -- and for Baby Elizabeth and Nicole in particular -- we extend hearty thanks. Words do not suffice to express our gratitude to you for the gift of your prayers, a gift often overlooked. We have felt so much love and support from family, friends, and coworkers that we are overwhelmed with gratitude!

Novena of Prayer for Christian Unity

Every January, many people pray the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. In February, our domestic church prays this as a Novena in the following manner.

The Novena of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Novena of Prayer for Christian Unity concludes on the vigil of the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (February 22nd).

Hymn

Hymn I: Ubi Caritas Est Vera

Sundays during the Novena.

Text: Ancient Maundy Thursday Hymn
Tune: Traditional Gregorian Chant

1. Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

    Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.

    Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.

    Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.

    Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.

2. Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

    Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:

    Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.

    Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.

    Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.

3. Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est.

    Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,

    Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:

    Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum,

    Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.

Hymn II: Lead On, O King Eternal

Days one, four, and seven.

Text: Ernest W. Shurtleff (1888)
Tune: “Lancashire” by Henry T. Smart (1836)

1.     Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

2.     Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums;
With deeds of love and mercy
The heav’nly kingdom comes.

3.     Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted over us,
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.

Hymn III: Christ for the World We Sing

Days two, five, and eight.

Text: Samuel Wolcott (1869)
Tune: “Italian Hymn” by Felice de Giardini (1769)

1.     Christ for the world we sing,
The world to Christ we bring,
With loving zeal,
The poor and them that mourn,
The faint and overborne,
Sin sick and sorrow worn,
Whom Christ doth heal.

2.     Christ for the world we sing,
The world to Christ we bring,
With fervent prayer;
The wayward and the lost,
By restless passions tossed,
Redeemed at countless cost,
From dark despair.

3.     Christ for the world we sing,
The world to Christ we bring,
With one accord;
With us the work to share,
With us reproach to dare,
With us the cross to bear,
For Christ our Lord.

4.     Christ for the world we sing,
The world to Christ we bring,
With joyful song;
The newborn souls, whose days,
Reclaimed from error’s ways,
Inspired with hope and praise,
To Christ belong.

Hymn IV: Jesus Shall Reign

Days three, six, and nine.

Text: Isaac Watts (1719)
Tune: “Duke Street” by John Hatton (1793)

1.     Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

2.     Behold the islands with their kings,
And Europe her best tribute brings;
From north to south the princes meet,
To pay their homage at His feet.

3.     There Persia, glorious to behold,
There India shines in eastern gold;
And barbarous nations at His word
Submit, and bow, and own their Lord.

4.     To Him shall endless prayer be made,
And praises throng to crown His head;
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.

5.     People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on His love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their early blessings on His name.

6.     Blessings abound where’er He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

7.     Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.

8.     Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud Amen.

Psalm 132: Ecce quam bonum.

The happiness of brotherly love and concord.

Antiphon: That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in me and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity.

Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, Which ran down to the skirt of his garment:

As the dew of Hermon, which descendeth upon mount Sion. For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Antiphon: That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in me and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.

V. I say unto thee, thou art Peter.
R. And upon this rock I will build my Church.

Here is brought to mind the intention for the day’s prayer.

February 13: For the return of the “other sheep” to the One Fold of our Lord Jesus Christ.

February 14: For the return of the Eastern Orthodox Christians to communion with the Apostolic See.

February 15: For the return of Anglicans to the authority of the Vicar of Christ.

February 16: For the return of all Protestants throughout the world, especially those of my own family, to the unity of the Catholic Church.

February 17: For the return of all Traditionalist Catholics, Old Catholics, and Sedevacantists to the fullness of communion with the Vicar of Christ.

February 18: That lapsed Catholics, especially those of my own family, will return to the Sacraments of the Church.

February 19: That the Jewish people will be converted to the Catholic Faith.

February 20: That missionary zeal will conquer the world for Christ.

February 21: For all Catholics, that by the goodness of our life, words, and works, we may attract others to the “bonus odor Christi,” the “sweet fragrance of Christ” that exists within the holy Catholic Church united to the See of Peter.

The following Collect, taken from the 1962 Roman Missal’s “Votive Mass for the Unity of the Church,” is then said by the leader.

Let us pray. O God, who settest straight what has gone astray, and gatherest together what is scattered, and keepest what Thou hast gathered together: we beseech Thee in Thy mercy to pour down on Christian people the grace of union with Thee, that, putting disunion aside and joining themselves to the true Shepherd of Thy Church, they may be able to render Thee worthy service. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.

In the 1962 Roman Missal, there is a Votive Mass for the Unity of the Church. The readings from that Mass are the following, and deserve careful consideration and prayerful meditation during this Novena.

Introit: Psalm 105(106):47

Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-7; 13-21

Gradual: Psalm 122(123):6-7

Tract: Psalm 75(76): 2-4

Alleluia: Psalm 72(73): 12, 14

Gospel: St. John 17:1, 11-23

Offertory: Romans 15:5-6

Communion: 1 Corinthians 10:17