We here at Saint Benedict Center are in between two big fall events — the Pilgrimage for Restoration, which has us limping and aching, and our annual Conference, which has us feverishly preparing. Because of that, my time to write … Continue reading
Category: Our Lady
Feast of the Espousals of Joseph and Mary
Traditionally, some dioceses and religious orders have celebrated the beautiful feast of the Espousals of Joseph and Mary on January 23. Its placement in the calendar toward the end of Christmastide is appropriate as we have already celebrated Christmas, the … Continue reading
Saint Anne’s Only Approved Apparition
National Catholic Register, Solène Tadié: Brittany has always had a special veneration for St. Anne, its patron saint, whom the Bretons traditionally call “their grandmother” — Mamm gozh ar Vretoned in local dialect. Devotion to St. Anne is still very much … Continue reading
What’s in That Prayer? The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Here is the oration that the Church prays in the Mass and Office of the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary, otherwise known as Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15): Deus, in cujus passióne, secúndum Simeónis … Continue reading
What’s in That Prayer? The Holy Name of Mary
Here is the oration that the Church prays in the Mass and Office of the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary: Concéde, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut fidéles tui, qui sub sanctíssimæ Vírginis Maríæ Nómine et protectióne lætántur; ejus pia … Continue reading
What’s in That Prayer? The Nativity of Mary, the ‘Beginning of Salvation’
Here is the oration that the Church prays in the Mass and Office of Our Lady’s Nativity: Fámulis tuis, quǽsumus, Dómine, cæléstis grátiæ munus impertíre: ut, quibus beátæ Vírginis partus éxstitit salútis exórdium; Nativitátis eius votíva solémnitas pacis tríbuat increméntum. … Continue reading
Our Lady’s Apparition in 1841 to an Indian Boy in Montana
National Catholic Register, Joseph Pronechen: It was Christmas Eve, 1841, in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. Montana was still decades from statehood. The Salish Indians in that locality had welcomed missionaries only in September. Father Pierre-Jean De Smet, the well-known Jesuit missionary, … Continue reading
The True and the False About the Consecration of Russia
The False: Back during the 1990s, we were sent a pamphlet entitled “Two Hours With Sister Lucia” [available here]. It was generated by an interpreter whose address was given as St. Anne’s Oratory in Fátima, Portugal, the transcription with many photographs … Continue reading
Mary Was Not an ‘Unwed Mother’
Listening to Sister Deirdre Byrne’s otherwise wonderful speech at the RNC I was taken aback by her referral to Our Lady as an “unwed mother.” The speech could hardly have been more Catholic if it were not for that unfortunate … Continue reading
‘I Am Not Just Pro-Life, I Am Pro-Eternal Life’ Sister Deirdre Byrne
Transcript of her address to the RNC provided by CNA. Here’s how she ends her speech: “President Trump has earned the support of America’s pro-life community. Moreover, he has a nationwide of religious standing behind him. You’ll find us here … Continue reading