"Thus, with regard to purgatory, when the soul leaves the body, and finds itself out of that state of purity in which it was created, seeing the hindrance, and that it can only be removed by purgatory, without a moment's hesitation it plunges therein : and were there no such means provided to remove the impediment, it would forthwith beget within itself a hell worse than purgatory, because by reason of this impediment it would see itself unable to reach God, its last end..."
[Saint Catherine of Genoa ~ XV-XVI Century; Genoa, Republic of Genoa/ Genoa, Republic of Genoa; (aged 62-63); Mystic; Spiritual Writer] “CHAPTER VI ~ COMPARISON TO EXPLAIN THE IMPETUOSITY AND LOVE BY WHICH THE SOULS IN PURGATORY DESIRE TO ENJOY GOD LET us suppose that there existed in the world but one loaf of bread to satisfy the hunger of every creature, and that the mere sight of it could do this. In such a case a man, having naturally, if in good health, a desire for food, would find himself, so long as he was kept from dying or falling sick, getting more and more hungry; for his craving would continue undiminished, he would know that the bread, and nothing but the bread, could satisfy him, and not being able to reach it, would remain in intolerable pain ; the nearer he got to the bread without seeing it the more ardently would he crave for it, and would direct himself wholly towards it, as being the only thing which could afford relief ; and if he were assured that he never could …More
Pray, Hope & Don't worry! St. Padre Pio. ~ "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God!" Our Lady of Fatima! Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe for the Conversion of the Americas and of the world. ~ O Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, who as Our Lady of Guadalupe didst aid in the conversion of Mexico from paganism in a most miraculous way, we now beseech thee to bring about in these our times the early conversion of our modern world from its present neo-paganism to the One, Holy, Catholic and apostolic Church of Thy Divine Son, Jesus Christ, starting in the Americas and extending throughout the entire world, so that soon there may be truly "one fold and one shepherd," with all governments recognizing the reign of Thy Son, Jesus Christ the King. ~ This we ask of the Eternal Father, through Jesus Christ His Son Our Lord and by thy powerful powerful intercession ~ all for the salvation of souls, the triumph of the Church and peace in the world. ~ Amen. Source …More
There is such a thing in Academia called 'Honoris Causa'. In my view it can be applied to outstanding people with no problem, also in the Church. The scholarly requirements are not necessary in my view. After all, Lord Holy Spirit, God the Father or Lord Jesus teach the recipients inwardly. No one can deny the Wisdom of our God, no one on Earth. Examples: St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Hildegard of Bingen - they are all Doctors of the Church with titles given by different popes.
Nothing. Olympics was imbued with neo-paganism right from the start. Kindly remember that in 4th century Christian emperor Theodosius banned the old Olympic games as pagan. Pierre de Coubertin was himself anti-Christian cf. e.g. Dreaming of Olympia
St. Ignatius of Antioch ~~~ Christianity is not a matter of persuading people of particular ideas, but of inviting them to share in the greatness of Christ...
[Saint Catherine of Genoa ~ XV-XVI Century; Genoa, Republic of Genoa/ Genoa, Republic of Genoa; (aged 62-63); Mystic; Spiritual Writer] “CHAPTER VI ~ COMPARISON TO EXPLAIN THE IMPETUOSITY AND LOVE BY WHICH THE SOULS IN PURGATORY DESIRE TO ENJOY GOD LET us suppose that there existed in the world but one loaf of bread to satisfy the hunger of every creature, and that the mere sight of it could do this. In such a case a man, having naturally, if in good health, a desire for food, would find himself, so long as he was kept from dying or falling sick, getting more and more hungry; for his craving would continue undiminished, he would know that the bread, and nothing but the bread, could satisfy him, and not being able to reach it, would remain in intolerable pain ; the nearer he got to the bread without seeing it the more ardently would he crave for it, and would direct himself wholly towards it, as being the only thing which could afford relief ; and if he were assured that he never could …More
"Thus, with regard to purgatory, when the soul leaves the body, and finds itself out of that state of purity in which it was created, seeing the hindrance, and that it can only be removed by purgatory, without a moment's hesitation it plunges therein : and were there no such means provided to remove the impediment, it would forthwith beget within itself a hell worse than purgatory, because by reason of this impediment it would see itself unable to reach God, its last end..."
"PSALM 23 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof: but thou, O most holy Mother, reignest with Him forever. Thou art clothed with glory and beauty: every precious stone is thy covering and thy clothing. The brightness of the sun is upon thy head: the beauty of the moon is beneath thy feet. Shining orbs adorn thy throne: the morning stars glorify thee forever. Be mindful of us, O Lady, in thy good pleasure: and make us worthy to glorify thy name. Glory be to the Father, etc."
[Saint Bonaventure – XIII Century AD; Civita di Bagnoregio, Papal States/Lyon, Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles; (Aged 52-53); Cardinal; Teacher of the Faith; Seraphic Doctor; Doctor of the Church; Scholastic Theologian, Philosopher] “PSALM 19 Thou shalt hear us, O Lady, in the day of tribulation: and by our prayers turn to us thy merciful countenance. Cast us not off in the time of our death: but help the soul, when it shall have left the body. Send an angel to meet it: by whom it may be defended from the enemy. Show unto it the most serene Judge of ages: who for thy grace will bestow pardon. Let it feel thy refreshment in its torments: and grant to it a place among the elect of God. Glory be to the Father, etc. PSALM 20 O Lady, in thy strength our heart shall rejoice: and in the sweetness of thy name our soul shall be consoled. From thy throne send us wisdom: by which we shall be sweetly enlightened in all truth. Give us grace to abstain from carnal desires: that the light of thy grace may …More
Pope Pius XI ~~~ Quadragesimo Anno ~~~ It is an intolerable abuse, and to be abolished at all cost, for mothers on account of the fathers' low wages to be forced to engage...
"But the believing soul longs and faints for God; she rests sweetly in the contemplation of Him. She glories in the reproach of the Cross, until the glory of His face shall be revealed. Like the Bride, the dove of Christ, that is covered with silver wings (Ps. 68.13), white with innocence and purity, she reposes in the thought of Thine abundant kindness, Lord Jesus; and above all she longs for that day when in the joyful splendor of Thy saints, gleaming with the radiance of the Beatific Vision, her feathers shall be like gold, resplendent with the joy of Thy countenance."
[St. Bernard of Clairvaux – XI-XII Century AD; Burgundy, Kingdom of France/Clairvaux, Kingdom of France; (aged 62-63); Abbot; Mystic; Leader; co-founder of the Knights Templar; Last of the Fathers; Doctor Mellifluus] “Chapter IV ~ Of those who find comfort in there collection of God, or are fittest for His love But it will be well to note what class of people takes comfort in the thought of God. Surely not that perverse and crooked generation to whom it was said, 'Woe unto you that are rich; for ye have received your consolation' (Luke 6.24). Rather, those who can say with truth, 'My soul refuseth comfort' (Ps. 77.2). For it is meet that those who are not satisfied by the present should be sustained by the hought of the future, and that the contemplation of eternal happiness should solace those who scorn to drink from the river of transitory joys. That is the generation of them that seek the Lord, even of them that seek, not their own, but the face of the God of Jacob. To them that long …More
[Saint Bonaventure – XIII Century AD; Civita di Bagnoregio, Papal States/Lyon, Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles; (Aged 52-53); Cardinal; Teacher of the Faith; Seraphic Doctor; Doctor of the Church; Scholastic Theologian, Philosopher] “PSALM 19 Thou shalt hear us, O Lady, in the day of tribulation: and by our prayers turn to us thy merciful countenance. Cast us not off in the time of our death: but help the soul, when it shall have left the body. Send an angel to meet it: by whom it may be defended from the enemy. Show unto it the most serene Judge of ages: who for thy grace will bestow pardon. Let it feel thy refreshment in its torments: and grant to it a place among the elect of God. Glory be to the Father, etc. PSALM 20 O Lady, in thy strength our heart shall rejoice: and in the sweetness of thy name our soul shall be consoled. From thy throne send us wisdom: by which we shall be sweetly enlightened in all truth. Give us grace to abstain from carnal desires: that the light of thy grace may …More
"PSALM 23 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof: but thou, O most holy Mother, reignest with Him forever. Thou art clothed with glory and beauty: every precious stone is thy covering and thy clothing. The brightness of the sun is upon thy head: the beauty of the moon is beneath thy feet. Shining orbs adorn thy throne: the morning stars glorify thee forever. Be mindful of us, O Lady, in thy good pleasure: and make us worthy to glorify thy name. Glory be to the Father, etc."
St. John of Damascus, the prelude to St. Thomas Aquinas. "You ask how the bread becomes the Body of Christ, and the flesh the wine...the Blood of Christ. I shall tell you the Holy Spirit comes upon them and accomplishes what surpasses every word and thought...Let it be enough for your to understand that it is by the Holy Spirit, just as it was of the Holy Virgin and the Holy Spirit that the Lord, through and in Himself, took flesh." Saint John of Damascus, De Fide Orthodoxa