The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

J.M.J.


FRIDAY IN PASSION WEEK
THE SEVEN DOLOURS OF OUR LADY
From the Liturgical Year - Vol.6 by Dom Gueranger

This Friday of Passion-week is consecrated in a special manner, to the sufferings which the holy Mother of God endured at the foot of the cross. The whole of next week is fully taken up with the celebration of the mysteries of Jesus' Passion; and although the remembrance of Mary's share in those sufferings is often brought before the faithful during Holy Week, yet, the thought of what her Son, our divine Redeemer, goes through for our salvation, so absorbs our attention and love, that it is not then possible to honour, as it deserves, the sublime mystery of the Mother's com-passion.

It was but fitting, therefore, that one day in the year should be set apart for this sacred duty: and what day could be more appropriate than the Friday of this week, which, though sacred to the Passion, admits the celebration of saints' feasts, as we have already noticed? As far back as the fifteenth century (that is, in the year 1423), we find the pious feast to be kept by his people. It was gradually introduced, and with the knowledge of the holy See, into several other countries; and at length, in the last century, Pope Benedict XIII, by a decree dated August 22, 1727, ordered it to be kept in the whole Church under the name of "the Feast of the Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin Mary", for, up to his time, it had gone under various names. We will explain the title thus given to it, as also the first origin of the devotion of the Seven Dolours, when our "Liturgical Year" brings us to the third Sunday of September [now celebrated on September 15], the second feast o!
f Mary's Dolours. What the Church proposes to her children's devotion for this Friday in Passion-week, is that one special dolour of Mary - her standing at the foot of the cross. Among the various titles given to this feast before it was extended by the holy See to the whole Church, we may mention, "Our Lady of Pity", "the Compassion of our Lady", and the one that was so popular throughout France, "Notre Dame de la Pamoison". These few historical observations prove that this feast was dear to the devotion of the people, even before it received the solemn sanction of the Church.

That we may clearly understand the object of this feast, and spend it, as the Church would have us do, in paying due honour to the Mother of God and of men, we must recall to our minds this great truth: that God, in the designs of His infinite wisdom, has willed that Mary should have a share in the work of the world's redemption. The mystery of the present feast is one of the applications of this divine law, a law which reveals to us the whole magnificence of God's plan; it is, also, one of the many realizations of the prophecy, that satan's pride was to be crushed by a women.

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FROM "VICTORIES OF THE MARTYRS"
By St. Alphonsus Liguori

MARY IS THE QUEEN OF MARTYRS, FOR HER MARTYRDOM WAS LONGER AND GREATER THAN THAT OF ALL THE MARTYRS.

Who can ever have a heart so hard that it will not melt on hearing the most lamentable event that once occurred in the world? There was a noble and holy mother who had an only son. This son was the most amiable that can be imagined - innocent, virtuous, beautiful, who loved his mother most tenderly; so much so that he had never caused her the least displeasure, but had ever shown her all respect, obedience, and affection; hence this mother had placed her affections on earth in this son. Hear, then, what happened. This son, through envy, was falsely accused by his enemies; and though the judge knew, and himself confessed, that he was innocent, yet, that he might not offend his enemies, he condemned him to the ignominious death that they demanded. This poor mother had to suffer the grief of seeing that amiable and beloved son unjustly snatched from her in the flower of his age by a barbarous death; for, by dint of torments and drained of all his blood, he was made to die on!
an infamous gibbet in a public place of execution, and this before her own eyes. Devout souls, what say you? Is not this event, and is not this unhappy mother, worthy of compassion? You already understand of whom I speak. This son, so cruelly executed, was our loving Redeemer Jesus; and this mother was the Blessed Virgin Mary; who, for the love she bore us, was willing to see him sacrificed to divine justice by the barbarity of men. This great torment which Mary endured for us - a torment that was more than a thousand deaths - deserves both our compassion and our gratitude. If we can make no other return for so much love, at least let us give a few moments this day to consider the greatness of the sufferings by which Mary became the Queen of martyrs; for the sufferings of her great martyrdom exceeded those of all the martyrs; being, in the first place, the longest in point of duration; and in the second place, the greatest in point of intensity.

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Also available are "Devotion to Our Mother of Sorrows" brochure (http://olrl.org/pray/msorrows.html), the booklet "Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother" (http://olrl.org/books/sorrowfulmother.html) the "Seven Sorrows Devotion" prayer card (http://olrl.org/pray/sorrows.shtml) and the "Seven Sorrow Chaplet" rosary (see our catalog/order form at http://olrl.org/library/oform.shtml).

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Lent and Union with God

Passion Sunday
J.M.J.


Letter from the Rector:

Dear Friends and Benefactors,

During the days of God's generosity in Lent, we must correspond with His many graces. This is why we must thank God, for Lent is certainly a time enriched with many blessings as we meditate upon the Passion and Death of Our Lord. Recalling that Christ died for love of sinful man, we are encouraged to walk with Jesus in the penitential generosity of our Lenten observance. We are given, once again, the fortified opportunity to be purified of the contagion of the world. Without the call of Holy Mother Church to do greater penance in Lent we might be lost for ever in Hell or most certainly suffer greater pains in the fires of Purgatory upon our death. Lent, despite the notions of austerity, takes on a greater significance - one of joy and peace, in that we can "at our pace" join God in the purgation of all evil in our lives, now, rather than later.

Archbishop Lefebvre wrote in his first letter to members of the Society of St. Pius X (1970): "This is why, more than ever, we want to reject all vanities and preach penance to the world - and this we do by . . . our revulsion for all concupiscence of the flesh, by not reading any indecent books, magazines and articles that betray a licentious spirit; by generally avoiding movies, television and lascivious music. For we want to keep our souls and senses pure, in order to receive Christ in the Holy Eucharist."

To enter and abide in this Holy Union is the joy of the Christian life augmented by man's generosity in Lent. There is no greater happiness than to reside in God. Hence, we strive for this purity, the hallmark of God and the godly. There shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb (Apocalypse 21:27).

We must all strive to rid our homes and lives from the plague of immorality that destroys lives and souls, dragging the unwary to the despising of God by the sinking to the depths of fleshly lusts. We must teach our children to master their passions by an ordered life - the foundation of grace, the basis of virtues and the prerequisite of all true learning, in both the natural and supernatural order.

Enflamed with the fires of lust, sinful man cannot understand the beauty of God and His infinite love. Sadly, many fall into the pit of destruction with all the unguarded indecencies that are flaunted in our base world today. "More souls go to Hell because of the sins of the flesh than for any other reason," declared Our Lady of Fatima.

It would seem that we are afraid to consider the danger because such sins are so audacious. But we must decry them so as to protect ourselves, our children, our families, and our communities. We must actively oppose this infectious immorality.

The internet, television, vulgar music, the comfort of indulgence and vanity of modern "fashions" destroy the resistance of the will and arouse curiosity that leads to enslavement to impurity in dress, language, recreation, and relationships. The media flaunt perverted relations between man and women, subscribing so many to this rebellion against purity. Our Lady of Fatima warned: "Certain fashions are being introduced that offend Our Lord very much."

We cannot allow the pernicious seeds of impurity to germinate in our homes! Have we become desensitized to the indecency of society and accustomed to accept what only thirty years ago was clearly understood as the very hallmarks of loose and immoral living? Do we now pretend that "it's not that bad, it's cute"? Alexander Pope, poet of the 18th century, sums up this tendency to become desensitized: Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

We are shocked when we learn that a Catholic falls away from the practice of Faith, but this is not surprising when we live submerged in the compromise of not taking responsibility to flee the immodesty of the world. The consequence is only natural, too natural. And we have for too long been foolishly standing about with our heads buried in the sand, pretending that the indecency of the world that attacks our children and us is not "that bad" or that our children "know better," simply because we adults do not admit the attraction of the flesh, which we all know is such a "dirty" thing. Sins of impurity are so embarrassing; we cannot accept that we or our children are like that.

In Lent, we are called to purge the world from our lives by greater spiritual labor in the garden of our soul. The weeds of the world have choked the wheat of heaven sowed by the bleeding hands of our divine Lord; we must now uproot them. We must eagerly purge from our lives the immodest allurements of the world that lead to damnation. This labor is a death-like toil to the world, but it reaps life a hundred-fold; ...the grain of wheat falling into the ground die...if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal (Jn 12:24-25).

As life begins to sprout forth abundantly once again in the spring, we are called to join in the budding forth of new life by submitting to the austerity of laboring in the fertile soil of our souls. This is Lent, a time to grow in the life of God. May we not fear to abandon more and more the illusory joys the world has to offer and to risk this loss for the gain of the priceless joys of heaven: unending, perfect and in Christ.

Please pray for us in St. Mary's and be assured of our prayers for you. May our Queen, the Holy Mother of God, St. Mary, guard you under her maternal protection.

In Christ the King,

Rev. Vicente A. Griego, Rector
St. Mary's Academy & College
http://www.smac.edu/

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St. Joseph, pray for us

St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Patron of the Universal Church
J.M.J.

SAINT JOSEPH

March 19 -- Patron of the Universal Church

From "Lives of the Saints for every day of the year", edited by Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O.Cist., Ph.D.

St. Joseph, the pure spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of our Blessed Lord, was descended from the royal house of David. He is the "just man" of the New Testament, the lowly village carpenter of Nazareth, who among all men of the world was the one chosen by God to be the husband and protector of the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate. To his faithful, loving care was entrusted the childhood and youth of the Redeemer of the world.

After the Mother of God, not one of the children of men was ever so gifted and adorned with natural and supernatural virtues as was St. Joseph, her spouse. In purity of heart, in gentleness and manliness of character, he reveals to us the perfect type and model of the true Christian.

Poor and obscure in this world's possessions and honors, he was rich in grace and merit, and eminent before God in the nobility and beauty of holiness. Because St. Joseph was the representative of the Eternal Father on earth, the divinely appointed head of the Holy Family, which was the beginning of the great Family of God, the Church of Christ, on December 8, 1870, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, Pope Pius IX solemnly proclaimed the foster father of Jesus, Patron of the Universal Church, and from that time his feast has been celebrated on March 19th as a feast of high rank. In some places it is observed as a holy day of obligation.

Devotion to St. Joseph, fervent in the East from the early ages, has in later times spread and increased in such a marvelous way that in our day the Catholics of all nations vie with one another in honoring him. Besides the feast of March 19th there is another feast, that of St. Joseph the Workman, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Confessor (May 1st). Promulgated in 1955, it replaced the older "Solemnity of St. Joseph" which had been celebrated since 1847 --- first as the "Patronage of St. Joseph" on the third Sunday after Easter and after 1913 as the "Solemnity of St. Joseph" on the Wednesday before the third Sunday after Easter.

From his throne of glory in heaven, St. Joseph watches over and protects the Church militant, and no one calls on him in need ever calls in vain. He is the model of perfect Christian life and the patron of a happy death. His patronage extends over the Mystical Body of Christ, over the Christian family, the Christian school, and all individuals who in their need appeal to his charity and powerful intercession, especially in the hour of death; for he who, when dying, received the affectionate ministry of his foster Son, Jesus, and his Virgin spouse, Mary, may well be invoked and trusted to obtain for us poor sinners the mercy of God and the grace of a peaceful and holy death.

CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH

O, my beloved St. Joseph, adopt me as thy child, take care of my salvation, watch over me day and night, preserve me from the occasion of sin, obtain for me purity of soul and body! Through thy intercession with Jesus grant me a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial, a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet tender love for Mary, my Mother. St. Joseph, be with me living, be with me dying and obtain for me a favorable judgment from Jesus, my merciful Savior. Amen

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Friends of the Cross

Fourth Sunday of Lent
(Laetare Sunday)
J.M.J.


Friends of the Cross

St. Louis Marie de Montfort

St. Louis Marie de Montfort gave the readers of his long "letter" the title "Friends of the Cross" since they were determined to fight against the disorders of their time and to make reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He praises them, he encourages them, and he gives them precious advice. Below are a few of his 14 "rules" on how to carry one's cross.

"Eighth Rule. Take advantage of your sufferings and more so of the small ones than of the great. God considers not so much what we suffer as how we suffer. To suffer much, yet badly, is to suffer like reprobates. To suffer much, even bravely, but for a wicked cause, is to suffer as a martyr of the devil. To suffer much or little for the sake of God is to suffer like saints.

"If it be right to say that we can choose our crosses, this is particularly true of the little and obscure ones as compared with the huge, conspicuous ones, for proud human nature would likely ask and seek for the huge, conspicuous crosses even to the point of preferring them and embracing them. But to choose small, unnoticeable crosses and to carry them cheerfully requires the power of a special grace and unshakable fidelity to God. Do then as the storekeeper does with his merchandise: make a profit on every article; suffer not the loss of the tiniest fragment of the true Cross. It may be only the sting of a fly or the point of a pin that annoys you, it may be the little restlessness of soul, a slight physical weakness, a light pain in your limbs. Make a profit on every article as the grocer does, and you will soon become wealthy in God, as the grocer does in money, by adding penny to penny in his till. When you meet with the least contradition, simply say: 'Blessed be!
God! My God I thank you.' Then treasure up in the till of God's memory the cross which has just given you profit. Think no more of it, except to say: 'Many thanks!' or, 'Be merciful!'

"Twelfth Rule. Never murmur or deliberately complain about any created thing that God may use to afflict you. It is important to note the three kinds of complaints that may arise when misfortune assails you. The first is natural and involuntary. This happens when the human body moans and groans, sobs and sighs and weeps. If, as I said, the higher point of the soul submits to the will of God, there is no sin. The second is rational. Such is the case when we complain and disclose our hardships to some superior or physician who is able to remedy it. This complaint may be an imperfection, if too eagerly made, but it is no sin. The third is sinful. This happens when a person complains of others either to rid himself of the suffering they cause him, or to take revenge. Or else when he willfully complains about the sorrow he must bear and shows signs of grief and impatience.

"Thirteenth Rule. Whenever you are given a cross, be sure to embrace it with humility and gratitude. If God, in His infinite goodness, favors you with a cross of some importance, be sure to thank Him in a special way and have others join you in thanking Him. Do as that poor woman did who, through an unjust lawsuit, lost everything she owned. She immediately offered the last few pennies she had, to have a Mass said in thanksgiving to Almighty God for the good fortune that had come to her.

"Fourteenth Rule. If you wish to be worthy of the best crosses, those that are not of your choice, then, with the help of a prudent director, take on some that are voluntary.

* Suppose you have a piece of furniture that you do not need but prize. Give it to some poor person, and say to yourself: 'Why should I have things I do not need, when Jesus is destitute?'

* Do you dislike certain kinds of food, the practice of some particular virtue, or some offensive odor? Taste this food, practice this virtue, endure this odor, conquer yourself.

* Is your affection for some person or thing too ardent and tender? Keep away, deprive yourself, break away from things that appeal to you.

* Have you that natural tendency to see and be seen, to be doing things or going some place? Mind your eyes and hold your tongue, stop right where you are and keep to yourself.

* Do you feel a natural aversion to some person or thing? Rise above self by keeping near them.

"If you are truly Friends of the Cross, then, without your knowing it, love, which is always ingenious, will discover thousands of little crosses to enrich you. Then you need not fear self-conceit which often accompanies the patient endurance of conspicuous crosses and since you have been faithful in a few things, the Lord will keep his promise and set you over many things (Matt. 25,21,23): over many graces he will grant you; over many crosses He will send you; over much glory He will prepare for you..." (from A Circular Letter to The Friends of the Cross by Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, Montfort Publications, Bay Shore, NY, available from Angelus Press)

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The Priesthood and Prayer

Third Sunday of Lent
J.M.J.



A little while ago, I met a young man on the street, and, turning to me he said; "I would really like to be like you, serving mankind . . ." "But my dear friend," I replied, "I serve God. If I do any good to mankind, it is purely for the love of God." This reply made no sense to him. Many, I fear, have such a notion about the priesthood.

There are three great functions of the priest: Prayer, Preaching and the administration of the Sacraments. Prayer is the first and most important. If one is to give souls anything, one must first posses something. If a priest is to call down grace upon souls, he is first to unite himself with Our Lord Jesus Christ who is the source of all grace. "Oportet semper orare" (St.Luke 18;1). "It is necessary always to pray", teaches Our Divine Master. The fathers of the Church have always understood this passage as meaning that we should often pray so that the soul is continually under its influence. A priest that does not pray runs not only the danger of not being able to draw down graces on souls entrusted to him, but even, and more so, of turning against his own priesthood and damning his soul. "A priest", says the Venerable Father Libermann, "who is not a saint, is a monster in the order of grace. "Once a priest stops praying, he will begin by giving himself. But should a p!
riest not be as transparent as glass so as to impart not himself, but Christ into souls? Where is your last end, union with the priest or with God? A priest who intentionally attracts a soul to his own self, is more dangerous than the devil himself. It was given to him to be a mediator between God and man, not to be an end in himself.

Such is the importance of prayer that Our Holy Mother the Church has put in the hands of the priest the breviary. So the Church helps the priest to accomplish his most important work. Many souls do not understand. They want the priest to be social, they want him to run around always visiting the sick, helping the poor, etc. etc. If and when they see this, they exclaim; "Oh what a wonderful priest!" How great is their surprise when they see this same priest fall, when suddenly he leaves the priesthood, goes into the world and even tries to get married. "What happened, he was so good?" What happened? He dislocated himself from the source of grace who is Christ, thought he could do it on his own, found much favor in the eyes of the world, thought he was doing a wonderful work, and then . . . then found that he had no more strength to combat the most evil of foes, the devil himself.

What would become of the second and third functions of the priest without the first. Would his preaching, however eloquent it might be, instill in your hearts a profound contrition for sin and a deep desire for amendment of life and union with God? If I wish to marvel at eloquence and lavishness in language, I would go to the theater. If I desire to amend my life and learn more about God, I would seek it from his sacred ministers . . . and expect to find it. What about the Sacraments? Valid they would certainly be, for their operation does not depend upon the state of the priest, but would they not be tarnished in some way or another by the priest's unholiness? Indeed they would be. My dear friends, Christ in His goodness gave us this great gift of the holy priesthood so that we may be brought close to Him in this way. He did not, nevertheless, take away the weak human nature of his minister but gave him a precept of prayer. This it would be which would make him a man of!
God, this it would be by which he will draw down much grace for your soul.

Let me therefore entreat you to pray very much, not only for many vocations to this holy state, but also for priests that they may ever remember their calling and fortify it by the grace of God through much prayer. May the ever Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the mother of the great high priest, Jesus Christ, ever stand by you, guide you and protect you until that happy day that you may be united to her Son for all eternity.

Servus Mariae

Rev. Fr. C. Daniels

>From the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Camp/Retreat Center newsletter (Los Gatos, CA).

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Prayers for Holy Priests (http://olrl.org/pray/Priests.shtml).

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St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us

J.M.J.

St. Thomas Aquinas
(1225 - 1274)

St. Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225, in the Castle of Rocca Secca, high up in the mountains near the town of Aquinas, in Italy. His Father was Count of Aquinas and his Mother was Countess.

Before St. Thomas was born, a holy hermit known as Buono, went to the Castle of Rocca Secca and made a great prophecy to his Mother. While speaking to the Countess he pointed to a picture of St. Dominic, saying, "Lady be glad, for you are about to have a son whom you will call Thomas. You and your husband will think of making him a monk in the Abbey of Mount Cassino (Benedictines), where lies the founder, St. Benedict, in the hopes that your son will attain to its honours and wealth. But God has disposed otherwise, because he will become a Friar of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). And so great will be his learning and sanctity, that there will not be found in the whole world, another person like him!"

Countess Theodora was amazed at the prophecy and falling on her knees exclaimed, "I am most unworthy of bearing such a son, but God's will be done according to His good pleasure!"

A few miles to the south of Rocca Secca, stands the Abbey of Mount Cassino. From the age of five to about the age of thirteen, Thomas went to school there. The Benedictine Monks liked his modest, sweet and gentle nature. They realized that Thomas had special talents and virtues, and encouraged his Father to send him to University.

Thomas was brought home from Mount Cassino for a short vacation, before going to University. At home Thomas did not become spoiled, because the Monks had trained him well. He remained the same gentle boy: serious, studious, and prayerful. His greatest delight was to give alms to the poor. He even gave his own food to the poor!

The Countess feared that Thomas might loose his innocence at University but his Father thought differently, and sent him to the University of Naples. His only joy was study and prayer. He really wanted to become a saint and longed to give himself more completely to God. Gradually the desire grew in his heart, to join the Dominicans.

As soon the Count heard about his son's plans, he commanded Thomas to put the idea out of his head. But Thomas had his mind made up to do the Holy Will of God, so one day when he was seventeen, he took the habit in the Dominican Monastery of Naples.

His Mother used tears, promises and threats, to make her son leave the Dominicans but Thomas had made up his mind to remain in the Order. He was then imprisoned in one of the castle towers, where he had to suffer cold and hunger, and had to do without many things.

Thomas was kept a prisoner for over one year, and during this time, he memorized the whole Bible as well as the four books of the "Sentences", (Theological textbook of the time).

When Thomas' two brothers came home from the army, they decided to teach their brother a lesson. They sent an evil woman into the tower to tempt him towards sin! But Thomas grabbed a piece of burning wood from the fireplace, and drove the wicked woman from the tower. He then traced a cross upon the wall with the burning wood and kneeling down, begged God to grant him the gift of Purity until his death.

Suddenly, Thomas went into ecstasy! Two Angels appeared and tied a cord tightly around his waist saying, "We have come from God to give you this cord of Chastity and God has heard your prayer. God has granted you the gift of Purity until your death!" This cord, which was worn by St. Thomas until his death, is now kept as a relic, in the Monastery of Chieri in Piedmont, Italy.

After a year or two passed, the Pope and Emperor learned about Thomas. They were very displeased at the way he had been treated. At last the Countess became more merciful. The Dominicans came to rescue Thomas, and one of his sister's helped him to escape by letting him down in a basket, from the tower.

In 1244, the General of the Dominican Order took Thomas to Cologne, Germany, where St. Albert Magnus was teaching. Thomas gave full attention to his studies, seeking to learn all he could for the greater honour and glory of God. He even went without sleep, in order to have more time to study his books.

Because of his humility, St. Thomas hid his learning from others. But one day St. Albert found a paper that Thomas had written, explaining the answer to a very difficult question. The next day, Albert asked Thomas some questions in public and then exclaimed, "We call Br. Thomas the Dumb Ox! But I tell you that one day he will make his bellowing (loud voice), heard through the whole world!"

In 1245, St. Albert went to the University of Paris, to obtain the Degree of Doctor, taking St. Thomas along as his companion. They set out on foot and in time reached the Dominican Monastery of St. James, in Paris. Here, St. Thomas became the model of the whole Monastery because of his deep Humility, his Spirit of Prayer, his perfect Obedience, and his great Charity. Heavenly grace glowed from St. Thomas, and some said they only had to look at him to become more fervent!

In Paris, St. Thomas met another holy monk known now as St. Bonaventure, who was a Franciscan. They studied together for three years and became the closest of friends. They both obtained the Degree of Bachelor of Theology in 1248.

In November 1248, Albert went back to Cologne and took St. Thomas with him. Thomas became a teacher under the direction of St. Albert, and the new school in Cologne soon overflowed with students. Thomas always used these five basic ideals, when he was teaching; (1) Clearness (2) Brevity {Short} (3) Utility {Useful} (4) Sweetness (5) Maturity {Complete}.

Soon after his return to Cologne, Thomas became a priest. He became yet closer to the good God, and spent many hours of the day and night, praying in Church. He loved God so much, that he would shed many tears while saying Holy Mass.

In 1252, St. Thomas was ordered by the General Chapter (special meeting) to go to Paris to obtain his degree as a Doctor. In those days, one had to be at least thirty-five to teach Theology, but his learning was so extraordinary, that he was allowed to be a Professor at twenty-five. When he was in Paris, his success in teaching was so great, that crowds of people came to the Monastery of St. James to hear him.

Later on St. Thomas and St. Bonaventure were asked to defend the truths of the Faith in the Papal Courts, because someone had written a heretical book. They were victorious and on October 23, 1257, both monks received their Doctor's degree.

St. Thomas taught in Rome for a while and in 1269, he went to Paris to teach. At the time, here was a disagreement among the Doctors at the University, about the Holy Eucharist. They presented their questions to Thomas. After praying for a long time about the question, he wrote his opinion on paper. In great Humility he brought it to the Church and laid it on the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament. Thomas then prayed, "Lord Jesus, Who art truly present and who works wonders in the adorable Sacrament, I beg Thee, if I have written the truth, please enable me to teach it. But if some of the things I have written are not true, then please do not allow me to talk about it."

Then the Monks who were watching, saw Our Lord Himself come down and stand upon the written paper, They heard Jesus say these words: "Thomas, thou hast written well concerning the Sacrament of My Body." St. Thomas suddenly went into ecstasy! His soul was filled with joy and he floated in the air, eighteen inches above the ground!

In 1271, St. Thomas returned to Italy and began to teach in Rome. During the following Holy Week he preached in St. Peter's on the Passion of Our Lord, and those who heard him were moved to tears, and cried until Easter Sunday. And at Easter, a miracle took place when a sick woman kissed the hem of his mantle, and was immediately cured!

The whole soul of St. Thomas was filled with love for the Holy Eucharist. He only wanted God, and one day as he was praying at Naples after he had finished writing the first part of the Summa, Jesus spoke from the Crucifix: "Thou hast written well of me, what recompense dost thou desire?"

Thomas humbly answered, "None other than Thyself, O Lord." He wished to continue having Our Lord, as his greatest love forever!

One of his fellow Dominican's once asked him, what he considered to be the greatest gift that God had given him after Sanctifying grace itself. After a few moments St. Thomas replied: "I think that of having understood whatever I have read." He had an ability to remember all that he heard, so that his mind was like a well stocked library.

On December 6, 1273, St. Thomas stopped writing. That day while saying Mass, he went into ecstasy and received a revelation. Fr. Reginald urged Thomas to continue to write, but he replied, "The end of my labours is come. All that I have written appears to me as so much straw, after the secrets that have been revealed to me! I hope in the Mercy of God that the end of my life may soon follow the end of my labours." He wanted to give himself entirely to God and prayer.

St. Thomas was suffering from some illness, when he was ordered by Pope Gregory X to attend the General Council at Lyons, France. The purpose of the Council was to unite the Greek and Latin Churches. So on January 28, 1274, Thomas set out with some of his Dominican Brothers. On the way his condition became much worse, and he was taken to the home of his niece. However, the Cistercian Monks of Fossa Nuova urged Thomas to come to their Monastery. Upon arrival at the Monastery, St. Thomas went straight to the Church, to adore Jesus.

Thomas was very ill for a month. During this time, the monks were very kind to him. There was no hope for the holy monk to get better, so he made his General Confession. He then received the Last Rites and when Holy Communion was brought to him, tears came to his eyes as he made this Profession of Faith. "I firmly believe Jesus Christ, True God and True Man, Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary, is in this Sacrament. I receive Thee the price of my Redemption, for whose love I have watched, studied and laboured, preached and taught." He died a little after midnight March 7, 1274.

SUMMARY:

The teaching in philosophy and theology as developed by St. Thomas Aquinas is called Thomism. His philosophy is known as Scholastic philosophy.

St. Thomas had a special talent for bringing together human knowledge from the best of sources that had gone before him. Using human reason, this saint helped the Church come to profound conclusions as to understanding in greater depth the true faith of the Church. He teaches us all this necessity to love the truth, to seek it and to put it into practices. Holiness in the mind of St. Thomas was nothing other than the love of God put into practice. In other words, the living out of the reality or truth that we have to come to learn.

While faith is a free gift of God, nevertheless faith and reason are two different ways of realizing the knowledge of truth. By using reasoning correctly, we can arrive at a greater understanding of the true faith given us by God. St. Without a correct use of reason, such as shown us by St. Thomas Aquinas, members of the Church can become confused as to what is true faith. Thomas Aquinas did much for the Church, and his work is still of great value today. The authority of the Church exercised by Popes and Church Councils has repeatedly stated that the clear principles of St. Thomas, which give us a solid grasp of both faith and reality, should be what guides us in the education and formation of students.

--------------------------------------

In the 1962 missal, St. Thomas Aquinas' feast day is celebrated on March 7, the day of his death.
OLRL offers the 37 page booklet "St. Thomas Aquinas - Universal Doctor of the Church" (http://olrl.org/books/auinas.shtml) for 65 cents ea. Please review our catalog/order form at http://olrl.org/library/oform.shtml.

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March - dedicated to St. Joseph

March the month dedicated to St. Joseph
J.M.J.

Taken from "Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph"
(http://olrl.org/books/joseph.shtml)

ST. TERESA'S PLEA
Words of St. Teresa of Avila
regarding St. Joseph

"Would that I could persuade all men to be devoted to this glorious Saint
for I know by long experience what blessings he can obtain
for us from God.
I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to him and
honored him by
particular services who did not advance greatly in virtue:
for he helps in
a special way those souls who commend themselves to him. It
is now very many
years since I began asking him for something on his feast,
and I have always
received it. If the petition was in any way amiss, he
rectified it for
my greater good . . . I ask for the love of God that he who
does not believe
me will make the trial for himself -- then he will find out
by experience the
great good that results from commending oneself to this
glorious
Patriarch and in being devoted to him . . "
-- Autobiography, VI, 11-12

WORDS OF POPE LEO XIII
>From the Encyclical "Quamquam pluries" - August 15, 1889

"Since the bond of marriage existed between Joseph and the Blessed
Virgin, there can be no doubt that more than any other person he approached
that supereminent dignity by which the Mother of God is raised far above all
created natures."

"Blessed Joseph . . . was indeed the husband of Mary and the father, as
was supposed, of Jesus Christ. From this arise all his dignity, grace,
holiness and glory . . . is his numberless family, scattered
throughout all lands, over which he rules with a sort of paternal authority,
because he is the husband of Mary and the father of Jesus Christ."

"Just as Mary, Mother of the Saviour, is spiritual mother of all
Christians . . . Joseph looks on all Christians as having been confided to
himself . . . He is the defender of the Holy Church, which is truly the
House of God and the Kingdom of God on earth."

WORDS OF ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI

"Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St.
Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. All Christians regard him
as the advocate of the dying who had honored him during their life, and that
for three reasons:

"First, because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend, but as a
father, and on this account his mediation is far more efficacious than that
of any other Saint.

"Second, because St. Joseph has obtained special power against the evil
spirits, who tempt us with redoubled vigor at the hour of death.

"Third, the assistance given St. Joseph at his death by Jesus and Mary
obtained for him the right to secure a holy and peaceful death for his
servants. Hence, if they invoke him at the hour of death he will not only
help them, but he will also obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and
Mary."

-----------------------------

THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH IS MARCH 19.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph" (http://olrl.org/books/joseph.shtml), a 73
page booklet, is available from OLRL for only 65 cents each. We also offer a "St. Joseph Prayer Card" (http://olrl.org/pray/joseph.shtml) and a "Prayer
to St. Joseph the Workman" card (http://olrl.org/pray/joseph_workman.shtml);
both are 2 cents each. These and all the items we offer are priced low to encourage widespread distribution.
Please review our catalog/order form at http://olrl.org/library/oform.shtml.

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Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
http://olrl.org

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