No room in the inn

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859 edition: Ver. 7. In a manger within a stable, or place where beasts were sheltered. And it is the common opinion that an ox and an ass were there at that time. See Baronius, Tillemont, &c. (Witham) --- O wonderful mystery! O astonishing condescension of a God-man! From his birth he takes upon himself poverty. Had such been his pleasure, Christ might, at his birth, have shaken the heavens by his power, and terrified all nature by his majesty. But these were not the attendants of his coming; for he came not to destroy, but to save; not to display riches, but to teach us a contempt of human grandeur. He therefore condescended not only to become man, but even the vilest of men. (Metaphrastes)

With so many clergymen, prelates, and even men dressed in white seemingly telling the Holy Family that there is no room in the inns of their hearts, consecrated hearts even! that should be so beautiful, welcoming, and splendid, I am going to offer them the little manger of my heart. Of course, there will still be an ass involved, who is often as bullheaded as an ox and stubborn as a donkey when it comes to sin. But maybe that's the way we can resist the spirit of our times this Christmas: we can offer the Child Jesus, His Blessed Mother, and the pure St. Joseph, thousands of little stables and mangers, since it seems that there is no longer any room in the cathedrals, palaces, and gardens of the hierarchy. 

Happy Advent 12-19 edition

Today's Lesson:

Lesson from the letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Philippians (Phil 4:4-7)

Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

R. Thanks be to God.

Tonight's antiphon at Vespers:

O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at whom the kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the Gentiles shall seek; come to deliver us, make no tarrying! 

Thanks to Divinum Officium

Not a journalist, not an anything insider, not even really a blogger.

I jumped on the blog train a while back, but this train is slugging along like the little-engine-that-could halfway up the big hill - slow. Since I "started" this blog, some really great Catholic bloggers have either popped up or hit their stride. These good people and their sites are listed to the side →→→ check them out! They are doing the hard and heavy lifting and are really professionals. Some have given up other careers to do the important and necessary work of reporting on Catholic news, challenging evil in a public forum, and filling the great void of teaching good, basic, Catholic instruction. I think donating to those who have given up other careers is a nice charitable act - so please consider doing so. I'm going to try to do the same.

I'm toying with ideas as to what areas or how this blog can add to the Catholic blog-o-sphere mix - so we will see. I'm not a journalist, not a writer per se, I don't have any contacts in Rome, but maybe there is a place to enter the fray.

Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered - Let those who hate Him flee before His Holy Face!

Modernity

Hey all, I found a picture of America. If it's not America, the likeness is uncanny.

Feast of the Sacred Heart

Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us

God, the Son, Redeemer of the World,

God, the Holy Ghost,

Holy Trinity, one God,

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us

Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost,

Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God,

Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,

Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God,

Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,

Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,

Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity,

Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love,

Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,

Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,

Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,

Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,

Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,

Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity,

Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,

Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,

Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,

Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy,

Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee,

Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness,

Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,

Heart of Jesus, saturated with revilings,

Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities,

Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death,

Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,

Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,

Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,

Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,

Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee,

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee,

Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints,

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)

Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)

Jesus, meek and humble of Heart. (Make our hearts like unto Thine.)

Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end. (Amen.)

So what? It's only been 22 months.

"Welcome back," he wrote to himself.

On a more serious note:

Happy Saturday after Epiphany. I love Jesus Christ and His Bride: the One, Holy, Apostolic Catholic Church. It's nice that God become Man made bread and wine become God. All to visit with us. If you haven't been to a traditional Latin Mass, you should. Go now. Or tomorrow morning if you can't go now.

Blessed be the Most Holy Trinity! Holy Trinity, I love you!

Blessed Karl of Austria

With the hundredth anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and the beginning of World War I fast approaching, it might be nice to learn more about and remember a blessed man of God who persevered in the Faith in the midst of grave evil. Here a few links for more information on Blessed Karl of Austria, one of the last earthly kings who lived his life in the image of Christ the King:

 

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6559

 

http://www.smom-za.org/saints/charles.htm (picture above from these folks)

 

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/blessed-karl-von-habsburg