Br. John Fisher Helms, OSB

🚩1. St. PETER (64 AD) - crucified upside down in Rome
- his remains are buried in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican
🚩2. St. JAMES the Greater (45 AD) - stabbed with sword
- his remains are buried in St. James Cathedral, Compostela, Spain
🚩3. St. JAMES the Less (63 AD) - stoned to death
- his remains are buried in the Holy Apostles Basilica, Rome, Italy
🚩4. St. JUDE Thaddeus (72 AD) - filled with arrows
- his remains are buried in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican
🚩5. St. PHILIP (54 AD) - crucified by soldiers
- his remains are buried in Church of the Dodici, Rome, Italy
🚩6. St. THOMAS (70 AD) - thrust with spears
- his remains are buried in St. Thomas Cathedral, Mylapore, India
🚩7. St. SIMON the Zealot (74 AD) - stabbed with sword
- his remains are buried in the Altar of Crucifixion, Vatican
🚩8. St. BARTHOLOMEW (70 AD) - he was crucified
- his remains are buried in St. Bartholomew Church, Rome, Italy
🚩9. St. ANDREW (70 AD) - crucified in "X" shape Cross
- his remains are buried in Cathedral of Amalfi, Italy
🚩10. St. MATTHEW (60 AD) - he was crucified
- his remains are buried in St. Matthew Cathedral, Messina, Sicily
🚩11. St. JOHN (95 AD) - he died a natural death
- his remains are buried in St. John Basilica, Ephesus, Turkey
🚩12. St. MATHIAS (70 AD) - he was hanged on a cross
- his remains are buried in St. Mathias Abbey, Trier, Germany
(St. Mathias was the replacement of Judas Iscariot who committed su***de after betraying Christ)
🚩13. St. PAUL - was beheaded in Rome
- his remains are buried in St. Paul's Church, Rome, Italy.
(Paul was not part of the original 12 apostles who were personally selected by Christ. He was a convert to Christianity and is considered as the Apostle to the Gentiles)

Spring you forward and late don't be! Daylight Saving Time begins in most states this Sunday.

I love this story from a priest friend of mine! Enjoy!

After everyone had left the church this morning, I noticed one of our dads stayed behind.

"Do you need some help?" I asked him as I walked up behind him.

"Oh no, Father. I just saw how dirty the floor was in the church after Masses, so I thought I'd sweep."

He was going under every chair and kneeler carefully. I saw a huge pile of dirt at the end of the row that he had collected. As I looked around, he had collected several enormous piles of dirt and grass already.

"It's amazing how dirty the floor gets in one weekend. Our volunteers cleaned on Friday. Look how much you have already swept!" I said.

"You know, Father, I think this is wonderful. As I'm sweeping under each chair, I'm thanking God that someone was sitting in it this weekend. All the dirt I see is because someone came to church today. I love seeing how dirty this floor is."

"You're right," I said. "If we wanted a clean church, we wouldn't let people inside. I hope everyone thinks the way you do. When a house is messy, it's because people live inside it. When the dishes need to be washed, it's because people ate together."

"Father, sweeping this floor today makes me excited to go home and see my wife. I can't wait to tell her that I'm happy even when our house is a little messy. It means someone lives there. My wife and my kids and me are there. I'd rather us be together than have a perfectly clean house with no one inside," he replied.

"And that's how I think Jesus feels about the Church. He'd rather us be here and get it a little messy than have it sparkling and empty."

"Thanks, Father. I'm going to keep sweeping and praying for each person who came through this weekend."

As I walked away, I smiled and said a prayer of thanksgiving. Thank you, Lord, for the dirt on your floor.

THE OLD PRIESTS, THE CULTURE OF UNGRATITUDE, FORGETTING AND DISCARDING

Written by:
Father Jose Luis Huerta Solis

As a new priest, I hear people complain about their old priests all the time.

POOR OLD PARENTS!

In times of "pop star" priests, singers, healers and why not say illusionists, the culture of ingratitude grows.

Poor Old Fathers, who in their life did not learn to be singers, but many times they had to support singing because there was no one to sing in mass...

Poor old priests, who don't know how to communicate on television, but who all their lives have faced the challenge of communicating the gospel even with so little resources...

Poor Old Priests, the spotlights of the stage do not light them, because they learned to be priests in the swamps of life, celebrating Masses lit by candles and not by light cannons.

Poor old priests, who lived their whole life anointing the sick, but have a reputation for not healing like this priest.

Priests who no longer draw crowds, but in distant times were, alone, shepherds of a huge flock.

I'm not happy when people say: We wanted a new priest like you!. Do you know why I don't? Because when I'm old, others will say the same about me!

I am much less happy when a new priest thinks he is better than an old priest!.

It's easy for us to like the healer when he makes the service more exciting, how difficult it is to have Christian maturity to understand that that healer who today needs a little more patience, he already had patience with so many!

My gratitude and prayers to priests old and forgotten, but who throughout a lifetime worked to make people new and remember God.

Peace and Good. -

LET US PRAY FOR OUR SENIOR PRIESTS!

FIRST FRIDAY:
1. The first Friday of each month was designated by Jesus himself as consecrated to honoring his Sacred Heart, to increase our love for Him in Holy Communion by receiving Our Lord Jesus Christ on first Friday and to make reparation for past and present offenses against His love. Those that keep the first Friday devotion receive 12 promises.

FIRST SATURDAY:
2. “See, my daughter, My Heart surrounded with thorns with which ingrates pierce me at every moment with blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, make sure to console me and announce that all those who for five months, on the first Saturdays, go to confession, receive Communion, say five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for 15 minutes meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, with the purpose of making reparation to Me, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for the salvation of their souls." ~ Our of Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia

FIRST WEDNESDAY:
3. Wednesdays are dedicated to Saint Joseph, but especially the first Wednesday of the month where you can offer your Holy Communion to his Most Chaste Heart that he would continue to intercede and protect you and your family.

POURING AND SPRINKLING VERSUS IMMERSION

(Biblical Evidence for the Catholic Faith)

Ezekiel 36:25

Ezekiel prophesied that God "will 'sprinkle' clean water on you and you shall be clean." The word for “sprinkle” is “rhaino,” which means what it says, sprinkle (not immersion). (“Kai rhaino eph hymas hydor katharon.”)

2 Kings 5:14

Namaan went down and dipped himself in the Jordan. The Greek word for "dipped" is "baptizo." Here, baptizo means immersion. But many Protestant churches argue that "baptizo" and related tenses of the Greek word always mean immersion, and therefore the Catholic baptisms of pouring or sprinkling water over the head are invalid. The Scriptures disprove their claim.

Numbers 19:18

Here, the verbs for dipping (“baptisantes”) and sprinkled (“bapsei”) refer to affusion (pouring) and sprinkling (aspersion), not immersion.

Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16

John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus will baptize ("baptisei") with the Holy Spirit and fire. In this case, "baptisei" refers to a "pouring" out over the head. This is confirmed by Matthew 3:16 where the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus' head like a dove, and Acts 2:3-4 where the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the Apostles’ heads in the form of tongues of fire. In each case, in fulfilling John the Baptist's prophecy, the Lord baptized ("baptizo") in the form of pouring out His Spirit upon the head, not by immersing the person.

Matthew 20:22-23; Mark 10:38-39; Luke 12:50

Jesus also talked about His baptism (from "baptizo") of blood, which was shed and sprinkled in His passion. But this baptism does not (and cannot) mean immersion.

Mark 7:3

The Pharisees did not eat unless they washed ("baptizo") their hands. This demonstrates that "baptizo" does not always mean immersion. It can mean pouring water over something (in this case, over their hands).

Mark 7:4

We see that the Jews washed ("bapto" from baptizo) cups, pitchers and vessels, but this does not mean that they actually immersed these items. Also, some manuscripts say the Jews also washed (bapto) couches, yet they did not immerse the couches; they only sprinkled them.

Luke 11:38

Jesus did not wash ("ebaptisthe") His hands before dinner. Here, the derivative of "baptizo" just means washing up, not immersing.

Acts 2:41

At Peter's first sermon, three thousand were baptized. There is archeological evidence that immersion would have been impossible in this area. Instead, these three thousand people had to be sprinkled in water baptism.

Acts 8:38

Because the verse says they "went down into the water," many Protestants say this is proof that baptism must be done by immersion. But the verb to describe Phillip and the eu**ch going down into the water is the same verb ("katabaino") used in Acts 8:26 to describe the Angel’s instruction to Phillip to stop his chariot and “go down” to Gaza. The word has nothing to do with immersing oneself in water.

Acts 8:39

Because the verse says "they came up out of the water," many Protestants also use this verse to prove that baptism must be done by immersion. However, the Greek word for “coming up out of the water” is “anebesan,” which is plural. The verse is describing that both Phillip and the eu**ch ascended out of the water, but does not prove that they were both immersed in the water. In fact, Phillip could not have baptized the eu**ch if Phillip was also immersed. Finally, even if this was a baptism by immersion, the verse does not say that baptism by immersion is the only way to baptize.

Acts 9:18; 22:16

Paul was baptized while standing up in the house of Judas. There was no hot tub or swimming pool for immersion. This fact demonstrates that Paul was sprinkled.

Acts 10:47-48

Peter baptized in the house of Cornelius, even though hot tubs and swimming pools were not part of homes. Those in the house had to be sprinkled.

Acts 16:33

The baptism of the jailer and his household appears to be in the house, so immersion is not possible.

Acts 2:17, 18, 33

The pouring of water is like the "pouring" out of the Holy Spirit. Pouring is also called "infusion" (of grace).

1 Corinthians 10:2; Exodus 14:22; 15:9

Paul says that the Israelites were baptized ("baptizo") in the cloud and in the sea. But they could not have been immersed because Exodus 14:22 and 15:9 say that they went dry shod. Thus, "baptizo" does not mean immersed in these verses.

Ephesians 4:5

There is only one baptism, just as there is only one Lord and one faith. Once a person is validly baptized by water and the Spirit in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with the intention of the Church (whether by pouring or immersion), there is no longer a need to rebaptize the person.

Titus 3:6

The “washing of regeneration” (baptism) is “poured out” upon us. This “pouring out” generally refers to the pouring of baptismal waters over the head of the newly baptized.

Hebrews 6:2

On the doctrine of baptisms, the word used is “baptismos,” which generally referred to pouring, not to immersion.

Hebrews 10:22

The author wrote, “with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.” This “sprinkling” of baptism refers to aspersion, not immersion. The text also parallels 1 Peter 3:21, which expressly mentions baptism and its ability (like Hebrews 10:22) to purify the conscience—the interior disposition of a person.

Isaiah 44:3

The Lord "pours" water on the thirsty land and "pours" His Spirit upon our descendants. The Lord is “pouring,” not “immersing.”

2 Thessalonians 2:15

“Hold fast to the traditions of the Church, whether oral or written.” Since the time of Christ, baptisms have been done by pouring or sprinkling.

List of POPES (33 A.D. - 2013)

1. St. Peter (33-67)
2. St. Linus (67-76)
3. St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88)
4. St. Clement I (88-97)
5. St. Evaristus (97-105)
6. St. Alexander I (105-115)
7. St. Sixtus I (115-125)
8. St. Telesphorus (125-136)
9. St. Hyginus (136-140)
10. St. Pius I (140-155)
11. St. Anicetus (155-166)
12. St. Soter (166-175)
13. St. Eleutherius (175-189)
14. St. Victor I (189-199)
15. St. Zephyrinus (199-217)
16. St. Callistus I (217-222)
Callistus and the following three popes were opposed by St. Hippolytus, antipope (217-236)

17. St. Urban I (222-230)
18. St. Pontain (230-235)
19. St. Anterus (235-236)
20. St. Fabian (236-250)
21. St. Cornelius (251-253)
Opposed by Novatian, antipope (251)

22. St. Lucius I (253-254)
23. St. Stephen I (254-257)
24. St. Sixtus II (257-258)
25. St. Dionysius (260-268)
26. St. Felix I (269-274)
27. St. Eutychian (275-283)
28. St. Caius (283-296)
29. St. Marcellinus (296-304)
30. St. Marcellus I (308-309)
31. St. Eusebius (309-310)
32. St. Miltiades (311-314)
33. St. Sylvester I (314-335)
34. St. Marcus (336)
35. St. Julius I (337-352)
36. Liberius (352-366)
Opposed by Felix II, antipope (355-365)

37. St. Damasus I (366-84)
Opposed by Ursicinus, antipope (366-367)

38. St. Siricius (384-399)
39. St. Anastasius I (399-401)
40. St. Innocent I (401-417)
41. St. Zosimus (417-418)
42. St. Boniface I (418-422)
Opposed by Eulalius, antipope (418-419)

43. St. Celestine I (422-432)
44. St. Sixtus III (432-440)
45. St. Leo I (the Great) (440-461)
46. St. Hilarius (461-468)
47. St. Simplicius (468-483)
48. St. Felix III (II) (483-492)
49. St. Gelasius I (492-496)
50. Anastasius II (496-498)
51. St. Symmachus (498-514)
Opposed by Laurentius, antipope (498-501)

52. St. Hormisdas (514-523)
53. St. John I (523-526)
54. St. Felix IV (III) (526-530)
55. Boniface II (530-532)
Opposed by Dioscorus, antipope (530)

56. John II (533-535)
57. St. Agapetus I (535-536)
58. St. Silverius (536-537)
59. Vigilius (537-555)
60. Pelagius I (556-561)
61. John III (561-574)
62. Benedict I (575-579)
63. Pelagius II (579-590)
64. St. Gregory I (the Great) (590-604)
65. Sabinian (604-606)
66. Boniface III (607)
67. St. Boniface IV (608-615)
68. St. Deusdedit (Adeodatus I) (615-618)
69. Boniface V (619-625)
70. Honorius I (625-638)
71. Severinus (640)
72. John IV (640-642)
73. Theodore I (642-649)
74. St. Martin I (649-655)
75. St. Eugene I (655-657)
76. St. Vitalian (657-672)
77. Adeodatus II (672-676)
78. Donus (676-678)
79. St. Agatho (678-681)
80. St. Leo II (682-683)
81. St. Benedict II (684-685)
82. John V (685-686)
83. Conon (686-687)
84. St. Sergius I (687-701)
Opposed by Theodore and Paschal, antipopes (687)

85. John VI (701-705)
86. John VII (705-707)
87. Sisinnius (708)
88. Constantine (708-715)
89. St. Gregory II (715-731)
90. St. Gregory III (731-741)
91. St. Zachary (741-752)
Stephen II followed Zachary, but because he died before being consecrated, modern lists omit him

92. Stephen II (III) (752-757)
93. St. Paul I (757-767)
94. Stephen III (IV) (767-772)
Opposed by Constantine II (767) and Philip (768), antipopes (767)

95. Adrian I (772-795)
96. St. Leo III (795-816)
97. Stephen IV (V) (816-817)
98. St. Paschal I (817-824)
99. Eugene II (824-827)
100. Valentine (827)
101. Gregory IV (827-844)
102. Sergius II (844-847)
Opposed by John, antipope

103. St. Leo IV (847-855)
104. Benedict III (855-858)
Opposed by Anastasius, antipope (855)

105. St. Nicholas I (the Great) (858-867)
106. Adrian II (867-872)
107. John VIII (872-882)
108. Marinus I (882-884)
109. St. Adrian III (884-885)
110. Stephen V (VI) (885-891)
111. Formosus (891-896)
112. Boniface VI (896)
113. Stephen VI (VII) (896-897)
114. Romanus (897)
115. Theodore II (897)
116. John IX (898-900)
117. Benedict IV (900-903)
118. Leo V (903)
Opposed by Christopher, antipope (903-904)

119. Sergius III (904-911)
120. Anastasius III (911-913)
121. Lando (913-914)
122. John X (914-928)
123. Leo VI (928)
124. Stephen VIII (929-931)
125. John XI (931-935)
126. Leo VII (936-939)
127. Stephen IX (939-942)
128. Marinus II (942-946)
129. Agapetus II (946-955)
130. John XII (955-963)
131. Leo VIII (963-964)
132. Benedict V (964)
133. John XIII (965-972)
134. Benedict VI (973-974)
135. Benedict VII (974-983)
Benedict VII and John XIV were opposed by Boniface VII, antipope (974; 984-985)

136. John XIV (983-984)
137. John XV (985-996)
138. Gregory V (996-999)
Opposed by John XVI, antipope (997-998)

139. Sylvester II (999-1003)
140. John XVII (1003)
141. John XVIII (1003-1009)
142. Sergius IV (1009-1012)
143. Benedict VIII (1012-1024)
Opposed by Gregory, antipope (1012)

144. John XIX (1024-1032)
145. Benedict IX (1032-1045)
He appears on this list three separate times, because he was twice deposed and restored

146. Sylvester III (1045)
Considered by some to be an antipope

147. Benedict IX (1045)
148. Gregory VI (1045-1046)
149. Clement II (1046-1047)
150. Benedict IX (1047-1048)
151. Damasus II (1048)
152. St. Leo IX (1049-1054)
153. Victor II (1055-1057)
154. Stephen X (1057-1058)
155. Nicholas II (1058-61)
Opposed by Benedict X, antipope (1058)

156. Alexander II (1061-73)
Opposed by Honorius II, antipope (1061-1072)

157. St. Gregory VII (1073-85)
Gregory and the following three popes were opposed by Guibert ("Clement III"), antipope (1080-1100)

158. Blessed Victor III (1086-1087)
159. Blessed Urban II (1088-1099)
160. Paschal II (1099-1118)
Opposed by Theodoric (1100), Aleric (1102) and Maginulf ("Sylvester IV", 1105-1111), antipopes

161. Gelasius II (1118-1119)
Opposed by Burdin ("Gregory VIII"), antipope (1118)

162. Callistus II (1119-1124)
163. Honorius II (1124-1130)
Opposed by Celestine II, antipope (1124)

164. Innocent II (1130-1143)
Opposed by Anacletus II (1130-1138) and Gregory Conti ("Victor IV") (1138), antipopes (1138)

165. Celestine II (1143-1144)
166. Lucius II (1144-1145)
167. Blessed Eugene III (1145-1153)
168. Anastasius IV (1153-1154)
169. Adrian IV (1154-1159)
170. Alexander III (1159-81)
Opposed by Octavius ("Victor IV") (1159-1164), Pascal III (1165-1168), Callistus III (1168-1177) and Innocent III (1178-1180), antipopes

171. Lucius III (1181-1185)
172. Urban III (1185-1187)
173. Gregory VIII (1187)
174. Clement III (1187-1191)
175. Celestine III (1191-1198)
176. Innocent III (1198-1216)
177. Honorius III (1216-1227)
178. Gregory IX (1227-1241)
179. Celestine IV (1241)
180. Innocent IV (1243-1254)
181. Alexander IV (1254-1261)
182. Urban IV (1261-1264)
183. Clement IV (1265-1268)
184. Blessed Gregory X (1271-1276)
185. Blessed Innocent V (1276)
186. Adrian V (1276)
187. John XXI (1276-1277)
188. Nicholas III (1277-1280)
189. Martin IV (1281-1285)
190. Honorius IV (1285-1287)
191. Nicholas IV (1288-1292)
192. St. Celestine V (1294)
193. Boniface VIII (1294-1303)
194. Blessed Benedict XI (1303-1304)
195. Clement V (1305-1314)
196. John XXII (1316-1334)
Opposed by Nicholas V, antipope (1328-1330)

197. Benedict XII (1334-1342)
198. Clement VI (1342-1352)
199. Innocent VI (1352-1362)
200. Blessed Urban V (1362-1370)
201. Gregory XI (1370-1378)
202. Urban VI (1378-1389)
Opposed by Robert of Geneva ("Clement VII"), antipope (1378-1394)

203. Boniface IX (1389-1404)
Opposed by Robert of Geneva ("Clement VII") (1378-1394), Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), antipopes

204. Innocent VII (1404-1406)
Opposed by Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII")
(1394-1417) and Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), antipopes

205. Gregory XII (1406-1415) Opposed by Pedro de Luna ("Benedict XIII") (1394-1417), Baldassare Cossa ("John XXIII") (1400-1415), and Pietro Philarghi ("Alexander V") (1409-1410), antipopes

206. Martin V (1417-1431)
207. Eugene IV (1431-1447)
Opposed by Amadeus of Savoy ("Felix V"), antipope (1439-1449)

208. Nicholas V (1447-1455)
209. Callistus III (1455-1458)
210. Pius II (1458-1464)
211. Paul II (1464-1471)
212. Sixtus IV (1471-1484)
213. Innocent VIII (1484-1492)
214. Alexander VI (1492-1503)
215. Pius III (1503)
216. Julius II (1503-1513)
217. Leo X (1513-1521)
218. Adrian VI (1522-1523)
219. Clement VII (1523-1534)
220. Paul III (1534-1549)
221. Julius III (1550-1555)
222. Marcellus II (1555)
223. Paul IV (1555-1559)
224. Pius IV (1559-1565)
225. St. Pius V (1566-1572)
226. Gregory XIII (1572-1585)
227. Sixtus V (1585-1590)
228. Urban VII (1590)
229. Gregory XIV (1590-1591)
230. Innocent IX (1591)
231. Clement VIII (1592-1605)
232. Leo XI (1605)
233. Paul V (1605-1621)
234. Gregory XV (1621-1623)
235. Urban VIII (1623-1644)
236. Innocent X (1644-1655)
237. Alexander VII (1655-1667)
238. Clement IX (1667-1669)
239. Clement X (1670-1676)
240. Blessed Innocent XI (1676-1689)
241. Alexander VIII (1689-1691)
242. Innocent XII (1691-1700)
243. Clement XI (1700-1721)
244. Innocent XIII (1721-1724)
245. Benedict XIII (1724-1730)
246. Clement XII (1730-1740)
247. Benedict XIV (1740-1758)
248. Clement XIII (1758-1769)
249. Clement XIV (1769-1774)
250. Pius VI (1775-1799)
251. Pius VII (1800-1823)
252. Leo XII (1823-1829)
253. Pius VIII (1829-1830)
254. Gregory XVI (1831-1846)
255. Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878)
256. Leo XIII (1878-1903)
257. St. Pius X (1903-1914)
258. Benedict XV (1914-1922)
259. Pius XI (1922-1939)
260. Pius XII (1939-1958)
261. St. John XXIII (1958-1963)
262. Paul VI (1963-1978)
263. John Paul I (1978)
264 St. John Paul II (1978-2005)
265. Benedict XVI (2005-2013)
266. Francis (2013 - )

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What is the “noonday devil”?

The desert monks knew this demon well. Are we prepared to fight it?

You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
—Psalm 91:5-6

For the early desert ascetics, noon was a rough time of day. It was then that their stomachs would growl from the day’s fasting; the sun was at its blistering height; much of the day’s work and prayer still remained to be done; it was then that fatigue started to take hold…

It was at this time that the devil would insert doubts, frustrations, and temptations to give up.

“Ugh, do I have to do this every day…forever?”

“A good meal and a nap sound so much nicer than ora et labora right now.”

“What am I doing this for, anyway?”

“Maybe I’ll take a day off and get back to it tomorrow.”

Does any of this sound familiar?

Probably, because the noonday devil—better known as the sin of acedia or “sloth”—afflicts us all. It is a sadness, an indifference, or a lethargy in the face of the work of holiness.

This lethargy is much more than mere laziness and doesn’t always manifest itself as sluggish inactivity.

In fact, in his superb book The Noonday Devil: Acedia, the Unnamed Evil of Our Times, Benedictine Abbot Jean-Charles Nault says that there are five principal manifestations of acedia. Drawing from several saints who wrote extensively on the subject, he describes these five as:

1: A certain interior instability

2: An exaggerated concern for one’s health

3: Aversion to manual work

4: Neglect in observing the Rule (i.e., the duties of one’s state in life)

5: General discouragement

We’ll focus here on number 1, instability, because it is on full display in our society.

This instability isn’t just a change in mood: the saints describe it as a desire to change location—to wander in search of something to distract or entertain us—as an unconscious way to avoid dealing with whatever disturbance (or boredom) caused the instability.

These days, we don’t even need to wander in hopes of finding a distraction. Everyone has a smartphone in their pocket: a portal to an entire world, curated by algorithms to fit and manipulate our particular tastes and inclinations. And this portal is always just a hand’s reach away.

You’re seeing acedia everywhere now, aren’t you? It is, indeed, the unnamed evil of our times.

So how can we identify this instability and the other forms of acedia in our own lives? What can we do to counteract them? Where on earth do we begin our fight against the noonday devil?

Shared from the Basilica Gift Shop

Brother André Melli, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey since 1993, and a native of Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil, became an American citizen today. Brother André professed solemn vows in 1998 at São Bento Monastery in Vinhedo, which has been a dependent priory of Saint Vincent Archabbey since 1964.
Brother André studied economics at the Pontifical University of Campinas, Brazil, and after graduating, worked for the government until he entered the monastery as a novice in 1992. He has also studied at the Diocese of Campinas Seminary and at Saint Vincent Seminary.
Most friends of the Archabbey in Latrobe know him as the operator of the Basilica Gift Shop since 2004, and director of the Gristnill General Store since 2007.
Congratulations, Brother André.

Last night I got to help the parish out by being a waiter at a valentines night dinner where the couples got to renew their vows. It was a lot of fun to be able to be out in the parish and be with the people again.

O GOD, deliver us through the intercession of Thy holy bishop and martyr Blaise, from all evil of soul and body, especially from all ills of the throat; and grant us the grace to make a good confession in the confident hope of obtaining Thy pardon, and ever to praise with worthy lips Thy most holy name.

"When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord." Luke 2:22

Which saint was a talented juggler as a youth?

The gifts and talents of Don Bosco rescued thousands.

When he was a boy, the young John Bosco would put on juggling shows for his friends.

But it wasn’t just for fun. He combined these performances with prayer and discussions on the Faith. Even as a kid, he was already embarking on his life’s work.

Later on, John was ordained a priest amidst massive societal shifts resulting from the Industrial Revolution, which drove families en masse into the cities looking for work. The young priest noticed the terrible conditions of the inner city boys who often ended up in prison as teenagers.

So, he did something about it.

He began gathering the neighborhood boys for instruction. Don Bosco celebrated Mass for them, heard confessions, and taught them the Catechism.

Excursions, games, musical instruments, and other recreation were all part of the plan. He ran technical classes and workshops to improve the boys’ prospects in life, often at night so that those who worked in factories could join.

This was the first house of the Salesian Order, dedicated to St. Francis de Sales, which Don Bosco would found some years later. Attracted to the fatherly kindness of the good priest—who is still fondly known as Don (“Father”) Bosco—the boys soon numbered in the hundreds.

Then, they numbered in the thousands. By the time Don Bosco went to his eternal reward on January 31, 1888, 250 Salesian houses were serving 130,000 children throughout the world. One of the boys he taught, Dominic Savio, would himself become a saint.

Don Bosco’s devotion still resonates today. He remains an intercessor for teachers—especially, perhaps, those who work with the poor and despised.

Including vocation-related activities into National Catholic Schools Week (Jan. 29th- Feb 4th), each year strengthens the Catholic identity of a school.

To download the How to Become a Priest, Brother, or Sister PDF go to our website:https://i.mtr.cool/zbrhdyjbta

Credit:

It is with heavy hearts that Abbot Marcus and the monks of Saint Bernard Abbey announce the death of our confrere, Abbot Victor Joseph Clark, O.S.B.

A native of Cullman, Alabama, Abbot Victor professed vows as a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey on June 18, 1949, was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1954, and was elected the Eighth Abbot of St. Bernard Abbey on May 22, 1987. Spending his life in service of St. Bernard, he was beloved by many alumni and friends of the abbey from Alabama and beyond. Suffering from dementia for quite some time, Abbot Victor died in the St. Bernard Abbey Infirmary at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 27, 2024, after a nightlong vigil with Abbot Marcus and the monks.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:

The monks will receive his body into the Abbey Church and celebrate Solemn Vespers of the Dead on Wednesday, January 31, at 5:00 p.m.

Visitation will be held until the Mass of Christian Burial.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, with procession to the Abbey cemetery and interment following immediately. Afterwards, all are invited to join Abbot Marcus and the monks for dinner in the St. Bernard Dining Hall.

Who converted 200 Americans in a POW camp?

Abandoned by his own father, this heroic chaplain never left his flock.

The ship was sinking rapidly, mortally wounded by an American torpedo. Chaplain LaFleur knew he had to get the men out, but there was only one way out: through the hatch he had opened onto the deck.

So he boosted men, one after another, out of the hold and up on deck. 83 survived the attack, but no one ever saw Fr. Joseph LaFleur again. He died as he had lived—making a total gift of himself.

Born in 1912 near the Cajun country of Louisiana, Joseph was the youngest of seven children and didn’t have an easy childhood. His father abandoned the family when Joseph was a child. His mother worked where she could and grew a garden to support her family.

Joseph knew early on that he wanted to be a priest, and was ordained in 1938. He only had one parish assignment: St. Mary Magdalene Church in Abbeville. He was energetic and enthusiastic, coaching the parish boys in baseball and proving himself to be a spiritual father of the highest caliber.

He joined the Army Air Corps as a chaplain in 1941 and was assigned to Clark Field in the Philippines. When it was attacked soon after Pearl Harbor in December, he chose to stay with the men instead of escaping. He fearlessly cared for the wounded and absolved the dying, earning the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze Star for his valor.

Captured by the Japanese, he was their prisoner for the next two and a half years. He dedicated himself tirelessly to the care of the men, celebrating Mass, taking the place of those who couldn’t do hard labor, visiting the sick though it was against the rules, and enduring beatings. He traded his possessions for food for the suffering and refused malaria medication so that others could have it.

Nearly 200 American POWs converted to the Faith because of the good chaplain’s example.

In September 1944, Fr. LaFleur and 700 other POWs were loaded onto a ship bound for Japan. Because they were not flying the white flag that indicated a prisoner ship, the vessel was torpedoed by an American submarine.

Once again refusing to save himself, Fr. LaFleur assisted as many men as he could before disappearing into the wreckage of the ship as it sank into the sea. He earned another Distinguished Service Medal and Purple Heart, and is on the path to receiving the title of saint.