Catholic Tower

Sayings of the Saints “Have patience with all things, but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are a perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that.” ~ St. Francis de Sales St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.

What every Christian must believe 10 - We must believe, that Jesus Christ has also instituted the great eucharistic sacrifice of his body and blood, in remembrance of his death and passion. In this sacrifice he is mystically immolated every day upon our altars, being himself both priest and victim. This sacrifice is the principal worship of the new law, in which, and by which, we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, and with him, and through him, we adore God in spirit and truth, give him thanks for all his blessings, obtain his grace for ourselves and the whole world, and pardon for all our sins, and those of the living and the dead. ~ Richard Challoner, The Garden of the Soul. (1775)

ASPIRATION Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us. (Roman Breviary). Mater amóris, dolóris et misericórdiæ, ora pro nobis. (ex Breviario Romano). An indulgence of 300 days (Pius X, Audience, May 14, 1908; S. C. Ind., May 30, 1908). ~ The Raccolta (1957)

2 of 2 September 14th - EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS VESPERS (continued from above) Most royally empurpled o’er, How beauteously thy stem doth shine ! How glorious was its lot to touch Those limbs so holy and divine ! Thrice blest, upon whose arms outstretch’d The Saviour of the world reclin’d ; Balance sublime ! upon whose beam Was weigh’d the ransom of mankind. Hail, Cross ! thou only hope of man, Hail on this holy Passion-day ! To saints increase the grace they have ; From sinners purge their guilt away. Salvation’s spring, blest Trinity, Be praise to Thee through earth and skies : Thou through the Cross the victory Dost give ; oh, also give the prize ! Lyra Catholica: Containing All the Breviary and Missal Hymns. Rev. Fr. Edward Caswall, M.A., translator. (1849)

1 of 2 September 14th - EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS (As on PASSION SUNDAY) VESPERS Vexilla Regis prodeunt FORTH comes the Standard of the King : All hail, thou Mystery ador’d ! Hail, Cross ! on which the Life Himself Died, and by death our life restor’d. On which our Saviour’s holy side, Rent open with a cruel spear, Of blood and water pour’d a stream, To wash us from defilement clear. O sacred Wood ! in thee fulfill’d Was holy David’s truthful lay ; Which told the world, that from a Tree The Lord should all the nations sway. (continued)

September 10th ~ St. Nicholas.of Tolentino, Confessor St. Nicholas of Tolentino, in central Italy, received his name because he was born after his parents had made a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Nicholas of Bari. He is one of the glories of the Hermits of St. Augustine. His life is remarkable because of the great devotion which he showed to the mystery of the Christ. He had impressed upon his body the stigmata of Christ. He is represented holding a lily, because he was always a model of innocence and purity. His feast dates from the time of Sixtus V. ~ The New Roman Missal (1937) St. Nicholas of Tolentino, pray for us.

St. Nicholas entered the Augustinian Order. He is distinguished for his innocence and for his devotion to the souls in purgatory. He died in 1310. ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ September 10th ~ FEAST of ST. NICHOLAS of TOLENTINE, Confessor GIVE ear, O Lord, to our supplications which we present to Thee on the feast of Blessed Nicholas, Thy Confessor, so that we, who put no trust in our own righteousness, may be aided by the prayers of him who was pleasing to Thee. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Collect, September 10, St. Nicholas of Tolentine ~ The Saint Joseph Daily Missal (1950) ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ St. Nicholas of Tolentine, pray for us.

2 of 2 Month of the Seven Dolors of Mary / The Sorrowful Mother ~ September 10th Yet they knew full well that they were not in fault, that there had been no failure of their love. Then why should He treat them so, why cause them so much pain? This was the point of the reproach that Mary uttered, associating with herself by a tender movement of her charity the husband who suffered with her in silence: ‘Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.’ His answer seems harsh, so harsh that it does not at first yield up all the light that it contains: ‘And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father’s business? And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them.’ It was the beginning of the third sorrow. ‘They understood not the word that He spoke unto them.’ Yet they knew perfectly well that He must be with His Father, about His Father’s business. The Angel had announced to Mary that His name should be called Jesus, which is Saviour, that He would reign in the house of Jacob forever (Luke i, 31 and 33). Simeon had said further that in spite of the contradictions of which He should be the sign, He would be the glory of God’s people Israel and a light to the revelation of the Gentiles (Luke ii, 32). She had not forgotten any one of these words. Thus she knew the supernatural mission of her Child. She knew that He was more God’s Son than hers, that He belonged to God more than to her. But so far she had no more than an obscure presentiment of the mysterious demands of that grace which had made of her the Mother of God the Saviour. Naturally He must be with His father, but did that mean that He must detach her from Himself? Why must He occupy Himself without her with that business which was to her as it was to Him dearer than life? Did He doubt her love or her fidelity or even her courage — she who would have followed him anywhere! ~ Charles Journet, Our Lady of Sorrows. Tr. F.J. Sheed. (1939)

Month of the Seven Dolors of Mary / The Sorrowful Mother ~ September 10th Yet they knew full well that they were not in fault, that there had been no failure of their love. Then why should He treat them so, why cause them so much pain? This was the point of the reproach that Mary uttered, associating with herself by a tender movement of her charity the husband who suffered with her in silence: ‘Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.’ His answer seems harsh, so harsh that it does not at first yield up all the light that it contains: ‘And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father’s business? And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them.’ It was the beginning of the third sorrow. ‘They understood not the word that He spoke unto them.’ Yet they knew perfectly well that He must be with His Father, about His Father’s business. The Angel had announced to Mary that His name should be called Jesus, which is Saviour, that He would reign in the house of Jacob forever (Luke i, 31 and 33). Simeon had said further that in spite of the contradictions of which He should be the sign, He would be the glory of God’s people Israel and a light to the revelation of the Gentiles (Luke ii, 32). She had not forgotten any one of these words. Thus she knew the supernatural mission of her Child. She knew that He was more God’s Son than hers, that He belonged to God more than to her. But so far she had no more than an obscure presentiment of the mysterious demands of that grace which had made of her the Mother of God the Saviour. Naturally He must be with His father, but did that mean that He must detach her from Himself? Why must He occupy Himself without her with that business which was to her as it was to Him dearer than life? Did He doubt her love or her fidelity or even her courage — she who would have followed him anywhere! ~ Charles Journet, Our Lady of Sorrows. Tr. F.J. Sheed. (1939)

1 of 2 Month of the Seven Dolors of Mary / The Sorrowful Mother ~ September 10th Third Sorrow. — Does any ordinary mother ever lose her child? Never. How then came it that this Mother lost this Child as we read towards the end of the second chapter of St. Luke’s gospel? It can only have been that He himself brought it about of set purpose. By His own deliberate act He eluded the vigilance of His parents. At a given moment He veiled their eyes and departed from them. ‘When they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And His parents knew it not. And thinking that He was in the company, they came a day’s journey.’ Not till the evening did the veil fall from their eyes. Then they ‘sought Him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem seeking Him’. It was bitter humiliation, bitterer anguish. (continued)

Sayings of the Saints “If you want God to hear your prayers, hear the voice of the poor. If you wish God to anticipate your wants, provide those of the needy without waiting for them to ask you. Especially anticipate the needs of those who are ashamed to beg. To make them ask for alms is to make them buy it.” ~ St. Thomas of Villanova St. Thomas of Villanova, pray for us.

What every Christian must believe 9 (continued) Penance, by which penitent sinners are absolved from their sins, by virtue of the commission given by Christ to his ministers, St. John xx. and St. Matt. xviii. Extreme Unction, which wipes away the relics of sin, and arms the soul with the grace of God in the time of sickness, St. James v. Holy Orders, by which the ministers of God are consecrated. And Matrimony, which, as a sacred sign of the indissoluble union of Christ and his church, unites the married couple in a holy band, and imparts a grace to them suitable to that state, Eph. v. ~ Richard Challoner, The Garden of the Soul. (1775)

What every Christian must believe 9 - We must believe that Jesus Christ has instituted in his church seven sacraments, or mysterious signs and instrumental causes of divine grace in our souls. Baptism, by way of a new birth, by which we are made children of God, and washed from sin. Confirmation, by which we receive the Holy Ghost by the imposition of the hands of the successors of the apostles, Acts viii. The blessed Eucharist, which feeds and nourishes our souls with the body and blood of Christ, really present under the forms of bread and wine, or under either of them. (continued)

2 of 2 HOLY GOD (continued) Lo ! the Apostolic train Join, thy sacred name to hallow ! Prophets swell the loud refrain, And the white-robed Martyrs follow ; And from morn till set of sun, Through the church the song goes on. Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, three we name Thee, While in essence only One Undivided God, we claim Thee : And adoring bend the knee, While we own the mystery. Thou art King of Glory, Christ ! Son of God, yet born of Mary, For us sinners sacrificed, And to death a tributary : First to break the bars of death, Thou hast open'd Heaven to Faith. From thy high celestial home, Judge of all, again returning, We believe that Thou shalt come, On the dreadful Doom's-day morning When thy voice shall shake the earth. And the startled Dead come forth. Spare thy people, Lord ! we pray, By a thousand snares surrounded ; Keep us without sin to-day, Never let us be confounded, Lo ! I put my trust in Thee, Never, Lord, abandon me. ~ Fr. Ignace Franz (attributed to) Tr. Fr. Clarence A. Walworth Catholic Hymns (1860)

HOLY GOD Holy God, we praise thy Name ! Lord of all, we bow before Thee ! All on earth thy sceptre claim, All in Heaven above adore Thee : Infinite thy vast domain, Everlasting is thy reign. Hark ! the loud celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising ! Cherubim and seraphim In unceasing chorus praising, Fill the heavens with sweet accord : Holy ! Holy ! Holy Lord ! (continued)

Month of the the Seven Dolors of Mary / The Sorrowful Mother ~ September 9th MOTHER OF OUR CREATOR RELATION OF MARY WITH THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (continued) I give Thee glory, O Eternal Father, because the execution of the mystery of the Incarnation was committed to Mary, by being made dependent on her consent; for by this Thou didst associate her with the splendors of Thine own eternal fatherhood. ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

MORNING PRAYER ~ Salve Regina SALVE, Regína, mater misericórdiae, vita, dulcédo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamámus exsules fílii Hevæ; ad te suspirámus, geméntes et flentes in hac lacriámrum valle. Eia, ergo, advocáta nostra, illos tuos misericórdes óculos ad nos convérte. Et Iesum, benedíctum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsílium ostende, o clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria (ex Breviario Romano). ~ The Raccolta (1957) [℣.] Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata. [℟.] Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos. [℣.] Benedictus Deus in Sanctis suis. [℟.] Amen. ~ The Raccolta (1910)

MORNING PRAYER ~ Hail, Holy Queen HAIL, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we sigh, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Ah then, our Advocate, turn thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! (Roman Breviary) (The Raccolta, 1957) The Raccolta, 1910 adds the following after this prayer: [℣.] Make me worthy to praise thee, O Holy Virgin. [℟.] Give me strength against thine enemies. [℣.] Blessed be God in his saints. [℟.] Amen.

September 9th ~ St. Gorgonius, Martyr The body of this martyr was interred in the cemetery on the Via Labicana, and Pope Damasus adorned his tomb with the following inscription: "This sepulchre hollowed out of the hill-side contains the body of the martyr Gorgonius, who thus watches before the altar of Christ. Whosoever comes to seek the tombs of the saints in this place will find that other blessed ones rest here, who were led to heaven by the same faith." ~ The New Roman Missal (1937) St. Goegonius, pray for us.

PRAYER to ONE’S GUARDIAN ANGEL Angel sent by God to guide me, Be my light and walk beside me, Be my guardian and protect me, On the paths of life direct me. Amen.