Free Republic

Read Matthew 10:28. What does fearing God really mean? It is defined this way in Psalms 119:120, “My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.” Moses warned the Israelites about what would happen if they stopped fearing God. Deuteronomy 6:10-15 So fear includes both a deep reverence and respect as well as being afraid and frightened at times.

In my Parish I work with the men of the Holy Name Society and also the women of the Sodality to ensure that the numerous sick in our parish are visited regularly. I try to visit the sick at least quarterly on a rolling basis to ensure they have had confession and anointing of the Sick. But, since I am without an assistant priest, as a general rule, I depend on them to bring communion regularly.We met as a group this past week and had an interesting discussion about a concern that a number of them expressed, that of reverence....

Just reported.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The reverence and awe of Catholics who truly believe they are receiving Jesus in the Eucharist should lead them to kneel and receive Communion on their tongues, said a bishop writing in the Vatican newspaper. "If some nonbeliever arrived and observed such an act of adoration perhaps he, too, would 'fall down and worship God, declaring, God is really in your midst,'" wrote Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider of Karaganda, Kazakhstan, quoting from the First Letter to the Corinthians. In a Jan. 8 article labeled a "historical-liturgical note," Bishop Schneider reviewed the writings of early church theologians...

I offered the Sunday Vigil Mass in a suburban parish last Saturday in order to help out a friend and brother priest. Father is very dedicated and I have immense esteem for him. The observations that follow are no reflection on him. He inherited a difficult situation and hasn't yet completed his first year in the parish. But, like the prophet Jeremias, I am "weary with holding in." Chatter The first thing that disconcerted me was the idle chatter in church before Mass. It was like being in a theatre waiting for the lights to dim and the curtain to...

MEMORIAL DAY 2006 -- Taps Vigil Son Jarrin is a third year cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He tells a lot of stories about the traditions there, but one stands out. It concerns the Taps Vigil. The Corps of cadets at West Point numbers about 4,000. They live in a military-structured environment. They wear the same uniforms. They have the same haircuts. They eat in the same mess hall at the same time, and they assemble in formation at the end of each day rain, sleet, or snow, to hear Taps. Taps is...

SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq (Army News Service, April 24, 2006) – Tucked away in an obscure building at Sather Air Base, a group of Soldiers hopes today is a slow one. Although most people like to have lots of work, these Puerto Rico Army Reserve Soldiers are content not to have business. When they are busy, it means someone has died. “When there is nothing, it’s a good thing,” said Sergeant Jose Vega, 311th Quartermaster Company Mortuary Affairs technician. “It’s better to stay that way than working.” However, when they do process human remains for the flight back to the...

<p>In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.</p> <p>O most merciful Jesus, with a contrite heart and penitent spirit, I bow down in profound humility before Thy divine majesty. I adore Thee as my supreme Lord and Master; I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my Supreme and Only Good. I resolve to amend my life, and although I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet the sight of Thy holy cross, on which Thou didst die, inspires me with hope and consolation. I will, therefore, meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the stations of Thy Passion in company with Thy sorrowful Mother and my guardian angel, with the intention of promoting Thy honor and saving my soul.</p>

It is with odd misgivings, and no small amount of fear, that some of us must step back from the wagons circled around the Danish cartoonists, and be saddened at such an opportunity wasted. To even offer an opinion now in such a high-octane environment seems risky beyond words- especially if the thoughts go against the prevailing winds. Fury extends outwards as each side of the muslim curtain sharpens their swords. And yet, something has missed consideration. The American religious base has suffered an onslaught of similar sacreligious assaults in recent years, as the curators of museums, and overseers of...

Visit a calibration laboratory. We measure for a living. I must tell you frankly that no device exists which can measure a soul. This much I must concede to the opposition. And yet, unlike CNN, we don't end the story, without, as Paul Harvey would quip, "..the rest of the story..." You see, we also can find no meter which indicates decency, no instrument which responds to integrity, and no apparatus to measure honor. The mainstream media would conclude, and quite obviously has concluded that, ergo sum, these things don't exist. But oddly, one of the strongest proofs of their...

by Pete Vere, JCL Other Articles by Pete Vere, JCL When Lay Ministers Take Holy Communion to the Sick 12/02/2005 The Second Vatican Council, in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, speaks of the Holy Eucharist as the source and the summit of our spiritual life. This means the Holy Eucharist is the source from which all other blessings flow, as well as the summit to which all of our spiritual works are directed. In This Article...Canon Law and the Lay Minister of Holy CommunionPastoral Principles for Lay MinistersOrdinary Visits to the Sick, the Elderly, and the Infirm Canon Law and...

by Bishop Paul S. Loverde Other Articles by Bishop Paul S. Loverde Turn Down the Static at Mass 12/1/05 As of this past Sunday, we have embarked together on a new liturgical year. So we might ask ourselves: What goals are we setting for ourselves spiritually? What will we do differently during this liturgical year which might draw us closer in friendship to our Lord? What practices might we deepen? We need not necessarily set "new" spiritual goals for this coming year. Our goals need not be far-flung. Rather than speak of "new" goals, we might then view it as a...

by Grace MacKinnon Other Articles by Grace MacKinnonContact this Author Sign of Reverence 06/16/05 Dear Grace, Every Sunday at Mass, I see people going up to receive Communion and I notice that many of them simply step up to the minister and put out their hand or open their mouth so casually. Aren’t we required to show some kind of reverence when we receive Communion? Yes, indeed, we are to show reverence. After all, it is not a piece of bread we are receiving! Are we not aware that it is the Body of the Lord? I can well understand your...

The bishops have apparently now voted Bishop Trautman as head of the Bishops Committee on the Liturgy. This is horrible, horrible news for those of us who are more traditional on matters liturgical. In this America article, Bishop Trautman expresses his views about the wretched oppression Rome is visiting upon the Church with its attempts to reform the liturgy.

As an Army and Navy custom, the flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. Special care should be taken that no part of the flag touches the ground. The Flag is then carefully folded into the shape of a tri-cornered hat, emblematic of the hats worn by colonial soldiers during the war for Independence. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night. This custom of special folding is reserved for the United States Flag alone. Flag Folding Ceremony -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The...

I don’t write “vanities” often, if ever. I think this might be a justifiable occasion. If there is widespread disagreement, I will ask the moderator to zap it. Today’s Mass was concelebrated by Father R. I believe he’s French. On one occasion several months ago, my daughter knelt to receive communion, and he made her stand. I was so shocked, I didn’t say or do anything. In the intervening months, I have been studying, thinking, discussing, and praying about this issue. When I saw him at Mass today, I offered my lack of wisdom to Our Lord and asked Him,...

  On the heels of his directive on liturgical music, the Holy Father has now issued an Apostolic Letter (December 4, 2003) on the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium on the Sacred Liturgy. Unfortunately, it's only available in Italian at the moment. Catholic World News reports that the letter is focued on "calling for new thoughts on reform of the liturgy, and encouraging efforts to increase reverence for the Eucharist and respect for liturgical traditions."

The Power of the MassThe Greatest PrayerThe Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Compilation The Tremendous Blessings and Benefits of the Mass as Told by Popes and Saints Pope Paul VI "The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!" Pope Benedict XV "The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death." St. Thomas Aquinas,Doctor of the Church "The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross." St. Gregory,Doctor of the Church "The...