Basilica of Sts. Cosmas and Damian

Today's Station Church.

Old Saint Sixtus'

Today's Station Church.

Saint Pudentiana

Today's Station Church.

The Basilica of Saint Mark

Today's Station Church.

Reason for hope - no matter what

Today’s Epistle (Romans 5:1-2, 5-8) eloquently reminds us of all-powerful reasons for our having hope – no matter what (and especially so when verses 3 and 4 are brought back in)

Since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith
to this grace in which we stand,
and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

Not only that,
but we even boast of our afflictions,
knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope,

And hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

For Christ,
while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.

Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.

But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners
Christ died for us.

The Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls

Today's Station Church.

Saint Marcellinus and Saint Peter

Today's Station Church.

Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae

Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.

Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Ecce ancilla Domini,
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Ave Maria...

Et Verbum caro factum est.
Et habitavit in nobis.

Ave Maria...

Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.
Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

Oremus.
Gratiam tuam, quaesumus, Domine, mentibus nostris infunde; ut, qui, angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem, ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.

* * *

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.

Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary...

V. And the Word was made flesh,
R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Your Son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by His passion and cross
be brought to the glory of His resurrection,
through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

Today the Church celebrates

the Solemnity of the Annunciation

(from an earlier post)

Saint Vitalis

Today's Station Church.

Saint Mary in Trastevere

Today's Station Church.

The Church of St. Cecilia in Trastevere

Today's Station Church.

The Basilica of Saint Balbina

Today's Station Church.

The Basilica of Saint Clement

Today's Station Church.

The Basilica has a superb website: http://www.basilicasanclemente.com/.

The Church of St. Mary in Domnica

Today's Station Church.

Do all the good we can, but rely on grace

Whether we are victims of natural disaster, of human malice, or of our own foolishness.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

(from today's Responsorial Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22)

“She’s pregnant.”

"Pregnant? But, I... I mean, she... I mean, we never..."

"There must be something going on you don't know about."

"I can't believe it. No, she wouldn't."

"Look, she's pregnant. There's no doubt about it. She's pregnant."

"I just can't..."

"Come on! Focus! You've got some decisions to make."

"I... what...?"

"If the child's not yours, that means she cheated on you."

"No, no, she wouldn't..."

"Hey, face reality. If you didn't do it, that means somebody else did. I know you love her, but it's obvious: she cheated on you. And you know what that means."

"I... oh, no. No, not that. I'm not letting that happen to her."

"Listen, it's the way it has to be."

"No! Absolutely not. There's got to be another way."

"Umm.... well... there's a legal thing we can do quietly. That way you can go on with your life and she can go on to... whatever."

"But she doesn't get hurt."

"No, she doesn't get hurt."

"Well, I guess... but, I... I just don't know..."

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,

"Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child,
and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, 'God with us.'"

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife....

cf Matthew 1:20-24

Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph
Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(from an earlier post)

The Basilica of Saint Peter

Today's Station Church.






(www.saintpetersbasilica.org is a wonderful site for fantastic pictures and an abundance of information about the Basilica. The website of the Pontifical North American College also has great pictures of a recent diaconate ordination at the Basilica's Altar of the Chair)

The Church of the Twelve Apostles

Today's Station Church.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength
of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength
of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength
of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength
of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun, Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers
between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power
that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells
of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge
that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ
in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ
in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation
(St. Patrick's Breastplate)

Civilization itself was coming apart

That is how a middle-class kid with good parents ended up being kidnapped by a roving band of criminals who took him out of the country and sold him into slavery.

The young boy, named Succat, found himself watching animals for a local chieftain. He learned his captors’ language as well as their religion, although he held on to his own Christian faith and kept his prayers private.

After six years, he escaped and after many adventures found himself back home.

The experience of captivity, however, had awakened something deep within Succat. He resolved to devote his life to God.

He went to different monasteries to pray and study for some years. A charismatic bishop took Succat under his wing, ordained him a priest and gave him important assignments in teaching people the truth of Christ and his grace.

Yet Succat could not forget the people who had held him captive. He felt called to bring the Gospel of Christ to them. After many consultations, he was consecrated as a bishop and sent as a missionary.

Returning to the land of his captivity, Succat met fierce opposition and endured many trials, but he held firm and many miracles took place at his hands. He baptized thousands, built churches, and established dioceses throughout the land.

Succat, better known by his religious name of Patrick, the great Apostle of Ireland, died in the latter half of the fifth century. The feast of Saint Patrick is celebrated today around the world.

(from an earlier post)

The Church of St. Lawrence in Panisperna

Today's Station Church.

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Today's Station Church.

The Church of Saint Anastasia

Today's Station Church.

The Church of Saint Peter in Chains

Today's Station Church, where may be found relics of chains that once bound St. Peter...
...and where also may be found Michelangelo's statue of Moses.

Whom do we serve?

What controls us?

What motivates us to work?

Whom do we serve?

Do our lives and everything we do serve our egos? Our passions? Our comfort and convenience? Our ideologies?

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11), our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says this:

Jesus said to him,
"Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve."

The Basilica of Saint John Lateran

Today's Station Church. Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Head and Mother of all Churches. Figured prominently in a dream by Innocent III shortly after he was first visited by Saint Francis of Assisi.

Pray for Japan

The Holy See today released the text of a telegram from the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI:

THE MOST REVEREND LEO JUN IKENAGA PRESIDENT
CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF JAPAN

DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE SUDDEN AND TRAGIC EFFECTS OF THE MAJOR EARTHQUAKE AND CONSEQUENT TSUNAMIS WHICH HAVE STRUCK JAPAN S NORTH-EASTERN COASTAL REGIONS, HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI ASSURES ALL WHO HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED OF HIS CLOSENESS AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

HE PRAYS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED, AND UPON THEIR GRIEVING FAMILIES AND FRIENDS HE INVOKES DIVINE BLESSINGS OF STRENGTH AND CONSOLATION.

THE HOLY FATHER ALSO EXPRESSES HIS PRAYERFUL SOLIDARITY WITH ALL THOSE PROVIDING RESCUE, RELIEF AND SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMS OF THIS DISASTER.

CARDINAL TARCISIO BERTONE SECRETARY OF STATE

The Church of Saint Augustine

Today's Station Church. Burial place of Saint Augustine's mother Saint Monica (above) and location of Caravaggio's Madonna di Loreto (below).