THE most beautiful person in the world.

I know I've posted this picture before, but I just had to put it up again, because of what I'm about to blog about.

This excerpt I'm taking from St. Alphonsus de Ligouri's book, the Passion and the Death of Jesus Christ. This great saint expresses what I want to say, so well and so very beautifully in his meditations, I am left with no choice but to paste it here in my blog. =D

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VIII

Jesus one day manifested himself under his scourging to Sister Victoria Angelini; and showing her his body one mass of wounds, said to her, “These wounds, Victoria, every one of them, ask thee for love.” “Let us love the Bridegroom,” said the loving St. Augustine, “and the more he is presented to us veiled under deformity, the more precious and sweet is he made to the bride.”

Yes, my sweet Saviour, I see Thee all covered with wounds; I look into Thy beautiful face; but, O my God, it no longer wears its beautiful appearance, but disfigured and blackened with blood, and bruises, and shameful spittings: There is no beauty in Him, nor comeliness: and we beheld Him, and esteemed Him not.

But the more I see Thee so disfigured, O my Lord, the more beautiful and lovely dost Thou appear to me.

And what are these disfigurements that I behold but signs of the tenderness of that love which Thou dost bear towards me? I love Thee, my Jesus, thus wounded and torn to pieces for me; would that I could see myself too torn to pieces for Thee, like so many martyrs whose portion this has been!

But if I cannot offer Thee wounds and blood, I offer Thee at least all the pains which it will be my lot to suffer. I offer Thee my heart; with this I desire to love Thee more tenderly even than I am able. And who is there that my soul should love more tenderly than a God who has endured scourging and been drained of his blood for me? I love Thee, O God of love! I love Thee, O infinite goodness! I love Thee, O my love, my all! I love Thee, and I would never cease to say, both in this life and in the other, I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee.
Amen.

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The week has been nicely busy for me! =D

BUT, thing is, I'm finally LEARNING this semester!

1) The Metabolism and Regulation module has been great so far and I've never had so much pleasure learning about the different metabolic pathways that are occuring in our body at this very moment. Glycolysis, Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, Gluconeogenesis etc etc, I never cease to be in awe of my Creator, who makes me seriously happy over smallest matters I never thought I could be happy about. Seriously speaking, after the retreat in June, I've been looking at things in very different perspectives and I've never felt better in my whole entire life. The things my Jesus and of course, your Jesus, our Jesus will do for you.

As a matter of fact, I cannot imagine why evolution has taken so high a place in the very explanation of everything scientific. Everything in biology these days seemed to be explained in terms of evolution. For eg., after learning so much about Oxidative phosphorylation, the electron transport chain and the TCA cycle, with all the many complicated steps that allow us to live and breathe the very air we breathe in now, I really cannot see why in the Introduction to Carbohydrate metabolism, the introduction slide says, and I quote,

- Life is a chemical process involving thousands of different reactions occuring in an organised manner.

- Chemical strategies perfected by millions of years of evolution are elegant and fascinating.

-Underlying everything is energy.

NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE,

For one, I cannot imagine that Life is just a chemical process. For if Life is just a chemical process, we are no better than the monkeys that we are THOUGHT to evolve from. We are so much more than monkeys, than just chemical processes. We are created in the Image and Likeness of God. Perhaps our lecturer was just trying to emphasize this point that metabolism is a serious study of these chemical processes that really do involve thousands of different reactions, but I cannot agree with the fact that the lecturer says Life is a chemical process. BUT one thing I like is that it also states that the different reactions occur in an ORGANISED manner. First things first, why would we be so organised, especially after learning about tissue specificity and enzyme specificity and all about specificity, if we are thought to be evolved?

Evolution states that a new species is created after many millions of years, one that has been evolved to a state of perfection and they say that we humans are that most perfect species.

Note: Can you imagine being related to a jellyfish?

The reason why there is so much order in our systems is because we are created by ONE creator, who is none other than God the Creator.

The second law of thermodynamics (a fundamental law that all things on earth obey) states that 1) Natural processes always tends towards disorderliness (towards chaos) and 2) the simple will never produce the complex. These all goes to say that the Universe is running down, going downhill into disorder. BUT evolution requires the exact opposite. It requires that the Universe run uphill, from disorderliness to orderliness and that it requires the simple to become complex that is as in my given example above, that the Jellyfish can become man!!! Evolution goes against this fundamental law and the only justification that is offered is that the energy from the Sun will do the trick. Thing is, the energy from the sun will not do the trick. The sun's energy will never produce order from disorderliness. The energy from the sun cannot sustain life without God, the sun's energy is definitely useless without God.

- Chemical strategies perfected by millions of years of evolution are elegant and fascinating.

This sentence is utterly crazy. God is fascinating and elegant, not evolution.

please note, some of the arguments are taken from Wallace Johnson's lectures on evolution.

2) the war module is also superb. Now, I'm concentrating on why Stalin's calculated risk in June 1950 was more reckless than the American failure to sort out a clear policy for Korea before then.

The study of history has never been more fascinating. I'm actually learning much much more in these few weeks that I've started term than in my past whole life. And Deo gratias for that. I'm not angry that evolution takes centrestage anymore, for in time, and history has shown it too, dearest Jesus will let everyone know in His own time, in His own way.

And so be it! =D

Till the next time then.

In Christo et Maria!

-rachel anne thérèse

Here beneath these signs are hidden

Here is what Padre Pio says about the Mass:

"It is easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”

He was given great graces from none other then our dearest Lord himself.

He was raised up by God, as a saint, in our times, by the Lord, for the benefit of us all!

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“Where there is a testament, the death of the testator must of necessity come in.

For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.

Whereupon neither was the first indeed dedicated without blood.
For when every commandment of the law had been read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people.

Saying: ‘This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.’

The tabernacle also and all the vessels of the ministry, in like manner, he sprinkled with blood.

And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”

(Hebrews, 9, 16-22).

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St Thomas Aquinas puts it very beautifully when he wrote in his hymn Lauda Sion: “Sub diversis speciebus Signis tantum et non rebus Latent res eximiae - Here beneath these signs are hidden, Priceless things to sense forbidden, Signs, not things, are all we see.”

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http://www.sspxasia.com/Newsletters/2004/Jan-Jun/Editorial.htm#8B

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In Christo et Maria!

Rachel Anne Thérèse

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face

St, Thérèse at age 8

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St, Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face - The Little Flower

I'd like to take some time off my now busy schedule to post a little something about my favourite saint, my patron also, St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Interestingly, Pope Saint Pius X, he himself a great saint, called her The greatest saint of modern times, way before she was even beatified. This young little carmelite, dearest St. Thérèse, only 24 years when she expired into the joys of eternal life, has much much much much to teach all of us about her "little way of spiritual childhood".

To find out more about her and her life, I recommend to you reading her Autobiography. It changed my life as I know it and I am very sure it will touch you most profoundly too. Her Story of a Soul is written in a language so very simple, it speaks of "profoundity", it speaks so deeply!

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Here are 2 of the great Saint Thérèse's - the LITTLE flower's poems, for you to contemplate, meditate upon.

Here she speaks on love, and how loving is to give oneself up to suffering, just like what Jesus did when he willingly embraced his cross for our sakes.

Here on earth, to live for love

does not mean settling on Thabor;

it means climbing Calvary with Jesus

and looking on the Cross as a treasure.

Another poem she wrote on faith, when she was experiencing temptations against her faith which were troubling her more than usual,

Since the Son of God wished his Mother

to undergo darkness and heartfelt anguish,

Mary, is it therefore a good thing to suffer here on earth?

Yes, to suffer out of love is purest happiness.

Jesus can take back everything he has given me,

But tell him never to get angry with me.

He can hide if he likes, and I will wait for him

Till that undying day when my faith will cease to be.

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In Christo et Maria!

rachel anne thérèse

The most holy ROSARY

The Most Holy Rosary!

To all ye faithful readers of my blog, I have to apologise because you will have to wait a few more days till the next post. I do not know why, but I've been nicely busy for the past few days. Deo gratias! I like the example of St. Gertrude: The good saint thanked Our Dearest Lord for every single thing!! =D

Dearest Jesus, my love, I want only to do your will!

I will be back soon! =D

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In Christo et Maria,

Rachel Anne Thérèse

ah! .. and a little about the spiritual life.

A short post for today:

Ah!! .. my Jesus, this is truly a consolation.

Deo gratias et Mariae! for this truly wonderful gift!

=D

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"The spiritual life is a spiritual combat against sin, the devil, the world.

We need God's grace in this struggle which will result in heaven or hell for everyone."

"The life of man upon earth is a warfare" - Job 7:1

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In Christo et Mariae!

Rachel Anne Thérèse

Another Term ...

And so another term starts. Blog update in a few days.

In CHRISTO et MARIA!

=Rachel Anne Thérèse=

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The Crucifixion

The Passion and The Death of Jesus Christ – page 263

IV. The Crucifixion

It was revealed to St. Bridget that when the Saviour saw himself laid upon the cross, he stretched out his right hand to the place where it was to be nailed. They then immediately nailed the other hand, and then his sacred feet; and Jesus Christ was left to die upon this bed of anguish. St. Augustine says that the punishment of the cross was a most bitter torment, because, upon the cross, death itself was prolonged, lest the pain should be speedily ended.

O God! What horror must then have smitten heaven, at the sight of the Son of the Eternal Father crucified between the two thieves! Such, in truth, was the prophecy of Isaias: He was reputed with the wicked. Therefore St. John Chrysostom, contemplating Jesus upon the cross, cried out, full of amazement and love, “I see him in the midst, in the holy Trinity; I see him in the midst, between Moses and Elias; I see him in the midst, between two thieves.” As though he had said, “I see my Saviour first in heaven between the Father and the Holy Ghost; I see him upon the Mount Tabor, between two saints, Moses and Elias; how, then, can I see him crucified upon Calvary between the two thieves?” How could this come to pass, but through the divine decree, that thus he might die, to satisfy by his death for the sins of men, and to save from death, as Isaias had foretold: He was reputed with the wicked, and He hath borne the sins of many.

The same prophet also asks, Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra; this beautiful one in His robe, walking in the greatness of His strength?”
(Edom signifying a red colour, though somewhat dark, as is explained in Gen. XXV. 30); and he gives the answer, I that speak justice, and am a defender to save. The person who thus replies is, according to the interpreters, Jesus Christ, who says, I am the promised Messiah, who am come to save men, by triumphing over their enemies.

Then, further, he is again asked, Why is Thy apparel red, and Thy garments like theirs that tread in the winepress? And he answers, I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the Gentiles there is not a man with Me. Tertullian, St. Cyprian, and St. Augustine explain the winepress to mean the Passion of Jesus Christ, in which his garments – that is, his most holy flesh – was covered with blood and wounds, according to what St. John wrote: He was clothed with a garment sprinkled with blood; and His name is called the Word of God. St. Gregory, explaining the expression I have trodden the winepress alone, says, “He trod the winepress, and was himself trodden.” He trod it, because Jesus Christ, by his Passion, his body was bruised and broken, as the grapes are broken in the winepress, and, as Isaias expresses it in another text, The Lord was pleased to bruise Him in infirmity.

And now behold this Lord, who was fairest among men, appears on Calvary with his form so disfigured by torments, that it struck horror into all who saw it. Yet this deformity makes him seem more beautiful in the eyes of souls that love him, because these wounds, these marks of the scourging, this lacerated flesh, are all tokens and proofs of the love he bears them; upon which the poet Petrucci beautifully sings, “O Lord, if Thou sufferest scourgings for us, to the souls that are bound to Thee, the more deformed Thou art, the more fair dost Thou appear.”

St. Augustine adds, “He hung in deformity upon the cross, but his deformity is our beauty.” And truly so, because this deformity of Jesus crucified was the cause of the beauty of our souls, which, when they were deformed, were washed with his divine blood, and became fair and lovely, according to what St. John wrote, Who are these that are clothed in white garments? These are they who have come out of great tribulation, and have washed their garments, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
All the saints, as being children of Adam (with the exception of the Blessed Virgin), were at one time covered with a foul garment, and soiled with Adam’s sin and with their own; but being washed with the blood of the Lamb, they became white and agreeable in the sight of God.

Well, then, didst Thou say, O my Jesus, that, when Thou shouldst be lifted up upon the cross, Thou wouldst draw everything unto Thee; “and this he said, signifying by what death he should die.” Truly Thou hast left undone nothing to draw all hearts unto Thee. Many are the happy souls who, in seeing Thee crucified and dying for love of them, have abandoned everything – possessions, dignities, country, and kindred, even to the embracing of torments and death – in order to give themselves wholly to Thee. Unhappy they who resist Thy graces, which Thou hast gained for them with Thy great labours and sorrows. O my God, this will be their great torment in hell, to think that they have lost a God who, to draw them to love him, gave his life upon a cross, that of their own choice they have perished, and that there will be no remedy for their ruin through all eternity. O my Redeemer, I have already deserved to fall into this ruin, through the sins I have committed against Thee. Alas, how often have I resisted Thy grace, which sought to draw me unto Thee, and, in order to cleave to my own inclinations, have despised Thy love, and turned my back upon Thee! Oh that I had died before I had offended Thee! Oh that I had ever loved Thee! I thank Thee, O my love, that Thou hast borne with me with so much patience, and that, instead of abandoning me, as I deserved, Thou hast repeated Thy calls, and increased Thy lights and Thy loving impulses upon me. I will sing the mercies of God forever. Oh, cease not, my Saviour and my hope, to continue to draw me, and to multiply Thy graces upon me, that I may love Thee in heaven with more fervor, remembering the many mercies that Thou hast shown me, after all the offences that I have committed against Thee. I hope for all, through that precious blood which Thou hast shed for me, and that bitter death which Thou hast endured for me.

O holy Virgin Mary, protect me; pray to Jesus for me.

- By Saint Alphonsus Ligouri.

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You can click on this link if you want to read something that I posted on our group blog, on the Vigil of the Assumption. The poetry is especially beautiful.

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Veritas Liberavit vos! (Jn 8:32)

And you shall know the truth, and the TRUTH shall make you free.

The Most Holy Sacrifice!

[Hosted by YouTube.com]

Traditional Latin Catholic Mass

Traditional Latin Mass filmed on Easter Sunday in 1941 at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Chicago. The film presents the ceremonies of the Missa Solemnis or Solemn High Mass in full detail with narration by then-Mgr. Fulton J. Sheen. Celebrated by Rev. J. R. Keane of the Order of Servites (hence the white habits and cowls), the ceremonies are accompanied by a full polyphonic choir, orchestra, and fifty Gregorian Chanters.

The attention to detail in the ceremonies is impressive. Notice, for example, how the servers and ministers always take great care to move in order. Notice too that the servers are all almost identical in height. The Ordinary of the Mass, composed by Rev. Edwin V. Hoover, while pleasant in places, is very much a reflection of its time. The Proper on the other hand is timeless and sung admirably by a healthy throng of Seminarians from Mundelein, Illinois.

Unfortunately due to size restrictions at Youtube around 20 mins have been cut from the original. However, I hope to upload a full version at Google soon or perhaps here when Youtube improves its director accounts. In addition to the cuts I have added new captions and edited the opening credits. The credits had deteriorated quite badly in the original. I retyped what I could see of them and faded them in at the beginning and at the end. Other than this the film remains largely unchanged. ... (more)

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I found this while on YouTube.

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This is the answer to the question:

Q: What is the greatest miracle on earth?

The Most Holy Sacrifice.

Deo gratias!

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Adoro te Devote

Taken from the hymn Adoro te Devote

Pie pellicane, Jesu Domine,

Me immundum munda tuo sanguine.

Cujus una stilla salvum facere

Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere.

O mystic Pelican, Jesus, my loving Lord,

Cleanse me of my defilements in Thy blood adored:

Whereof one only drop, in Thy sweet mercy split,

Would have the power to cleanse the world of all its guilt.

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What a beautiful hymn! =)

Ah! My dearest Lord! I love Thee!

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O Salutaris Hostia!

You can find a midi link for this hymn in the side-column.

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A beautiful picture:

The Mater Dolorosa

(The Mother of Sorrows)