The Exhumation of the Body of St Therese on her way to Canonization

What is Faith?

God, Church and Soul

I stole this video from The Sleepless Eye's blog. Do watch it. It's so beautiful and plus its way cool. Way way cool. =) God Bless the person who did this ;)

And from Joyce's blog, I got the link to H.E. Bishop Williamson's blog. Here's the link. It's Dinoscopus for you.

And from the Sacred Heart Choir blog, there's some beautiful news, coming from the Vatican...

Pope Ratzinger seems to be stepping up the tempo. The curia will have a new office with authority in the field of sacred music. And the choir of the Sistine Chapel is getting a new director...

by Sandro Magister

ROMA, October 18, 2007 – In the span of just a few days, a series of events have unfolded at the Vatican which, taken all together, foretell new provisions – at the pope's behest – to foster the rebirth of great sacred music. ... (Click here to read more)

Absolutely beautiful. Deo gratias et Mariae.

And now, my dear blog readers, What is Faith?

As St. Thérèse my dearest patron said:

And, here's what St. Paul writes, so beautifully, in his epistle to the Hebrews, Chapter 11, on Faith:

What faith is. Its wonderful fruits and efficacy demonstrated in the fathers.

1 Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not. 2 For by this the ancients obtained a testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God; that from invisible things visible things might be made. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him. 7 By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world; and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith. 8 By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he abode in the land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise. 10 For he looked for a city that hath foundations; whose builder and maker is God.

8 "He that is called Abraham"... or, Abraham being called.

11 By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that he was faithful who had promised, 12 For which cause there sprung even from one (and him as good as dead) as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth. 14 For they that say these things, do signify that they seek a country. 15 And truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless time to return.

16 But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son; 18 (To whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called.) 19 Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable. 20 By faith also of things to come, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.

19 "For a parable"... That is, as a figure of Christ, slain and coming to life again.

21 By faith Jacob dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents; because they saw he was a comely babe, and they feared not the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, denied himself to be the son of Pharao's daughter; 25 Rather choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin for a time,

21 "Adored the top of his rod"... The apostle here follows the ancient Greek Bible of the seventy interpreters, (which translates in this manner, Gen. 47. 31.,) and alleges this fact of Jacob, in paying a relative honour and veneration to the top of the rod or sceptre of Joseph, as to a figure of Christ's sceptre and kingdom, as an instance and argument of his faith. But some translators, who are no friends to this relative honour, have corrupted the text, by translating it, he worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff; as if this circumstance of leaning upon his staff were any argument of Jacob's faith, or worthy the being thus particularly taken notice of by the Holy Ghost.

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians. For he looked unto the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king: for he endured as seeing him that is invisible. 28 By faith he celebrated the pasch, and the shedding of the blood; that he, who destroyed the firstborn, might not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting, were swallowed up. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, by the going round them seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets: 33 Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners: 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.

36 And others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons. 37 They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted: 38 Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caved of the earth. 39 And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise; 40 God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee; Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum. (ter)

St. Peter Canisius

A short break now, from the mountain of books (ah the horror, lol, not so terrible, not so terrible) :). O Beautiful Cross! Deo gratias et Mariae, One more major one to go, I am so glad biostats, cell bio and nutrition are over. My brain is utterly squeezed dry of its ability to retain any memory whatsoever though, haha, but, Deo volente, its alright! :)

I'll be typing a little - on St. Peter Canisius, Confessor, Doctor of the Church, whose blessed feast day this 27th of April is.

Peter Kanis (or Canisius), born at Nimeguen in Holland, after brilliant studies at Cologne and Louvain, entered the Company of Jesus, of which he is one of the chief glories. The wisdom of his controversy, his eloquent preaching, his instructive writings (for example, the first catechism) caused him to be called the Hammer of Protestantism. He died at Fribourg in Switzerland in 1597.

As taken from the 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

And here's something really really beautiful that my patron saint, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face wrote in one of her poems:

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.

How beautiful is that. :)

Saint Thérèse, Ora pro nobis!

Jesus, Mary, I Love Thee; Save Souls!

Regina Caeli, Laetare, Alleluia!

p/s: do you hear the beautiful gregorian chant when you get into this page? :) Deo gratias et Mariae, I found out how to put music on this blogpage. Now playing is the beautiful Regina Caeli, which is said during Paschal Time. Link to the full prayer is as above. :) God Bless.

Ferial, comm of St Valentine, MARTYR

St. Francis of Assisi, the Seraphic Lover

A prayer for Students

St. Valentine:

This holy Roman priest assisted with other pious Christians a great number of martyrs. He was beheaded under Aurelian in 270 A.D.

(from the 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal)

Introit of Holy Mass today:

In virtute tua, Domine,

laetabitur justus:

et super salutare tuum exsultabit vehementer:

desiderium animae

ejus tribuisti ei.

Quoniam praevenisti eum in benedictionibus dulcedinis:

posuisti in capite ejus coronam de lapide pretioso.

Gloria Patri.

Psalm 20: 2-4

In Thy strength, O Lord, the just man shall joy:

and in Thy salvation he shall rejoice exceedingly:

Thou hast given him his heart's desire.

For Thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness:

Thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.

Gloria Patri.

From the Old Testament, a very beautiful verse:

Et ecce tempus tuum, tempus amantium ...

Et decora facta es vehementer nimis.

Ezechiel xvi 8.13

And behold Thy time was the time of lovers ...

And Thou wast made exceeding beautiful.

O Dearest Jesus, I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee!

O Blessed Lady, ora pro nobis!

O Dearest Angels and Saints in heaven, ora pro nobis!

From St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and Holy Face, my patron:

My God, how I love Thee!

Mon Dieu, comment je T'aime !

The Circumcision of the Our Lord Jesus and (tmr) The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

"The More You Honour Me, The More I Will Bless You."

Puer natus est nobis,

et filius datus est nobis:

cujus imperium super humerum ejus:

et vocabitur nomen ejus,

magni concilii angelus.

-from the Introit of Today's Proper, Is.9:6

(A child is born to us,

and a Son is given to us,

Whose government is upon His shoulders:

and His name shall be called the Angel of great counsel.)

Thine are the heavens,

and Thine is the earth:

the world and the fullness thereof Thou hast founded:

justice and judgment are the preparation of Thy Throne.

-from the Offertory of Today's Proper, Ps.88:12,15

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On This the First day of the New Year, Anno domini 2007,

rachelannethérèse, your humble blogger,

would like to wish you a very happy New Year and,

May the Blessings of the Divine Infant and His Most Dearest Mother

be upon Thee and Thy family. :)

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Here's a most beautiful prayer by Rev. Cyrillus a Matre Dei, the first and most devoted venerator of the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague (of whose picture you see at the top of this post, on a holy card).

Jesus, unto Thee I flee,

Through Thy Mother praying Thee

In my need to succor me.

Truly, I believe of Thee

God Thou art with strength to

shield me;

Full of trust, I hope of Thee

Thou Thy grace wilt give to me.

All my heart I give to Thee,

Therefore, do my sins repent me;

From them breaking, I bessech Thee,

Jesus, from their bonds to free me.

Firm my purpose is to mend me;

Never more will I offend Thee.

Wholly unto Thee I give me,

Patiently to suffer for Thee,

Thee to serve eternally.

And my neighbour like to me

I will love for love of Thee.

Little Jesus, I beseech Thee,

In my need to succor me,

That with Joseph and Mary

And the angels, I may Thee

Once enjoy eternally. Amen.

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St. Thérèse of Lisieux, my patron, had a little prayer she composed once for the dearest Child Jesus:

"O eternal Father, Your only Son,

the dear Child Jesus,

is mine,

since You have given Him to me.

I offer Thee the infinite merits of His divine Childhood,

and I beg Thee in His name to open the gates of heaven to a countless

host of little ones who will forever follow this divine Lamb."

:)

INTROIT of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus:

In the Name of Jesus let every knee bow,

of those that are in heaven,

on earth,

and under the earth:

and let every tongue confess

that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

(Psalm) O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!

Gloria Patri.

-Phil.2:10-11; Ps.8:2

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Jesus, Mary, I Love Thee, Save Souls!