Being an Accessory to Another's Sin

The other morning while having breakfast with a good priest friend the topic came up of the sense of sin among Catholics, or more appropriately the lack thereof. Failing to do an appropriate examination of conscience we judge ourselves as "good" by the simple fact of being nice. We have all heard people excuse different forms of behavior (or done so ourselves) by something to the effect of "well at least I didn't shoot anyone," or "it's not like I robbed a bank" as though those were the only ways we could sin against those respective commandments. But in addition to the ways we can commit a sin personally, there are nine ways we can be also be an accessory to another's sin.

1. By Counsel
2. By Command
3. By Consent
4. By Provocation
5. By Praise or Flattery
6. By Concealment
7. By Partaking
8. By Silence
9. By Defense of the Ill Done

Being an Accessory to Another's Sin

The other morning while having breakfast with a good priest friend the topic came up of the sense of sin among Catholics, or more appropriately the lack thereof. Failing to do an appropriate examination of conscience we judge ourselves as "good" by the simple fact of being nice. We have all heard people excuse different forms of behavior (or done so ourselves) by something to the effect of "well at least I didn't shoot anyone," or "it's not like I robbed a bank" as though those were the only ways we could sin against those respective commandments. But in addition to the ways we can commit a sin personally, there are nine ways we can be also be an accessory to another's sin.

1. By Counsel
2. By Command
3. By Consent
4. By Provocation
5. By Praise or Flattery
6. By Concealment
7. By Partaking
8. By Silence
9. By Defense of the Ill Done

Louis Veuillot Quote

"We Catholics lose ground perhaps more on account of the truths that good men have not the courage to proclaim than because of the errors that the wicked have been cunning enough to multiply."

Louis Veuillot Quote

"We Catholics lose ground perhaps more on account of the truths that good men have not the courage to proclaim than because of the errors that the wicked have been cunning enough to multiply."

The Deception of "The Free Press"

Our forms of communication have changed dramatically since 1935 yet the criticisms of the media then are as relevant as today.  G.K. Chesterton wrote about the misleading nature newspapers when he wrote,

Journalism, is a false picture of the world, thrown upon a lighted screen in a darkened room so that the real world is not seen and the unreal world is seen. . . . We live under secret government, conducted by a secret process called Publicity."

Here is an indictment of the journalistic profession by one of its own, an editor from New York, John Swinton, given during the New York Press Associations annual dinner.

"There is no such thing as a free press in America, if we except that of little country towns.  You know this and I know it.  Not a man among you dares to utter his honest opinion.  Were you to utter it, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print.  I am paid 150 dollars a week so that I may keep my honest opinion out of the paper for which I write.  You, too, are paid similar salaries for similar services.  Were I to permit that a single edition of my newspaper contained an honest opinion, my occupation, like that of Othello's, would be gone in less than twenty-four hours.  The man who would be so foolish as to write his honest opinion would soon be on the streets in search for another job.  It is the duty of a New York journalist to lie, to distort, to revile, to toady at the feet of Mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread, or what amounts to the same thing, his salary.  We are marionettes.  These men pull the strings, and we dance.  Our time, our talents, our live, our caprices are all the property of these men; we are intellectual prostitutes."

Apparently there was some controversy over this quote of Swinton's but for a fact checked account of what he said you can read here.

The Deception of "The Free Press"

Our forms of communication have changed dramatically since 1935 yet the criticisms of the media then are as relevant as today.  G.K. Chesterton wrote about the misleading nature newspapers when he wrote,

Journalism, is a false picture of the world, thrown upon a lighted screen in a darkened room so that the real world is not seen and the unreal world is seen. . . . We live under secret government, conducted by a secret process called Publicity."

Here is an indictment of the journalistic profession by one of its own, an editor from New York, John Swinton, given during the New York Press Associations annual dinner.

"There is no such thing as a free press in America, if we except that of little country towns.  You know this and I know it.  Not a man among you dares to utter his honest opinion.  Were you to utter it, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print.  I am paid 150 dollars a week so that I may keep my honest opinion out of the paper for which I write.  You, too, are paid similar salaries for similar services.  Were I to permit that a single edition of my newspaper contained an honest opinion, my occupation, like that of Othello's, would be gone in less than twenty-four hours.  The man who would be so foolish as to write his honest opinion would soon be on the streets in search for another job.  It is the duty of a New York journalist to lie, to distort, to revile, to toady at the feet of Mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread, or what amounts to the same thing, his salary.  We are marionettes.  These men pull the strings, and we dance.  Our time, our talents, our live, our caprices are all the property of these men; we are intellectual prostitutes."

Apparently there was some controversy over this quote of Swinton's but for a fact checked account of what he said you can read here.

Times Interview with Grand Master SMOM Fra Mathew Festing

From  the Times Online

April 9, 2010

New Grand Master's crusade to explain his ancient Catholic order

TheSovereign Military Order of Malta is now a global aid charity

Richard Owen

Fra Matthew Festing, 60, is the third British Catholic since 1258 to serve as Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.

When I spoke to him in his residence, a frescoed Renaissance palace near the Spanish Steps in Rome, I asked him why some people have the impression that his order is a secretive, even sinister, global power.

“A complete mystery,”he replies. “I think it comes from 19th-century Romanticism about the Middle Ages, fascination with things Gothic.”  In reality the order traces its origins before the First Crusade in the 11th century, when it protected and cared for pilgrims in Jerusalem and grew into a formidable fighting force. Driven out of the Holy Land by Muslim forces to Rhodes, and then in 1530 to Malta, the order has had its headquarters in Rome since 1834.

Festing is irked by “fraudulent”orders also claiming descent from the Knights of Malta. “It is based on ignorance, a misappreciation of history, reading too much Dan Brown,”he says. “The Knights Templar do not exist. They were suppressed by the papacy in the 14th century.

“There is this crazy desire for dressing up in funny clothes — plus some people think that by aping us they can get their hands on our diplomatic passports. After the loss of Malta our order became very small and was thought to be exclusive because you had to have noble qualifications. I think that is what has given rise to all this nonsense.”

Now a global aid charity, the order remains one of the most powerful Catholic orders: as its head Festing has the rank of cardinal (although not the right to vote for the next Pope).

A former officer in the Grenadier Guards and art expert at Sotheby’s, Festing became a member of the order in 1977 and Grand Prior of England in 1993, leading various humanitarian aid missions to Kosovo, Serbia and Croatia.

The Latin motto of the order translates as “Defence of the faith and assistance to the poor”.

“When they were hoofed out of Malta by Napoleon, the Knights were absolutely devastated, thought it was the end of everything. Actually it was a blessing in disguise, the order could get back to what it was meant to be doing, looking after the poor and the sick.”

Click here to read the rest of the interview.

Times Interview with Grand Master SMOM Fra Mathew Festing

From  the Times Online

April 9, 2010

New Grand Master's crusade to explain his ancient Catholic order

TheSovereign Military Order of Malta is now a global aid charity

Richard Owen

Fra Matthew Festing, 60, is the third British Catholic since 1258 to serve as Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta.

When I spoke to him in his residence, a frescoed Renaissance palace near the Spanish Steps in Rome, I asked him why some people have the impression that his order is a secretive, even sinister, global power.

“A complete mystery,”he replies. “I think it comes from 19th-century Romanticism about the Middle Ages, fascination with things Gothic.”  In reality the order traces its origins before the First Crusade in the 11th century, when it protected and cared for pilgrims in Jerusalem and grew into a formidable fighting force. Driven out of the Holy Land by Muslim forces to Rhodes, and then in 1530 to Malta, the order has had its headquarters in Rome since 1834.

Festing is irked by “fraudulent”orders also claiming descent from the Knights of Malta. “It is based on ignorance, a misappreciation of history, reading too much Dan Brown,”he says. “The Knights Templar do not exist. They were suppressed by the papacy in the 14th century.

“There is this crazy desire for dressing up in funny clothes — plus some people think that by aping us they can get their hands on our diplomatic passports. After the loss of Malta our order became very small and was thought to be exclusive because you had to have noble qualifications. I think that is what has given rise to all this nonsense.”

Now a global aid charity, the order remains one of the most powerful Catholic orders: as its head Festing has the rank of cardinal (although not the right to vote for the next Pope).

A former officer in the Grenadier Guards and art expert at Sotheby’s, Festing became a member of the order in 1977 and Grand Prior of England in 1993, leading various humanitarian aid missions to Kosovo, Serbia and Croatia.

The Latin motto of the order translates as “Defence of the faith and assistance to the poor”.

“When they were hoofed out of Malta by Napoleon, the Knights were absolutely devastated, thought it was the end of everything. Actually it was a blessing in disguise, the order could get back to what it was meant to be doing, looking after the poor and the sick.”

Click here to read the rest of the interview.

That Which Suffices is not Sufficient

In the great book Holy Abandonment by Dom Lehody is this comment by Joseph de Maistre,

"That which suffices is not sufficient.  Whoso resolves to do all that is permitted will soon be found doing that which is not; and he that will content himself with what is of strict obligation will be content with a little less before long."

I think this sums up fairly well the attitude of many Catholics born and raised pre-Vatican II and explains their resultant falling away from or laxity in the Faith afterwards.

That Which Suffices is not Sufficient

In the great book Holy Abandonment by Dom Lehody is this comment by Joseph de Maistre,

"That which suffices is not sufficient.  Whoso resolves to do all that is permitted will soon be found doing that which is not; and he that will content himself with what is of strict obligation will be content with a little less before long."

I think this sums up fairly well the attitude of many Catholics born and raised pre-Vatican II and explains their resultant falling away from or laxity in the Faith afterwards.

Thoughts About the Letter of Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos

First let me say I am not intending to defend the recent letter of Cardinal Hoyos. However from a historical point of view Cardinal Hoyos has a point in his defense. In fact it was St. Thomas Beckett who resisted attempts by King Henry II to have priests accused of serious crimes tried and punished in civil courts as he viewed it a violation of Church and State perogatives. This disagreement was one of the ultimate causes of St. Thomas's murder. Knowing the murderous bloodletting of priests and religious occasioned by the French revolution and the continuing animosity between Church and State there, is it not remotely possible to understand his reluctance in having a priest turned over to them?  BTW whatever did happen with the priest? Again let me be clear that in no way does this sanction the moving of guilty and accused priests from place to place.

While everyone is condemning everyone else for this grave scandal I suggest we look at our own lives first. There is a direct correlation between the lack of holiness in our lives and that of the priests and vice versa and if we want holy priests we better start leading more holy lives ourselves. But to this point are we?

We know that less than half of Catholics in this country don't go to Mass on Sunday. We know that approximately 80% of Catholics believe in or use artificial contraception. At least 50% of Catholic marriages end in divorce and a significant number of those persons remarry or live in sin with another. How many Catholics engage in sex outside or before marriage? Again not an insignificant number. How many Catholics see nothing wrong with homosexual marriage or "loving relationships" involving the sin of sodomy? How many men look at pornography? Yet when was the last time the New York Times wrote anything critical of pornography? In fact they have criticized those opposed to pornography because it might violate "First Amendment rights" We know for a fact of the huge impact on sexual abuse that pornography contributes. A Massachusetts priest who shared his Playboy mags with the altar boys and then abused him is the lowest scum but the NYT won't condemn pornography because the 1st Amendment is of greater importance? So who is the greater hypocrite and has the victim's interest at heart? How many Catholics prioritize their Sunday Mass around sports events for their children? How many send their children to the "right schools" at the cost of their Faith so they can get the "right career."  I work with a number of Catholics but noticed how none of them observed the fasts and abstinences prescribed for Lent.

I could go on but the simple fact remains that if these priest abusers remain(ed) unrepentant for their crimes they will go to Hell. And if a reading of the lives of most Catholics today (and the short lines for Confession) are any indication, they might have a lot of company.

One further comment. It is said that Pope John Paul II dismissed many of the abuse criticisms because of the methods of discrediting the Church he experienced by the Communists in Poland. Whatever fault he have had in ignoring what was obviously not mere propoganda especially when it concerned priests like Fr. Maciel their is plenty of evidence that there was an effort to infiltrate men into the priesthood for the sole reason of discrediting it, and the Church. I do not doubt the warnings of Pope Leo XIII when he saw in a vision the great battle between Satan unleashed for the last time and the Church is what we are experiencing today.

Thoughts About the Letter of Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos

First let me say I am not intending to defend the recent letter of Cardinal Hoyos. However from a historical point of view Cardinal Hoyos has a point in his defense. In fact it was St. Thomas Beckett who resisted attempts by King Henry II to have priests accused of serious crimes tried and punished in civil courts as he viewed it a violation of Church and State perogatives. This disagreement was one of the ultimate causes of St. Thomas's murder. Knowing the murderous bloodletting of priests and religious occasioned by the French revolution and the continuing animosity between Church and State there, is it not remotely possible to understand his reluctance in having a priest turned over to them?  BTW whatever did happen with the priest? Again let me be clear that in no way does this sanction the moving of guilty and accused priests from place to place.

While everyone is condemning everyone else for this grave scandal I suggest we look at our own lives first. There is a direct correlation between the lack of holiness in our lives and that of the priests and vice versa and if we want holy priests we better start leading more holy lives ourselves. But to this point are we?

We know that less than half of Catholics in this country don't go to Mass on Sunday. We know that approximately 80% of Catholics believe in or use artificial contraception. At least 50% of Catholic marriages end in divorce and a significant number of those persons remarry or live in sin with another. How many Catholics engage in sex outside or before marriage? Again not an insignificant number. How many Catholics see nothing wrong with homosexual marriage or "loving relationships" involving the sin of sodomy? How many men look at pornography? Yet when was the last time the New York Times wrote anything critical of pornography? In fact they have criticized those opposed to pornography because it might violate "First Amendment rights" We know for a fact of the huge impact on sexual abuse that pornography contributes. A Massachusetts priest who shared his Playboy mags with the altar boys and then abused him is the lowest scum but the NYT won't condemn pornography because the 1st Amendment is of greater importance? So who is the greater hypocrite and has the victim's interest at heart? How many Catholics prioritize their Sunday Mass around sports events for their children? How many send their children to the "right schools" at the cost of their Faith so they can get the "right career."  I work with a number of Catholics but noticed how none of them observed the fasts and abstinences prescribed for Lent.

I could go on but the simple fact remains that if these priest abusers remain(ed) unrepentant for their crimes they will go to Hell. And if a reading of the lives of most Catholics today (and the short lines for Confession) are any indication, they might have a lot of company.

One further comment. It is said that Pope John Paul II dismissed many of the abuse criticisms because of the methods of discrediting the Church he experienced by the Communists in Poland. Whatever fault he have had in ignoring what was obviously not mere propoganda especially when it concerned priests like Fr. Maciel their is plenty of evidence that there was an effort to infiltrate men into the priesthood for the sole reason of discrediting it, and the Church. I do not doubt the warnings of Pope Leo XIII when he saw in a vision the great battle between Satan unleashed for the last time and the Church is what we are experiencing today.

No Surprise Here - Dissident Priest Calls for Pope's Resignation

In news that is hardly surprising it seems that Fr. James Scahill the Springfield, MA priest who in his Divine Mercy Sunday homily called for the Pope's resignation is a dissenter from Church teaching.  He believes that priests should be married and that the Church shouldn't be lobbying against same-sex marriage.

In 2004 he received the Priest Of Integrity award from VOTF, Voice of the Faithful,  in New England for his work in reporting the cover up of sexual abuse cover up in the Diocese of Springfield.  Ironically in a deposition he gave in 2003 he was asked the following questions by an attorney of the Diocese in regarding to then Bishop Dupre.  His statements are as follows:

Q. Have any so-called or alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse by anyone ever come to you?
A. Yes.

Q. On what occasion?
A. On what occasion?

Q. On what occasion for the first time, yes. Was it more than one or just once?
A. There were a couple back in 1991. And since - since June of last year there have been probably a half a dozen that have spoken with me in person and I have received several phone calls and I've had phone conversations with several victims.

Q. Let's start with the ones in 1991 if we can; what occurred with regard to those persons?
A. Just coming in and just chatting, coming in and just talking. That's all.

Q. Did you refer any of them to any authorities, either district attorney's office or other office?
A. I told them, in that we were not mandated reporters at the time, I told them they should go to the Diocese or to the police. And I also in some instances told them they should go and get some therapy.

Q. And did you give them any particulars as to where to go and to whom?
A. No, I didn't. I simply said the priest or the Diocese and in some instances; I'm not a therapist. I'm willing to talk, but you sometimes have to take them to another step and there were instances when I encouraged people to go and get some therapy.

Q. And those initial one or two persons, was that before or after the misconduct commission was established?
A. I believe so; it was before because I don't believe the misconduct committee was established prior to 1991.

Q. Did you ever contact anyone in the Diocese about these individuals?
A. No.

Q. Did you ever inform anyone in the Diocese that some individuals had come to you alleging that they had been victims of abuse by priests of the Diocese?
A. I have spoken to that of late.

Q. I'm talking about '91 or '92?
A. Okay. The Diocese never came to me. I was a young pastor. They never came to me asking how I was doing because it was like a hailstorm there for a couple of months. I thought it peculiar the Diocese never came to me. I have a support network of friends and I guess I fed off of their support during those couple of months of some difficult sessions.

Q. I'm trying to establish, Father Scahill, what you did. Was it more than one person back in '91, '92?
A. Yes.

Q. Were these both male victims?
A. Male.

Q. How many were there approximately?
A. Two.

Q. With regard to those two persons that came to you complaining that they had been victims of sexual abuse, other than telling them where they might report in the Diocese or where they might report to the police or criminal authorities, what did you do to those individuals by way of contacting yourself anyone in the Diocese?
A. Well, I gave them time. I apologized in the name of the church and the priests that they claimed. I just tried to be supportive to them. I just tried to help them.

Q. Well, what did you do to report those two names -
A. I didn't report them.

Q. Please let me finish. Let me finish, Father Scahill, and then you may respond fully.
A. I'm sorry.

Q. What did you do, if anything, to report the identity of those persons to the Diocese at that time?
A. These people were struggling with the whole issue. I simply encouraged them to do what I encouraged them to do. What they did or did not do was their choice.

Q. Did you do anything to make the Diocese aware of the existence of these two men?
A. I did not, because they came to me in confidence.

Now it is strange that this priest who excuses his own behavior from 10-12 years earliers because there was no formal requirements or policies in place is quick to condemn others for similar actions even earlier than that and those with even less direct involvement in a situation.  It seems that Fr. Scahill to his credit has done some worthy work helping survivors of clergy sexual abuse and exposing some of the perpretrators but his call for the Pope to resign is ridiculous

No Surprise Here - Dissident Priest Calls for Pope's Resignation

In news that is hardly surprising it seems that Fr. James Scahill the Springfield, MA priest who in his Divine Mercy Sunday homily called for the Pope's resignation is a dissenter from Church teaching.  He believes that priests should be married and that the Church shouldn't be lobbying against same-sex marriage.

In 2004 he received the Priest Of Integrity award from VOTF, Voice of the Faithful,  in New England for his work in reporting the cover up of sexual abuse cover up in the Diocese of Springfield.  Ironically in a deposition he gave in 2003 he was asked the following questions by an attorney of the Diocese in regarding to then Bishop Dupre.  His statements are as follows:

Q. Have any so-called or alleged victims of clergy sexual abuse by anyone ever come to you?
A. Yes.

Q. On what occasion?
A. On what occasion?

Q. On what occasion for the first time, yes. Was it more than one or just once?
A. There were a couple back in 1991. And since - since June of last year there have been probably a half a dozen that have spoken with me in person and I have received several phone calls and I've had phone conversations with several victims.

Q. Let's start with the ones in 1991 if we can; what occurred with regard to those persons?
A. Just coming in and just chatting, coming in and just talking. That's all.

Q. Did you refer any of them to any authorities, either district attorney's office or other office?
A. I told them, in that we were not mandated reporters at the time, I told them they should go to the Diocese or to the police. And I also in some instances told them they should go and get some therapy.

Q. And did you give them any particulars as to where to go and to whom?
A. No, I didn't. I simply said the priest or the Diocese and in some instances; I'm not a therapist. I'm willing to talk, but you sometimes have to take them to another step and there were instances when I encouraged people to go and get some therapy.

Q. And those initial one or two persons, was that before or after the misconduct commission was established?
A. I believe so; it was before because I don't believe the misconduct committee was established prior to 1991.

Q. Did you ever contact anyone in the Diocese about these individuals?
A. No.

Q. Did you ever inform anyone in the Diocese that some individuals had come to you alleging that they had been victims of abuse by priests of the Diocese?
A. I have spoken to that of late.

Q. I'm talking about '91 or '92?
A. Okay. The Diocese never came to me. I was a young pastor. They never came to me asking how I was doing because it was like a hailstorm there for a couple of months. I thought it peculiar the Diocese never came to me. I have a support network of friends and I guess I fed off of their support during those couple of months of some difficult sessions.

Q. I'm trying to establish, Father Scahill, what you did. Was it more than one person back in '91, '92?
A. Yes.

Q. Were these both male victims?
A. Male.

Q. How many were there approximately?
A. Two.

Q. With regard to those two persons that came to you complaining that they had been victims of sexual abuse, other than telling them where they might report in the Diocese or where they might report to the police or criminal authorities, what did you do to those individuals by way of contacting yourself anyone in the Diocese?
A. Well, I gave them time. I apologized in the name of the church and the priests that they claimed. I just tried to be supportive to them. I just tried to help them.

Q. Well, what did you do to report those two names -
A. I didn't report them.

Q. Please let me finish. Let me finish, Father Scahill, and then you may respond fully.
A. I'm sorry.

Q. What did you do, if anything, to report the identity of those persons to the Diocese at that time?
A. These people were struggling with the whole issue. I simply encouraged them to do what I encouraged them to do. What they did or did not do was their choice.

Q. Did you do anything to make the Diocese aware of the existence of these two men?
A. I did not, because they came to me in confidence.

Now it is strange that this priest who excuses his own behavior from 10-12 years earliers because there was no formal requirements or policies in place is quick to condemn others for similar actions even earlier than that and those with even less direct involvement in a situation.  It seems that Fr. Scahill to his credit has done some worthy work helping survivors of clergy sexual abuse and exposing some of the perpretrators but his call for the Pope to resign is ridiculous

Cures Experienced in Lourdes

This is an interesting article from Zenit from the former head of the Lourdes Medical Bureau on the types of cures experienced in Lourdes.

LOURDES, France, FEB. 8, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The former head of the Lourdes Medical Bureau is affirming that all people can receive a cure at Our Lady's shrine if they pray and hope for it with perseverance.

Doctor Patrick Theillier, who retired from leadership of the bureau last year, stated this in an interview with France Catholique.

The cure, he explained, "might not be as spectacular as to be considered a miracle."

However, the physician added, it can affect "in a profound and lasting way the person who experiences it, in all his being, body, soul and spirit."

Doctor Theillier affirmed that "these cures are truly innumerable."

The bureau is a medical organization run by doctors that operates within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which, among other things, is responsible for the medical investigation of cures associated with the shrine.

The doctor noted that there are, of course, miraculous cures as well in Lourdes, and 67 have been officially recognized as such.

He affirmed that these miracles are sometimes "necessary," such as at the beginning of the Church. "For faith to increase, it must be supported by miracles," Doctor Theillier said.

Moral sufferings

Yet today, he continued, perhaps more than a century ago, we have a need "to be relieved from moral sufferings and the wounds of life, of a psychological-spiritual order, which goes beyond medicine."

"Here is where Lourdes responds to a very present need, which undoubtedly corresponds more to its original message," the physician stated.

He asserted that these types of "miracles" are "much greater" than the bodily cures, as souls are "regenerated." These miracles, he said, can take place if you desire them, hope with faith, and pray to God.

"Extraordinary physical cures have become rare," Doctor Theillier observed, given that "God acts in the first place through human mediation, through medicine and doctors."

This year, Lourdes will be the site of the international congress for the World Federation for the Catholic Medical Associations. The theme for this May 6-7 event will be "Medicine and Faith."

Doctor Theillier issued an invitation for all doctors worldwide to go to Lourdes on this occasion in order to network with colleagues, hear addresses on the application of faith to medicine, and make a pilgrimage as an "occasion to experience the cure that we all need."

"My hope at this time is that numerous Catholic doctors who suffer much at present because of their faith […] will come to find by Our Lady's side consolation and cure," he said.

He invited all Catholics, "Speak with your doctor!"

The physician concluded, "As those who have come to previous congresses have shown, the doctors who attend will be able to experience God's mercy in this place of graces."

Cures Experienced in Lourdes

This is an interesting article from Zenit from the former head of the Lourdes Medical Bureau on the types of cures experienced in Lourdes.

LOURDES, France, FEB. 8, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The former head of the Lourdes Medical Bureau is affirming that all people can receive a cure at Our Lady's shrine if they pray and hope for it with perseverance.

Doctor Patrick Theillier, who retired from leadership of the bureau last year, stated this in an interview with France Catholique.

The cure, he explained, "might not be as spectacular as to be considered a miracle."

However, the physician added, it can affect "in a profound and lasting way the person who experiences it, in all his being, body, soul and spirit."

Doctor Theillier affirmed that "these cures are truly innumerable."

The bureau is a medical organization run by doctors that operates within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, which, among other things, is responsible for the medical investigation of cures associated with the shrine.

The doctor noted that there are, of course, miraculous cures as well in Lourdes, and 67 have been officially recognized as such.

He affirmed that these miracles are sometimes "necessary," such as at the beginning of the Church. "For faith to increase, it must be supported by miracles," Doctor Theillier said.

Moral sufferings

Yet today, he continued, perhaps more than a century ago, we have a need "to be relieved from moral sufferings and the wounds of life, of a psychological-spiritual order, which goes beyond medicine."

"Here is where Lourdes responds to a very present need, which undoubtedly corresponds more to its original message," the physician stated.

He asserted that these types of "miracles" are "much greater" than the bodily cures, as souls are "regenerated." These miracles, he said, can take place if you desire them, hope with faith, and pray to God.

"Extraordinary physical cures have become rare," Doctor Theillier observed, given that "God acts in the first place through human mediation, through medicine and doctors."

This year, Lourdes will be the site of the international congress for the World Federation for the Catholic Medical Associations. The theme for this May 6-7 event will be "Medicine and Faith."

Doctor Theillier issued an invitation for all doctors worldwide to go to Lourdes on this occasion in order to network with colleagues, hear addresses on the application of faith to medicine, and make a pilgrimage as an "occasion to experience the cure that we all need."

"My hope at this time is that numerous Catholic doctors who suffer much at present because of their faith […] will come to find by Our Lady's side consolation and cure," he said.

He invited all Catholics, "Speak with your doctor!"

The physician concluded, "As those who have come to previous congresses have shown, the doctors who attend will be able to experience God's mercy in this place of graces."

ABC Australia Online Poll Against the Pope - Vote No

Here is a link to an ABC Australia online poll asking whether the Pope should be charged with "crimes against humanity" over the sexual abuse crisis.

These polls are obviously absurd but the media will use them to further attack the Church unless we speak up and let them know we recognize their biased attempts to discredit the Church, thereby silencing the voice of Truth which condemns their own immoral behaviors.

ABC Australia Online Poll Against the Pope - Vote No

Here is a link to an ABC Australia online poll asking whether the Pope should be charged with "crimes against humanity" over the sexual abuse crisis.

These polls are obviously absurd but the media will use them to further attack the Church unless we speak up and let them know we recognize their biased attempts to discredit the Church, thereby silencing the voice of Truth which condemns their own immoral behaviors.

Pontius Pilate Wasn't Pro-Death Just Pro-Choice

"The president is not pro-abortion, the president is pro-choice. I think they are two very different things."

The words came from Sr. Anita Baird, the founding director of the Office of Racial Justice at the Archdiocese of Chicago.   On Good Friday we had Pontius Pilate claim the same thing.  Pilate wasn't pro-death in deciding to put Jesus to death.  Afterall he believed Jesus was innocent.  Nevertheless he was pro-choice by allowing the Jews to put Jesus to death and believed that by "washing his hands" he could absolve himself of any guilt.  Nice try Sister.

Even though the actions or inaction of various Bishops in the whole sexual abuse scandal is itself a scandal that problem is really part of a larger failure on their part in that people like Sister Baird are allowed to hold key positions in Chanceries around the country.  While not minimizing the immense damage done by abusive priests to their victims their overall numbers remain small whereas the heterodoxy of Diocesan officials has done damage on a considerably larger scale.

Pontius Pilate Wasn't Pro-Death Just Pro-Choice

"The president is not pro-abortion, the president is pro-choice. I think they are two very different things."

The words came from Sr. Anita Baird, the founding director of the Office of Racial Justice at the Archdiocese of Chicago.   On Good Friday we had Pontius Pilate claim the same thing.  Pilate wasn't pro-death in deciding to put Jesus to death.  Afterall he believed Jesus was innocent.  Nevertheless he was pro-choice by allowing the Jews to put Jesus to death and believed that by "washing his hands" he could absolve himself of any guilt.  Nice try Sister.

Even though the actions or inaction of various Bishops in the whole sexual abuse scandal is itself a scandal that problem is really part of a larger failure on their part in that people like Sister Baird are allowed to hold key positions in Chanceries around the country.  While not minimizing the immense damage done by abusive priests to their victims their overall numbers remain small whereas the heterodoxy of Diocesan officials has done damage on a considerably larger scale.

Archbishop Gomez of San Antonio to Replace Cardinal Mahoney

UPDATE! The story is in fact confirmed and Archbishop Gomez will be the co-adjutor of Los Angeles until Cardinal Mahoney retires next February.  All indications are that this will be a great blessing for the country's largest Diocese.

In news first reported by Kevin Knight at New Advent and being confirmed by Rocco at Whispers in the Loggia it seems that the long rumored replacement for Cardinal Mahoney in Los Angeles will be announced at a press conference at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time Tuesday morning. It appears it will be Archbishop Gomez from the Diocese of San Antonio. I'm not too familiar with him but I did notice that he was among the first Bishops to speak about the scandal caused by Notre Dame inviting President Obama to speak last year and commented that the Presidents abortion policies were indeed in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Catholic Faith. He is a numerary in Opus Dei and was also an auxiliary under Archbishop Chaput which can only be positive.  He is a native of Mexico and understandably a prominent voice in the USCCB on the topic of immigration, also chairing the committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.  One can only hope that this will be a significant change for the several million baptized Catholics in Los Angeles which despite holding one of the largest religious education conferences in the world nevertheless seem to have among the worst catechized Catholics.  I'm speaking here from firsthand knowledge both having lived there and through continued communication with family and friends.  Pray that whoever is named the head of the L.A. Archdiocese that he will have the courage to face the chanllenges he is sure to encounter.

Archbishop Gomez of San Antonio to Replace Cardinal Mahoney

UPDATE! The story is in fact confirmed and Archbishop Gomez will be the co-adjutor of Los Angeles until Cardinal Mahoney retires next February.  All indications are that this will be a great blessing for the country's largest Diocese.

In news first reported by Kevin Knight at New Advent and being confirmed by Rocco at Whispers in the Loggia it seems that the long rumored replacement for Cardinal Mahoney in Los Angeles will be announced at a press conference at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time Tuesday morning. It appears it will be Archbishop Gomez from the Diocese of San Antonio. I'm not too familiar with him but I did notice that he was among the first Bishops to speak about the scandal caused by Notre Dame inviting President Obama to speak last year and commented that the Presidents abortion policies were indeed in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Catholic Faith. He is a numerary in Opus Dei and was also an auxiliary under Archbishop Chaput which can only be positive.  He is a native of Mexico and understandably a prominent voice in the USCCB on the topic of immigration, also chairing the committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.  One can only hope that this will be a significant change for the several million baptized Catholics in Los Angeles which despite holding one of the largest religious education conferences in the world nevertheless seem to have among the worst catechized Catholics.  I'm speaking here from firsthand knowledge both having lived there and through continued communication with family and friends.  Pray that whoever is named the head of the L.A. Archdiocese that he will have the courage to face the chanllenges he is sure to encounter.

The Descent of Jesus into Hell

While we remain sorrowful over the Passion and Death of Jesus we often overlook the joy felt by the righteous of the Old Testament who were waiting in Hell for their Redeemer to free them and bring them to Heaven. What it must have been like for St. Joseph to see Jesus again?  Or the one who "leapt in his mother's womb" when Mary who was carrying Jesus in her womb met her cousin Elizabeth?  To help understand the meaning of, He descendend into Hell, I quote the following from the Catechism of the Council of Trent.

First Part of this Article: "He Descended into Hell"

In the first part of this Article, then, we profess that immediately after the death of Christ His soul descended into hell, and dwelt there as long as His body remained in the tomb; and also that the one Person of Christ was at the same time in hell and in the sepulchre. Nor should this excite surprise; for, as we have already frequently said, although His soul was separated from His body, His Divinity was never parted from either His soul or His body.

"Hell"

As the pastor, by explaining the meaning of the word hell in this place may throw considerable light on the exposition of this Article, it is to be observed that by the word hell is not here meant the sepulchre, as some have not less impiously than ignorantly imagined; for in the preceding Article we learned that Christ the Lord was buried, and there was no reason why the Apostles, in delivering an Article of faith, should repeat the same thing in other and more obscure terms.

Hell, then, here signifies those secret abodes in which are detained the souls that have not obtained the happiness of heaven. In this sense the word is frequently used in Scripture. Thus the Apostle says: At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and in hell; and in the Acts of the Apostles St. Peter says that Christ the Lord is again risen, having loosed the sorrows of hell.

Different Abodes Called Hell"

These abodes are not all of the same nature, for among them is that most loathsome and dark prison in which the souls of the damned are tormented with the unclean spirits in eternal and inextinguishable fire. This place is called gehenna, the bottomless pit, and is hell strictly so­called.

Among them is also the fire of purgatory, in which the souls of just men are cleansed by a temporary punishment, in order to be admitted into their eternal country, into which nothing defiled entereth. The truth of this doctrine, founded, as holy Councils declare,' on Scripture, and confirmed by Apostolic tradition, demands exposition from the pastor, all the more diligent and frequent, because we live in times when men endure not sound doctrine.

Lastly, the third kind of abode is that into which the souls of the just before the coming of Christ the Lord, were received, and where, without experiencing any sort of pain, but supported by the blessed hope of redemption, they enjoyed peaceful repose. To liberate these holy souls, who, in the bosom of Abraham were expecting the Saviour, Christ the Lord descended into hell.

"He Descended"

We are not to imagine that His power and virtue only, and not also His soul, descended into hell; but we are firmly to believe that His soul itself, really and substantially, descended thither, according to this conclusive testimony of David: Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.

But although Christ descended into hell, His supreme power was in no degree lessened, nor was the splendour of His sanctity obscured by any blemish. His descent served rather to prove that whatever had been foretold of His sanctity was true; and that, as He had previously demonstrated by so many miracles, He was truly the Son of God.

This we shall easily understand by comparing the causes of the descent of Christ with those of other men. They descended as captives; He as free and victorious among the dead, to subdue those demons by whom, in consequence of guilt, they were held in captivity. Furthermore all others descended, either to endure the most acute torments, or, if exempt from other pain, to be deprived of the vision of God, and to be tortured by the delay of the glory and happiness for which they yearned; Christ the Lord descended, on the contrary, not to suffer, but to liberate the holy and the just from their painful captivity, and to impart to them the fruit of His Passion. His supreme dignity and power, therefore, suffered no diminution by His descent into hell.

Why He Descended into Hell -

To Liberate The Just

Having explained these things, the pastor should next proceed to teach that Christ the Lord descended into hell, in order that having despoiled the demons, He might liberate from prison those holy Fathers and the other just souls, and might bring them into heaven with Himself. This He accomplished in an admirable and most glorious manner; for His august presence at once shed a celestial lustre upon the captives and filled them with inconceivable joy and delight. He also imparted to them that supreme happiness which consists in the vision of God, thus verifying His promise to the thief on the cross: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

This deliverance of the just was long before predicted by Osee in these words: O death, I will be thy death; O hell, I will be thy bite; ' and also by the Prophet Zachary: Thou also by the blood of thy testament hast sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water; and lastly, the same is expressed by the Apostle in these words: Despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open show, triumphing over them in himself.

But the better to understand the efficacy of this mystery we should frequently call to mind that not only the just who were born after the coming of our Lord, but also those who preceded Him from the days of Adam, or who shall be born until the end of time, obtain their salvation through the benefit of His Passion. Wherefore before His death and Resurrection heaven was closed against every child of Adam. The souls of the just, on their departure from this life, were either borne to the bosom of Abraham; or, as is still the case with those who have something to be washed away or satisfied for, were purified in the fire of purgatory.

To Proclaim His Power

Another reason why Christ the Lord descended into hell is that there, as well as in heaven and on earth, He might proclaim His power and authority, and that every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

And here, who is not filled with admiration and astonishment when he contemplates the infinite love of God for man! Not satisfied with having undergone for our sake a most cruel death, He penetrates the inmost recesses of the earth to transport into bliss the souls whom He so dearly loved and whose liberation from thence He had achieved.

The Descent of Jesus into Hell

While we remain sorrowful over the Passion and Death of Jesus we often overlook the joy felt by the righteous of the Old Testament who were waiting in Hell for their Redeemer to free them and bring them to Heaven. What it must have been like for St. Joseph to see Jesus again?  Or the one who "leapt in his mother's womb" when Mary who was carrying Jesus in her womb met her cousin Elizabeth?  To help understand the meaning of, He descendend into Hell, I quote the following from the Catechism of the Council of Trent.

First Part of this Article: "He Descended into Hell"

In the first part of this Article, then, we profess that immediately after the death of Christ His soul descended into hell, and dwelt there as long as His body remained in the tomb; and also that the one Person of Christ was at the same time in hell and in the sepulchre. Nor should this excite surprise; for, as we have already frequently said, although His soul was separated from His body, His Divinity was never parted from either His soul or His body.

"Hell"

As the pastor, by explaining the meaning of the word hell in this place may throw considerable light on the exposition of this Article, it is to be observed that by the word hell is not here meant the sepulchre, as some have not less impiously than ignorantly imagined; for in the preceding Article we learned that Christ the Lord was buried, and there was no reason why the Apostles, in delivering an Article of faith, should repeat the same thing in other and more obscure terms.

Hell, then, here signifies those secret abodes in which are detained the souls that have not obtained the happiness of heaven. In this sense the word is frequently used in Scripture. Thus the Apostle says: At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and in hell; and in the Acts of the Apostles St. Peter says that Christ the Lord is again risen, having loosed the sorrows of hell.

Different Abodes Called Hell"

These abodes are not all of the same nature, for among them is that most loathsome and dark prison in which the souls of the damned are tormented with the unclean spirits in eternal and inextinguishable fire. This place is called gehenna, the bottomless pit, and is hell strictly so­called.

Among them is also the fire of purgatory, in which the souls of just men are cleansed by a temporary punishment, in order to be admitted into their eternal country, into which nothing defiled entereth. The truth of this doctrine, founded, as holy Councils declare,' on Scripture, and confirmed by Apostolic tradition, demands exposition from the pastor, all the more diligent and frequent, because we live in times when men endure not sound doctrine.

Lastly, the third kind of abode is that into which the souls of the just before the coming of Christ the Lord, were received, and where, without experiencing any sort of pain, but supported by the blessed hope of redemption, they enjoyed peaceful repose. To liberate these holy souls, who, in the bosom of Abraham were expecting the Saviour, Christ the Lord descended into hell.

"He Descended"

We are not to imagine that His power and virtue only, and not also His soul, descended into hell; but we are firmly to believe that His soul itself, really and substantially, descended thither, according to this conclusive testimony of David: Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.

But although Christ descended into hell, His supreme power was in no degree lessened, nor was the splendour of His sanctity obscured by any blemish. His descent served rather to prove that whatever had been foretold of His sanctity was true; and that, as He had previously demonstrated by so many miracles, He was truly the Son of God.

This we shall easily understand by comparing the causes of the descent of Christ with those of other men. They descended as captives; He as free and victorious among the dead, to subdue those demons by whom, in consequence of guilt, they were held in captivity. Furthermore all others descended, either to endure the most acute torments, or, if exempt from other pain, to be deprived of the vision of God, and to be tortured by the delay of the glory and happiness for which they yearned; Christ the Lord descended, on the contrary, not to suffer, but to liberate the holy and the just from their painful captivity, and to impart to them the fruit of His Passion. His supreme dignity and power, therefore, suffered no diminution by His descent into hell.

Why He Descended into Hell -

To Liberate The Just

Having explained these things, the pastor should next proceed to teach that Christ the Lord descended into hell, in order that having despoiled the demons, He might liberate from prison those holy Fathers and the other just souls, and might bring them into heaven with Himself. This He accomplished in an admirable and most glorious manner; for His august presence at once shed a celestial lustre upon the captives and filled them with inconceivable joy and delight. He also imparted to them that supreme happiness which consists in the vision of God, thus verifying His promise to the thief on the cross: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

This deliverance of the just was long before predicted by Osee in these words: O death, I will be thy death; O hell, I will be thy bite; ' and also by the Prophet Zachary: Thou also by the blood of thy testament hast sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water; and lastly, the same is expressed by the Apostle in these words: Despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open show, triumphing over them in himself.

But the better to understand the efficacy of this mystery we should frequently call to mind that not only the just who were born after the coming of our Lord, but also those who preceded Him from the days of Adam, or who shall be born until the end of time, obtain their salvation through the benefit of His Passion. Wherefore before His death and Resurrection heaven was closed against every child of Adam. The souls of the just, on their departure from this life, were either borne to the bosom of Abraham; or, as is still the case with those who have something to be washed away or satisfied for, were purified in the fire of purgatory.

To Proclaim His Power

Another reason why Christ the Lord descended into hell is that there, as well as in heaven and on earth, He might proclaim His power and authority, and that every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

And here, who is not filled with admiration and astonishment when he contemplates the infinite love of God for man! Not satisfied with having undergone for our sake a most cruel death, He penetrates the inmost recesses of the earth to transport into bliss the souls whom He so dearly loved and whose liberation from thence He had achieved.

Scenes From the Passion of Jesus

Scenes from the Passion painted by the artist Hans Memling.

Scenes From the Passion of Jesus

Scenes from the Passion painted by the artist Hans Memling.

Hope We CAN Believe In

Here is Hope we can believe in.

Hope We CAN Believe In

Here is Hope we can believe in.

Feast of St. Nuno

Today is the feast of Saint Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira of the Order of Malta.  This is taken from an article I wrote for in the recent issue of Hospitaller, the newsletter of the American Association of the Order of Malta.

The most recent member of the Order of Malta to be canonized is ironically a member who died almost 600 years ago. Additionally he will be most remembered for his sanctity as a lay brother of the Carmelites which he joined after the death of his wife and marriage of his youngest daughter. Still the life of this former Knight and Prior of our Order provides us an excellent reflection of someone who balanced the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and who most likely and equally fulfilled the precepts TUITIO FIDEI ET OBSEQUIUM PAUPERUM.

St. Nuno de Santa Maria Àlvares Pereira was a Knight of Rhodes by the age of 23, the 3rd Count of Ourem and the Prior of Crato, the headquarters of the Knights in Portugal. At this time he was appointed Constable, the commander of the military, by the new King whom he helped bring to power. Later through the marriage of his daughter Beatrice he became founder of the Bragança royal family dynasty. A majority of the Catholic royal families in Europe claim lineage from him, including Blessed Charles of Austria, another of the blesseds of our Order. Other descendants include Queen Isabella of Spain, Catherine of Aragorn and her daughter Mary Tudor.

As a Knight, St. Nuno never shared in the spoils of his victories and always treated his enemies justly. During the long war with the Kingdom of Castile, he would cross the border to bring food to the people suffering from famine and to provide for the widows and orphans of the war. Once he was so hungry he traded his horse for six loaves of bread only to encounter six English knights equally famished. In a noble gesture he gave away each of the loaves. At the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385 his forces, greatly outnumbered, stopped an invasion by Castilian troops who supported the Avignon anti-pope. He attributed this victory to Our Lady whose name was inscribed on his sword.

Despite many achievements he hated war and his military capabilities were tempered by a deep spirituality, a profound love of the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin, the foundations of his interior life. Totally dedicated to Marian prayer, he fasted in Mary’s honor on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and on the vigil of her feasts. His personal standard bore the image of the cross, of Mary and of the saintly knights James and George. He also spread devotion to the Rosary and brown scapular throughout Portugal.

St. Nuno believed prayer, penance and commitment to the poor and needy, to be the true calling of nobility. So following his daughter’s marriage he exchanged his worldly titles to become Brother Nuno of St. Mary and gave most of his remaining wealth to the poor and orphans. He also built several Churches including the Carmelite Monastery in Lisbon which he later entered. The Confraternity of the Holy Constable which he founded evolved into the modern Carmelite Third Order.

Saint Nuno died on Easter Sunday while the Passion was being read to him, at the words, “Behold thy Mother.” He was canonized by Pope Benedict on April 26, 2009.

More information can be found at http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/2009/ns_lit_doc_20090426_nuno_en.html

http://www.insidethevatican.com/newsflash/2009/newsflash-apr-15-09.htm

Collect from the Missal of the Order

O God, who called blessed Nonius to lay down the weapons of this world and follow Christ under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, grant through the intercession of this former member of our Order that we too may deny ourselves and cling to you with all our hearts. Through the same Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Feast of St. Nuno

Today is the feast of Saint Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira of the Order of Malta.  This is taken from an article I wrote for in the recent issue of Hospitaller, the newsletter of the American Association of the Order of Malta.

The most recent member of the Order of Malta to be canonized is ironically a member who died almost 600 years ago. Additionally he will be most remembered for his sanctity as a lay brother of the Carmelites which he joined after the death of his wife and marriage of his youngest daughter. Still the life of this former Knight and Prior of our Order provides us an excellent reflection of someone who balanced the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and who most likely and equally fulfilled the precepts TUITIO FIDEI ET OBSEQUIUM PAUPERUM.

St. Nuno de Santa Maria Àlvares Pereira was a Knight of Rhodes by the age of 23, the 3rd Count of Ourem and the Prior of Crato, the headquarters of the Knights in Portugal. At this time he was appointed Constable, the commander of the military, by the new King whom he helped bring to power. Later through the marriage of his daughter Beatrice he became founder of the Bragança royal family dynasty. A majority of the Catholic royal families in Europe claim lineage from him, including Blessed Charles of Austria, another of the blesseds of our Order. Other descendants include Queen Isabella of Spain, Catherine of Aragorn and her daughter Mary Tudor.

As a Knight, St. Nuno never shared in the spoils of his victories and always treated his enemies justly. During the long war with the Kingdom of Castile, he would cross the border to bring food to the people suffering from famine and to provide for the widows and orphans of the war. Once he was so hungry he traded his horse for six loaves of bread only to encounter six English knights equally famished. In a noble gesture he gave away each of the loaves. At the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385 his forces, greatly outnumbered, stopped an invasion by Castilian troops who supported the Avignon anti-pope. He attributed this victory to Our Lady whose name was inscribed on his sword.

Despite many achievements he hated war and his military capabilities were tempered by a deep spirituality, a profound love of the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin, the foundations of his interior life. Totally dedicated to Marian prayer, he fasted in Mary’s honor on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and on the vigil of her feasts. His personal standard bore the image of the cross, of Mary and of the saintly knights James and George. He also spread devotion to the Rosary and brown scapular throughout Portugal.

St. Nuno believed prayer, penance and commitment to the poor and needy, to be the true calling of nobility. So following his daughter’s marriage he exchanged his worldly titles to become Brother Nuno of St. Mary and gave most of his remaining wealth to the poor and orphans. He also built several Churches including the Carmelite Monastery in Lisbon which he later entered. The Confraternity of the Holy Constable which he founded evolved into the modern Carmelite Third Order.

Saint Nuno died on Easter Sunday while the Passion was being read to him, at the words, “Behold thy Mother.” He was canonized by Pope Benedict on April 26, 2009.

More information can be found at http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/2009/ns_lit_doc_20090426_nuno_en.html

http://www.insidethevatican.com/newsflash/2009/newsflash-apr-15-09.htm

Collect from the Missal of the Order

O God, who called blessed Nonius to lay down the weapons of this world and follow Christ under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, grant through the intercession of this former member of our Order that we too may deny ourselves and cling to you with all our hearts. Through the same Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.