This is amazing: Catholics do not understand Motu Proprio “Maiorem hac dilectionem”?

Cardinal, Francis Xavier Van Thuan

may be another example 

of 'the offering of life'.

A few Catholics online seem to be questioning the new Motu Proprio.

It's fine to question, to delve into the reasons for it, but as a Catholic, it doesn't seem to be a great mystery to me.   I don't understand why Catholics online are so sceptical.  (It reminds me of those who reject the notion that as Pope, JPII could add five new decades of the rosary.)  Maybe the skeptics aren't cradle Catholics?  Maybe they don't really understand mystical theology?  Maybe it's the influence of Protestant teaching on One Mediator and so on; even though, as we read St. Paul's testimony in his own case, he clearly embraced, and even rejoiced in his sufferings, declaring, "in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church."

FYI on the motu proprio from Zenit:

Pope Francis opened the possibility of a new way for the processes of Beatification and Canonization: “the offering of life,” which is added to the martyrdom and heroic virtues. Here is our complete translation of the Apostolic Letter in the form of the Motu Proprio “maiorem hac dilectionem,” published on this matter on July 11, 2017. - Text here.

It seems to me the new consideration in the process of beatification is not all that 'new', since there are saints who have exemplified this aspect of a total gift of self who have already been canonized.  I'm thinking of Edith Stein, Maximillian Kolbe, and so on.  Perhaps the Trappist Martyrs of Atlas would also fit this category?  And certainly Cardinal, Francis Xavier Van Thuan.

I may be wrong on the victim soul thing, but ...

However, it seems to me "maiorem hac dilectionem" may also open the way for so-called victim souls.  I'm not sure, but the 20th Century seemed to have plenty of them.  Adrienne von Speyr, Maria Sieler, Consolata Betrone, and Josepha Menedez immediately come to mind as holy souls who made a heroic offering of their lives as victim souls.  Never forget, the saints are not canonized for their spiritual gifts, such as stigmata, but for heroic virtue.  The women mentioned made the heroic offering of their lives for the sake of souls, especially priests, and so on.  It has traditionally been understood as 'white martyrdom'.  In that respect, I would think countless Carmelites and Poor Clares could be considered for beatification.

It is terribly important to understand the vocation of victim souls and those who make 'a heroic offering of charity' - specifically the theological and mystical definition.  To help in this, I reprint something from another post I did on a similar topic.  It's reprinted from the comment box of the post and is from Jordan Aumann, OP:

Offering Oneself as Victim. 

It would seem that it is impossible to go further in love of the Cross than to prefer sorrow to pleasure. Nevertheless, there is still another more perfect degree in the love of suffering: the act of offering oneself as a victim of expiation for the sin"s of the world. At the very outset, we must insist that this sublime act is completely above the ordinary way of grace. It would be a terrible presumption for a beginner or an imperfectly purified soul to place itself in this state. "To be called a victim is easy and it pleases self-love, but truly to be a victim demands a purity, a detachment from creatures, and a heroic abandonment to all kinds of suffering, to humiliation, to ineffable obscurity, that I would consider it either foolish or miraculous if one who is at the beginning of the spiritual life should attempt to do that which the divine Master did not do except by degrees." (14)

The theological basis of offering oneself as a victim of expiation for the salvation of souls or for any other supernatural motive such as reparation for the glory of God, liberating the souls in purgatory, attracting the divine mercy to the Church, the priesthood, one's country, or a particular soul, is the supernatural solidarity established by God among the members of the Mystical Body of Christ, whether actual or potential. Presupposing the solidarity in Christ that is common to all Christians, God selects certain holy souls, and particularly those who have offered themselves knowingly for this work, so that by their merits and sacrifices they may contribute to the application of the merits of the redemption by Christ. A typical example of this can be found in St. Catherine of Siena, whose most ardent desire was to give her life for the Church. "The only cause of my death," said the saint, "is my zeal for the Church of God, which devours and consumes me. Accept, O Lord, the sacrifices of my life for the Mystical Body of thy holy Church." She was also a victim soul for particular individuals. Other examples of victim souls are St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Gemma Galgani, and Sister Elizabeth of the Trinity.

In practice, the offering of oneself as a victim for souls should never be permitted except to souls of whom the Holy Spirit asks it with a persistent and irresistible motion of grace. It should be noted that, rather than contributing to the sanctification of the individual (although it does add something), this particular act is ordained to the spiritual benefit of others. The soul that would give itself in this way for the salvation of others must itself be intimately united with God and must have traveled a long way toward its own perfection in charity. It must be a soul well schooled in suffering and even have a thirst for suffering. Under these conditions the spiritual director could prudently permit a soul to make this oblation of self as a victim soul. Then, if God accepts the offering, the soul can become a faithful reproduction of the divine Martyr of Calvary. - Jordan Aumann, OP

Thinking with the Church.

It seems to me the problem of accepting anything from the Vatican these days is because people have been confused by what is reported and what is taught.  Some are mistrustful because "ambiguity seems deliberately written into documents" even though they read their own fears and suspicions into the so-called tainted documents.  They make snap judgments based on "a quick reading" adding fuel to conspiracy theories regarding papal teachings.  The lack of study into criteria for canonization, or understanding the reason so called 'ordinary souls' are elevated to the altars, as well as a lack of sound Catholic training in mystical theology, may account for their own confusion.  Criteria for canonization in Orthodox churches differs from out own, just as their lack of acceptance of Roman Catholic proclamations concerning the Virgin Mary, not to mention the Christological differences with the Copts especially.

It's a shame how Catholics can wreak such confusion by what they post online.  The fake interview comments by former CDF Cardinal Mueller and the rumors of a commission to redo Humanae Vitae are clear examples of the misinformation generated on social media by those who distrust Pope Francis.  

Having said all of that, the criteria for beatification and canonization still includes the necessity of a posthumous miracle for each step; beatification, canonization.  (So don't worry about Bill Gates getting canonized.)  Likewise, veneration of the saints takes nothing away from Christ but adds to it.  People need to go back to thinking like a Catholic - not just worrying about some arcane outward identity.  If you think like a Catholic, you think and act with the Church, One Holy and Apostolic.  If you want to be Russian Orthodox, Greek or Copt, or you want to be Anglican - do that.  If you want to be Catholic - think and act in accord with the Church.

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Update: I just noted Fr. Z has an excellent post on heroic virtue and ordinary virtue as it fits into the process for canonization.  Go here.

I wish I could live here ...

-source-

And never leave.

I've been thinking of this photo since I first saw it at Badger's blog.

Doesn't it 'lift up your heart' though?  It does mine.  Such beauty.

It brings to mind the psalm, "One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere..."

And, "I had rather lie abject on the threshold of the house of God, than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

I could be like the sparrow who finds a home there, close to His altars.  If I could, I would be content to remain there, hidden, off to the side, so as not to scandalize anyone.

The Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ

 

“You know that you were redeemed from the vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, not with perishable things as silver or gold but with the Precious Blood of Christ as the Lamb without blemish and without spot.” - 1 Peter

July 1 is the feast day of the most Precious Blood of Jesus, while the entire month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood.  I can tell you from experience that devotion to the Precious Blood is especially efficacious for obtaining the grace of contrition after falling into sin.  Likewise it is a powerful remedy against sins of the flesh.  I highly recommend recitation of the Litany of the Precious Blood, especially if you feel bound by a particular sin.

Devotion to the Precious Blood is not a spiritual option, it is a spiritual obligation, and that not only for priests, but for every follower of Christ. I really believe, and I hesitate even saying this, but I really believe that one of the symptoms of modern society (and I would even include, sadly, modern Catholic society) one of the symptoms of a growing, gnawing secularism is the lessening and the weakening of devotion to the Precious Blood.  

Devotion, as we know, is a composite of three elements: It is first- veneration, it is secondly- invocation, and it is thirdly- imitation. In other words, devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ, the Lamb of God who was slain, is first of all to be veneration on our part, which is a composite of knowledge, love and adoration. We are to study to come to a deeper understanding of what those two - I am afraid for many people - casual words, Precious Blood, really mean.
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To understand the meaning of the Precious Blood we must (otherwise the mystery will be lost on us), we must get some comprehension of the gravity of sin, of the awfulness of offending God, because it required the Blood of the Son of God to forgive that sin. We are living in an age in which to sin has become fashionable. But we believe that we are here for only a very short time. We further believe that Christ when He told us the way that leads to damnation is broad and many there are who walk that way, that the way that leads to eternal life is narrow and there are few who walk that way. - Fr. Hardon

Our Lady in Advent

Get ready!

If you haven't made the novena - you can start and finish one today - the day before the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Offer your prayer today, and ask Our Lady to accept it as if you had prayed and fasted all nine days.

If you can't make a pilgrimage to Guadalupe, you can visit your parish church in honor of Our Lady and ask her to accept your visit as if you had walked barefoot to her shrine in Mexico City.

If you can't do that, you can sit quietly in your room, prayerfully unite yourself to all of those who have made the pilgrimage, as well as the whole Church, who honors Our Lady on her feast, and be confident that your desire to honor Our Lady is pleasing to her and gives glory to the Blessed Trinity.

The laborer, the poor, the lame, the shut-in cannot always make costly pilgrimages, but they can do so spiritually, in their hearts.  It can be as efficacious as making a Spiritual Communion.  Some of the saints did such things with so much fervor, some were given the grace of bilocation.

You don't have to do any of that however, and you surely do not have to take my word for it.



 

Christ the Crucified King

I woke up thinking of Blessed Angela of Foligno this morning, and something she said about Christ Crucified as the one book necessary to her.  I once wrote about it someplace else:  "The blessed Angela suffered many tears and painful sufferings throughout the stages of her conversion. The only relief she found was the contemplation of Jesus and him crucified, which became the one 'book' necessary to her for instruction as well as consolation, and more importantly, the love necessary to do "penance, as long and as hard as life itself" as she so often phrased it."

It is what I meant in saying that the icon of Christ in the Sanctum Sanctorum is better than any homily on Christ as King.

There is so much written, so much studied, so many books...

Christ crucified.

“Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm;
For stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion;
its flames are a blazing fire.
Deep waters cannot quench love nor floods sweep it away.” - Song of Songs, 8: 6-7

Feast of the Precious Blood of Jesus

Blood and water flowing from the side of Christ, I trust in you.

The May Altar

Our Lady's Month
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When I was little I used to set up a May altar in my room.  We did the same thing in Catholic school classroom, as well as in the church.  At school the practice consisted of decorating the area around Our Lady's statue in the classroom with cut spring flowers in nice vases placed on doilies, the area thus properly prepared, the crowning of the Blessed Virgin's statue with a wreath of flowers - usually plastic - took place.  Kids do not care if the flowers are plastic.  Even the boys thought it was pretty and it not only inspired but instilled devotion.
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Likewise, in the church Our Lady's altar was decorated to the hilt, candles, flowers, linens, garland, and the Blessed Virgin was solemnly crowned.  In some parishes another statue of the Blessed Virgin was placed in front of the sanctuary, and similarly decorated and crowned.  Many parishes with schools continue this practice, while devout parents continue to erect May altars of some form in their homes.  The purpose is of course to honor Our Lady, Mother of God and our Mother, to recognize her queenship and exalted relationship to the most Holy Trinity, as well as to foster and deepen devotion to the Blessed Virgin - to thank her and to implore her protection and assistance.
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I personally do not do anything like this any more since I have a nice image and space dedicated to Our Lady already - and I'm not a flowery type of guy anyway - and I hate doilies and stuff like that.  Nevertheless, I think it is wonderful when people do such tributes to Our Lady, and I guarantee you - it makes a deep and lasting impression upon children.  I think a family should consider gathering to make a solemn consecration to the Blessed Virgin, accompanied by the May crowning in their home.  I think it would do wonders for the family - no matter how unconventional your family might be.  And don't forget to pray the rosary every day - the shrine to Our Lady functions as our reminder to do so.
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Origins of the May Altar.
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To the specific characteristics of the May devotion is to be counted the specially set up May altar - be it as an addition to or specially decorated altar in the church or as a "house altar" in the family circle. Like the May devotions themselves, the custom to highlight this type of May altar stems from southern European countries. A report from France in 1842 speaks of Our Lady's altar in May showing off in rich splendor, while the families also erected and decorated small home altars.
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All of nature awakened to new life in springtime is presented to honor Mary, who is herself "a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys" (Song of Songs 2,1). This form of devotion was influence and furthered, for example, in Treatise on True Devotion to Mary by Louis de Montfort, who, among other things, counted the decoration of Marian altars a chief exercise of Marian devotion. - Finish reading.
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Pagan origins?
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Not to worry.  Many like to claim the May celebrations are actually rooted in ancient pagan festivals such as the cult of the May Queen and Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, commemorated with the Maypole decorated with flowers and garlands, originally the instrument used in ritual celebrations. 
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Be that as it may, these things have nothing in common with the veneration Catholics give to Our Lady during the month of May, as the author of the forward to Cardinal Newman's Extracts from "Meditations and Devotions" explains: "In ancient times, the month of May was dedicated to sexual love with its rites in honour of Pan. The Church has done an astonishing sublime deed in transforming these pagan and sensual rites into the cult of the Most Pure Virgin ! The month of May is the Spring of the year, and Mary is the Spring of Grace; the month of May is the month of flowers, and Mary is "The Flower," the Mystical Rose."
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Example of a home May Altar. (source)

Porziuncula Indulgence

The Great Pardon of Assisi
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In a vision at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, the Lord, accompanied by the Blessed Virgin, instructed St. Francis of Assisi to ask whatever favor he desired. St. Francis asked for what came to be known as the Porziuncula Indulgence, otherwise known as the Great Pardon of Assisi. He asked that those who would devoutly visit the Chapel would be forgiven all of their sins and the punishment due them. (This remarkable pardon is similar to the 20th century feast of Divine Mercy.)

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At one time, the Pardon was reserved for those who would visit the Chapel on the afternoon of the 1st and all day on the 2nd of August, the 2nd being the feast of Our Lady of the Angels. Over the centuries, the Popes have extended the favor to include every parish Church, beginning at noon of the 1st and ending at midnight of the 2nd of August. (This type of plenary indulgence is known as toties quoties.)

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To obtain the plenary indulgence, a person must visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels at Assisi, a Franciscan sanctuary, or one's parish Church, with the intention of honoring Our Lady of the Angels. (At the Chapel in Assisi, the indulgence may be gained on any day throughout the year.)

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One must be free of any attachment to venial and mortal sin, and truly repentant. Therefore, it is necessary to make Sacramental Confession, preferably 8 days before or after the visit. It is also necessary to assist at Mass and receive Holy Communion 8 days before or after the feast, although communicating on the feast is customary. It is also required that a person recite the Creed and pray the Our Father, for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Blessed Pierina di Micheli

Mother Maria Pierina di Micheli was beatified this past weekend at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.  I had heard of Mother Pierina when I was younger, and became interested in her because of her devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.  My devotion to the Holy Face was first inspired by the Carmelites who introduced me to the revelations of Sr. Marie of St. Pierre, the French Carmelite who promoted the devotion to Veronica's Veil.  It seems to me this devotion remains very much necessary in our day.
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 *CNA 

Mother Maria Pierina De Micheli was beatified in Rome on Sunday. Although the Pope was not present at the rite, after the Angelus he commended her for her "extraordinary devotion" to the Holy Face of Christ.

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The beatification ceremony, presided over by the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Archbishop Angelo Amato, took place on Trinity Sunday at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.*

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"I firmly wish that my face reflecting the intimate pains

of my soul, the suffering and love of my heart, be more

honoured! Whoever gazes upon me already consoles me."

(Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sister Pierina)

The Holy Child in Lent

Following Carmelite tradition (in some monasteries), today initiates the novena to the Infant Jesus.  I continue this tradition of the monthly novena as part of my private prayer, and it remains my one contact with the Carmelite nuns since my sister died.
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During Lent the character of the devotion is more somber for me, recalling that Jesus knew from the moment of his conception what was to befall him - that he came to give his life for our salvation, as the prayer from the fourth day reminds us, "O Jesus, your Holy Name proclaimed, even from the moment of your conception, your mission as Savior."
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As usual I pray for all of you who read me, and for those I promised to pray for, as well as those I'm obliged to pray for.  In addition, this month I pray especially for children who suffer and or are abused, children who are ill (little Philip), the poor and homeless.  Children deprived of the faith.  Children living in irregular families, children held captive, and so on.
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Photo: Santo Nino Cautivo.  Protector of the kidnapped or abducted, especially those children of any age who have been similarly caught up in vice, drugs, slavery, difficult circumstance and life problems.

Almost Like a Brigittine Rosary...

Eighteen decades worth.

Art: Source