Forgotten Catholic traditions to aid your spiritual life

Why pray to St. Anthony to find something lost? Why keep a St. Christopher medal in your car? Why bury a statue of St. Joseph (upside down!) in your yard when selling your house? New converts and cradle Catholics alike are often perplexed by the myriad of devotions, traditions, practices, and beliefs that the Catholic Church has accumulated over the past twenty centuries. How can we understand these many practices and devotions? In these pages, Dr. Helen Hoffner explains how the treasures and traditions of our Faith remind us of our roots and also lead us toward our heavenly destination. With lovingly-illustrated, encyclopedic pages you’ll find succinct, and sometimes amusing, answers to hundreds of questions relating to Catholic practices. Author Helen Hoffner This delightful book explains the origin and nature of most of the common traditions of the Catholic Faith, as well as the source and meaning of many of the quaint and obscure ones. From Forty Hours to First Fridays and from Holy Hours to Holy Days, you’ll find in these pages an informative, delightful compendium of the Catholic way of life. Among the many traditions and treasures explained are . . . Advent Calendars     The Angelus     Bathtub Madonnas     Crucifixes     Divine Mercy     The Divine Office     First Fridays     Genuflecting     Holy Cards     Holy Days     Holy Oils    The Holy See     House Blessings     Icons     Jesse Trees     Litanies     The Liturgical Year   Marian Apparitions     Novenas     Patron Saints   Penance     Prayer Corners     Prayers for the Dead     Relics     Religious Medals     Religious Orders     The Roman Curia     The Sacraments   The Sacred Heart   St. Francis Statues     Stations of the Cross     Vestments     Votive Candles   And more! Catholic Traditions and Treasures: An Illustrated Encyclopedia Written by Helen Hoffner Illustrated by Deirdre Folley Hardback — 144 pages List price: $19.95  Today's Sale Price: $15.99! BUY NOW One of the greatest treasures of our Catholic Faith is the Communion of Saints. Their lives and writings are powerful sources of inspiration and support on our journey to Heaven. How often do you find time to read the saints' writings? My Daily Visit with the Saints makes it easy to stay close to the holy men and women who have gone before you. Meditations from over 65 saints cover 139 vital topics ranging from anger to mortal sin to death and much more. In strong, clear voices the saints left us these prayerful meditations, sure protection against sudden temptations, and lucid answers to sharp questions about the Faith. This rich volume will serve you as a deep catechism, a spur to conscience, and a call to prayer. Let your daily visit with God’s faithful servants breathe into you a strong new spirit of piety and devotion, and bring you the everlasting consolation known only to those who stay close to Jesus in all that they do.   Get BOTH books for only $19.99! BUY NOW Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com Get one book a month for only $15? Learn more:

Wisdom from Jason Evert

The human body reveals that man is alone among all earthly creatures as a person. Unlike the animals, he is not an irrational beast, driven purely by instinct. He is a subject: a person with a conscience who is aware of himself and is capable of self-determination. Therefore, Adam’s solitude is a reference to his uniqueness as a person within creation.

—JASON EVERT from Theology of the Body in One Hour

Wisdom from Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

In the globalized but shrinking world, unless you are a corporate giant, you are a non-entity. You got to be big. In the spiritual world, things begin with little things: a little band of 12 Apostles, 72 disciples, a tiny group of missionaries like Paul and Barnabas, etc. It is not about how big and great you are, but about how big and great your God is.

More Wisdom from Frank Sheed

The union of Christians with Christ is no mere union of love and obedience; it is a living, organic unity. Branches are not simply a society that the vine decides to found and take a kindly interest in. The vine lives in the branches, the branches live in the vine, live with the very life of the vine.

—FRANK SHEED from Theology for Beginners

How to think Like Aquinas

About St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope John XXII said: “A man can derive more profit in a year from his books than from pondering all his life the teaching of others.” And Pope Pius XI added: “We now say to all who are desirous of the truth: ‘Go to St. Thomas.’ ” But when we do go to Thomas and open his massive Summa Theologica or other works, we’re quickly overwhelmed. If we find him hard to read, how can we even begin to “think like Aquinas?” Now comes Kevin Vost, the best-selling author of The One-Minute Aquinas, armed with a recently rediscovered letter St. Thomas himself wrote. The brief letter was sent to a young novice monk giving practical, sage advice about how to study, how to think, and even how to live. In this letter written almost 800 years ago, St. Thomas reveals his unique powers of intellect and will, and explains how anyone can fathom and explain even the loftiest truths. Vost and St. Thomas will teach you how to dissect logical fallacies, heresies, and half-truths that continue to pollute our world with muddy thinking. Best of all, you’ll find a fully-illustrated set of exercises to improve your intellectual powers of memory, understanding, logical reasoning, shrewdness, foresight, circumspection, and practical wisdom. You’ll also learn:   The four steps to training your memory   How to know your mental powers – and their limits   Why critical thinking alone is insufficient for reaching the truth   Twenty common fallacies – and how to spot them   The key to effectively reading any book   How to set your intellect free by avoiding worldly entanglements   How to commit key truths to memory Pius XI called St. Thomas Aquinas the “model” for those who want to “pursue their studies to the best advantage and with the greatest profit to themselves.” Leo XIII urged us all to “follow the example of St. Thomas.” Over the centuries, dozens of other popes have praised him. Surely it is time to listen to these good men, time to “go to Thomas,” to learn to think like him, and, yes, even to live like him. How to Think Like Aquinas: The Sure Way to Perfect Your Mental Powers by Kevin Vost Paperback — 256 pages List price: $18.95  Today's Sale Price: $14.99! BUY NOW Further guided by St. Thomas Aquinas, Kevin Vost explains how you can discover, understand, and perfect each of your God-given ten talents. Do you know what your ten talents are? Do you know what God wants you to do with your life? Let Kevin Vost help you unearth them, and show you how to multiply them a hundredfold. In the process, you will . . . Develop your noble ability to reason   Strengthen your faculties of mind   Perfect your physical capacities for beauty of form and grace   Nurture your ability to act angelically   Prepare yourself to live that life which is proper to a being made in the image of God Don't ignore your talents any longer, or leave them buried. Get TWO books for only $24.99! BUY NOW Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com Get one book a month for only $15? Learn more:

More Wisdom from Fr. Andrew Apostoli

[The Angel of Peace said to the children at Fatima,] ‘Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which he is offended.’ Reparation is very important. Reparation means that I tell God, ‘I love you’ for the person who told God, ‘I hate you.’ God’s honor is offended, and we who believe must make reparation for that. We must pray for the person who offends God. We try to undo the evil that he did. Reparation is a key to Fatima.

—FR. ANDREW APOSTOLI from The Message of Our Lady of Fatima

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B October 28, 2018

First Reading
Jeremiah 31:7-9
The Lord declares himself to be the Father of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6
A song of praise to God who does great things

Second Reading
Hebrews 5:1-6
Christ was made high priest by God.

Gospel Reading
Mark 10:46-52
Jesus restores sight to the blind man, Bartimaeus

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.


Background on the Gospel Reading

Today we continue to read from Mark's Gospel. In this Gospel, we find
evidence of Jesu' fame in the sizable crowd that accompanies him as he
journeys to Jerusalem. Jesus' reputation as a healer has preceded him.
When the blind man, Bartimaeus, hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing
by, he calls out to him, asking for his pity.

When Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, the crowd around him tries to silence
him. Yet Bartimaeus persists, calling out more loudly and with greater
urgency. He will not be silenced or deterred from getting Jesus'
attention. We notice how quickly the crowd's reaction changes when Jesus
calls for Bartimaeus. Those who sought to quiet him now encourage him.

When Jesus restores Bartimaeus's sight, no elaborate action is required.
(In other healing stories in Mark's Gospel, actions accompany Jesus'
words). In this instance, Jesus simply says that Bartimaeus's faith has
saved him. Throughout Mark's Gospel, the success of Jesus' healing power
has often been correlated with the faith of the person requesting Jesus'
help. For example, it is because of her faith that the woman with the
hemorrhage is healed. When faith is absent, Jesus is unable to heal; we
see this after his rejection in Nazareth.

Once his sight has been restored, Bartimaeus follows Jesus on his way to
Jerusalem. In Mark's Gospel, Bartimaeus is the last disciple called by
Jesus before he enters Jerusalem. Bartimaeus hears that Jesus of Nazareth
is passing by, but he calls out to Jesus using words of faith—"Son of
David." Many in Jesus' time believed that the anticipated Jewish Messiah
would be a descendent of King David. Bartimaeus's words prepare us for the
final episodes of Mark's Gospel, which begin with Jesus' preparation for
the Passover and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As Mark has shown us
in our readings over the past few Sundays, however, Jesus will be the
Messiah in a way that will be difficult for many to accept. Jesus will
show himself to be the Messiah through his suffering and death.


Family Connection

Today's Gospel offers us a powerful example of faith and persistence in
prayer. Those around him rebuked Bartimaeus for his efforts to attract
Jesus' attention. When silenced by the crowd, however, Bartimaeus called
out all the more. He is persistent and bold in his confidence that Jesus
will show mercy on him and do what he asks. His persistence and great
confidence that Jesus would help him reminds us of the confidence with
which our children bring to us their needs. In their faith and trust we
can find an example of the attitude with which we might approach God in
prayer.

As a family, recall a request that has been made repeatedly by one family
member to another. Talk about why the request continues to be made if the
answer continues to be no. Then read together today's Gospel, Mark
10:46-52. After reading the Gospel, pose questions such as these to your
family: Why must Bartimaeus be persistent in calling out to Jesus? (Some
people in the crowd are telling him to be quiet.) What does Bartimaeus do
when some try to stop him? (He calls out to Jesus all the more.) When
Jesus stops and calls for him, what does Jesus do and say? (He restores
Bartimaeus's sight; Jesus tells Bartimaeus his faith has saved him.) When
we pray, God wants us to be so confident he will help us that we don't
permit anyone to keep us from bringing our needs to God in prayer. Invite
family members to identify the things they need most from God. Pray these
prayers of petition together as a family, confident that God will hear and
answer your prayers. Respond to each petition, "Jesus, Son of David, have
pity on us." Conclude by praying the Glory Be to the Father.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings

Wisdom from Saint Claude de la Colombière

Really humble people are never scandalized: they know their own weakness too well; they know that they themselves are so close to the edge of the precipice and they are so afraid of falling over that they are not at all astonished to see others do so.

—ST. CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIÈRE from The Spiritual Direction of St. Claude de la Colombière

Forgotten Catholic traditions to aid your spiritual life

Why pray to St. Anthony to find something lost? Why keep a St. Christopher medal in your car? Why bury a statue of St. Joseph (upside down!) in your yard when selling your house? New converts and cradle Catholics alike are often perplexed by the myriad of devotions, traditions, practices, and beliefs that the Catholic Church has accumulated over the past twenty centuries. How can we understand these many practices and devotions? In these pages, Dr. Helen Hoffner explains how the treasures and traditions of our Faith remind us of our roots and also lead us toward our heavenly destination. With lovingly-illustrated, encyclopedic pages you’ll find succinct, and sometimes amusing, answers to hundreds of questions relating to Catholic practices. Author Helen Hoffner This delightful book explains the origin and nature of most of the common traditions of the Catholic Faith, as well as the source and meaning of many of the quaint and obscure ones. From Forty Hours to First Fridays and from Holy Hours to Holy Days, you’ll find in these pages an informative, delightful compendium of the Catholic way of life. Among the many traditions and treasures explained are . . . Advent Calendars     The Angelus     Bathtub Madonnas     Crucifixes     Divine Mercy     The Divine Office     First Fridays     Genuflecting     Holy Cards     Holy Days     Holy Oils    The Holy See     House Blessings     Icons     Jesse Trees     Litanies     The Liturgical Year   Marian Apparitions     Novenas     Patron Saints   Penance     Prayer Corners     Prayers for the Dead     Relics     Religious Medals     Religious Orders     The Roman Curia     The Sacraments   The Sacred Heart   St. Francis Statues     Stations of the Cross     Vestments     Votive Candles   And more! Catholic Traditions and Treasures: An Illustrated Encyclopedia Written by Helen Hoffner Illustrated by Deirdre Folley Hardback — 144 pages List price: $19.95  Today's Sale Price: $15.99! BUY NOW One of the greatest treasures of our Catholic Faith is the Communion of Saints. Their lives and writings are powerful sources of inspiration and support on our journey to Heaven. How often do you find time to read the saints' writings? My Daily Visit with the Saints makes it easy to stay close to the holy men and women who have gone before you. Meditations from over 65 saints cover 139 vital topics ranging from anger to mortal sin to death and much more. In strong, clear voices the saints left us these prayerful meditations, sure protection against sudden temptations, and lucid answers to sharp questions about the Faith. This rich volume will serve you as a deep catechism, a spur to conscience, and a call to prayer. Let your daily visit with God’s faithful servants breathe into you a strong new spirit of piety and devotion, and bring you the everlasting consolation known only to those who stay close to Jesus in all that they do.   Get BOTH books for only $19.99! BUY NOW Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com Get one book a month for only $15? Learn more: