Abbey-Roads2

Holding a rosary, Our Lady told Bernadette:  “Pray to God for sinners.”

“In a society which is barely conscious of the ills which assail it, which conceals its miseries and injustices beneath a prosperous, glittering, and trouble-free exterior, the Immaculate Virgin, whom sin has never touched, manifests herself to an innocent child. With a mother’s compassion she looks upon this world redeemed by her Son’s blood, where sin accomplishes so much ruin daily, and three times makes her urgent appeal: “Penance, penance, penance!” She even appeals for outward expressions: “Go kiss the earth in penance for sinners.” And to this gesture must be added a prayer: “Pray to God for sinners.”

As in the days of John the Baptist, as at the start of Jesus’ ministry, this command, strong and rigorous, shows men the way which leads back to God: “Repent!” Who would dare to say that this appeal for the conversion of hearts is untimely today?

Materialism.

… the world, which today affords so many justifiable reasons for pride and hope, is also undergoing a terrible temptation to materialism …

This materialism is not confined to that condemned philosophy which dictates the policies and economy of a large segment of mankind. It rages also in a love of money which creates ever greater havoc as modern enterprises expand, and which, unfortunately, determines many of the decisions which weigh heavy on the life of the people. It finds expression in the cult of the body, in excessive desire for comforts, and in flight from all the austerities of life. It encourages scorn for human life, even for life which is destroyed before seeing the light of day. …

May priests be attentive to [the Blessed Virgin's] appeal and have the courage to preach the great truths of salvation fearlessly. The only lasting renewal, in fact, will be one based on the changeless principles of faith, and it is the duty of priests to form the consciences of Christian people.”  - Pius XII, 1957

Pius XII said that way back in the ’50’s, how much more urgent are his words for our times!

Thanks to Rorate Caeli  for the text.

Thanks to Hallowed Ground for the photo.

The spiritual marriage of St. Catherine.

St. Catherine de Ricci was from an illustrious family in Florence.  At fourteen years of age, she entered the Dominican monastery at Prato in Tuscany, where she died in 1589.  A great mystic, her daily source of meditation was the Passion of Christ, which she mystically participated in every Thursday through Friday.  St. Catherine was the counsellor of popes, and the confident of other saints, among them,  St. Philip Neri, with whom she visited frequently, through the grace of bilocation.

Her feast day has traditionally been observed on February 13.