Cardinal Newmanʻs reflection on the Mass

“Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Masses forever and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words—it is a great action, the greatest action that can be on earth. It is not the invocation merely, but, if I dare use the word, the evocation of the Eternal. He becomes present on the altar in flesh and blood, before Whom angels bow and devils tremble. This is that awful event which is the scope, and is the interpretation, of every part of the solemnity." - Cardinal Newman

image via creative commons license. Holy Mass

Chesterton on the Destruction of Perennial Traditions

"Suppose that a great commotion arises in the street about something, let us say a lamp-post, which many influential persons desire to pull down. A grey-clad monk, who is the spirit of the Middle Ages, is approached upon the matter, and begins to say, in the arid manner of the Schoolmen, “Let us first of all consider, my brethren, the value of Light. If Light be in itself good—” At this point he is somewhat excusably knocked down. All the people make a rush for the lamp-post, the lamp-post is down in ten minutes, and they go about congratulating each other on their unmediaeval practicality. But as things go on they do not work out so easily. Some people have pulled the lamp-post down because they wanted the electric light; some because they wanted old iron; some because they wanted darkness, because their deeds were evil. Some thought it not enough of a lamp-post, some too much; some acted because they wanted to smash municipal machinery; some because they wanted to smash something. And there is war in the night, no man knowing whom he strikes. So, gradually and inevitably, to-day, to-morrow, or the next day, there comes back the conviction that the monk was right after all, and that all depends on what is the philosophy of Light. Only what we might have discussed under the gas-lamp, we now must discuss in the dark". - GKC

image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons. G.K Chesterton

The Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary

What is the Scapular?

"The scapular was a long narrow strip of cloth, covering the shoulders and hanging down before and behind to the knees, worn by certain religious orders. Secondly, two small pieces of cloth connected by strings and worn over the shoulders by laymen. The Confraternity of the Scapular is quite ancient. It was inspired and revealed by the Holy Virgin to the blessed Simon Stock, sixth general of the Carmelite Order, about the beginning of the thirteenth century. This venerable religious, who had entertained from his earliest years a truly filial confidence in Mary, was one day in prayer, when the Queen of Heaven appeared to him, surrounded by a multitude of blessed spirits, and holding in her hand a scapular of the Order of Carmel. She gave it to him with these words: “Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege that I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. Whosoever dies while piously wearing the scapular, shall be preserved from eternal flames. It will be a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time.” (Manuel du Scap, by M. de Sambucy, p. 28.)

What are the promises attached to the Scapular? There is a twofold promise!

"Our divine Mother promises, in the first place, to save from the pains of hell those who die piously wearing the scapular." (Thein. Ecclesiastical Dictionary.1900)

"The Blessed Virgin promises, in the second place, that she will come and deliver out of purgatory the wearers of the scapular on the first Saturday after their death" (ibid)

How do you receive these privileges of the Scapular?

To receive the 1st privilege, that of a happy death, in addition to being in the State of Grace, one must "(1) receive the blessed scapular from the hands of a priest who has the power of giving it; and (2) wear it around the neck day and night, in health and in sickness, in life and at death." (ibid)

"To enjoy the second privilege, that is, to have a speedy release out of purgatory, it is also necessary for all the members to observe the chastity proper to their state: virginal chastity in the state of celibacy; conjugal fidelity in the state of marriage; and continence in the state of widowhood. Moreover, for such as can read: to recite daily the Canonical Office of the Church, or the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, according to Roman Breviary. For such as cannot read: to supply for the Office (1) by not failing in any of the fasts prescribed by the Church; and (2) by abstaining from flesh-meat on Wednesdays, in addition to Fridays and Saturdays, except on Christmas when it falls on any of these days. In case of grave hindrance, the abstinence is binding; but it is proper to have recourse to one’s confessor, so as to obtain a commutation." (ibid)

Foreshadowing of the Scapular found in Holy Scripture

Is 61:10 - "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation: and with the robe of justice he hath covered me, as a bridegroom decked with a crown, and as a bride adorned with her jewels."

Is 22:21 - "And I will clothe him with thy robe, and will strengthen him with thy girdle, and will give thy power into his hand: and he shall be as a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Juda.  

Mt 27:28 - "And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. "

Jn 19:2 - "And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head: and they put on him a purple garment"

Rev 6:11 - "And white robes were given to every one of them one; And it was said to them that they should rest for a little time till their fellow servants and their brethren, who are to be slain even as they, should be filled up. "

Rev 7:13-14 - "And one of the ancients answered and said to me: These that are clothed in white robes, who are they? And whence came they? And I said to him: My Lord, thou knowest. And he said to me: These are they who are come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "

image used under the Creative Commons attribution- sharealike 3.0.  March 2009 John Stephen Dwyer

The Angelic Hierarchy listed in Scripture

According to Tradition there are nine choirs of angels: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Principalities, Powers, Dominations, Virtues, Archangels, and Angels (Dionys., De cael. hier. 7)

The Nine choirs of the Angelic Hierarchy are listed in Holy Scripture:

Ge 3:24– “And he cast out Adam: and placed before the paradise of pleasure Cherubims, and a flaming sword, turning every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

Is 6:1-3 “IN the year that king Ozias died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and elevated: and his train filled the temple.Upon it stood the seraphims: the one had six wings, and the other had six wings: with two they covered his face, and with two they covered his feet, and with two they flew. And they cried one to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory,”

Ep 1:20–21 “Which he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead and setting him on his right hand in the heavenly places. Above all principality and power and virtue and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come”

Cl 1:16 “For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him^”

1 Pt 3:22 “Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing down death that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into heaven, the angels and powers and virtues being made subject to him.”

Ju 9. “When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command thee^”

image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons.Mary Queen of Heaven surrounded by Angels

St. Clement of Alexandria on the Primacy of Peter

"Nor does the kingdom of heaven belong to sleepers and sluggards, ‘but the violent take it by force’ (Mt. 11:12). Therefore on hearing those words, the blessed Peter, the chosen, the pre-eminent, the first of the disciples, for whom alone and Himself the Saviour paid tribute, quickly seized and comprehended the saying. And what does he say? ‘Lo, we have left all and followed Thee’ (Who is the rich man that shall be saved?, c. 180 AD)

image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons {PD-old-70}.Clement of Alexandira. Andre Thevet

St. Ignatius of Antioch on the Real Presence

"[The Docetics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, the flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His graciousness, raised from the dead. And so denying the gift of God, these men perish in their disputatiousness. It would be better for them to love and so to rise again. (It is well for you to keep away from such persons and not even to speak of them in private or in public. It is better to keep to the prophets and especially to the Gospel in which the passion is presented and the resurrection is an accomplished fact.)" (Letter to the Smyrnaeans ~ 107 AD)

image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons. Ignatius of Antioch

Can the Saints HEAR our prayers? (A Biblical Answer)

There are many ways, using Scripture, to explain that Saints CAN and DO hear our prayers. 

In ʻBiblical Evidence for the Communion of Saints  (2012) ʻ, there are some strong examples.

"Intercession of the saints is indicated in Revelation 5:8 (cf. 8:3–4), 6:9–10, and also somewhat suggested by the appearance of long-dead figures on the earth once again (1 Sam 28:12–15; Matt 17:1–3; 27:50–53; Rev 11:3). The saints are alive, they observe us (“cloud of witnesses”: Heb 12:1), pray for us (Rev 6:9–10), and hence it follows logically that they can hear our intercessory requests, as can guardian angels (Matt 18:10)."

Another powerful scriptural example is in Luke 16: 19-30 where Jesus discusses the example of the rich man in Hades calling on Abraham \ AND Abraham hears him! 

"19 There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, 21 Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. And no one did give him: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. 23 And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom: 24 And he cried and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. 25 And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you cannot, nor from thence come hither. 27 And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee that thou wouldst send him to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, 28 That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. 29 And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. 30 But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. 31 And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead. " (Douay-Rheims)

Scripture CLEARLY shows an example of the humanly dead (Abraham) HEARING the call of another. AND Before such an argument is written off as ʻjust being an illustrative parableʻ it might be good to point out that Fathers of Church, including St. Ambrose of Milan and St. Thomas Aquinas, believed that this was a REAL event (Ambrose in: De excessu fratris 2.39; De offic. 3.22.136)(Aquinas in: STh., Supplementum q.98 a.4)

image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons.  Crowning of the Madonna and Saints by Lorenzo Costa. 1501