De l'antiquité du jeûne...

et de son caractère vénérable, selon Saint Basile. (Suite du sermon )

Le jeûne est une faveur ancienne, qui ne vieillit pas avec le temps, mais qui se renouvelle sans cesse , toujours dans sa première vigueur. Croyez-vous que je tire de la loi l'antiquité du jeune ? Il est plus ancien que la loi même; et vous en conviendrez, si vous voulez écouter ce que je vais vous dire. Ne pensez pas que le jour de propitiation, que les Israélites célébraient le dixième jour du septième mois, soit l'origine du jeûne : parcourez l'histoire, et remontez plus haut pour trouver son antiquité. Ce n'est pas une invention nouvelle ; c'est un trésor qui nous a été transmis par nos premiers ancêtres. Tout ce qui est fort ancien est vénérable. Respectez l'ancienneté du jeûne qui a commencé avec le premier homme , qui a été prescrit dans le paradis terrestre. Adam reçut ce premier précepte : "Vous ne mangerez pas le fruit de l'arbre de la science du bien et du mal" ( Gen. 2. 17. ). Cette défense est une loi de jeûne et d'abstinence. Si Eve se fût abstenue de manger du fruit de l'arbre , nous n'aurions pas maintenant besoin de jeûner. "Ce ne sont pas ceux qui sont en santé , mais ceux qui sont malades, qui ont besoin de médecin "(Matth. 9. 12.). Le péché nous a fait des blessures, guérissons-les par la pénitence : or la pénitence sans le jeûne est inutile. "La terre maudite vous produira des ronces et des épines" ( Gen. 3. 17.). Vous êtes ici-bas pour vivre dans la tristesse et non dans les délices. Satisfaisez à Dieu par le jeûne.

Le jeûne est une fidèle image de la vie du paradis terrestre, non-seulement parce que le premier homme vivait comme les anges, et qu'il parvenait à leur ressembler en se contentant de peu; mais encore parce que tous ces besoins, fruits de l’industrie humaine , étaient ignorés dans le paradis terrestre. On n'y buvait pas de vin , on n’y tuait pas d'animaux , on n'y connaissait pas tout ce qui tourmente l'esprit des malheureux mortels. C'est parce que nous n'avons pas jeûné , que nous avons été chassés du paradis : jeûnons donc pour y rentrer. Ne voyez-vous pas que c'est le jeûne qui a ouvert à Lazare l’entrée du ciel ? N’imitez pas la désobéissance d'Eve : ne suivez pas les conseils du serpent perfide, qui lui suggéra de manger du fruit de l'arbre pour flatter ses sens. Ne vous excusez ni sur votre faiblesse , ni sur votre santé : ce n'est pas à moi que vous alléguez des excuses, mais à celui qui connaît tout. Vous ne sauriez jeûner , dites-vous ; mais vous savez bien, manger sans aucune retenue , et user votre corps en le chargeant de nourritures. Toutefois les médecins ordonnent à leurs malades, non des mets variés , mais une diète rigoureuse. Quoi ! vous pouvez vous incommoder en mangeant, et vous ne pouvez vous abstenir de manger ! Passe-t-on mieux la nuit après s'être livré aux excès d'un grand festin qu'après s'être contenté d'un repas frugal ? Chargé de vin et de viande , vous vous tourmentez dans votre lit, vous vous tournez de tous côtés sans savoir quelle position choisir. Dira-t-on qu'un pilote conduit plus aisément un vaisseau chargé outre mesure , qu'un vaisseau leste et dégagé. Le moindre soulèvement de flots submerge le navire que son propre poids accable déjà : celui qui n'a qu'une charge médiocre surnage aisément, parce que rien ne l'empêche de s'élever au-dessus des vagues. Ainsi les corps appesantis par les viandes deviennent la proie des maladies : au lieu que ceux qui ne prennent qu'une nourriture sobre et légère, échappent aux menaces d'une maladie, comme à un soulèvement de flots , et dissipent bientôt les maux actuels qui viennent les assaillir comme un violent orage. Vous croirez donc qu'il y a plus de peine à être assis qu'à courir, à se tenir en repos qu'à lutter , puisque vous dites que les délices conviennent mieux aux personnes infirmes qu'une diète raisonnable ? La chaleur naturelle digère bien une quantité modique de nourriture et en forme une bonne substance; mais si on lui donne plus d'aliments qu'elle n'en saurait porter , elle ne peut les digérer entièrement ; et de-là viennent toutes les maladies.

Crise existentielle de la Franc-Maçonnerie ?

Lecture de Carême

Voici une homélie de Saint Basile-Le-Grand sur le jeûne pour nous encourager à pratiquer cet exercice si bénéfique pour nos âmes. Jeûner est un acte de la vertu de tempérance qu'il convient de pratiquer avec prudence. Négliger la pratique de cette vertue, c'est ouvrir la porte aux péchés de la chair. Jeûner avec excès, c'est ouvrir la porte à l'orgueil, et en outre, si excès il y a, on ne saurait alors parler de vertu. Chacun aura donc à coeur de se s'adonner à cette pénitence annuelle, sous la conduite avisée de son confesseur ou directeur spirituel.

Bonne lecture et méditation !

"SONNEZ de la trompette en ce premier jour du mois, au jour célèbre de votre grande solennité" (Ps. 80. 4.).

Tel est le commandement du Roi - Prophète. Les lectures que nous venons d’entendre nous annoncent, d'une manière plus sensible et plus éclatante que la trompette et que tous les instruments de musique, une fête qui amène les jours du jeûne, dont Isaïe nous apprend les avantages, en réprouvant la manière dont les Juifs jeûnaient et en nous montrant quel est le vrai jeûne.
" Vous jeûnez, leur dit-il, pour vous livrez aux disputes et aux querelles.... Mais rompez tout lien d'iniquité " (ls. 58. 4 et 6.). Et que dit le Seigneur ? "Lorsque vous jeûnez, ne soyez point tristes, mais lavez votre visage et parfumez votre tête " (Matth. 6. 16, ).

Pratiquons ces maximes : ne soyons point tristes dans les jours où nous entrons; disposons-nous-y avec joie comme il convient à des saints. Nul homme à qui on met la couronne sur la tète n'est abattu; nul n'érige un trophée avec la tristesse sur le front. Ne vous affligez point parce qu'on travaille à vous guérir. Il est ridicule de ne pas se réjouir de la santé de l’âme, de se chagriner du retranchement de quelques nourritures, et de montrer plus d'empressement pour les plaisirs du corps que pour la sanctification de l'âme. Le plaisir de manger satisfait le corps ; le jeûne tourne à l'avantage de l’âme. Réjouissez-vous de ce que le médecin vous a donné un remède propre à détruire le péché. Les vers qui fourmillent dans les entrailles d'un enfant en sont chassés par des médecines amères: ainsi le jeûne pénétrant jusqu'au fond de l’âme, en bannit et y fait mourir le péché.

" Lavez votre visage et parfumez votre tête. " Ces paroles sont mystérieuses, et doivent être comprises dans un sens spirituel. Lavez votre visage, c'est-à-dire, effacez les péchés de votre âme. Parfumez votre tête, c'est-à-dire, répandez sur votre tête l'huile sainte, afin que vous soyez participant de Jésus-Christ. Approchez du jeûne avec ces dispositions. Ne déguisez pas votre visage à la manière des hypocrites. On déguise son visage, lorsqu'on cache ses sentiments sous de faux dehors, et qu'on les couvre, pour ainsi dire, d'un voile d'imposture. Les hypocrites ressemblent aux comédiens , lesquels représentent des personnages étrangers. Sur le théâtre, l'esclave est souvent maître, le simple particulier est souvent roi. Dans la vie, comme sur le théâtre, plusieurs se déguisent et annoncent à l'extérieur ce qu'ils n'ont point au fond de l'âme. Ne déguisez pas votre visage. Montrez-vous tel que vous êtes ; n affectez pas un air triste et sobre pour vous donner la réputation d'un homme abstinent. Un bienfait publié au son de trompe perd tout son mérite ; le jeûne exposé aux yeux des hommes ne produit aucun avantage. Les bonnes oeuvres faites par ostentation ne fructifient point pour la vie éternelle, mais se terminent aux vaines louanges des hommes. Accourez donc avec joie à la grâce du jeûne.

A suivre....

Prayers for the Holy Father

ROME, Dimanche 25 février 2007 (ZENIT.org) –

Le pape Benoît XVI consacrera la semaine prochaine à la prière. Toutes les audiences et rencontres publiques sont suspendues jusqu’au samedi 3 mars. Avant la prière de l’Angélus, ce dimanche, en présence de plusieurs milliers de pèlerins rassemblés place Saint-Pierre, Benoît XVI a rappelé que les traditionnels Exercices spirituels du pape et de la curie romaine, commencent cet après-midi. Le pape a demandé la prière des fidèles et promis de profiter de cette semaine pour prier également pour eux.

« Chers frères et sœurs, je vous demande de nous accompagner par votre prière, et je serai heureux de prier pour vous à mon tour dans le recueillement de la retraite, en invoquant la puissance divine sur chacun de vous, sur vos familles et sur vos communautés », a-t-il déclaré. Les Exercices spirituels seront prêchés par le cardinal Giacomo Biffi, archevêque émérite de Bologne. Ils auront pour thème : « Cherchez les choses d’en haut, où se trouve le Christ assis à la droite de Dieu : pensez aux choses d’en haut et non à celles de la terre ». Les Exercices spirituels ont commencé à 18.00 par l’exposition du Saint-Sacrement, la célébration des vêpres, une méditation d’introduction, l’adoration et la bénédiction eucharistique.

Le programme des Exercices spirituels prévoit :

9.00 : Célébration des laudes et méditation

10.15 : Célébration de l’heure tierce et méditation

17.00 : Méditation

17.45 : Célébration des vêpres, adoration et bénédiction eucharistique

Les Exercices spirituels prendront fin le samedi 3 mars avec la célébration des laudes et une méditation conclusive.

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 25, 2007 (Zenit.org).-

Benedict XVI asked for the spiritual support of the faithful as he began a weeklong Lenten retreat. The Holy Father and his aides in the Roman Curia began spiritual exercises this afternoon. The Holy See announced that the Pope will hold no audiences or attend any public engagements until the retreat concludes Saturday morning. Before praying the Angelus today with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father asked the faithful to "please support me with your prayer, and I will be happy to do the same in the recollection of the retreat, invoking divine power on each one of you, on your families and your communities."

Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, retired archbishop of Bologna, Italy, will preach the retreat on the theme "Look for the things on high, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God: Think of the things on high, not of those on earth." The exercises began in the Mater Redemptoris Chapel with the exposition of the Eucharist, vespers, an introductory meditation, adoration and Benediction. Cardinal Biffi will preach three meditations each day. There will also be daily recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, adoration and benediction.

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO, domingo, 24 febrero 2007 (ZENIT.org).-

Benedicto XVI dedicará la semana que comienza a la oración, motivo por el cual la Santa Sede ha anunciado que hasta el 3 de marzo ha suspendido todas las audiencias y encuentros públicos. Al final de su encuentro semanal con los peregrinos, este domingo, con motivo de la oración del Ángelus, el Santo Padre les dijo: «os pido que me acompañéis con vuestra oración, yo haré lo mismo con gusto en el recogimiento del retiro, invocando la potencia divina sobre cada uno de vosotros, sobre vuestras familias y vuestras comunidades». Como es tradición, en la semana tras el primer domingo de Cuaresma, los colaboradores del Papa en la Curia Romana también dedicarán la semana a la oración. Las meditaciones serán ofrecidas por el cardenal Giacomo Biffi, arzobispo emérito de Bolonia, sobre el tema: «Buscad las cosas de arriba, donde se encuentra Cristo, sentado a la diestra de Dios: pensad en las cosas de arriba, no en las de la tierra».

In Memoriam.... Croke Park : 1920 - 2007

http://sport.france2.fr/stade2/IMG/asx/arton649.asx

Lent 2007

The Quest for Christian perfection

(with Saint Francis de Sales)

First Part: First Sunday of Lent

“In the world, a man who possesses average intelligence, who works with perseverance, who makes the necessary sacrifices and concentrates his efforts on one object, is sure to become of value. Independently of some possible failures, whether or not he has accomplished the desired work, he is certain that he will bear himself out. If there are some failures, they may affect the work, but do not diminish the man himself. Such a man is master of his personal value. What a comfort he can find in this certitude!”
Dear Brethren, I would like to comment on these words of Father Jerome, because, as usual, they are full of wisdom and good sense. Father Jerome speaks here about a man who lives according to the spirit of the world. He is truly a value to society according to this spirit. This is not a bad thing. We need such men in our societies. But it is merely human and worldly. On a spiritual level, things are different, because there is now an additional datum: God.

Father Jerome continues: “ He who has a vocation to live with God depends totally on the good divine will, even for his own excellence. Whatever his efforts are, his single-mindedness and his savoir-faire, he will become a value only if God consents to look at his efforts and bless him. The successes ensure nothing. A religious man is not master of his personal value.”
It might be good to meditate on this at the beginning of our Lent. Most of you have probably made good resolutions and have decided to make a good Lent. Very good! I can only approve. Now, what is a good Lent? Is it a time when we have to do penances and mortify ourselves until Easter? Yes, it is, but this definition of Lent, while true, is still incomplete. It tells us what Lent is in a material and external manner. And I would like to bring to your attention a certain error which can be found frequently in the spiritual life. This error would be a certain quantification of our spiritual life. And this mistaken way of thinking pushes us to believe that the more I pray, the holier I become. It is not necessarily false, but neither it is necessarily true. In fact, it is not unusual to meet Catholics with certain Pelagianist practices. This old heresy reappears regularly throughout the centuries. Jansenism was one of its avatars. Today, we can still see traces of it among many Catholics, even though they don’t consciously profess it, they are marked by it on a practical level.

What is the Pelagianist error? It is a belief that minimizes the role of Divine Grace and intensifies the primacy and the efficiency of personal efforts. In other words, my personal actions, if they are good enough, can make me deserving of the Grace. So, I simply have to multiply my good actions, my prayers and my sacrifices and then the Grace will increase in me and I will become more holy. The Grace is considered as a reward for our good actions. In Pelagian thought, man simply has to want to be a saint in order to become one. You might think that it sounds good and true. Well, if it is the case, let me reply with the words of Saint Augustine: “This is the complete emancipation of man from God.” For Pelagius, man doesn’t depend totally on divine will, as Father Jerome reminded us previously, but God depends on man’s will. He would be forced to recognize man’s value and then to reward it.

Of course we are not Pelagianist and we believe in the primacy of the Divine Grace, which is not a reward but the principle of our good actions. We don’t have to act in order to obtain it, but we have to cooperate with it and to remain under its dominion and to follow its inspirations. This is what it means as Saint Paul says, to walk in the spirit. We are not Pelagianist, nevertheless, we can be tempted to act as such to a certain degree. We can be tempted to think that because of the goodness of our actions, we are right and we necessarily fulfill God’s will. It is the same old temptation that we all have and which causes us to conforms God’s will to ours. Well, if it is just a temptation, it is still O.K. but be sure not to fall into this temptation. “A religious man is not master of his personal value!” The material goodness of our actions is not necessarily the guarantee that they are God’s will. I mean the particular and precise will of God about one thing. Of course God wants everybody to do good and to refrain from evil. But then, who can say with certitude what is God’s will?

We need time, prayer, meditation and silence to know it. Here is the perfection of the Christian life according to Saint Francis de Sales. Contrary to many of the usual beliefs, Christian perfection does not consist of the absence of imperfections. “Let us not be troubled by our imperfections, because perfection consists of fighting them. We could not fight them without seeing them, neither overcome them without meeting them.” And with a great lucidity, he adds: “Consider as suspect all these desires of a certain perfection which can be imagined but not practiced, and of which many makes lessons but, but of which no one makes actions.”

Neither does Christian perfection consist of the absence of passions. They are a part of our nature and as such, are good. There are some falsely devout persons who affect to have no passions. Saint Francis de Sales says about them: “I don’t at all like certain souls who like nothing and who remain immobile at every event because of a lack of vigor. Those half-dead hearts, for what are they good?”

Christian perfection does not consist of the absence of temptations. The book of Ecclesiasticus warns us: “Son, when thou come to the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation.” So it is good for us to have temptation, so that we can be lion-hearted and brave for the service of God and the conquest of solid virtues.

Christian perfection does not consist of the science. This one is good in itself, especially “the science of oneself which is very useful to devotion.” But it can be dangerous without charity and humility. Nevertheless, don’t give as a pretext a certain false humility to justify your ignorance.
Christian perfection does not consist of the multitude of desires. Dear brethren, we all have many desires. Very good! How many of them do we realize? Probably not very many! But as Saint Francis de Sales says again with very practical good sense: “Go in the way of your vocation with simplicity committing yourselves to action rather than to desire: it is the shortest way.” And he adds that as a bishop, he would loose his time by desiring to be a Carthusian monk. So we are what we are and we have to act as such, not according to what we would like to be.

Christian perfection does not consist in a multitude of exercises, neither of austerity. These are very necessary, but are just a means and not a goal. It is not without humour that our Saint exclaims: “ How foolish are those who estimate to be holy only those who are thin, as if holiness would consist of thinness.” Then Saint Francis de Sales gives this piece of advice: “Save your corporeal strength for the service of God in spiritual practices.” Once again , don’t give as a pretext the needs of your body for not practicing the virtue of temperance and certain mortifications. They are necessary. In fact, to be sure that you are right in this matter, just ask your spiritual director what you can do. Obedience will be your guide.

Now, dear Brethren, we know what perfection is not. It might be good to know what perfection is. This will be for next Sunday. Let us confide our good resolutions of lent to Our Lady, so that she can help us to keep them with wisdom, under the guidance of the Church. May she help us to understand that our value is nothing but that we have to turn to God and to let Him come into our soul if we really want to be good.

Le Coq Gaulois terrasse le Dragon Gallois

Wales face a desperate battle to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon after France powered to a comprehensive 32-21 victory in Paris. It had all started so positively as Gareth Jenkins' men, playing with a verve and intensity rarely seen from them this year, surged into a 14-3 lead after just 15 minutes. Alix Popham burst over down the blindside and James Hook then put Tom Shanklin over under the posts. It seemed as if a fourth Welsh victory in five visits to Paris was on the cards.

But France are a lethal unit. They dominated possession, put Wales under pressure and stung them with 26 unanswered points. Christophe Dominici jinked in for the first try, Lionel Nallet drove over for the second and fly-half David Skrela added 19 points with seven successful kicks from eight attempts.

Skrela, who was awarded the man of the match award said: "It was good for us because we began the game with 14 points against us and it took big heart to win this game. We were worried early on, and we need to begin the game more efficiently. We have to improve to try to beat England in two weeks. It will be very difficult because they are a great team, so we have 15 days to prepare for that game and be ready to go to Twickenham."

Stephen Jones meanwhile was in a sombre mood. He commented after the game: "We knew it was going to be difficult today, the French are a very good side, a very efficient side at the moment and they maintained possession very well. At 14-3 we felt good, the gameplan was working and we felt positive. We were creating a lot of opportunities and had a good lead. But in fairness the French played very well in the last 20 minutes of the first half. They kept us under pressure and we defended our lines very well but they crept over for a couple of tries. Up front they are very well organised and they proved that today."

And while France march to Twickenham in a fortnight with their ambitions for a ninth Grand Slam enhanced, Wales travel to Rome in desperate straits.

Chant du XV de France

Allez les Bleus ! Rugby passion, rugby de belle tradition !

Ton maillot bleu enflamme nos cœurs et le jeu !

Jouez, jouez à ce rugby qui vous honore !

http://www.lechantduxv.fr/

Be converted to me with all your heart!

Sermon for Ash Wednesday

Our Lord Jesus-Christ opens the doors of the spiritual life for us: “Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal.”

We have a natural instinct which pushes us to protect and conserve our goods. If someone steals something from you, you may become angry instantly, and this reaction is legitimate. The purpose of the passions is precisely the protection and the conservation of persons and species. Anger can be useful to help us overcome a difficulty. In our example, if your weekly salary, which allows you to live decently has been stolen, your anger will help you not to give up and to begin the process for potential compensation or reparation.

But the fact is, dear Brethren, that most of the time, our anger is disproportionate. Does someone steal from you something that you don’t really need in order to live, and right away you start to gripe and grumble, insulting your thief and perhaps using profanity and even blaspheming the Holy name of God. But for what purpose? Because someone stole a hundred dollars from you while you have a house with television in almost every room, two cars and many other goods that are not necessities for life? Indeed, you have been a victim of an injustice and you certainly have the right to make a claim for your goods, but don’t you think that your reaction is too extreme, for not saying sinful?

The fact is that we like to lay up to ourselves an earthly treasure. And we worry too much over this so-called treasure. Where our treasure is, there our heart is also.
"Haec dicit Dominus - Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart." Jesus Christ calls us. Be converted to me with all your heart! But where is our heart? It is where our treasure is. And where is our treasure?

Dear Brethren, we have to understand that we cannot convert to the Lord as long as we remain attached to earthly treasures. Remember that we are traveling. We will not stay on earth for eternity. We cannot allow ourselves to take charge of a heavy and burdensome load that we will leave one day anyway. Jesus tells us:

“Don’t be too attached to the things which are not necessary. I am the Only necessary because I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. All the creatures I gave you are certainly for your use, but only as means in order to serve Me. If you make these creatures your treasure, you will lose your life. If you choose me as your treasure, you will have life everlasting. So, be converted to me with all your heart
- How do we have to convert to Thee, O Lord?
- Now, as I told my prophet, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning.”

Dear, Brethren, this is now the time to return to our God as He wants us to do. And He wants us to fast and to weep. It is now the time to start again our Holy exercises of Lent, because they are a way to God. It is a time of purification and of renouncement; a time to practice virtues of penance, of obedience and of temperance; a time to lay up a treasure in Heaven that we will keep for all eternity.

Jesus wants to open the doors of the spiritual life, so that we can find an imperishable treasure. If we let Him open them, Lent will be a way of conversion or re-conversion; it will be the return of the prodigal son to the home of His Father. Finally, beyond the austerity and the harshness of our penances, it will a time of joy – the peaceful and plenary joy given by the presence of God in a soul.

May Our Lady help us to find this joy through our exercises of Lent. May she help us to choose Her Son for a treasure.

Amen

Introibo ad Altare Dei

February 21st 1794

A priest is condemned to capital punishment.

What was is crime? He was a Catholic priest.

Liberté - Egalité - Fraternité ?? Not for everyone !

The police seized Father Pinot when he was about to say Mass, and took him off to prison vested in his chasuble. For a week they held him prisoner, severely mistreating him. When he absolutely refused to take the required oath ( Constitution Civile du Clergé ), he was finally sentenced to beheading by the guillotine.
On February 21, 1794, Abbe Noel Pinot was led off to the scaffold, still clothed in his priestly vestments. En route, it is said, he kept repeating the psalm-verse that priests recite at the beginning of Mass: "Introibo ad altare Dei"; "I will go in unto the altar of God."

He was beatified in 1926. He had died for fidelity to the Holy See. He was canonized in 1984.

Lent

I already put this text on line last year, but I think it is good to publish it again at the beginning of this new Lent season.

Et cum ieiunasset quadraginta diebus et quadraginta noctibus postea esuriit. Et accedens temptator dixit ei : si Filius Dei es, dic ut lapides isti panes fiant!
Qui respondens, dixit : scriptum est :non in pane solo vivet homo sed in omni verbo quod procedit de ore Dei

( Matthew, chapter 4 )

Our annual exercises of penance begin today for 40 days. During the Septuagesima time the Church reminded us of the necessity to join in the work of Redemption of Our Lord by the spirit of penance. Now it is time to take actions and to do penance. A spirit of penance without any proper act of penance would be an illusion or a kind of hypocrisy.

So, what do we have to do?

First, we must obey the Church who reminds us of something that we are inclined to forget easily:
Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way!
But as a good Mother and educator, She clarifies: In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.

We must do penance, but when?

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
I would add, even if it is not any longer a canonical obligation, that it is also good to do penance during Ember days and vigil days for the faithful of the Traditional Latin Rite.

What kind of penance do we have to do?

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Who is bound by the law of abstinence and fasting?

Can. 1252 The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority (18 years), until the beginning of their sixtieth year.
But the canon immediately adds: Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.
So it is important to teach children how much penance is important in their life.

Can we do more than the strict obligation of the Law?

Sure, and you are encouraged by the Church to do more. But you have to be prudent. To do only what the Church command would be a sign of a certain laziness or of a lack of interest for your spiritual life, and finally a lack of love for God. But to do too much would be imprudent or even a sign of pride. In fact, it is good to ask your spiritual director or your confessor for advice.

Here are some examples of penance you can do during Lent :
- Go to Mass more often. If you cannot, read your Missal every day. There is a proper Mass each day during Lent.
- Go to confession more often
- Take more time for the care of your soul ( spiritual reading, meditation, prayer )
- In order to find this time, it would be good to renounce certain activities, as theater, television, parties…
- Give up something ( alcohol, tobacco, sweets…) A certain temperance and moderation is to be observed.
- Make some efforts about charity: helpfulness, visit sick or old persons…

Remember that penance is not an end in itself but a means to be more united to God, especially to Our Lord Jesus Christ who suffered and died for us. Beyond the materiality of our works of penance, a true spirit of love for Jesus Christ and for the souls should animate our penances. Giving up something is a good way to turn to Someone… Someone who loves us and who waits for us. That’s why Lent is not necessarily a time of sadness:
But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee (Mt 6, 17-18)

May God bless you during this Lent.
Father Laurent Demets, FSSP

Pius XII

Quinquagesima Sunday

Charity ( Notre-Dame de Paris )

Unless you have the audacity of the Protestants to deny the teaching of Saint Paul, there is no way of compromising: Charity is absolutely necessary. Without it, even Faith is useless. It is clear and without equivocation.

Faith is a very necessary virtue, but in a certain way, it has a certain imperfection. As such, it cannot be an end in itself. Saint Paul says that we see now through a glass in a dark manner. In a dark manner! There is still a part of darkness in Faith in spite of the fact that it gives us the light of God. This darkness does not come from God but from our intellect which is limited and first of all, corrupted by sins. Faith gives us a true knowledge which excludes any doubts, but this knowledge is very little in comparison to its object: God Himself. What we know about God by Faith is true but it is still just a part of a greater and incommensurable truth. Faith is a virtue for pilgrims on the road. They want to see their goal but they have not reached it yet. They are motivated by pictures of it they have seen or by testimonies they have heard, but they haven’t seen it yet. They are still en route, but not yet at their destination. Faith is necessary but just a transitory virtue. As such, it cannot be the perfection of Christian life.

Charity is higher, according to Saint Paul, and I would say, according to very good common sense. It is the only theological virtue that will remain in Heaven. One can have Faith without charity but it is impossible to have charity without Faith, at least on earth, since in Heaven there will be no more Faith, but beatific vision. Faith makes us understand who God is. Charity makes us like God. As Pope Benedict XVI said at the very beginning of his encyclical letter, " God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. These words from the First Letter of Saint John express with remarkable clarity the heart of the Christian faith: the Christian image of God and the resulting image of mankind and its destiny. In the same verse, Saint John also offers a kind of summary of the Christian life: We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us."

Charity is the heart and the essence of our Faith and of our lives. It is good to hear this just before Lent, dear Brethren. Because our holy exercises of Lent, which are of necessity even though the Canon Law now orders almost nothing, have to be inspired by a true love of God. If it is not the case, they are nothing as Saint Paul reminds us. You can fast 40 days, sleep on the floor 40 nights and give up whatever you want, if you don’t do this for the love of God, it is absolutely useless and even stupid. We are disciples of Jesus Christ and not of Epictetus or Zeno. Well, I have to recognize that we are more inclined, by nature, to make ourselves disciples of Epicurus rather than of Epictetus, but we can also be proud enough to seek a certain satisfaction by mortifying our flesh for vain reasons. Anyway, we are neither stoical nor epicurean but Catholic. Our Master is Our Lord Jesus Christ and our rule of life, Charity. That is all we need.

And we have a beautiful example to imitate: Our Lord Jesus Christ during his Passion. In today’s gospel, He reminds us of the sufferings he would have to endure for us. Do you see other reasons for the fact that God decided to become a man to suffer and to die, than love? Without love, the Incarnation and the Redemption are absolutely incomprehensible. Why? Why did Jesus suffer and die? Because, God loves us. He could satisfy justice without the Redemption. But He wanted to satisfy it and to show more love.

So we are the disciples of a God of love. The essence of our religion is love. It is great and beautiful. But it is also terrible in a certain way, because every time we are not faithful to the demands of love, we are traitors and liars. We betray Jesus Christ by refusing his love and we lie to the world by acting against charity while we proclaim our belonging to the Catholic Church. And this lie is also a scandal when it is committed in front of witnesses.

So dear brethren, the consequences of our sins, especially against charity, are certainly greater than we can imagine. But the consequences of our acts of charity are also greater than we can imagine. Do you know the good you can do by doing even a little act with a pure love of God? Saint Therese of Lisieux became such a great saint just by doing every thing for the love of God. We can do it too! We just have to act at home, at work and everywhere with charity. By doing this, we show to the world that we are true disciples of Jesus and that we can really make the world better. And it is so easy to do it! But we have to give up first another love, which is not so good: our selfishness! Well, that’s good, because Lent is coming soon. What a good opportunity we have now!

Let us ask Our Lady to help us to increase our love for God. She cannot refuse such a demand.

Day of Reparation

St. Francis de Sales will have Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a day of prayer of Reparation and Adoration on Tuesday, Feb. 20th following the 9:00 a.m. Mass. This day is being offered as Consolation to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, Jesus Christ and the Immaculate Heart of His Mother, for the many atrocities and sins that occur against their sanctity and purity, especially on this day each year known as “Mardi Gras,” “Fat Tuesday,” and “Carnivale,” preceding Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Fast of preparation for our Lord’s Passion and Death. Please consider signing up as a Guardian of Our Lord for at least one hour.

9 : 00 am Holy Mass

9 : 50 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

10 : 00 am Holy Hour of Reparation

to the Holy Face of the Shroud of Turin

12 : 00 Angelus / Infant Jesus Rosary Chaplet /

Litany of the Sacred Heart

3 : 00 pm Chaplet of Divine Mercy

6 : 00 pm Angelus / Rosary of the Holy Spirit /

Litany of the Immaculate Heart

8 : 00 pm Consecration of the Human Race

to the Sacred Heart of Jesus /

Litany of Saint Joseph /

Litany of Saint Francis de Sales

9 : 00 pm Benediction

Modesty: the example of a Saint

"Padre Pio wouldn't tolerate low-necked dresses or short, tight skirts, and he forbade his spiritual daughters to wear transparent stockings. Each year his severity increased. He stubbornly dismissed them from his confession, even before they set foot inside, if he judged them to be improperly dressed. On some mornings he drove away one after another, until he ended up hearing very few confessions. His brothers observed these drastic purges with a certain uneasiness and decided to fasten a sign on the church door."

"By Padre Pio's explicit wish, women must enter the confessional wearing skirts at least 8 INCHES BELOW THE KNEE. It is forbidden to borrow longer dresses in church and to wear them to confession."

"The Church is the House of God. It is forbidden for men to enter with bare arms or in shorts. It is forbidden for women to enter in trousers, without a veil on their head, in short clothing, low necklines, sleeveless or immodest dresses."

(Taken from Prophet of the People by Dorothy Gaudiose, published by Alba House)

"Terribilis est locus iste: hic est domus Dei, et porta caeli, et vocabitur aula Dei."

(How terrible is this place! this is no other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven.)

Consécration à Marie

Informations ici :

http://www.nd-chretiente.com/index-site.php?file=2007/consecration/consecration-mail2

Unam Sanctam

Lepanto, 1571: The Battle and the Poem.

"Lepanto, 1571: The Battle and the Poem”
Mr. Christopher Check
Executive Vice President of the Rockford Institute

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Why has the Battle of Lepanto been called the most important sea battle in history? What made it so significant, and why, on October 7, 1911, did English poet and theologian, G.K. Chesterton honor the battle with an extraordinary ballad? Find out as Mr. Christopher Check discusses the clash between the Christian and Muslim civilizations, and then relates G.K. Chesterton’s poem to current affairs in the West today.

Mr. Christopher Check, Executive Vice President of the Rockford Institute, holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Rice University. He served seven years as a field artillery officer in the Marine Corps, with deployments in the Far East and the Persian Gulf. His writings have appeared in Rockford Institute publications: CHRONICLES and THE FAMILY IN AMERICA, as well as various newspapers across the country. His television and radio appearances include programs on National Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, Illinois Public Television, the BBC, Radio Free Europe, and the Business Radio Network. He is an award-winning fortnightly commentator for Northern Illinois Public Radio. He lectures on life and family issues, military issues, the dangers of modern communication technology, military and Church history, and the lives of saints.

The lecture will take place in the Library,
located on the first floor in the Liberal Arts Building.
Refreshments begin at 7:00 p.m. with the talk following promptly at 7:30 p.m.

The lectures are free and open to the public, but seating is limited.
Please call 678-904-2811, ext. 501, to reserve space(s).

Holy Spirit Preparatory School
4449 Northside Drive, NW
Atlanta, GA 30327

Sexagesima Sunday

The parable of the sewer provides for us an occasion to examine our consciences about the way we receive the word of God. We probably all hear the word of God, otherwise we would not be here today. We hear the word of God, but how does this word affect our lives? Is it really a substantial food for our souls, along with the Holy Eucharist, or is it just a word that we listen to sometimes which we hardly know. In other words, do we put ourselves in the condition of a disciple who listens to his master, ruminates on his teaching and then tries to actualize it in his own life? Or are we just passive spectators who probably appreciate the quality of the divine word but have merely an esthetic or intellectual attraction for it as he could have for Racine or Shakespeare. I would say that in itself is a good thing since so many people just ignore the word of God or simply don’t know it.

But appreciating and even loving the verses of a great author doesn’t make you one of his disciples. Being a disciple means that you must follow a master and conform your life to his teaching and his own life. By definition it implies a certain intimacy with him and a certain attachment to his person. It is, alas, not rare to meet some people who like the words of Jesus Christ, who appreciate the beauty and the harmony of his moral teaching, but they are not his disciples. They don’t follow Him, they don’t imitate Him, they are not one with Him. They have heard the word of God, but it remains useless and ineffective as long as they don’t keep it and nourish it in their mind and within their heart.

Saint Paul gives a lesson to those who esteem themselves to be good disciples. It is for us, brethren. It is we who dare to boast of our actions. We think that we are good disciples because we have fulfilled a duty. But it is not the purpose of a disciple to fulfill his duties. It might be the purpose of a good soldier, a good citizen, a good student, but don’t you think that Jesus asks more of you than to fulfill your duties?

Imagine for example a father of family. This man works well and hard to gain money so that his family can live. His wife and his children have a decent home and food every day. He drives them when they need it and is ready to do anything they ask. Good man! But now, imagine that he never speaks to them and never gives marks of his affections. He provides for the needs of his family but remains in a certain way far from his wife and children. He is a man of duty, but is he really a good father and a good husband?

Are we really good disciples of Jesus Christ? Do we listen to the word of God in order that we may be true disciples? There is no other option than to take time to escape from the world and to open the door of your soul. We cannot listen to God surrounded by the noise of the world, in the midst of the agitation of our activities. I have already told you this many times, and I repeat it again, because it is the key to the spiritual life according to the entire tradition of the Church.

“But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who sees in secret will repay thee.” Here is the divine intimacy with God. A secret relationship between you and Him which is only possible if you shut the door of your chamber and open the door of your soul. Daily reading helps you to do this. I mean a loving reading of the gospel or any spiritual book – and you have so many available, from the Fathers, the Saints, the Doctors – not just the last rumors about the Motu Proprio on internet. It is better to leave your computer screen and open a real book and take your time to read it, savor it and meditate on it. For Saint Benedict, the lectio divina is necessary in order to be a true monk. And a true monk is nothing more than a true disciple of Jesus Christ, which is who we are all supposed to be.

May Our Lady help us to be such disciples, able to listen to our God and to serve Him with a pure heart. If you don’t start today to listen to Him, why would you do it tomorrow? And who knows? Today might be your last day.

Belle avancée des " Petits "

Highlights (click here) : http://sport.france2.fr/stade2/IMG/asx/arton637.asx

Irish dreams of a winning start to their temporary tenure at Croke Park were cruelly dashed by France in the final minute of a pulsating match. The victory keeps alive French hopes of a Grand Slam and leaves Ireland with dented self-belief after a stuttering start to their campaign.

The reigning champions kept their nerve right to the wire and continued an astonishing record, this being their 15th victory in 17 Six Nations matches since the 2003 World Cup.
The Ireland players were clearly distraught at the end. Denis Hickie, who could only watch helplessly after Vincent Clerc, the scorer of France's last-minute try, eluded his despairing tackle, sounded bemused afterwards.

"I'm not quite sure what happened at the end," he said. "I think we didn't take the kick-off or whatever and suddenly we were on the back foot." As for his attempt to stop Clerc, he said: "I wasn't close enough to get him properly."

Geordan Murphy, who suffered similar pain for France's first-half try, was more brutal on himself about his attempt to grab France hooker Raphael Ibañez. "That was a shocker," he admitted. "Ibañez just went through me."

Both men denied that the occasion had got to Ireland, who had started slowly before hitting back to take the lead on the hour. It was an advantage they increased when Ronan O'Gara, who scored all Ireland's points, knocked over his fourth penalty in the seventh minute of added time.
With fewer than three minutes remaining, the Irish, who had defended well throughout, momentarily lost concentration. The French ran at them, knocking them back and Clerc suddenly burst through, running inside Shane Horgan before leaving Hickie with his head in his hands.

Croke Park, home to the Gaelic Athletic Association, had welcomed its first "foreign" sport in the grandest of ways. The noise created by 82,300 people, some 72,000 of them Irish, who knew they had a place in the country's sporting history, defied description.

What little Ireland were allowed to do by the better organised French in the first half invariably came to nothing. They had spent so much time on the back foot, it was scarcely creditable the home side were still in it at the interval.

After just a quarter of an hour things were looking bleak for Ireland, two David Skrela penalties and, worse, a missed tackle by Murphy which let in Ibañez for a try after the hooker had been put away by Clerc.

Gradually, though, Eddie O'Sullivan's side began to impose their own pattern on events. A couple of O'Gara penalties kept them in touch and in good heart. The French began to look rattled, too many of Skrela's attempted clearance kicks were either charged down or came close to being so.

Then, in the 35th minute, as Ireland pressed into the French 22, O'Gara dummied, darted forward and fed Hickie. He found Horgan, then David Wallace ran on to a perfectly timed pass and the flanker found O'Gara,who had looped over to the left wing and cut inside and over for a try.

The crowd went wild, breaking all noise pollution levels in the north of Dublin. Skrela then missed two penalty attempts and Ireland went in at half-time a lot closer than had seemed possible.

After the interval they were a different team; fired up, furious at their first-half showing and fiercely intent on making amends. They had to work hard, but on the hour France conceded a penalty and as O'Gara's kick sailed between the uprights to give Ireland the lead for the first time in the match, eardrums were on the verge of being burst.

It all built up to a thrilling finish. Marcus Horan looked to have been held back, not once but twice, first by Imanol Harinordoquy, then by Clément Poitrenaud when chasing his grubber kick. But the referee, Steve Walsh, waved play on.

As proceedings moved into added time, the replacement fly-half Lionel Beauxis saw an attempted drop goal hit the right-hand upright to the backdrop of 70,000-odd gasps of relief. The, in the seventh minute of added time, the French fell foul of Walsh and O'Gara slotted the penalty goal. Every Ireland fan thought it was all over, but it wasn't, not quite.
The three minutes left were fraught for home fans as France countered, pushed back to the Ireland 22 and Clerc did his stuff. A nation's dreams lay in tatters.

Confraternity of Saint Peter

Charter

The example of Our Lord.“Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the labourers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers for his harvest.” (Mt 9, 35-38)

What is the Confraternity of Saint Peter?

It is a society which gathers those who feel close to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter and who wish to support its charism through prayers and sacrifices.Thus the Confraternity contributes to the service of the Church, through supporting numerous vocations, the sanctification of priests and their pastoral endeavours.What does a member of the Confraternity of Saint Peter do?

Members commit themselves to:

1) pray one decade of the holy rosary every day for the sanctification of our priests and for our priestly vocations

2) and recite the Prayer of the Confraternity every day

3) have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered once every year for these intentions.

What spiritual benefit do members receive from the Confraternity?

Their commitments place the members among our most faithful benefactors, and as such, among the particular recipients of our priests’ and seminarians’ daily prayers.The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered each month for the members of the Confraternity in each area. Recollections and instructions in the faith are also foreseen.

How does one become a member?

1. Fill in the enrolment form and send it back to us when filled out.

2. The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter will send to you in return the certificate of membership. The commitments take effect with the reception of the certificate.

3. Members must be at least 14 years old.

4. Membership is purely spiritual and does not confer any rights or duties other than the spiritual support in prayer and charity in accord with the commitments described above.

5. By themselves the commitments do not bind under penalty of sin.

6. Membership and the commitments which follow it are tacitly renewed each year on the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (February 22), unless expressly determined otherwise.

How does one receive news about the Confraternity?

Our channels of information - bulletins and websites of the districts or of the houses – will provide news about the Confraternity.

Prayer

Prayer for Priests, to be said by members of the Confraternity of St. Peter.
Following a decade of the Rosary:

V. Remember, O Lord, Thy congregation.

R. Which Thou hast possessed from the beginning.

Let us pray.O Lord Jesus, born to give testimony to the Truth, Thou who lovest unto the end those whom Thou hadst chosen, kindly hear our prayers for our pastors.Thou who knowest all things, knowest that they love Thee and can do all things in Thee who strengthen them.Sanctify them in Truth. Pour into them, we beseech Thee, the Spirit whom Thou didst give to Thy apostles, who would make them, in all things, like unto Thee. Receive the homage of love which they offer up to Thee, who hast graciously received the threefold confession of Peter. And so that a pure oblation may everywhere be offered without ceasing unto the Most Holy Trinity, graciously enrich their number and keep them in Thy love, who art one with the Father and the Holy Ghost, to whom be glory and honour forever. Amen.

Septuagesima Sunday

A new liturgical cycle begins with Septuagesima Sunday: the Easter cycle. During this liturgical season, we are going to follow humanity from its condition of slavery to its deliverance. This change is signified by the parting of the Red Sea, of which we will be reminded during the Easter Vigil. As Moses and his people, we are on our way from Egypt to the Promised Land. Our guide is Our Lord Jesus Christ. Our manna is the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. We are on the way to recover what we have lost by our sins. And this way is long and hard.

Saint Paul gives us an image to help us to understand. The Super Bowl game today can help us too. Imagine a sportsman who wants to win a prize or a cup. He cannot win without serious and determined preparation and a strict discipline. For one day of glory, he may have to go through years of hard, grueling work. But when the day of his victory comes, the difficulty of the training is already far behind him. Saint Paul, this untiring athlete of Christ tells us that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come. And for us, Christians, the goal is incomparably different than for a sportsman. The Apostle says again that every one that strives for the mastery, refrains himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one.

It is good and laudable to run for a corruptible trophy, but it is incidental. Running for the incorruptible one is necessary. The fact is that many people are able to strive for an earthly trophy but they forget about the most important one. They are ready to suffer a thousand pains for one evanescent reward, and they do absolutely nothing for the eternal reward. The reason is that they forget the One who gives this reward.

Now look at a sportsman. What does he in do in order to win? He wakes up early, he imposes upon himself a strict diet, he runs and trains almost every day, he tries to develop his skills and he works on his mental acuity as well. He has a strict program that he must follow under the guidance of his coach. And he also has a doctor who monitors the care of his health and physical condition. So, a champion does not become a champion by chance. He may have some natural abilities, but if he doesn’t uses them well, he cannot become a champion.

Now, what about the heroes and champions of Faith, I mean the saints who are now in Heaven? How do you think that they became saints and arrived in Heaven? By chance? They woke up early every day so that they could glorify God at the beginning of the day as the Psalms say: For to thee will I pray: O Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice. In the morning I will stand before thee. And I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the morning. They imposed on themselves a strict diet by observing the precepts of the Church of abstinence and fasting, which was in the past much more strict than today. And they practiced the virtue of temperance which allowed them to castigate their bodies and to refrain from the sins of the flesh. They took enough time every day for their spiritual exercises: prayer, meditation and spiritual reading. This helped them to practice virtues and to live as good Christians.

The Saints had also a strict program that they followed during their life. A rule of life was certainly necessary for them to keep a right order in their lives and to be able to do everything at the appropriate time and place. Wisdom and prudence led toward a higher perfection. And finally, they had the best coach and the best doctor you can imagine, in fact the same person: Our Lord Jesus Christ, helped by His assistants coaches and medical team: the priests, who are spiritual directors and doctors of their souls.

God gave them natural abilities and supernatural graces, but they still had to use them well. So do we! We have an incorruptible crown to win. Let us start the training right now.

May Our Lady help us in his difficult task. She knows how long and hard the preparation is. She knows all the difficulties we have. But, more than ourselves, she wants us to be victorious. And she will be present on the podium when we receive our trophy. It would be a shame to miss this event, by far more important than the super bowl. So, let the best win tonight, and let us all win the eternal reward at the hour of our death.

Azzurri downed by the champions

Great job for Italy : 3 points!!!!

Defending champions France kicked off their RBS Six Nations campaign with a comfortable 39-3 victory over Italy in Rome.
The hosts of this year's World Cup produced a professional answer to their growing detractors, ramming home their superiority both in the tight and loose exchanges to triumph.

David Skrela - earning only his second France cap - was an outstanding figure on the afternoon, setting up two tries and kicking 11 points to make a real claim for the 10 jersey.
The Stade Francais man showed deft of hand and boot to set up scores for Cedric Heymans and Yannick Jauzion, while tries from the superb Sebastien Chabal and Christophe Dominici marked France's dominance.

It was Italy who started much the brighter out of the two sides, coming close to a try twice in the opening five minutes.
Two well-judged testing kicks by Andrea Scanavacca saw the ball go loose from the resulting aerial challenges, with Mauro Bergamasco and Josh Sole both close to capitalising.
Unfortunately Roland De Marigny could not turn the Azzurri's early pressure into points, missing two penalty opportunities to keep the scores deadlocked. ( It is too bad, isn't it SPB ?? )

Predictably France were rather more clinical, and Skrela - making his first international appearance for over five years - took advantage of some good French scrummaging to settle any nerves with the game's opening score.
Les Bleus' scrum was their undoubted forte in the first 20 minutes, rumbling the Italians back towards their own try-line with Sale number eight Chabal making a shackled dash for the line.

One sensed the first try would inevitably fall to the visitors, but when it arrived it came in unexpected breakaway circumstances. Having lost their own line-out ball, France pressured their opponents into a handling error - allowing Dominici to hack the ball 80 metres upfield for a 10-0 converted scoreline.
Skrela was the man to kick the conversion, and he was soon contributing again in a fine return to the French line-up.
Attacking the blind side off the ruck, he flipped the ball into the arms of Heymans who went in under the posts.
The traffic certainly was not flowing in one solitary direction though, but Italy lacked the same clinical edge as Fabio Ongaro failed to make more of an overlap out wide.

They did manage to register three points before the break, Ramiro Pez succeeding where Scanavacca had previously failed.
It was to be a brief moment of joy for the Azzurri ( I hope they enjoyed it ) though, who went into half-time with there heads down after Chabal reached over from close range for a 22-3 half-time scoreline.

France boss Bernard Laporte's words at the interval would have asked for his team to pick up from where they left off, and they did just that with a second Chabal try four minutes after the restart.
Using his bulky frame to power over, the Sharks man made a real claim for a regular starting berth, Skrela doing the honours once more for 29-3.
Italy's response was to haul off their entire front row, but their real problem was now an inability to make any significant ground as they tried to run the ball from deep.
By contrast Skrela pounced on an opportunity to break on the hour mark, racing towards the corner before he was shoved out just inches short of a deserved try.
Florian Fritz and Jauzion both became growing factors in the contest as gaps appeared in the weary Italian defence, the Azzurri clinging on to keep the score below 30 points.
France's dominance could have been even clearer had their line-out not verged on the dysfunctional, but that did not stop Skrela opening his box of tricks.
Receiving the ball in the middle of the field, the Stade outside-half judged his diagonal kick to perfection, allowing Heymans to tap down to Jauzion for their fifth score of the afternoon.
The Italians rallied late on to give their home support something to cheer, but 16 phases saw them go absolutely nowhere as France showed an ominous determination to match their obvious technical superiority.

From SkySport.com

Now, I have to make a video for Shoopie ! ;)

Important message for my parishionners

I will not say Mass Friday evening at Saint Catherine for the Alliance of the two Hearts.

So first Saturday Mass will be at 7 am at the parish as usually, followed by the blessing of the throats.

And then, let us go to Fado ( 3035 Peachtree Road )

for

Allez les petits !

Sermon for 4th Sunday after Epiphany

Our Lord was sleeping when a storm arose. The disciples, afraid, went and woke Him: “ Lord, we are perishing.”

Lord, we are perishing! We are probably tempted to repeat this often. We are perishing because things are going badly in the world and in the Church today. And it is true, as it was true of the storm which scared the disciples. It is also true that there is a real danger. The old societies have almost disappeared and have given way to a kind of worldwide society almost similar everywhere. The Nations lose their identities under the force of the new world order, which provokes many social and political disturbances. Thousands – if not millions – of youth today have no social or cultural roots and are ready to accept anything in order to give a sense to their lives.

The Church herself is shaken by a huge earthquake which comes to weaken her foundation. It seems that the boat of Peter is about to sink. The words of Pope Saint Pius X at the beginning of the XX century appear to be true: modernism really is the ruin of religion. In many places around the world churches are closed and empty. And even in the churches, which are full of people, I am not sure that, there, the true God is adored according to a true worship. In addition to this, and perhaps as a result of the loss of Faith and of a true evangelical spirit within the Church, we are assailed by false religions and many different kinds of sects due to the rise of the New Age movements. So, we have indeed many good reasons to cry out: “Lord, we are perishing!”

One day Saint John Bosco had a dream, a little bit different than Martin Luther’s dream. He saw a naval battle. Many ships were fighting against one ship which fought alone, and this lone ship was the symbol of the Church. This ship was damaged many times by the cannonballs of the enemies. But it was never destroyed. It was led by the Pope who brought it to port where the ship could be anchored between two big columns. On the top of one was a big host with the inscription “Salus credentium” – salvation of the faithful. On the top of the other one was a statue of the Immaculate with the inscription “Auxilium christianorum” – help of Christians.

Dear Brethren, as long as we remain faithful we have no reason to cry out that we are perishing. Nourished by the Holy Eucharist, daily if it is possible, and helped by the Immaculate Virgin Mary, we are, under the authority of the Pope, visible head of the Church, in good hands. And this is a matter of Faith – faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ whose words cannot be wrong and which cannot deceive. It is not human confidence in a man, whatever his name is – Karol Wojtyla or Joseph Ratzinger – but in Jesus Christ who has established them to rule His Church.
But you can trust Jesus only if you know Him, which means only if you take time to be with Him. You can trust Him only if you speak to Him and if you listen to Him every day. This is all the secret of Christian life: a close intimacy with the Lord who loves you. This is the fulfillment of the Divine grace in a soul that unites it to Jesus Christ. Then there is nothing to fear because you are with God, with Jesus Christ and with His Blessed Mother, safe inside the Catholic Church, the new Arch of Salvation.

Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Don’t you understand that if you had Faith, you could do anything? Our Lord doesn’t need a bunch of fearful people complaining constantly but rather He wants an army of brave disciples ready to do anything for the love of God. Let us be those men and women animated by the same love of Jesus Christ. May Our Lady help us to remain faithful until the end and to strengthen our faith. Those who have a strong and deep faith are not perishing.