January 22, 2025

catholic news

Sister Wilhelmina in guiding us as Apostles of the End Times

Mother & Refuge05 mins

This week we have all witnessed what appears to be a great miracle for the Catholic Church in the United States: the discovery of a new Incorruptible body of a possible Saint. The Benedictine Sisters are allowing the body to be touched physically until Sunday, May 28. Those who are able to travel to this apparent miracle are wonderfully blessed. Like Thomas, they are able to put their hands on what appears to be a sign of the Resurrection, a preserved body of a holy woman.    Some have been blessed to have seen Incorruptible Saints before, and I doubt many of us had the opportunity to touch a body in this condition. Travel to places where Incorrupt bodies are on display for the faithful provides a unique sign for the Catholic Faithful. In the years to come, much will come to light about the life of Sister Wilhelmina, and certainly God has provided us a sign for us to take a close look at her life and ask, what is it that we can learn from this Holy woman.  A well-known Catholic Youtube personality stated his belief that the Faithful ought to not focus on the fact that Sister Wilhelmina was African American or that her congregation worships according to the Extra-ordinary form of the Latin Rite Mass. However, I believe that both of these facts should be known and celebrated. Firstly, what a blessing it is that we have our first African American woman incorrupt saint in the United States! Noting that Sister Wilhelmina’s great grandmother was a slave provides great reason to celebrate that in overcoming such prejudices, this family has been blessed with an amazing grace and miracle. This is a great honor for those who African American and this is something that can indeed be a source of great pride for their culture.  Secondly, it is not insignificant that Sister Wilhelmina was called to found an order founded in the traditions of the extra-ordinary form of the Mass. There is much to be said upon reflection of Sister Wilhelmina’s own spirituality that led her down this path. She left one order to found another in the middle of the 1990’s. At this time there were several people attempting to found new orders with the Latin Mass as its center and many of them failed. Sister Wilhelmina not only succeeded, but she had success in the most phenomenal of ways. In the end, the order that Sister chose to found was a Benedictine Convent – which is structured according to a very contemplative way of living. Thus, as Catholics living after Vatican II, and after the turn of the 21st century we must take a serious look at the Traditions of prayer in the Church and at least acknowledge that in the case of Sister Wilhelmina, the traditional way of prayer both as Benedictine and as centered around the Extraordinary form of the Mass led her to a very high form of Sanctity.

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Unveiling the Divine Encounter: America’s Exclusive Recognized Marian Apparition

Mother & Refuge04 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDbZ5t7p3UE By Aleteia On October 8, 1871, in or around a place called Peshtigo, Wisconsin, several men were setting small fires in the woods. This was a common practice in clearing land for expanding railroads or for expanding farm land. Except, on this particular day, something unexpected happened. A cold front moved into the area creating winds that were close to hurricane force. The winds fanned the flames and the resulting Peshtigo Firestorm still can claim the ignominious title as the “deadliest wildfire” in American history. To this day, no wildfire in the U.S. has ever caused more deaths. It is estimated close to 2,500 people perished in the raging 2,000-degree inferno. But there is an incredible side-bar to this story. Miraculously, there was a small group of people who were not harmed at all and they were right in the middle of the blaze. They were with Adele Brise. Adele Brise was 24 years old when she arrived in Wisconsin with her parents from Belgium in 1855. A devout Catholic, Adele had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother and prayed daily. On Sunday, October 2, 1859, Adele was walking home through the woods when she saw a woman clothed in white standing between a hemlock and a maple tree. The woman was encased in a bright light and had a yellow sash around her waist.  A crown of stars was above her long, blond hair. Adele, filled with fear, began praying and the vision disappeared. She told her mom and dad about it and they told her that maybe it was a soul in need of prayers. The following Sunday, Adele was on her way to Mass with her sister and another woman when she saw the apparition a second time. But her sister and friend, who were walking a bit ahead of her, did not see anything. As Adele returned from Mass, the Lady appeared to her for the third time. Adele, who had confided in her parish priest about the mysterious lady, did as he had told her. She asked the Lady the question, “In the Name of God, who are you and what do you wish of me?” The Lady answered, “I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners and I wish you to do the same. You received Holy Communion this morning and that is well. But you must do more. Make a general confession and offer Communion for the conversion of sinners… Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.” Read more…

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From Lands that See the Sun Arise | hymn from the Roman Breviary (5th century)

Mother & Refuge03 mins

FROM lands that see the sun arise, to earth’s remotest boundaries, the Virgin-born today we sing, the Son of Mary, Christ the King. Blest Author of this earthly frame, to take a servant’s form he came, that liberating flesh by flesh, whom he had made might live afresh. In that chaste parent’s holy womb, celestial grace hath found its home: and she, as earthly bride unknown, yet call that Offspring blest her own. The mansion of the modest breast becomes a shrine where God shall rest: the pure and undefiled one conceived in her womb the Son. That Son, that royal Son she bore, whom Gabriel’s voice had told afore: whom, in his Mother yet concealed, the Infant Baptist had revealed. The manger and the straw he bore, the cradle did he not abhor: a little milk his infant fare who feedeth even each fowl of air. The heavenly chorus filled the sky, the Angels sang to God on high, what time to shepherds watching lone they made creation’s Shepherd known. All honor, laud, and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee; all glory, as is ever meet, to the Father and to Paraclete. Amen.   A solis ortus cardine adusque terrae limitem Christum canamus Principem, natum Maria Virgine. Beatus auctor saeculi servile corpus induit, ut carne carnem liberans non perderet quod condidit. Clausae parentis viscera caelestis intrat gratia; venter puellae baiulat secreta quae non noverat. Domus pudici pectoris templum repente fit Dei; intacta nesciens virum verbo concepit Filium. Enixa est puerpera quem Gabriel praedixerat, quem matris alvo gestiens clausus Ioannes senserat. Feno iacere pertulit, praesepe non abhorruit, parvoque lacte pastus est per quem nec ales esurit. Gaudet chorus caelestium et Angeli canunt Deum, palamque fit pastoribus Pastor, Creator omnium. Iesu, tibi sit gloria, qui natus es de Virgine, cum Patre et almo Spiritu, in sempiterna saecula. Amen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8vY8a2ZK-8

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An Offering of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary| by St. John Eudes

Mother & Refuge01 mins

O Jesus, only Son of God, only Son of Mary,I offer Thee the most loving Heart of Thy divine Motherwhich is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts.O Mary, Mother of Jesus,I offer Thee the most adorable Heart of Thy well-beloved Son,who is the life and love and joy of Thy Heart.Blessed be the Most Loving Heartand Sweet Name of Our Lord Jesus Christand the most gloriousVirgin Mary, His Mother,in eternity and forever. Amen

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A Prayer in Suffering| Your Sorrow Shall Be Turned to Joy

Mother & Refuge01 mins

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, accept my sufferings which I desire to unite with Thine. Sanctify this affliction, so that every pang I feel may purify my soul and bring it nearer to Thee, to be made more one with Thee; grant that I may welcome the sufferings which will make me more like to Thee. O my Lord, stand Thou by me with Thy supporting grace; sanctify each pang, sustain my weakness. And then order for me what Thou pleasest. Come now to my help, O Lord, and so purify my soul that I may be spared the last, the eternal suffering; let me fly to the embrace of Thy love forever. Amen

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Prayer to the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Mother & Refuge12 mins

Oh holy souls in purgatory, you are the certain heirs of heaven. You are most dear to Jesus as the trophies of His Precious Blood and to Mary, mother of mercy. Obtain for me through your intercession the grace to lead a holy life, to die a happy death and to attain to the blessedness of eternity in heaven.Dear suffering souls, who long to be delivered in order to praise and glorify God in heaven, by your unfailing pity help me in the needs which distress me at this time, particularly… so that I may obtain relief and assistance from God.In gratitude for your intercession I offer to God in your behalf the satisfactory merits of my prayer and work, my joys and suffering of this day (week, month, or whatever space of time you wish to designate).Amen. Assist at Mass and have a Mass offered for them, if possible. Offerings of the Precious Blood and the Way of the Cross are also powerful means of helping them and obtaining their help.

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