From Parochial and Plain Sermons
by Venerable John Henry Newman

Let us weigh carefully our Lord's solemn announcements uttered shortly before His crucifixion, and, though addressed primarily to His Apostles, yet, surely, in their degree belonging to all who "believe on Him through their word." We shall find that consistent obedience, mature, habitual, lifelong holiness, is therein made the condition of His intimate favour, and of power in Intercession. "If ye abide in Me," he says, "and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; abide ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you." [John xv. 7-15.] From this solemn grant of the peculiarly Gospel privilege of being the "friends" of Christ, it is certain, that as the prayer of repentance gains for us sinners Baptism and justification, so our higher gift of having power with Him and prevailing, depends on our "adding to our faith virtue."

One week....
until St. Philip's Day !

The Feast of Pope St. Celestine V
is today. There is information on him here.
It is also the feast of St. Dunstan of Canterbury, O.S.B., Archbishop , and Blessed Peter Wright, S.J., Priest and Martyr .

From Parochial and Plain Sermons
by Venerable John Henry Newman

All things here are against us but God; but if God be for us, who can really be against us? If He is in the midst of us, how shall we be moved? If Christ has died and risen again, what death can come upon us, though we be made to die daily? what sorrow, pain, humiliation, trial, but must end as His has ended, in a continual resurrection into His new world, and in a nearer and nearer approach to Him? He pronounced a blessing over His Apostles, and they have scattered it far and wide all over the earth unto this day. It runs as follows: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you." "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." [John xiv. 27: xvi. 33.]

Please pray...
for our bishop, as he is reassigned to Washington, D.C., and for our diocese as we await news on his successor here.

The Catholic Carnival
is up.

Ten more days...
until St. Philip's Day !

The Feast of St. Andrew Bobola, S.J., Priest and Martyr
is today. There is information on him here.
It is also the feast of St. Brendan the Navigator, Abbot, St. Simon Stock, O.Carm., and St. John Nepomucene, Priest and Martyr.