Early Christian Devotion to the Saints: An Archeological Fact

According to a CNS Story, devotion to the saints, complete with depicting IMAGES of them, recently thought by radical protestants to be "idolotrous" was actually practiced in the early Church, long before the middle ages and long before the radical protestant rebellion. An excerpt from the article states:

At Rome's Catacombs of St. Thecla, in the burial chamber of a Roman noblewoman, they have discovered what they said are the oldest existing paintings of Sts. Peter, Paul, Andrew and John.

Saint Thecla, according to Catholic Encyclopedia, was a virgin of Iconium who converted to Christianity and led to dedicating a life to perpetual virginity by the preaching of the Apostle Paul. She followed the Apostle Paul to Antioch and then to Myra surviving the persecutions from death at the stake then from death by wild beasts. Modern day Catholic religious orders continue make vows of chastity in line with the tradition that the Apostle Paul inspired and in conformity with the admonitions of our Lord Himself when He said:

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39

Hyundai: 'Roman Catholics Need Not Apply'

This is essentially the message the carmaker Hyundai wants to deliver to Catholics - 'don't buy our cars'. And rightly so, after Our Lord advised all Christians to refrain from giving our wealth to those who would use it to trample you under your feet when He said:

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."

Matthew 7:6

I refuse to even post the commercial, the ad is so insulting. To get an idea of how low Hyundai has drug themselves to, an article by Gregg Burke recalls the ad in detail:

The ad begins with singing in Latin, and depicts an Argentine “church” – complete with a stained-glass window of a soccer ball -- in which the wildly popular sport is clearly what’s being worshipped.

Hyundai then insults our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament . . .

by showing “worshippers” on their knees receiving slices of pizza rather than the communion host.

How to Dress for Mass: the Archdiocese of Washington Sets the Standard

According to the Archdiocese of Washington website and reported by Spirit Daily, the very Rev. Msgr. Charles Pope sets down some foundational principles. Click here for article.

Great Talk on Receiving Holy Communion on the Tongue

Click here to listen to talk (8 min.)

The Battle for the Ancient Mass - Audio by FSSP Priest Fr. Calvin Goodwin

From the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter website:

Father Calvin Goodwin, FSSP, from Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska discusses the history and struggles associated with the Traditional Latin Mass in this hour long talk.

Vatican Comes out with Video on the Latin Mass for Priests

Professor Leading Research on Shroud of Turin Says Cloth Supports "Resurrection Theory"

According to a May 7 CNA/Europa Press Article,

"Professor Paolo Di Lazzaro, who is head of a group of researchers from the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Development in Italy, noted this week that the latest discoveries on the Shroud of Turin “are not in contradiction with the theory of the Resurrection” of Christ."

For years secular humanists, who believe nothing deeper than their 5 senses, have questioned the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin citing such claims as it being nothing more than a medieval painting by conspirators to hoodwink the world, etc. Because secularists regard science as the Supreme Being and scientific research as the source and summit of all truth, research professors investigating the Shroud are their last hope in bringing their comatose minds back from the pale with this latest conclusion of a 4 year study on the Shroud that analyzed and studied how the image came to appear on the cloth. If secular humanists are fair minded and true to their sensually tangible perception of the world around them, then this latest research finding should consequently bring secular humanists 'back to their senses'.

The article continued:

Di Lazzaro said that scientists have not been able to reproduce an image, similar to the one on the shroud, with any kind of contact technique. While from far away, differences in the replications may appear unnoticeable, under a microscope they appear drastically different, he added.

The peculiarity of the original image lies in the “depth of coloration,” which on Shroud does not go beyond the first layer of strands in the fabric, Di Lazzaro said. Upon observation, his team came to the conclusion that “the image on the Shroud is similar to those some textile manufactures create through the use of laser.”

After years of experimentation, for the first time the team was able to color the outermost strands of a fabric similarly to how the image is present on the Shroud by using “extremely brief but intense ultraviolet light impulses emitted by a special laser.”

Even so, the researchers were only able to reproduce a small portion of the Shroud, as “in order to color the entire image you would need 14,000 lasers, something which for now is impossible,” he said.

Nevertheless, Di Lazzaro said the discovery at least points to a possible physical mechanism that may have resulted in the creation of the image. This mechanism “does not contradict the religious theory of the miracle or the resurrection,” he said, as it could have been the cause of the release of energy that created the image, although “this is an area outside our competence as scientists.”

Nevertheless, Christ finally told the Apostles after Thomas doubted in the Resurrection, "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.":

So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."

Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."

Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

John 20:25-29