My second post of my (prayerfully) daily blog series called East meets West, creating a list and a litany of all Eastern and Western Christian Saints throughout the Liturgical year
East meets West, Eastern Catholic/Orthodox and Roman Catholic Saints for September 5th, A.D. 2016 (Gregorian) / September 18th, A.D. 2016 (Julian)
Eastern Catholic/Orthodox daily Saints:
Synaxis of New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan (movable holiday on the Sunday after September 3rd). -All you holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan, pray for us!
Holy Prophet Zacharias and Righteous Elizabeth (1st c.), parents of St. John the Forerunner. Sts. Zechariah and Elizabeth, pray for us
Martyrdom of St. Athanasius, abbot, of Brest, by the Latins (1649). Lord forgive our ancestors, St. Athanasius please pray for us
New Hieromartyr Alexis, archbishop of Velikoustiuzh, Martyr Euthymius, pray for us (1937)
Martyrdom of the Holy Passion-bearer Gleb of Russia, in holy baptism David, pray for us (1051)
Martyrs Thiphael and his sister, Thivea (or Vivea) (98-138), pray for us
Martyr Sarbelus of Edessa pray for us
Virgin-martyr Rhais (Raisa) of Alexandria (308), pray for us
Martyrs Juventinus and Maximus at Antioch (4th c.) pray for us
Martyrs Urban, Theodore, Medimnus, and 77 Companions at Nicomedia (370) pray for us
Martyrs Abdas, Hormizd, and Sunin of Persia (ca. 424) pray for us
Appearance of the Holy Apostle Peter to Emperor Justinian at Athira near Constantinople., St. Peter the Apostle, pray for us!
Roman Catholic daily Saints:
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us
St. Bertin the Great, pray for us
St. Albert of Butrio, pray for us
St. Alvitus of Leon pray for us
Blessed Anselm of Anchin, pray for us
Blessed Florent Dumontet de Cardaillac, pray for us
St. Genebald of Laon, pray for us
Blessed Gentilis of Toringa, pray for us
St. Giuse Hoang Luong Canh, pray for us
Bl. John the Good of Siponto pray for us
Bl. Jordan of Pulsano pray for us
St. Obdulia, pray for us
St. Phero Nguyen Van Tu, pray for us
St. Romulus of Rome, pray for us
St. Victorinus of Como, pray for us
Bl. William Browne, pray for us
All Three Martyrs of Capua, Arcontius, Donatus, and Quintius, pray for us
All the Martyrs of Porto Romano, of whom are Aconto, Herculanus, Nonno and Taurino, pray for us
All of the 80+ Martyr-Saints of Nicomedia, of whom are Menedemo, Teodoro, and Urbano, pray for us
All the Martyrs of Armenia, numbering over 1,000, among whom are Eudoxius, Macarius, and Zeno, pray for us
Monday, September 5, 2016
Sunday, September 4, 2016
East meets West 9-4-2016
Dear brothers and sisters, I am going to do my best to start doing a daily entry called East meets West, I will be using two sources, http://CatholicSaints.info and http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/ as my sources. The purpose will be to form a large daily list of all the Saints celebrated and commemorated in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic/Orthodox Liturgical traditions. God bless, and may all saints, especially the newly canonized Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!
Daily Litany of the Saints - East meets West, for September 4th, A.D. 2016 (Gregorian)/September 17th, A.D. 2016 (Julian)
Roman Catholic daily Saints
⦁ Our Lady of Consolation, pray for us
⦁ St. Ammianus the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Boniface I, Pope, pray for us
⦁ St. Caletricus of Chartres, pray for us
⦁ St. Candida of Naples, pray for us
⦁ St. Candida the Elder, pray for us
⦁ St. Castus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Catherine of Racconigi, pray for us
⦁ St. Fredaldo of Mende, pray for us
⦁ St. Hermione, pray for us
⦁ St. Ida of Herzfeld, pray for us
⦁ St. Irmgard of Süchteln, pray for us
⦁ St. Julian the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Magnus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Marcellus of Chalon-sur-Saône, pray for us
⦁ St. Marcellus of Treves, pray for us
⦁ St. Maximus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Monessa, pray for us
⦁ St. Moses the Prophet, pray for us
⦁ St. Nicolò Rusca, pray for us
⦁ St. Oceanus the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Peter of Saint James, pray for us
⦁ St. Rebecca of Alexandria, pray for us
⦁ St. Rhuddlad, pray for us
⦁ St. Rosalia, pray for us
⦁ St. Rufinus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Salvinus of Verdun, pray for us
⦁ St. Scipion-Jérôme Brigeat Lambert, pray for us
⦁ St. Silvanus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Sulpicius of Bayeux, pray for us
⦁ St. Thamel, pray for us
⦁ St. Theodore the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Ultan of Ardbraccan, pray for us
⦁ St. Victalicus, pray for us
⦁ All those Martyred in the Spanish Civil War , pray for us
⦁ St. Adrián Saiz y Saiz, pray for us
⦁ St. Baltasar Mariano Muñoz Martínez, pray for us
⦁ St. Francisco Sendra Ivars, pray for us
⦁ St José Bleda Grau, pray for us
⦁ St José Pascual Carda Saporta, pray for us
⦁ St José Vicente Hormaechea Apoita, pray for us
⦁ St. Pedro Sánchez Barba, pray for us
⦁ St. Giuseppe Toniolo, pray for us
⦁ St. Joseph the Patriarch, pray for us
⦁ St. Maria Dina Bélanger, pray for us
Eastern Catholic/Orthodox daily Saints
⦁ Hieromartyr Babylas, bishop of Antioch, with Martyrs Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonius, and their mother Christodula (251).
⦁ Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses (1531 B.C.).
⦁ Uncovering of the relics (1911) of St. Ioasaph, bishop of Belgorod (1754).
⦁ Uncovering of the relics (1989) of St. Metrophanes, bishop of Voronezh (1703).
⦁ Synaxis of All Saints of Voronezh.
⦁ Hieromartyr Parthenius, abbot of Kiziltis Monastery in Crimea (1867).
⦁ New Hieromartyrs Paul, John, Nicholas, Nicholas, John, Nicholas, Alexander, Peter and Michael priests, Hieromartyr Stephen, Martyrs Basil, Peter, Stephen and Alexander (1937).
⦁ New Hieromartyrs Gregory (Lebedev) Bishop of Shliserburg and Sergius (Druzhinin) Bishop of Narva (1937).
⦁ Virgin-Martyr Helen (1942).
⦁ Martyr Hermione, daughter of Apostle Philip the Deacon (117).
⦁ Martyr Babylas of Nicomedia, and with him 84 children (4th c.).
⦁ Martyrs Theodore, Mianus (Ammianus), Julian, Kion (Oceanus), and Centurionus of Nicomedia (305-311).
⦁ Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Unburnt Bush" (1680).
⦁ St. Joachim, patriarch of Alexandria.
⦁ Venerable Petronius of Egypt (346), disciple of St. Pachomius the Great.
⦁ Martyr Charitina of Amisus (Greek).
⦁ Martyrs Thathuil and Bebaia of Edessa (2nd c.) (Greek).
⦁ Martyr Jerusalem of Berroia (Greek).
⦁ Martyrs Theotimus and Theodulus the executioners (Greek).
⦁ St. Symeon, abbot and wonderworker of Garesja (1777).
⦁ St. Anthimus the Blind, new ascetic of Cephalonia (1782).
⦁ New Hieromartyr Peter, metropolitan of Dabro-Bosnia (1941).
⦁ Translation of the relics of St. Birinus, bishop of Dorchester-on-Thames and enlighterer of Wessex.
⦁ Translation of the relics St. Cuthberg, bishop of Lindisfarne
Daily Litany of the Saints - East meets West, for September 4th, A.D. 2016 (Gregorian)/September 17th, A.D. 2016 (Julian)
Roman Catholic daily Saints
⦁ Our Lady of Consolation, pray for us
⦁ St. Ammianus the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Boniface I, Pope, pray for us
⦁ St. Caletricus of Chartres, pray for us
⦁ St. Candida of Naples, pray for us
⦁ St. Candida the Elder, pray for us
⦁ St. Castus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Catherine of Racconigi, pray for us
⦁ St. Fredaldo of Mende, pray for us
⦁ St. Hermione, pray for us
⦁ St. Ida of Herzfeld, pray for us
⦁ St. Irmgard of Süchteln, pray for us
⦁ St. Julian the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Magnus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Marcellus of Chalon-sur-Saône, pray for us
⦁ St. Marcellus of Treves, pray for us
⦁ St. Maximus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Monessa, pray for us
⦁ St. Moses the Prophet, pray for us
⦁ St. Nicolò Rusca, pray for us
⦁ St. Oceanus the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Peter of Saint James, pray for us
⦁ St. Rebecca of Alexandria, pray for us
⦁ St. Rhuddlad, pray for us
⦁ St. Rosalia, pray for us
⦁ St. Rufinus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Salvinus of Verdun, pray for us
⦁ St. Scipion-Jérôme Brigeat Lambert, pray for us
⦁ St. Silvanus of Ancyra, pray for us
⦁ St. Sulpicius of Bayeux, pray for us
⦁ St. Thamel, pray for us
⦁ St. Theodore the Martyr, pray for us
⦁ St. Ultan of Ardbraccan, pray for us
⦁ St. Victalicus, pray for us
⦁ All those Martyred in the Spanish Civil War , pray for us
⦁ St. Adrián Saiz y Saiz, pray for us
⦁ St. Baltasar Mariano Muñoz Martínez, pray for us
⦁ St. Francisco Sendra Ivars, pray for us
⦁ St José Bleda Grau, pray for us
⦁ St José Pascual Carda Saporta, pray for us
⦁ St José Vicente Hormaechea Apoita, pray for us
⦁ St. Pedro Sánchez Barba, pray for us
⦁ St. Giuseppe Toniolo, pray for us
⦁ St. Joseph the Patriarch, pray for us
⦁ St. Maria Dina Bélanger, pray for us
Eastern Catholic/Orthodox daily Saints
⦁ Hieromartyr Babylas, bishop of Antioch, with Martyrs Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonius, and their mother Christodula (251).
⦁ Holy Prophet and God-seer Moses (1531 B.C.).
⦁ Uncovering of the relics (1911) of St. Ioasaph, bishop of Belgorod (1754).
⦁ Uncovering of the relics (1989) of St. Metrophanes, bishop of Voronezh (1703).
⦁ Synaxis of All Saints of Voronezh.
⦁ Hieromartyr Parthenius, abbot of Kiziltis Monastery in Crimea (1867).
⦁ New Hieromartyrs Paul, John, Nicholas, Nicholas, John, Nicholas, Alexander, Peter and Michael priests, Hieromartyr Stephen, Martyrs Basil, Peter, Stephen and Alexander (1937).
⦁ New Hieromartyrs Gregory (Lebedev) Bishop of Shliserburg and Sergius (Druzhinin) Bishop of Narva (1937).
⦁ Virgin-Martyr Helen (1942).
⦁ Martyr Hermione, daughter of Apostle Philip the Deacon (117).
⦁ Martyr Babylas of Nicomedia, and with him 84 children (4th c.).
⦁ Martyrs Theodore, Mianus (Ammianus), Julian, Kion (Oceanus), and Centurionus of Nicomedia (305-311).
⦁ Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Unburnt Bush" (1680).
⦁ St. Joachim, patriarch of Alexandria.
⦁ Venerable Petronius of Egypt (346), disciple of St. Pachomius the Great.
⦁ Martyr Charitina of Amisus (Greek).
⦁ Martyrs Thathuil and Bebaia of Edessa (2nd c.) (Greek).
⦁ Martyr Jerusalem of Berroia (Greek).
⦁ Martyrs Theotimus and Theodulus the executioners (Greek).
⦁ St. Symeon, abbot and wonderworker of Garesja (1777).
⦁ St. Anthimus the Blind, new ascetic of Cephalonia (1782).
⦁ New Hieromartyr Peter, metropolitan of Dabro-Bosnia (1941).
⦁ Translation of the relics of St. Birinus, bishop of Dorchester-on-Thames and enlighterer of Wessex.
⦁ Translation of the relics St. Cuthberg, bishop of Lindisfarne
Friday, September 2, 2016
Catechetical Document on the worthy Reception of the Holy Eucharist
This is a small catechesis I put together on the subject of how to receive Communion in a worthy manner,
God bless!
Who should, and who should not be receiving Holy Communion?
Dear brothers and sisters, I have noticed that a good amount of Catholics do not know the five requirements for admittance to the Lords Supper. These Five prerequisites are each and every one to be met, and if any one is lacking, the virtuous and Catholic thing to do is to remain kneeling or seated during Communion and pray the Lord that you can receive worthily as soon as possible. My sources for writing this catechetical document are the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Code of Canon Law, the writings of the Church Fathers and Popes, Sacred Scripture, and a great article by a blogger http://blog.adw.org/2015/06/on-the-worthy-reception-of-holy-communion/ So now without further ado, here is the list (Quotes from the Magisterium and Sacred Scriptures set off in italics):
#1) Canon 912 Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion.
This canon is saying a Baptized Catholic can be admitted to Holy Communion. If you are not a baptized Catholic, or unsure if your baptism is recognized by the Church, do not approach for Holy Communion.
#2) You must be in a state of grace -
The Eucharist is not itself the sacrament of reconciliation, but in fact it presupposes that sacrament. It is the sacrament of the reconciled, to which the Lord invites all those who have become one with him; who certainly still remain weak sinners, but yet have given their hand to him and have become part of his family.
That is why, from the beginning, the Eucharist has been preceded by a discernment … (I Corinthians 11:27 ff). The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles [the Didache] is one of the oldest writings outside the New Testament, from the beginning of the Second Century[some scholars and my opinion is that it is from the first century, between A.D. 50-100], it takes up this apostolic tradition and has the priest, just before distributing the sacrament saying:”Whoever is holy, let him approach, whoever is not, let him do penance” (Didache 10). -Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), Collected Works, Vol. II, Ignatius Press pp 273-274
"So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world." -(1 Cor. 11:27–32).
As Pope Benedict and St. Paul and the unanimous Tradition of Holy Mother Church points out, one must be in a state of grace to receive Communion, and the Church requires confession at least once per year. So if it has been over a year since your last confession, or if you have committed a mortal sin since your last confession, please, do not approach for Communion, but stay kneeling and pray acts of contrition, otherwise you commit the sin of sacrilege by receiving unworthily. As the Code of Canon Law states : "A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass [this applies to Priests, not laity] or to receive the Body of the Lord [this applies to laity] without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible" (Canon 916).
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny (Mat 5:21-26).
Note the use of the simple word “first.” Jesus teaches that we cannot approach the altar if we are filled with hate or injustice toward our brethren. Reconciliation and the restoration of unity are required prior to approaching the Sacrament of Holy Communion, lest our “Amen” be incoherent or a lie -Quote from the referenced blog
Please, do NOT think people around you will judge you if you do not go forward. I guarantee, people will respect a penitent more than somebody taking the Body and Blood of Christ in a wanton manner. As the Didache states: "If any one is holy [i.e., in a state of sanctifying Grace], let him approach; if any one is not so, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen. … But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, “Give not that which is holy to the dogs” (Didache 10, 9).
To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience. Those conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion (Catechism # 1385).
And again from the Didache: "But first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one" (Didache 14).
This requirement can be dispensed of for several reasons, including: (1) there must be a grave reason to receive Communion (for example, danger of death), (2) it must be physically or morally impossible to go to confession first, (3) the person must already be in a state of grace through perfect contrition, and (4) he must resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.
If you want to call this communion “closed,” fine, but at its heart it is more positively called a “sacrum convivium,” a sacred meal of those who share a life together (con = with or together + vivium = life). This is not a “come one, come all” meal; it is a Holy Banquet for those who wear the wedding garment. The garment is righteousness and those who refuse to wear it are cast out (cf: Matt 22:11-12 & Rev 19:8). -Quote from the referenced blog
Many moderns surely would prefer a “no questions asked” invitation to all who wish to come. We moderns love this notion of unity. But to a large degree it is a contrived unity that overlooks truth (the opposite of which is falsehood, not just a different viewpoint). Yes, it overlooks the truth necessary for honest, real, and substantive unity. Such a notion of communion is shallow at best and a lie at worst. How can people approach the Eucharist, the sacrament of Holy Communion and unity, and say “Amen” when they differ with the Church over essentials such as that Baptism is necessary; that there are seven Sacraments; that the Pope is the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ on Earth; that homosexual acts, fornication, and adultery are gravely sinful; that women cannot be admitted to Holy Orders; that there is in fact a priesthood; that Scripture must be read in the light of the Magisterium; and on and on? Saying that there is communion in such a case is either a contrivance or a lie, but in either case, it does not suffice for the “Amen” that is required at the moment of reception of Holy Communion. -Quote from the referenced blog
#3) You must believe in the established Dogmas of the Church, especially the Eucharistic dogmas of the Real Presence of Jesus through Transubstantiation. "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself" (1 Cor. 11:29). If you do not believe in the Real Presence, if you do not believe the Lords Words "my flesh is real food, my blood real drink", if you only believe in "symbolic presence" - do not approach! You must assent to the Catholic dogma or risk not discerning the Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus.
These are essential Dogmas. If you deny the Transubstantiation, you must repent and assent to Church Dogma before receiving. This is different from having doubts or feeling like you’re not really sure how the bread and wine completely change substance. This means outright denial of it. Saying “I have a hard time believing it, but I do believe, Lord I believe, help mine unbelief!”, is much different from “I do not believe it”. Many Bishops and Priests, even Popes and Saints have had a hard time understanding the Real Presence, sometimes even precipitating a Eucharistic Miracle (a la the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano) but they did not deny it, since this is such a great heavenly mystery
.
#4) You must have observed the minimum Eucharistic Fast: "One who is to receive the most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion" (CIC 919 §1). Elderly folks, people who are very ill, and their caretakers are excused from the Eucharistic fast (CIC 191 §3). Priests and deacons may not dispense one obligated by the Eucharistic fast unless the bishop has expressly granted such power to them (cf. CIC 89). Drinking water is allowed, and medicine that is necessary to take is allowed also. Don’t get scrupulous – I have seen people ask if brushing their teeth breaks the Eucharistic fast… it doesn't. Also, this is a minimum. There is nothing wrong and in fact it is encouraged to observe the older, stricter Eucharistic fast disciplines, of either 3 hours prior to reception which was instituted by Pope Pius XII, or the even older and Eastern tradition of fasting from midnight the night before (when receiving in the morning).
#5) You must not be under any sort of ban, censure, or excommunication. "Those who are excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion" (CIC 915).
In summary, in order to approach the Lords Table, you must be a baptized Catholic. One must be in a state of grace, having made Sacramental Confession since your past mortal sin. One must have a correct belief in the dogmas of the Church, particularly the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. One must have observed the minimum one hour Eucharistic fast. Lastly, one must be in good standing with the Church - not under any sort of ban, censure, or excommunication.
His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI stated much the same -
Presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion should be a conscious decision, based on a reasoned judgment regarding one’s worthiness to do so, according to the Church’s objective criteria, asking such questions as: “Am I in full communion with the Catholic Church? Am I guilty of grave sin? Have I incurred a penalty (e.g., excommunication, interdict) that forbids me to receive Holy Communion? Have I prepared myself by fasting for at least an hour?” The practice of indiscriminately presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion, merely as a consequence of being present at Mass, is an abuse that must be corrected (Cardinal Ratzinger Memo to Cardinal McCarrick, # 1).
Dear brothers and sisters, I pray this reminder of the Teachings of Our Holy Mother Church will serve to increase the holiness of our Cathedral Parish and keep the Holy Sacrament Holy.
God bless!
-Jason Michael Spyridon Prewara
God bless!
Who should, and who should not be receiving Holy Communion?
Dear brothers and sisters, I have noticed that a good amount of Catholics do not know the five requirements for admittance to the Lords Supper. These Five prerequisites are each and every one to be met, and if any one is lacking, the virtuous and Catholic thing to do is to remain kneeling or seated during Communion and pray the Lord that you can receive worthily as soon as possible. My sources for writing this catechetical document are the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Code of Canon Law, the writings of the Church Fathers and Popes, Sacred Scripture, and a great article by a blogger http://blog.adw.org/2015/06/on-the-worthy-reception-of-holy-communion/ So now without further ado, here is the list (Quotes from the Magisterium and Sacred Scriptures set off in italics):
#1) Canon 912 Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to holy communion.
This canon is saying a Baptized Catholic can be admitted to Holy Communion. If you are not a baptized Catholic, or unsure if your baptism is recognized by the Church, do not approach for Holy Communion.
#2) You must be in a state of grace -
The Eucharist is not itself the sacrament of reconciliation, but in fact it presupposes that sacrament. It is the sacrament of the reconciled, to which the Lord invites all those who have become one with him; who certainly still remain weak sinners, but yet have given their hand to him and have become part of his family.
That is why, from the beginning, the Eucharist has been preceded by a discernment … (I Corinthians 11:27 ff). The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles [the Didache] is one of the oldest writings outside the New Testament, from the beginning of the Second Century[some scholars and my opinion is that it is from the first century, between A.D. 50-100], it takes up this apostolic tradition and has the priest, just before distributing the sacrament saying:”Whoever is holy, let him approach, whoever is not, let him do penance” (Didache 10). -Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), Collected Works, Vol. II, Ignatius Press pp 273-274
"So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world." -(1 Cor. 11:27–32).
As Pope Benedict and St. Paul and the unanimous Tradition of Holy Mother Church points out, one must be in a state of grace to receive Communion, and the Church requires confession at least once per year. So if it has been over a year since your last confession, or if you have committed a mortal sin since your last confession, please, do not approach for Communion, but stay kneeling and pray acts of contrition, otherwise you commit the sin of sacrilege by receiving unworthily. As the Code of Canon Law states : "A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass [this applies to Priests, not laity] or to receive the Body of the Lord [this applies to laity] without prior sacramental confession unless a grave reason is present and there is no opportunity of confessing; in this case the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible" (Canon 916).
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny (Mat 5:21-26).
Note the use of the simple word “first.” Jesus teaches that we cannot approach the altar if we are filled with hate or injustice toward our brethren. Reconciliation and the restoration of unity are required prior to approaching the Sacrament of Holy Communion, lest our “Amen” be incoherent or a lie -Quote from the referenced blog
Please, do NOT think people around you will judge you if you do not go forward. I guarantee, people will respect a penitent more than somebody taking the Body and Blood of Christ in a wanton manner. As the Didache states: "If any one is holy [i.e., in a state of sanctifying Grace], let him approach; if any one is not so, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen. … But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, “Give not that which is holy to the dogs” (Didache 10, 9).
To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience. Those conscious of a grave sin must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to communion (Catechism # 1385).
And again from the Didache: "But first make confession of your faults, so that your sacrifice may be a pure one" (Didache 14).
This requirement can be dispensed of for several reasons, including: (1) there must be a grave reason to receive Communion (for example, danger of death), (2) it must be physically or morally impossible to go to confession first, (3) the person must already be in a state of grace through perfect contrition, and (4) he must resolve to go to confession as soon as possible.
If you want to call this communion “closed,” fine, but at its heart it is more positively called a “sacrum convivium,” a sacred meal of those who share a life together (con = with or together + vivium = life). This is not a “come one, come all” meal; it is a Holy Banquet for those who wear the wedding garment. The garment is righteousness and those who refuse to wear it are cast out (cf: Matt 22:11-12 & Rev 19:8). -Quote from the referenced blog
Many moderns surely would prefer a “no questions asked” invitation to all who wish to come. We moderns love this notion of unity. But to a large degree it is a contrived unity that overlooks truth (the opposite of which is falsehood, not just a different viewpoint). Yes, it overlooks the truth necessary for honest, real, and substantive unity. Such a notion of communion is shallow at best and a lie at worst. How can people approach the Eucharist, the sacrament of Holy Communion and unity, and say “Amen” when they differ with the Church over essentials such as that Baptism is necessary; that there are seven Sacraments; that the Pope is the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ on Earth; that homosexual acts, fornication, and adultery are gravely sinful; that women cannot be admitted to Holy Orders; that there is in fact a priesthood; that Scripture must be read in the light of the Magisterium; and on and on? Saying that there is communion in such a case is either a contrivance or a lie, but in either case, it does not suffice for the “Amen” that is required at the moment of reception of Holy Communion. -Quote from the referenced blog
#3) You must believe in the established Dogmas of the Church, especially the Eucharistic dogmas of the Real Presence of Jesus through Transubstantiation. "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself" (1 Cor. 11:29). If you do not believe in the Real Presence, if you do not believe the Lords Words "my flesh is real food, my blood real drink", if you only believe in "symbolic presence" - do not approach! You must assent to the Catholic dogma or risk not discerning the Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus.
These are essential Dogmas. If you deny the Transubstantiation, you must repent and assent to Church Dogma before receiving. This is different from having doubts or feeling like you’re not really sure how the bread and wine completely change substance. This means outright denial of it. Saying “I have a hard time believing it, but I do believe, Lord I believe, help mine unbelief!”, is much different from “I do not believe it”. Many Bishops and Priests, even Popes and Saints have had a hard time understanding the Real Presence, sometimes even precipitating a Eucharistic Miracle (a la the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano) but they did not deny it, since this is such a great heavenly mystery
.
#4) You must have observed the minimum Eucharistic Fast: "One who is to receive the most Holy Eucharist is to abstain from any food or drink, with the exception only of water and medicine, for at least the period of one hour before Holy Communion" (CIC 919 §1). Elderly folks, people who are very ill, and their caretakers are excused from the Eucharistic fast (CIC 191 §3). Priests and deacons may not dispense one obligated by the Eucharistic fast unless the bishop has expressly granted such power to them (cf. CIC 89). Drinking water is allowed, and medicine that is necessary to take is allowed also. Don’t get scrupulous – I have seen people ask if brushing their teeth breaks the Eucharistic fast… it doesn't. Also, this is a minimum. There is nothing wrong and in fact it is encouraged to observe the older, stricter Eucharistic fast disciplines, of either 3 hours prior to reception which was instituted by Pope Pius XII, or the even older and Eastern tradition of fasting from midnight the night before (when receiving in the morning).
#5) You must not be under any sort of ban, censure, or excommunication. "Those who are excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion" (CIC 915).
In summary, in order to approach the Lords Table, you must be a baptized Catholic. One must be in a state of grace, having made Sacramental Confession since your past mortal sin. One must have a correct belief in the dogmas of the Church, particularly the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. One must have observed the minimum one hour Eucharistic fast. Lastly, one must be in good standing with the Church - not under any sort of ban, censure, or excommunication.
His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI stated much the same -
Presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion should be a conscious decision, based on a reasoned judgment regarding one’s worthiness to do so, according to the Church’s objective criteria, asking such questions as: “Am I in full communion with the Catholic Church? Am I guilty of grave sin? Have I incurred a penalty (e.g., excommunication, interdict) that forbids me to receive Holy Communion? Have I prepared myself by fasting for at least an hour?” The practice of indiscriminately presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion, merely as a consequence of being present at Mass, is an abuse that must be corrected (Cardinal Ratzinger Memo to Cardinal McCarrick, # 1).
Dear brothers and sisters, I pray this reminder of the Teachings of Our Holy Mother Church will serve to increase the holiness of our Cathedral Parish and keep the Holy Sacrament Holy.
God bless!
-Jason Michael Spyridon Prewara
An Ecumenical Litany of Prayers for Religious leaders and all peoples of the world
I just finished composing a Litany of prayers for all the Catholic Church and all Christians and people of Earth, God bless everyone!
An Ecumenical Litany of Prayers for the blessing and conversion of all Catholics, our Pope and Catholic Hierarchy, all separated Christian brothers and sisters, all those of the Abrahamic faiths, all men and women of faith and good will on the earth, and all mankind
Lord Jesus Christ our God and Savior, please bless all the Hierarchy of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Christian Church and all Orthodox Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic Christians, the whole Church Militant; and have mercy on and forgive the sins of and bless all of the Church Penitent,
Eternal Father, have mercy on, forgive the sins of, bless in all ways, help, be with now and ever, strengthen, fill with the Holy Spirit, and bring to eternal salvation in Paradise all our Catholic Leaders,
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ and Pope of Rome, the Servant of the Servants of God
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Angelo Rafaele Cardinal Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Roger Cardinal Etchgaray, Sub-Dean of the College of Cardinals and all the College of Cardinals
⦁ Please bless His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and all Catholic Christians in Jerusalem and all Israel
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Gregory III Laham, the Patriarch of the Melkite Catholic Church, and all Melkite Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Yonan, Patriarch of Syriac Catholic Church, and all Syriac Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, and all Maronite Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and all Chaldean Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church and all Coptic Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Gregory Petros XX Gabroyan, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, and all Armenian Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch/Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and all Ukrainian Greek Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Beatitude George Cardinal Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, and all Syrian Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Eminent Beatitude Lucian Cardinal Muresan, Major Archbishop of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church and all Romanian Greek Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and all Indian Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and all the Bishops of the US
⦁ Please bless His Grace Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Archbishop of Philadelphia of the Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and all Christians in his Archeparchy
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Paul Patrick Chomnycky, Bishop of the Eparchy of Stamford and all Christians in his Eparchy
⦁ Please bless Father Ihor Papka, Pastor of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Manchester, NH, and all the Parishioners thereof
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Sean Patrick Cardinal O`Malley, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, and all Roman Catholic Christians in the Archdiocese
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Peter Anthony Libasci, Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester and all Roman Catholic Christians and all men and women in the City of Manchester and the State of New Hampshire
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Francis Joseph Christian, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop John Brendan McCormack, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Odore Joseph Gendron, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Manchester, and all past Prelates who are or were in anyway attached to the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Monsignor John P. Quinn, Dean of the Diocese of Manchester and all the Diocese of Manchester administration
⦁ Please bless Reverend Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, Rector and Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral and all the Parishioners of the Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Father Andrew Nelson, Temporary Administrator of the Cathedral Parish and all recently ordained Priests and Deacons of the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Father Eric T. Delisle, the Parochial Vicar and a great and holy Priest beloved by his parishioners
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Deacon Robert (Bob) R. Potvin, our beloved Permanent Deacon of St. Joseph Cathedral Parish
And Lord Jesus please bless all our brothers and sisters who are in a sad state of separation from the Holy See of St. Peter, yet are still Catholic, Holy, Apostolic, and Orthodox, and by your infinite grace let them once more become One if it be thy will, pre-eminently among these the Clergy, Religious and Laity of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic Churches
⦁ Please bless His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and Primus Inter Pares (First among equals) of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Patriarchs, and all Eastern Orthodox Catholic Christians in Communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and all Eastern Orthodox Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, the largest and second most eminent of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, whom some call the Third Rome, and all the Russian Orthodox Catholic Church and all Slavic Christians
O Almighty and Eternal Omnipotent Lord and Master, please have mercy on and bless also all the holy men and women of the Oriental Orthodox Catholic Churches, especially the Coptic Orthodox Catholic Church, the pre-eminent amongst these sister Churches, and her Head
⦁ Please Lord bless His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope and Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Holy See of St. Mark of Alexandria, Primus Inter Pares amongst the Oriental Orthodox Catholic Churches, and bless all Oriental Orthodox Catholic Christians, all the Copts, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Armenians, Syrians and Indians, fill them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit and grant them great charity, and if it by thy will bring them into full communion with the Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic Churches of Christ our Lord, God and Savior
And Mar Yeshua our Adonai, please Lord please bless all the Ancient Apostolic Assyrian Catholic Churches of the East
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Mar Gewargis III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Apostolic Catholic Church of the East, and bless all Assyrian Catholic Christians and the persecuted Christians of Iraq and Syria, protect them with thy holy angels and give them faith, hope and love
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Mar Addai II, Patriarch of the Ancient Assyrian Catholic Church of the East, and all Ancient Church of the East Christians in Communion with him and all the persecuted brothers and sisters of Christ in Babylon, help them, save them, and keep them O God by Thy Grace
And please bless and reconcile and draw into full communion all those who are separated from these Apostolic Communions, and let us all be first One in the Love of the Lord Who is One, and then let us be Holy, and Catholic, let us live the Apostolic and Orthodox Faith, and let us all be drawn closer to each other and closer to our Head, Christ the Lord, and bring us all into a more perfect communion of love which will never end in the glories of Heaven, world without end, even to the ages of ages, Amen! Amen!
Christ Jesus our God, please bless also our separated brothers and sisters who are in schism from the Apostolic Church, and who are sadly afflicted with various heresies, but nevertheless by a Common Baptism and faith in Christ, sharing the One Lord and One Baptism though differing on tenets of the One Faith, are mystically united to the Holy Catholic Church in a way known only unto thee o Christ God, please especially bless and have mercy on:
⦁ Please bless Archbishop Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of all Anglican and Episcopalian Protestant Christians, and bless all Anglican and Episcopal Christians and bring them into full Communion with the Catholic Church if it be thy will
⦁ Please bless Bishop Munib Younan, the President of the Lutheran World Federation, and bless all Lutheran Christians and heal the ancient wounds of division and save them by thy grace
⦁ Please bless Bishop Ivan Abrahams, the General Secretary of the World Methodist Communion, and help all Methodist Christians to be Holy and give them the grace to gaze upon thee in Heaven
⦁ Please bless Pastor Chris Ferguson, the General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and help and bless all reformed, Calvinist and Presbyterian Christians and draw them into the Barque of Peter and the Glories of Heaven according to thy will
⦁ Please bless also Mr. George Wood, the General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God, and bless and have great mercy on all Pentecostal, Baptist, Evangelical, Messianic, and so called non-denominational and Bible only Christians, and draw them to thyself by the Power of thy Holy Spirit and Almighty Father who Art One and Holy O Lord Jesus Christ
Finally Lord Jesus, have mercy on, forgive the errors of, and please bless all those who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord, yet do not share a common Baptism, all such as the Salvation Army, the Jehova's Witnesses, the Latter Day Saints/Mormons, the Christadelphians, the Oneness Pentecostals, the Seventh Day Adventists, Unitarian Universalists, the Bahai's, and all other men and women of good will who try to follow the One God and believe in His Christ, and give us all love for one another, and help them to see the Truth of the Catholic Church, and by thy infinite merits, grace and mercy, bring them to eternal Paradise
Then O Lord our God, because thou art all gracious and merciful, do not forget but always remember, bless, and have mercy on all our Jewish Brothers and Sisters who Worship thee HaShem, the Unutterable and Divine and Sacred Name of the Father, the One Adonai our LORD of the Nations, especially the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rafi Peretz, David Lau, and Yitzhak Yosef, the Chief Rabbis of Israeli Military, Ashkenazi, and Sephardic Jews, and bless Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, and bless all Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, and any who call themselves Jews, any and all who are circumcised and attempt to follow the Old Covenant which can never be revoked, and who follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as best they can, and if it be thy will let them recognize their Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth who is Christ the Lord, and bring them into the Bosom of Abraham which is the Eternal Paradise, Amen, Amen!
Please Lord God bless, have mercy, and be gracious to all our Muslim brothers and sisters, help pacify and bring peace to the Arab and Muslim nations, especially Iran, Iraq, and Syria, all the Middle East, Africa, and Indian and all largely Muslim lands, and give peace and love and blessings to all their Imams, amongst whom are Louis Farrakhan and Mirza Ahmad and all the Caliphs, Sheikh's, Imams, and all Faqirs and Sufis, Muslim holy men and women, mystics and saints known to thee o God, those who follow the One and Only Allah (God), the Allah (God) of Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Jesus and all the Prophets of the LORD, who recognize Jesus as the Messiah born of the Virgin Mary who worked miracles by the Spirit and Power of Allah(God), but sadly do not believe he is the Only Begotten Son of Allah (God), O Allah(God), help them and bring them to true faith in the Messiah Jesus, bring them to the Catholic Church if its thy will, and through the Blessings of Thee, the Most Benevolent, the Most Merciful, the Most High, the Mighty, the Eternal, the Wonderful, the Judge, the Master, the Lord, the King, the Holy, the Peace, the Creator and bring them all to eternal life in Jannah (Paradise)
Lord our God, please have mercy on and bless all of these spiritual and/or physical descendent's of Abraham, the seed of Abraham which you have made more numerous than the sands on the seashore and the stars of heaven, because you are the God who keeps covenant with billions upon billions and generations upon generations for all eternity.
Lord bless also all the devout men and women of all the worlds religious traditions, especially those of the Indian and Oriental cultural-religious traditions, foremost amongst these all the Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs, all Zoroastrians, all followers of Confucius, Taoists and Shintoists, and all those who follow indigenous religions of the world, Animists and Shamans, Native Americans who believe in the Great Spirit, Aborigines in Australia who know the Dreamworld, all who believe in a supernatural realm and a creator Deity and spirits and souls of the just and our ancestors who came before us interceding for us in Heaven before the Throne of God, who believe in doing good works and taking care of the creation as good stewards, who look forward to life after this life is over, and please bring them into the Catholic Christian faith according to thy will, and send missionaries and evangelists to the areas of the world where the Holy Gospel has yet been preached, have mercy on and especially bless also their leaders to lead them in Righteousness:
⦁ Please bless the 14th Dalai Lama His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, and bless all Buddhist religious leaders, and please give all Buddhist people of earth salvation and eternal life through the Grace and Passion of Jesus Christ, Savior of Mankind
⦁ Please bless Hindu religious leaders, monks and spiritual men and women, such as Mother Meera, Kripalu Maharaj, Ramdev, Baba Hari Dass, Radhe Maa, and all known to you who are holy and righteous and if it by possible let them know thy Name and thy Church, nevertheless Lord, bring them to Paradise in any way through thy Grace, and Thy Will be done!
Please help and bless all those who through despair, through ignorance, through brainwashing by sinful godless people, through exposure to sin and death, have decided to call themselves atheists, or who are unsure and confused and agnostic, those such as the so called philosophers of the new atheism like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett and all who are indifferent or hostile towards God, help them to see the Reality which the vast majority of all humans who have ever lived have seen, and reveal unto them the Fullness and Revelation of that Reality which is Jesus Christ the Lord.
Lastly Lord, please help and save all those who follow demons, knowingly or unknowingly, so called satanists, occult religions, certain new age beliefs, certain pagan beliefs, and false gods and false idols, cults, scientologists, and all other false belief systems which contain either no truth at all, or the truth so twisted with lies it becomes unrecognizable, and bring them out of their devilish delusions, and have mercy on them through the Blood of Jesus Christ and His Passion.
Lord have mercy and hear our prayers.
Christ have mercy
Christ graciously hear us
For the sake of Your Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!
Amen,
Amen!
An Ecumenical Litany of Prayers for the blessing and conversion of all Catholics, our Pope and Catholic Hierarchy, all separated Christian brothers and sisters, all those of the Abrahamic faiths, all men and women of faith and good will on the earth, and all mankind
Lord Jesus Christ our God and Savior, please bless all the Hierarchy of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Christian Church and all Orthodox Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic Christians, the whole Church Militant; and have mercy on and forgive the sins of and bless all of the Church Penitent,
Eternal Father, have mercy on, forgive the sins of, bless in all ways, help, be with now and ever, strengthen, fill with the Holy Spirit, and bring to eternal salvation in Paradise all our Catholic Leaders,
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ and Pope of Rome, the Servant of the Servants of God
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Angelo Rafaele Cardinal Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Roger Cardinal Etchgaray, Sub-Dean of the College of Cardinals and all the College of Cardinals
⦁ Please bless His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and all Catholic Christians in Jerusalem and all Israel
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Gregory III Laham, the Patriarch of the Melkite Catholic Church, and all Melkite Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem Joseph III Yonan, Patriarch of Syriac Catholic Church, and all Syriac Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, and all Maronite Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, and all Chaldean Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church and all Coptic Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Gregory Petros XX Gabroyan, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, and all Armenian Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch/Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and all Ukrainian Greek Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Beatitude George Cardinal Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, and all Syrian Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Eminent Beatitude Lucian Cardinal Muresan, Major Archbishop of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church and all Romanian Greek Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and all Indian Catholic Christians
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Archbishop Joseph Edward Kurtz, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and all the Bishops of the US
⦁ Please bless His Grace Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Archbishop of Philadelphia of the Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and all Christians in his Archeparchy
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Paul Patrick Chomnycky, Bishop of the Eparchy of Stamford and all Christians in his Eparchy
⦁ Please bless Father Ihor Papka, Pastor of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Manchester, NH, and all the Parishioners thereof
⦁ Please bless His Eminence Sean Patrick Cardinal O`Malley, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, and all Roman Catholic Christians in the Archdiocese
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Peter Anthony Libasci, Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester and all Roman Catholic Christians and all men and women in the City of Manchester and the State of New Hampshire
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Francis Joseph Christian, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop John Brendan McCormack, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless His Excellency Bishop Odore Joseph Gendron, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Manchester, and all past Prelates who are or were in anyway attached to the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Monsignor John P. Quinn, Dean of the Diocese of Manchester and all the Diocese of Manchester administration
⦁ Please bless Reverend Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, Rector and Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral and all the Parishioners of the Cathedral Parish of St. Joseph
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Father Andrew Nelson, Temporary Administrator of the Cathedral Parish and all recently ordained Priests and Deacons of the Diocese of Manchester
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Father Eric T. Delisle, the Parochial Vicar and a great and holy Priest beloved by his parishioners
⦁ Please bless the Reverend Deacon Robert (Bob) R. Potvin, our beloved Permanent Deacon of St. Joseph Cathedral Parish
And Lord Jesus please bless all our brothers and sisters who are in a sad state of separation from the Holy See of St. Peter, yet are still Catholic, Holy, Apostolic, and Orthodox, and by your infinite grace let them once more become One if it be thy will, pre-eminently among these the Clergy, Religious and Laity of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic Churches
⦁ Please bless His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and Primus Inter Pares (First among equals) of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Patriarchs, and all Eastern Orthodox Catholic Christians in Communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and all Eastern Orthodox Christians
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, the largest and second most eminent of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, whom some call the Third Rome, and all the Russian Orthodox Catholic Church and all Slavic Christians
O Almighty and Eternal Omnipotent Lord and Master, please have mercy on and bless also all the holy men and women of the Oriental Orthodox Catholic Churches, especially the Coptic Orthodox Catholic Church, the pre-eminent amongst these sister Churches, and her Head
⦁ Please Lord bless His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope and Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church and Holy See of St. Mark of Alexandria, Primus Inter Pares amongst the Oriental Orthodox Catholic Churches, and bless all Oriental Orthodox Catholic Christians, all the Copts, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Armenians, Syrians and Indians, fill them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit and grant them great charity, and if it by thy will bring them into full communion with the Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic Churches of Christ our Lord, God and Savior
And Mar Yeshua our Adonai, please Lord please bless all the Ancient Apostolic Assyrian Catholic Churches of the East
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Mar Gewargis III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Apostolic Catholic Church of the East, and bless all Assyrian Catholic Christians and the persecuted Christians of Iraq and Syria, protect them with thy holy angels and give them faith, hope and love
⦁ Please bless His Holiness Mar Addai II, Patriarch of the Ancient Assyrian Catholic Church of the East, and all Ancient Church of the East Christians in Communion with him and all the persecuted brothers and sisters of Christ in Babylon, help them, save them, and keep them O God by Thy Grace
And please bless and reconcile and draw into full communion all those who are separated from these Apostolic Communions, and let us all be first One in the Love of the Lord Who is One, and then let us be Holy, and Catholic, let us live the Apostolic and Orthodox Faith, and let us all be drawn closer to each other and closer to our Head, Christ the Lord, and bring us all into a more perfect communion of love which will never end in the glories of Heaven, world without end, even to the ages of ages, Amen! Amen!
Christ Jesus our God, please bless also our separated brothers and sisters who are in schism from the Apostolic Church, and who are sadly afflicted with various heresies, but nevertheless by a Common Baptism and faith in Christ, sharing the One Lord and One Baptism though differing on tenets of the One Faith, are mystically united to the Holy Catholic Church in a way known only unto thee o Christ God, please especially bless and have mercy on:
⦁ Please bless Archbishop Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and head of all Anglican and Episcopalian Protestant Christians, and bless all Anglican and Episcopal Christians and bring them into full Communion with the Catholic Church if it be thy will
⦁ Please bless Bishop Munib Younan, the President of the Lutheran World Federation, and bless all Lutheran Christians and heal the ancient wounds of division and save them by thy grace
⦁ Please bless Bishop Ivan Abrahams, the General Secretary of the World Methodist Communion, and help all Methodist Christians to be Holy and give them the grace to gaze upon thee in Heaven
⦁ Please bless Pastor Chris Ferguson, the General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and help and bless all reformed, Calvinist and Presbyterian Christians and draw them into the Barque of Peter and the Glories of Heaven according to thy will
⦁ Please bless also Mr. George Wood, the General Superintendent of the General Council of the Assemblies of God, and bless and have great mercy on all Pentecostal, Baptist, Evangelical, Messianic, and so called non-denominational and Bible only Christians, and draw them to thyself by the Power of thy Holy Spirit and Almighty Father who Art One and Holy O Lord Jesus Christ
Finally Lord Jesus, have mercy on, forgive the errors of, and please bless all those who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord, yet do not share a common Baptism, all such as the Salvation Army, the Jehova's Witnesses, the Latter Day Saints/Mormons, the Christadelphians, the Oneness Pentecostals, the Seventh Day Adventists, Unitarian Universalists, the Bahai's, and all other men and women of good will who try to follow the One God and believe in His Christ, and give us all love for one another, and help them to see the Truth of the Catholic Church, and by thy infinite merits, grace and mercy, bring them to eternal Paradise
Then O Lord our God, because thou art all gracious and merciful, do not forget but always remember, bless, and have mercy on all our Jewish Brothers and Sisters who Worship thee HaShem, the Unutterable and Divine and Sacred Name of the Father, the One Adonai our LORD of the Nations, especially the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rafi Peretz, David Lau, and Yitzhak Yosef, the Chief Rabbis of Israeli Military, Ashkenazi, and Sephardic Jews, and bless Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, and bless all Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, and any who call themselves Jews, any and all who are circumcised and attempt to follow the Old Covenant which can never be revoked, and who follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as best they can, and if it be thy will let them recognize their Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth who is Christ the Lord, and bring them into the Bosom of Abraham which is the Eternal Paradise, Amen, Amen!
Please Lord God bless, have mercy, and be gracious to all our Muslim brothers and sisters, help pacify and bring peace to the Arab and Muslim nations, especially Iran, Iraq, and Syria, all the Middle East, Africa, and Indian and all largely Muslim lands, and give peace and love and blessings to all their Imams, amongst whom are Louis Farrakhan and Mirza Ahmad and all the Caliphs, Sheikh's, Imams, and all Faqirs and Sufis, Muslim holy men and women, mystics and saints known to thee o God, those who follow the One and Only Allah (God), the Allah (God) of Adam, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Jesus and all the Prophets of the LORD, who recognize Jesus as the Messiah born of the Virgin Mary who worked miracles by the Spirit and Power of Allah(God), but sadly do not believe he is the Only Begotten Son of Allah (God), O Allah(God), help them and bring them to true faith in the Messiah Jesus, bring them to the Catholic Church if its thy will, and through the Blessings of Thee, the Most Benevolent, the Most Merciful, the Most High, the Mighty, the Eternal, the Wonderful, the Judge, the Master, the Lord, the King, the Holy, the Peace, the Creator and bring them all to eternal life in Jannah (Paradise)
Lord our God, please have mercy on and bless all of these spiritual and/or physical descendent's of Abraham, the seed of Abraham which you have made more numerous than the sands on the seashore and the stars of heaven, because you are the God who keeps covenant with billions upon billions and generations upon generations for all eternity.
Lord bless also all the devout men and women of all the worlds religious traditions, especially those of the Indian and Oriental cultural-religious traditions, foremost amongst these all the Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs, all Zoroastrians, all followers of Confucius, Taoists and Shintoists, and all those who follow indigenous religions of the world, Animists and Shamans, Native Americans who believe in the Great Spirit, Aborigines in Australia who know the Dreamworld, all who believe in a supernatural realm and a creator Deity and spirits and souls of the just and our ancestors who came before us interceding for us in Heaven before the Throne of God, who believe in doing good works and taking care of the creation as good stewards, who look forward to life after this life is over, and please bring them into the Catholic Christian faith according to thy will, and send missionaries and evangelists to the areas of the world where the Holy Gospel has yet been preached, have mercy on and especially bless also their leaders to lead them in Righteousness:
⦁ Please bless the 14th Dalai Lama His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, and bless all Buddhist religious leaders, and please give all Buddhist people of earth salvation and eternal life through the Grace and Passion of Jesus Christ, Savior of Mankind
⦁ Please bless Hindu religious leaders, monks and spiritual men and women, such as Mother Meera, Kripalu Maharaj, Ramdev, Baba Hari Dass, Radhe Maa, and all known to you who are holy and righteous and if it by possible let them know thy Name and thy Church, nevertheless Lord, bring them to Paradise in any way through thy Grace, and Thy Will be done!
Please help and bless all those who through despair, through ignorance, through brainwashing by sinful godless people, through exposure to sin and death, have decided to call themselves atheists, or who are unsure and confused and agnostic, those such as the so called philosophers of the new atheism like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett and all who are indifferent or hostile towards God, help them to see the Reality which the vast majority of all humans who have ever lived have seen, and reveal unto them the Fullness and Revelation of that Reality which is Jesus Christ the Lord.
Lastly Lord, please help and save all those who follow demons, knowingly or unknowingly, so called satanists, occult religions, certain new age beliefs, certain pagan beliefs, and false gods and false idols, cults, scientologists, and all other false belief systems which contain either no truth at all, or the truth so twisted with lies it becomes unrecognizable, and bring them out of their devilish delusions, and have mercy on them through the Blood of Jesus Christ and His Passion.
Lord have mercy and hear our prayers.
Christ have mercy
Christ graciously hear us
For the sake of Your Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!
Amen,
Amen!
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