Spiritual Life

Everything "X" Eclipse!

“And God said: Let there be lights made in the firmament of heaven, to divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: To shine in the firmament of heaven, and to give light upon the earth. And it was so done. And God made two great lights: a greater light to rule the day, and a lesser light to rule the night: and the stars. And he set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth. And to rule the day and the night, and to divide the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 1:14

“The Great American Eclipse”

&

“The Great North American Eclipse”

2017 ~ 2024 

Many believe the Total Eclipse of the Sun proves the existence of God.  It shows obvious intelligent design, that the Moon fits perfectly over the Sun, to block out the day and show the glorious corona, that can never be seen otherwise.  For many, witnessing this event is deeply spiritual and life-changing.  Other cultures, notably the Native Americans and the Muslims, have taken eclipses very seriously.  Let us pray that the upcoming Total Eclipse on April 8th will see a conversion in hearts for those living lives of sin or those who do not believe in the Divine Majesty.  Let us also pray, for those already on the path of holiness, that they may increase in faith and trust in our Almighty Creator after witnessing such an incredible phenomenon. 

What are the basic facts about these 2 eclipses?

The upcoming eclipse takes place on the feast of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary, that she will bear the Savior of Mankind.  Is this event an announcement of a sort?  Even if it portends dark times, we know that there is always hope and in God’s time, a glorious ending.  Totality starts in the Pacific Ocean, lands in Sinaloa Mexico, traverses from Texas to Newfoundland, Canada, and onto the Atlantic Ocean.  This whole wavelike dance takes roughly 3 hours, 15 minutes (on land) and reaches maximum totality at 2:17 EDT.  This eclipse is unique in that it will last roughly 4 ½ minutes (which is long), the sky will fall darker and the the Sun’s Corona will be quite active, as we will be close to a solar maximum (this refers to the Sun’s 11-year cycle).  From astonomy.com:  

“Everyone in the continental U.S. will see at least a partial eclipse.  In fact, if you have clear skies on eclipse day, the Moon will cover at least 16 percent of the Sun’s surface…you’ll start to notice that the shadows around you are getting sharper. The reason is that the Sun’s disk is shrinking, literally approaching a point — and a smaller light source produces better-defined shadows. At about 85 percent coverage, you’ll be able to spot Venus 15° west-southwest of the Sun. If any trees are at your site, you may see their leaves act like simple pinhole cameras, with hundreds of crescent Suns appearing in their shadows…Unlike the 2017 eclipse, which covered only one large city, Nashville, the 2024 event will plunge several major metropolitan centers into darkness. [Following is edited for clarity.]  Many lie directly along the path of totality, while others will have a smaller (but still significant) percentage of their areas covered. Among them are Mazatlán, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland and Buffalo.” 

The last total eclipse 7 years ago, crossed the USA from Oregon to South Carolina.  The 2 eclipses together, create an “X” across the Midwest:  9,000 square miles covering parts of Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois.  The first eclipse occurred on August 21st, the date of the Our Lady of Knock apparitions in Ireland in 1879.  This was a strange, silent vision, seen by many people, which included not only Our Lady, but also Our Lord in the form of a Lamb, Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist, along with angels.  The presence of the writer of Apocalypse may indicate a prophetic meaning, perhaps even speaking of our own times.  It is also worth noting this occurred during the month of the Immaculate Heart and the year of the Fatima Centennial.  There was also a 9-month-long astronomical event overlapping with this eclipse, to be discussed below. 

What is the significance of the 7-year time period between these eclipses? 

This is obviously in the realm of speculation.  We would do well to take a look at what has transpired in the past 7 years.  2 years after the first eclipse, the world saw a weaponized virus descend upon it.  It’s been a whirlwind ever since, with no end in sight.  We are now engulfed in a variety of polycrises or multi-front attack vectors, which we will take a look at below.  The Western world has indeed crossed a threshold during these 7 years.  The Covid agenda successfully proved that all human rights we took for granted can now be breeched, even in “the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”  Not surprisingly, in the wake of this unprecedented disaster, things are heating up all over.  Since the US is the world’s great military power, anything happening here should concern the entire world…and there’s an “X” coming…and it’s hard to ignore. 

Darkness in the form of an “X”…or a cross.  We know God has used darkness before as a sign and will use it again.  The 9th Plague of Egypt was 3 days of darkness.  And during Our Lord’s Crucifixion, there were three hours of darkness, about the same amount of time for this eclipse to traverse from Mexico to Canada: 

“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over the whole earth, until the ninth hour.” 

Matthew 27:45 

But darkness is only a metaphor, an eclipse is only a symbol for the spiritual eclipse which has taken place in our world.  Sin has blotted out the Light of Christ.  And repentance will bring it back. 

What are the spiritual polycrises facing us?

Gender Ideology     In Vitro Fertilization     Pornography     Fornication     Homosexuality     Contraception     Abortifacients     Abortion     Child Abuse     Sacrilegious Communion     Modernism     Scandal & Confusion in the Church     Occult Practices     Corrupt Entertainment     Despair     Drug Use     Dishonesty     Violence     Materialism     Divorce     Nihilism     Religious Persecution     Corruption of Children Immodesty

What are the temporal polycrises facing us?

Energy Depletion     Green Energy Pipe Dream     Trillions in Debt     Excessive Money Printing     International Abandoning of Dollar     Political Corruption     Distrust of Institutions     Mass Human Migration     Mind Control & Mass Psychosis     Breeches of International & Domestic Law     All Human Rights in Jeopardy     Climate Change Hysteria     Screen Addiction     Human Trafficking     Genocide     Geo-Political Tensions     Supply Chain Issues     Weaponized Government     Media Lies     Electronic Surveillance     Artificial Intelligence     Ecological Damage     Crime     Biotechnology     Advanced Weaponry     Breakdown of Family & Community     Government Dependence     Globalist Agenda     Weaponized Healthcare

This is why we must pray for mercy.  Of course these 2 groupings overlap in many ways and fundamentally all is a spiritual battle…

“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.”

Ephesians 6:12

Why perform a Pilgrimage?

Pilgrimages, or physical travel to places of religious significance is a universal and ancient practice.  It has been practiced by Catholics and also the Jewish people, including the Holy Family, were required to visit the Temple in Jerusalem 3 times per year.  Pilgrimages connect the faithful to places of meaning, for we live after all, in a physical world.  The physical contains the spiritual, as the body contains the soul, as the Tabernacle contains the Real Presence.  Pilgrimages connect us to the transcendent and also each other.  Physical travel, along with devotional practice, shows effort and contains some measure of sacrifice.  It is extraordinarily beneficial and also offers opportunity to create beautiful memories with our loved ones.

The Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy first invokes Our Lord in the Divine Mercy Novena, which is a Pilgrimage of the Heart coming to Christ.  Then we travel to a holy site to pray the Rosary, invoking Our Lady.  Our Two Hearts, pierced by 2 swords of sin across the land, creating a cross, we pray, will receive consolation and reparation.  We in turn, hope to mitigate the coming chastisement.

What role does Our Lady of Guadalupe play in these events?

Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac hill in Mexico.  This coming eclipse begins on land, also in Mexico.  The miraculous image which appeared upon Diego’s “Tilma,” shows the Mother of God surrounded by the rays of the Sun and standing upon a crescent Moon.  One cannot help but see a connection to Saint John’s apocalyptic vision mentioned below, which some say appeared in the sky 33 days after the first eclipse.  Also, Mary’s image on the cloak has been described as a kind of “eclipse,” as she seems to be blocking the Sun, while its Corona emanates from her. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe is known as the “Queen of Mexico” and the “Empress of the Americas,” as her devotion spread throughout Mexico and to all the people of South America.  The “X” Eclipse is given to North America, within her patronage (and hence to the world).  She brings this warning to our land at a time when we are engulfed in crises like never before, with all manner of devastation looming.  Just as she converted the pagans of Mexico, she now seeks to convert this post-Christian culture, which has forgotten its great Redeemer, and create a new world, close to God and nature…the Authentic Life.

April 8th’s Eclipse is overlapping with Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke’s Nine-Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, which began March 12th.  He sees the polycrises all around us and has instituted this devotion as a response.  Like a loving Mother, Our Lady always comes, not simply to chastise, but ultimately to console.  Remember her words to Saint Juan Diego:

“Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?”

How does this Eclipse relate to Apocalypse 12:1?

What was the 9-month astronomical event which took place in conjunction with the Eclipse 7 years ago?

“And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”  

Apocalypse 12:1

My research has yielded the following.  This is speculative.  Please make your own judgement.  I am not responsible for errors, as I am not an astronomy expert. 

On the feast of Christ the King, Novemer 20th 2016, an astronomical story began to unfold, which lasted 9 ½ months, correlating roughly with a woman’s pregnancy.  Some believe a comet, which appeared at the outset, represented the Incarnation.  And at the end of this period, a birthing, reflecting Apocalypse 12.

This story began with Jupiter, representing a king, entering the womb area of the constellation Virgo, representing a virgin.  Jupiter was in “retrograde,” and spent 9 months in this position.  The first half of the “X” Eclipse occurred on August 21st, 2017.  On September 23rd, on the feast of Saint Padre Pio, in the month of Our Lady of Sorrows, the “birthing” was seen in the night sky.  The planet came out of Virgo, the Sun rose directly behind the constellation, and the Moon was at its lower part.  Saint John’s account depicts a crown of 12 stars upon the lady.  Above Virgo, appeared the nine stars of Leo, along with Mercury, Venus and Mars.  Some say the saga continues astronomically with the depiction of the dragon seeking to devour the child, etc. 

Saint Pio may be significant, as he gave a number of warnings about the coming days.  The woman in this verse, is often seen to represent the Church or the Virgin Mary.  There are varying opinions as to the uniqueness of these events.  Some insist that taken as a whole, such a progression in the sky cannot be ignored and would be extremely rare.  The Eclipse in August is a local sky event that can be seen as overlapping with the other universal phenomena.  Are we living through Apocalypse in real time?  You decide.

Remember to be joyful and always trust in God!

He sends us this “X” out of love!

We have such a great Savior and such a beautiful Mother!

Peace be with you & your families!

PS If you are reading this after the factthe “X” will remain relevant, it cannot be forgotten…you can always say the Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena and you can always pray the Rosary…please also pray Cardinal Burke’s Guadalupe prayer, see link above.

+++ GOOD FRIDAY / DIVINE MERCY NOVENA +++

For some reason, this song is on my mind today. On this day of the beginning of our “Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy,” the start of the Novena of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Our Lord spoke to Saint Faustina, as the intention for the first day, to be said on Good Friday, 9 Days before Divine Mercy Sunday…Our Lord calls from the Holy Cross:

“Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.”

Please have a listen and pray for the dear soul of Leonard Cohen. This is live from Belfast on his last tour before he died of a head injury…

“If It Be Your Will” by Leonard Cohen

If it be Your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before

I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be Your will

If it be Your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you

From this broken hill
All Your praises they shall ring
If it be Your will
To let me sing

If it be Your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice

Let Your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in Hell
If it be Your will
To make us well

And to draw us near
And bind us tight
All Your children here
In their rags of light

In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be Your will
If it be Your will

Divine Mercy Chaplet Special Novena Prayers

"It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times..."

The first paragraph in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, words of genius, and it sounds a bit familiar:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,

It was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,

It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,

It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,

We had everything before us, we had nothing before us,

We were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”

Reading these words is like looking into a prism, a many-faceted crystal, or playing with a Rubik’s Cube. So much is here to meditate upon regarding our own times. Light and Dark are rapidly separating. This could be a Lenten exercise, if paired with self-examination. Where am I in this story?

How about this one?…

From William Butler Yeats’ poem, “The Second Coming:”

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre,
The falcon cannot hear the falconer,
Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold,
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed,
And everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned,
The best lack all conviction,
While the worst are full of passionate intensity.”

February is the Month of the Passion of Our Lord

As of Septuagesima Sunday (this past Sunday), the traditional Liturgical Calendar moves from the Cycle of Christmas to the Cycle of Easter.  We remain in this second part for the rest of the year.  We have been meditating upon the Mystery of the Incarnation and now we contemplate the Mystery of the Redemption.  The Cycle of Christmas contained Advent, Christmastide and Time after Epiphany.  The Cycle of Easter contains Septuagesima, Lent, Passiontide, Easter Time and Time after Pentecost. 

As we begin our journey into the Redemption of our souls, we consider how to best conduct our approaching Lent.  This is the purpose of Septuagesima, to arrive at Lent fully prepared and ready to roll.  Otherwise, you wake up on Ash Wednesday and say, “Oh no, it’s Ash Wednesday already.  What am I giving up?  I just made coffee.  Should I give up coffee?  I don’t want to dump it now, that’s expensive coffee.”  Or…”Why did I buy all those cookies?”  You can laugh, but YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE! 

In terms of which Lenten practices you may wish to do, maybe think a bit creatively this year, instead of the “same old thing.”  As we discussed in our “Total Eclipse” post, the world is engulfed in sin and emerging chaos.  Prayer, fasting, penance and spiritual practices in general, are so needed at this time.  And being that February is a month devoted to the Passion of Our Lord, this may help point our exercises in that direction.  Of course, there are the Sorrowful Mysteries, which some say each day in Lent.  There are the litanies of the Passion and the Holy Cross.  Here also, is a Lenten Novena.

Following are some of the notable feasts of this month (we provide both trad and new feasts)…

2nd-Presentation of Our Lord (also known as Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Candlemas, when traditionally, candles are blessed)

3rd-St. Blaise (Blessing of Throats)

4th-Sexagesima Sunday

11th-Quinquagesima Sunday, Our Lady of Lourdes

13th-Shrove Tuesday (Holy Face of Jesus traditionally celebrated)

14th-Ash Wednesday (fast & abstinence), St. Valentine (wonderful day to offer up for the intention of chastity)

21st-Ember Wednesday of Lent/Spring

23rd-Ember Friday of Lent/Spring

24th-Ember Saturday of Lent/Spring, St. Matthias

Traditional Calendar for February

"The Wonders of the Holy Name" Booklet: Act Now!

In this month of the Holy Name of Jesus (in case you haven’t noticed, this ministry is dedicated to the Holy Name), TAN Books has a great sale on the booklet mentioned above. It normally sells for $4.95 each, but if you act by January 31st, you get 5 for $10.00! It is not a prayer book, but it contains many historical anecdotes, such as Pope Gregory X’s devotion, a plague in Lisbon, glorious martyrdoms and the faith of many saints in the Holy Name.

TAN also has a monthly $10.00 “leatherette” book. They have quite a selection now of these beautiful, well-made spiritual classics and Bibles. The prices range widely, so taking advantage of the monthly offering is a good idea. As a Catholic prepper, having good quality classic books is a must. If you still need to develop your spiritual library, TAN provides a great way to move forward. They also have sets of books you might want to look at.

One warning: unless you like lots of spam, don’t sign up for their email list. Just make a point to visit the site once a month and take advantage of the leatherette, for sure.

Praise the Holy Name of Jesus now and forever!

Let us defend it valiantly!

January is the Month of the Holy Name of Jesus ~ Nomen Christi!

Holy Church in her wisdom, begins the secular New Year honoring Mary, Mother of God, imploring her much-needed intercession along with the Circumcision of Our Lord in the traditional calendar.  The significance of the Circumcision is twofold:  Our Blessed Infant Lord, though the Son of God, was still subject to the Law and this is the ritual in which He received the Name “Jesus,” meaning “God saves.”  This Name invokes both the identity and mission of Christ. 

Following the Circumcision, we celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus, which is also the theme of the Month of January.  We begin a new year contemplating the Name of Christ Jesus.  We honor His identity as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity and His mission as our Redeemer, the shedding of His innocent Blood at the Circumcision, a reminder of His Sacrifice upon the Cross.  What better way to start a new year than to flee to Our Lord and His Mother! 

“Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Matthew 6:33

Epiphany of Our Lord is held on January 6th, in both the trad and new calendars.  The feast of the Holy Family is Sunday, the 7th, which is also the new feast of the Baptism of Our Lord.  The trad feast of the Baptism is on the 13th.  Our Lady of Prompt Succor is honored on the 15th.

Septuagesima Sunday is the 28th, beginning the short season of Septuagesima, a preparation for Lent.

As we discussed a “Marian Triad of the Months” from August to October, we now celebrate a “Christological Triad of the Months” from December to February:  The Divine Infancy, the Holy Name and the Passion of Our Lord.  Please note, these “triads” are not official Church ideas, but something unique to this Apostolate.  We strive to see how these months tie together theological themes and present an opportunity for prayer and meditation. This ministry also has a special dedication to the Holy Name and Our Lady of Fatima.

Traditional Catholic Calendar for January

New Year’s Blessings to all! Let us pray for a holy, happy and healthy 2024 and think positively about the coming year.

This is the year the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

By the way, how did you do with the December Prepper Challenge? It’s totally understandable if Christmastime got in your way. The good news is…there’s a new month…and a new year…to continue to work on our “15 Points Preparedness Worksheet.” Scroll down to the December post or find it on the Home page. Choose the 5 things you think are most important right now and make a plan. Your future self will thank you! And feel free to email us and share your progress-comments may be posted.

Epiphany Blessing of the Home with PDF

Epiphany of Our Lord is celebrated January 6th, the day after the 12th Day of Christmas. We remain in the first part of the traditional Liturgical Year, the Cycle of Christmas, the Mystery of the Incarnation. This Blessing of the Home is a wonderful way to show our children one of the riches of the Holy Catholic Faith!

Please consider printing and distributing at your local parish, with your pastor’s permission.

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Epiphany of Our Lord ~ Yearly Blessing of the Home 

This devotion originated in eastern Europe and has spread throughout the world. Just as the Wise Men visited the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we invite them to visit our own homes to ask for their intercession. The traditional “Cycle of Christmas” ends roughly with the Feast of the Presentation, February 2nd. Performing this devotion any time from January 6th till then would be appropriate. The following format is based on various sources. You will need white chalk (chalk is often blessed by a priest at the Epiphany Mass) and holy water. The family gathers around a statue or holy image. All bless themselves with holy water. Generally, the father of the home leads in the following prayers…

Leader: Peace be to this house.

All: And to all that dwell herein.

Leader: From the east the Magi came to Bethlehem to adore the Lord, and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the great King, incense to the true God and myrrh in symbol of His burial. Alleluia!

All: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent empty away. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.

All: From the east the Magi came to Bethlehem to adore the Lord, and opening their treasures, they offered costly gifts: gold to the great King, incense to the true God and myrrh in symbol of His burial. Alleluia!

Leader: Our Father Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation…

All: But deliver us from evil. Amen.

Leader: Many shall come from Saba.

All: Bearing gold and incense.

Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer.

All: And let my cry come unto thee.

Leader: Let us pray. O God, Who by the guidance of a star didst this day reveal Thy Sole-Begotten Son to the Gentiles, grant that we who now know Thee by faith, may be brought to the contemplation of Thy Heavenly Majesty. Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. Be enlightened, be enlightened O Jerusalem! For thy Light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.

All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy Light and kings in the splendor of thy rising and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Leader: Let us pray. Bless, O Lord, Almighty God, this home that it be the shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, and thanksgiving to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. May this blessing remain for all time upon this dwelling and upon all who live herein. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

The family proceeds to the main entrance of the home. The leader writes the following above the door with the chalk (this can be done on the outside or inside of the home). The digits represent the number of the new year. The crosses represent the 4 seasons. The initials represent the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat,” (Christ Bless this Home). They also represent the names of the 3 Magi. Above the inscription, a cross is made with holy water.

+

20 + C + M + B + __

Leader: Christus Mansionem Benedicat! Saints Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, pray for us!

All: Amen!

The family may finish with a hymn, such as “We Three Kings of Orient Are.”

Printable Version PDF

Be A Calling Voice!

“Let us not shun and suppress the earnest words of the calling voices, or those who are our executioners today may be our accusers once again tomorrow, because we silenced the truth.”

Fr. Alfred Delp

Please click on the image for a link to the book, where you will get more info and several links on this lesser-known martyr. This is an extraordinary book, which I highly recommend and it is so relevant to our own times. It can also be used as a family Advent meditation. From the publisher’s notes:

"Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J., was a heroic German Jesuit priest who was imprisoned and martyred by the Nazis in a Nazi death camp in 1945. At the time of his arrest, he was the Rector of St. Georg Church in Munich, and had a reputation for being a gripping, dynamic preacher, and one who was an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime. He was an important figure in the Resistance movement...

His approach to Advent...is what Fr. Delp called an Advent of the heart. More than just preparing us for Christmas, it is a spiritual program, a way of life. He proclaimed that our personal, social and historical circumstances, even suffering, offer us entry into the true Advent, our personal journey toward a meeting and dialogue with God. Indeed, his own life, and great sufferings, illustrated the true Advent he preached and wrote about..."

Karl Kreuser, S.J., from the Foreword:

"As one of the last witnesses who knew Fr. Alfred Delp personally, I am very pleased this book will make him better known...The more one reads his writings, the more one clearly recognizes the prophetic message for our times! Like his contemporary, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Delp ranks among the great prophets who endured the horror of Nazism and handed down a powerful message for our times."

November: Month of the Holy Souls in Purgatory / Update

From Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary:

PLENARY INDULGENCE

An indulgence that can remove all the temporal punishment due to forgiven sin. No one but God knows for certain when a plenary indulgence is actually gained, because only He knows whether a person's dispositions are adequate. One norm for such dispositions is that "all attachment to sin, even venial sin, be absent." If these dispositions are in any way less than complete, the indulgence will only be partial. The same provision applies to the three external conditions necessary to gain a plenary indulgence: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Pope. If these conditions are not satisfied, an otherwise plenary indulgence becomes only partial. These conditions may be satisfied several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work, though preferably Communion should be received and the prayers offered for the Pope on the same day as the indulgenced work. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day.

From the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter’s Holy Cross Chaplaincy:

Six General Rules for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence

  1. State of grace…when performing the indulgenced act

  2. Complete detachment from sin, even venial sin

  3. Confession (20 days before or after the indulgenced act)

  4. Communion (20 days before or after the indulgenced act)

  5. Prayers for the Supreme Pontiff (20 days before or after the indulgenced act)

  6. Indulgenced Act: a special good work with…conditions of place and time

Indulgenced Acts to be Performed for Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence for the Poor Souls of Purgatory

  • From November 1 to 8: visit of a cemetery with mental prayer for the poor souls

  • On November 2: visit of a church or an oratory with one Our Father and one Creed being recited

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

On the 21st, we honor the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (her own presentation in the Temple with Saints Joachim and Anne). On the 26th, we celebrate Christ King of the Universe in the new calendar. This is also the last Sunday of the liturgical year. This month’s trad calender: calefactory.org

UPDATE: I will be taking this month off from the blog. See you in Advent!