Category: PNCC

PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia, ,

The Solemnity of the Presentation of our Lord and M. B. Gromniczna

Happy Candlemas Day – the traditional end of the Christmas season.

Na Gromniczną - Teodor Axentowicz (1859-1938)

This weekend we will bless candles – the traditional Gromniczna or Thunder Candle. The candle is kept in the homes of faithful Catholics and is used to ward off danger from storms and other threats. It is also used when the Holy Eucharist is brought to the home for distribution to the ill and home bound.

O Lord, Jesus Christ, Who wast presented by Thy parents in the temple, and Whom the venerable Simeon, illuminated by the light of Thy Spirit, recognized as his Savior, took into his arms and blessed: vouchsafe graciously to grant, that following the holy example of Simeon, we may always recognize Thee as our light and life, that we may always love Thee and follow Thee toward our way to salvation and eternal happiness. Who with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

Fathers, PNCC

February 2 – St. Methodius of Olympus from an Oration on Simeon and Anna

Upon all this that righteous man, waxing bold and yielding to the exhortation of the mother of God, who is the handmaid of God in regard to the things which pertain to men, received into his aged arms Him who in infancy was yet the Ancient of days, and blessed God, and said, “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word: for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” I have received from You a joy unmixed with pain. Receive me rejoicing, O Lord, and singing of Your mercy and compassion. You have given unto me this joy of heart. I render unto You with gladness my tribute of thanksgiving. I have known the power of the love of God. Since, for my sake, God of You begotten, in a manner ineffable, and without corruption, has become man. I have known the inexplicable greatness of Your love and care for us, for You have sent forth Your own bowels to come to our deliverance. Now, at length, I understand what I had from Solomon learned: “Strong as death is love: for by it shall the sting of death be done away, by it shall the dead see life, by it shall even death learn what death is, being made to cease from that dominion which over us he exercised. By it, also, shall the serpent, the author of our evils, be taken captive and overwhelmed.” — VIII

Fathers, PNCC

January 28 – St. Gregory Thaumaturgus from the Twelve Topics on the Faith

If any one affirms that Christ, just like one of the prophets, assumed the perfect man, and refuses to acknowledge that, being begotten in the flesh of the Virgin, He became man and was born in Bethlehem, and was brought up in Nazareth, and advanced in age, and on completing the set number of years (appeared in public and) was baptized in the Jordan, and received this testimony from the Father, “This is my beloved Son,” even as it is written, let him be anathema. — Topic 3

Christian Witness, Perspective, PNCC, , ,

On my son’s 9th birthday

We took my son out for dinner tonight – to his favorite diner. He wanted a root beer float with chocolate ice cream – dad taught him that one.

A conversation in the car on the way:

Son and daughter: “Do you know that there are people who don’t believe in heaven?”
Dad: “Yeah, that’s sad, because they think that when they die – well that’s it.”
Son and daughter: “They think they’re just dead.”
Dad: “That’s right – they think their life it over, they have no hope.”
Son: “That’s why we need to have pastors, to go and teach people about heaven, to tell them the truth, to make them believe and have hope.”

A great gift – insight and zeal for souls. We didn’t have to buy that gift – it came by the grace of God.