“The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass.” ~ St. Augustine
While we kneel before the altar, countless angels are present, adoring Christ and assisting in the most sacred act that takes place on earth.
They stand in reverence at the moment of consecration as the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord.
At every altar, heaven and earth meet.
“Behold the Heart that has so loved mankind… Behold it, my children, satiated with reproaches, in this Host where It beats, amidst fires of charity, for you… only for you! And unable to bear any longer the burnings that consume It, I have willed to offer It to the very world that has pierced It with the dart of ingratitude and suffering… This is the supreme and last recourse of My redemption…
Here is My Heart: I give it to you, I offer it to you without reservation, in exchange for your sinful and ungrateful Heart… Oh, I thirst, I thirst immensely to be loved, in this Sacrament of the Altar… In it I have been until now the King of silence, the Monarch of oblivion… But the hour of My triumphs has arrived… I come to reconquer the earth… Yes, I must subdue it, despite the strife of hell, and I will save it by the omnipotence of My Heart.” Accept me, I beg you… extend your hands and your souls to receive this supreme gift of my redeeming mercy… I come to bring fire to the earth, fire of life, of boundless love, fire of holiness, fire of sacrifice, and what else could I desire but that it burn?…
Fix your eyes upon my wounded breast… there you have the Heart that loved you even in the anguish of Bethlehem… and more; even in the humiliations and darkness of Nazareth… much more still; even in the shameful agonies of Calvary… This is the same Heart that ceased to beat on Golgotha, yes, the same one, that continues to love in the inextinguishable fire of the altar… of the Holy Eucharist.
And you do not love me!
Meditation taken from the HOLY HOUR. Composed by Father Matthew Crawley-Boevey (1875-1960).
Do you want your whole family to be reunited in Heaven? Read these lines.
Do you want to achieve this sublime aspiration? Do you want every single member of your family to be in Heaven? I'm going to give you the formula to achieve it: pray the Rosary as a family every day of your life. A family that prays the Rosary every day is morally guaranteed its eternal salvation, because it is morally impossible for the Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, who is also our Queen and most loving Mother, not to graciously listen to a family that invokes her every day, saying to her fifty times with fervor and trust: “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” It is morally impossible, ladies and gentlemen, I state this categorically in the name of Catholic theology.
The Virgin Mary cannot abandon that family. She will ensure they live Christian lives and obtain for them the grace of repentance should they ever have the misfortune to sin. It is true that whoever dies in mortal sin is condemned, even if they have prayed the rosary many times during their life. That is certain. Whoever dies in mortal sin is condemned, even if they have prayed the rosary many times. Ah, but what is morally impossible is for someone who prays the rosary often to end up dying in mortal sin. The Virgin Mary will not allow it. If you pray the rosary daily and fervently, if you invoke the Virgin Mary with filial trust, she will ensure that you do not die in mortal sin. You will turn away from sin; you will repent, you will live Christian lives, and you will die in God's grace.
The rosary, prayed well daily, is a guarantee of eternity, an assurance of heaven! This is not coming from an enthusiastic Dominican because Saint Dominic was the founder of the rosary. This is not it. I tell you this in the name of Catholic theology, gentlemen.
Pray the rosary as a family every day of your life, and I assure you absolutely, in the name of the Virgin Mary, that you will succeed in reuniting your entire family in heaven! What great joy it will be to be together again, never to be separated again!
“THE MYSTERY OF THE AFTERLIFE”
Antonio Royo Marín, O.P.
By Diego Casanueva Rivero
From the earliest age, the sanctifying action of the Holy Spirit can fill children's hearts and prepare their souls to receive the graces of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which raises humanity to the Cross and unites them to Our Lord Jesus Christ crucified. Therefore, we should not hinder young children from approaching Him, since good behavior in church is the best preparation for them to love the Sacrament of the Eucharist from an early age and to develop a religious faith.
The rationale for beginning this education at nine months is based on the fact that, at that age, a child already understands the word "no," can stop babbling, and is capable of remaining silent if consistently corrected both physically and verbally. From that moment, a process of understanding and learning begins that never ceases, provided there is firm guidance and continuous supervision, without forcing natural development, but rather progressively internalizing silence, proper posture, and respect for the sacred space.
This task generally falls to the father, who represents divine fatherhood for his children and is the irreplaceable model of strength and consistency.
Furthermore, it is usually the mother who spends most of the week with the children, which naturally leads to a decline in daily discipline, while the father figure introduces a different objectivity that renews authority and gives children security. The father draws the children out of the self-absorption produced by prolonged time spent with the mother and provides the strength, firmness, and consistency necessary for religious formation, not replacing maternal tenderness, but complementing it. Therefore, at Holy Mass, the father is especially suited to guide, correct, and teach, since his presence represents divine fatherhood and facilitates children's respectful and disciplined entry into the mystery of the Sacrifice of the Cross.
Introducing children to the mystery of the Sacrifice of the Cross is the father's proper mission, since Holy Mass is essentially the same sacrifice as that of the Cross. Just as God the Father gives his Son for Redemption, Abraham introduces Isaac to the mystery of sacrifice, and Saint Joseph strengthens the Child Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary for the moment of the Cross, so too should the father lead his young children to the altar and make Holy Mass their most cherished treasure.
From the first months until three years of age, the father should consistently correct noise, posture, and lack of silence, not letting a single instance of indiscipline go unpunished. Between the ages of two and three, a child can distinguish the main moments of Holy Mass, especially the Consecration and Communion, approaching with clasped hands and an awareness of the Real Presence of Our Lord. If this path has been consistent, by the age of five, the child can remain still, quiet, and attentive for long periods, with true devotion. When this process has not been adequate or mistakes have been made in the initial stage, it is necessary to rectify the situation. It is wise to return to the beginning and start anew when one has lost their way, beginning with simple yet pure things, with lofty yet clear truths, with fundamental yet unwavering principles.
Constancy, patience, and perseverance allow the work done to bear fruit, even when it is difficult, for existence, life, and the future depend on it. It is never too late to begin, nor to begin again, when the aim is to guide the tender trunk with righteousness and lead children toward the highest, most edifying, and most worthy realm: the spiritual.
*Tips:*
- Prepare for Holy Mass before entering the church, explaining in simple terms what happens at the altar.
- Choose a place where the child can see the altar and allows for immediate correction.
- Keep the parent kneeling most of the time to correct with closeness and by example.
- Always correct in a very low voice, using physical contact and firmness.
- Do not let any misbehavior go unpunished, according to the child's age.
- Immediately remove the child if they lose control, correct them, and return them as soon as possible.
- Maintain discipline even outside the church, without raising your voice.
- Do not allow toys, food, or distractions.
- Never turn your back on the altar.
- Direct the child's attention with brief and devout words toward Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Pray as a family during the week, especially the rosary.
- Maintain vigilance and consistency for up to five years, renewing goals when there are failures.
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