Fides et Ratio

VIII In the USA, we have many places to consider, consider one with a Holy Door.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion https://championshrine.org/visitor-resources/

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion is situated on twelve acres of peaceful farmland in northeastern Wisconsin.

The site preserves the spot where the Queen of Heaven appeared to a young Belgian immigrant woman named Adele Brise in 1859.

The message of the Blessed Virgin to Adele was simple: Teach the Catholic Faith to the children of a people who were losing their faith through neglect. Adele took this message to heart, and for thirty-five years, dedicated her life to this mission.

Bishop Ricken gave official Church approval of the apparitions that occurred in Champion, Wisconsin (previously known as Robinsonville).

In his decree, the Bishop stated, “I declare with moral certainty and in accord with the norms of the Church that the events, apparitions and locutions given to Adele Brise in October of 1859 do exhibit the substance of supernatural character, and I do hereby approve these apparitions as worthy of belief (although not obligatory) by the Christian faithful.”

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion continues to be the source of many graces and healings, both spiritual and physical, reminding us always of our Blessed Mother’s words to Adele….

“Go and fear nothing, I will help you.”

https://youtu.be/lQH72NdIcsw a video about a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion

Our Lady of Champion has a holy day. Contact the shrine for information.

https://championshrine.org/

 920-866-2571

Lovely, Mass, Confession, place of peace. Charming level of approbation on par with the major sites. Can do private or larger pilgrimages. Near Green Bay WI.

Knights of Malta been a help to Lady of Champion.

If you could drive to Lourdes or Fatima or visit the Tilma, wouldn’t you?

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Approbation= approval

Important to have confidence in places, human person susceptible to a lie, have confidence I where we are going

New in Alexandria VA, La Crosse WI (see addendum)

Fatima & Guadalupe miracles (the sun spinning, drenched clothes from the rain are immediately dry, the Tilma should have deteriorated many centuries ago) & apparitions

Lourdes healings

Iconostasis- Properly speaking, any support for an icon (or ikon). Generally, the screen, covered with icons, separating the rest of the church in the Eastern Church.[2]

VII opened first time in 25 years last time was in 2000 by John Paul II

JPII A quarter of a century earlier, St. John Paul II wrote of the Holy Door in Incarnationis Mysterium, his bull of indiction of the Great Jubilee, explaining how it “evokes the passage from sin to grace which every Christian is called to accomplish. Jesus said: ‘I am the door’ (John 10:7), in order to make it clear that no one can come to the Father except through him. This designation which Jesus applies to himself testifies to the fact that he alone is the Savior sent by the Father. There is only one way that opens wide the entrance into the life of communion with God: this is Jesus, the one and absolute way to salvation. To him alone can the words of the Psalmist be applied in full truth: ‘This is the door of the Lord where the just may enter’ (Psalm 118:20).” [3]

John Paul II adds that it is the responsibility of every believer to cross the threshold of this “door.” Why? “To pass through that door means to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; it is to strengthen faith in him in order to live the new life which he has given us. It is a decision which presumes freedom to choose and also the courage to leave something behind, in the knowledge that what is gained is divine life (Matthew 13:44-46).”

He also acknowledged that this was the spirit he was going to have as he, the Holy Father, was to be the first to pass through the Holy Door. “Through the holy door … Christ will lead us more deeply into the Church, his Body and his Bride.”[4]

Right before Jubilee Year. Clarity in JPII words. Very clear. Anthromorphic symbols in the Church.

Easter candle, altar, holy door representations of Christ, physical symbols, different element of His divine humanity, He is the sacrifice, door no other way to cross from death to life

Gate, door, candle, door, passes from metaphor to reality with transubstantiation

Hylomorphic soul & body, dispensing both beauty exterior realities so beneficial to interior reality of soul.

Odd disconnect, need authentic restoration good metaphor, legitimate beauty move past this dysphoria. We want something more, pilgrimage tool concrete enter into a authentic earthy feel move from death to life. Seek out conversion, not just interior disposition

Grace built on nature. When body goes from home to church something changes within interior disposition. Effects other people.

Baptism know the date, confession hear the words, real things, life gets challenging with the enemy suggests contrary ideas, can point to concrete actions.

[1] Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Ph.D., S.T.L. editor, Our Sunday’s Visitor Catholic Encyclopedia (Our Sunday Visitor Books: Huntington, IN 1991) 474

[2] Stravinskas 494

[3] https://www.ncregister.com/news/5-holy-doors-what-every-catholic-should-know-ahead-of-jubilee-2025  accessed September 23, 2024

[4] https://www.ncregister.com/news/5-holy-doors-what-every-catholic-should-know-ahead-of-jubilee-2025  accessed September 12, 2024

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Brief Review Glossary of Theological Terms by John T. Ford (mentioned in Episode 2)

III. Purpose of Pilgrimage- desire to encounter God’s presence in a special way.

Throughout the centuries, shrines have played a very significant role in the life of the Church. Many believe that in a shrine, God manifests his presence in a special way and can respond to the longings to know him. Supernatural events- such a s miracles, healings, and apparitions, which have been associated with shrines- motivated people throughout the ages to take this mysterious journey of faith- a pilgrimage- to near and distant shrines.[1]

Canterbury Tales, Medieval literature deals concretely with pilgrimages, Catholic mindset fell out of favor. Become divorced exterior movement of body, tangibly enter into a converted state.

Descartes, think therefore I am, enlightenment primordial heresies dualistic of Man or Man-God. Satan detests this, no dual nature, no body, covets that which he doesn’t have.

Quite a feat for a human person to divorce themselves from their bodies.

In a challenging time, dysphoria, Church itself downplayed element sacramental life, to the most minimum, not enough. Human person not designed for the least, God is maximalist, not a minimalist. Nothing He does is minimalist. Human person needs outward elements to assist interior reality. We become dysmorphic, separated harm the self.

Grave psychological harm, created to be a unity. Many tangible aspects of faith, sodalities, parish picnics, impact on the individual Catholic.

Piety of the laity brought these expressions, continued through generation custom, tradition, acts of piety. Human need minimalist thwarts this. Greatest impact on those lower economic rungs.

Church does not provide, the human person will accept inferior substitutes

[1] Czarnecki 1

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Retreat (similar) Latin retrahere ‘to draw back’ refers to an extended time set aside for prayer and reflection; usually those making a retreat withdraw from the concerns of daily life and spend time at a quiet location

Retreat house- a place holding a retreat, such as a convent or monastery[1]

Prayer- Latin prex, meaning request or entreaty, is often defined as lifting up of the mind and heart to God. Prayer, as a conversation with God, may take many forms: silent and internal, spoken and public, formal or spontaneous, and so on. See CCC 2559-2565[2]

Not about the journey, retreat about taking ot of the world, as opposed to going tino the world. Personal conversation with God, remove distractions, intimate conversation with God.

Retreat go within, pilgrimage go outward

Important to be at a holy place in both instances.

Vacation (contra)

Vacation- late 14c., “freedom from obligations, leisure, release” (from some activity or occupation), from Old French vacacion “vacancy, vacant position” (14c.) and directly from Latin vacationem (nominative vacatio) “leisure, freedom, exemption, a being free from duty, immunity earned by service,” noun of state from past-participle stem of vacare “be empty, free, or at leisure,”[3]

Empty and free (in the common understanding of the word) opposite of a pilgrimage for spiritual reasons.

Can you drive while praying a rosary, no. Say a rosary while driving yes. Can make a pilgrimage during vacation.

Vacation temporal happiness of person, not eternal happiness. Pilgrimage directed to eternal happiness.

Fit a temporal happiness within an eternal happiness.

Pilgrimage, eschaton, eternal destiny, Pilgrim Church, Pilgrim People this is not our final home. Heaven is the goal.

[1] Ford 162

[2] Ford 148

[3] https://www.etymonline.com/word/vacation  accessed September 11, 2024

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Pilgrim- Latin peregrinus, meaning ‘foreigner’ refers to a person who undertakes a pilgrimage or journey to a shrine or holy place. Holy separate for God.

Pilgrimage- Refers to that journey undertaken by a pilgrim for spiritual reasons to a holy place or shrine;pilgrimages are often motivated by the desire to fulfill a vow or promise, to express gratitude for a favor received, or to seek a particular grace or favor.

Shrine- Latin scrinium meaning a container for book or paper, refers to a place of worship, which is usually associated with a miraculous event (such as the apparition of a saint), a sacred object (such as relics of a saint), or a holy person (such as where a saint lived and worked. Shrines are often places of pilgrimage.

Shrines in the USA- there are approximately 121 (as of this printing) shrines and places of pilgrimage that reflect the requirements of the Code of Canon law: “The term shrine signifies a Church or other sacred place to which the faithful make pilgrimages for a particular pious reason, with the approval of the ordinary” (c1230)[1]

Pilgrim Church- This expression came into common use with Vatican II as a way of expressing the idea that all Christians are on pilgrimage toward the eschaton (heaven), just as the Chosen People were on a pilgrimage to the Promised Land (if homebound, refer to this idea)[2]

Church conscientious way of consecrating holy ground given to Church Militant, physical locations, more than a church a shrine, fulfill obligations or seek greater assistance from the church.

Long been known to travel to shrines.

Hylomorphic spirit & body, physical tangible, essential feature of her. Not just a collection of ideas.

People who cant travel, there is a loss, sacramental people outwards sign inward grace. To not move body to worship, psychology transition is important and is a loss if not able. Offer up as sacrifice, supply grace that not being able to move.

It helps us to displace body to change an interior recollection. Change of venue change of mental health. Church always recognize, body & spirit.

[1] Rev Msgr Anthony Czarnecki, Catholic Shrines and Places of Pilgrimage in the United States (USCC:  Washington D.C. 1994) 2

[2] John T. Ford, CSC Glossary of Theological Terms, Essentials of Catholic Theology Series (St. Mary’s Press: Catholic University of America 2006) 144 & 173

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Rule 11

Eleventh Rule. Be humble in consolation and in desolation remember we have sufficient grace taking strength from God: · Let one who is consoled seek to humble himself and lower himself as much as he can, thinking of how little he is capable in the time of desolation without such grace or consolation. · On the contrary, let one who is in desolation think that he can do much with God’s sufficient grace to resist all his enemies, taking strength in his Creator and Lord.

Striving for equilibrium. Glowing embers endures to set a fire.

Rule 10

Tenth rule. When in consolation prepare for desolation and what will do when in it. Let the one who is in consolation think how he will conduct himself in the desolation which will come after, taking new strength for that time.

Living in a world of corruptibility and finitude.

Spiritual discern 5,6,7,8 different realities with each desolation. Do the next good thing pertinent to our state of grace.  Strength to resist. Residual grace. Fortified in the fights. Patience, Abandonment of Divine Providence, everything our Lord does in its season and perfection. Patience consolation God’s time is perfect.

Rule 9 Ninth rule. The 3 potential causes of desolation. There are three principal causes for which we find ourselves desolate. · The first is because we are tepid, slothful or negligent in our spiritual exercises, and so through our faults spiritual consolation withdraws from us. · The second, to try us and see how much we are and how much we extend ourselves in his service and praise without so much payment of consolations and increased graces. · The third, to give us true recognition and understanding so that we may interiorly feel that it is not ours to attain or maintain increased devotion, intense love, tears or any other spiritual consolation, but that all is the gift and grace of God our Lord, and so that we may not build a nest in something belonging to another, raising our mind in some pride or vainglory, attributing to ourselves the devotion or the other parts of the spiritual consolation.

Does not lead with this, Why a good God permits this?, self-intuitive. Miles Chrisiti Ignatian retreats. Pondering and meditating before applying to life.

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Lord asks question needs to direct us. Rightly ordered relationship not an obstacle to being ordered to God for both God and their own sake. Not just for their own sake.

Scripture ever ancient ever new

Book a pearl of great price in the mid 1800’s

These books hard gained wisdom, deep love, intense formation, great education. Hard fought labor freely given.

Gregorian Chant break through during a musical dark time.

“Just just” prayers often become repetitive and at times shallow. Intention sincere prayers are at a higher level of dialogue and brain shifts and is formative in the psyche.

Taken from how to engage Practical Meditations xxi

The Will: 1. Excites affections throughout the meditation more with the heart than the lips. 2. At the end of each practical consideration forms resolutions: practical-particular- suited to present circumstances- based upon solid motives- humble with fervent supplication for assistance.

Lord, with Thy grace, help us to know and do Your Most Holy Will.

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July 30 Of Misplaced Affection towards our Relations 480-481

Expected demand of excessive intention of parents helicoptering parents

Consolation to parents don’t have to always be there.

Over attachment and inability to disconnect. How can I safely surrender the child our Lord calls without feeling guilty from the modern world. Speak to modern parenting. Guilt if not always there.

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Another word to consider is work. God’s children are not stoics, waiting for their luck to somehow turn for the better. Rather Ignatius gives us concrete proven actions we can do to lessen the miseries of spiritual desolation, and thus hasten spiritual consolation. Rather as Rule 7 states by resisting with the grace the Good Lord always supplies, we grow stronger in resisting future spiritual desolations.

Not to be exhaustive but worth stating for clarity and reference

Rule 6 Petition, prayer both during and before spiritual desolation, meditation on SS about the faithful love of God, examination (consider the source is it because of sin, is it for our growth, humility, use of prayer journal to reflect on past instances of faithfulness and the ways one grew during desolation), suitable penance, breaking spiritual silence Rule 13 someone knowable SD, regular confessor, wise spiritual person, Rule 14 consider the weakness of each, personal principal sin and temperament, and make provision for attack before it occurs, strengthen weakest point.

Think back to good things Lord, where are you lately? Mothers of teenagers, put out their baby pictures. Find live in heart at the innocent foibles. Same position of concupiscence. No lack of grace, store up for a rainy day. Adoration, confession, against desolations.

We are people of hope, many resources to help during desolation.

Spiritual desolation versus physical desolation. Physical and moral evils not to be tolerated.

Rule 13, Break Silence.

Isaiah 43:1-7 See addendum

Humble in our wants. Mother of God, natural expectation born in a palace. Her joy was complete in the manger. Nothing lacked. Perfect for her Child. Poetry exquisite from this place.

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Mother Love new book released similar to printing of Practical Meditation

Devotions for mothers, not a calendar, how to be a good mother

Universal prayer book vs specific to mothers

Even though the author mentions religious, this remark in most suitable for anyone seeking the Lord in sincerity.

Element of hope, Ignatian Silent Retreat, similar format

Modern prayer don’t begin from an appropriate starting part. First place ourselves before the Lord, direct thoughts to the Lord

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