William Hemsworth's Blog, page 41

The woman who spent more than 20 years restoring Leonardo’s Last Supper

The late Pinin Brambilla was one of the world’s leading authorities on preservation and restoration of Italian Renaissance frescoes. She died at the age of 95, 20 years after finishing what might have been one the most important tasks in her career: the restoration of Leonardo’s Last Supper. She began working on it in 1977, […]

The woman who spent more than 20 years restoring Leonardo’s Last Supper

$3,000 Pro-Life Scholarship for ASU Students

The Abortion Dialogue Academy (ADA) is offering multiple pro-life scholarships for Arzona State University students. Scholarship recipients can earn $3,000 per year, up to $12,000 total throughout their undergrad. Scholarship winners will receive an all-expenses paid week of training at ADA’s headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, where they will learn how to defend their pro-life view […]

$3,000 Pro-Life Scholarship for ASU Students

Three Things You Can Do To Get Your Family Ready For Mass

Sunday mornings can be chaotic even for the most cheerful and organized households. As a parent of four, there are some Sundays that it is difficult for me to get the entire family ready to exit the house, let alone prepare for Mass.

There are a few things that can be done, if even the night before, to help the Holy Spirit prepare the hearts of our family. Doing even one of these will pass on the importance of the Mass in our lives and maybe create some family bonding.

1. Read the Mass Readings As A Family

Reading the Mass readings is an excellent way to prepare for Mass. It’s sort of a no-brainer, too. Children love stories, and the Mass readings provide that along with spiritual nourishment. Not only will they learn the readings, but when they hear them in Mass you can see the excitement on their face when something they know is heard.

It will create a bond and will most likely assist in them paying a little better attention. It also assists in catechesis as the faith will be taught at home, if it isn’t already. All involved will benefit by having a better understanding of the scriptures and the Mass as a result. By the way, it is okay if this is done the night before.

2. Pray at home, together

If you are a large family, this may be something that may be done the night before, but if possible do it the morning of Mass. Praying as a family doesn’t have to be a long endeavor but ask everyone if they have a prayer request or someone that they want to pray for.

Not only will you be praying as a family at home, but you can remind the children to remember these prayers during Mass. That way they are prayed for as a community. This will help reinforce the Mass as the gathering of God’s family. It will also show the importance of the Mass by preparing our hearts and minds to pray and worship.

Some get intimidated and think this type of family prayer has to be an hour long. It doesn’t so don’t stress it. Five to ten minutes is a great start.  It reinforce the importance of prayer and taking intentions to Mass.

3. Pray on the way

If your family is anything like mine on Sunday morning, then it resembles the family from Home Alone scrambling to make their flight. The time spent driving to Mass is the perfect opportunity to focus on what is about to happen.

Take some time to pray the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet. There are free smartphone apps that lead and you just repeat. It is a great way to contemplate and to get your heart ready for Mass.

The Divine Mercy App is a great one for the Divine Mercy Chaplet. If you want an app that has an audio Rosary and Divine Chaplet in one place, then I recommend the Virgin Most Powerful App. Click on prayers and the audio versions are there along with explanations.

There are many ways to get your family ready for Mass, and this article is just the tip of the iceberg. Depending on your situation you may need to get creative, and that is okay. Putting in the work to ensure your family is ready for Mass is part of our vocation as parents. Stay the course, share the faith, and be the example that your children need.

Top anti-abuse expert sets record straight on resignation from Vatican body

Father Hans Zollner, one of the church’s leading protagonists in the fight against clerical sexual abuse, has sought to clarify his reasons for stepping down from a Vatican safeguarding commission after nearly 10 years on the job.

Top anti-abuse expert sets record straight on resignation from Vatican body

Former Cardinal McCarrick charged with 1977 sexual assault in Wisconsin

Details:  Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick has been criminally charged with fourth-degree sexual assault in Wisconsin for an incident that allegedly occurred in April 1977. McCarrick, 92, was laicized by Pope Francis in 2019 after a Vatican investigation found him guilty of sexually abusing minors and adults. He is currently being criminally charged in Massachusetts for sexually abusing […]

Former Cardinal McCarrick charged with 1977 sexual assault in Wisconsin

Over 50,000 massacred in Nigeria for being Christian in the last 14 years, report says

At least 52,250 people have been killed over the last 14 years in Nigeria just for being Christian, a new report published April 10 revealed. The report, titled “Martyred Christians in Nigeria” and published by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), which is headquartered in Eastern Nigeria, says 30,250 of […]

Over 50,000 massacred in Nigeria for being Christian in the last 14 years, report says

Pope John Paul II declared Divine Mercy Sunday a feast 23 years ago

In you, the Triune God, may they ever find the source of hope. Eternal Father, by the passion and resurrection of your Son, have mercy on us and upon the whole world! The consecration and entrustment of the world to Divine Mercy represented the fulfillment of a mission for Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938). Faustina, a […]

Pope John Paul II declared Divine Mercy Sunday a feast 23 years ago

Easter Divine Mercy Sunday: Merciful Love and Grace

By Fr Eugene Lobo, SJ – Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday April 16, 2023 Readings:  Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 The resurrection of Jesus was a new experience to the disciples.  Even though Jesus had constantly explained to them about his rising from the dead, they were unable to grasp the implication of […]

Easter Divine Mercy Sunday: Merciful Love and Grace

4 Different names for the Second Sunday of Easter

While many Roman Catholics are familiar with Divine Mercy Sunday, this is a relatively new name given to the Second Sunday of Easter. Historically, this Sunday was known by a variety of names, and each points to a different aspect of this celebration. Here are four names for the Second Sunday of Easter and their […]

The Mystery of the Resurrection

April 14, 2023 – Friday in the Octave of Easter

The Mystery of the Resurrection