“The Only Means of Retaining Beauty to Old Age”

Although Pulcheria Alexandrovna was forty-three, her face still retained traces of her former beauty; she looked much younger than her age, indeed, which is almost always the case with women who retain serenity of spirit, sensitiveness and pure sincere warmth of heart to old age. We may add in parenthesis that to preserve all this is the only means of retaining beauty to old age. Her hair had begun to grow grey and thin, there had long been little crow’s foot wrinkles round her eyes, her cheeks were hollow and sunken from anxiety and grief, and yet it was a handsome face…. Pulcheria Alexandrovna was emotional, but not sentimental, timid and yielding, but only to a certain point. She could give way and accept a great deal even of what was contrary to her convictions, but there was a certain barrier fixed by honesty, principle and the deepest convictions which nothing would induce her to cross.

From
Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Prayers Needed for Canon Fragelli

I can’t say it better than Ann Barnhardt does, except to add that Sts. Benedict, Thomas Aquinas, and Therese are also Institute patrons, so I will repost her in full:

Action Item: Stricken Priest of the Institute of Christ the King on Life Support over in Italy. Prayers for a miraculous healing needed NOW.

Canon Henrique Fragelli is not merely on a ventilator, he is on full life support.

He fell ill at the ICK’s mission in Gabon, Africa and was medivacked to Italy a week ago. He has gone downhill and is now on life support.

A recent pic of Canon Fragelli (R) in Gabon

We’re into full Miracle territory here. Miracles are real, and happen – IF WE ASK FOR THEM.

So. Time to ask.

Let’s enjoin the patrons of the ICK, St. Francis de Sales and St. Philip Neri, and let’s enjoin Saints Cosmas and Damian, the twin brother physicians and martyrs, who are, I am reliably informed, the patrons of the hospital where Canon Fragelli is currently being treated.

For the full healing and recovery of Canon Henrique Fragelli, let us pray to the Lord, the Sovereign and All-powerful Trinity.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian, pray for us!

Sts. Francis de Sales and Philip Neri, pray for us!

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us!

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!

Just some minor orthopaedic work…

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Hello Ann,

I’m just a reader and stranger..

But I have said a Rosary for the stricken priest. The Joyful Mysteries, because – the fruit of the Second Joyful Mystery, charity towards our neighbor. And I appealed to the saints you mentioned.

God bless,

G

¡No Pasaran!

Let me begin by apologizing for using a slogan, though compelling, that originated with the communist criminals in the Spanish Civil War. But when it comes to Christ’s Holy Mass, we must state without fear: ¡No Pasaran! They shall not pass!

I don’t care what heretics say. This is our Mass. More importantly, it’s His Mass.

A time comes to take a stand. If you won’t defend Him when they take the Mass, when will you? Pope Benedict XVI, will you not come forth? Cardinals? Bishops? Priests?

And laymen. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation!