The Vatican II Rite of Baptism for Adults and Children - "Is it valid?"

The Vatican II Rite of Baptism - for Adults and Children - "Is it valid?"

by Fr. Lucian Pulvermacher, OFM Cap.

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In this study, I use the official books of the Novus Ordo Vatican II Church. The title is "The Rites of the Catholic Church" as Revised by Decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and Published by Authority of Paul VI. The English translation prepared by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Pueblo Publishing Co., New York, 1976. There are 2 volumes, and the volume used in this study is No. 1.

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Is a Revised Baptism Valid?

Before looking at anything in the rites, we must give the word "revised" a serious look. You can revise a man by giving him a good hair cut, or you can revise him by neutering him. The effect in both cases is quite different. Has the revision of the rites of the Church made by order of Vatican II (1962-1965) and executed by Paul VI been the type that made them better or did the revisions neuter the rites - leaving them emasculated and useless? Henry VIII and his henchmen neutered Anglican Orders, thus making them invalid; so decreed Pope Leo XIII. 

What is Necessary for a Valid Sacrament?

In the rite for the baptism of children, we find the proper title, "Baptism for Children." However, when we look at the rite itself we find that the intention is defective. Three things are necessary for a valid sacrament: 

• proper matter, 
• proper form,
• proper intention.

We must look to the intention both in the rite itself and in the minister of the sacrament. If the intention as expressed in the rite is defective, then one need not check the intention of the minister since he cannot overcome a defective intention in the rite itself. 

Vatican II's Baptism has a Defective Intention

In the new Vatican II rite of baptism for children, it is not difficult to find how the rite has its intention vitiated. After the profession of faith is over, we read the following (page 234), and it is directed to the parents and godparents. We read, "Is it your will that N. should be baptized in the faith of the Church, which we have all professed with you?" Then the parents and godparents respond, "It is." After that the minister of the sacrament goes ahead with the proper matter (water - presumably poured over the skin of the head) and the proper form ("I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." We have no question on this score. The matter and form are correct in the rite itself. 

How the Intention is Defective

At first you may not be aware of the satanic trick in regard to the intention of the rite. The word baptized has lost its true theological meaning. Let me give you an example. When a jeweler asks you, "Do you want to buy a diamond?" you know exactly what the product is. He must sell you a real diamond or be a real cheat. However, we have a new ball game if he asks, "Do you want to buy a diamond made of plastic?" You no longer have a diamond but a chunk of plastic. Why use the word diamond at all? The word plastic so modifies the concept of diamond that the true product no longer exists. The same is true in the Novus Ordro rite question, "Is it your will that N. should be baptized in the faith of the Church…" You could change the words, baptized in the faith of the Church to (1) introduced in the faith of the Church, or (2) brought in the faith of the Church, or (3) inducted in the faith of the Church, and the like expressions. If the question had stopped at, "Is it your will that N. should be baptized (period)", we would have no evidence that the intention of the rite is vitiated. However, we have the evidence that the word baptized is modified to ruin it just as the phrase, "Do you want to buy a diamond made of plastic?" 

Let me be a little more specific on this question. If you go to a hardware store and order a box of socket wrenches you get the whole box, that is, the entire full box of sockets, ratchets, handles and the like. If you lose or break one socket in your set, you go to the same hardware store and order size so and so and not the whole box, and that is all you get. Well, baptism as it stands in Catholic theology contains four sockets, namely, 

• forgiveness of original sin,
• if necessary, forgiveness of personal sins (and then comes sanctifying grace), 
• the placing of an indelible character on the soul, and
• the person baptized is made a member of the true Mystical Body of Christ.

When the Novus Ordo rite asks, "Is it your will that N. should be baptized in the faith of the Church …", it merely asks for the fourth and last socket in the box of baptism, namely, membership in the community as it is. 

You Get All or Nothing

In regard to the sacrament of baptism, you receive all the four elements (as stated above) or you receive none of them at all. It is true that forgiveness of original sin and mortal sin can be suspended by reason of non-divine and Catholic faith in an adult or non-sorrow for personal mortal sins. However, when that lack is provided for, forgiveness follows immediately by reason of the valid sacrament of baptism. Once again, you get all or nothing, and asking for a part only, means getting nothing at all. 

Can a non-Catholic be a Sponsor?

We have a further difficulty in regard to the faith of the community in that both sponsors in a new rite Vatican II baptism need not be Catholics. One can be a non-Catholic (of a different faith) who stands as a witness of their common faith. Obviously that is not the faith of the true Mystical Body of Christ, the Catholic Church. If there is a common faith between so-called Catholics and non-Catholics then that must be the "faith" of the one world religion. It is terrible to be lead to believe that one could be baptized into such a faith and religion which is in no way Catholic. 

To Be Safe: Re-Baptize Conditionally

If I did not have to deal with persons baptized in the Novus Ordo, I would not even go through the exercise of judging the validity or non-validity of the new rite of baptism. There is a strong indication that the intention of the rite is vitiated, so to be safe in this regard I must take the course of re-baptizing the person(s) conditionally. If and when a true Pope surfaces (in God's providence), I shall submit the whole affair to his judgment as was done with Pope Leo XIII in regard to the validity or non-validity of Anglican Orders. They were declared invalid. It is likely that the same verdict will then be made in regard to the Novus Ordo baptisms. 

Will the Son of Man find Faith on Earth?

When one takes the broader view of the problem, it is too terrible to think about. Since all of the off-spring of the Novus Ordo Catholics quite likely remain heathens after baptism, then can never receive any other sacraments (validly) after that. It follows, very likely, that the Novus Ordo priests with that baptism are heathens playing store as if they were real priests. That goes for all the members, way to the top, Bishops, Cardinals and even the Pope himself are all heathens. A Rock Mass around a totem pole is the best they have to offer. Could this be the way Our Lord's words in Luke 18,8 are verified, namely, "Yet when the Son of Man comes, will He find, do you think, faith on earth?"  

Comment by Jerome: Since baptism is so important and necessary for salvation, it is recommended that all persons baptized in the Vatican II sect (or other non-Catholic sects such as protestants) receive a conditional baptism.

• Link for Conditional Baptism For Those who Have Received Baptism

https://prophecyfilm.blogspot.com/2015/03/important-catholic-dogma-you-must.html#for-those-who-have-received-baptism

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED BAPTISM, IT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT:

1) Know and believe the basic catechism (i.e. the basic teachings) of the traditional Catholic Faith. PLEASE READ THE CATECHISM NOW One should also immediately begin to pray the Rosary each day (15 decades preferably). If you don’t know how, consult the How to Pray the Rosary section of our website. Always take time every day to read and study the Faith, and ask God for final perseverance.

2) Hold belief in all the traditional dogmas of the Church and the correct Catholic positions against the post-Vatican II sect (covered in detail in our material), including, for example, the dogma Outside the Church There is No Salvation (without exception), the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Papacy, Papal Infallibility, the necessity of water baptism, etc..

3) Make the profession of faith for converts from the Council of Trent, which is below. If there is a specific sect to which you belonged, or if you believed in a specific heresy, add at the end that you also reject that heretical sect or heresy. The Council of Trent’s Profession of Faith for Converts

4) If a validly ordained Catholic priest is available to you, you must make a general confession to a priest ordained in the traditional rite of ordination after taking the previous 3 steps. This is a confession in which one mentions all mortal (and venial) sins committed after baptism that one can remember, including adherence to any sects or false religions or having spread a false sect or false religion. Beware to check carefully beforehand that the priest you approach for the sacraments is not heretical nor in communion with other heretics. Today, in the Great Apostasy, there is almost not a single acceptable or non-heretical priest left in the world. The only alternative that is left for almost everyone today is to confess their sins to God directly and ask Him with tears or sorrow and true repentance to forgive them their sins. This will forgive your sins if you are sincere, if no other option is available. If you find a non-heretical priest, then as long as the priest says “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” the confession is valid. A good practice is to write down your sins on a piece of paper so that you will have an easier time remembering the sins you have committed. This can also be done by those who have no priest and who confess directly to God, in order to facilitate that your confession to Our Lord will be as exact as possible. One could also make a confession of sins or heresies to any person or friend you feel you trust. This should generally be someone who is able to advice you on spiritual things, and not to any person you know.

Related article: https://against-all-heresies-and-errors.blogspot.com/2017/09/valid-confession-question-with-follow-up-on-avoiding-occasion-of-sin-and-penance.html

Confessing our sins to each other, even though we cannot give absolution, is also a great tool to use in exposing the devil and in overcoming habitual bad habits or sins (reoccurring or habitual bad habits is in most cases what leads people to sin in the first place). The Saints had as a habit to confess their sins daily, and thus we should try to act in this way as much as we are able. For confessing our sins daily, breeds humility.

Q&A: On Buying things from non-Catholics; On Evangelization and being ashamed, and of not knowing what to do or say etc.

Question: “Hello - 1. It is a sin to donate to heretics but is it also a sin to buy books and other articles from them? For example there is a book called the Publicans Prayer Book by the "Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of New York" of the Vatican 2 sect. Also icons by the Sofrino Store run by the schismatic Russian Church and a book of meditations by St Bonaventure Press /TAN.

2. How can I evangelise? I feel that to evangelise one must be intelligent and have studied apologetics and theology /philosophy. But I have a weak mind.

I also don't know how to reply on the spur of the moment (immediately).

3. With atheists one may try to prove creation and miracles but what about pagans /protestants? I am afraid to say outright that they must convert, for fear of persecution. By this I am losing many graces and possibly any chance of being saved. I am afraid that because I was ashamed of Christ, He too will be ashamed of me. What should I do?

Regards.”

Answer: 1. It is not a sin to buy things from non-Catholics, even if their preferred paying methods is through a donation. Since this is a purchase, it does not count as a donation.

2. You can evangelize by giving out materials acceptable to your conscience and that does a good deed in evangelizing. You could buy a lot of good things from MHFM and give it out cheaply, if this is according to your conscience. If you buy from us, you cannot get us much or nearly as cheap, so it wouldn’t be worth it. Alternatively, you could also burn your own dvds and make your own papers to hand out with all the information you love and think is important—print it and give it out to people for free.

The best evangelization method is not necessarily to preach, since many people are not interested in such things. It might be better and more profitable to give them a paper or a dvd instead that they can look into in order to get the same information or even more, but in a better format and more convincing way.

Concerning not knowing how to respond when talking with people on theological questions, that is to be expected if one don’t know all the arguments. Do not worry, no one is required to be an expert in theology or know everything or have all the answers. And provided you stand for the truth no matter what, that is what really counts before God. Also, the more you speak and the more familiar you become on the subjects, the more easy it will become to talk to others in a convincing way.

It is also good to have a “The Bible Proves the Teachings of the Catholic Church” book readily at hand, or to know it (the arguments) if you often bring up points against protestants, since this book proves the Catholic faith in such a good way from the bible: http://www.catholic-saints.net/apologetics/the-bible-proves-the-teachings-of-the-catholic-church.php

If you received the books I sent to you, you should have received a copy [if anyone wants free dvds, books, devotionals and religious materials, please contact me]. If you want to buy more and for a lot cheaper (and in much smaller format then the book I sent to you), you can buy The Bible Proves book from Most Holy Family Monastery’s online store.

3. It is an excellent idea to prove creation to atheists (one can also give them dvds proving Creation, God and the Supernatural), but it is also a good idea to stress the point of life and its eternal existence in religion and with God. The point is: if atheism is true, then life is essentially meaningless since it will cease to exist and the universe and everything in it will die out (eventually); so life will die out, according to atheism, and never more to exist. An honest persons will of course see and understand that life has more meaning than this, and hence that atheism is seriously lacking something which only religion can give—i.e., a true meaning of life.

With protestants (and pagans/infidels), I would advice you to give them dvds and the book “The Bible Proves the Teachings of the Catholic Church”. Most protestants (and pagans/infidels) are bad willed and will not be converted, so even if you could all the arguments out and in, it might be pointless and perhaps almost no fruit will be gained. So give them the material (especially the dvds may give fruit if they take the time to watch them), and move on. But if you feel the need to talk, talk. But if you don’t know the arguments or what to say, there might be a problem. That is why it is always good to have the book “The Bible Proves the Teachings of the Catholic Church” at hand, and to read it and become familiarized with it, and to learn other arguments in favor of Catholicism and for refuting paganism and the infidels.

http://www.catholic-saints.net/islam/

http://www.catholic-saints.net/buddhism/

http://www.catholic-saints.net/hinduism/

You don’t have to mention out right every time that unbelievers and non-Catholics must convert to be saved. However, depending on the context and if they ask, one must inform them of this truth. There is not much point in telling others that they must convert if they are hardly religious. It is better in that case to just give them the dvds or other material in the hope that they will look into it. If they are more religious people that you are dealing with, then it might be more fitting to say, in a good and proper context, that they need to be Catholic to be saved. But it is not a sin to not mention this all the time. So if you constantly worry about the need of having to mention this issue, relax. It is more important that you give them the dvds and make them inclined to watch them then to preach “No Salvation Outside the Church”.

However, as I said, depending on the context, one may want to tell them of the need that they have to become Catholic to be saved. The more religious and fervent a person is in his false belief, the more proper and fitting it would be to tell him of the need to be Catholic in order to be saved. Also, if the religious discussion would be about the topic of the true faith and religion, then it also would be fitting and proper to mention this truth. When it comes to atheists and not so religious people, it is of less importance and it would be more important to just make them look into the material at all—if it is possible to make them do so—by making the material look interesting.

I have a hard time to understand if you are just scrupulous concerning being ashamed of Christ (i.e., with the mistaken notion that you constantly have to mention certain things such as “No Salvation Outside the Church”) or whether you are seriously not doing what your conscience is telling you to do when you could easily do so, such as easily handing out materials to others (dvds etc.) or by admonishing them when a suitable situation occurs.

Also, you would have much less scruples to approach and talk to people of God and religion if you also had at hand free and good material to give out at the same time. In fact, evangelization becomes easy and even enjoyable if at the same time as one is talking with a person one can hand him a free dvd concerning the topics at hand. People always like to receive free things and hence you don’t have to worry yourself with what to say, or “burden” them for a very long time with words that they might not be interested in hearing, and so the conversation does not have to become awkward as it sometimes can happen when talking about religion and God and when don’t know what to say.

So if you don’t have any material to give out to people currently and feel that it is hard to talk to people and approach them even in suitable situations (and that this is a problem for you), this problem would easily be fixed if you bought or made some own free material, such as burning dvds or printing religious papers in order to give out to people.

To not always talk in every situation about God is not a sin or the sin to be ashamed of Christ. After all, we are humans and may feel weak at times. But if we never or seldom talk of God or eternal life—not even when it would be easy to do so or required of us or when our conscience tells us to do so—then there is something wrong. As Christians we must trample human opinion and esteem under foot and also consider that to be esteemed fools by the world, for the Love and Honor of God, is a great honor before God!

I hope this helps, and if there is anything else, please let me know.

Sincerely, and God bless,

Jerome

https://against-all-heresies-and-errors.blogspot.com/

The Importance of Asking God Questions in Prayer and of Receiving Answers

I don’t know how many others do this, but this should be done by everyone who desires to advance and know God better in their life. Ask God an important question for your life, or for solutions to some trouble you have. Pray the Rosary, asking God to answer you through divine enlightenment, providence and grace. Then, as you go through your day, remain alert for an answer by providence, interpreted by you through grace, faith, and reason. Sometimes it takes a few days. Sometimes you don’t get an answer; in which case, ask a different question.

You can ask very specific questions and get an answer. It is also a good idea, from time to time, to ask broad questions, such as “What is your will for me?” or “What should I do differently in my life?”

Be careful not to fall into the trap of imagining that God is confirming your own ideas and preferences. We are all fallen sinners, so we all have the tendency to think that our own understanding or goals are perhaps better than they are in God’s eyes. If God is telling you to keep doing what you are doing, and not to make any changes, and He really seems to have no criticisms or suggestions for improvement, then you are not doing this correctly. That would be just your own selfishness, not the providence and grace of God.

If it is not working for you, try to be more alert to hints from God in events that happen as you go through your day. If it still does not work, then add self-denial to prayer. And make certain that you regularly examine your conscience and go to Confession and Communion, if this is possible.

Be advised that it is easy to misinterpret what God is saying through enlightenment, providence and grace. So do not make any major decisions on this basis, and do not do anything risky. It is also always advisable to have someone to consult in spiritual matters, such as a spiritual guide. And you must ALWAYS put the teachings of the Church on faith, morals, and salvation, and anything clear to reason, above that God seems to be saying in this way.

It is important to follow the points above, to be in a state of grace (or at least, to desire betterment), sincere in prayer, and patient. The signs may show up in unexpected places but when they occur it will immediately be evident that they are the result of prayer.

Another way to do this is ask God a question before praying one of the hours of the Liturgy of Hours (or before any prayer). For big questions about vocations and the like, one of the best things to do is an Ignatian Spiritual retreat that uses the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Prayer for God's Providence

Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Most Precious Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Adorable Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Admirable Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Loving Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Most Holy Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Sanctifying Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Treasured Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Testing Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Penetrating Providence of God, have mercy on me!

Providence of God, You have provided for me, have mercy on me!

Providence of God, You will provide for me, have mercy on me!

Prayer for My Vocation in Life

Behold me at thy feet, O Virgin most kind, seeking to obtain through thee, the most important grace of knowing what I ought to do. I desire nothing but to comply perfectly with the Will of thy Divine Son at every moment of my life. Mother of Good Counsel, let me hear thy voice. It will dispel every doubt that troubles my mind.

I trust in thee, being confident that, since thou art the Mother of my Redeemer, thou wilt also be the Mother of my salvation. If thou, O Mary, wilt not send me a ray of the Divine Sun, what light will enlighten me? Who will direct me if thou refusest, who art the Mother of the uncreated Wisdom!

Listen, then, to my humble prayers. Let me not be lost in my uncertainty and instability; lead me along the straight road that ends in life everlasting, Thou, who art my only hope, and whose hands are full of the riches of virtue and of life, and who dispensest the fruits of honor and holiness. Amen.

Prayers to Saints of the Catholic Church † St. Therese, St. Benedict, St. Joseph, St. Philomena, St. Francis Solanus etc.

It is recommended that you pray these prayers everyday (print them out and pray everyday!) for guidance and light in your daily life. They are very powerful and you may be assured of quickly gaining the help you are looking for - both spiritually, corporeally and materially. I can attest to this from personal experience.

Download the prayers as a ready made doc to print (4 pages):

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nYjWxhQzif7JomLj_M8PLwyBHWvYGqjZ

Prayer to saints is very important. It’s very important and effective to say prayers to certain saints.

Here are some great saints to have a devotion to:

• Prayer to St. Therese
• Prayers to St. Benedict
• Prayers to St. Joseph
• Prayer to St. Philomena
• Prayer to St. Francis Solanus, Apostle to South America [Also interesting quotes on his miracles]

Prayer to St. Therese

This prayer is very powerful for both temporal and spiritual petitions. Those to whom we have recommended it have been amazed by its efficacy as well. We encourage people to say it every day.

Prayer to St. Therese

“O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and counsel mankind, I implore your miraculous intercession. So powerful are you in obtaining from God favors and graces that Holy Mother Church has called you ‘the greatest saint of modern times.’ Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition:

(specify petition)

And to carry out your promises of spending heaven doing good upon earth, and of ever letting fall from heaven a shower of roses. Henceforth, dear little flower, I will fulfill your plea to be made known everywhere, and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen.”

Prayers to St. Benedict

The following two prayers to St. Benedict are highly recommended. St. Benedict is an extremely powerful intercessor for us in Heaven.  Born in the year 480, St. Benedict was the founder of western monasticism and is renowned for his power against the Devil. St. Benedict was also a great miracle worker, as many books document.  In particular, we recommend The Life of St. Benedict by Pope St. Gregory the Great. He is a powerful patron that we need today when impurity, apostasy and infidelity inundate the earth. St. Benedict died March 21, 543, as he stood before the altar of Monte Cassino immediately after receiving Holy Communion. St. Benedict is easily one of the greatest saints of all time.

Prayer to St. Benedict for a Happy Death

“O holy Father, St. Benedict, blessed by God both in grace and in name, who, while standing in prayer, with hands raised to heaven, didst most happily yield thy angelic spirit into the hands of thy Creator, and hast promised zealously to defend against all the snares of the enemy in the last struggle of death, those who shall daily remind thee of thy glorious departure and heavenly joys; protect me, I beseech thee, O glorious Father, this day and every day, by thy holy blessings, that I may never be separated from our dear Lord, from the society of thyself, and of all the blessed. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.”

St. Benedict himself revealed to St. Gertrude – also one of the greatest saints in the history of the Catholic Church, and herself a Benedictine nun – that “whoever reminds me of the extraordinary privilege with which God deigned to glorify my last moments, shall experience my particular assistance in his final combat. I will be a faithful protector against the assaults of the enemy. Fortified by my presence, he will escape the snares of the evil one and safely attain eternal happiness.”

Novena to St. Benedict

“O Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God’s grace! Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet. I implore thy loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God. To thee I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate thee in all things. May thy blessings be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.”

“Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need, in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Thy heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. Thou didst never dismiss without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to thee. I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession in the confident hope that thou will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore (mention it), if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.”

“Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.”

Prayers to St. Joseph

Prayers to St. Joseph

“St. Joseph, father and guardian of virgins, into whose faithful keeping were entrusted innocency itself, Christ Jesus, and Mary, the Virgin of virgins, I pray and beseech thee through Jesus and Mary, those pledges so dear to thee, to keep me from all uncleanness, and to grant that my mind may be untainted, my heart pure, and my body chaste; help me always to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen.”

The prayer below was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505 it was sent from the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. This prayer is very powerful and highly recommended.

“Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.

“Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls – Pray for me.”

Here’s another one:

“Remember, O most illustrious Patriarch St. Joseph, on the testimony of St. Theresa, thy devoted client, never has it been heard that anyone who invoked thy protection or sought thy mediation has not obtained relief. In this confidence I come before thee, my loving protector, chaste spouse of Mary, foster-father of the Savior of men and dispenser of the treasures of His Sacred Heart. Despise not my earnest prayer, but graciously hear and obtain my petition…. (Here mention your request)

Let us pray.

O God, Who by Thine ineffable Providence didst vouchsafe to choose St. Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that he whom we venerate as our protector on earth may be our intercessor in Heaven, Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.”

Prayer to St. Philomena

St. Philomena is a powerful intercessor in Heaven, a great saint to whom one could have a devotion. St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, had a special devotion to St. Philomena. He enthusiastically encouraged others to pray to her, and often spoke of the profound effects of such prayers.

Prayer to St. Philomena

O faithful virgin and glorious martyr, St. Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity, O great saint! Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I now humbly lay before thee … (Here mention your petition.) I am firmly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the Passion and death of Jesus, thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of thee, and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in His saints. Amen.

St. Philomena, powerful with God, pray for us.

St. Francis Solanus (Apostle to South America)

St. Francis Solanus lived from 1549 to 1610.  He was a Spanish Franciscan missionary to South America.  Although St. Francis is not well-known in the United States, he is indeed to be classified among the extraordinary saints.  St. Francis was gifted with an abundance of miracles.   St. Francis converted and baptized many natives and explored uncultivated regions.

The Prayer to St. Francis

“O powerful St. Francis Solanus, thou who explored and evangelized in the wilds of South America, please assist me in the wilds of this world and obtain for me, through our Lord Jesus Christ, the grace I ask of thee.  Amen.”

(Specify your petition and then say one Hail Mary in honor of St. Francis Solanus)

St. Francis Solanus miraculously heals the mangled face of a five-year-old girl and raises her to life: “…the five year-old Maria Monroy had fallen from the second story of her parents’ home.  An iron latticework, which she had dragged down with her in the fall, had put out one of the nina’s eyes, destroyed her face, and split her skull.  When picked up, she was dead.  The desperate screams of the grief-crazed mother immediately brought the entire neighborhood to the scene; but nothing anyone could do or say served to console the woman or assuage the shock incurred when she had first glimpsed the ruin of her baby’s head and features.

“Above the bed of the dead child there hung a likeness of Fray Francisco [St. Francis Solanus].  Only when the mother’s eyes lifted to this picture was she somewhat calmed.  Beginning to pray before it, she experienced a sudden wild hope.  Loudly she demanded that someone bring her oil from Padre Solano’s lamps – at once!  It must have seemed quite hopeless to the numerous onlookers, but to pacify the poor mother, this was done, and the oil was applied to the broken little face and head.  The miracle which followed worked instantaneously!  The eye returned to its orbit, the break in the head closed, and little Maria returned to life with the exclamation, ‘Jesus, remain with me!’” (Fanchon Royer, St. Francis Solanus – Apostle to America, St. Anthony Guild Press, Patterson, N.J., 1955, p. 187.)

St. Francis Solanus miraculously crosses a river: “The river was wide and there was no boat to carry him to the opposite shore.  How happy were his Indians in their belief that, for this reason, they would have their padre with them a little longer.  But he, it seems, was hearing the voices which cried to him from the other side.  For a last time he exhorted his dear Indios to persevere in seeking God’s grace, in the Faith, and in love of neighbor; and he gave them his blessing.  Then, lifting up his eyes to heaven, he was elevated to ecstasy.  He now spread his mantle upon the water and embarked upon it without fear, and thus passed over to the opposite shore, leaving those who had accompanied him as far as the river in the extreme of astonishment.” (Fanchon Royer, St. Francis Solanus – Apostle to America, St. Anthony Guild Press, Patterson, N.J., 1955, p. 117.)

St. Francis’ extraordinary travels: “The diligent apostle did not content himself with ministering to his own converts, the Christian thousands about Socotonio and Magdalena.  As soon as he was confident that their feet were firmly placed upon the Christian path of life, he set his own to another immense tour which, owing to the rigors of the terrain which he chose to penetrate, was to prove a classic chapter in the marvelous epic of record-breaking travel and spiritual adventure… while evangelizing and instructing the natives he might encounter in the great wastes that stretched between the heroically founded stations.  But this tour was so largely devoted to the Gran Chaco that one imagines he must have known from the start that this vast, still almost completely unexplored region was the prize for which he would contest – alone and totally unsupplied with provisions of any sort.” (Fanchon Royer, St. Francis Solanus – Apostle to America, St. Anthony Guild Press, Patterson, N.J., 1955, p. 111.)

Witnesses to his miracles: “…eight hundred witnesses had presented themselves to testify under oath to St. Francis prodigies.  Among these, five hundred and twenty were Limenos.  The list included prelates, savants, physicians, army officers of high rank, religious, and ladies of prominent social standing.  Also a witness was the temporal ruler of them all, the Marques de Montesclaros, Viceroy of Peru.” (Ibid, p. 183.)

St. Francis Solanus believed that no man is saved without Baptism.  In his life, there is a story about a ship on which St. Francis was traveling which came upon a terrible storm.  This ship contained many religious, as well as natives who had received some instruction from him but had not yet been baptized.  “They ran head into a violent hurricane.  Almost immediately the cumbersome wooden ship went out of control, to become a mere chip on the frantically churning seas… Water was now passing freely through the hold.  In the midst of the tempest’s fury, the ship was falling to pieces beneath them; and as there was but a single lifeboat aboard, the disaster could only mean death for the majority of the company… the Captain made all haste to get the Franciscans and some of the more prominent passengers over the side, that they might be given this one last slim chance of survival [on a lifeboat].  Seeing that Fray Franciso made no move to join his brothers in the boat, Juan de Morgana implored him to hurry.  There was space for but one more.  But the missionary had already decided that he could not leave his stricken Negritos [the natives] to die abandoned in their agony.  Who could say that he might not be granted the time to administer Baptism to some of them?… [He said]: ‘God will not allow me to save myself by leaving my poor brothers to lose not only the life of the body, but also that of the soul, which is eternal.’” (Ibid, p. 71.)

Thus, St. Francis clearly believed that they would not be saved without Baptism, despite the knowledge or “desire” they had.  So he risked his life to stay, to make sure they were convinced of the faith and baptized.  He immediately went to work.  “… imploring [God] for the time to complete his holy mission, the priest immediately went to work.  There were so many to whom he must administer the Sacrament [of Baptism], and under circumstances which almost anyone else would have found quite impossible!”  (Ibid, p. 73.)

As St. Francis continued to baptize, the ship was actually broken into two by the hurricane.  “When the vessel had cleft in twain, Fray Francisco [St. Francis] was hastily baptizing his Negritos.  He barely looked up as he heard the noise… Quite naturally there were many who were still hysterical from fright and the misery of their half-submerged positions.  But Fray Francisco was perfectly calm; and as the fragment of the ship miraculously continued to stay afloat, one by one, the frightened men edged into their places before him and the crucifix still held high by an arm which should by now have broken beneath it.  In this manner the hours dragged on, and finally the Sacrament had actually been administered to all who wished to receive it.”  After days of struggling on the seas in the face of the hurricane, God intervened with a number of extraordinary events which allowed the vessels to survive.  (Ibid, pp. 70-77.)