Matthias Stom was a 17th century Dutch painter who had a deep love of painting portraits of biblical stories.

Here are just a few of his beautiful works... 🧵 The Annunciation

Scapulars are a beloved private devotion of many Catholics.

They are a way of living out the faith in a focused way. Most Catholics know of the Brown Scapular, but it may surprise you to learn that there are quite a few more lesser-known scapulars approved by the Church.

Their beauty will inspire you. 🧵 The green scapular was created in 1840 after a series of Marian apparitions to a Sister of Charity in which Mary instructed the sister to create the green scapular. The purpose is to spread trust in Mary’s intercession by the daily praying of the following prayer: “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us, now and at the hour of our death.”

Approved by Pope Pius IX in 1870.

St. Thomas Aquinas was an intellectual master.

But he was also a deeply prayerful and contemplative man. Springing from his rich interior life, he blessed the Church with many beautiful prayers and hymns.

Look into the prayer life the Angelic Doctor with some of his most beautiful writings…

🧵 Grant Me, O Lord (Daily Prayer)

Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you.

Amen.

Do you wear the Brown Scapular?

If not, you really should consider it. Here's why...

🧵 In 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock, who was of the Carmelite order. She handed him the brown wool scapular, and made a promise for those faithful who would wear it devoutly.

At first, this was for Carmelites only, but in time, the Church has extended the blessing of the scapular to the laity. Wearing the scapular is a devotion to Mary that consists of veneration, confidence in her intercession, and love for her.

I post often about being boldly Catholic.

Here are some ideas to help you more boldly live out your Catholic faith.

🧵 First and foremost: STAY IN A STATE OF GRACE!

Nothing else in this list matters if we don’t first stay in a state of grace. Avoid all sin, especially mortal sim, at all costs. And if you fall, get to confession asap.

You’re in a war, and if you’re still breathing, you should still be fighting!

Basilica Spotlight

The Basilique Notre Dame d’Afrique, or Basilica of Our Lady of Africa.

🧵 It is a minor basilica in the Archdiocese of Algiers in Algeria.

Today is the Epiphany of the Lord when the magi visit our Lord, worship Him, and present Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

🧵 2. St Leo the Great wrote that the Epiphany was the “first calling of the gentiles”, referring to the prophecy by Isaiah:

“The people of the Gentiles, who sat in darkness, have seen a great light, and for those who dwelt in the region of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

1. Take a tour of the 9 Papal Basilicas ( and 2 Patriarchal Basilicas) of the Catholic Church!

🧵 2. The following four basilicas comprise the four Major Papal basilicas, also known as the four great churches…

Have you noticed the red candle the near the tabernacle? Well…

🧵 …this is called a sanctuary lamp or an altar lamp. It is a candle that the church requires to be kept burning near the tabernacle.

The meaning of this lamp is rooted both in the Old Testament Tabernacle as well as New Testament symbolism…

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) are used in almost every Catholic parish. Some think that they are critical to the mass, while others say that they should be done away with entirely.

Here are 3 key Church documents and their pertinent sections that discuss the use of EMHCs. 🧵 1/5 Inaestimabile Donum - Instruction Concerning the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery
Prepared by the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship
Approved and Confirmed by Pope John Paul II April 17, 1980

Paragraph 11: “The faithful, whether religious or lay, who are authorized as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist can distribute Communion only when there is no priest, deacon or acolyte, when the priest is impeded by illness or advanced age, or when the number of the faithful going to Communion is so large as to make the celebration of the Mass excessively long.”

2/5

Did you know that many of your daily devotional prayers may have an indulgence attached to them?

But part of obtaining an indulgence is that you have to have the intention of doing the act for the indulgence. So being unaware of the attached indulgence means you are missing out on great spiritual gifts!

There are two types of indulgences: Plenary and Partial. A plenary indulgence can obtained only one time per day, while a partial indulgence can be obtained multiple times per day.

Here are 10 simple indulgences you can obtain every day! 🧵 1. Prayer for All Occasions - Partial Indulgence

Lord,
May everything we do
Begin with your inspiration
And continue with your help,
So that all our prayers and works
May begin in you
And by you be happily ended

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen