ICEMANforChrist
This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
Featured Post
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Rachel’s Corner- Elvis is alive in Arizona The work of justice will be peace, the effect of justice, calm and security forever. Isaiah 32...
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Dara’s Corner
· How to celebrate Sep 25th
· Start your day by whipping up a hearty breakfast to celebrate Better Breakfast Day. Try a new recipe, like avocado toast or a yogurt parfait, to kick off your day on a delicious note.
· Channel that creativity into cooking up a storm for National Cooking Day. Pick a new recipe to try out for lunch or dinner, whether it’s a comforting bowl of soup or a decadent dessert. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not make some quesadillas to mark National Quesadilla Day?
· After your culinary adventures, take some time to dream big for World Dream Day. Whether it’s jotting down your goals, creating a vision board, or simply daydreaming about the future, let your imagination run wild.
· Need a break from all the dreaming? Indulge in a binge-watching session of your favorite one-hit wonder music videos in honor of National One-Hit Wonder Day.
· Feeling the need for some self-care after a day of cooking and dreaming?
o Take a moment to destress and reflect on National Psychotherapy Day. Write in a journal, meditate, or simply enjoy a quiet moment to yourself.
· Cap off your day with a tasty lobster dinner to celebrate National Lobster Day in style.
· Today is Mark “Luke I am your father” Hamill’s birthday born in 1951.
SEPTEMBER 25 Wednesday
1 Samuel, Chapter 20, Verse 21
I
will then send my attendant to recover the arrows. If in fact I say to him,
‘Look, the arrow is this side of you; pick it up,’ come, for you are safe. As
the LORD lives, there will be nothing to FEAR.
"The sages characterized the
relationship between Jonathan and David in the following Mishnah:
“Whenever love depends on some
selfish end, when the end passes away, the love passes away; but if it does not
depend on some selfish end, it will never pass away.
This was the love of David and
Jonathan. (Avot 5:15)" Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach Duran (Spain, North Africa
14th-15th century) delineated the significance of this mishnah: “Anyone who
establishes a friendship for access to power, money, or sexual relations; when
these ends are not attainable, the friendship ceases…love that is not dependent
on selfish ends is true love of the other person since there is no intended
end.” (Magen Avot – abridged and adapted translation)[1]
True
Friendship[2]
Friendship
is a relationship universally celebrated, crossing cultural, geographic, and
age boundaries. But not all friendships are created equal, and those that stand
the test of time, weathering all storms, are what we define as ‘true’
friendships. True friendship is an emotional bond marked by mutual respect,
understanding, and a shared sense of camaraderie. It’s a connection that
enriches our lives and supports our growth, both personally and emotionally.
So,
what distinguishes a true friend from a casual acquaintance?
Certain
qualities set these friendships apart, fostering bonds that remain unbroken,
regardless of the challenges life throws their way. Let’s explore these
qualities in more depth.
·
Genuine
Support and Understanding.
Empathy is a defining trait of true friendship. True friends have an innate
ability to understand and share the feelings of others. They don’t merely
sympathize; they empathize, putting themselves in our shoes and experiencing
our emotions along with us. This profound understanding cultivates a bond of
trust and mutual respect, making true friendship a sanctuary where we feel
valued and heard. Active listening is another key element. A true friend
listens attentively, making an effort to understand our feelings and
perspectives rather than merely waiting for their turn to speak. This kind of
meaningful communication promotes deeper emotional connection and reinforces
the bond of friendship.
·
Loyalty
and Reliability. Dependability
is a trait synonymous with true friendship. Reliable friends keep their
promises, stay true to their word. Consistency is the glue that holds true
friendships together. Friends may not be present physically at all times, but
they remain a constant emotional presence, lending a sense of continuity and
reliability to the relationship.
·
Acceptance
and Authenticity. Being
genuine and transparent is a hallmark of true friendship. Authentic friends are
sincere, honest, and open, not afraid to show vulnerability or express
emotions. Their genuineness resonates with us, fostering deeper connections. A
non-judgmental attitude is key in a true friendship. True friends respect our
individuality and our right to make decisions, even when they disagree with
them. They offer advice when needed but refrain from imposing their beliefs or
values. This freedom to be ourselves without judgement further enhances the
bond of true friendship.
St.
Michael Helper of the Sick and Dying[3]
Saint Michael the Archangel was
the protector of Israel and is also traditionally known as “The Medicine of
God.” Saint Michael as the military captain of the church of God has a great
interest in the happenings of his people, their calamities and he does not
overlook their calls for his aid. Let us therefore have recourse to him in
times of sickness. He will most certainly come to our assistance bringing the
healing graces of the Redeeming Blood. Yet, if it is the will of the father
that we depart from this world Saint Michael does not abandon us for he is
especially our advocate at our hour of death and assists at every deathbed for
it is part of his office to receive the souls of the elect on their quitting
the flesh. When the last hour of our earthly career draws near, we are
confronted by that awful moment when our soul must leave the body which it has
loved so much, to pass through the narrow portal of death, satanic hosts like
raving lions will make a last attack upon our souls. But we need not fear (but
be at peace) if during life we have had devotion to the Precious Blood and have
been faithful in venerating St. Michael and imploring his aid. He will cover us
with his strong shield and lead us safely through the midst of our enemies.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
Day 104
The Holy
Spirit and the Church
737 The
mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church,
which is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. This joint
mission henceforth brings Christ's faithful to share in his communion with the
Father in the Holy Spirit. the Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with
his grace, in order to draw them to Christ. the Spirit manifests the risen Lord
to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of
his Death and Resurrection. He makes present the mystery of Christ, supremely
in the Eucharist, in order to reconcile them, to bring them into communion with
God, that they may "bear much fruit."
738 Thus the
Church's mission is not an addition to that of Christ and the Holy Spirit, but
is its sacrament: in her whole being and in all her members, the Church is sent
to announce, bear witness, make present, and spread the mystery of the
communion of the Holy Trinity (the topic of the next article):
All of us who have received one and the same Spirit, that
is, the Holy Spirit, are in a sense blended together with one another and with
God. For if Christ, together with the Father's and his own Spirit, comes to
dwell in each of us, though we are many, still the Spirit is one and undivided.
He binds together the spirits of each and every one of us, . . . and makes all
appear as one in him. For just as the power of Christ's sacred flesh unites
those in whom it dwells into one body, I think that in the same way the one and
undivided Spirit of God, who dwells in all, leads all into spiritual unity.
739 Because
the Holy Spirit is the anointing of Christ, it is Christ who, as the head of
the Body, pours out the Spirit among his members to nourish, heal, and organize
them in their mutual functions, to give them life, send them to bear witness,
and associate them to his self-offering to the Father and to his intercession
for the whole world. Through the Church's sacraments, Christ communicates his
Holy and sanctifying Spirit to the members of his Body. (This will be the topic
of Part Two of the Catechism.)
740 These
"mighty works of God," offered to believers in the sacraments of the
Church, bear their fruit in the new life in Christ, according to the Spirit.
(This will be the topic of Part Three.)
741
"The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for
words." The Holy Spirit, the artisan of God's works, is the master of
prayer. (This will be the topic of Part Four.)
IN BRIEF
742
"Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, 'Abba! Father!"' (Gal 4:6).
743 From
the beginning to the end of time, whenever God sends his Son, he always sends
his Spirit: their mission is conjoined and inseparable.
744 In
the fullness of time the Holy Spirit completes in Mary all the preparations for
Christ's coming among the People of God. By the action of the Holy Spirit in
her, the Father gives the world Emmanuel "God-with-us" (Mt 1:23).
745 The
Son of God was consecrated as Christ (Messiah) by the anointing of the Holy
Spirit at his Incarnation (cf Ps 2:6-7).
746 By
his Death and his Resurrection, Jesus is constituted in glory as Lord and
Christ (cf Acts 2:36). From his fullness, he poured out the Holy Spirit on the
apostles and the Church.
747 The
Holy Spirit, whom Christ the head pours out on his members, builds, animates,
and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity's communion
with men.
Every Wednesday is Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family night,
perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: The
sanctification of the Church Militant.
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Candace’s Corner
· How to celebrate Sep 24th
o Start your day with some self-care by celebrating Bluebird of Happiness Day. Take a moment to appreciate the world around you and spread positivity to those in your life.
o For lunch, honor National Mofongo Day by trying your hand at making this traditional Puerto Rican dish. If cooking isn’t your thing, consider ordering it from a local restaurant to support small businesses.
o In the afternoon, focus on responsible pet ownership for National AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day. Take your furry friend for a long walk, play with them in the park, or simply spend quality time bonding together.
o As the day progresses, take time to acknowledge your heritage on Heritage Day. Research your family history, learn about your ancestors’ traditions, or cook a meal that pays tribute to your roots.
o In the evening, indulge in a delicious dessert to celebrate National Cherries Jubilee Day. Treat yourself to a cherry-flavored treat or whip up a classic Cherries Jubilee dessert in the comfort of your own kitchen.
o Before bed, unwind by watching a Bollywood movie to commemorate World Bollywood Day. Immerse yourself in the vibrant colors, energetic dance sequences, and captivating storytelling of this iconic film industry.
SEPTEMBER 24 Tuesday
1 Samuel, Chapter 18, Verse 29
So
Saul FEARED David all the more and
was his enemy ever after.
David
was pursued by Saul, but David never returned the enemy status to Saul. No,
David knew our only enemy is anything that opposes the love of God. Saul was
seduced by the world, the flesh and the devil. These are our enemies. Love
brings unity in its truest form. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not three
but one and one in Love. This unity of love is reflected in married life and
the life of the religion and the family.
Tuesday-Family Holy Hour
This family Holy Hour is an answer
to the need of generous souls who desire to live more perfectly the spirit of
the Enthronement, and who wish to do more (we might say much more) for the Most
Sacred Heart having a weekly family holy hour. Why Tuesday. To make reparations
to the sacred heart for betrayals; for it was Tuesday of Holy week that Judas
first made a deal with the Sanhedrin.
HOUR OF ADORATION OF THE SACRED HEART.[1]
Prayer.
"What
a happiness is mine, O my Savior, to hold communion with Thee, to thank Thee
for the immense love of Thy heart for mankind, to offer Thee some reparation
for the outrages unceasingly committed against Thee.
But sinner
as I am, how can I worthily acquit myself of so holy a duty?
O
Jesus, unite my prayers to Thine, offer to Thy heavenly Father the holy
dispositions of Thy divine heart in order to supply for my deficiencies, Holy
Virgin, lead me to the heart of thy divine Son, that sanctuary of grace and
virtue. I unite myself to the homage rendered Him by thy immaculate heart. Ye
blessed spirits, ever humbly prostrate before that adorable heart, I unite
myself to your profound adorations; communicate to me your love and
recollection, present to Him my prayers; and ye saints of heaven and just ones
of the earth, come and let us adore together the heart of our Redeemer.
Place
yourself in the presence of God, make an act of faith and -say with the
prodigal son:
My
Father, I have sinned against heaven and in Thy sight. 1 am no longer worthy to
be called Thy child. Make me as one of Thy hired servants. I desire nothing
more.
Place
yourself in spirit near the heart of Jesus, at the foot of the throne of mercy;
approach with confidence, listen to the loving words Our Lord addresses to you,
and pray to Him with earnestness and devotion.
Jesus
Christ. Open to Me thy heart, My spouse, My beloved.
The
Disciple. O my God, is it to me that Thou dost address these words? My soul
is but an abyss of misery, and Thou callest me Thy beloved; I presume not to
raise my eyes towards Thy heart so pure and holy, yet as soon as I present
myself to Thee Thou dost lavish on me Thy most signal favors. What a glory and
happiness for me, my God, to be noticed by Thee, to know that Thou disdainest
not a creature so guilty as myself! Ah, since Thou sufferest me in Thy
presence, since Thou even commandest me to open to Thee my heart, I obey.
Depart from thence, all earthly thoughts; leave me to converse with my God,
that from His heart I may draw forth true love.
Jesus
Christ. Thou hast wounded My heart, My beloved; thou hast wounded My heart.
The
Disciple.
O God, how
can it be that Thy love should have made Thee take a heart like unto mine?
Ah,
Thou hast taken this heart in order that Thou mayst feel all my miseries; but
what a prodigy of love to have assumed this heart only to allow it to be
pierced in favor of one so ungrateful! Thou hast allowed it to be pierced on
the cross in the face of the whole world, so that none should be ignorant of
the excess of Thy tenderness. Thou bearest in heaven this glorious wound. The
opening in Thy heart shall never be closed up; it shall always bear the
triumphant mark of Thy love. O divine heart, wound this heart of mine; inflict
so deep a wound that it shall open entirely to Thee; pierce it with the same
lance with which Thine own was pierced, so that the waters of a sincere
repentance may flow from thence. Alas! this heart has wounded Thee a thousand times
more by its ingratitude, infidelity, and obduracy. I have pierced it by my
offences. O my Savior, pardon me; banish sin from my heart, making Thy holy
love reign there in its place.
Jesus
Christ. My beloved, let there be no division; give Me entire possession of
thy heart. The Disciple.
O Lord, how dost Thou abase Thyself, disdaining not to
ask for the heart of one who has not blushed to refuse it to Thee in order to
resign it up to sin?
What
tenderness on Thy part!
But, O my God, what has this heart become which Thou
demandest of me?
Alas!
It is sullied with a thousand stains.
How canst Thou endure it, Thou Who art sanctity itself?
Ah,
my God, how much that is wrong is there in this heart! what love of
self-attachment to my own thoughts and will! what worldly inclinations,
distaste for heaven, tepidity in Thy service, and solicitude for this perishing
body! However, since Thou deignest to demand it, I offer it Thee. O Jesus, the
only object of my love, receive me now in Thy sacred heart, so that I may be
all Thine; receive me into that ardent furnace in order that I may be wholly
consumed in Thy love. There, my sweet Savior, I shall know the value of the
blood which has redeemed me, and shall comprehend how I ought to love Thee. O
love of my Savior, thou art that living water for which I thirst; my heart
tends only towards Thee. Open to me Thy loving heart. My heart is Thine for
eternity; bestow upon me Thine, O Jesus.
Jesus
Christ. Yes, my beloved, I give thee My heart; set it it as a seal upon
thine own, study its sentiments, copy faithfully its virtues.
The
Disciple. O my soul, receive this heart burning with love, respond to its
adorable designs over thee, endeavor to make them thine own. Adorable Jesus, my
heart was formed to be Thy habitation, Thy throne, Thy altar, Thy tabernacle.
Enter, O divine Savior, into this habitation, and purify it from all that is
unworthy of Thee. Command it as a sovereign upon his throne, and give me the
docility necessary to obey Thee. Receive upon this altar the sacrifice I make
Thee of my heart, and dwell as a God of majesty and holiness in that living
tabernacle which Thou hast chosen for Thyself. O my soul, regard attentively
thy divine model; see Him raised upon the mount, nailed to the cross; behold
His bleeding hands, those eyes dim, the mouth livid, those pierced hands and
feet. Content thyself not with the exterior; look in spirit at His heart; it
has been opened by the lance in order that thou mayst pass therein. Imitate His
love, meekness, humility, and charity. Then cast down thine eyes on the ground
around Calvary; it is watered with His blood. At the sight of that blood
understand that love shows itself more by actions than by words. Thou desirest,
O my Savior, that I should place Thee as a seal upon my heart by the imitation
of Thy virtues and Thy example. I ardently wish to do so. Give me grace to
execute what Thou commandest. O Jesus, Thy heart is pure, let mine be pure;
Thine is humble, let mine be humble; Thine is patient and docile, let mine be
patient and docile; Thy heart is all love let mine also be inflamed with Thy
love. Ah! hence forth O my Savior, I wish only to have in my heart what Thou
hast in Thine: humility, patience, gentleness, meekness, charity. I desire no
more to bestow my heart on creatures, but to give it all to Thee. Alas! it has
not always been devoted to Thy service. Through Thy grace, O my God, it is now
all Thine, and I hope it will ever remain so.
Jesus
Christ. Love is strong as death; its lamps are lamps of fire, which the
greatest waters cannot extinguish.
The
Disciple. Thy love for me, O my Savior, is more powerful than hell, since
it has broken its gates in order to deliver me and open to me those of heaven.
It is stronger than death, since Thou hast disarmed it in order to give me
life. Oh, wondrous strength of love! All-invincible as Thou art, my God, it
disarms Thee; it stays Thy arm raised to strike the sinner; it saves him from
Thy avenging justice in order to give to him Thy infinite mercy. I acknowledge
that it is through love for us that Thy supreme majesty is humbled even to
vouch safe to unite itself to our nature; and it is through the strength of
this same love that the creature can ascend unto Thee, and enjoy the privilege
of entering into Thy sacred heart. Behold, my soul, how Jesus hath loved thee!
Behold the humiliations and sufferings, the thorns, the nails, the cross, and
the effusion of His blood! These are the proofs of His love. The flames of this
love are so ardent that all the waters of our iniquities cannot extinguish
them.
But O my soul, where are the marks of thy love for
Jesus? What hast thou done for Him? Where are thy victories over thy evil
inclinations? Where the labors thou hast undertaken, the sufferings thou hast
endured, for His glory?
Alas! my God, my zeal is weak, my love is
languishing. Thy interests are more than ever abandoned. Thy enemies increase
daily. Have I ever fought in defense of Thy cause?
Jesus
Christ.
O my
beloved, is there any sorrow like unto Mine?
How
much have I done for My children, and how have they rebelled against Me! I have
carried them in My heart, and they have lacerated, outraged, and forsaken it.
The sorrows of death have compassed Me, and the perils of hell are unchained
against Me.
The
Disciple. O my Lord and my God, sorrow seizes on my soul, affliction and
sadness press on my heart, at the sight of Thy grief. Prostrate in the dust
before Thy adorable heart, I make reparation to Thee before heaven and earth.
Pardon, divine Jesus, all the outrages which were committed during the course
of Thy mortal life ; pardon the impieties, the irreverence’s, the sacrileges
which have been committed against Thee in the sacrament of Thy love ; pardon
especially the sorrows which I have caused to Thy divine heart by my
irreverence in Thy holy temples, by my tepid communions made without due
preparation, and by the abuse which I have made of Thy graces and of Thy
precious blood.
Ah! why
cannot I by my repentance and my adoration restore Thee the glory of which so
many offences have deprived Thee? Why cannot I by my words and my example lead
back so many hearts which have withdrawn themselves from Thee? Why cannot I by
my prayers and tears cause a cessation to so many scandals, and draw unto Thee
worshippers in spirit and in truth?
Jesus
Christ. I suffer on the part of Jews, pagans, and heretics. They have condemned
Me; but that those who ought to be devoted to Me should regard Me with
indifference, and treat Me with such neglect, pierces My heart with sorrow.
The
Disciple.
Ah, my sweet
Savior, can I think of this, and not die with sorrow?
Heavenly
spirits, angels of peace, weep bitterly for the indignities with which your
Lord is visited; weep over our ingratitude to a heart which has loved us so
much. Divine Jesus, Thou hast come into this world in order to seek and to save
mankind; and those ungrateful ones fly from Thee arid abandon Thee. Thou
loadest them with benefits, and they abuse them; they turn them against the
giver, and against themselves. Thou art always in the midst of them, and they
seem to be ignorant of Thy presence, or only to know Thee in order to offer
Thee some new outrage. Thou openest to them Thy heart, and they enter therein
only to pierce it with a thousand arrows.
Alas! my loving Savior, am I not myself one of these
ungrateful souls? Ah, what sorrow have I not occasioned to Thy sacred heart?
I,
Thy beloved one!
Why does not
Thy outraged heart close itself, so as to forget and reject us? Why does not
Thy avenging arm raise itself against Thy guilty servants in order to
exterminate them? Shouldst Thou not at least deprive us of Thy loving presence,
forsake our temples so frequently profaned, and remain in heaven, where the
angels and saints forever sing Thy praises? But remain Thou still, O Lord, in
the midst of us: what would become of us if Thou didst abandon the earth?
Thy
Father, beholding no longer the only object of His complacency, would visit us
with His avenging justice.
How, then,
could we escape His wrath?
Heart
of Jesus, avenge Thyself as befits the God of mercy. Do Thou pardon and convert
our souls to Thee.
Jesus
Christ.
I have promised to remain in the midst of you until the
consummation of the world, but in the sorrow which afflicts Me have I not a
right to expect to meet with some who will compassionate My sufferings?
Nevertheless,
I am left alone in My sorrow.
The
Disciple. My beloved Savior, Thou shalt no longer be forsaken; I will
make it a duty to visit and adore Thee. heart of Jesus, always burning with
love for us, always ready to show mercy, pardon me my guilty forgetfulness of
Thee; pardon me my unfaithfulness in Thy service, my want of zeal in making
Thee known and loved; let my heart cease to be if it is to be again insensible
to Thee. Heart of Jesus, I consecrate to Thee the remainder of my life. I wish
that all creatures had the hearts of seraphim in order to love Thee; that every
mouth would sing Thy praises; that every mind should be occupied only with Thy
greatness. I unite my praises to those which Thou receivest from all the angels
and saints, and just souls on earth. I wish that all who love and adore Thee
were multiplied, and would freely sacrifice all that I possess, my life itself,
if necessary, in order to prevent a single offence against Thee.
Jesus
Christ. My beloved, I accept thy desires; ask My Father in My name, and all
that you desire He will grant you.
The
Disciple. O Jesus, my only hope, make me faithful to the devotion I have
vowed to Thy adorable heart. Signalize Thy mercy by allowing me to regain, by
the ardor of my love, the time which has been passed in Thy service, with so
much tepidity. I desire to make reparation, by continual praise, for the
ingratitude of mankind, and to give Thee every moment fresh proofs of my love.
Thy love for me keeps Thy heart always open, so that I may dwell there forever.
Let love lead me and forever fix my dwelling-place therein, and receive my last
sigh. I beg the same grace, O my God, for all for whom I am particularly bound
to pray. May those who have the happiness to belong to the association of Thy
divine heart, spread throughout the world, have a special share in Thy mercy.
Grant, O Lord, that this confraternity may extend and perpetuate itself in all
times and in every place, that it may honor Thee by the practice of every
virtue, and an indefatigable zeal for the conversion of souls. And since my
merciful God wearies not of listening to me, I will still continue to speak to
Him I, who am only dust and ashes. God of my heart, lend an ear to my voice;
love those who love Thee not; open Thy heart to those who do not knock at the
gate; and vouchsafe to cure those who, far from asking Thee to heal them, take
a pleasure in adding fresh venom to Thy wounds. Thou hast said, my Savior, that
Thou didst come upon the earth in order to seek sinners. O my Jesus, these then
are truly sinners. Ah! do not consider our ingratitude, our blindness; remember
only the blood which Thou hast shed for our salvation. Make manifest Thy mercy;
regard us as the work of Thy hands. Save us by Thy mercy; our evils are
extreme. Arise, O Lord, behold the progress made by Thine enemies; stay them, O
my Jesus. Since they will not go to Thee, go Thyself to them. I beseech of Thee
to grant this grace through Thy sacred wounds and by Thy precious blood. O my
Savior, put an end to my sins and those of all mankind. Let Thy voice make
itself heard, and restore life to so many hardened sinners. Call them from the
deep abyss into which they have fallen. Lazarus asked Thee not to raise him
from the dead. Thou didst work this miracle in behalf of a sinner. O Lord, look
also on me; I beseech Thee to hear my prayer. I ask it through the tears Thou
didst shed over the grave of Lazarus; remember that Thy tears have flowed for
all sinners who sleep in sin. Through Thy precious blood I ask it, for Thou
hast pardoned those who shed it; pardon us, O Savior of the world. O Jesus,
make Thy Church triumph over all her enemies, increase the number of her
children, give peace unto her, and grant that she may ever bless Thy holy name
and revere Thy Sacred heart O merciful Redeemer, have pity also on the souls in
purgatory; be touched by their sufferings ; they are the price of Thy blood;
open to them Thy heart ; listen to their fomentations, and grant them, with
release from their sufferings, the happiness of glorifying Thee in heaven.
Remember also, O merciful Jesus, in a special manner, those souls who when on
earth devoted themselves to Thy sacred heart, and were zealous for the glory of
Thy blessed Mother. Suffer them not to be deprived longer of Thy presence for
they are very dear to Thee; and through this same merciful heart I beseech Thee
to put them in possession of eternal happiness.
PRAYER AFTER THE HOUR OF ADORATION.
Pardon me, my
God, the distractions into which I have fallen during this hour.
Alas! mayst
Thou not reproach me as Thou didst Thy three disciples with not being able to
watch one hour with Thee?
One
hour with Thee, O loving heart of Jesus, has appeared to me too long.
Ah, should
it not be my delight to be ever with Thee? O heart ever full of love, why has
mine been so cold, so languishing in Thy presence?
Pardon
me, O Lord; for I desire to breathe only for Thee, to make my whole life a
perpetual adoration of Thy sacred heart. Amen.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION
OF FAITH
SECTION
TWO-I. THE CREEDS
CHAPTER THREE-I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
ARTICLE 8-"I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"
V. The Spirit and the Church in the Last
Days
Day
103
Pentecost
731 On the
day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's
Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given,
and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours
out the Spirit in abundance.
732 On that
day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that day, the Kingdom announced
by Christ has been open to those who believe in him: in the humility of the
flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy Trinity. By
his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into
the "last days," the time of the Church, the Kingdom already
inherited though not yet consummated.
We have seen the true Light, we have received the heavenly
Spirit, we have found the true faith: we adore the indivisible Trinity, who has
saved us.
The Holy
Spirit - God's gift
733
"God is Love" and love is his first gift, containing all others.
"God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who
has been given to us."
734 Because
we are dead or at least wounded through sin, the first effect of the gift of
love is the forgiveness of our sins. the communion of the Holy Spirit in
the Church restores to the baptized the divine likeness lost through sin.
735 He,
then, gives us the "pledge" or "first fruits" of our
inheritance: the very life of the Holy Trinity, which is to love as "God
(has) loved us." This love (the "charity" of 1 Cor 13) is
the source of the new life in Christ, made possible because we have received
"power" from the Holy Spirit.
736 By this
power of the Spirit, God's children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us
onto the true vine will make us bear "the fruit of the Spirit: . . . love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control." "We live by the Spirit"; the more we
renounce ourselves, the more we "walk by the Spirit."
Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, led
back to the Kingdom of heaven, and adopted as children, given confidence to
call God "Father" and to share in Christ's grace, called children of
light and given a share in eternal glory.
Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the
Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no
shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: End to
the use of Contraceptives
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday
Devotion
·
Pray Day 2 of
the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Tuesday:
Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
Monday, September 16, 2024
Monday, September 23, 2024
Christopher’s Corner-
· How to celebrate Sep 23rd
o You wake up on a day filled with appreciation, awareness, and celebration. Start by learning a few basic phrases in sign language to honor International Day of Sign Languages.
§ Next, head to a local bakery to pick up ingredients for a pot pie in recognition of National Great American Pot Pie Day.
· As the pot pie cools, indulge in some snack sticks for National Snack Stick Day.
o Then, challenge a friend to a game of checkers for National Checkers Day.
§ As you play, discuss the importance of education technology on Education Technology Day.
· For a midday break, brew some za’atar tea for Za’atar Day. Pair it with a snack and appreciate the flavors.
· Padre Pio's five maxims for living a devout life
o "The first one I desire you to cherish is from St Paul:
§ 'All things work together for the good of those who love God' (Rom 8:28).
o "The second maxim that I desire you to keep forever engraved on your heart is that God is our Father; and what do you have to fear as the daughter of such a father whose providence would not let a hair of your head be harmed?
o "The third maxim is that you must observe what the divine Master teaches his disciples: '
o What do you lack?'
§ The disciples answered that they lacked nothing.
o When you were troubled even at the time when you unfortunately did not feel much confidence in God, tell me, were you never oppressed by anxiety?
§ You will answer, 'No'.
o So, I will reply, 'Why do you not have the strength to overcome all the other trials?'.
· "The fourth maxim concerns eternity. Living these brief and fleeting moments should not matter much to the children of God, since they will live for eternity in glory with God."
· "The fifth maxim that I implore you to keep fixed in your mind is that of the Apostle St Paul: 'Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ' (Gal 6:14). Treasure in your heart the crucified Jesus Christ and all the crosses of the world will seem like roses. Those who have been pricked by the crown of thorns of the Savior, who is our Head, do not feel the other wounds.
All I am asking you at the moment is to help me with your prayers to God; and know that I will always do the same for you and for your family and for all the souls who worked for my liberation. My gratitude and acknowledgment to God for them will be eternal".
SEPTEMBER 23 Monday-Saint Pius of Pietrelcina
Bisexual
Day
1 Samuel, Chapter 18, Verse 15
Seeing
how he prospered, Saul FEARED David.
Insecure
people spend a lot of time on job justification.
Think
about it how much time do you or people you know spend in justifying rather
than striving to break free of fears and be all God has envisioned them to be?
Often insecure people are trapped in a cycle of fear
that retards their ability to give power and grace to others.
The law of Empowerment[1]
Saul
was insecure.
The Law
of Empowerment says that only secure leaders give power to others.
But
what does it mean to be secure?
Using
the analogy of personal finance, let’s look at what’s missing from the lives of
insecure leaders. This will help us better understand where security comes from
and why it matters.
Paupers,
debtors, and hoarders lack the real or perceived financial security necessary
to give generously to others.
·
Paupers have no source of income aside from the financial
assistance they receive from someone else. Penniless and dependent, they’re
clearly unable to help others financially.
o
Leaders without purpose
are like paupers.
§
They
have no passion, low energy, and little drive to grow in influence.
§
Usually,
their only source of power is the position they have been given by somebody
else.
§
In
terms of personal authority, they’re impoverished.
·
Debtors may have nice salaries, but their
expenses exceed their income. They’ve maxed out credit cards and taken out
hefty loans. Consequently, they’re stuck paying exorbitant interest rates on
the amounts they have borrowed. In an upside-down financial situation, they’re
in no position to give generously to others.
o Leaders without authenticity are like
debtors.
§
Someone deeply in debt may appear wealthy,
even though they’re secretly on the verge of bankruptcy. The closer you inspect
their life, the more signs of dysfunction you see.
§
Similarly,
inauthentic leaders may seem to have all the tools to lead with excellence.
However, they are missing the crucial component of moral authority.
§
They
do not practice the values they preach, and they prefer to keep others at arm’s
length to hide their shortcomings.
·
Hoarders are sitting on a pile of wealth,
but they think only of protecting it rather than of sharing it with others.
They have plentiful resources but are unwilling to part with them.
o
Leaders without humility resemble hoarders.
§
Having
put their talents to work, they enjoy a significant amount of power. However,
they’re worried about others taking it from them or gaining more of it than
they have. So, instead of using their influence to empower others, they keep it
for their own benefit.
As
leaders, we can only lift others up when we’re standing on a firm foundation.
Purpose, authenticity, and humility give us a secure, stable base from which to
lead.
Purpose is the answer to the question:
Why
do you want to lead?
The
best leaders have a purpose that is greater than they are. Their “why” involves
more than accumulating money or seeking self-actualization. They see leadership
as a calling rather than a career, relishing the opportunity to use their
unique talents to accomplish something significant that will outlive them.
Authenticity means being comfortable in your
own skin. Authentic leaders have self-awareness, self-respect, self-confidence,
and emotional maturity. They prize integrity above image, and they seek to
build trust with others on the basis of their personal character.
Humility is often wrongly associated with
depreciating and downgrading ourselves. However, true humility flows out of
gratitude and comes when we credit God for our blessings and others for our
successes. As Rick Warren teaches, a humble leader doesn’t deny his strengths;
he’s simply honest about his limitations. Humble leaders feel no need to
trumpet their status, are unthreatened by criticism, and revel in the
accomplishments of others. They put their pride aside so that others have room
to shine.
Modern man at times
out of an inability to cope with the stress of everyday life seeks relief via
the vices of sex, drugs and rock and roll. I wonder what would happen to our
world if instead of dealing with stress with the distractions of pleasure and entertainment;
we acknowledged our dependence on the grace of God; found our purpose and had
true gratitude for our blessings...
Feast of St. Pio
Padre Pio was born
Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, into a simple
peasant family. At the age of 15 he entered the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, and
was ordained a priest in 1910. In September 1916 he was assigned to the Friary
in San Giovanni Rotondo in central Italy, where he lived for the rest of his
life. After celebrating morning Mass on September 20, 1918, during his prayers
of thanksgiving before the Crucifix, Padre Pio received the
"Stigmata". His hands, feet and side were pierced with the nail marks
and the lance wound of the Crucified Christ. Doctors estimated that for the
next 50 years he lost a cup of blood every day. His five wounds were deep,
bleeding and painful, but completely free of inflammation and swelling. News of
his holiness spread rapidly. Millions of people attended his Masses. He
received letters from believers all over the world who asked for his saintly
counsel in their times of distress and misfortune. Countless were attracted to
his confessional, where he celebrated the Sacrament of Penance for as many as
16 hours a day. People waited as much as two weeks to have him hear their
confession, for they perceived in Padre Pio the true heart and soul of the
Gospels, expressed in a simple and uncomplicated manner. His whole life was
marked by long hours of prayer, continual sacrifice, and strict austerity. He
had a very deep union with God, a burning love for the Holy Eucharist, and a
fervent devotion to Our Blessed Mother. Worn out by half a century of intense
suffering and constant apostolic activity in San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio
was called to his heavenly reward on September 23, 1968. He was canonized a
Saint by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002. Today his tomb is the most visited
shrine in Europe, surpassing even Fatima and Lourdes — a place of extraordinary
holiness for those in search of inspiration.
Things to Do:[2]
· St. Pio is a saint of the last century, so there
are many pictures and biographies to read more about his life. Having this gift
of the stigmata was very hard on his life — both physically and emotionally. Find
out more about the stigmata and
his other mystical gifts, such as bilocation. St. Pio also had great devotion
to his guardian angel.
·
From the Catholic Culture
library: Biography of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, The Devil and Padre Pio, Five Maxims for Living a Devout Life and His Wounds Spoke of God's Love for
All. There are many other
documents in the library which may be found by searching for "pio".
Prayer
Gracious God, you generously
blessed Your servant, Padre Pio, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his
body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the
saving Passion and Death of Your Son, and as a stirring inspiration to many
people of Your infinite mercy, forgiveness and love.
In the confessional, Padre Pio
labored endlessly for the salvation of souls. Through his prayerful
intercession, many who suffered were healed of sickness and disease. Endowed
with the gift of discernment, he could read people's hearts. From the blood of
his wounds came a perfumed fragrance, a special sign of Your Holy Presence.
With dignity and intense devotion, he celebrated daily Mass, inviting countless
men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of the
Holy Eucharist.
Through the intercession of Saint
Pio, I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of (here state your petition). Help me to imitate his example of
prayerful holiness and compassion, so that I, too, may faithfully follow the
Risen Lord, and one day rejoice in the Kingdom, where You live and reign
forever and ever. Amen.
Bisexuality Day[3] another pagan celebration of sexuality
Celebrate Bisexuality Day was established by Wendy Curry,
Michael Page, and Gigi Raven Wilbur to raise awareness of the challenges faced
by bisexuals all over the world. “Ever since the Stonewall rebellion, the gay
and lesbian community has grown in strength and visibility.” observed Wilbur,
“The bisexual community also has grown in strength but in many ways are
invisible.” It was this vision, and experiences of marginalization and
prejudice experienced from both the straight and LGBTQ community, that inspired
them to create this new holiday. Inspired by Freddy Mercury of Queen, they
decided that his birthday would be the perfect day to establish Celebrate
Bisexuality Day. This served two purposes, the first being to establish a day
that was dedicated to raising awareness of bisexuals everywhere, the second
being to help reduce the prejudice faced by bisexuals and work to legitimize it
as a sexual orientation. Since then, it has been celebrated every year with
teach-ins, poetry reading, parties, picnics, and festivals.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
2332 Sexuality
affects all aspects of the human person in the unity of
his body and soul. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and
to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of
communion with others.
2336 Jesus came to restore creation to the purity of
its origins. In the Sermon on the Mount, he interprets God's plan strictly:
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I
say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart." What God has joined together, let not man
put asunder. The tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment
as encompassing the whole of human sexuality.
2337 Chastity
means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the
inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's
belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and
truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to
another, in the complete and lifelong mutual gift of a man and a woman. The
virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the
integrality of the gift.
2353 Fornication
is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried
woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality
which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and
education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption
of the young.
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between
women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward
persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the
centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely
unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts
as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual
acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law.
They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a
genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they
be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated
homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively
disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with
respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in
their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will
in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the
Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the
virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support
of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and
should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
2360 Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and
woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and
pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are
sanctified by the sacrament.
2361 "Sexuality,
by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts
which are proper and exclusive to spouses, is not something simply biological,
but concerns the innermost being of the human person as such. It is realized in
a truly human way only if it is an integral part of the love by which a man and
woman commit themselves totally to one another until death."
2362 "The
acts in marriage by which the intimate and chaste union of the spouses takes
place are noble and honorable; the truly human performance of these acts
fosters the self-giving they signify and enriches the spouses in joy and
gratitude." Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure:
The Creator himself. . .
established that in the [generative] function, spouses should experience
pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit. Therefore, the spouses do nothing
evil in seeking this pleasure and enjoyment. They accept what the Creator has
intended for them. At the same time, spouses should know how to keep themselves
within the limits of just moderation.
2370 Periodic
continence, that is, the methods of birth regulation based on self-observation
and the use of infertile periods, is in conformity with the objective criteria
of morality. These methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage
tenderness between them, and favor the education of an authentic freedom. In
contrast, "every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal
act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural
consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation
impossible" is intrinsically evil:
Thus, the innate language that expresses
the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through
contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not
giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal
to be open to life but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal
love, which is called upon to give itself in personal totality. . .
The difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and
recourse to the rhythm of the cycle.. . involves in the final analysis two
irreconcilable concepts of the human person and of human sexuality.
2395 Chastity means the integration of sexuality within the
person. It includes an apprenticeship in self-mastery.
2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are
masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.
Operation-Purity[4]
1. Situation.
Make no mistake, we are in a battle for our soul and the
soul of the world.
The Secret[5]
It’s no secret
that porn usage has increased drastically over the years. Things that are
considered mainstream used to be blatantly considered porn. We also know not
only is this a moral problem but studies have shown more porn use correlates
with less grey matter in the reward circuit (dorsal striatum).
Matt Fradd says, “when you are at your best, you must prepare for your
worst” in regard to fighting pornography addiction. We must flee from sexual
immorality as St. Paul says. Leaving a porn addiction behind involves life
changes in several aspects. “The secret of change is to focus all your energy,
not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates. Integrity
Restored has a great website to helping overcome porn. They list 7
steps in recovering from porn addiction.
1. Honest, Self-knowledge and
Commitment
2. Purifying your Life
3. Support and
Accountability
4. Counseling
5. Spiritual Plan
6. Education and
7. Virtue. We encourage you to
visit their website for more information.
The Chase Man or Woman gives to God
true worship by dedicating to God's will their Mind, Heart, Soul and
Strength-This is to Love God above all things. This is the Shema Israel
Modern Men and Women are in a battle
with the World, the Flesh and the Devil-We are all Soldiers of Christ.
THE VIRTUES OF A
SOLDIER OF CHRIST[6]
Another way to
illustrate the virtues of a genuine man of God is by reference to a good
soldier. The relation between a man of God and a soldier will seem either
somewhat obvious or a stretch depending upon your larger views of the military
and military interventions. If you do not see the connection at this point, I
ask you to bear with me briefly, because I think its relevance will soon become
apparent.
A good soldier, especially one fit for battle, generally has
the following ten traits, among others:
1.
He is willing to give his life to protect others.
·
Jesus willingly gave his life to save us. He is
the Good Shepherd who made good on his promise to give his life for his sheep
(John 10:11). Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he handed himself over, he
demanded that his disciples be let go (John 18:8).
2.
He is task-oriented, and lets his actions speak for
themselves.
·
From his earliest days, when he announced he was
“about the Father’s business” (Luke 2:49), his whole life was dedicated to
accomplishing that mission. He lived by the same principles he taught, not to
be distracted from his purpose (Luke 10:4), which not even the devil could do
by promising him all the power of the world (Matthew 4:9). He let his actions
also speak more loudly than his words. As he said once when challenged by the
Pharisees, “Even if you do not believe me, believe the works” (John 10:25, 37;
14:10). He backed up each of his discourses with miracles that testified to his
power, the greatest miracle and message of all being what he said from the
pulpits of the Cross and the empty tomb.
3.
He does his duty, even when it is unappreciated.
·
Jesus fulfilled his mission even when one of his
apostles thought he was less valuable than 30 silver pieces, when the rest of
his hand-picked men ran away, when he was hammered to wood by those for whom he
was dying, when he was mocked by four different groups as he agonizingly hung
from the Cross, wondering all the while, “When the Son of man comes, will he
find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). He was the “grain of wheat” that fell to the
ground and died, knowing that that seed would hit hardened, rocky, weedy soil
in addition to good, but he did it anyway (John 12:24; Luke 8:5ff). Yet, at the
end of it all, he cried out in triumph, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) which
was the equivalent of “mission accomplished.”
4.
He is a man of honor, who is loyal to others and to his
principles.
·
Jesus kept his dignity, even when being tempted
by the devil, tested by the hypocritical Pharisees, beaten by the brutal
guards, and mocked by thieves and passersby. He was loyal to his disciples,
never abandoning them though they abandoned him; to Israelites, despite the
many times they broke God’s covenant; to sinners, no matter what their sin. He
was knightly in his protection and care for women in need and danger, like the
woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well in Samaria, and the woman who
washed his feet with her tears in the house of Simon the Pharisee.
5.
He is rooted in discipline and strength.
·
He called himself the “stronger man” who would
overpower the devil and divide his spoils (Luke 11:22), who could calm even the
winds and the sea (Matthew 8:27), who would repeatedly say to his frightened
followers, “Do not be afraid. It is I!” (Matthew 14:27). His strength was shown
most when out of discipline he did not use it, when tempted in the desert or on
the Cross. His power was always used not for his own benefit but for others, to
teach them the discipline that makes disciples.
6.
He may be tender and compassionate but never soft.
·
He who was “meek and humble of heart,” who cared
compassionately for parents and widows, for the woman caught in adultery, for
the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 11:29; Luke 7:12;
John 8:3; Mark 6:34), was also capable
of driving the money changers from the temple with a whip, calling the
Pharisees “whitewashed sepulchers” and telling forgiven sinners to “go and sin
no more” (John 2:14; Matthew 23:27; John 8:11).
7.
He sees himself as part of a unit, a band of brothers,
greater than himself.
·
Jesus came from heaven to earth to form a family
with the same Father in heaven (Matthew 12:50). To that family, the Church, he
gave his whole mission. To the twelve whom he associated most intimately in
this task, he gave his own power to turn bread and wine into his Body and Blood
and to forgive sins in his name (Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 16:19; John 20:19-23).
To the Church he gave his whole message (Matthew 28:18-20). He said that all
members of the Church were a part of him, as branches on the vine (John 15:5).
8.
He follows the chain of command, without considering it
demeaning.
·
Jesus said simply, “I seek not my own will but
the will of him who sent me,” “I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus
as the Father taught me” and “not my will, but thine, be done” (John 5:30; John
8:28; Luke 22:42).
9.
He is courageous, even and especially when heroism is
required.
·
Courage is doing what ought to be done in spite
of one’s fears, a virtue Jesus showed us time and again, but especially during
his agony and on Good Friday. Despite asking for the cup of suffering to pass
from him, he drank it to the dregs, sweating blood-filled perspiration, being
beaten, scourged and crucified for our sake (Matthew 26:39).
10. He
sees sacrifice as an opportunity to show his character and demonstrate love
·
“Greater love has no man than this,” he said,
“that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) and he evinced that
love in hundreds of little ways and unforgettably through his supreme
sacrifice. The real Christian man will seek to embody these same virtues. They
will help him to become a real soldier of Christ. They will help form him to be
another Christ and train him to love others as Christ loves.
2. Mission: To love God with all your mind, heart, soul
and strength and your neighbor as yourself.
3. Execution:
a. The Chase man or woman should fast once a week on the
day of their choice (suggestion Fridays) giving their total mind, heart, soul
and strength to God. After completing the 15 hourly prayers you may break your
fast.
b. The Chase man or woman should pray and ask the aid of
God and his angels and saints.
- Upon
waking and during the day make a prayers of Purity
Prayers of The Angelic
Warfare Confraternity[7]
V. In the Name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
The Prayer to St. Thomas for
Purity
Chosen lily of innocence, pure St. Thomas,
who kept chaste the robe of baptism,
and became an angel in the flesh after being girded by two angels,
we (I) implore you to commend us (me) to Jesus, the Spotless Lamb,
and to Mary, the Queen of Virgins.
Gentle protector of our (my) purity, ask them that we (I),
who wear the holy sign of your victory over the flesh,
may also share your purity,
and after imitating you on earth
may at last come to be crowned with you among the angels. Amen.
The Prayer of St. Thomas for
Purity
Dear Jesus,
I know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, I beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of my body and soul.
And if I have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain my chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of my powers,
that I may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering myself on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of my life. Amen.
Opening Prayer of St. Thomas
for Purity
Dear Jesus,
we (I) know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, we (I) beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of our (my) bodies (body) and souls (soul).
And if we (I) have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain our (my) chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of our (my) powers,
that we (I) may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering ourselves (myself) on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of our (my) lives (life). Amen.
Petitions for Chastity with
15 Hail Mary’s: say hourly
1. Dear
Jesus, bless our social and cultural climate. Grant that it may be purified of
everything contrary to chastity, and that we may have the strength to resist
the pressures of prevailing ideologies. “In the world you have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33) “In
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37) Hail Mary…
2.
Dear Jesus, bless our relationships. Grant that they
may be holy, healthy, and honorable at all times. “Having purified your souls
by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one
another earnestly from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22) Hail Mary…
3.
Dear Jesus, bless our modesty in our dress and
movement. Grant that the way we dress and carry ourselves may veil the mystery
of our being, and that we may have the strength to resist the allurements of
fashion and the glamour of sin. “Do not be conformed to this age, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom. 12:2) Hail Mary…
4.
Dear Jesus, bless our five senses. Grant that the
things we see, the music and jokes we hear, the food we eat, what we drink, the
fragrances we smell and the encounters we have through touch may all be pure
and holy. “Seek the things that are above” (Col. 3:1) Hail Mary…
5.
Dear Jesus, bless our sensuality. Grant that our
impulses may not be captivated by base pleasures, but freed by wisdom and
inflamed for what is good. “In your struggle against sin you have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb. 12:4) Hail Mary…
6.
Dear Jesus, bless our imagination, Grant that we may be
preserved from any fantasies that defile us, that all impure images may vanish,
and that we may be protected from all the assaults of demons. “Be renewed in
the spirit of your minds…Put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 4:23, 6:11) Hail Mary…
7.
Dear Jesus, bless our memory. Grant that no memories of
past experiences may disturb us in any way, but that the Lord may touch and
heal us through hope for a better future. “And every one who thus hopes in him
purifies himself as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:1) Hail Mary…
8.
Dear Jesus, bless our estimation. Grant that we may
quickly sense dangers to chastity and instinctively flee from them, that we may
never turn away from higher, more difficult, and more honorable goods for the
sake of sinful self-indulgence. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Mt. 6:19-20) Hail Mary…
9.
Dear Jesus, bless our affectivity. Grant that we may
love chastity and rejoice in it, that all of our emotions may cooperate in its
growth, and that no sadness, discouragement, fear, insecurity, or loneliness
may afflict us unto sexual sin. “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live
temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-12) Hail Mary…
10. Dear
Jesus, bless our intellect. Grant that it may be purged of all false beliefs
and misunderstandings about human sexuality and that the good angels may flood
our intellects with thoughts that are gracious, pure, lovely, honorable, and
true. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is
any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things.” (Phil. 4:8) Hail Mary…
11. Dear
Jesus, bless our will. Grant that it may never be opposed by our sensuality,
that it may never be divided or conflicted in the moment, but may hold fast to
chastity no matter how difficult it may be. “For the Son of God, Jesus
Christ…was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of
God find their Yes in him.” (2 Cor. 1:19-20) Hail Mary…
12. Dear
Jesus, bless our conscience. Grant that it may be swift to judge what is the
chaste thing to do, swifter to execute it, and wholly preserved from the
suggestions of demons. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14) Hail Mary…
13. Dear
Jesus, bless our hearts. Grant that the place where Christ abides in us with
the Father and the Spirit may become the place where we live with the Holy
Trinity in friendship. “Jesus answered him, ‘If a man loves me, he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him.’ ” (Jn. 14:23) Hail Mary…
14. Dear
Jesus, give us the grace of self-surrender. Grant that we may hand over to God
nothing less than our whole lives. “Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit” (Lk. 23:46) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3) Hail Mary…
15. Dear
Jesus, give us Your love. “In this is love, not that we loved God but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10) “But
God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for
us” (Rom. 5:8) Hail Mary…
Closing Prayer
Heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, You who are
everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of all that is good,
Choirmaster of Life, Come, dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save
our souls O Good One. Amen
V. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
Catechism of the Catholic
Church
Day 102
"Rejoice, you who are full
of grace”!
721 Mary, the all-holy
ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the
Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and
because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where
his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's
Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to
Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat
of Wisdom."
In her, the "wonders of God" that the Spirit was to fulfill in Christ
and the Church began to be manifested:
722 The Holy Spirit prepared
Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom "the
whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" should herself be "full
of grace." She was, by sheer grace, conceived without sin as the most
humble of creatures, the most capable of welcoming the inexpressible gift of
the Almighty. It was quite correct for the angel Gabriel to greet her as the
"Daughter of Zion": "Rejoice." It is the thanksgiving
of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church, which Mary in her canticle lifts
up to the Father in the Holy Spirit while carrying within her the eternal Son.
723 In Mary, the Holy Spirit
fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. With and through the Holy
Spirit, the Virgin conceives and gives birth to the Son of God. By the Holy
Spirit's power and her faith, her virginity became uniquely fruitful.
724 In Mary, the Holy Spirit
manifests the Son of the Father, now become the Son of the Virgin. She is the
burning bush of the definitive theophany. Filled with the Holy Spirit she makes
the Word visible in the humility of his flesh. It is to the poor and the first
representatives of the gentiles that she makes him known.
725 Finally, through Mary, the
Holy Spirit begins to bring men, the objects of God's merciful love, into
communion with Christ. and the humble are always the first to accept him:
shepherds, magi, Simeon and Anna, the bride and groom at Cana, and the first
disciples.
726 At the end of this mission
of the Spirit, Mary became the Woman, the new Eve ("mother of the
living"), the mother of the "whole Christ." As such, she
was present with the Twelve, who "with one accord devoted themselves to
prayer," at the dawn of the "end time" which the Spirit was
to inaugurate on the morning of Pentecost with the manifestation of the Church.
Christ Jesus
727 The entire mission of the
Son and the Holy Spirit, in the fullness of time, is contained in this: that
the Son is the one anointed by the Father's Spirit since his Incarnation -
Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.
Everything in the second chapter of the Creed is to be read in this light.
Christ's whole work is in fact a joint mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Here, we shall mention only what has to do with Jesus' promise of the Holy
Spirit and the gift of him by the glorified Lord.
728 Jesus does not reveal the
Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and
Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his
teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food
for the life of the world. He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to
Nicodemus, to the Samaritan woman, and to those who take part in the
feast of Tabernacles. To his disciples he speaks openly of the Spirit in
connection with prayer and with the witness they will have to bear.
729 Only when the hour has
arrived for his glorification does Jesus promise the coming of the Holy Spirit,
since his Death and Resurrection will fulfill the promise made to the
fathers. The Spirit of truth, the other Paraclete, will be given by the Father
in answer to Jesus' prayer; he will be sent by the Father in Jesus' name; and
Jesus will send him from the Father's side, since he comes from the Father. the
Holy Spirit will come and we shall know him; he will be with us for ever; he
will remain with us. the Spirit will teach us everything, remind us of all that
Christ said to us and bear witness to him. the Holy Spirit will lead us into
all truth and will glorify Christ. He will prove the world wrong about sin,
righteousness, and judgment.
730 At last Jesus' hour
arrives: he commends his spirit into the Father's hands at the very
moment when by his death he conquers death, so that, "raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father," he might immediately give the Holy
Spirit by "breathing" on his disciples. From this hour onward,
the mission of Christ and the Spirit becomes the mission of the Church:
"As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Increase
in the Religious and Consecrated Life.
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Monday: Litany of
Humility
·
Rosary
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