Tuesday, February 2, 2016 CANDLEMAS
Sirach, Chapter 32, Verse 16-18
16 Whoever fears the
LORD will understand what is right, and out of obscurity he will draw forth a
course of action. 17 The
lawless turn aside warnings and distort the law to suit their purpose. 18 The sensible will not
neglect direction; the proud and insolent are deterred by no fear.
Our Lord asks us to
lead, follow or get out of the way. Our Lord tells us,
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with
me scatters. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven
people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”
(Mt. 12:30-31)
If you are a leader
start leading in the church; follow where you can and do not hinder the work of
the Holy Spirit.
Ground hog day
Here is an extract from
my book “Coffee with Christ” on the importance of Ground Hog Day.
I ask Christ if he has seen the movie,
“Ground Hog day” [1].
He laughs and says playfully, “No, but I inspired it”. I continue, well today
is Ground Hog day and tradition say that if the ground hog sees his shadow
there will be six more weeks of winter. Christ asks, “So what happens in the
movie?” I state it is a story of a cranky young man who keeps magically
repeating his ground hog day until he has a life changing attitude toward
people and life in general. Christ says that is the reason for His coming to
these coffee clutch’s with me and that He wants to give me a whole new view of
life. This is what I referred to when I told Nicodemus that a person must be born
again to enter the kingdom. That is you must awaken or give birth to the Spirit
of the Father that is in you-the spirit of love and you must also live in the
truth. Your action and behavior must be true to the spirit the Father reveals
to you.
CANDLEMAS
ON
this day the Church solemnly celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the temple,
and the obedience and humility both of Mary and her divine Son, who, though not
subject to the law in regard to purification and presentation, yet subjected themselves
to it. Hence this feast is called the Purification of the Virgin Mary. In
common speech we call it also Candlemas, because on this day the candles
required for the divine service are blessed and carried in procession.
(Goffine’s Divine Instructions, 1896)
What
is the design of this custom?
- It
is to remind us that Jesus, the light of the world, was offered up to His
heavenly Father, by Mary, in the temple at Jerusalem, where He was called by
Simeon; a light for the revelation of the gentiles, and the glory of the
people of Israel.
- To
remind us, also, of several important truths, to which the priest refers
in the prayers at the blessings. Thus he prays that as the earthly light
dispels the darkness of night, so Jesus, with the light of His divine
doctrine, may clear away our spiritual blindness and ignorance, and lead
us in the way of virtue; that as the Holy Ghost enlightened Simeon, so He
may also enlighten us to acknowledge Jesus as the true light, to love Him
and follow Him, to keep our hearts from the way of sin, and to guide them
in the way of virtue, and to kindle them with the fire of holy love;
finally, that God may preserve, in soul and body, those who use blessed
candles with devotion, may hear their prayers, and grant them entrance
into the kingdom of the eternal and ever-blessed light.
NOVENA TO THE HOLY FACE
DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER
We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Start novena)
Second Day
Psalm 51, 5-6a.My offenses truly I know them; My sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done.
Most Holy Face of Jesus, we are truly sorry that we have hurt you so much by constantly doing what is wrong; and for all the good works we have failed to do. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saint Joseph, intercede for us, help us to console the Most Holy Face of Jesus. Pray that we may share in the tremendous love Thou hast for one another and for the most Holy and Blessed Trinity. Amen.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, Pardon and Mercy.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, Sanctifier, all powerful God of love, Thou who didst fill the Virgin Mary with grace, Thou who didst wonderfully transform the hearts of the apostles, Thou who didst endow all Thy martyrs with a miraculous heroism, come and sanctify us, illumine our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgments, set our hearts on fire and preserve us from the misfortune of resisting Thine inspirations. We consecrate to Thee our understanding, our heart and our will, our whole being for time and for eternity. May our understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations and to the teachings of Thy Holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible guide; may our heart be ever inflamed with love of God and neighbor; may our will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may our whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever. Amen
Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary’s, (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times)
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times)
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