Thursday, September 29, 2016 Feast of St. Michael
2 Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verse 11
Finally, brothers, rejoice.
Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
One way to mend your
ways and bring love and peace to your organizations and relationships is to use
an ideal developed by the late Steven Covey.
Emotional Bank Account[1]
We all know how our regular bank account
works. We make deposits, save up money, and when we need that money later, we
withdraw it. An emotional bank account is an account of trust instead of money.
It’s an account based on how safe you feel with another person.
Covey identifies six ways to make deposits
(or reduce withdrawals):
1.
Understanding
the Individual. This means listening intently to what the other
person is saying and empathizing with how they may feel. It’s important
to care for others and act with kindness toward them.
2.
Keeping
Commitments. How do you feel when someone arrives right on time when you have a meeting?
How about when people simply do what they say they will do? You build up an emotional
reserve by keeping your commitments.
3.
Clarifying
Expectations. We are not mind readers, and yet we consistently expect others to
know what we expect of them. Communicating our expectations can help create a
higher level of trust. When we ask for what we want, and we get it, we can then
trust a little more.
4.
Attending
to the Little Things. Don’t you find that the little things tend to
become the BIG things when they do not receive our attention? Doing the little
things is how we honor and show respect for others. Small kindnesses, a smile,
a little extra effort, a hug, doing something you didn’t “have” to: these are
the things that build trust.
5.
Showing
Personal Integrity. Integrity is the moral floor upon which trusting
relationships are built. When we operate with sound moral character, it makes
it so easy for others to trust us.
6.
Apologizing
When We Make a Withdrawal. We will make mistakes; it’s part of life. But
when you see you have violated a trust, sincerely apologizing is how we make a
deposit to counteract the damage we have done.
When your trust level is high, because
you’ve made lots of deposits, communication is almost effortless. You can be
yourself, and others understand and appreciate you. Then, when you make mistakes
or offend someone unexpectedly, you draw on that reserve and the relationship
still maintains a solid level of trust. Conversely, when you are discourteous,
disrespect others, interrupt others, speak sarcastically or ignore others, your
emotional bank account becomes overdrawn because you have jeopardized the trust
level. When the trust level is low, you have to be very careful of what you
say; you tend to be more political. Our most precious relationships (with our
spouse, kids, friends and boss) require constant deposits, because those
relationships continue to grow and change, and with these changes come new expectations.
If you have a teenager at home, you may make several withdrawals in just one
day! As your marriage evolves, your roles and responsibilities may change, and
your work and home lives may change over time because of career changes or kids
moving out or back in. These relationships require constant investment.
Feast
of Saint Michael[2]
SAINT MICHAEL is the prince of the heavenly
armies, who first contended against the proud Lucifer. The holy Church honors him
as a particular defender, and the faithful call upon him in all dangers of soul
and body, but they particularly implore his intercession at the hour of death, in
order that, after having, according to his example, courageously fought against
Satan, they may receive the crown of victory, and that their souls may by him be
brought before the throne of God. Let us also venerate him, and, full of confidence,
cry out with the holy Church, “Holy archangel Michael, protect us in battle
that we may not perish in the tremendous judgment.”
Prayer to St. Michael the
Archangel
Great prince
of heaven, St. Michael, to thy protection I commend my soul and body, and, by the
glory which thou possessest in heaven, I beseech thee that thou wouldst ever assist
me, particularly at the close of my life; that thou wouldst strengthen my faint-heartedness,
and obtain for me from God the remission of my sins, and an entire submission to
His holy will, that my soul may depart full of comfort. Then receive it, and bring
it, under the guidance of the holy angels, before the face of God, to enjoy the
contemplation of Him for all eternity. Amen.
The anniversary of the dedication of St. Michael the Archangel's basilica outside of Rome by Pope Boniface II in 530 A.D. affords the Church the opportunity to honor one of its most significant saints. Tradition holds that Michael is the heavenly spirit who cast Satan and his minions into Hell after their revolt from God. As the "Governor of Heaven" (Praepositus Paradisi), he is ranked only below the Mother of God in the Confiteor. The Roman church also identifies him as the angel whom St. John saw in heaven standing near the altar of God and offering the prayers of the saints like an odor of sweetness (see the offertory blessing of incense at a High Mass). He is also singled out in the Requiem Mass as the banner-bearer who leads the departed to purgatory and heaven (see offertory prayers). Finally, Michael's victory over the devil's army renders him not only the patron saint of souls, but of Christian soldiers. All of this leads to the conclusion that Michael is one of our most potent allies and helps us see why the Roman rite has traditionally venerated him with such affection and respect. Consequently, Michaelmas (pronounced "mikk-el-mes") was one of the great public holidays and religious feasts of early and medieval Europe. Saint Michael's parades, Michael's fairs, Michael's Plays, etc. would in many places constitute the climax of autumn harvest celebrations. Michaelmas also coincided with the "quarter days" in Northern Europe, one of the four times in the year when free men would sit in court, make laws, and pay rents.
Michaelmas (September 29th)
The anniversary of the dedication of St. Michael the Archangel's basilica outside of Rome by Pope Boniface II in 530 A.D. affords the Church the opportunity to honor one of its most significant saints. Tradition holds that Michael is the heavenly spirit who cast Satan and his minions into Hell after their revolt from God. As the "Governor of Heaven" (Praepositus Paradisi), he is ranked only below the Mother of God in the Confiteor. The Roman church also identifies him as the angel whom St. John saw in heaven standing near the altar of God and offering the prayers of the saints like an odor of sweetness (see the offertory blessing of incense at a High Mass). He is also singled out in the Requiem Mass as the banner-bearer who leads the departed to purgatory and heaven (see offertory prayers). Finally, Michael's victory over the devil's army renders him not only the patron saint of souls, but of Christian soldiers. All of this leads to the conclusion that Michael is one of our most potent allies and helps us see why the Roman rite has traditionally venerated him with such affection and respect. Consequently, Michaelmas (pronounced "mikk-el-mes") was one of the great public holidays and religious feasts of early and medieval Europe. Saint Michael's parades, Michael's fairs, Michael's Plays, etc. would in many places constitute the climax of autumn harvest celebrations. Michaelmas also coincided with the "quarter days" in Northern Europe, one of the four times in the year when free men would sit in court, make laws, and pay rents.
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