Saturday, March 11, 2017 Ember Day

My spring edition of Be Not Afraid is now available at my estore.


Deuteronomy, Chapter 19, Verse 16-20

16 If a hostile witness rises against someone to accuse that person of wrongdoing, 17 the two parties in the dispute shall appear in the presence of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and judges in office at that time, 18 and the judges must investigate it thoroughly. If the witness is a false witness and has falsely accused the other, 19 you shall do to the false witness just as that false witness planned to do to the other. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. 20 The rest shall hear and be afraid, and never again do such an evil thing as this in your midst. 21 Do not show pity. Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot!

 

This is some pretty hard stuff. Yet, we should not be namby-pamby either. There should be a system of justice and we should be just people. Christ reminds us that if we want justice we must be just ourselves.

 

The Gospel of St. Matthew records these words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:

 

5:38 "You have heard that it was said, —An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; 5:40 and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; 5:41 and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 5:42 Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, —You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 5:45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 5:47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Answer provided by Fr. John Echert[1] on 6/12/2001 via EWTN.


Preparing for Battle[2] Know Your Weapons


The weapon of Sacred Sacramentals 

·         Sacramentals include certain actions, such as the Sign of the Cross and other blessings, as well as objects that have been blessed, such as holy water, oil, salt, candles, incense, rosaries, crucifixes, scapulars, and religious images.
·         In an exorcism, the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the Devil’s power and withdrawn from his dominion.
·         The Sign of the Cross is the most terrible weapon against the Devil.
·         the Church displays images of the cross so that we can have it continually in front of our minds to recall to us just what our souls are worth and what they cost Jesus Christ.
·         Blessings and blessed objects. Both the blessings that are properly given by clergy (such as those in the Liturgy) and the blessings spoken by lay people as part of their daily lives (such as a table grace) are important sacramentals.

Ember Day Prayers[3]

Antiphon: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all He hath done for thee.
V. Lord, Thou has been our refuge.
R. From generation to generation.

Let us Pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that as year by year we devoutly keep these holy observances, we may be pleasing to Thee both in body and soul. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Honor of Christ's Betrayal and Passion
O God, Who for the world's Redemption was pleased to be born, circumcised, rejected by the Jews, betrayed by the kiss of traitor Judas, bound with chains, led like an innocent lamb to sacrifice, and shamefully presented before Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, and Herod, accused by false witnesses, beaten with whips, buffeted, insulted, spat upon, crowned with thorns, smitten with a reed, blindfolded, stripped of Thy garments, fastened with nails to the cross and lifted up on high, reputed among thieves, made to drink gall and vinegar and wounded by a lance; oh, by these most sacred sufferings, which, unworthy as I am, I thus commemorate, and by Thy holy cross and death, deliver me, Lord, from the pains of hell, and deign to lead me where Thou didst lead me where Thou didst lead the penitent thief, who was crucified by Thy side. Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, forever and ever. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, etc. five times.

Prayer for God's Blessing on our Labors
O Lord, graciously look down upon Thy servants and upon the work of their hands, and do Thou, Who givest food to every creature, bless and preserve the fruits of the earth, that the needy may be filled with good things and that all may praise the glory of Thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Vocations to the Priesthood
Antiphon. Why stand ye all the day idle, go ye into my vineyard.
V. Ask the Lord of the harvest.
R. That He send laborers into His vineyard.
Let us Pray God, who willest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live; grant, by the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin and of all saints, laborers for Thy Church, fellow laborers with Christ, to spend and consume themselves for souls. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer Source: Blessed Be God: A Complete Catholic Prayer Book by Charles J. Callan, OP, S.T.M, P. J. Kenedy & Sons, 1961


Daily Devotions/Prayers

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood
·         Novena of St. Joseph



Daylight Saving Time Begins Tomorrow[1]

 

Daylight Savings time had begun in an effort to help save energy and provide workers with more hours of serviceable daylight during the long summer days.  Daylight Savings Time was first introduced in the U.S. in 1918.  However, it was not until 1966, when the Uniform Act was passed, that all states had to either observe DST or pass a state law to abstain.

 

Daylight Saving Time Begins Facts

 

·         In 2017 Daylight Savings Time began Sunday March 12, 2017 at 2:00 a.m. local time.  Clocks shifted forward 1 hour, making the local time 3:00 a.m. It ends on  November 5, 2017 at 2 a.m., when the time will reverse 1 hour back and will make the local time 1 a.m.

·         Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea of DST in 1784.  He wrote An Economical Project for the Journal of Paris, wherein he discussed the cost of oil for lamps as well as working while it was dark, and sleeping while it was day.

·         Daylight Savings Time changes at 2:00 a.m.  This time is selected in an effort to provide the least amount of inconvenience to businesses and citizens.

·         Hawaii and Arizona do not use DST.  Up until 2006, Indiana only used DST in part of the state.

 



Daylight Saving Time Begins Top Events and Things to Do

 

·         Move your clocks forward 1 hour before bed on Saturday night before the Daylight Saving Time day in March.

·         Go to bed an hour earlier Saturday night before the Daylight Saving Time day.

·         Get outside and enjoy the extra hour of daylight.

·         Replace the batteries in the smoke alarm and carbon dioxide monitors.

·         Clean out the medicine cabinet.  Dispose of all medicines properly.




[2]Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. TAN Books.
[3]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1369

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