The Church throughout all Judea,
Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the
consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers.
2 Samuel, Chapter
14, Verse 14-15
14 We must indeed die; we are then like water
that is poured out on the ground and cannot be gathered up. Yet, though God
does not bring back to life, he does devise means so as not to banish anyone from him. 15 And now, if I have presumed to speak to the king of this matter, it is
because the people have given me cause to fear.
And so your servant thought: ‘Let me speak to the king. Perhaps he will grant
the petition of his servant.
Here David is in a quandary;
his beloved son has murdered his brother and should be punished. Yet…how can David
save his living son and still be just. Joab brings in a wise woman who points
out God does not bring the dead to life but devises ways of returning the
banished.
Justice and Mercy[1]
Both mercy and justice are met via the first Saturday devotion.
First Saturday[2]
1.
Confession: This confession can be made before the
First Saturday or afterward, provided that Holy Communion be received in the
state of grace. In 1926, Christ in a vision explained to Lucia (Fatima) that
this confession could be made a week before or even more, and that it should be
offered in reparation.
2.
Holy Communion: Before receiving Holy Communion,
it is likewise necessary to offer it in reparation to Our Lady. Our Lord told
Lucia in 1930, “This Communion will be accepted on the following Sunday for just
reasons, if my priests allow it so.” So if work or school, sickness, or another just reason prevents
the Communion on a First Saturday, with this permission it may be received the
following Sunday. If Communion is transferred, any or all of the other acts of
the devotion may also be performed on Sunday if the person so desires.
3.
Rosary: The Rosary is a vocal prayer said while
meditating upon the mysteries of Our Lord’s life and Passion and Our Lady’s life. To comply with
the request of our Blessed Mother, it must be offered in reparation and said
properly while meditating.
4. 15-minute
meditation:
Also offered in reparation, the meditation may embrace one or more mysteries;
it may include all, taken together or separately. This meditation should be the
richest of any meditation, because Our Lady promised to be present when she
said “...those who keep me company....”
Today is the Kentucky Derby; life
is a race and we like the horses without Christ as our jockey cannot cross the finish
line.
Kentucky Derby[3]
The Kentucky Derby is the most
popular and oldest horse race in the world. The race is a 1.25-mile long,
Grade I stakes horse race for three-year-old thoroughbreds on a dirt track.
It is held annually at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Derby, run on the first Saturday in May of every year, is the
first leg of the elusive Triple Crown races. It is followed by the
Preakness Stakes two weeks later in Baltimore, Maryland and the Belmont Stakes,
3 weeks after the Preakness in Elmont, New York. Meriweather Clark founded the
Kentucky Derby, which was first held in 1875. Since then, the Derby has become
a day of luxury and fashion and celebrities are often in attendance.
Kentucky
Derby Facts & Quotes
·
Over
160,000 spectators come to see the Kentucky Derby every year while millions of
others watch it on TV.
·
In
Kentucky, the equine industry generated 3 billion dollars annually and creates
55,000 jobs.
·
As
of 2015, no woman trainer or jockey has won the Kentucky Derby. Many have run
horses and ridden them, but none have won.
·
Only
12 horses have ever been able to win the Triple Crown. The most recent was
American Pharaoh in 2015. Prior to 2015, the Triple Crown hadn't been won since
1978.
·
I
feel like the luckiest Mexican on Earth. He has been a special horse since the
first time I rode him. He has a lot of talent and is an unbelievable horse.
Turning for home I started riding a little harder. At the eighth pole, I just
couldn’t put that other horse (Firing Line) away, but he got it done. - Victor
Espinoza - 2015 Kentucky Derby winning Jockey riding American Pharaoh
Kentucky
Derby Top Events and Things to Do
·
Tune
in to watch the Derby live on the first weekend of May. It is usually broadcast
on many sports networks around the world.
·
Attend
the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. Be careful though, tickets are very
expensive and must be purchased far in advance for the event.
·
Enjoy
a good movie about horses and horse racing. Some of our picks are: The Cup (2011), The
First Saturday in May
(2007), Racing Stripes (2005), Seabiscuit (2003), The
Derby Stallion
(2005), Secretariat (2010) and Dreamer (2005).
·
Book
a horseback riding class at a local stable. Try to get a feel for what it would
be like to race that fast.
·
Plan
a Triple Crown Party. Be sure to send out invitations for the Derby, the
Preakness and the Belmont. Pick favorite horses and see who wins the home
derby. During the celebration it would be a good idea to also pray for the
pope who wears the triple crown of the church. The
Triple Crown (the tiara) represents the pope's three functions as "supreme
pastor", "supreme teacher" and "supreme priest". The
gold cross on a monde (globe) surmounting the tiara symbolizes the sovereignty
of Jesus.[4]
Bless the Animals and the simple[5]
One day while, Mitch, a
Protestant was at the track playing the ponies and all but losing his shirt
noticed a Catholic priest who stepped out onto the track and blessed the
forehead of one of the horses lining up for the 4th race. Lo and behold, that
horse – a very long shot – won the race. Before the next race, as the horses
began lining up, Mitch watched with interest the old priest step onto the
track. Sure enough, before the 5th race the horses came to the starting gate.
The priest made a blessing on the forehead of one of the horses. Mitch made a
beeline for a betting window and placed a small bet on the horse blessed by the
priest. Again, even though it was another long shot, the horse the priest had
blessed won the race. Mitch collected his winnings, and anxiously waited to see
which horse the priest would bless for the 6th race. The priest again blessed a
horse. Mitch bet big on it, and it won. Mitch was elated. As the races
continued the priest kept blessing long shot horses, and each one ended up
coming in first. Bye and bye, Mitch was pulling in some serious money. By the
last race, he knew his wildest dreams were going to come true. He made a quick
dash to the ATM, withdrew all his savings, and awaited the priest's blessing
that would tell him which horse to bet on. True to his pattern, the priest
stepped onto the track for the last race and blessed the forehead of an old nag
that was the longest shot of the day. Mitch also observed the priest blessing
the eyes, ears, and hooves of the old nag. Mitch knew he had a winner and bet
every cent he owned on the old nag. He then watched dumbfounded as the old nag
come in dead last and then dropped dead. Mitch, in a state of shock, made his
way down to the track area where the priest was. Confronting the old priest he
demanded, 'Father! What happened? All day long you blessed horses and they all
won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed lost by a Kentucky mile. Now,
thanks to you I've lost every cent of my savings – all of it!'. The priest
nodded wisely and with sympathy. 'Son,' he said, 'that's one of the problems
with you Protestants; you can't tell the difference between a simple blessing
and the Sacrament of Last Rites.'
Daily
Devotions/Prayers
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