FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION
Wisdom, Chapter 17, Verse 8-10
8 For they who undertook to banish fears and terrors from the sick soul themselves sickened with ridiculous
fear. 9 For even though no monstrous thing frightened them, they shook at the passing of insects and the
hissing of reptiles, 10 And perished
trembling, reluctant to face even the air that they could nowhere escape.
Darkness afflicts the Egyptians, while the Israelite's have light!
I
wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I fear not the myriads of people arrayed
against me on every side.
THE Blessed Virgin was presented in the temple at
Jerusalem by her pious parents, Joachim and Ann, there to be educated in the
service and the law of the Lord in order that she might be guarded against the
defilements of the world. From this we learn: 1. Joachim and Ann offered to the
Lord their only and most beloved child, and gave her up entirely to His
service. Great as the sacrifice was, they yet made it. The preservation of the innocence
of their daughter was to them above all else. Parents, God requires of you that
you should not merely offer your children to Him in the temple, but that you
should take care to keep them pure and holy, as living temples which have been
consecrated in Baptism.
2. Mary gives and dedicates herself to God as soon
as she is capable of serving Him, and that without any reservation, for all
time, and irrevocably. When, then, shall we give ourselves in earnest to God?
True, we have been given to Him in holy Baptism, we have been consecrated as
His temples, we have renounced the devil and the world, we have vowed to live
only for God, and this vow we have, perhaps, often renewed; but have we kept
it? What we gave with one hand have we not taken it away with the other? Have
we not denied the temple of our hearts by shameful lusts, lived for the world
and vanity more than for God? Ah, when shall we give ourselves up to God sincerely
and forever? Perhaps when we are old! But will God accept our offering then?
Will He be pleased that we begin to serve Him only when we can no longer serve
the world? That we first begin to live for Him when our life is soon to cease?
No; God is a jealous Lord, and is not pleased with a heart divided between Him
and creatures. He requires us to love Him with all our heart and all our soul,
and to serve Him with all our powers. Let us, then, do this, and do it from our
youth; let us keep ourselves in body and soul undefiled for the Lord; such
love, and such love only, will He reward as perfect.
Things
to Do[2]
·
Meditate
on the mystery of Mary's temporary dwelling in the sanctuary of the Old
Covenant as a preparation for the approaching season of Advent.
·
Locate
the order of contemplative nuns closest to you and visit their monastery (you
may want to request their prayers and you might consider supporting them
financially), they are the privileged souls who, by the grace of their
vocation, are even here below dwellers in the house of the Lord.
·
Spend
30 minutes reading the Bible.
·
Learn
more about Mary in the
Byzantine Liturgy and say one of the beautiful prayers of the
Eastern liturgy in honor of Mary.
World Television Day celebrates the daily value of
television as a symbol of communication and globalization. Television is one of
the single greatest technological advances of the 20th century, serving to
educate, inform, entertain and influence our decisions and opinions. It
is estimated that approximately 90% of homes around the world have televisions;
however, with the introduction of internet broadcasting, the number is
declining in favor of computers. World Television Day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 1996. It
is celebrated annually on November 21.
World
Television Day Facts & Quotes
·
TV
stimulates the economy by providing countless avenues for jobs. Over 1.2
million people in the European Union alone are employed in the media sector
·
In
France, 63% of children
between the age of 0 and 15 live in a household with 4 screens (TV, computer,
tablet etc.).
·
Television
creates authority. When something is shown on TV it has a particular authority
about it because you know that you and millions of other people are seeing it
and that professionals have produced it.
·
In
Canada, nearly 95% of people aged 18-34 watch TV each month, which results in
12 and a half hours of weekly TV watching.
·
Television
is a medium because anything well done is rare. - Fred Allen, American comedian
and radio show host
Donate to catholic
Television today if you can!
Daily
Devotions
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
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