Ember Wednesday
But now, thus says the LORD, who created
you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear,
for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.
God, as the Ultimate
Leader, consistently practices the Law of Sacrifice. Leaders will do the
illogical and surrender valuable possessions in order to fulfill and capture
their dream. Fortunately for us, we are God’s dream. Only through the prophet
Isaiah does God say directly to His people, “I love you.”[1]
If you desire to become
the best leader you can be, then you need to be willing to make sacrifices in
order to lead well. If that is your desire, then here are some things you need
to know about the Law of Sacrifice.
1.
There Is No Success without Sacrifice – Every person
who has achieved any success in life has made sacrifices to do so. Effective
leaders sacrifice much that is good in order to dedicate themselves to what is
best.
2.
Leaders Are Often Asked to Give Up More Than Others
–The heart of leadership is putting others ahead of yourself. It’s doing what
is best for the team. For that reason, leaders have to give up their rights. The
cost of leadership: Leaders must be willing to give up more than the people
they lead. Leadership means sacrifice.
3.
You Must Keep Giving Up to Stay Up – Leadership success
requires continual change, constant improvement, and ongoing sacrifice.
4.
The Higher the Level of Leadership, the Greater the
Sacrifice – The higher you go, the more it’s going to cost you. And it doesn’t
matter what kind of leadership career you pick. You will have to make
sacrifices. You will have to give up to go up.
The Devil and Temptations[3]
Hypnotism
·
Although hypnotism is now used sometimes by
respectable doctors, dentists and therapists, it was linked in the past with
the occult and with superstition.
·
Even when it is legitimate, there are certain
real dangers that must be very carefully considered. In hypnotism, one
surrenders for a time his own capacity to reason; there is a dependence of the
one hypnotized on the will of the hypnotist; also there can be unfortunate
aftereffects that result from this technique.
·
Except for a very serious reason, avoid
submitting to a hypnotist; never do it for the purpose of entertainment.
What are the Ember-Days?
Days
instituted to thank God, each season of the year, for the benefits received
during that season, and to remind the faithful, each quarter of the year, of
the duty of penance; also to pray to God for deserving priests, for on those
days the ordination of priests usually takes place. (Goffine’s Devout
Instructions)
·
The Ember Days are four series of
Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays which correspond to the natural seasons of
the year. Autumn brings the September, or Michaelmas, Embertide; winter, the
Advent Embertide; Spring, the Lenten Embertide; and in summer, the Whit
Embertide (named after Whitsunday, the Feast of Pentecost).
·
The English title for these days,
"Ember," is derived from their Latin name: Quatuor Temporum,
meaning the "Four Times" or "Four Seasons."
·
The Embertides are periods of prayer and
fasting, with each day having its own special Mass.
·
Wednesday,
Friday, and Saturday were days of particularly devotion in the early church:
Wednesday, as recalling the betrayal of our Lord, and Friday in memory of His
Passion, Saturday was later added to these days of prayer and penance as a
continuation of Friday, and as far back as the second century they were set
apart as Stational days, that is as days of special religious service and
fasting.
·
The Ember Days, although the occasion of their
institution is uncertain, are a reminder of these ancient days of devotion.
Their purpose is to thank God for the fruits of the earth and other gifts of
nature, to teach moderation in their use, and to assist the needy. From the
time of Pope Gelasius in the fifth century it has been allowed to confer the
diaconate and priesthood on the Saturdays of Ember weeks.
Ember Day Prayers[4]
Prayer: 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.
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.
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.
Daily
Devotions
·
Please pray for me and this ministry
[1]
John Maxwell, The Maxwell Leadership Bible.
[4]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1369
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