First Friday
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER-HOLI
Isaiah, Chapter
57, verse 11
Whom did you
dread and fear, that you told lies,
and me you did not remember nor take to heart? Am I to keep silent and conceal,
while you show no fear of me?
Christ
is calling us to ignore the lies of the world and those who are too cool to
repent. Our Gods love is so strong that he will no longer allow us to
continue in our sinfulness. He wants and demands we get with the program.
“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent,
and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Bishop
Fulton Sheen stated in one of his weekly addresses in February 1999 entitled
"Truth - Forgotten Ideal":
Submission
is one of the deepest needs of the human heart. After a century and a half of
false liberalism, in which it was denied that anything is true, and that it
makes no difference what you believe, the world reacted to totalitarianism. It
grew tired of its freedom, just as children in progressive schools grow tired
of their license to do whatever they please. Freedom fatigues those who want to
shirk responsibility. Then it is they look for some false god into whose hands
they can throw themselves, so they will never have to think or make decisions
for themselves. Nazism, Fascism, and Communism came into being during the
twentieth century, as a reaction against false liberalism.
Mary Alacoque, a nun of the Order
of the Visitation, at Parayle-Monial, France; one day, when, according to her
custom during the octave of Corpus Christi, she was deeply engaged in devotions
before the Blessed Sacrament, the divine Savior appeared to her, showed her His
Heart burning with love, and said: “Behold this Heart, which has so loved men
that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order
to testify its love. In return I receive from the greater part only
ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and
contempt they have for Me in this sacrament of love. And what is most painful
to Me is that they are hearts consecrated to Me. It is for this reason I ask
thee that the first Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi be appropriated
to a special feast to honor My Heart by communicating on that day and making reparation
for the indignity that it has received. And I promise that My Heart shall
dilate to pour out abundantly the influences of its love on all that will render
it this honor or procure its being rendered.”
Preparing for Battle[3]
Know
Your Enemy
God allows evil because He’s
powerful enough to bring out of even the greatest evil a much greater good. The
crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides a vivid illustration of this reality. Meanwhile,
our days in this life provide a season for God to test, purify, strengthen, and
perfect us, making us fit to live with Him forever in heaven. To that end, the
demons serve as useful tools for Him as they constantly test us by tempting us,
so that we become purer and stronger and closer to perfection every time we
resist the temptation. In this sense, we might say, quoting St. Augustine: “As
an artist, God makes use even of the Devil.”
Each one should judge his own conduct
without having to compare it with what someone else has done. (Gal. 6:4)
In
the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and
human successes, but on how well we have loved. (St. John of the Cross)[4]
Let us remember Christ’s words to
us on service, “Whoever wishes to come
after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever
wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.” (Mk. 8:34-35) Life seen as mere
self-centered earthly existence and lived in denial of Christ ends in
destruction, but when lived in loyalty to Christ, despite earthly death, it
arrives at fullness of life. True discipleship is total commitment to Christ through
self-renunciation and acceptance of the cross of suffering, even to the
sacrifice of life itself.
Lenten Calendar[5]-The fourth song proclaims the
salvific value of the Servant’s innocent suffering that will justify many and
blot out their offenses.
Suffering
and Triumph of the Servant of the Lord
See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be raised
high and greatly exalted. Even as many were amazed at him—so marred were his
features, beyond that of mortals his appearance, beyond that of human beings—So
shall he startle many nations, kings shall stand speechless; For those who have
not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it.
And
although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they
regarded him as a prophet.
Holi
is the ancient Hindu Festival of Love and also known as the Festival of Colors.
The origins of Holi lie in ancient Hindu traditions where Holi was
celebrated to mark the arrival of
spring. Holi is also related to the legend of Holika, the evil
sister of demon king Hiranyakashipu, who tried to burn Hiranyakashipu's son
Prahlada. Prahlada had maintained faith in god (Vishnu), while
Hiranyakashipu contended that he was god. Wearing a cloak that guarded
her from fire, Holika lured Prahlada into a fire but the cloak that was
guarding Holika flew and protected Prahlada instead. Because of this Holi
also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and
love over hate.
Holi
Facts & Quotes
·
The
name Holi stems from Holiya, who was the evil sister of a demon god that tried
to burn her nephew. According to ancient Sanskrit scriptures, Holiya died
in the fire while her nephew was unharmed. Since then, on the eve of
Holi, a bonfire named Holiya is lit to signify the triumph of good over evil.
·
Central
to most Holi festivals are bright colors that are often thrown, sprayed or
painted on. For this reason Holi is often refer to as the Festival of Colors.
·
Traditionally
colors were achieved through dyes that were made from turmeric, sandalwood,
flower an leaf extracts, and beetroots. In recent times Synthetic Color
dyes are often used during Holi festivals. These dyes are often toxic or
cause allergic reactions. It's a good idea to rub coconut oil into your
skin before hand, to prevent toxic color dyes from absorbing.
·
Bhang,
tea made from cannabis leaves, is frequently served at some Holi celebrations
in India and Nepal. Bhang also contains milk, butter and spicies (cinnamon or
nutmeg).
·
Holi is the day to express love with colors. It is a time to show affection. All the colors that are on you are of love. – Anonymous
Holi
Top Events and Things to Do
·
Light
a Holika bonfire the night before Holi. Read the legend associated with
it about Holika, the demoness in Hindu Vedic scriptures that was burnt with the
help of God Vishnu.
·
Decorate
your home with colorful ribbons and adornments to recognize the holi festival.
Marigold flowers are traditionally hung over balconies, railings and
staircases. Sofa cushions are often covered with bold, bright colors.
Walls are traditionally covered with colorful fabric patchwork.
·
Attend
a Holi Festival. Festivals are held across cities in the United States,
especially where there is a large Hindu or Yoga
community. Festivals often includes yoga demonstrations, Bollywood
music, color dye toss, and Indian Food.
·
Watch
the Bollywood movie Mohabbatein (2000). It includes scenes where a
song called Soni Soni is played during a holi festival celebration in
India.
·
Eat
at an Indian restaurant on this day to enjoy some Holi specialty sweet dishes
such as shakarpara (sweet crispy bread), gujjias (sweet fried dumplings), kheer
(rice pudding) and malpua (pancakes).
Nevertheless, Bishop Dabre cautioned that “Holi must live the holy joy, and the joy a religion should spread is not without norms or principles, but must be coupled with the observance of commandments.” The true joy that emanates from religion must respect the freedom of others; not impose our likes and dislikes on others,” he reflected. Hindus begin the celebration with a Holika bonfire the evening prior to Holi, which relates to the myth upon which the festival is based. However, the throwing of color and water which all Indians participate in is a manifestation of joy and friendship across religious lines. Bishop Dabre also noted that “religion must be experienced as a liberating experience of freedom, and this is very significant in the context of religious terrorism and extremism in different parts of the world, and in India.”
He lamented the rise of such groups as the Taliban, Boko Haram, and Islamic State, saying that in these cases, “religion has become a cause of fear, terror, injustice and oppression.” In the light of recent persecution and discrimination against Christians in India, Bishop Dabre lamented that “even in our country, in the name of religion unreasonable restriction are imposed on the people; force and pressure is employed to reconvert people and to ban the adoption of a religion of one’s choice … also gruesome crimes are committed against women and people of the so-called low caste. Thus religion has become a matter of grievous concern. “However, “in such a situation Holi gives an important lesson that religion must spread true joy and freedom,” he added.
Daily Devotions
·
Manhood of
the Master-Day 6 week 5
·
Do
20 min. in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
·
In
honor of Purim—fast Thursday-Friday and Saturday evening/Sunday have a feast.
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
[1]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
[3]Thigpen,
Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare (Kindle Locations 115-124). TAN Books.
Kindle Edition.
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