FEAST OF SAINT MARTHA
2 Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verse 15
And his heart goes
out to you all the more, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, when you
received him with fear and trembling.
We know that if our fear gives way to a deep sense of
peace and joy when we seek to be reconciled to God; then it is the holy fear of
God and we are on the right path.
Let
those turn to me who fear you and acknowledge your decrees. (Ps. 119:79)
In America we are gradually seeing the wholesale
destruction of the masculine spirit. We are so confused many of us don’t know
which bathroom to use. Is this just another attempt by Satan to kill the body
as God created it? Men and women need to value themselves and value the
beneficial characteristics of masculinity and to reject the false images of
being male. Men and women were created to be different. They were created to be
in partnership, neither one dominating the other, each using their God-given
gifts of gender for the benefit of the other and for the redemption of the
world. The spirit of man is action
oriented yet at times it is imperative that men to be fully men of God; must
borrow from the female spirit the art of reflection. We must become aware of
the wounds from our childhood that drive us toward destruction and trap us in
unhealthy behavior as adults. We must reflect and learn from our mistakes, so
we are not doomed to repeat them. As we reflect we can see most men fall into
one of four Archetypes—King, Warrior, Magician, and Lover. Archetypes are
blueprints, primordial images that affect how we think, feel, and react to
life’s situations. A balanced man can be all four simultaneously directing his
energy to the problem at hand but problems come when a man gets stuck and
becomes trapped in one archetype. Each type has positive and negative
characteristics of which a balanced man can tap to be a hero or a villain.
Humility and its source
in knowing that all goodness comes from the Spirit
GOSPEL.
Luke xviii. 9-14
Why did Jesus recite the parable of the Pharisee and the publican? To warn us against pride, ambition, and vanity in our good works, which thereby lose all their merits; to teach us not to despise or judge any man, although he should appear most impious; finally, to show us that if we would be heard in our prayers, we must appear before God with an humble and penitent heart.
Why was not the Pharisee’s prayer acceptable to God? Because it was not a prayer, but rather a boast; for he praised himself, attributing his good works to himself, instead of giving God glory for them. Thus, despising and presumptuously judging others, he sinned the more against God, instead of making himself worthy of his praise.
Why was the prayer of the publican acceptable to God? Because, though short, it was most humble and penitent. He did not, like the Pharisee, advance into the temple, but remained afar off, as though unworthy the presence of God and the fellowship of men. There he stood, with eyes cast down, in token that, for his sins, he was not worthy to look up to heaven; nay, he openly confessed himself a sinner, and in sorrow smote his breast, thereby punishing, as it were, says St. Augustine, the sins which had come from his heart. Let us, then, be afraid of vainglory, like St. Ignatius, who said, “They who praise me scourge me” and St. Hilary, who wept when he saw himself honored, because he was afraid of receiving his reward on earth. Learn to despise vainglory and think of what St. Augustine says: God is most high; exalt yourself, and He withdraws from you; humble yourself, and He comes down to you.” Seek in all things not your own but God’s glory; accustom yourself before every under taking to raise your heart to God by making a good intention, and you will, like the publican, find grace before God.
Saint Martha, hostess of our Lord Jesus Christ, was born of royal kindred. Her father was named Syro and her mother Encharia. The father of her was duke of Syria and places maritime, and Martha with her sister possessed by the heritage of their mother three places, that was, the castle Magdalen, and Bethany and a part of Jerusalem. It is nowhere read that Martha had ever any husband or fellowship of man, but she as a noble hostess ministered and served our Lord, and would also that her sister should serve him and help her, for she thought that all the world was not sufficient to serve such a guest.
After the ascension of our Lord, when the disciples were departed, she with her brother Lazarus and her sister Mary, also Saint Maximum which baptized them, and to whom they were committed of the Holy Ghost, and many others, were put into a ship without sail, oars, or rudder, which by the conduct of our Lord they came all to Marseilles, and after came to the territory of Aix in Provence, and there converted the people to the faith. Martha was courteous and gracious to the sight of the people.
The Golden Legend also records the grand lifestyle imagined for Martha and her siblings in its entry on Mary Magdalene:
Mary Magdalene had her surname of Magdalo, a castle, and was born of right noble lineage and parents, which were descended of the lineage of kings. And her father was named Cyrus, and her mother Eucharis. She with her brother Lazarus, and her sister Martha, possessed the castle of Magdalo, which is two miles from Nazareth, and Bethany, the castle which is nigh to Jerusalem, and also a great part of Jerusalem, which, all these things they departed among them. In such wise that Mary had the castle Magdalo, whereof she had her name Magdalene. And Lazarus had the part of the city of Jerusalem, and Martha had to her part Bethany. And when Mary gave herself to all delights of the body, and Lazarus extended all to knighthood, Martha, who was wise, governed nobly her brother's part and also her sister's, and also her own, and administered to knights, and her servants, and to poor men, such necessities as they needed. Nevertheless, after the ascension of our Lord, they sold all these things.
Love is a verb, a doing, sharing, acting, and
living part of more than just speech.[4]
Today
make some Lasagna to share with those you love.
National Lasagna Day is dedicated to appreciating lasagna. The true origins of when and how National Lasagna Day came to be are unclear. However, Google reports of National Lasagna Day began to appear in the 21st century. Lasagna is a flat-shaped pasta that is layered with sauce and various ingredients, the most popular including beef, spinach, cheese or seafood. Lasagna is believed to have originated in Naples, Italy. The first lasagna recipe appears in The Liber de Coquina (The book of cooking/cookery), which is one of the oldest medieval cookbooks. Some have suggested that lasagna comes from the Greek word laganon, which stands for a flat sheet of pasta dough. Others however suggest that lasagna comes from a 14th-century British recipe called Loseyn, which included layering ingredients between pasta sheets. National Lasagna Day is observed on July 29th of every year.
National Lasagna Day Facts &
Quotes
·
As
per the USDA, 100g of lasagna contains 135 calories, 4.9g of fat and 15g of
carbohydrate.
·
Lasagna
is the favorite food of Garfield, a comic strip cat.
·
Lasagna…
nature's perfect food! – Garfield
National
Lasagna Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Enjoy
lasagna specials on National Lasagna Day at your favorite eatery. Many
restaurants offer free lasagna, discounts and Lasagna special to celebrate the
day.
·
Try
a healthier
alternative to the traditional lasagna. Lasagna can be vegan,
gluten-free, and made without dairy products. Here are some vegan lasagna
options:
1) Vegan lasagna with tofu ricotta and butternut squash
2) Mexican lasagna with layers of refried beans, avocado, guacamole and fresh veggies
3) Zucchini and tomato lasagna with a cashew and herb cheese
4) Mushroom, pesto, spinach and tofu cheese lasagna
5) Eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, mushroom, tomato and basil lasagna with tofu ricotta
1) Vegan lasagna with tofu ricotta and butternut squash
2) Mexican lasagna with layers of refried beans, avocado, guacamole and fresh veggies
3) Zucchini and tomato lasagna with a cashew and herb cheese
4) Mushroom, pesto, spinach and tofu cheese lasagna
5) Eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, mushroom, tomato and basil lasagna with tofu ricotta
·
Cook
lasagna in the slow cooker, rather than a conventional oven. As with
baked lasagna, layer noodles, cheese and toppings in the slow cooker and let it
cook slowly. Slow cooker meals are great for a busy family that still
likes to eat a nutritious meal at the end of a long day.
·
Cook
your lasagna in a dishwasher. According to MythBusters, the popular
television show on the Discovery network, this is definitely feasible.
·
Attend
a cooking vacation in Italy where you week-long cooking class at Taste of Italy
cooking school in Tuscany, Italy where they teach students how to make lasagna
the traditional, Italian way.
True Love
of Neighbor
Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
29.
I don't like your
euphemistic habit of calling cowardice prudence. For, as a result, God's
enemies, with minds empty of ideas, will take advantage of your 'prudence' to
acquire the name of learning and so reach positions that they never should
attain.
·
Please
Pray for Senator
McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
[1] Max Olivia, The Masculine Spirit, 1997.
[2]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896
[4]
Simple Wisdom Calendar, Publications International, Ltd.
[6]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1129
[7]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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