January
Creeks,
rivers, and other forms of moving water, including ice, manifest the flow of
life itself. A gurgling stream or rushing river, even in midwinter's rest, is
the sign that new life is coming forth, even when it is not yet perceptible in
a snow-covered landscape. Our life in Christ begins through the saving water of
Baptism; since this is so, we have an obligation to protect and save the water.
Water pollution is widespread, denying safe drinking water to millions of
people.
Overview of January[1]
The month of January is dedicated to the Holy
Name of Jesus, which is celebrated on January 3. The first eight
days of January fall during the liturgical season known as Christmas which is
represented by the liturgical color white. The remaining days of January are
the beginning of Ordinary Time. The liturgical color changes to green — a
symbol of the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the
hope of a glorious resurrection. In the first part of January we continue to
rejoice and celebrate Christ's coming at Bethlehem and in our hearts. We have
the wonderful feasts of Mary, Mother of God, where we honor Mary's highest title,
and then we follow the Magi to the crib as they bring their gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh on Epiphany. Finally, we reach the culmination of this
season with the Baptism of Our Lord by St. John the Baptist. With a touch of
sadness, we take down our decorations and enter into Ordinary Time where we
will devote ourselves to the mystery of Christ in its entirety. This is a time
of growth and an opportunity to allow the dignity of Sunday to shine forth
prolonging the joy of Easter and Pentecost. The opening days of January may be
cold and nature bleak, but the domestic church still glows warm with the peace
and joy of Christmas. We dedicate the New Year to Mary on the January 1st
Solemnity honoring her as Mother of God; and on January 6, the Solemnity of
Epiphany, we rejoice with her, as her Son is adored by the three Wise Men.
Herald John, who ushered in the Advent season, is present once again to close
Christmastide on the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (The First Luminous
Mystery), and to open the Season of Ordinary Time. He points to Jesus, the Lamb
of God who unites time and eternity in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, and even
January’s diminishing darkness seems to echo St. John’s prayer: “He must
increase, and I must decrease.” In this liturgical season the Church eagerly
follows Our Lord as he gathers his apostles and announces his mission. At
Cana’s wedding feast (The Second Luminous Mystery) he performs his first public
miracle at the request of his Mother, and his disciples saw his glory and believed
in him. We, his present-day disciples pray for a like faith as we contemplate
the eternal wedding feast of the Lamb and the unique role of the Blessed Mother
in the plan of salvation. May we wholeheartedly obey her words of counsel: “Do
whatever he tells you.”
Stay at an Ice Hotel?[2]
Dates Vary With
Location
There are several locations with accommodations made of ice, Norway, Quebec, Alaska and Sweden to name a few. Regardless of the temperature outside, the air in the Icehotel is always between 17- and 23-degrees Fahrenheit. The bedrooms have blocks of ice as beds, covered with fur, skin, hides and sleeping bags so you’ll stay toasty warm.
There are several locations with accommodations made of ice, Norway, Quebec, Alaska and Sweden to name a few. Regardless of the temperature outside, the air in the Icehotel is always between 17- and 23-degrees Fahrenheit. The bedrooms have blocks of ice as beds, covered with fur, skin, hides and sleeping bags so you’ll stay toasty warm.
FEAST
OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD/NEW YEARS DAY
Exodus, Chapter 9, Verse 27-30
27 Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and
Aaron and said to them, “I have sinned this time! The LORD is the just one, and
I and my people are the ones at fault. 28 Pray to the LORD! Enough of the
thunder and
hail! I will let you go; you need stay no longer.” 29 Moses replied to him, “As soon as I
leave the city I will extend my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and
there will be no more hail so that you may know that the earth belongs to the
LORD. 30
But as for you and your servants, I
know that you do not yet fear the
LORD God.”
This was the seventh plague of God on the Egyptians
and of course Pharaoh had closed his ears and heart to God. Thunder was to the
Egyptians the voice of God, but they did not listen nor did the hail melt the
ice of their hearts to the true God. Because God loves us, He sometimes permits
plagues in our lives that will bring about an exodus from our sin and a melting
of our heart. When we are poor in spirit it is then that we can draw near to
the Lord.
A young man approached Jesus and
said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him,
“Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish
to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And
Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and
your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When
the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many
possessions. (Mt. 19:16-22)
Today might be a good day to make a poor man’s feast.
DIRECTIONS
·
Prepare
the vegetables: Dice the onion. Peel the potatoes and dice into cubes no larger
than 1/2 inch.
·
Heat
the oil in a 12" non-stick skillet over medium heat.
·
Add
the potatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once.
·
Add
the onion and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
·
Add
the sliced wieners and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
INGREDIENTS
·
3
tablespoons vegetable oil
·
1
medium onion, diced
·
2
lbs potatoes, peeled and diced small
·
5
hot dogs, sliced into rounds (about 10 oz)
·
8
ounces tomato sauce
·
1/4
teaspoon salt (to taste)
·
2
teaspoons sugar
For Catholics, today is a holy day of obligation to
honor Mary the Mother of God the second Eve: who is the first example of
courage. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,
Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your
womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31)
On my 2006 visit to Israel my wife and I visited and had Mass on the
Mount of the Beatitudes. I remember our Priests were a little miffed with
the little sister who worked there. She was upset with us because it was
a warm day and some in our group had taken off their sweaters and their arms
were exposed. She was focused on the rules, as Christ pointed out to the
Pharisees who were focused on the outside of the cup being clean rather than
the inside being clean. Similarly, the beatitudes of our Lord seek to not
do away with the rules (10 commandments) but points at our inner dispositions.
I think Church of the Beatitudes which an octagon is (eight sided) best
represents how me should seek to best conform our hearts and our dispositions
to be more like that of Christ. On the floor of the Church of the
Beatitudes are eight mosaics with words in Latin. They reflect the
dispositions of our Lord which we are to emulate.
·
Temperantia (Temperance is
a spirit of moderation and personal restraint; to keep ourselves in balance
physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally).
·
Lavs Tibi Christi
(Praise God in all that we do).
·
Charitas (a heart that
burns with love of God and benevolence toward others).
·
Ivstitia
(Justice. Christ compels us to not ignore others, to understand others,
not to rationalize and/or justify our questionable acts, do right even at risk
of ourselves, and to pray for others).
·
Prvdentia (forethought
or prudence. Those who are Prudent are far from indecisive, for their bold
decisions bear no streaks of doubt. Prudence disposes us to have a true care
and concern for the health and wellbeing of others).
·
Fides (Faith in God;
to trust Him; to give yourself as He gave Himself).
·
Spes (Hope. We must hope in the good news of
Christ and trust ourselves in the church as we would a ship upon the waters).
·
Fortitvdo (fortitude and
courage. We must have the courage to allow Christ to increase in us).
Read-We close
out the Christmas octave—the eight days following the birth of Christ—with a
day honoring Mary as the Mother of God. Take time to read about the Mother of God today.
Reflect-"With
his Mother's flesh God clothed himself, / Since from Virginity he was made
man." — Prudentius, Hymn of the Divinity of Christ, 435-436
Pray-January
1 is also the World Day of Peace. There are a number of prayers for peace to choose from—pray one
today.
Act-Visit
the US Catholic bishops'
Action Center. . . today to find out ways you can advocate for peace
around the world.
8th day of Christmas[5] The Eight Maids a milking is a sign for the eight beatitudes.
Today would be a good day to reflect on them.
- Blessed are
the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are the
meek: for they shall possess the land.
- Blessed are
they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are
they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
- Blessed are
the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are
the clean of heart: they shall see God.
- Blessed are
the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- Blessed are
they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
New Year's Day marks the start of a new year on the
Gregorian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was first introduced by Pope
Gregory XIII in 1582 and began to be used in Britain and its colonies in 1751.
It is a solar calendar which maintains synchrony with the tropical year.
This holiday is celebrated every year on January 1st.
New Year's Day Facts
·
Baby New Year is the most common symbol associated
with this holiday. He is a toddler dressed in a diaper, hat, and sash
bearing the numbers of the New Year. The myth states that he matures into
an old man during the course of the year. On December 31st, he hands his
hat and sash to the new Baby New Year.
·
In early Roman calendar New Year was celebrated on
March 1st. The new celebration of New Year on January 1st started in Rome in
153 BC. The New Year was moved to January because it was a month when two newly
elected Roman consuls began their tenure, which reflected the beginning of
civil year.
·
In medieval Europe celebrations of New Year on
January 1st were not always observed. Sometimes it was celebrated on Dec. 25th,
March 1st and March 25th (The Feast of the Annunciation).
·
Gregorian calendar came into force in 1582, which
replaced the Julian calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII. After
adoption of Gregorian calendar, January 1st was restored as New Year’s Day.
New Year's Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit Times Square and watch the ball drop in New
York City to celebrate the New Year.
·
Sing Auld Lang Sine and kiss a loved one at the stroke of midnight.
·
Make new resolutions for the upcoming year and let
go of what happened in the previous one.
·
Take advantage of New Year's Eve skiing at a local
ski hill near you. Usually the hills are less crowded and offer discounts on
this holiday.
·
New Year – means new trails to hike. Go
hiking on a New Year’s Day to make a good start from day one and get
motivated.
During
this Christmas season let us take up the nature of God by reflecting on these
traits that make us a model for our children and our sisters and brothers in
Christ. Today reflect on:
Persuasiveness
vs. Contentiousness
Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks (II Timothy 2:24)
373
In God's plan man and woman have the vocation of "subduing" the earth
as stewards of God. This sovereignty is not to be an arbitrary and destructive
domination. God calls man and woman, made in the image of the Creator "who
loves everything that exists", to share in his providence toward other
creatures; hence their responsibility for the world God has entrusted to them.
394
Scripture witnesses to the disastrous influence of the
one Jesus calls "a murderer from the beginning", who would even try
to divert Jesus from the mission received from his Father. "The reason the
Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." In its
consequences the gravest of these works was the mendacious seduction that led
man to disobey God.
An Apostolic Exhortation to the Husbands
and Wives, Mothers and Fathers of the Diocese of Phoenix
“Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I
will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with
one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your
opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your
salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he
has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but
of suffering for him as well— since you are
having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. If
then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any
sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete:
be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one
mind.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:27-2:2
·
So,
in this 15th year of my service to you as your bishop, and the 50th anniversary
of our founding as a Diocese, I seek in this exhortation to, in a way, visit
your home.
·
Throughout
this Jubilee Year, I shall be praising God for all of the husbands and wives,
mothers and fathers of the Diocese of Phoenix. Over these past 50 years,
countless faithful Catholics have surely attained the goal of their lives—eternal salvation. Credit here is
due to the rich mercy of God, to the dedicated priests and religious who have
served our Diocese so well, and to you and the many faithful families who have
lived—and
continue to live—your
vocations with generosity and even, at times, heroism.
·
I
thank the Lord for each of you. I call upon the Holy Spirit and the
intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of our Diocese, to assist
me in encouraging and challenging you to deepen your relationship with Jesus
Christ—Who is
the source of hope and love for every vocation. Your taking up this mission in
a renewed way during this Year of the Family will do much to complete my joy in
you as your spiritual father.
How
to read this Exhortation
I ask that you read through this exhortation
prayerfully and slowly, with a listening heart. In this way, you can receive
what the Lord has for you, fitting for your own journey and your family’s journey. Many of you, though from
strong and intact families, have yet to hear family life presented as a
beautiful, noble and joy-filled life that can certainly be lived with God’s grace. Others of you give thought
regularly to your family’s
mission and are looking for a challenge; I trust you will find it.
I also am keenly aware that for many, the family pain
that you experienced, or are experiencing now, has injured the hopes that such
happiness in a family could be attainable. Do
not be afraid. Great hope remains in Jesus Christ who has overcome the
world. If this place of suffering is where you find yourself at this time, you
may profit by reading chapter four first, on suffering, sin and healing.
"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."
The eyes! Through them many iniquities enter the soul. — What
experiences like David's! — If you guard your sight you have assured the guard
of your heart
Daily Devotions
·
Devotion to the Holy Face Day 7
[1]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/01.cfm
[2]https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/travels-best/photos/awesome-things-to-do-in-january
[3]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/recipes/view.cfm?id=1656
[4]http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/christmas/christmas-january-1.cfm
[6]https://www.wincalendar.com/New-Years-Day
[7]http://graceonlinelibrary.org/home-family/christian-parenting/49-godly-Tcharacter-qualities/
[8]https://family.dphx.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-Complete-My-Joy-Apostolic-Exhortation-English.pdf
[9]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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