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Friday, February 1, 2019


First Friday
FEAST OF ST. BRIGID-NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY


Deuteronomy, Chapter 3, Verse 2
The LORD said to me; do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your power with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.

Again, in Deuteronomy we are told to not be afraid of men. God is our strength; He is our success. Neither fear the evil one. Do not be afraid when men out of ignorance or a lust for power commit all kinds of abominations. Like our Lord we must pray for them. God’s blood does not call for vengeance but for repentance and righteous action. We need not fear nor do nothing, but we must act within our laws doing all we can to reverse the trend of men of power to sacrifice to the evil one as in the recent actions of the Govenors of New York and Virginia to authorize the full sacrifice of human lives to the altar of womenhood. Pray as our Lord, Father they do not know what they do.

The Black Mass[1]: A Parody of the Eucharistic Celebration I have spoken of the black mass as a ceremony during which the consecration to Satan occurs. The black mass is a parody of [the Catholic] Mass, in which one adores and exalts Satan. Usually it is officiated at night, because the darkness permits greater secrecy and because during the night fewer people are found at prayer, which disturbs the ritual. During the celebration, the words and the external signs of the Eucharistic liturgy are used, but always in a contrary sense, in order to manifest opposition to God. There is always a satanic priest officiating who wears blasphemous vestments, an altar represented by a nude woman, possibly a virgin, on whom very serious acts of profanity of the Eucharist (usually stolen from a church), are performed, with words of consecration proclaimed in a contrary sense and an overturned crucifix. Only members of the satanic sect, who are sworn to secrecy, may participate. Nonmembers are never permitted to attend unless it is hoped that, having already been seduced by the perversions and the illusion of power, they may decide to enter the sect. In general, the black masses are celebrated by small groups of ten or at most fifteen of the “faithful.” Once the ritual is concluded, the woman who functions as the altar is raped in turn by all the participants: first by the one who exercised the “rites” of the priest, then by all the others. This woman may have freely accepted that role, or she may have been led there against her will; and aside from the physical violence, she often suffers the terrible consequences of the ritual: [diabolical] possession. As in the Church, some of the official rites are required and are tied to particular feast days. The most important is Halloween, which falls on the night between October 31 and November 1 of each year: it is considered the magic New Year. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the extreme danger for our children and youth who participate in the feast of Halloween on that date. The second precedes our feast of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2. The night before, in fact, begins the magic spring. The summer magic is the third satanic “solemnity” and occurs on the night between April 30 and May 1. During the year [Satanists] often choose nights when the new moon is inaugurated, because it is particularly dark. The officiator of these rites is usually someone who is consecrated to Satan, and although it is not stated, this person is also usually possessed by the devil. It may also not be so. I am certain, however, that during these rituals, as stated above, the Eucharistic hosts are profaned, [having been] stolen from tabernacles or taken by some of the faithful at Communion during Mass and not consumed. I once exorcised a person who had purloined a consecrated Host during a Mass in order to participate at a black mass. He robbed Hosts everywhere, even though he had already begun a courageous path toward liberation. According to what he told me, he was acting in a state of complete unconsciousness — that is, in the state of a trance typical of persons possessed by the devil.

Fear not the serpent for our Lord has crushed his head

Serpent Day[2]

Serpent Day is a day of reflection and coming to grips with our fears. It’s dedicated to pondering our reactions to the prime material behind that expensive high-fashion snake-skin handbag. Its unique, slithering form has long been associated with wisdom and power, used for either good or evil. Serpents have been both feared and revered, at times simultaneously, in many different periods of human history. Quetzalcoatl is a Mesoamerican deity, the worship of which was first known documented in Teotihuacan in the first century BCE or first century CE. Veneration of the figure appears spread throughout Mesoamerica between 600–900 AD.

Quetzalcoatl, also called “the Plumed Serpent,” played a dominant role as a god, model, myth, historical figure and symbol in Aztec culture. According to legend, he was incarnated on earth and founded the fabulous capital of the Toltecs, Tollan. Quetzalcoatl represented the universal quest for meaning in life, and was the guardian of water and rain, a precious resource of the Aztecs.
In the Hindu regions of Asia the serpent, or naga, is considered a nature spirit. As in the Aztec belief system, Naga is the protector of springs, wells and rivers, and so serpents bring rain, and fertility. The serpent is also a fascinating biblical symbol. Perhaps the most common is the portrayal of the serpent as an enemy in general, or as Satan in particular.

However, a serpent is later used to foreshadow Jesus’ death on the cross and the salvation it makes possible when a bronze serpent appears on a cross that the severely ill Israelites looked upon to recover, which can be found in John 3:14-15. Anthropologists have argued that the serpent as a symbol of death is built into our unconscious minds because of evolutionary history, as for millions of years, snakes were mainly just predators of primates. Nowadays, a snake wrapped around the Rod of Asclepius is on the Star of Life, the worldwide symbol of medical aid.

First Friday

Meditation for The First Friday Of the Month[3]

At the hour of our death, when life, like a false friend, is about to forsake us, we must, in a special manner, increase our confidence in the Heart of Jesus. It is said that Our Lord appeared one day to a holy soul who had conjured Him to grant to a pious person a happy passage from this life, and addressed to her these consoling words: (My daughter, where is the pilot who, having brought into port a vessel laden with precious stones, sinks it in the sea at the moment of his arrival? Can you suppose that, after having granted so many graces to this soul in the course of her life, I shall abandon her at the end thereof??

Let us lean on the heart of Jesus; and driven on the stormy sea of this world, under the protection which He grants to those who love Him, we shall one day triumphantly enter the desired port, and enjoy the eternal blessings of that holy guidance. Death was always precious in the sight of God, for Jesus was to pass through its portal; it is precious to Him still, for Jesus has died. No one who is devout to the heart of Jesus will fail to find at the moment of his death more excellent and abundant treasures than he had ever expected to receive. Death, precious to Him self, will not Our Lord render it also inexpressibly so to us?

Faith cannot mistake the proofs of His tenderness. If we may venture to say so, the exile of the being He created is a sorrow to Him as much as to the soul itself; for, like a tender father, God desires that His children should be with Him in His kingdom. Of all the hours of life this is the one which is the most precious in the sight of God, exerts the greatest power over His love, and for this very reason has such a mighty influence over His mercy and justice. In order to receive the fulness of the new life to be merited by repentance through the divine reparation every man must undergo the terrible suffering of death; but is not this suffering, caused by sin, like all other trials, a token of love on the part of God? Without death life could not attain to its end; without death how could the soul ever reach eternal life?

The rebel angel escaped the sentence of death, but for him there was no resurrection. It is decreed that man should die, or, rather, the soul, cleansed by the blood of Our Lord, and vivified by His love, passes into eternity before the body which it shall one day glorify; united together they are called by Jesus to reign in heaven in a state so exalted that it could not have been won by primeval innocence. Even in this world, without awaiting the eternal glorifying of humanity, the most beloved amongst the friends of God experience through their whole being a marvellous transformation which robs death of its terrors, and wholly disengages them from this transitory world. The interior light by which they are led is no longer human, but divine, through Jesus; and a supernatural love is substituted for that natural love which they made their law; and not only are their criminal affections destroyed, but the love of God above all things gives them, even in this life, a foretaste of heaven. They feel no longer an engrossing care for the preservation of the body, but sigh after death, crying incessantly to God, with St. Paul, “I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. They exult when they hear the clock strike, at the thought that one hour less remains for them to pass in this exile; death is no longer a passage of sorrow, but the desired way by which they shall go to the Lord; they sigh after it, they desire it, and would fain hasten the moment of its approach by the ardor of their desire for the enjoyment of a never-ending eternity. One single thing restrains them: it is when the perfection of love imposes on them a law of charity yet stronger, which would detain them in this world for the glory of God and the good of their brethren; says St. Teresa, “thus do souls arrive at a strict union with Jesus.” Thus ardently they have desired to die in order to enjoy the presence of Our Lord; this is their martyrdom that their exile is prolonged; yet they are so inflamed with the desire of knowing Him, of making His name hallowed, of being useful to the souls of others, that far from sighing after death they would wish to live for many years, even amidst the greatest sufferings, too happy in being able to add to the glory of their divine Master. Perfect submission in death is an act of entire adoration, a magnificent profession of faith and praise; its beauty consists in the cheerful and ready sacrifice which the creature makes to the Creator of the life which He had given, shadowing forth God s power in all its grandeur. Death beholds the soul already in adoration annihilated at the thought of the near approach of eternity; this, we may well imagine, is the kind of death the angels love to contemplate. The soul takes to itself no merit, places no trust on the way in which it has served God, and desires to possess even the smallest consolation the Church can bestow. It is specially attracted by the sanctity of God, which makes it aspire to become pure, pure almost beyond conception, in order to appear before the inviolable majesty of God; relying only on His mercy; never losing its confidence in the greatness of the divine compassion, but fearing lest its offences may be beyond the reach of pardon; dying the death of a child, with its eyes fixed on the countenance of its tender Father. Why, then, when in a state of grace, should we entertain a fear of death?”

Whosoever dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God abides in him.” He who loves God is then sure of His grace and dying in this state is certain of enjoying forever the sovereign good in the habitations of the elect. And can such a one fear death?

David has, however, said that no living man is entirely pure in the sight of God. Thus no one should have the presumption to hope for salvation through his own merits; for, except Jesus and Mary, no one was ever exempt from sin. But we need not fear death when we have a true sorrow for our faults, and place our confidence in the merits of Jesus, who came on this earth in order to redeem and save sinners, for whom He shed His blood, for whom He died. The blood of Jesus Christ, says the Apostle, cries more loudly in favor of sinners than the blood of Abel for vengeance against Cain. Grace transforms into a brilliant light that which by its nature was plunged in darkness and obscurity, and the plaintive cry of our misery is changed into a song of triumph; for the fetters which yet separate the soul of the dying from the heavenly Jerusalem are so near being severed asunder that the triumphant alleluias of heaven mingle with the lamentations of earth, and the last gaze of repentant love is tenderly fixed on the crucifix till earth fades from view. The transit of the creature from time to eternity is dear to the Creator; for precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Let us throw aside, then, those vain fears of death, and regard it as a tribute which all must pay to nature. Let us be ready cheerfully to leave this world when Our Lord shall call us to the land where the saints await us, and where we shall meet those who have instructed us in the faith, and whose victory will in some measure supply for the negligence with which we have performed our own duties toward our heavenly Father. Let us unite ourselves to those glorious troops of blessed spirits who are seated in the kingdom of God with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; into which the good thief entered in triumph after a life of sin, and now enjoys, in the company of the elect, the ineffable delights of paradise; where there is no darkness nor storms, no intense heat, excessive cold, sickness, or sorrow ; and where there is no need of the light of the sun, because the Sun of justice alone enlightens the heavenly Jerusalem.

Feast Day of St Brigid of Ireland[4]


Bridget (Brigid, Bride, Bridey) of Kildare was born around 450 into a Druid family, being the daughter of Dubhthach, court poet to King Loeghaire. At an early age, Brigid decided to become a Christian, and she eventually took vows as a nun. Together with a group of other women, she established a nunnery at Kildare. She was later joined by a community of monks led by Conlaed. Kildare had formerly been a pagan shrine where a sacred fire was kept perpetually burning. Rather than stamping out this pagan flame, Brigid and her nuns kept it burning as a Christian symbol. (This was in keeping with the general process whereby Druidism in Ireland gave way to Christianity with very little opposition, the Druids for the most part saying that their own beliefs were a partial and tentative insight into the nature of God, and that they recognized in Christianity what they had been looking for.) As an abbess, Brigid participated in several Irish councils, and her influence on the policies of the Church in Ireland was considerable.

Things to Do
  • Read Amy Steedman's biography of Saint Brigid of Ireland to gain a greater appreciation and devotion for this holy woman, who had a great tenderness for mothers and their children.
  • Read Saint Brigit: The Mary of the Gael (Catholic Culture Library) or go to this fascinating page St. Brigit - The Giveaway where you will find some folklore and recipes.
  • Saint Brigid always recognized Christ in the sick and the poor. Visit Christ in a nursing home or hospital today, and pray for the grace of clear vision, even when you encounter Him in a distressing disguise.
  • Meditate on today's beautiful reading, in 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13. Is this the kind of love you share with your family? Pray to Saint Brigid for the grace to be patient, kind, and gentle with those entrusted to your care.
  • For more recipes and for a craft go to Brigid's Day Foods and How to Make a Traditional St. Brigid's Cross.
National Wear Red Day[5]

National Wear Red Day is a holiday dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease. Heart disease is currently the number one killer of women in America, claiming the lives of approximately 500,000 American women annually. National Wear Red Day was established by the American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in 2003.  The day is celebrated annually by wearing red color to represent the fight against heart disease and stroke in an effort to generate awareness and initiate change.  By the 13th anniversary of the National Wear Red Day, the campaign had achieved many positive goals including these statistics: more than 33% of women in America have lost weight and more than 50% of American women are more physically active.  National Wear Red Day is celebrated on the first Friday of February annually.

National Wear Red Day Facts & Quotes

·         Heart disease and stroke kill 1 in 3 women, yet 80% of cardiovascular events are preventable.
·         1 in 4 deaths in America are related to heart disease.
·         Since the initiation of National Wear Red Day campaign in 2003 and increased focus on heart disease in women, death in women has decreased more than 30% over the past 10 years.
·         Factors that increase the risk of heart disease include:
- Physical inactivity
- Increased cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
·         I saw many people who had advanced heart disease and I was so frustrated because I knew if they just knew how to do the right thing, simple lifestyle and diet steps, that the entire trajectory of their life and health would have been different. - Mehmet Oz - Dr. Oz Show Host and Cardiothoracic Surgeon

National Wear Red Day Top Events and Things to Do

·         Raise awareness for heart disease research.  Volunteer with the local heart disease fundraising organization in your area.
·         Wear red on National Wear Red Day to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke in women.
·         Visit your family health physician and get a blood pressure, body mass index and cholesterol tests in order to further discuss your exposure to heart disease and take preventative measures.
·         To prevent heart disease, get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. Opt to head out for a brisk walk, a light run, swimming or biking.
·         Purchase one of many watches or download aps that monitor your daily steps, heart rate and food consumption. Garmin and Apple both sell watches while aps such as My Fitness Pal and Runkeeper monitor steps and food consumption.

Complete My Joy[6]-
CONCLUSION

145. “Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it. This, as has already been said, is why Christ the Redeemer fully reveals man to himself.”

146. Let me conclude this exhortation with one more witness to the Gospel, a saint, a man’s man, and a holy one who changed my life personally. I was blessed to work with him directly at the Holy See for nine years, and most of what I know about leading and being a spiritual father comes from him. 

147. It was from his father and mother, and his only brother Edmund too, that young Karol Wojtyla (now known as St. John Paul II) discovered the beauty and nobility of love. In the daily rhythm of the Wojtyla home in Wadowice, worshipping the Lord together every Sunday, praying before meals and in the evening, the future pope experienced and made his own the love of God that was revealed in its fullness through Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary.

148. Then, while facing with his Dad the tragic deaths of his Mom and brother, the love of Jesus took ever greater root in young Karol’s life. With the death of his Dad, shortly after his own 20th birthday, he experienced the loneliness of having no earthly family member with whom to share the joys and sorrows, the hopes and dreams of human life; yet by divine providence he had already received through them a great gift which many of our contemporaries do not know. Fr. George Rutler describes it this way: “…a woman being a woman and a man being a man do not play roles unless the roles are part of a divine drama of creation. This creation of man and woman was God’s greatest outpouring of perfection...”

149. Dear husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, whom I have the privilege to serve as a spiritual father, let your hearts rejoice anew at God’s call to bear witness to Jesus and His Gospel by loving one another in the very family in which you now are living. You are not alone as you face the sorrows and struggles, the lights and shadows, that are part of family life. Recall Jesus’ promise, “Know that I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

150. It is not by chance that Jesus called you and me to be His witnesses at this troubled time in history, in the post-sexual revolution confusion. Now, He is calling us to know, love and serve Him in the “final battle about marriage and family” of which Sister Lucia wrote.

151. We walk side by side with many whose experiences have led them to think that the nature of the family is “a jungle, not a garden.” For reasons known only to Christ, He has chosen you whom He has joined in marriage to be, at this time in history, an icon of His love for His Bride the Church. When you make sacrifices, then, for one another, when you encourage and forgive each other, when you worship the Lord together, when you welcome children and raise them in the practice of the Catholic faith, you are helping our skeptical generation to believe that free, total, faithful and fruitful love is still possible. Indeed, nothing is impossible with God; trust Him and begin.

The Way[7] Penance

"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."

That Christ you see is not Jesus. It is only the pitiful image that your blurred eyes are able to form... — Purify yourself. Clarify your sight with humility and penance. Then... the pure light of Love will not be denied you. And you will have perfect vision. The image you see will be really his: his!

Daily Devotions
·         Drops of Christ’s Blood
·         Universal Man Plan
·         Nivevah 90 day10


[1]Amorth, Fr. Gabriele. An Exorcist Explains the Demonic: The Antics of Satan and His Army of Fallen Angels

[3]https://catholicsaints.info/meditation-for-the-first-friday-of-the-month-of-the-sacred-heart/
[6]https://family.dphx.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-Complete-My-Joy-Apostolic-Exhortation-English.pdf
[7]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm

Thursday, January 31, 2019


SAINT JOHN BOSCO

 Psalm 103, Verse 11

For as the heavens tower over the earth, so his mercy towers over those who fear him.

The earth is indeed blessed among all the planets in our solar system because of our heaven. As the heavens have made the earth a garden rich with life like so is God grace over those who are faithful and love Him.Never forget our Lord asked Peter if he loves Him three times.  One time for each of the times Peter denied our Lord on the eve of His crucifixion thus nullifying Peter’s denials and restoring him. Christ asks Peter with each affirmation to 1) feed His lambs 2) tend His sheep and 3) feed His sheep. 

First Christ asked Peter if he loves Him more than the others thus establishing Peters leadership on love. Next Christ tells Peter to feed His lambs to give them a core of strength. If we wish to develop strength in ourselves and others it is imperative that we give hope, confidence, a work ethic, resilience, self-control and courage to the lambs in our charge.

Secondly Christ asks Peter to “tend His sheep” or that is to give a firm purpose to direct their efforts to create the Kingdom of God.

Lastly Christ asks Peter to “Feed His sheep” by having an understanding heart and to be compassionate, faithful, merciful, tolerant, forgiving and generous.

How God Raises a Leader[1] (Psalm 103: 1-5)


1.      God pardons (v.3) leaders must push past shame or blame.
2.      God heals (v.3) they must become healthy and be liberated from old wounds.
3.      God redeems (v.4) they see their abilities and personality redeemed.
4.      God crowns (v.4) they are given gifts and a place to serve.
5.      God satisfies (v.5) they feel satisfied and fulfilled as they live out their role.


Natural Leadership vs. Spiritual Leadership

Natural Leader
Spiritual Leader

1.      Self-Confident
1.      Confident in God
2.      Knows Men
2.      Knows God
3.      Makes own decisions
3.      Seeks to find God’s will
4.      Ambitious
4.      Self-Sacrificing
5.      Originates own methods
5.      Finds and follows God’s methods
6.      Enjoys commanding others
6.      Servant of all
7.      Motivated by self-interest
7.      Motivated by love of God and Man
8.      Independent
8.      God-dependent
9.      Gets power through personality
9.      Empowered by the Holy Spirit
10.  Cowboy driving the herd
10.  Shepard leading the flock

Jesus led his disciples from being natural leaders to being spiritual leaders who were not afraid of asking questions and or the answer they may get. As a result, they transformed the earth through good works and humility:

Jesus said to his disciples, "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.



St. John Bosco was the founder of the Salesian Society, named in honor of St. Francis de Sales, and of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. His lifework was the welfare of young boys and girls, hence his title, "Apostle of Youth." He had no formal system or theory of education. His methods centered on persuasion, authentic religiosity, and love for young people. He was an enlightened educator and innovator. Don Bosco decided to go ahead fearlessly with his educational mission stating,” “Timid souls refrained from making any kind of fresh start for fear of the coming storm.”

Things to Do
  • St. John Bosco at a young age learned how to juggle and do other tricks to attract children to him. This provided opportunities for him to give catechesis to these children. Think of different activities that you could do to attract children—perhaps juggling, putting on puppet shows, storybook time—and use that opportunity to teach a virtue, catechism lesson, or just to be a good example. Good clean fun or a wholesome activity is a lesson in itself in a world where there is so much corruption.
  • If you feel brave, try cooking the stuffed raw peppers suggested for today. Mama Margaret probably cooked Peperoni farciti à la Piemontaise (peppers stuffed with boiled rice), a speciality from Turin, for St. John Bosco's boys.
  • Read this article from Catholic Culture's library, Don Bosco, Seeker of Souls.
Complete My Joy[3]-

Marian Consecration of your Home


141. This is a true story of faith, obedience, Mary’s intercession and God’s grace. Dare we hope that our faith and obedience, Mary’s intercession and God’s grace can work a miracle again today amid our own pervasive culture of death and divided families? I invite you to dare with me.

142. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of America, and of the Diocese of Phoenix. Her intercession for our families is key to winning the spiritual battle again in our time. My dear sons and daughters, if you haven’t done so already, invite Our Lady to dwell with you through consecrating your home to Jesus through her Immaculate Heart. I ask every family in our Diocese to place an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a special place, perhaps your prayer space, in your home. You can make of it a special occasion, and perhaps invite a priest or a deacon to bless the image while he also blesses your home.

143. According to Fr. Michael Gaitley, an expert on the history of Mary’s rare but real miraculous appearances on the earth, the second largest consecration to Our Lady in history is taking place here and now, in the United States, and I am greatly encouraged by this fact. The last nation our Blessed Mother brought this close to her Son was Poland in the 20th Century, which despite much suffering, gave us a constellation of saints made up of Maximilian Kolbe, Faustina Kowalska, and the Pope of the Family, John Paul II.

144. “The only failure in life is not to become a saint.” This is true. This is indeed true for every member of your family, and we need all the help we can get. Our Lady will help us to the halls of Heaven with her prayers.

The Way[4] Penance

"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."

In the deep pit opened by your humility, let penance bury your negligences, offences and sins. Just as the gardener buries rotten fruit, dried twigs and fallen leaves at the foot of the very trees which produced them. And so, what was useless, what was even harmful, can make a real contribution to a new fruitfulness. From the falls learn to draw strength: from death, life.

Daily Devotions
·         Drops of Christ’s Blood
·         Universal Man Plan
·         Nivevah 90 day 9



FEBRUARY

Soil under our feet goes unnoticed, though this first foot of soil is where most living organisms’ dwell. The health of the fragile skin of our earth is of utmost importance. Humility comes from the Latin word for soil, "humus." From and unto dust is the humbling message to each of us. Soil is rich and fertile but also prone to erosion and pollution.

Overview of February

The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family. This year the entire month of February falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time which is represented by the liturgical color green. Green, the symbol of hope, is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ's public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family. The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother's arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice. The saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are St. Agatha (February 5), St. Paul Miki & Companions (February 6), St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8), Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11), Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14), St. Peter Damian (February 21), Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and St. Polycarp (February 23). The feast of St. Blaise (February 3), St. Scholastica (February 10) and the Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17) will not be celebrated this year because they are superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter)! In addition, the faithful may receive in February two of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats. The Solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save his people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. "The Light of Revelation" shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence – exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion – propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday in March and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent – fasting, prayer, almsgiving – laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son.  https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/02.cfm


[1]John Maxwell, The Maxwell Leadership Bible
[3]https://family.dphx.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-Complete-My-Joy-Apostolic-Exhortation-English.pdf
[4]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm