Saturday, January 26, 2019


FEAST OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS


Deuteronomy, Chapter 1, Verse 19
Then we set out from Horeb and journeyed through that whole vast and fearful wilderness that you have seen, in the direction of the hill country of the Amorites, as the LORD, our God, had commanded; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.


Kadesh-barnea means “The holy place of the desert of wandering”[1] Sometimes the Lord asks us to go out into the desert for it is in the desert that we can; like Abraham and Moses, have an encounter with the living God. Deserts are fearful places and are full of rocks, pointy things, snakes, spiders and the indescribable beauty of God’s creation. By encountering God in the desert, we learn that the very same stones that somehow get in our shoes and make progress impossible are the very same stones that lay foundations, bridges and roads.

In the desert we can search for God; avoid of our distractions and find Him. In the desert we can write out our sins and confess them to God. In the desert we can shed our old lives like the snake sheds its skin and find a new perspective for life. It is during this time alone with; He that IS; we make a spiritual change of clothes. In the desert we can make an all-night vigil and with the coming of the new day we can proclaim as in the Negro spiritual: When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. For it is in the desert that we can quit deluding ourselves and be doers of the word and not hearers only. For it is in the desert with can find the strength to keep ourselves unstained by the world and find that pure and undefiled religion is to care for others in their afflictions.

Chapel of the Holy Cross[2]

The chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who had been inspired in 1932 by the newly constructed Empire State Building to build such a church. After an attempt to do so in Budapest, Hungary (with the help of Lloyd Wright, son of noted architect Frank Lloyd Wright) was aborted due to the outbreak of World War II, she decided to build the church in her native region. The chapel is built on Coconino National Forest land; the late Senator Barry Goldwater assisted Staude in obtaining a special-use permit. The construction supervisor was Fred Courkos, who built the chapel in 18 months at a cost of US$300,000. The chapel was completed in 1956. The American Institute of Architects gave the Chapel its Award of Honor in 1957. In the sculptor's words, “Though Catholic in faith, as a work of art the Chapel has a universal appeal. Its doors will ever be open to one and all, regardless of creed, that God may come to life in the souls of all men (and women) and be a living reality.” In 2007, Arizonans voted the Chapel to be one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona, and it is also the site of one of the so-called Sedona vortices (New Age Pagan stuff).


Feast of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops[3]

St. Timothy, born in Galatia in Asia Minor, was baptized and later ordained to the priesthood by St. Paul. The young Galatian became Paul's missionary companion and his most beloved spiritual son. St. Paul showed his trust in this disciple by consecrating him bishop of the great city of Ephesus. St. Timothy was stoned to death thirty years after St. Paul's martyrdom for having denounced the worship of the goddess Diana.

St. Titus, a convert from paganism, was a fellow laborer of St. Paul on many apostolic missions. St. Paul later made him bishop of Crete, a difficult charge because of the character of the inhabitants and the spread of erroneous doctrines on that island. St. Paul's writings tell us that St. Titus rejoiced to discover what was good in others and drew the hearts of men by his wide and affectionate sympathy.

Australia Day[4]

Australia Day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Britain.  On this day in 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip first raised the British flag at Sydney Cove, marking the British occupation of Australia which has been claimed 8 years earlier by the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1770. Australia Day is observed annually on January 26th each year with barbeques and fireworks. Today, the day gives Australians the opportunity to reflect upon what it means to be Australian, the history that shaped the nation and the brighter future that the country has to look forward to.

Australia Day Facts & Quotes

·         In 2015 Australia day coincided with 150th anniversary of Colac's Botanic Gardens.
·         Australia was originally designed as a penal colony - a place used to exile convicts and criminals.  The first was named the Colony of New South Wales.
·         The Australian Flag is flown to commemorate this holiday.  The flag includes: The Union Jack, representing historical ties to Great Britain; a large white seven-tipped star representing the 7 provinces making up the Commonwealth of Australia; and five white stars in the Southern Cross constellation pattern, a reminder of their Southern Hemisphere location.
·         The entire population of Australia (22.3 Million) is less than the population of Texas (26 Million).
·         There's an expression in Australia that's called 'Go Bush,' which means to get out of the city and relax. I try and 'go bush' to places where there's no cell reception. But I don't get to do that often, so for the most part, it's just a state of mind. - Cate Blanchett, actress

Australia Day Top Events and Things to Do

·         Watch fireworks displays.  Some of the grander displays are at Sydney harbor, Rooty Hill and the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
·         Watch or attend the Oz Day 10km race in Sydney, Australia.
·         Visit Hyde Park in Sidney where many Australia day events take place.
·         Attend flag raising and citizenship ceremonies in Canberra and Perth.

Complete My Joy[5]
Healing: A God who Restores

110. God, who allows suffering for our redemption, and who suffers with us, also desires to restore to us all that has been lost and broken. Sometimes, what is broken actually becomes stronger when healed. I think of the broken equipment on our family farm, which, after having been repaired with the welder’s torch, was stronger in the place of welding than ever before and would not break in the same place again.

111. Even a marriage or family wounded by rebelliousness, neglect, abuse, or rejection is still a sacramental source of grace and mercy, “albeit a mercy that might entail drawing close to Christ’s own suffering.” In times when you may feel that your family is not a perfect icon of the Trinity, take comfort in knowing that there are many ways to image the love of God. Sometimes, that image is the Cross of Christ.

112. Fulton Sheen’s words are convicting: “Even those who have some degree of sanctity find it hard, sometimes, to remain on the cross until the end; the world is full of half-crucified souls who have come down from the cross at the challenge of the world after an hour, after two hours, after two hours and fifty-nine minutes. Few are like the Savior, who will stay until the end that they, like him, might utter the cry of triumph: ‘It is finished.’”

113. How do we heal when we know our wounded family and we ourselves need it? The sacraments are always mysteries of Jesus’ healing—when we receive them with proper readiness. Confession and the frequent reception of the Eucharist in particular bring healing to our souls. Additionally, prayer by those who have the charism of healing can also bring great physical and spiritual healing. Finally, sometimes we simply need someone to listen and help us see a path forward; this is where wise Catholic counselors and other psychological professionals can be of great service. We have a growing number of such professionals in our Diocese, and I highly recommend seeking out their help when needed.

The Way[6] Mortification

"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 heroic minute. It is the time fixed for getting up. Without hesitation: a supernatural reflection and... up! The heroic minute: here you have a mortification that strengthens your will and does no harm to your body.

Daily Devotions
·         Drops of Christ’s Blood
·         Universal Man Plan
·         Follow World Youth Day
·         Nivevah 90 day 4



[2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_of_the_Holy_Cross_(Sedona,_Arizona)
[3]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-01-26
[5]https://family.dphx.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2018-Complete-My-Joy-Apostolic-Exhortation-English.pdf
[6]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm

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