PRESIDENTS
DAY
Deuteronomy,
Chapter 8, Verse 5-6
5 So you must know in your heart
that, even as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD, your God, disciplines
you.
6 Therefore,
keep the commandments of the LORD, your God, by walking in his ways and fearing him.
When we fear the Lord, our contentment does not come
from any absence of problems but from knowingly choosing how to respond to them
righteously. God does not want to squash our dreams with His commandments. No,
he listens and smiles like we do when we see and hear the dreams of a child.
Yet, He knows that all dreams must be founded in reality and the truth. When
our dreams work against His commandments; our dreams work against us. Every
dream must have a foundation of love and in some way must increase the life,
liberty or the happiness of others.
Yes, on the Day of Judgment the homes of the poor will
be honored more than the great mansions of the rich. Simple obedience to His
laws will be more highly praised than the brilliance of all the Kings,
Presidents and couriers throughout the world. Strive therefore for dreams which
provide earthly gain without the surrender to sin. So, the only real wealth is
a clear conscience; of a life well lived. To live righteously, to love
chastely, to learn the truth and to leave a legacy to others is the only true
riches.
Jesus experienced the utmost depths of human fear. Yet he found the strength even in
that hour to trust the Father. “Abba,
Father, all things are possible to you; remove this chalice from me; yet not
what I will, but what you will.” (Mk. 15:34) Can we at the final hour have
the peace of Christ to say, “Father, into
your hands I commit my spirit”. (Lk . 23:46)[1]
President's Day, or Washington's Birthday as it is still legally known, was originally designed as a celebration of George Washington's birthdate. In 1880, Congress voted to make this the first national holiday which honored an individual. In 1968, Congress enacted the Uniform Monday Bill, to give workers as many long weekends as possible. This moved as many holidays to a standard Monday each year. Many states were already honoring Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12th, and this celebration was combined with George Washington's birthday, for one federal holiday. It is observed on the third Monday in February each year.
President's Day Facts
·
According
to the Julian calendar, Washington was born February 11, 1732. The
Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752, changing Washington's Birthday to
February 22.
·
Since
1888, Washington's Farewell Address has been read aloud in the U.S. Senate on
February 22nd.
·
George
Washington was the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, first U.S.
President, and President of the Constitutional Convention.
·
Presidents
Day never falls on Washington's actual birthdate (Feb. 22). The third
Monday in February can never be any later than February 21st.
President's Day Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Visit
Mt. Vernon, VA, Washington's ancestral home and place of both he and his wife
Martha's tomb. Admission is free on President's Day.
·
Go
shopping for a car. Presidents day weekend typically features some of the
best car deals of the year as dealers try to clear out prior-year inventory.
·
Read
George Washington's Farewell Address and reflect on his contributions to United
States.
·
Read
Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and reflect on his contributions to
the United States.
·
Visit
the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
American priest -- Fr. Giacomo
Capoverdi -- recounts how he encountered this holy man who lived in Loreto. He
says that some seventeen years ago, a friend of his -- an Italian American
doctor named Claudio Curran -- told him that he had to get up to Loreto on his
upcoming trip to Rome to speak with a holy man there by the name of Tom Zimmer.
He said this "hermit", an American layperson, had left everything
behind in the US to live in Loreto as a hermit. He added that he was very
prayerful and had written a book, “Pieta'” which sold upwards of “ten million
copies.”
Fr. Capoverdi says that after arriving in Rome, he indeed took a train up to Loreto and went inside the basilica where he saw an elderly gentleman, hunched over, sitting on the floor next to the Holy House in prayer. He sat down next to him, introduced himself in English, and they had a wonderful conversation. So, then Fr. Capoverdi fast forwards until a few weeks ago when he was talking to his old friend, the doctor, who said that back in the 1980s, Tom Zimmer had told him (the doctor) that he had received a “premonition” and that he (Tom) believed that a certain man would lead America back to God. And that man would be none other than Donald J. Trump.
“The millionaire playboy from New York?” asks the incredulous doctor. “Yes,” responds Tom. In fact, Zimmer was so convinced that Donald Trump would become a great spiritual leader of America that he wrote his name on a brick and had it placed in the reconstruction of St. Peter’s Holy Door after the Jubilee in order that Trump would receive blessings from the many Masses that would be said in the Vatican. Fr. Capoverdi says that he wanted to get this message out after he saw Donald Trump’s wife begin a political rally in Florida by beginning with the Our Father.
Fr. Capoverdi says that after arriving in Rome, he indeed took a train up to Loreto and went inside the basilica where he saw an elderly gentleman, hunched over, sitting on the floor next to the Holy House in prayer. He sat down next to him, introduced himself in English, and they had a wonderful conversation. So, then Fr. Capoverdi fast forwards until a few weeks ago when he was talking to his old friend, the doctor, who said that back in the 1980s, Tom Zimmer had told him (the doctor) that he had received a “premonition” and that he (Tom) believed that a certain man would lead America back to God. And that man would be none other than Donald J. Trump.
“The millionaire playboy from New York?” asks the incredulous doctor. “Yes,” responds Tom. In fact, Zimmer was so convinced that Donald Trump would become a great spiritual leader of America that he wrote his name on a brick and had it placed in the reconstruction of St. Peter’s Holy Door after the Jubilee in order that Trump would receive blessings from the many Masses that would be said in the Vatican. Fr. Capoverdi says that he wanted to get this message out after he saw Donald Trump’s wife begin a political rally in Florida by beginning with the Our Father.
THE
TREE OF HAPPINESS (Cont.)
“The
situation is desperate”, King Richard mentioned to Sir Michael. “The young
knights have lost all self-discipline, they have no love or sense of duty for
the kingdom and most of the people never attend the churches anymore.” King
Richard didn’t mention it to Sir Michael, but his one desire was to have his
only daughter, “Dawn Tomorrow”, marry a Knight and see him Crowned King and
Dawn be a mother to a Great Nation. Richard was a religious King, but due to
the duties of his office he found it difficult to do much else then keep his
Knights in check. He wondered if anyone would be found worthy to take the hand
of Dawn Tomorrow in marriage. Utopia was a rich nation and the pleasures were
many for all who could afford them. Even with heavy taxes being imposed; most
of the peasants in Utopia led lives of relative richness in material things,
but sadly most people lacked true happiness and so the King asked Sir Michael
for his advice. Sir Michael thought about it and thought about it and could not
come up with a solution to the problem. Than at last he came upon an idea. A
Quest! He remembered the legend his mother told him of when he was a small boy.
It was the legend of the Tree of Happiness. The Tree of Happiness, according to
the legend, was also in the Garden of Eden when God banned Adam & Eve from
Eden and although access to the Tree of Life was guarded by the Angels, it is
said that man may still have access to the fruit of the Tree of Happiness.
“That’s it”, Exclaimed Sir Michael. We will have a crusade to find the Tree of
Happiness and bring the fruit back to Utopia. To be continued.
"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."
'Have a good time
to-night', they said, as usual. And the comment of a soul very close to God
was, 'What a limited wish!'
Daily Devotions
[1]
Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church http://www.youcat.org/
[4]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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