Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Saint george

Psalm 33, verse 18-19

¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, upon those who count on his mercy, ¹⁹To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive through famine.

You cannot receive if you do not ask. Let us ask for God’s mercy and count on it, to deliver our soul from death and keep us alive through this earthly famine for ourselves and others.

Today if you have time would be a good day to read Saint John Paul II’s encyclical^[1] letter-Rich in Mercy.

Easter Tuesday[2]

To praise and thank God for the mystery of redemption, the Church sings at the Introit of the Mass: He hath given them the water of wisdom to drink, alleluia. He shall be made strong in them, and shall not be moved, alleluia. And He shall exalt them forever, alleluia, alleluia (Ecclus. xv. 3). Give glory to the Lord, and call upon His name, declare His deeds among the Gentiles (Ps. civ. 1).

Prayer. O God, Who dost ever multiply thy Church by a new progeny, grant to Thy servants that they may retain in their lives the mystery which they have received by faith.

EPISTLE. Acts xiii. 26-33.

In those days, Paul rising up, and with his hand bespeaking silence, said: Men, brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you fear God, to you the word of this salvation is sent. For they that inhabited Jerusalem, and the rulers thereof, not knowing Jesus, nor the voices of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, judging Him have fulfilled them. And finding no cause of death in Him, they desired of Pilate that they might kill Him. And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of Him, taking Him down from the tree they laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him up from the dead the third day: Who was seen for many days by them, who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who to this present are His witnesses to the people. And we declare unto you that the promise which was made to our fathers, this same God hath fulfilled to our children, raising up Jesus Christ our Lord.

Explanation. Like St. Peter, so St. Paul founds the truth of his doctrine upon the resurrection of Jesus, because Christ had given this as the special proof of the truth of His doctrine. Had He not risen from the dead He would not have been the Son of God and could not have redeemed mankind. The resurrection is, therefore, the foundation of our belief. On that account He allowed His disciples for a while to doubt, and only to believe after He had given them proofs of His resurrection by repeatedly appearing to them; that by their doubts and cautious unbelief the wounds of unbelief in our hearts might be healed, and we might know how true is the resurrection, and how firmly founded our faith.

GOSPEL. Luke xxiv. 36-47.

At that time: Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, and saith to them: Peace be to you: it is I, fear not. But they being troubled and frighted, supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

See My hands and feet, that it is I Myself; handle, and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see Me to have. And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. But while they yet believed not, and wondered for joy, He said:  Have you here anything to eat?

And they offered Him a piece of a broiled fish and a honeycomb. And when He had eaten before them, taking the remains He gave to them. And He said to them: These are the words which I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me. Then He opened their understanding, that they might under stand the Scriptures. And He said to them: Thus, it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead the third day: and that penance and remission of sins should be preached in His name unto all nations.

Why does Jesus greet His disciples with the words, “Peace be to you?”

1.      Because He came to restore to men that peace with God, with themselves, with their neighbor, which sin had destroyed.

2.      Because peace is a mark of the children of God, as discord is of sinners.

3.      Because peace is the greatest of all goods. Therefore, it is that He will have His apostles, after His example, give the greeting of peace on entering a house.

4.      Finally, Because He desired to encourage His disciples to confidence by His friendliness.

Why did Our Savior retain the marks of His wounds after His resurrection?

·         To show that it was the same body which had been wounded during His passion, and to show that He was really risen from the dead.

·         To teach us that we too shall, in like manner, rise with our bodies.

·         To make known to us the greatness of His love, through which He has graven us, as it were, on His hands and feet, and in His heart.

·         To impart to us confidence in His endless mercy, and to encourage us to combat against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

·         To prepare a place of refuge, and an inexhaustible fountain of consolation for all the miserable, afflicted, and tempted.

·         To terrify the impenitent, whom, on the Day of Judgment, He will show how much He has suffered for them, and that they have been the cause of their own destruction. Oh, let us endeavor to think often on the wounds of Jesus, that we may thereby be encouraged to lead pious lives acceptable to God.

Aspiration

O Jesus, grant that the precious blood which flowed from Thy wounds for me and all sinners may not be lost.

Instruction on what we ought to believe concerning the Holy Scriptures.

“He opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” Luke xxiv. 45.

Is it free to everyone to read and explain Holy Scripture according to his own opinion? No; that must be done with submission and conformity to the teaching of the Church. Questions of faith cannot be settled by appealing to the Holy Scriptures alone, since they themselves are liable to be misunderstood. For this reason, the Church has done wisely in making the printing, reading, and explaining of Holy Scripture depend upon the permission of lawful spiritual superiors.

What, therefore, must one do who desires to read the Holy Scriptures?

§  He must read them, only with the permission of the ecclesiastical superiors.

§  With the subjection of his own opinion to the decisions of the Church, and the interpretation of the holy fathers.

§  With suitable preparation, by prayer and fasting, as St. Thomas of Aquinas did, and with devotion and care.

Saint George[3]

The traditional legends have offered a historicized narration of George's encounter with a dragon. The modern legend that follows below is synthesized from early and late hagiographical sources, omitting the more fantastical episodes. Saint George likely was born to a Christian noble family in Syria Palaestina, during the late third century between about 275 AD and 285 AD. He died in Nicomedia in Asia Minor. His father, Gerontios, was from Cappadocia, an officer in the Roman army; his mother, Polychronia, was a native of Lydda. They were both Christians from noble families, so their child was raised with Christian beliefs. They decided to call him Georgios, meaning "worker of the land" (i.e., farmer). At the age of 14, George lost his father; a few years later, George's mother, Polychronia, died. Eastern accounts give the names of his parents as Anastasius and Theobaste. George then decided to go to Nicomedia and present himself to Emperor Diocletian to apply for a career as a soldier. Diocletian welcomed him with open arms, as he had known his father, Gerontius — one of his finest soldiers. By his late 20s, George was promoted to the rank of Military Tribune and stationed as an imperial guard of the Emperor at Nicomedia. On 24 February AD 303, Diocletian (influenced by Galerius) issued an edict that every Christian soldier in the army should be arrested and every other soldier should offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods of the time. However, George objected, and with the courage of his faith, approached the Emperor and ruler. Diocletian was upset, not wanting to lose his best tribune and the son of his best official, Gerontius. But George loudly renounced the Emperor's edict, and in front of his fellow soldiers and tribunes he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared his worship of Jesus Christ. Diocletian attempted to convert George, even offering gifts of land, money, and slaves if he made a sacrifice to the Roman gods; he made many offers, but George never accepted. Recognizing the futility of his efforts and insisting on upholding his edict, Diocletian ordered that George be executed for his refusal. Before the execution, George gave his wealth to the poor and prepared himself. After various torture sessions, including laceration on a wheel of swords during which he was resuscitated three times, George was executed by decapitation before Nicomedia's city wall, on 23 April 303. A witness of his suffering convinced Empress Alexandra and Athanasius, a pagan priest, to become Christians, as well, so they joined George in martyrdom.

Troops of Saint George[4]

The Troops of Saint George (TSG) is a fraternal Catholic nonprofit apostolate for priests, men, and young men looking for a life of adventure coupled with virtue. Initially founded in 2013 by Catholic author and professor Dr. Taylor Marshall, we have become a collection of troops that do the following:

·         experience reverent and beautiful Masses on mountaintop vistas

·         pray the Rosary with other men around fire pits in the freezing cold

·         catch a Fish Friday meal by fly fishing for trout

·         go to confession with our priests while kneeling on moss in the woods

·         teach our sons archery, rockclimbing, marksmanship, fishing, survival skills…and Catholic virtues

·         foster a love for the priesthood and a reverence for the sacrament of Matrimony

·         support our local parish, our priests, our bishops, and community by being available for works of mercy and service

Mission Statement

“The Troops of Saint George apostolate aims to use the outdoors as our canvas and the sacraments as our path to light the way for the formation of Holy Catholic men and boys. Whether called to the vocation of the priesthood, the religious life, or that of Holy fatherhood, our fathers and sons will take a prayerful pilgrimage together to fulfill Christ’s desire for them to grow in virtue and in their Holy Catholic faith as they journey toward heaven.”

Saint George Trinitarian Salute

The Troops of Saint George salute their officers, the flag, banners of the saints and Our Lady, and crucifixes with the “Trinitarian Salute” – three fingers of the right hand (index, middle, ring) out, and with the pinky and thumb joined signifying that the divine nature of Christ is joined to His human nature: fully God and fully man as taught at the Catholic Council of Chalcedon in AD 431.

Prayer Customs: ad orientem

The cadets usually carry a compass with them. Even when they do not, they should be able to find East. Like the early Christians, the Troops of Saint George pray facing the East in response to Gospel according to Saint Matthew 24:27:

“For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appears even into the west: so, shall the coming of the Son of man be.”

The Church believed that Christ’s Second Coming would be revealed “from the east to the west.” The rising sun was an image of the Resurrected Christ.

So, at times of prayer (for example, at the Angelus at noon), the Captain or one of the boys should shout “ad orientem” and the men and boys should turn to face East, unless there is already a suitable image or crucifix erected nearby.

The Role of Proverbs for the Troops of Saint George

Each man or young man among the Troops of Saint George must study the biblical book of Proverbs, since it is the Book of the Bible that instructs men how to be come wise and virtuous. There the man will learn why he should resist sexual impurity, alcoholism, quarreling, and financial debt – the chief ways by which men lapse. He will also learn from the Proverbs the riches of knowing God and the blessing of a godly wife and family.

St. George, although a man of courage, like our Christ meekly underwent the torture.

Divine Mercy Novena[5]

Fifth Day - Today Bring to Me the Souls of Heretics and Schismatics.

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of heretics and schismatics. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of heretics, and schismatics, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your Own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

Daily Devotions

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood

·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

·         Universal Man Plan

·         Manhood of Christ Day 7, Seventh Week.

·         Divine Mercy Novena Day 5

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[1]http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_30111980_dives-in-misericordia.html

[2] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George

[4]https://troopsofsaintgeorge.org/about/

[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1032