This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
The month of July is
dedicated to The Precious Blood of Jesus. The entire month falls within the
liturgical season of Ordinary
Time, which is
represented by the liturgical color green. This 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. It is used
in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time. July is usually hot and a
time for relaxing. It is also the time when crops planted in the Spring are
maturing and growing. Just as the crops are dependent upon summer rains not
only to grow but to survive so our spiritual development is dependent upon our
frequenting the sacraments and receiving the Blood of Christ. The Blood that
coursed through the veins of Christ was a part of that Sacred Humanity made
possible by the maternity of Mary, whose parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne are
honored this month. (July 26). Our Lord's blood poured out on the Cross
purchased our salvation, washed clean the robes of the martyrs, and gave birth
to the Church as it flowed from his wounded side. The Precious Blood of Christ
— now pulsing through his Mystical Body — continues its salvific work,
preserving and purifying, repairing and providing nourishment for regeneration
and renewal of its members. July’s longer and warmer days also provide us with
the opportunity for renewal, both interior and exterior. Schedules relax and
pressures ease, inviting travel. But, whether we travel or not, like the
missionary, St. Junipero Serra (July 1), we preach to others — by our conduct,
our speech, even the clothes we wear. May we be modest in everything we do,
imitating St. Maria Goretti, the young martyr for purity (July 6), and
“preaching” Christ to everyone we meet.
The summer Readings of Ordinary Time
remind us that our earthly pilgrimage is also a journey, a great adventure
towards union with Christ, the Beginning and the End of our journey. Each
Sunday with its Easter renewal becomes a mile marker along the way, linking
where we have been with where we are going. May the Precious Blood of Jesus
sustain us as we journey to our true home, with Mary and the angels as our
companions on the way.
JULY 1Monday in the Octave of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
FEAST OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
2
Chronicles, Chapter 32,
Verse 7
“Be
strong and steadfast; do not be afraid
or dismayed because of the king of Assyria and all the horde coming with him,
for there is more with us than with him.
Of course, the more of us is the power of the angels
of God.
·King
Hezekiah immediately gets to work building up defenses in all the most
important cities in Judah. He's a good strategic thinker, but he also has one
thing that the Assyrians don't—God is on his side.
·He
tells the people of Judah not to worry because God will help them out. Sure, he
didn't help Israel or any of the other countless nations the Assyrians have
smashed to bits, but he's totally going to help Judah.
·King
Sennacherib sends his people to Jerusalem to give the city a message—you're
going down.
·He
throws some shade at Hezekiah, too. Their king is lying to them about God being
able to protect them. Seriously, Hezekiah is so bad at ruling that he actually
took down all the altars in Judah and just left this one in Jerusalem.
·Look,
King Sennacherib tells them, we've conquered a lot of nations. No god has ever
been able to hold us back. What makes you think your God is different?
·So
King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah start to pray and God listens.
·He
sends an angel to kill a lot of people in the Assyrian camp. With his army
depleted, King Sennacherib is forced to head back home. Later, his own sons
kill him.
·Hezekiah
gets deathly sick and successfully prays to God for healing. He gets into some
minor trouble with God, but repents and goes on to do all kinds of successful
things as king.
·God
blesses him with immense wealth. Gold, gems, spices, weapons, food, wine, oil,
and livestock—you name it, the guy has a whole warehouse full of it.
·Finally,
after a lifetime of righteousness, King Hezekiah dies. Everyone mourns him.
The gift of fortitude
enables a person “to overcome difficulties or to endure pain and suffering with
the strength and power infused by God.” Through fortitude, the Holy Spirit
inspires and energizes a person to undertake great things joyfully and without fear despite obstacles. Fortitude
operates under the impulse of the Holy Spirit, so it perfects it, charging it
with energy, endurance, perseverance and promptness. It strengthens a person to
resist evil, to overcome Luke warmness and persevere to everlasting life.
Moreover, it brings a confidence of success and certain hope, despite the most
difficult circumstances. The gift of fortitude enables the individual to live
the other virtues heroically. So, a person can cultivate this virtue by
recognizing one’s own weaknesses and limitations, begging for the gift of
fortitude, and relying on the strength of Our Lord Jesus Himself. Through
fortitude we recognize the need for the strength and nourishment of the holy
Eucharist. St. John Chrysostom said, upon receiving holy Communion, “Let us
return from that table as lions breathing fire, terrible to the devil,” meaning
to go forth not with fear, but with hearts afire with the love of the Lord
Himself. We can foster the gift of fortitude by keeping to a spiritual regimen:
taking time to pray throughout the day, including 15 minutes devoted to prayer
and studying or doing spiritual reading for 15 minutes; making a confession
monthly; attending Sunday Mass, and even daily Mass once a week; and making a
regular, even daily, examination of conscience. Another part of this spiritual
regimen would be to make a purposeful sacrifice daily (e.g. giving up a dessert
or a drink or doing an act of charity), for a special intention, like the poor
souls in purgatory or the Christians suffering persecution. If we can be
faithful and do our duty in “little things,” more likely we will do the same in
“big things.”
July
first is the Feast of the Precious Blood. This is a feast that does not exist
in the new Roman Calendar of Pope Paul VI. It is still, however, in the
traditional Roman calendar of the 1962 usage. Both halves of the year, in
January and July, begin with the commemoration of the Precious Blood of Jesus.
January 1 is the feast of the Circumcision, when the Precious Blood of Jesus
was first shed. July 1 is the commemoration of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
as it is preserved in all Catholic churches at the hour of Mass. The Precious
Blood of Jesus was given to Him to divinize by Mary, the Mother of God. Between
Jesus and Mary there was a perpetual interflow of blood for nine months when He
was a Child in her womb. Anyone can see how divinized Mary became by this
interchange of blood for nearly a year. Everyone who wishes to become a son of
God the Father, as he becomes by Sanctifying Grace, must also become a child of
Mary the Virgin, by receiving in his mouth the Blessed Eucharist which is the
Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. All the
saints of the Old Testament, when their bodies rise from the grave on the Last
Day, will receive the Precious Blood of Jesus. Our Lord said of the chalice
which contained His Precious Blood at the Last Supper, “I will not drink of
this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with you new in
the Kingdom of My Father.” The Kingdom of God the Father, whose sons we
divinely by adoption, is also the Queendom of Mary the Virgin, whose children
we must incarnately become in order to enjoy the happiness of Heaven forever.
13For
you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an
opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.14For
the whole law
is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.”
In light of another reminder of the freedom of the
gospel, Paul elaborates on what believers are called to do and be; they fulfill
the law by love of neighbor, walking in the Spirit, as is illustrated by
concrete fruit of the Spirit in their lives.[1]
·Paul
hopes that the Galatians will stay on the path to freedom, but this doesn't
mean they can do anything they want. In fact, true freedom comes in following
God's will.
·If
they truly love God, they'll devote their lives to loving each other. Hugs all
around.
·Paul
reminds them to keep their focus on spiritual things instead of material
things. In other words, no Rolexes.
·This
also means no "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." No Trashy Facebooking! Saturday
nights in Galatia are starting to look pretty boring.
·On
the other hand, a person who lives in the Spirit will be loving, joyful,
peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle, and in control of
themselves.
·If
a person truly lives in Christ, they'll follow the Spirit's lead and do all
these good things
ON
this Sunday, in the Introit of the Mass, the Church invites the sinner to call
on the Lord with confidence and humility. “Look Thou upon me and have mercy
upon me, O Lord, for I am alone and poor. See my abjection and my labor, and
forgive me all my sins, O my God. To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul; in
Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be ashamed” (Ps. xxiv.).
Prayer.
O God, the protector of those who hope in Thee, without Whom nothing is strong,
nothing is holy, multiply Thy mercy upon us, that under Thy rule and guidance
we may so pass through the goods of time as not to forfeit those of eternity.
EPISTLE. I. Peter v. 6-11.
Dearly
Beloved: Be you humbled under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in
the time of visitation. Casting all your care upon Him, for He hath care of
you. Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye, strong in faith,
knowing that the same affliction befalleth your brethren who are in the world.
But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory in Christ
Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will Himself perfect you, and confirm
you, and establish you. To Him be glory and empire forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL. Luke xv. 1-10.
At that time
the publicans and sinners drew near unto Jesus to hear Him. And the Pharisees
and the scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with
them. And He spoke to them this parable, saying “What man of you that hath an
hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the
ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost until he find it?
And when he hath found it, lay it upon his shoulders rejoicing; and coming home
call together his friends and neighbors, saying to them: Rejoice with me,
because I have found my sheep that was lost? I say to you, that even so there
shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon
ninety-nine just who need not penance. Or what woman having ten groats*,
if she lose one groat doth not light a candle and sweep the house and seek
diligently until she find it? And when she hath found it, call together her
friends and neighbors, saying: Rejoice with me, because I have found the groat
which I had lost. So, I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of God
upon one sinner doing penance.”
Why did the
Pharisees murmur?
Because they thought themselves better than other men, and as they avoided the
company of sinners themselves, they required others to do likewise. They did
not know, or rather did not wish to know, that a truly just man always feels
compassion for sinners, and that the saints always desired and endeavored to
promote their conversion and eternal welfare. “True justice, says St. Gregory,
has compassion for sinners, while false and hypocritical justice is angry with
them. Love sinners, therefore, in imitation of Jesus, and pray earnestly for
their conversion.”
What does
the parable of the lost sheep teach us? It teaches us the love of Jesus, Who seeks out
sinners, brings them back to the Father, and reinstates them in the privileges
of the children of God. We find in this parable an excuse for sinners. The
sheep is a very simple animal which, while grazing in the field, does not notice
that it has left the fold. It is lost, and when lost does not know the way back
to the fold. It seems, therefore, when Christ compared the sinner to a sheep He
intended to say that the sinner goes astray from the true path and from God
through pure and natural ignorance; because being dazzled and delighted by the
things of the world, he follows them; he separates himself from the just
without knowing it, and, lost in the desert of this world, he does not know his
misfortune and has not, humanly speaking, the means of returning again, if God
in His infinite mercy does not go in search of him and rescue him.
What is
meant by the words, “there shall be more joy over one sinner that does penance
than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance? Thereby it is not to be understood
that the penitent sinner is more pleasing to God than ninety-nine just, but
that, as men have a special joy in finding that which they supposed to be lost,
so also God, the angels, and saints have an extraordinary joy over the conversion
of one sinner; because, in the conversion of the sinner, they see the glory,
love, and power of God exalted.
Aspiration. O Lord, what profit hast Thou in
the conversion of a sinner, that Thou art thereby so greatly pleased? The
happiness of one of Thy poor creatures can add nothing to Thine own. But Thou
lovest me, and therefore it is that Thou art pleased if I return to Thee. O my
God, is it possible that I can know this Thy love, and remain any longer in
sin?
This Sunday focuses on God's mercy, the Holy Spirit
works to build the kingdom of God even in sinful souls.
Scripture and the Church teach us that we have three
divinely ordained purposes that give our lives meaning:
·Salvation
— seeking
to save our eternal souls and help save the souls of others (that salvation,
the Church teaches, is God's free gift but requires our cooperation through
faith in God, obedience to his commandments, and repentance of our grave sins).
·Service
— using
our God-given talents to build God's kingdom here on earth.
·Sanctity
— growing
in holiness.
The third of these life goals, sanctity, is central to
building Catholic character. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says
something that is stunning: "Be thou made perfect, as your heavenly Father
is perfect" (Mt 5:48). St. Gregory put it this way: "The goal of a
virtuous life is to become like God." Scripture tells us, "God is
love" (1 Jn 4:16). If we want to be like God, our vocation is to love. The
essence of love is to sacrifice for the sake of another, as Jesus did. Love is
self-gift. What, then, is our goal if we want to develop Catholic character in
our children and ourselves? Look to the character of Christ: A life of
self-giving.
Natural
Virtues
The high goal of Christ-like character builds on a
base of what the Church calls "natural virtues." Among the natural
virtues that families and schools should nurture are the four advanced by the
ancient Greeks, named in Scripture (Wis 8:7), and adopted by the Church as "the
cardinal virtues": prudence, which enables us to judge what we should do;
justice, which enables us to respect the rights of others and give them what
they are due; fortitude, which enables us to do what is right in the face of
difficulties; temperance, which enables us to control our desires and avoid
abuse of even legitimate pleasures. These natural virtues are developed through
effort and practice, aided by God's grace. To develop a Christ-like character,
however, we need more than the natural virtues. We also need the three
supernatural, or "theological," virtues:
Spiritual
Virtues
1.Faith in God, which enables us to
believe in God and the teachings of his church.
2.Hope in God, which leads us to view
eternal life as our most important goal and to place total trust in God.
3.Love of God, which enables us to
love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
The three theological virtues are considered
supernatural because they come from God and have as their purpose our
participation in God's divine life. As the Catechism (1813) teaches, the
theological virtues are not separate from the natural virtues; rather, they
"are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give
it its special character." The Catholic writer Peter Kreeft points out,
"The Christian is prudent, just, courageous, and self-controlled out of
faith in God, hope in God, and love of God." The supernatural virtues,
like the natural virtues, grow stronger through our effort and practice, in
cooperation with God's grace.
This memorial is in
honor of the nameless followers of Christ brutally killed by the mad Emperor
Nero as scapegoats for the fire in Rome. The pagan historian Tacitus and St.
Clement of Rome tell of a night of horror (August 15, 64 A.D.) when in the
imperial parks Christians were put into animal skins and hunted, were brutally
attacked, and were made into living torches to light the road for Nero's
chariot. From 64 to 314 "Christian" was synonymous with
"execution victim."
Pope
Francis has called each of us to be a witness of charity. He encourages us to "open
our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and
sisters who are denied their dignity and let us recognize that we are compelled
to heed their cry for help!" (Misericordiae Vultus [MV], no. 15).
The Peter's Pence Collection unites us in solidarity to the Holy See and its
works of charity to those in need. Your generosity allows the Pope to respond
to our suffering brothers and sisters.
Pope Francis calls each of
us to witness to charity and to show God's mercy to one another. He encourages
us to "open our eyes
and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are
denied their dignity, and let us recognize that we are compelled to heed their cry
for help!" (Misericordiae Vultus [MV], no. 15). The
Peter's Pence Collection unites us in solidarity to the Holy See and its works
of charity to those in need. Your generosity allows the Pope to respond to our
suffering brothers and sisters. The purpose of the Peter's
Pence Collection is to provide the Holy Father with the financial means to
respond to those who are suffering as a result of war, oppression, natural
disaster, and disease.
The
Peter's Pence Collection has raised nearly $190 million to support our
suffering brothers and sisters around the globe. Thank you for standing in
solidarity with the Holy See through your generosity. Please continue to pray
for our brothers and sisters in faith who are facing adversity.
The national collection date
for the Peter's Pence Collection is the weekend of June 29-30, 2019.
History
The Peter's Pence
Collection derives its name from an ancient custom. In ninth-century England.
King Alfred the Great collected money, a "pence," from landowners as
financial support for the Pope. Today, the Peter's Pence Collection supports
the Pope's philanthropy by giving the Holy Father the means to provide
emergency assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war,
oppression, and disease.
Please
give generously to the Peter's Pence Collection.
Saturday in the
Octave of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
SAINTS PETER & PAUL-IMMACULATE
HEART OF MARY
John, Chapter 21,Verse 15-17
15 When they had finished breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,
do you love me more than these?” He
said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love
you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He then said to him a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love
you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17
He said to him the
third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love
me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you
know everything; you know that I love
you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Feed my lambs:
For
the first several weeks of life, all a lamb needs for nourishment is its
mother's milk. Lambs will start to nibble on solid food soon after birth. An
ewe's milk production peaks between 3 and 4 weeks of lactation. By the time
lambs are 4 to 6 weeks old, they may be obtaining as much as 50 percent of
their nutrient intake from sources other than their mother's milk.[1]
With the secular world feeding our children it is no
wonder many are confused and have no idea who Christ is. As Christ advised
Peter first feed the lambs. Our lambs are those who for the first time really
get who Christ is; no matter what their age is and of course the children of
those who do get who Christ is. The milk of course is the milk of human
kindness and the milk of our mother church and of course the very mother of
Christ, Mary most holy. Fathers and working mothers ignore earthly wealth your
primary mission is your children in the Lord. True joy is in doing the will of
God.
Today
is the grand rejoicing in the two Princes of the Apostles and founders of the
Church in Rome.
PETER,
formerly called Simon, was a son of Jonas, of Bethsaida, in Galilee, and a
brother of Andrew, by whom he was brought to Christ, Who at once changed his
name and called him Peter. When, soon after, Jesus said to both of them on the
Sea of Tiberias, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” they both left
their nets and followed Him. From this time forward Jesus was constantly giving
him particular proofs of His love. From the ship of Peter He taught the
thronging multitude, and to him He promised that on him, as upon a rock, He
would build His Church, against which the gates of hell should not prevail. Our
Lord took Peter with Him at the raising of Jairus daughter from the dead; at
His own transfiguration on Mount Tabor; at the beginning of His passion in the
Garden of Gethsemani. To him He promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven; for
him He specially prayed that his faith might not fail; and him He commanded to
strengthen his brethren. After His resurrection He appeared particularly to
Peter, and three times commanded him to feed His flock. But Peter had, above
all the other apostles, made himself worthy of this preeminence by his living
faith, his humility, his love, and his zeal for the honor of Jesus; for he it
was who, before the other apostles, made the confession, “Thou art Christ, the
Son of the living God.” He showed his humility when, at the miraculous draught
of fishes, he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Out of
love he desired to remain always with Christ on Mount Tabor to prevent Him from
suffering; and out of love he declared himself ready with Christ to live or
die; nay, he even declared most confidently that, though all should be
scandalized in Christ, yet he would not be. When Jesus was taken prisoner, Peter
showed himself to be most courageous by cutting off the ear of one of his
Master’s enemies, and by following Him to the house of Caiphas. Three times,
indeed, did he, as no one else did, deny his Lord out of fear; but the look of
forgiving love which Jesus cast upon him forced from him tears of the deepest
contrition, and three times afterwards, accordingly, he made that confession,
“Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.” After he had received the Holy Ghost,
full of courage, he confessed Christ crucified, and preached Him in Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Ionia, and Bithynia. At Jerusalem he was once already
condemned to death, but was set free by an angel. In the year 54 he went to
Rome, whence, after a nine years residence, he was banished, with many other Christians.
Upon returning thither again he was confined in the Mamertine prison, and
finally, on June 29, in the year A.D. 67, under the Emperor Nero, he was
crucified; his head, by his own desire, hung downwards, because he thought
himself unworthy to die like Christ.
Paul,
before his conversion called Saul, was of the tribe of Benjamin, a native of
Tarsus, in Cilicia, and a pupil of Gamaliel. Full of zeal for the law, he
bitterly opposed the Christians. As he was travelling to Damascus to persecute them,
he was, on the way, converted by Christ. How indefatigably he thenceforward
worked in the vineyard of the Lord, and what dangers and persecutions he
underwent, no pen can describe. It is almost incredible with what zeal and
perseverance he preached Christ, in chains and fetters, under blows and
scourges, in hunger and thirst, and untold times at the peril of his life. And
yet he was so humble that he counted himself the least of the apostles, and
always praised God that He had thought him worthy to suffer for His name. After
he had at last fought a good fight, and finished his course having everywhere
zealously preached the Gospel, and still more zealously practiced it he
received the crown of justice (n. Tim. iv. 6). The Emperor Nero caused him to
be beheaded on the same day that Peter was crucified.
The Introit of the Mass is
in the words spoken by St. Peter after his delivery from the prison at
Jerusalem: Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent His angel and hath
delivered me out of the hands of Herod, and from all the expectation of the
people of the Jews (Acts xii. 11). “Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me;
Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up” (Ps. cxxxviii. 1, 2).
Prayer. O God, Who hast consecrated this
day by the martyrdom of Thy apostles SS. Peter and Paul, grant to Thy Church,
in all things, to follow their doctrines, through whom the true faith was first
proclaimed.
EPISTLE.
Acts xii. 1-11.
In
those days: Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the
Church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And seeing that
it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days
of the Azymes. And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison,
delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the Pasch
to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison. But
prayer was made with out ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod
would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two
soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the
prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him: and a light sinned in
the room: and he striking Peter on the side raised him up, saying: Arise
quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him:
Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast
thy garment about thee, and follow me. And going out he followed him, and he
knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a
vision. And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the
iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And going
out, they passed on through one street: and immediately the angel departed from
him. And Peter coming to himself, said: Now I know in very deed that the Lord
hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from
all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
GOSPEL.
Matt. xvi. 13-19.
At that time Jesus came
into the quarters of Cesarea Philippi: and He asked His disciples, saying: Who
do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and
other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them:
But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ
the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou,
Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My
Father Who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this
rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever
thou shalt bind upon earth it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. Why did Christ ask His
disciples, Who do men say that the Son of man is? To give them an opportunity to
confess their belief in Him as the true Son of God, and upon that open
confession to ground a promise of the highest importance. Why does Christ call
Himself the Son of man?
In order that, His Godhead being veiled under the form of man, He might thus
test the faith of His disciples, and teach us that He was both true God and
true man. What did Peter mean to
say by those words,
“Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God?” He thereby confesses that
Christ is the Son of God, begotten from all eternity, and therefore of the same
substance with the Father; that by Him all things were made, and that from Him
comes our life in soul and body. What reward did Peter
receive for his confession?
Christ pronounced him blessed that God had given him such grace, conveyed to
him the highest authority in His Church, and gave him the pre-eminence above
all the apostles. What is the meaning of
the expression “to bind and to Loose”? According to Isaias, it signifies to open and to shut
heaven, and here consequently denotes the power, as representative of Jesus
Christ, to receive persons into the Church, and to excommunicate them from it;
to forgive sins, or to retain them; to impose or to remit punishments for them;
to establish laws and prohibitions, to abolish them, to change them, and, in
general, to govern and direct in everything, as shall be necessary for the
preservation of unity and order in the Church, and for the good of the
faithful.
Was
the power to bind and to loose given to Peter only? No, but to the rest of the
apostles also; the power of the keys, however, Jesus gave only to Peter. Peter,
therefore, and his successors, possess this supreme power, while the other
apostles and their successors, the bishops, possess the authority entrusted to
them by Christ, to be exercised by them in unity with the rock, that is, with Peter
and his successors.
Of
the Pope
What is the Pope to the Catholic? The representative of Jesus
Christ, and the visible head, appointed by Him, for the government of His
Church.
Did Christ actually appoint such a
supreme head? Yes,
and that in the person of St. Peter. He gave him the significant name Peter the
rock, distinguished him always above the other apostles, and laid upon him the
charge to feed His lambs, that is, the faithful, and His sheep, that is, the
bishops themselves; and this power Peter uniformly exercised.
Why did Christ appoint a visible
head for the Church? Because
the Church is an outward, visible society, united together not only by inward
faith in Christ, but also by outward, visible signs. Such a visible head is as
necessary for the Church as for a body, a family, a society, a state, to
prevent disunion, confusion, and the consequent destruction of the whole; this
supreme head is the center of the whole, the final judge, the authoritative
teacher.
Who is now this supreme head? The Bishop of Rome, or the Pope.
It is undeniable that Peter occupied the bishop’s see at Rome, and that he died
there. Equally indisputable is it that the successor of St. Peter entered upon
possession of his rights, and, together with the episcopal see of Rome,
inherited also the office possessed by him. From the first centuries this has
ever been acknowledged by the faithful, who have accordingly called the Bishop
of Rome Pope that is, the father of the faithful. And how clearly does history
show that Peter and his successors are the rock upon which the Lord has
immovably founded His Church! What storms have not broken upon the Church!
Persecutions from without and
within, heresies and schisms without number, and infidelity in its most hideous
form, have raged against the Church, and what has been the consequence? Nations have often fallen away
from the Church, single bishops have proved betrayers of their flocks, the sees
of the apostles themselves have been subject to the vicissitudes of time. And
amid all these storms Rome alone has, for over eighteen hundred years, stood
firm. She has come out of every contest victorious, has remained the center of
faith and discipline, and has preserved the unbroken succession of bishops from
Peter. Who does not see herein the assistance of Him Who forever fulfills that
promise of His, “Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it” The Pope is, therefore, the visible supreme head
of the Church, appointed by Christ for all time; the invisible, all-governing
head is Christ Himself.
·Take
a pilgrimage to Rome to visit the burial places of St. Peter and Paul.
·Go
fishing in honor of St. Peter. He was a fisherman before he became Jesus'
disciple, and is the patron saint of fisherman and net makers.
·Go
camping in honor of St. Paul. Before his conversion to Christianity, Paul
was a tent maker. He is the patron saint of tent makers as well as
writers. In addition to being an accomplished preacher, Paul wrote epistles
that are included in the Bible's New Testament.
·Attend
Mass and learn how both Peter and Paul, two men with very different visions,
formed the early church and how Christianity rapidly spread.
3
Tbsp. freshly chopped Italian parsley; stems discarded
Salt
to taste
Freshly
ground pepper to taste
Details
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Combine
a dozen or so men with large sackes draped over their shoulders; ox-drawn carts
bearing the image of San Paolo (himself holding a snake and a book in one hand,
a sword pointing to the heavens in the other); squads of flagbearers and
swordsmen; a cotillion of old men with black berets playing an indescribable
array of instruments (many homemade); a piazza packed with local residents
dressed in Sunday finery; and long tables filled with all manner of food and
beverage, and you have a beginner's idea of what to expect if you find yourself
in Aragona in southern Sicily on June 29, the feast of St. Paul. (If you decide
to visit the church however, you no longer have to fear the ritual called La
benedizione deglie serpe, whereby residents presented snakes to the priest
for benediction. The ritual was done away with a few years ago. If you do
venture to Aragona for this festival, the blood orange and red onion salad
presented here is one of the many foods you're likely to sample. Although any
type of orange can be substiuted to following is made with tarocci or
blood oranges, which are one of Sicily's most famous products. Exceptionally
high in vitamin C, strongly fragrant, and with brilliant red peel and pulp, the
tarocci is widely used in salads, frozen ice cream desserts, and sorbets.
DIRECTIONS
Italians have become very
fond of cipolle de tropea a type of sweet red onion that comes from
Calabria and is not yet available in the US. To achieve the same sweetness,
soak the sliced red onion in water for thirty mintues before using. 1. Peel the oranges and
remove the pith. Cut horizontally into thin slices. Put in a bowl and set
aside. 2. Separate the onion
slices into individual layers and put in the bowl with the oranges. Add the oil
and half the parsley to the bowl, season with salt and pepper, and toss until
all ingredients are well coated. 3. Arrange the orange and
onion slices in a circular pattern on a round platter. Drizzle with the oil
left in the bowl, sprinkle with the remaining parsley, and serve. Make Ahead:
The oranges can be tossed with the marinade earlier in the day. How to Serve: On its own as a midsummer appetizer, followed by a
light pasta, or as a salad course accompanying an especially piquant entree. Immaculate
Heart of Mary[5]
The Feast of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior
life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden
perfections, and above all, her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal
love for her son Jesus, and her compassionate love for all persons. Two
elements are essential to the devotion, Mary’s interior life and the beauties
of her soul, and Mary’s virginal body. According to Roman Catholic theology,
soul and body are necessary to the constitution of man. It was in 1855,
that the Mass of the Most Pure Heart of Mary formally became a part of the
Catholic practice. Traditionally, the heart of Mary in artwork is
depicted with seven wounds or swords, in homage to the seven sorrows of
Mary. Also, roses or another type of flower may be wrapped around the
heart. Veneration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary generally coincides
with the worship of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. However, there is a
difference that explains the Roman Catholic devotion to the Immaculate Heart of
Mary. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is especially directed to
the “Divine Heart”, as overflowing with love for humanity. In the
devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on the other hand, the attraction is
the love of her Immaculate Heart for Jesus and for God. A second difference is
the nature of the devotion itself. In devotion to the Most Sacred Heart
of Jesus, the Roman Catholic venerates in a sense of love, responding to
love. In devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, love is formed from
study and imitation of Mary’s yes to God as the mother of Jesus. In this
devotion, love is more the result, than the “object” of the devotion; the
object being rather to love God and Jesus by uniting one’s self to Mary for
this purpose and by imitating her virtues, to help one achieve this. History of
the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is connected in many ways to that
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Christians were drawn to the love and
virtues of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and this paved the devotion from the
beginning. Early Christians had compassion for the Virgin Mary, and the
Gospels recount prophecy delivered to her at Jesus’ presentation in the temple,
and that her heart would be pierced with a sword. The image of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary with the pierced heart is the most popular
representation. St. John’s Gospel further invites us to the attention of
Mary’s heart with its depiction of Mary at the foot of the cross at Jesus’
crucifixion. St. Augustine tells us that Mary was more blessed in having
born Christ in her heart, than in having conceived him in the
flesh.
