First Friday
feast of saint
Nicholas
Psalm
147, Verse 10-11
10 He takes no delight in the strength of horses, no
pleasure in the runner’s stride.
11Rather the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, those who
put their hope in his mercy.
This verse actually means that person full of
hubris and pride of life has a hard time acknowledging their dependence upon
God. They may feel they have strength and speed however those who have Holy
fear God delights in.
This
psalm divided into three sections and calls for praise. The first section
praises the powerful creator who restores exiled Judah the second section, the
creator who provides food to animals and human beings; the third and climactic
section exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created and made the
place of disclosure for God’s word, a word as life-giving as water. God clothes
the fields and feeds the birds. God is the author of life. The wise person is
full of activity that acknowledges one’s dependence upon God rather than
claiming self-sufficiency that displeases God. God speaks through the thunder
of nature and the word of revealed law. The weather phenomena are well known in
Jerusalem: a blizzard of snow and hail followed by a thunderstorm that melts
the ice.[1]
From the ninth century in the East and the eleventh century in the
West, Nicholas has been one of the most popular saints in Christendom and in
Christian art and is the patron of many countries, dioceses, churches, and
cities. He was a Greek bishop of Myra in Lycia (now Turkey). According to
folklore, he may have saved three girls from prostitution, restored to life
three children who had been killed, and saved three unjustly condemned men from
death. While some sources say that he may have been imprisoned during the
Diocletian persecution, there is no historical certainty that he suffered
persecution for his faith. Likewise, while some sources place him at the
Council of Nicaea in 325, it is uncertain if he attended. His charity to the
poor is commemorated in modern times by those who follow the tradition of
stuffing a boot or a stocking with gifts on his feast day. “Santa Claus” comes
from the Dutch form of his name, “Sinterklaas.” He is the patron saint of
sailors, merchants, and children.
Things
to Do[3]
·
Today is a good day to teach your children the difference
between Santa Claus and St. Nicholas. This story of the origin of Santa Claus will help you. Also learn all you can about St.
Nicholas.
·
Choose some of the recommended activities — a
puppet show, a party, a visit from "St. Nicholas." Make sure to
include in all the activities the story of St. Nicholas, virtues to imitate,
and his significance in the Advent season. Read how different countries Celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas.
·
To enhance your feasting, purchase a copy of the
CD by the Anonymous 4 Legends of St. Nicholas. This is medieval music, all in honor
of St. Nicholas, done by four female vocalists.
·
There are numerous recipes to enhance this
feast, anything from a soup to dessert, so have fun in the kitchen trying
different ones.
·
St. Nicholas did his charitable works secretly.
Suggest that your children do one hidden act of kindness in imitation of the
saint.
·
From the Netherlands we have the most popular
recipe, speculaas (or St. Nicholas Cookies; Speculaus; Speculatius; Kris Kringle
Cookies; Dutch spice cookies). You can find tips for using special speculaas cookie
molds by Gene Wilson. Try these sites for St. Nicholas Cookie cutters or
molds: House
on the Hill, HOBI
Picture Cookie Molds, Rycraft,
and St. Nicholas
Center. You could also use Nativity Cookie Cutters, like these from Cookie Craft.
There are three stages of man: 1st you believe in Santa Claus;
2nd you don’t believe in Santa Claus and 3rd you become
Santa Claus!
It should always be remembered that like Lent, Advent is a
period of penitence and sacrifice. Prior to the 1917 Code of Canon Law,
in fact, the Roman church observed a fast (albeit one much less demanding than
the Lenten fast), and prior to Vatican II it continued to require fasting
during the Advent Embertide. It is therefore a salubrious custom to practice
some kind of abstinence (e.g. giving up a favorite food) during Advent as a
sober reminder of the season. Yet
because it anticipates the Nativity, Advent cannot help but be suffused with joy as well. Traditional treats,
especially on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) and during the "Golden
Nights" (December 16 to 24), have long been a part of Advent observance.
These hints of celebration have nothing to do with the ungodly bacchanalia of
the annual Christmas party at the office or on the block and can therefore be
made part of a holy preparation for the Lord.
Cookies: traditional treat during Advent, especially on
St. Nicholas Day and during the octave before Christmas. Springerles or Peppernuts (Pfeffernusse)
are popular in Germany, Diples ("folds,"
for the infant Jesus' swaddling clothes) in Greece, and Speculaas cookies (on St. Nicholas Day) in the Netherlands.
Drinks: there are special holiday drinks to toast the
imminent arrival of the Christ Child. Eggnog
and Rum pots are especially
popular during the Octave before Christmas or the Golden Nights (see Customs),
while Swedish mulled wine or Bishop's wine is drunk on St. Nicholas
Day (December 6).
Fruitcake: alcoholic content and heavy texture,
fruitcakes are the preferred winter treat for many adults. Again, the kind of
fruitcake will various according to nationality. Do not use this as a
frienemy gift!
Iceman’s
40 hours devotion start 3
pm first Friday (start a fast Thursday evening)
It is traditionally believed that the duration
of time from Christ's death until His Resurrection is forty hours, from 3 p.m.
on Good Friday until 7 a.m. Easter Sunday. It is a pious practice to start this
devotion on first Fridays.
First
Friday
·
Start the devotion at 3 pm with a visit to the Blessed
sacrament. Meditate on the
Chaplet to the Holy Face and the Chaplet of Divine
Mercy.
·
At sundown break fast (fish and oil) and watch a movie from the Vatican list of movies.
(start second fast 2 hours before bed)
Saturday
·
In the afternoon spend time with Mary
and do the first Saturday
devotion or do a Eucharistic
Stations of the Cross and go to confession.
After confession you may consider doing a mikvah or roman
bath
·
At sundown break fast (fish and oil) and watch a movie from the Vatican list of movies.
(start third fast 2 hours before bed)
Sunday
·
Receive our Lord in the Eucharist in thanksgiving.
·
Break your fast and strive to be a soldier for Christ and live
the beatitudes walking
with our Lord.
1. “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you,
and you shall glorify me.”-Ps 50:15
2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not
rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
straight your paths.”-Proverbs 3:5-6
3. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the
Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with
hope.”-Jer 29:11
4. “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from
me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls.”-Matt 11:28-29
5. “He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the
powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall
exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they
shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they
shall walk and not faint.”
-Is 40:29-31
-Is 40:29-31
6. “God will fully satisfy every need of yours according
to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”-Phil 4:19
7. “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’
or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who
strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you
need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”-Matt 6:31-33
8. “Those who listen to me will be secure and will live
at ease, without dread of disaster.”-Proverbs 1:33
9. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do
not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do
not let them be afraid.”-John 14:27
10. “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”-Rom
10:9
11. “So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free
indeed.”
-John 8:36
-John 8:36
12. “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to
everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your
strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may
be able to endure it.”-1 Cor 10:13
13. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.”-James 4:7
14. “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and
rescues them from all their troubles.”-Ps 34:17
15. “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for
I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with
my victorious right hand.”-Is 41:10
16. “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days
may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
-Ex 20:12
-Ex 20:12
17. “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to
keep still.”
-Ex 14:14
-Ex 14:14
18. “Train children in the right way, and when old, they
will not stray.”-Proverbs 22:6
19. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear
no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.”
-Ps 23:4
-Ps 23:4
20. “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you;
search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For
everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone
who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your
child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child
asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
-Luke 11:9-13
-Luke 11:9-13
21. “For the mountains may depart and the hills be
removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of
peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”-Is 54:10
22. “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do
not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you
go.”-Josh 1:9
23. “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I
will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.”-John
14:13-16
24. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
-Acts 1:8
-Acts 1:8
25. “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should
go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” -Ps 32:8
26. “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who
gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.”
-James 1:5
-James 1:5
27. “And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we
ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”-1 John 5:14
28. “Are any among you sick? They should call for the
elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in
the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will
raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.”-James
5:14-15
29. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life.”-John 3:16
30. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor
height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”-Romans 8:38-39
31. “Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them,
because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or
forsake you.”-Deut 31:6
32. “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away”
-John 6:37
-John 6:37
33. “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe
in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in
me will never die. Do you believe this?”
– John 11:25-26
– John 11:25-26
34. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows
favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk
uprightly.”-Ps 84:11
35. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the
desires of your heart.”-Ps 37:4
Daily
Devotions
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