Monday, February 24, 2020
Carnival Monday
PLAY MORE CARDS
DAY
Psalm 19, Verse 10-11
10 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The statutes of the
LORD are true, all of them just; 11 More desirable than gold,
than a hoard of purest gold, Sweeter also than honey or drippings from the
comb.
Our
Lord showed no fear of the money changers or the priests when He overturned the
tables in holy zeal for the statutes of the Lord. Is the Holy Spirit moving you
to make a real change today? Are you being called to be holier, stronger, more
committed to God and better prepared for the trials and persecution of our
world? Consider the message of The Holy League.[1]
The Holy League
History-Pope St. Pius V formed the original
Holy League in response to the dire situation in which Christian Europe found
itself in 1571. Small bands of Catholic men and remnant armies from various
nations came together under the spiritual leadership of the saintly pontiff and
the military leadership of Don John of Austria. By prayer and fasting, they
implored the help of God’s grace, through the intercession of the Mother of God,
and, by the grace of Almighty God, on October 7, 1571, at the Battle of
Lepanto, the Christian fleet won a crushing victory over the Ottoman Turks,
saving Christendom and western civilization.
The Battle Today
At
this particular moment in time, the Church finds itself in a similar situation
to that of the Church in the late Sixteenth Century. However, instead of a
physical enemy on the horizon, the Church and the family (the domestic Church)
are threatened daily by relativism, secularism, impurity, and confusion
regarding Church teaching. The battle today “is not against human forces but
against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness,
the evil spirits in the heavens” (Ephesians 6: 10-12). To combat the forces of
evil in today’s society, the Holy League strives to call men back to the state
of grace and to transforming the culture through prayer.” The Holy League, in
fidelity to its mission as a Roman Catholic solidarity movement:
·
Provides
a Holy Hour format which incorporates Eucharistic adoration, prayer, short
spiritual reflections, the availability of the Sacrament of Confession,
Benediction and fraternity.
·
Encourages
consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
and the Purest Heart of Joseph.
·
Promotes
the Precepts and Sacraments of the Church, especially through devotion to the
Most Blessed Sacrament and the praying of the Most Holy Rosary.
·
Creates a
unified front, made up of members of the Church Militant, for spiritual combat.
·
Strives to
have a regular monthly Holy League Holy Hour available to men in every Roman
Catholic parish.
Holy League Vision
The
Vision of the Holy League is to develop a network of parish based regular
monthly Holy Hours with confession and fraternity for men.
Our Mission
The
Holy League, in a Spirit of Marian Chivalry, under the patronage of Our Lady of
Guadalupe and Saint Joseph, seeks to provide opportunities for the faithful to
unite in prayer, especially monthly Eucharistic Holy Hours, for purification
from sin and predisposition to Supernatural Grace for the fuller exercise of
the threefold offices of Priest, Prophet, and King received at Baptism. The
particular prayer of the Holy League is the monthly Eucharistic Holy Hour.
You can’t really understand
Trinidad unless you come for Carnival, or mas (for masquerade), as it’s locally
known. Trinidad is a melting pot of West African, East Indian, Chinese, South
American, and European, which has influenced both its music and Carnival
itself. The country’s West African roots gave birth to the steel pan (or steel
drum, originally made from empty oil barrels), calypso music, and its more
recent souped-up version, soca (“soul-calypso”), which makes this Carnival the
loudest and wildest in all the Caribbean. It’s the national obsession, with
Port of Spain at its heart. Bands and masqueraders begin their preparations a
year in advance. Things start to hum after Christmas, gradually building to a
crescendo of rehearsals, concerts, open-air fêtes, and calypso duels. The final
2-day explosion of color, music, and unbridled excess officially kicks off at 4
A.M. on Carnival Monday with the
“opening day” parade called J’Ouvert (pronounced joo-VAY). Fueled by copious
amounts of beer, revelers covered in mud, grease, body paint, and chocolate
form a mass of happy humanity as they follow trucks blasting soca and “chip”
(dance) until sunrise. Monday (“old
mas”) continues with bands and dancers along a 6-mile parade route. The glitter
and glamorous costumes of “pretty mas” are saved for Shrove Tuesday (Mardi
Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. Tens of thousands take to the streets in
costume (often sequined bikinis and feather headdresses), with groups as large
as 3,000 in identical costume following flatbed trucks carrying steel bands
competing for the title of “Masquerade Band of the Year.” Getups are at their
most extravagant for the Kings and Queens Costume Competition— some can weigh
up to 200 pounds (and are attached to wheels for mobility) and incorporate fog,
fireworks, and other special effects. “Pan” bands with as many as 100 musicians
perform nonstop in a riotous celebration of King Carnival.
The name for the carnival comes from the German dialect word roose meaning "frolic" and Montag meaning Monday.
Overview
The
Karneval
season begins at 11
minutes past the eleventh hour on 11 November and the "street
carnival" starts on the Thursday before Rosenmontag, which is known as Weiberfastnacht ("women's
carnival", Fat
Thursday). Karneval is prevalent in Roman Catholic
areas and is a continuation of the old Roman traditions of slaves and servants
being master for a day. Karneval
derives from the Latin carnem
levare ("taking leave of meat")
marking the beginning of Lent. Carnival is not a national holiday in Germany, but schools are closed on Rosenmontag and the following Tuesday in the strongholds and many other areas. Many schools as well as companies tend to give teachers, pupils and employees the Thursday before Rosenmontag off as well and have celebrations in school or in the working place on Weiberfastnacht, although every now and then there are efforts to cut these free holidays in some companies.
Celebrations usually include dressing up in fancy costumes, dancing, parades, heavy drinking and general public displays with floats. Every town in the Karneval areas boasts at least one parade with floats making fun of the themes of the day. Usually sweets (Kamelle) are thrown into the crowds lining the streets among cries of Helau or Alaaf, whereby the cry K̦lle Alaaf is only applied in the Cologne Carnival РAlaaf stems from or Alle af, Ripuarian for "all [others] away". Sweets and tulips are thrown into the crowd.
The celebrations become quieter the next day, known as Veilchendienstag ("Violet Tuesday", Shrove Tuesday), and end with Ash Wednesday.
NOVENA TO THE HOLY
FACE
DAILY
PREPARATORY PRAYER
We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ninth Day
Psalm
51, 18-21.
For
in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse, my
sacrifice a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn. In
your goodness, show favor to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem Then you will
be pleased with lawful sacrifice, holocausts offered on your altar.
Sacred
Face of our Lord and our God, what words can we do to express our gratitude?
How can we speak of our joy? That you have deigned to hear us, that you have
chosen to answer us in our hour of need. We say this because we know that our
prayers will be granted. We know that you, in your loving kindness, listened to
our pleading hearts, and will give, out of your fullness, the answer to our
problems. Mary, our Mother, thank you for your intercession on our behalf.
Saint Joseph, thank you for your prayers. Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition, Pardon and Mercy.
Prayer to the Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our first beginning and our last end. Since you have made us after your own image and likeness, grant that all the thoughts of our minds, all the words of our tongues, all the affections of our hearts and all our actions may be always conformed to your most Holy Will, so that after having seen you here on earth in appearances and in a dark manner by the means of faith, we may come at last to contemplate you face to face, in the perfect possession of you forever in paradise. Amen.
Pray one (1) Our Father, (3) Hail Mary’s, (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (Three times)
Cards
get a bad rap sometimes—and true, there are cards games that can be very
addictive if not kept under control. But cards can also be the source of great
entertainment for friends who just want to hang out and spend some time
together, laughing and relaxing. In general, however, playing cards is fun, and
as with most fun things that relax us, it’s typically a good idea to do more of
them and let your brain take a break from the stress it’s used to for a change.
This is where Play More Cards Day comes in. Play More Cards Day was created in
2013 by Bicycle Cards, the biggest producer of playing cards in the United
States. The company began producing their cards in 1885, and they have since
had sizable roles in various important historical events. For example, during
World War II, the deck was designed as a puzzle, which when put together,
became a map. This map was supposed to help potential prisoners make their way
to safety once they escaped. Wars also prompted Bicycle Cards to create
waterproof cards that would not peel, rip or fall apart after coming into contact
with water or moisture. During the Vietnam War, the ace of spades printed on
Bicycle Cards’ playing cards was thought to have severe psychological effects
on the Viet Cong, which viewed it as a symbol of death and infinite bad luck
for their activities. Initially, this rumor was false, but as time went by and
American soldiers continued to use Bicycle Cards’ ace of spades as their
symbol, it eventually did become a relevant part of Vietnam War psychological
warfare symbolism.
How to Celebrate Play More Cards Day
The
simplest, as well as the most fun way to celebrate this day, is to, in fact,
play more cards. Do you have a favorite card game? If not, find out what you
like best by trying out a few different card games. Some people find playing a
card game in which you have no partner or team especially fun and challenging,
while others prefer the company of another teammate to help them out if they
get in a fix, like the Polish cards game Hola. If you’re a person who values
peace and quiet above all other things, playing solitaire with real cards as
opposed to just clicking on them could prove entertaining. Choose whichever
card game you want to play on this day, the only requirement is that you have
good time. Another great way to make sure a party (even a small one) is a
success is to have various foods to snack on. If you’re all to be touching
cards, it would probably be best of the snacks you choose were not too greasy
so as not to dirty the cards. With baked chips becoming all the more popular
compared to regular deep-fried chips, that could turn out to be a much easier
criterion to meet than it seems. And if all else fails, you and your friends
can simply take a break from the game to fill up on something tasty, and them go
right back to what you were doing.
Deck of Cards[5]
Song by Tex Ritter
Friends, this is Tex Ritter with a strange story about
a soldier boy and a deck of cards. During a North African campaign, a bunch of
soldier boys had been on a long hike, and they arrived in a little town called
Casino."
The next morning being Sunday several of the boys went
to church. A Sargent commanded the boys in church, and after the Chaplain had
read the prayer the text was taken up next. Those of the boys who had a prayer
book took them out, but this one boy only had a deck of cards, and so he spread
them out. The Sergeant saw the cards and said, "Soldier, put away those
cards." After the services were over the soldier was taken prisoner and
brought before the Provost Marshall.
The Marshall said, "Sargent, why have you brought
this man here?"
"For playing cards in church, sir."
"And what have you to say for yourself,
son?"
"Much, sir." replied the soldier.
'The Marshall said, "I hope so, for if not, I
shall punish you more than any man was ever punished."
The soldier said, "Sir, I have been on a march
for about six days, and I had neither Bible nor Prayer Book, but I hope to
satisfy you, Sir, with the purity of my intentions."
With that the boy started his story.
"You see, Sir, when I look at the Ace it reminds
me that there is but one God. The deuce reminds me that the Bible is divided
into two parts; the Old and New Testaments. And when I see the trey I think of
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. When I see the four, I think of the four
evangelist who preached the Gospel. There was Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
And when I see the five it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed
their lamps. Ten of 'em; five who were wise and were saved; five were foolish
and were shut out. And when I see the six it reminds me that in six days God
made this great heaven and earth. And when I see the seven it reminds me that
on the seventh day God rested from His great work. When I see the eight, I
think of the eight righteous persons God saved when he destroyed this earth.
There was Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives. And when I see the
nine, I think of the lepers our Savior cleansed, and nine of the ten didn't
even thank Him. When I see the ten, I think of the Ten Commandments God handed
down to Moses on a tablet of stone. When I see the King, it reminds me that
there is but one King of Heaven, God Almighty. And when I see the queen, I
think of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is Queen of Heaven. And the jacks, or
knaves, it's the devil. And when I count the number of spots on a deck of
cards, I find three hundred sixty-five the number of days in a year. Fifty-two
cards, the number of weeks in a year. Four suits, the number of weeks in a
month. Twelve picture cards, the number of months in a year. Thirteen tricks,
the number of weeks in a quarter. So, you see, Sir, my pack of cards serve me
as a Bible, almanac, and prayer book."
"Friends, I know this story is true, because I
knew that soldier."
The
weapon of Eucharistic adoration
Outside
of Mass, the other great refuge from the Devil and his wiles is prayer before
the Blessed Sacrament. St. John Bosco used to tell the boys who were under his
care:
·
Listen: There are two things the Devil
is deathly afraid of: fervent Communions and frequent visits to the Blessed
Sacrament.
·
Do you want Our Lord to grant you many
graces? Visit him often.
·
Do you want Him to grant you only a few?
Visit Him only seldom.
·
Do you want the Devil to attack you?
Rarely visit the Blessed Sacrament.
·
Do you want the Devil to flee from you?
Visit Jesus often.
·
Do you want to overcome the Devil? Take
refuge at Jesus’ feet.
·
Do you want to be overcome by the Devil?
Give up visiting Jesus.
·
Visiting the Blessed Sacrament is
essential, my dear boys, if you want to overcome the Devil. Therefore, make
frequent visits to Jesus. If you do that, the Devil will never prevail against
you.
One of the Precepts of the Church is to receive the sacraments
of Penance and Holy Communion at least once a
year, during Lent or Paschaltide. Catholics once dedicated the three days prior
to Lent as a special time to go to confession. Shrovetide arose from the desire
to prepare for the holy asceticism of the Great Fast. Once Lent begins,
however, confession should still be sought out: since Lent is a time for
frequent and frank examinations of conscience, confession is a sacrament that
should be liberally taken advantage of during this time.
Guardian
Angels[8]
Our lives always are better if we work with God rather
than against him. To this end God has assigned an angel to protect churches and
persons for indeed we are the true temples of God. We should be particularly
attentive to our own guardian angels, since they are specifically assigned to
our care. Our guardian angels want to help us cooperate with the will of God,
and they want to keep us from sin. They help us to comfort others-and they want
to keep us safe and from causing harm to others. They are our best friend in
that they always want what’s best for us even if it does not coincide with the
things, we desire the most and they will undoubtedly help us, especially when
we ask them. Learn to ask for what you need. Our angel helps us to answer Gods
call for holiness. As we are the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit our angel is
charged with protecting our temples and keeping us pure for the presence of
God. We must learn to speak to the angels.
No evil shall
befall you, no affliction come near your tent for he commands his angels with
regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall
support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You can tread upon
the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon. (Ps.91:10-13)
Daily
Devotions
·
Manhood of the Master-Day 16
[2]Schultz, Patricia. 1,000 Places to See
Before You Die
[4]https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/play-more-cards-day/
[5]Deck
of Cards lyrics © BMG Rights Management
[6]Thigpen,
Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. TAN Books.
[8] Hahn, Scott, Signs of Life; 40 Catholic
Customs and their biblical roots. Chap. 5. Guardian Angels
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