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.
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Saturday, August 29, 2020
DAY 15 - VIRGIN MOST PRUDENT, PRAY THAT WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF FEAR OF THE LORD!
GOD'S WORD
"Serve the Lord in fear, and exult in him with trembling." (Psalm 2:11)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holiness is prudence." (Proverbs 9:10)
"His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation." (Luke 1:50)
HEROES' WORDS
"For I have learnt for a fact that nothing so effectively obtains, retains, and regains grace, as that we should always be found not high-minded before God, but filled with holy fear." -St. Bernard
"We must fear God out of love, not love him out of fear." -St. Francis de Sales
MEDITATION
Gift of Fear: Infused gift of the Holy Spirit that confirms the virtue of hope and inspires a person with profound respect for the majesty of God. Its corresponding effects are protection from sin through dread of offending the Lord, and a strong confidence in the power of his help. The fear of the Lord is not servile but filial. It is based on the selfless love of God, whom it shrinks from offending. Whereas in servile fear the evil dreaded is punishment; in filial fear it is the fear of doing anything contrary to the will of God. The gift of fear comprises three principal elements: a vivid sense of God's greatness, a lively sorrow for the least faults committed, and a vigilant care in avoiding occasions of sin. It is expressed in prayer of the Psalmist, "My whole being trembles before you, your ruling fills me with fear" (Ps 119:120). One of its salutary effects is to induce a spirit of deep humility in dealing with others, especially with inferiors, since it makes a person aware that he or she stands constantly before the judgment of God. (Fr. John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary)
PRAY A ROSARY
Choose either:
Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries
Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Glorious Mysteries
PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY
Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.
In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!
In thanksgiving (last 27 days):Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.
Say: The Apostles' Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
For each of the following Mysteries, say: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
The Resurrection - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Ascension - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Assumption of Mary - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
The Coronation of the Blessed Mother - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.
Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.
Say: The Hail Holy Queen.
Spiritual Communion: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request, see below). Hail Mary ...
In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request, see below) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
PETITION: For the protection and provision for the USA and the world. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
All of the daily Novena Prayers and Reflections are also posted at usgraceforce.com
Those who would like to pray with others via The Telephone Rosary, call 1-951-799-9866 daily at 6 pm Eastern.
PASSION
OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
John,
Chapter 19, verse 38
After this, Joseph of
Arimathea, secretly a disciple of Jesus for FEAR of the Jews, asked
Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. And Pilate permitted it. So, he
came and took his body.
Where is Jesus’ body? If
Christ did not resurrect where are the remains of his body? We have the nails,
we have the shroud,
we have the wood of
the cross, and the crown
of thorns, but we do not have His body.Why, because he has resurrected and in due time so will we.
Faith is the
answer to fear. Deep down we are all afraid: of suffering, or of dying, or of
God’s judgment, or of the unknown, or of weakness, or of our live’ slipping out
of control, or of not being understood and loved. We sin because we fear. We
bully because we are cowards.[1]
“Faith casts out fear,
as light casts out darkness. God has shone his light into our world, and it is
stronger than darkness. (John 1:50)
The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a
seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the
martyrdom of John the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so
many Old Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The “voice
crying in the desert” did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate
to speak the truth. But why? What possesses a man that he would give up his
very life?
This great religious reformer was sent by God to prepare
the people for the Messiah. His vocation was one of selfless giving. The only
power that he claimed was the Spirit of Yahweh. “I am baptizing you with water,
for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not
worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”
(Matthew 3:11). Scripture tells us that many people followed John
looking to him for hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power.
John never allowed himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own
glory. He knew his calling was one of preparation. When the time came, he led
his disciples to Jesus: “The next day John was there again with two of his
disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37).
It is John the Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John’s life and death
were a giving over of self for God and other people. His simple style of life
was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. His heart was centered
on God and the call that he heard from the Spirit of God speaking to his heart.
Confident of God’s grace, he had the courage to speak words of condemnation,
repentance, and salvation.
Reflection
Each of us has a calling to which we must listen. No one will ever repeat the mission of John, and yet
all of us are called to that very mission. It is the role of the Christian to
witness to Jesus. Whatever our position in this world, we are called to be
disciples of Christ. By our words and deeds, others should realize that we live
in the joy of knowing that Jesus is Lord. We do not have to depend upon our own
limited resources but can draw strength from the vastness of Christ’s saving
grace.
The International Day against Nuclear Tests seeks to raise
awareness about the negative effects of nuclear weapons and the need to achieve
a nuclear-weapon-free world. The day also serves to educate people everywhere
about the need to ban nuclear weapon tests in order to ensure world safety.
Since the first nuclear test in 1945, over 2,000 nuclear tests have been
carried out and led to accidents, such as the Chernobyl, Ukraine accident of
1986, ending in tragedy, long-term radiation poisoning and atmospheric damage.
International Day against Nuclear Tests was declared by the United Nations General
Assembly in December 2009. It is observed every year on the 29th of August, a
day that commemorates the 1991 closure of the Soviet Semipalatinsk site, the
world's largest nuclear testing facility, in the former Soviet Republic of
Kazakhstan.
International
Day against Nuclear Tests Facts & Quotes
·The US, the Soviet Union and France have carried
out the most nuclear tests over the past 6 decades, with 1,032, 715 and 210
respectively.
·The cost of the Manhattan Project, where the
first nuclear bomb was ever built, is estimated to have cost $20 Billion.
·The total number of nuclear missiles built from
the year 1951 to the present is 67,500.
·There is an estimated total of 16,400 nuclear
weapons on Earth today.
·So long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, so
will the temptation to threaten others with overwhelming military force. –
Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist philosopher, educator, author and anti-nuclear
activist.
Top
Events and Things to Do
·Watch a movie or documentary about nuclear
disasters. Some suggestions are: The Day After (1983), Threads
(1984), Trinity and Beyond (1995), Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and
Seconds from Disaster: Meltdown at Chernobyl.
·Read a book about nuclear issues in the world
today. Some suggestions are: Contesting the Future of Nuclear Power
(2011), In Mortal Hands (2009), and Nuclear or Not? Does Nuclear
Power Have a Place in a Sustainable Energy Future? (2007).
·Spread awareness about the day by using the
hashtag #InternationalDayAgainstNuclearWeapons, #notonuclear #againstnucleartests.
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