Day 27-Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from Gluttony
We have allowed the temptation of the devil to move our hearts toward gluttony.
Countless times we have sat down to a feast, unconcerned about our own health and welfare, and even more condemnably, unconcerned about those who would long to eat the scraps from our tables.
We are so immersed in the pleasures of eating and drinking, that we hardly recognize when we eat or drink to excess.
We think this excess really is no big deal.
We so often just do not attribute sin to this excess, and fail to confess the very thing which the bathroom scales and the hangovers make so evident.
We spend so much time and effort and money on feasting, an so little time and effort on fasting, even though we know, for we have been told, some things only may be attained through prayer and fasting.
We turn to You Lord, in our weakness, and beg Your forgiveness for our gluttony - for our selfish and excessive self-indulgence in food and drink.
We love You, Lord, and we beg for the wisdom and strength to love you more.
We know, Lord, if You will it, it will be done.
Trusting in You, we offer our prayer to You who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
In Your power and goodness, You created all things.
You set a path for us to walk on and a way to an eternal relationship.
By the strength of Your arm and Word of Your mouth
Cast from Your Holy Church every fearful deceit of the Devil
Drive from us manifestations of the demonic that oppress us and beckon us to faithlessness and fear.
Still the lying tongue of the devil and his forces so that we may act freely and faithfully to Your will.
Send Your holy angels to cast out all influence that the demonic entities in charge of fear have planted in Your church.
Free us, our families, our parish, our diocese, and our country from all trickery and deceit perpetrated by the Devil and his hellish legions.
Trusting in Your goodness Lord,
We know if You will it, it will be done in unity with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, R. have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, R. have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, dwelling in the tabernacles of the world, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, abiding in Your fulness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, Bread of Life, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, Bread of Angels, R. have mercy on us.
Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, spiritual food, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, bond of charity, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, R. have mercy on us.
Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, R. have mercy on us.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love, R. have mercy on us.
For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, R. have mercy on us.
That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may grow in knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, R. we beseech You, hear us.
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us, O Lord.
All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.
Most merciful Father, You continue to draw us to Yourself through the Eucharistic Mystery. Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Ninth
Sunday after Pentecost (18th S. Ord. Time)
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF ANGELS International Beer Day
Mark,
Chapter 11, Verse 18
The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they FEARED him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.
This was after Jesus had overturned the money changers tables. The priests were not afraid of the man Jesus, for they did not know or care if He was the messiah. They only respected money, power, or the ability to sway or manipulate the crowd.
In this chapter of Mark’s gospel, he also included the story of the fig tree. The fig tree was cursed by Jesus before He entered the temple because it although was healthy and looked as if it held much fruit was barren. After the incident in the temple the same tree had withered and died because it did not produce. It did not live up to its created purpose.
Mark records it thus,
“Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree
withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig
tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in
God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and
thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he
says will happen; it shall be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, all that you
ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When
you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that
your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.”
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost[1]-The
necessity of being faithful to the end
Call
upon God for help and assistance against all temptations of your enemies, both
visible and invisible, and say with the priest, in the Introit of the Mass,
“Behold, God is my helper, and the Lord is the protector of my soul ; turn back
the evils upon my enemies, and cut them off in Thy truth, O Lord, my protector.
Save me, O God, by Thy name, and deliver me in Thy strength” (Ps. liii.).
Prayer. Let the ears of Thy mercy, O Lord, be open to
the prayers of Thy suppliants, and that Thou mayest grant what Thy petitioners
desire, make them ask those things which are pleasing to Thee.
EPISTLE,
i. Cor. x. 6-13.
Brethren: We should not covet evil things, as they also coveted. Neither become ye idolaters, as some of them: as it is written: The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and there fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ: as some of them tempted, and perished by the serpents. Neither do you murmur as some of them murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them in figure: and they are written for our correction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall. Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human: and God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able, but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.
Can we sin by thought and desire alone? Certainly, if we desire evil and unlawful things, or of our own free will dwell upon them with pleasure.
What is it to tempt God? It is presumptuously to expect signs of God
s omnipotence, benignity, providence, and justice. Such a sin it would be,
1, to desire that matters of faith should be
made known and confirmed by new miracles.
2, to expose ourselves unnecessarily to
danger of body or soul, expecting God to deliver us;
3, to reject the ordinary and natural means
of deliverance in sickness or other peril, trusting in God s immediate
assistance.
GOSPEL. Luke xix. 41-47.
At that time, when Jesus drew near Jerusalem, seeing the city, He wept over it, saying: If thou also hadst known, and that in this thy day, the things that are to thy peace, but now they are hidden from thy eyes. For the days shall come upon thee: and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee and compass thee round: and straiten thee on every side: and beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee, and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation. And entering into the temple, He began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought, saying to them: It is written: My house is the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves. And He was teaching daily in the temple.
Why did the Savior weep over the city of Jerusalem? Because it had not known and profited by its time of visitation and through impenitence was hastening to destruction.
What was the time of its visitation? The period in which God sent to the Jews one prophet after another, whom they derided and calumniated, stoned and put to death (Matt, xxiii. 34). But especially was it the time of the ministry of Christ, who so often proclaimed His life-giving doctrine; pointed out and demonstrated, by the greatest miracles, that He was the Messias and the Saviour of the world, and yet was despised by this hardened and impenitent city, and even put to death on the cross.
Does God hide from the wicked the truths of salvation? No; but sinners so blind themselves by their sins that the divine inspirations fail to move them to penance.
What do we learn by Jesus casting out of the temple those who sold and bought? We learn how severely He will punish those who in church forget where they are; forget that Jesus Christ is present in the tabernacle; who laugh, talk, amuse themselves, cherish sinful thoughts, and give scandal by their improper dress and unbecoming behavior.
Prayer: O Jesus, who didst weep over the city of Jerusalem because it knew not the time of its visitation, I beseech Thee enlighten my heart, that I may know and profit by the season of grace; and grant that I may always behave with reverence in Thy church, and never turn it into a resort for evil thoughts and desires or for worldly cares.
LESSONS UPON
DEATH-BED REPENTANCE
Can the sinner rely upon being converted at the end of his life? No for this would be to sin against the mercy of God, which is much the same as the sin against the Holy Ghost. Says St. Augustine, “usually punishes such sinners by allowing them at the last to forget themselves, who in the days of their health and strength have allowed themselves to forget Him. “God Himself also says: They have turned their back to Me and not their face, and in the time of their affliction they will say, Arise and deliver us. Where are thy gods whom thou hast made thee? Let them arise and deliver thee in the time of thy affliction” (Jer. ii. 27, 28). It is true we have a consoling example of conversion at the moment of death in the penitent thief, but, as St. Augustine further says, while this one example is given so that no sinner may despair, it is the only one, so that no sinner may defer repentance through presumption.
What may we hope of those who are converted at the close of life? Everything that is good, if they be really converted; but this is a most rare thing. (Of the hundreds of thousands whose lives have been wicked,” writes St. Jerome, “hardly one will be converted at the hour of death and obtain forgiveness of his sins.” And St. Vincent Ferrer says it would be a greater miracle for a person who has lived wickedly to die well than for one who is dead to be restored to life. And no wonder; for repentance at the hour of death is generally but an extorted repentance. It is not so much that the sinner forsakes his sins as that his sins forsake him; and the resolution of amendment is one which he would hardly make, were he not driven to it by the agonies of death.
What is there to expect from such repentance? When, therefore, ought we to do penance? While we are in possession of our reason and strength; for, as St. Augustine says, the repentance of the sick is a sickly repentance. In time of sickness, as experience teaches, the pains of disease, the hope of recovery, the fear of death, the torments of conscience, the temptations of the devil, and the care of all depending on him, so continually distract a man that he can hardly collect his thoughts at all, much less bestow them upon a work of a true repentance. If to many it is so difficult to do penance while they are yet in health and hindered by nothing from raising their thoughts to God, how much more difficult will it be when the body has already become weak! We have heard a number of persons who had been sick admit after their recovery that they had no knowledge of what happened to them during their illness, and even had no recollection of having received the holy sacraments. Accordingly, Isaias admonishes us: “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near (Isaias Iv. 6). And Christ says: You shall seek Me and shall not find Me, and you shall die in your sin” (John vii. 34; viii. 21). If, therefore, you have committed mortal sin, delay not to return to God, by perfect contrition and a good confession. Put it not off from one day to another; for repentance thereby becomes more and more difficult; for, as St. Gregory says, one unrepented sin by its own weight impels a man to still further sins, and all the while makes him the weaker, and his adversary, the devil, the stronger; so that at last he cannot be converted without the extraordinary grace of God.
But how can the presumptuous sinner expect such grace? God will
laugh in his destruction, in like manner as he has despised His instruction,
counsel, and reproof (Prov. i. 26-28). “Therefore, whilst we have time, let us
work good.” (Gal. vi. 10), for who knows whether we may not be suddenly
prevented, by severe sickness, from working out our salvation!
Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula[2],
the Virgin under whose mantle Saint Francis of Assisi was wrapped; Mary's
maternal protection made it possible for blessed Francis to experience an
intense Presence of the Lord and to receive his vocation to rebuild the Church.
Likewise, his intimate devotion to the Blessed Mother, under whose protection
did he place himself to do the Lord's work did this place become holy for the
members of the Franciscan family and for the Church universal. Without meeting
Christ, little makes sense.
The Portiuncula is an ancient church dedicated
to Mary under the title Our Lady of the Angels and is located in Assisi, Italy.
It was a spot very dear to the heart of Saint Francis.
The Portiuncula is the place where Franciscanism
developed, and where Saint Francis lived and died. Here he began and grew in
his religious life; here he founded the Franciscan Order; here he manifested
his love and great devotion to the Mother of God. When Francis knew he was
dying, he requested to be brought to the Portiuncula to end his earthly life.
Saint Bonaventure had this to say about this
devotion:
The Portiuncula was an old church dedicated to
the Virgin Mother of God which was abandoned. Francis had great devotion to the
Queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to
live there constantly in order to repair it. He heard that the Angels often
visited it, so that it was called Saint Mary of the Angels, and he decided to
stay there permanently out of reverence for the angels and love for the Mother
of Christ. This is also the place where St Clare took her vows and where Saint
Francis died.
He loved this spot more than any other in the
world. It was here he began his religious life in a very small way; it is here
he came to a happy end. When he was dying, he commended this spot above all
others to the friars, because it was most dear to the Blessed Virgin.
This was the place where Saint Francis founded
his Order by divine inspiration and it was divine providence which led him to
repair three churches before he founded the Order and began to preach the
Gospel.
This meant that he progressed from material things
to more spiritual achievements, from lesser to greater, in due order, and it
gave a prophetic indication of what he would accomplish later.
As he was living there by the church of Our
Lady, Francis prayed to her who had conceived the Word, full of grace and
truth, begging her insistently and with tears to become his advocate. Then he
was granted the true spirit of the Gospel by the intercession of the Mother of
mercy and he brought it to fruition.
He embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with
indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty
our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust
in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars.
Consider the words of an early biographer of
Saint Francis of Assisi:
From there he moved to another place, which is
called the "Portiuncula," where there stood a church of the Blessed
Virgin Mother of God built in ancient times. At that time, it was deserted, and
no one was taking care of it. When the holy man of God saw it so ruined, he was
moved by piety because he had a warm devotion to the Mother of all good and he
began to stay there continually. The restoration of that church took place in
the third year of his conversion. At this time, he wore a sort of hermit's
habit with a leather belt. He carried a staff in his hand and wore shoes. One
day the gospel was being read in that church about how the Lord sent out his
disciples to preach. The holy man of God, who was attending there, in order to
understand better the words of the gospel, humbly begged the priest after
celebrating the solemnities of the Mass to explain the gospel to him. The
priest explained it all to him thoroughly line by line. When he heard that
Christ's disciples should not possess gold or silver or money, or carry on
their journey a wallet or a sack, nor bread nor a staff, not to have shoes nor
two tunics, but that they should preach the kingdom of God and penance, the
holy man, Francis immediately exulted in the spirit of God. "This is what
I want," he said, "this is what I seek, this is what I desire with
all my heart." The holy father, overflowing with joy, hastened to
implement the words of salvation, and did not delay before he devoutly began to
put into effect what he heard. (From The Life of Saint Francis by Thomas of
Celano)
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS
August Queen of Heaven, sovereign queen of Angels,
you who at the beginning received from God the power and the mission to crush
the head of Satan, we beseech you humbly, send your holy legions so that, on
your orders and by your power, they will track down demons, fight them
everywhere, curb their audacity and plunge them into the hell.
Who can be compared to God? Oh, good and tender
Mother, you will always be our love and our hope. Oh, divine Mother, send the
Holy Angels and Archangels to defend me and to keep the cruel enemy far from
me. Holy Angels and Archangels defend us, protect us. Amen.
The Pardon of Assisi Or the Portiuncula
Indulgence
The Holy Father made reference to this in his
Sunday Angelus address:
... today is the feast of the "Pardon of
Assisi," which St. Francis obtained from Pope Honorious III in the year
1216, after having a vision while he was praying in the little church of the
Portiuncula. Jesus appeared to him in his glory, with the Virgin Mary on his
right and surrounded by many Angels. They asked him to express a wish and Francis
implored a "full and generous pardon" for all those who would visit
that church who "repented and confessed their sins". Having received
papal approval, the Saint did not wait for any written document but hastened to
Assisi and when he reached the Portiuncula announced the good news:
"Friends, the Lord wants to have us all in Heaven!". Since then, from
noon on 1 August to midnight on the second, it has been possible to obtain, on
the usual conditions, a Plenary Indulgence, also for the dead, on visiting a
parish church or a Franciscan one.
St. Francis Asked And Obtained The
Indulgence Of Forgiveness
He awoke one night in 1216 at the Porziuncola
and an inspiration stronger than usual prompted him to arise and go into the
little chapel. He knelt in prayer and, as he prayed, our Lord, accompanied by
His Mother, appeared to him and bade him ask for that which he desired most.
"O God," he said, "although I m a great sinner, I beseech You to
grant a full pardon of all sins to all who, having repented and confessed their
sins, shall visit this church." And Jesus said to him: "Francis, you
ask much, but you are worthy of greater things, and greater things you shall
have."
Our Lord then granted Francis' request and told
him to go to His Vicar for ratification of the indulgence. Honorius III, who
was just beginning his Pontificate, was holding court at Perugia, and it was to
him that Francis presented his petition.
Honorius was a spiritual, unworldly man, yet at
such a request he hesitated. "Holy Father," Francis said urgently,
"a little while ago I restored a chapel for you in honor of the Virgin
Mother of Christ (the Portiuncula), and I beseech you to bestow on it an
indulgence."
"For how many years do you want this
indulgence?" the Pontiff inquired. "Holy Father," said Francis,
"I ask not for years but for souls." "Just what do you
want?" Honorius asked. "Holy Father," replied Francis, "the
Lord has commanded me to ask you that all those who after confession shall
visit the Portiuncula with contrite hearts may obtain full remission of the
punishment due to the sins of their whole lives from the day of Baptism to the
day they enter this church." Honorius pondered the extraordinary request,
and said slowly three times: "I also, in the name of God, grant you the
indulgence."
Honorius wanted to give Francis the document of
the indulgence, but Francis saw no need for it. "What have you to show
that this indulgence has been granted you?" the Pope asked in amazement as
Francis prepared to depart for Assisi without any written confirmation of the
great permission. "Holy Father," he replied, "Your word is
enough for me. If this is the work of God, it is for Him to make His work
manifest. I desire no other document. The Blessed Virgin Mary shall be the
charter, Christ the notary, and the angels the witnesses." Some days
later, before the Bishops of Umbria, Francis said: "Brethren, I want to
send you all to Heaven!"
Conditions to Obtain The Plenary Indulgence Of
The Forgiveness (for oneself or for a departed soul)
1. Sacramental Confession to be in God's grace
(during the eight days before or after);
2. Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist;
3. Visit to a Catholic Church (especially a
Franciscan Church), followed by PROFESSION OF FAITH, in order to reaffirm one's
own Christian identity;
4. Say the OUR FATHER, in order to reaffirm the
dignity as child of God that one received in Baptism;
5. A prayer for the Pope's intention, in order
to reaffirm one's membership in the Church, of which the Roman Pontiff is the
foundation and sign of visible unity.
International
Beer Day[3] another hedonistic holiday but
even the saint enjoyed a beer-check out “Pints
with Aquinas”. International
Beer Day celebrates the taste of beer and the achievement of beer brewers. Beer
is an ancient alcoholic drink brewed mainly from malted barley, hops, yeast and
water
although it is possible to brew it from other grains such as maize, wheat and
rice. Records of beer date back to 4000 BC, making it one of the oldest
alcoholic beverages in the world. The three stated goals of the International
Beer Day are to: appreciate brewers and servers, enjoy the taste of all beers
from around the world, and to unite the world under the banner of beer.
Founded in 2007 by the Association of California Brewers, International
Beer Day has become an international event that is observed in more than 50 countries
worldwide. It is held annually on the first Friday of August.
International
Beer Day Facts & Quotes
·
International
Beer Day began in Santa Cruz, California, 2007. It was founded by beer
enthusiasts, Jesse Avshalomov and Evan Hamilton.
·
As
far back as ancient Egypt, beer was a staple food. Known as Hqt, heqet or
heket, beer was a thick and sweet source of nutrition including vitamins,
minerals and protein that was consumed daily by adults and children.
·
On
average, a can of beer contains 100-150 calories and 10-15g carbohydrates.
·
I
work until beer o'clock - Stephen King
International
Beer Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
your local watering hole and try a new beer that you have never had.
·
Attend
a beer festival to taste beer from around the world and learn more about brewing
and craft beers.
·
Visit
a local craft brewery in your state.
·
Try
a Orval beer or a Chimay.
Total Consecration to St. Joseph-Day 14[4]
On
Day 14 Father Calloway points out that we need the protection of St. Joseph and
that he will never abandon us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for Us.
Noble offspring of David, Pray for Us.
Light of Patriarchs, Pray for Us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, Pray for Us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, Pray for Us.
Foster Father of the Son of God, Pray for Us.
Zealous Defender of Christ, Pray for Us.
Father Calloway stresses
·
St.
Joseph fervently defends us.
·
Saint
Joseph will increase our passion for Christ.
· Our defense of Christ must be great.
With
St. Joseph by your side you have nothing to fear. You have the aid of St.
Joseph. Like St. Joseph we should always strive to defend the person and the
name of Jesus Christ against all blasphemy, insult, and sacrilege. To do this
we must defend the Church, her teachings, and Sacraments from all attacks and
falsehoods. We must model St. Joseph by always being willing to sacrifice
yourself for the love of truth.
Savior of the Savior
To give life to someone is the
greatest of all gifts. To save a life is the next. When St. Joseph took Jesus
from the clutches of Herod to Egypt, he saved his life. We like Joseph must
defend the innocent from Satan and the Harrod’s of the world.
What persons are like Herod? [5]
All those who destroy children, in body or in soul; for example unmanly men who are cruel to their wives while with child, who strike them, incite them to anger, or terrify them; heedless parents who neglect their little ones, who do not take pains to keep them clean and healthy; those corrupt and godless women who destroy the fruit of their shame either before or after birth, and while yet unbaptized. But more cruel than all these, and even than Herod himself, are they who scandalize little children by impure conversations, by indecent songs, by acts of impurity in their presence, or by inciting them to the like; for thereby they plunge the souls of the children into destruction.
Jesus Said, "whatever you do to the least of My brethren you do
unto Me."[6]
·
When we call a child in the womb a
"choice" that can be killed we are making a "choice"
like Herod to kill who and what belongs to God.
·
When we say a child in the womb is not fully human,
we are acting like Herod by denying the fact of every persons God given right
to life.
·
When we say a woman must be free to control her own
body, we are really saying with Herod we have the power to kill another person
and we will use it.
·
When we say the government has no right to
interfere in someone’s personal "choice" to end a pregnancy we are saying
as Herod did that the lives of other persons have no meaning if they interfere
with my wants.
·
When we say no mother should be forced to give
birth to a child, we say with Herod if a child is already alive, but we can’t
endure her presence we can destroy her life.
·
When we say there are too many children in the
world, we are saying with Herod this world belongs to me alone and you have no
rights unless I give them to you.
·
When we say with Herod what give you religious
people the right to tell me what I can and cannot do, we are as blind as Herod
was to the fact that life is a gift from God and those who destroy this gift in
others stand in danger of losing this gift for themselves for all eternity.
·
What Herod’s henchmen and modern abortion
supporters refuse to acknowledge, blinded by a diabolic selfishness, is
God took on flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary to teach us God’s
heart to heart relationship and union of love with every child in the
womb. The Word became flesh in the womb of a woman to be in
communion with every one of us when we were in our mother’s womb.
Jesus in the womb of Mary shows us that God’s capacity to love knows no bounds;
that God has a covenant relationship with every person no matter how small and
powerless.
·
Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.
Daily Devotions
·
Today in honor of the
Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no
shopping after SUNSET ON SATURDAY till Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1]Goffine’s
Devout Instructions, 1896.
[2]https://www.facebook.com/notes/100-katolikong-pinoy/the-feast-of-our-lady-of-the-angels-obtain-the-pardon-of-assisithe-portiuncula-i/418548719644/
[4]https://catholicexchange.com/now-is-the-time-to-consecrate-yourself-to-saint-joseph
[5]
Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
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