DAY 38 - MARY, QUEEN OF ANGELS, PRAY FOR US
LOVE DEMANDS EFFORT
PRAY A ROSARY
- Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries
- Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries
St. Michael the Archangel, we honor you as a powerful protector of the Church and guardian of our souls. Inspire us with your humility, courage and strength that we may reject sin and perfect our love for our Heavenly Father.In your strength and humility, slay the evil and pride in our hearts so that nothing will keep us from God.St. Michael the Archangel, pray that we may be blessed by God with the zeal to live our lives in accordance with Christ's teachings.St. Michael the Archangel, you are the prince of angels but in your humility, you recognized that God is God and you are but His servant. Unlike Satan, you were not overcome with pride but were steadfast in humility. Pray that we will have this same humility.It is in the spirit of that humility that we ask for your intercession for our petitions... (Petition: Protect our nation from unGodly liberals gaining power and control)Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Those who would like to pray with others via The Telephone Rosary, call 1-951-799-9866 daily at 6 pm Eastern.
Start of Happiness at Work Week
FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW-INTL DAY OF
PEACE
2
Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verse 11
For behold what earnestness this
godly sorrow has produced for you, as well as readiness for a defense, and
indignation, and FEAR, and yearning,
and zeal, and punishment. In every way you have shown yourselves to be innocent
in the matter.
Satan
is indeed our adversary but let us focus on what our Lord tells us.
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid
of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom
to fear. Be afraid of the one who
after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid
of that one. (Luke, Chapter 12, Verse 4-5)
Feast of Saint Matthew[1]
Put your hope in Christ and not in money, possessions, or position as did the Apostle Matthew.
MATTHEW, also called Levi, a son of Alpheus, and brother of the holy apostle James the Less, was a receiver in the Roman customhouse on Lake Tiberius. Such officers were hated by the Jews for their injustice, and were called publicans, or public sinners. While he was sitting at the receipt of custom, he was called by Christ to be one of His disciples, and immediately leaving his lucrative office and all that he had, followed Him. On account of his distinguished zeal he was afterwards received into the number of the apostles. After the descent of the Holy Ghost he remained in Judea, preached the Gospel, wrote the passion of Our Lord as contained in his gospel, and lived strictly in the fear of God. At a later day he travelled through Persia, Ethiopia, and other countries. At last he was killed at the altar, by command of King Hirtacus, for opposing his marriage with the Princess Iphigenia, who, by St. Matthew’s direction, had vowed to God perpetual virginity. His holy remains were brought to Salerno, Italy in the tenth century. Thus, may great sinners become great saints by following faith fully, like St. Matthew, the voice of God.
At the Introit of the Mass the Church sings: The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment; the laws of God is in his heart.
Prayer. May we be assisted, O Lord, by the prayers of the blessed apostle Matthew, that what of ourselves we are unable to obtain may be given to us by his intercession.
EPISTLE. Ezech. i. 10-14.
The likeness of the face of the four living creatures: the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the face of an ox on the left side of all the four: and the face of an eagle over all the four. And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies: and every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse of the spirit was to go, thither they went: and they turned not when they went. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the fire. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of lightning.
GOSPEL. Matt. ix. 9-13.
At that time Jesus saw a man sitting in the customhouse, named Matthew: and He saith to him: Follow Me. And he rose up and followed Him. And it came to pass as He was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and His disciples. And the Pharisees seeing it, said to His disciples: “Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
Explanation. This gospel teaches us:
1. That when God calls, we should obey at once, lest, by not giving heed to His voice, he should cease to call us, or withdraw from us His grace.
2. To forsake the occasions of sin; as St. Matthew not only left the place where he sinned, but abandoned entirely the very house and office which had led him into sin.
3. That we should not only cease to sin, but, like St. Matthew, should follow Christ in poverty, humility, meekness, patience, if we would enter the kingdom of God.
Prayer. O holy apostle, who hast made ready for us a glorious feast in thy gospel, pray for me that thy gospel may be in truth food for my soul; pray that in it I may devoutly consider the life, virtues, passion and death of Jesus Christ, that I may faithfully follow, in all things, thy words, written by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and by the operation of the same Spirit may be able to exclaim: How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth.
St Matthew Facts[2]
·
Tax collectors worked for Rome, and not only did
Jews pay Roman taxes to them, the collectors received a percentage for their
own profit. Jews in good standing did not associate with publicans.
·
Once Matthew begins to follow Jesus, he holds a
dinner for other tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10). The
Pharisees, the strict Jewish law abiders that were leaders in the community,
complained about Jesus, a teacher eating with sinners. Jesus said,
"For I have come to call the not the righteous but the sinners."
(Matthew 9:13)
·
Early church writers claim that after Jesus'
death and resurrection that Matthew preached Christianity in Persia, Macedonia,
and Syria.
·
In the Orthodox Church, tradition says that St.
Matthew refused to die even after several attempts. He was first placed
upside down and lit on fire, then sunk in a coffin in the sea overnight.
The ruler of Ethiopia, who tried to kill Matthew, apologized to the
apostle and converted to Christianity.
·
St Matthew was one of Jesus' 12 disciples and
writer of the Gospel of Matthew. His feast day is held on September 21 in
the Roman Catholic Church and November 16 in the Orthodox faith.
Things to Do[3]
·
Do something for the needy: money for missions,
donations of clothing or toys, canned goods drive, etc.
·
Take time to read St. Matthew's Gospel, keeping
in mind that St. Matthew depicts the humanity of Christ and emphasizes His
physical sufferings. He makes frequent reference to the fulfillment of
prophecies because he wrote to Jews and to Jewish Christians.
·
Discuss St. Matthew's call from Christ "Follow
me" with your children and how we are all called to belong to the
family of God.
·
Pray for people who work for financial
institutions.
·
Make Silver Dollar Pancakes, you can use this recipe on Catholic Cuisine's website or one of the
suggestions we offer under recipes.
International Day of Peace[4]
International
Day of Peace seeks to promote peace among nations and peoples. Peace is
recognized as both an innate state of being, and a dynamic evolutionary process
wherein constructive growth can occur and the children of this and future generations may
gain hope for a better world to inherit. International Day of Peace was
established by the United Nations in 1981. In 2002, the United Nations declared it a permanent holiday. Through
education and public awareness events, the UN endeavors to strengthen the
ideals of peace among all of the world's inhabitants. International Day
of Peace is observed on September 21st each year. On this day, the UN
urges all hostilities to stop, worldwide.
Inner Peace of Christ[5]
1. To be attached only to God. Status and wealth may be beneficial, but to be overly concerned about them is to invite inner spiritual havoc. The soul's primary need is communication with its Creator. One needs to view objects and persons in reference to God and His will if peace is to reign. To be "dead" to the world and creatures is paramount.
2.
To surrender to Divine Providence. All
Catholic spiritual writers are unanimous on this point: Sanctity and inner
peace are attained only when God's will holds sway. The Lord knows best. Humbly
accepting His will is vastly different from reluctantly putting up with it.
When a person yields to the divine plan, he demonstrates a belief that God will
sustain him--come what may.
3.
To welcome suffering and hardship. Human
nature tends to resist difficulties. Yet, spiritual perfection entails carrying
the cross of Jesus. Scorn and rejection from others--while hardly
pleasant--must be seen as an opportunity to experience solidarity with the
suffering Christ.
4.
To undertake only that which our
situation in life demands. Often a person takes upon himself too many
activities at once. "The more, the better" does not necessarily apply
in the realm of good works. Prudence dictates what one can accomplish. Inner
turmoil may spring from a plethora of activities, even when they are morally
good acts. Prayer and counsel will determine what to undertake and what to
forego.
When thousands are turning to Eastern methods of
prayer in search of peace, Catholics should take heed of the advice offered nearly
three centuries ago by this Italian preacher. Happiness of soul occurs when a
person conforms himself to Christ through acceptance of the Father's will. Only
then may one experience the peace which the world cannot give (cf. John 14:27).
35 Promises
of God[6]
cont.
“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
Daily Devotions
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance
of the Angels
·
Monday:
Litany of Humility
·
Rosary
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