Fitness Friday
ST
DENIS- SHEMINI ATZERET-LEIF ERIKSON
DAY
Psalm 111,
verse 5
He gives
food to those who FEAR him, he remembers his covenant forever.
St. Denis was born in
Italy. In 250 he was sent to France with six other missionary bishops by Pope
Fabian. Denis became the first bishop of Paris. He was beheaded in 258 with the
priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius at Catulliacum, now Saint-Denis. One
of the many legends about his torture and death was that his body carried his
severed head some distance from his execution site. St. Denis is one of the
Fourteen Holy Helpers who was invoked particularly in the Middle Ages against
the Black Plague.
Patron: against frenzy; against strife; headaches; against
diabolical possession; France; Paris, France.
Symbols: beheaded bishop carrying his head
— sometimes a vine growing over his neck; mitered head in his hand or on book;
white chasuble; tree or stake; sword; Our Lord with chalice and host.
Things to Do:
- Learn
more about the Fourteen Holy Helpers and their historical context.
- Bake
a French (or Parisian) pastry. Cooking with the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf has
3 recipes for St. Denis — St. Denis Turnovers, Saint Denis Tartlets and
Brioche Saint-Denis (Praline Cake).
- Read
in The Golden Legend for some of the legends or
stories about St. Denis.
Shemini
Atzeret[2]
Shemini Atzeret (Hebrew: שמיני עצרת), means 'The eighth day break' or 'the
eighth day of assembly'. It is celebrated preceding Simchat Torah and in
some regions celebrated together with it. Services for this holiday often
include a Geshem, prayer for rain.
Shemini Atzeret Facts
On Shemini Atzeret there
used to be a gathering of all men for a hearing of the Torah at the Holy Temple
in Jerusalem. Reference to this is made in the Biblical book of Nehemiah
(verse 8:18). Shemini Atzeret is observed in Orthodox communities with candle
lighting in the evening, Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and two challah
breads. This is representative of all Jewish High Festivals and an
evening and morning festive meal. Two Challah breads are used to
commemorate the Sabbath in the wilderness. During this time Manna (edible
substance that God provided for Israelites during time in the desert) fell from
Heaven in a double portion on Friday, so that on the Sabbath day, the
Israelites, did not need to perform the work of gathering Manna. Often an additional
service after the morning service is held in Orthodox Synagogues. Hallel
(Psalms with praise) is recited. Observant Jews do not work on this day.
A popular prayer on Shmini Atzeret is called Yizkor, Remembrance. It
serves to honor dead relatives. Even one of the happiest Jewish Holidays
of the year, dead relatives (parents, siblings, spouses and children) are
remembered. This helps remind that we would not be who we are and where
we are without these people.
Shemini Atzeret Top Events and Things
to Do
·
Pray
for Rain. Shemini Azeret and Simchat Torah is often accompanied by
prayers for the rain. The holidays are in the autumn, which is a critical period in
Israel for harvests.
·
On
Shmini Atzeret, it is customary for Orthodox Jews to spend an 'extra day
with God' and postpone their return to work and to mundane tasks.
Leif Erikson Day[3]
Leif Erikson Day serves to
honor Viking Explorer Leif Erikson and celebrate Nordic-American Heritage.
Erikson is believed to have been the first European to set foot on the
North American continent, having done so nearly 500 years before Christopher
Columbus. He established a settlement called Vinland and although its
exact location is not known, it is believed that it is near L'anse aux Meadows,
in Newfoundland, Canada, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1925, Leif
Erikson was officially recognized by President Calvin Coolidge as the first
explorer to discover the continent. It took another four decades for the day to
become official when, in 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared October 9th
as Leif Erikson Day. In 2015, President Barack Obama reproclaimed the day and
called upon Americans to celebrate the day appropriately in honor of
Nordic-American heritage and the explorers that embarked on the expeditions
that led to the creation of the United States.
Leif Erikson Day Facts & Quotes
·
Leif Erikson was actually born in Iceland, but
his family was Norwegian. He died in Greenland in the year 1020.
·
On October 9, 1825, the first wave of Norwegian
immigrants arrived on US soil in New York City. Between 1825 and 1925, nearly
one-third of Norway's population immigrated to the US.
·
Erikson named his settlement Vinland or Wineland
due to the many grape vines that he discovered there.
·
There are more than 4.5 million Americans with
Norwegian ancestry living in the US today, of which 55% live in the Upper Midwest
states.
·
Histories have been written and more will be
written of the Norwegians in America, but no man can tell adequately of the
tearing asunder of tender ties, the hardships and dangers crossing the deep,
the work and worry, the hopes and fears, the laughter and tears, of men and
women who with bare hands carved out of a wilderness a new kingdom. - Rønning,
N. N., from the book Fifty Years in America
Leif Erikson Day Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Purchase a Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative
Coin from the US Mint. The coins were released at the beginning of the century
however you can purchase some from collectors online or even try to find them
in public circulation.
·
Visit one of the many Leif Erikson statues in
the United States. There are statues in Boston, Milwaukee, Chicago, Cleveland,
Virginia, Seattle, Minnesota and North Dakota.
·
Take a trip to Iceland, Norway or Greenland and
visit the homelands of Leif Erikson.
·
Take a trip to UNESCO site of L'Anse aux Meadows
in Newfoundland, Canada. This is believed to be the site of Erikson's first New
World settlement.
·
Watch a movie about Vikings and Leif Erikson.
Some movies include Leif Ericson (2000) and The Vikings (1958), The
Viking Sagas (1995) and the 13th Warrior (1999).
·
Have Beer and Pizza
while watching a Viking movie.
Fitness Friday-Sleeping Workout
Recognizing
that God, the Father created man on Friday the 6th day I
propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew
yourself in strength, mind, soul and heart.
Having trouble
sleeping? Try some light catholic reading.
“The
reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of the past
centuries.” This quote is by the famous philosopher Descartes.
Although I am not a fan of everything Descartes has to say, I don’t think
he’s too far off here. Reading a good book by a good author is
indeed like having a conversation with them. By reading their book you’re
looking into their mind, experiencing their world, and learning their wisdom.
In my opinion there are no greater people to have “conversations” with through
their writing than Catholic saints. Catholic saints have written some of
the most beautiful literature which inspires, educates, encourages, and informs
us how to live a holy and happy life. Here is a list of ten classic Catholic books which any and every Catholic
should read at some point in their life.
*If
you’re not much of a reader, or if you don’t have much free time to pick up a
book, many of these classic Catholic books have audio book versions.
·
The Imitation of Christ by St. Thomas a Kempis
·
Diary of Saint Maria Faustina
Kowalska by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
·
Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
·
The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila
·
The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux
·
An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
·
City of God by St. Augustine
·
Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas
·
The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
·
The Confessions by St. Augustine
As you
can tell, this list of great Catholic books by wonderful Catholic saints is in
no particular order. These are just 10 of the many Catholic books written
by wonderful saints who have so much timeless wisdom to share. Who
wouldn’t want to have a conversation with any of these wonderful saints?
What books would you add to this list of classic Catholic books?
What does your favorite classic Catholic books list look like?
Daily Devotions
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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