Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from Lust
At a word from You the devil and his minions flee in terror.
You are the source of all truth. You are the source of all strength.
By the power of your Cross and Resurrection, we beseech You, O Lord
To extend Your saving arm and to send Your holy angels
To defend us as we do battle with Satan and his demonic forces.
Exorcise, we pray, that which oppresses Your Bride, The Church,
So that within ourselves, our families, our parishes, our dioceses, and our nation
We may turn fully back to You in all fidelity and trust.
Lord, we know if You will it, it will be done.
Give us the perseverance for this mission, we pray.
Amen
St. Joseph...pray for us
St. Michael the Archangel...pray for us
(the patron of your parish )... pray for us
(your confirmation saint)...pray for us
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Mary, like unto the Heart of God, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, instrument of the Holy Ghost, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, sanctuary of the Divine Trinity, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, tabernacle of God Incarnate, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, immaculate from thy creation, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, full of grace, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, blessed among all hearts, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, throne of glory, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, most humble, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, holocaust of Divine Love, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, fastened to the Cross with Jesus Crucified, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, hope of the agonizing, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy, Pray for us.
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Make our hearts like unto the Heart of Jesus.
O most merciful God, Who, for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the miserable, wast pleased that the Most Pure Heart of Mary should be most like in charity and pity to the Divine Heart of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, grant that we, who commemorate this sweet and loving Heart, by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Virgin, may merit to be found like unto the Heart of Jesus, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
__ Daily reflection and prayers
__ Litany of the day
__ Pray a Rosary
__ Divine Mercy Chaplet
__ Spiritual or corporal work of mercy
__ Fast/abstain (according to level)
__ Exercise (according to level/ability)
__ Refrain from conventional media (only 1 hr. of social)
__ Examination of conscience (confession 1x this week)
Introduction to Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy is narrated, for the most part, by Moses. Yep, that Moses. Some people actually say Moses wrote the book, but most scholars think that the writer(s) were just using Moses the character as a means to get their message across. Attributing the text to a hugely important cultural figure would give it more power, right? Think about if someone today came out with "George Washington's Lost Will." There'd be controversy, but you can bet that book would sell.
Once you sift through all the nitty-gritty laws and rules, the main message is that the Israelites should worship one god (6:4) in one place (14:25). That god is God, and—even though it's never named in the book—that place is Jerusalem. This message comes along with a retelling of the Exodus story, the tales of the Israelites in the book of Numbers, and the rules and regulations that will help the Israelites recapture their culture's essence.
Moses conveys all this through some pretty rousing and finger-pointing pep talks. Basically, the previous generation of Israelites failed big time, refusing to fight for the Promised Land. But after forty years of desert-wandering, a new generation brings new hope. And if these Israelites obey God, then they'll conquer the Promised Land. The whole book takes place at the Jordan River, while Moses motivates and warns them. Obey and win; disobey and lose—big time.
Why Should I Care?
Deuteronomy is the key to the entire Hebrew Bible. It's the bridge
between the stories in Exodus and Numbers, the laws in Leviticus, and the narratives
in Joshua, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. All of the Bible before
Deuteronomy has been, in a narrative sense, leading up to the Israelites
entering the Promised Land. They've fought, been enslaved, seen God's fire,
messed up, died, and been given the law. Now, in Deuteronomy, they're on the
edge of the Promised Land, so close to their goal. But don't get too
excited—Moses, their leader, makes them take a really long pause. He wants them to take a deep breath to reflect
on where they've been (and think about what's to come). What better way to do
that than by retelling the story? And hey, if nothing else, Deuteronomy gives
you a really good cram tool if you somehow missed the first four books of the
Bible.
FEBRUARY 27 Saturday in the first week of Lent-Ember
Day
FULL SNOW MOON
Deuteronomy, Chapter
1, Verse 17
Deuteronomy is the last of the five books of Moses. The book explains to the Israelites how to make a success of their life. To be a success we must as General Patton said, “Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.” After appointing Elders this was Moses advice to them; fear no one except God. The greatest of our church is that we when we are troubled and don’t know what to do, we can always approach Him in prayer and seek the advice of his elders (Mary and the Saints) anywhere we are. If we desire, we may also approach our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and bring any case that is too difficult for Him to hear and He will answer us. Likewise, we may approach a priest in confession or connect with a local parish spiritual director. How great is our God that He does not abandon us? Furthermore, there is a multitude of great Catholic websites and organizations where there are elders of the church who can assist us in our difficult moments.
Saturday in the first week of Lent-Ember Day
EPISTLE, i. Thess. v. 14-23.
BRETHREN: We beseech you, rebuke the unquiet, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men. See that none render evil for evil to any man: but ever follow that which is good towards each other, and towards all men. Always rejoice. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all. Extinguish not the spirit. Despise not prophecies. But prove all things: hold fast that which is good. From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves. And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you in all things: that your whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless in the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel and Prayer the same as
those of tomorrow.
Full Snow Moon
According to the almanac today we are having a Full Snow Moon. Plan to have a day to take your children or your grandchildren out to play in the snow and talk a little with them about your love and faith in God and make snow angels.
Our Lady of the Snows[1]
Improbable as it is for snow to
fall during August, history tells of a snowfall that seemed more impossible,
namely in Rome, Italy. August 5, 352, snow fell during the night in Rome.
There lived in the Eternal City a
nobleman, John and his childless wife, who had been blessed with much of this
world’s goods. They chose the Mother of God as the heir to their fortune, and
at the suggestion of Pope Liberius, prayed that she might make known to them
how to do this by a particular sign. In answer, the Virgin Mother during the
night of August 5, appeared to John and his wife and also to the Holy Father,
Pope Liberius, directing them to build a church in her honor on the crown of
the Esquiline Hill. And what would be the sign that John and his wife had
requested?
“Snow will cover the crest of the
hill.”
Snow rarely falls in Rome, but
the flakes fell silently during that night, blanketing the peak of the historic
hill. In the morning the news quickly spread, and crowds gathered to throng up
the hill and behold the white splendor. The snow had fallen in a particular
pattern, showing the outline of the future church. When it became known that
the snow was a sign from Mary, the people spontaneously added another to her
long list of titles, Our Lady of the Snows.
Antarctica: Faith in the Land of Eternal
Snows[2]
It’s hard to imagine that 60 million years ago, Antarctica
was teeming with dinosaurs languishing in the sweltering, subtropical heat
typical of the “White Continent” at the time. Now, it’s home only to seals,
penguins, walruses and humans who insist they don’t mind the frigid
temperatures. The first official nod to Christianity in Antarctica came from
Capt. Aeneas Mackintosh, who erected a large memorial cross on Wind Vane Hill
on Cape Evans in honor of three members of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914-1917
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition party who died in 1916.
Priests Down South
Father William Menster (1913-2007), a priest in the
Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, and U.S. Navy chaplain, wrote in his 1949 book Strong
Men South about his Antarctic expedition in 1946 and 1947, “The highlight
of my life was the celebration of Mass at and blessing the Antarctic
continent.” This first Mass on the continent was celebrated in a temporary tent
on an altar oriented eastward — or what passes for eastward when you’re at the
bottom of the planet. The first Jesuit stationed in Antarctica was seismologist
Jesuit Father Henry Birkenhauer, in 1957-58, earning him the nickname “The
Polar Priest.” Jesuit Father Daniel Linehan was a scientist and explorer who
made two expeditions to Antarctica in 1954-55 and 1955-56. The Linehan Glacier
is named after him. Vatican astronomer Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno visited
Antarctica in 1996 and discovered a number of meteorites. (The climate aside,
it’s easy hunting for such rocks, as they stand in clear contrast to the
continent’s snowy fields.) Jesuit geophysicists Edward Bradley and J. Joseph
Lynch also did extensive research in Antarctica.
Cool Chapels
There are currently nearly 90 science stations in Antarctica,
half of which are only used in summer months, when the days are long. Most
research stations have a small multipurpose room that serves as an ad hoc
chapel. However, several bases and settlements have their own dedicated
chapels, including:
1. Notre-Dame des Vents (Port-aux-Français,
Kerguelen Island)
Interestingly, Capt. James Cook discovered this uninhabited
island on Christmas Day 1776, an auspiciously appropriate day for what would
subsequently become the southernmost French-Catholic church in the world.
French for Our Lady of the Winds, the chapel is located in Port-aux-Français,
the capital settlement of the Kerguelen Islands, territory of the French
Southern and Antarctic lands in the south Indian Ocean. The concrete chapel was
built in the 1950s, and its proportions are based on the “Golden Ratio” — the
ratio of the building’s dimensions is the same as the ratio of the sum of the
larger of the chapel’s two quantities. This is a fancy mathematical way of
saying the chapel is exquisitely beautiful and exceptionally pleasing
mathematically, aesthetically and emotionally. This chapel serves as the parish
church for the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the British Antarctic
Territory. A statue of Our Lady of the Winds stands vigil between the chapel
and the Golfe du Morbihan, welcoming congregants while assuring them of
her love and prayers.
2. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Punta Arenas)
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (El Sagrado Corazón)
in Punta Arenas, on the southern tip of South America, serves the Chilean
Antarctic Territory. Punta Arenas is the southernmost diocese in the entire
Catholic world. Its parish, Nuestra Señora del Carmen, in Puerto
Williams on Navarino Island is the southernmost Catholic parish on the planet.
Though not “technically” in Antarctica, it’s practically there; and the Vatican
has given it its specific mission of serving the faithful who temporarily call
Antarctica home.
3. The Ice Cave Catholic Chapel at Belgrano II Base (Coat’s
Island)
Argentina’s Belgrano II Base at Coat’s Island is the
southernmost house of worship — of any religion — and is entirely made of ice
blocks. Built in 1955, it’s used year-round by the scientists, soldiers and
staff of the Argentine military base and research station on the island. A wedding
was conducted in the chapel on January 29, 2007, for two researchers, a Chilean
and a Russian.
3. Notre Dame de l’Ocean (Amsterdam Island)
Our Lady of the Ocean Chapel serves the scientists of French-administered
Amsterdam Island. This squarish, cozy chapel is immediately adjacent to the
researcher’s quarters and hosts Mass every Sunday. The chapel offers a
magnificent view of the Antarctic Ocean.
4. Chapel of the Snows (Ross Island)
The Chapel of the Snows is located at McMurdo Science
Station on Ross Island and was constructed in 1956. The chapel was rebuilt
after a fire in 1978 and was re-consecrated in 1989. It later opened its doors
to Protestants, Mormons, Bahais and Buddhists so that they might conduct their
own services. The chapel serves 200 researchers and support personnel, but it
can host up to 1,000 visitors. It contains a stained-glass window depicting
Antarctica.
5. Notre Dame des Oiseaux Chapel, Possession Island
This tiny French-administered island in the Crozet
Archipelago has a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Birds. The chapel is
located near Alfred Faure Base and was built in 1984.
6. Trinity Church (Bellingshausen, King George Island)
This Russian Orthodox chapel warmly, pun intended, welcomes
Catholics to celebrate Mass there. The quaint structure is made of pressurized
Siberian pine treated to withstand the subzero temperature of the southernmost
continent. It can hold 30 worshippers at any given moment. Two Russian monks’ man
this remote chapel, committing to a year’s service. Defying the destructive
power of the polar winds, the wooden structure with Russian carvings stands 15
meters (49 feet) tall, and Mass is generally celebrated in either Spanish or
English.
7. San Francisco de Assisi Chapel (Hope Bay)
A chapel dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi is
appropriately located at Esperanza (Spanish for “hope”) Station in
Antarctica’s Hope Bay. This is one of Argentina’s 13 research bases in
Antarctica. Catholic babies are routinely baptized here.
8. Chilean Chapel of Santa Maria Reina de la Paz
(Villa Las Estrellas, South Shetland Islands)
This humble and utilitarian church is made out of
repurposed shipping containers stacked side by side and can fit up to 36
congregants. The local population, aside from the penguins, can be up to 120
people, making it the largest civilian settlement in Antarctica. Located on the
Chilean military base of King George’s Island, Villa las Estrellas (Spanish:
“The Village of Stars”), it’s not uncommon for personnel to bring their
families, with children, to live on the base for up to two years at a time,
necessitating religious services and catechetical instruction.
9. Chapel of the Santisima Virgen de Lujan at
Marambio Base
The Chapel of the Most Holy Virgin serves Argentina’s
permanent, year-round base. On Jan. 3, 2013, during the 44th Overwintering
Campaign, Father Marcelo Lopez and the team of researchers consecrated the
entire base to the Virgin Mary.
10. St. Ivan Rilski Chapel, Livingston Island
This Orthodox church was built on Bulgaria’s St. Kliment
Ohridski expeditionary base in 1988.
11. Stella Maris Chapel, Cape Horn Island
Next to the lighthouse on Cape Horn Island lies a tiny
wooden chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It serves the sacramental
needs of the researchers and staff at this station, which lies between South
America’s Tierra de Fuego and the Antarctic continent. The first
Catholic, let alone human being, to visit the area was Ferdinand Magellan on
his round-the-world-trip across the straits that still bear his name. Oddly, the
90 researchers and support staff of the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station at
Terra Nova Bay don’t have a permanent chapel, despite lay Italian Catholics
offering to build one for free. In fact, a German shipping company offered to
transport the prefab chapel to Terra Nova Bay gratis. Despite this, the Italian
government is dragging its feet, to the detriment of the devout scientists and
staff on the base. The Worldwide Antarctic Program (WAP) is spearheading the
construction of a Catholic chapel at the base. So far, the plan is on ice.
The Devil and Temptations[3]
There are many and varied
ways in which sin and evil are presented to us in an attractive way. Avoid them
as you would a viper in the desert.
The Kingdom of Darkness and Forbidden Power
·
Witchcraft
or superstitious magic is used to produce effects that are beyond the power of
man. These effects may be good or bad and are brought about by the use of
magical words or gestures, or the use of magical herbs, powders, liquids or
similar things. There is often a specific invocation of the devil. Physical
evils are directed against individuals because of hatred or jealousy. We have
all heard about sticking pins in dolls, the evil eye, the eating of cursed food
or drinking a liquid, that through the power of darkness is to cause harm,
sickness, or death. This is witchcraft. Today, witches can be found almost
everywhere, and often they are presented in a positive light. Just remember
everyone involved in false worship, seeking forbidden knowledge, or using forbidden
power should be absolutely avoided.
·
There
is also an increased interest in African witchcraft-- voodooism. The gods of
voodooism are good and bad. Usually, a voodoo service begins after sunset and
ends in the early morning. It often includes a bloody sacrifice of a goat or
chicken. There is prayer and singing. The gods are supposed to briefly enter
into the persons during the ritual.
·
In
voodooism and witchcraft, Catholic objects such as images of saints,
crucifixes, candles, holy water and Catholic prayers are sometimes used, as
well as other objects and prayers. Do not be fooled by the apparent religious
nature of what happens.
·
If
you have any objects or written prayers that have been used in witchcraft or
given you by a witch, they should be completely destroyed.
If
you have been involved in witchcraft you must
renounce the devil, renounce the witchcraft in which you have been involved and
all witchcraft, ask God's pardon, and confess your sin to a priest. In
Confession (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) there is Divine Power needed to
free one from the influence of evil.
Can
I believe in Wicca and still be Catholic?[4]
Fr.
Joe: My friend believes in Wicca because it honors nature. I think I can
believe in Wicca, too, and still be Catholic. My mom says “no.” What do you
think?
The
Catholic Church is a 2,000-year-old institution that is blessed by God in a
special way to lead people to and in Christ. In those 2,000 years, we have
engaged every culture that has existed during this time. We have done beautiful
things; made terrible mistakes and we have learned much. Because of this, I
submit myself to the wisdom of the Catholic Church. I understand that I am not
in charge. I understand that in order to be Christ-like, I need to humble myself
and not seek my own power.
Why am I
saying this if the question is about witchcraft? Because the issue of humility
and submission are two of the places where witchcraft is an offense against
God. Let’s take it apart.
First of
all, let’s define witchcraft. When I say witchcraft, I am talking about the
practice of Wiccans and other things like using Ouija boards, consulting
horoscopes, going to fortunetellers, etc., OK? The Church, without exception,
condemns all of these practices. Look at your catechism, sections 2115-2117.
See, the
problem is, in these practices, we take God’s job away from Him. We try to
claim God’s power over the future. For example, in trying to predict our future
or have someone predict it for us, we are trying to take control over something
that is not ours to control! You are God’s own precious possession and all you
and I need to know about the future is that God is there. The future is not
ours to know or control. It is God’s.
In
casting spells, we run into the problem of trying to manipulate the spirit
world. You cast spells and do different things to get what you want. This is
not how we deal with God. God is in charge. He is not manipulated, and we can’t
“force His hand.” As Christians, we should not seek to be in charge, we should
try to humble ourselves and be under God’s authority.
Now,
let’s talk turkey. Witchcraft exposes us to a dangerous element of the spirit
world. For some reason, all kinds of TV shows and movies have popped up which
try to make witchcraft look fun, acceptable, harmless or even good. This is not
the case.
Witchcraft
is a practice which is dangerous and alienates us from God. We have to
understand something very important and basic to our faith: as Catholics, heck,
even as Christians, we believe that there are two beings out there that want us
with them. One of them is God who loves us and desires great things for us
(John 10:10). The other is the devil and he wants us dead (I Peter 5:8).
Whether
we believe it or not, witchcraft brings contact with evil spirits. They may appear
to be good, or even do nice things, but the problem is they only want our
deaths. That is why I am being more serious in this article than usual. I don’t
want anyone reading this to get mixed up in it.
Please
understand witchcraft is not “contacting God in a different way.” God has
strictly forbidden the practice. Witchcraft is not harmless or good, it is
using evil spirits who appear to be good to get what we want, and that is not
holy. If you are engaging in practices of witchcraft, I urge you to step away
from them and pray for help. See your priest and ask him for guidance.
God loves
us. We can trust Him to give us what we need and help us discover what we want.
God is in charge of the future and, by humbly placing ourselves in His hands,
we don’t need special powers from Wiccan practices, and we don’t need to know
the future. All we need to know is this: God who loves us is in control.
Enjoy
another day in God’s presence!
Daily Devotions
·
Saturday Litany of the Hours
Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 2 day 4
·
Offering
to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face
·
Rosary
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