Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from Materialism
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 Spirit, etc.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost,
Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God,
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy,
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee,
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, saturated with revilings,
Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities,
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, .
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee,
Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints,
Spare us, oh Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Christ graciously spare us.
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Make our hearts like unto Thine.
Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end. 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)
Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Solemnity OF ST.
JOSEPH-spring begins
Deuteronomy, Chapter 11, Verse 25
What
have you to fear with God at your back?
We
as the heirs of God’s promises to the Hebrews must have the courage to support
and defend Israel at each threshold of change that God brings about. Yes, there
will be suffering, and we must be up to the challenge; to carry our cross, as
God wills it.
Saint Joseph[1]
ST.
JOSEPH was descended from the kingly line of David and was a kinsman of the
Blessed Virgin Mary (Matt. i. 1-16). The Gospel gives him the praise of being
just (Matt. i. 19), that is, a man distinguished for all virtues. And surely,
as he was chosen from all other men by God to be the foster-father of His Son,
he undoubtedly excelled, in virtues and sanctity, all saints then living. Of
his youth nothing certain is known to us, and of his later life we know only
what the Gospel relates. He was a carpenter (Matt. xiii. 55), and lived at
Nazareth, in Galilee (Luke ii. 4). Being espoused to Mary, he was inclined,
upon learning that she was with child, to put her away privately, not wishing
to expose her to public reproach but being instructed by an angel, he took her
to himself, in obedience to the command of God, went with her to Bethlehem, and
afterwards, with Mary and the new-born child, fled, without timidity, to Egypt
(Matt. ii. 13). At the command of the angel, he returned thence, and again
dwelt in Nazareth (Matt. ii. 23). From this place they went every year to the
feast at Jerusalem, where it happened that Jesus, then twelve years old,
remained behind them in the temple, and was anxiously sought for by them. More
than this is not told us. At the time of the marriage at Cana it would seem
that he was no longer living, since there is no mention made of him. Though
little is said of him, that little is rich in profitable instruction. How
worthy to be admired and imitated is his example his chastity, his tenderness
towards Mary, his forbearing to pronounce a judgment in regard to her condition
when he could not explain it, his quick and unreserved obedience towards God
and the commands of authority, his love for Jesus, and his care for both the
mother and the child. On account of his sanctity God has specially
distinguished him by miracles, and the Church honors him in a particular
manner. In the Litany of the Saints, he is named among the patriarchs, and the
feast of his patronage is celebrated on the third Sunday after Easter.
Venerate, therefore, St. Joseph choose him for your protector in life and in
death and make yourself worthy of his protection by following his example.
The Introit of the Mass is as follows:
" The just shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow up like the
cedar of Libanus, planted in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house
of our God. It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Thy name, O
Most High." Amen.
Prayer. We beseech Thee, O Lord, that we
may be assisted by the merits of the spouse of Thy most holy Mother, that what
of our selves we are unable to obtain may be given to us by his intercession. Amen.
EPISTLE. Ecclus. xlv. 1-6.
He was beloved of God and men:
whose memory is in benediction. He made him like the saints in glory, and
magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies
to cease. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in
the sight of his people, and showed him His glory. He sanctified him in his
faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh. For He heard him, and his
voice, and brought him into a cloud. And He gave him commandments before his
face, and a law of life and instruction.
GOSPEL. Matt. i. 18-21.
When
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together,
she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband,
being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her was minded to put her
away privately. But while he thought on these things, be hold the angel of the
Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy
Ghost; and she shall bring forth a Son: and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for
He shall save His people from their sins.
Instruction
To
encourage us to veneration for St. Joseph St. Teresa wrote “I do not remember
to have asked St. Joseph for anything which he did not grant me. The great
favors which God has granted me through him, and the many dangers of soul and
body from which he has freed me, truly deserve admiration. It seems that God
has granted to other saints the grace of assisting, in particular needs, those
who invoke their intercession; but this glorious saint assists in all needs.
The Lord seems thereby to indicate that, as He was subject to Joseph on earth,
so now He grants him whatever he asks for. The same thing has been experienced
by persons whom I have advised to recommend themselves to him.” “I would gladly
advise everyone,” says St. Alphonsus, to have a great devotion towards this
saint, since I have experienced what graces he can obtain from God. For several
years I have asked him, on his feast, for some particular grace, and every time
my petition has been granted. As we all have to die, we should have a
particular devotion towards St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death
for all Catholic Christians consider him to be an intercessor for the dying,
and that he assists, at the hour of death, those who venerate him; and this for
three reasons
1. Because
Jesus loves him, not only as a friend, but as a father, on which account his
intercession is more powerful than that of any other saint.
2. Because
St. Joseph obtained special power against the evil spirits who tempt us at the
hour of death.
3. The
assistance which Jesus and Mary gave to Joseph at the hour of his own death
procured for him the right to obtain a holy and easy death for his dependents.
If in their dying hour they invoke his aid, not only will he assist them, but
he will obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary. “Ought not these
words of a great saint encourage you to venerate St. Joseph every day? Should
not the hope of dying one day under the protection of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
move you to devotion to the foster-father of Jesus?”
Prayer
to St. Joseph
O
most chaste Joseph, who, by thy purity and other exalted virtues, wast worthy
to be chosen for the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus, I beseech
thee, by the great graces of which thou wast made partaker, that thou wouldst,
by thy intercession, obtain for all parents grace to rear their children
piously; for all married persons who are distressed and afflicted through
poverty and tribulations consolation and encouragement; for all unmarried
persons who have devoted their chastity to God the grace of perseverance; and,
finally, for all the dying the grace to come, after a happy death, to thy
fosterchild, Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and
reigneth one God, world without end. Amen.
Meditate
on the humility of Saint Joseph this day; ask his assistance and special
protection.
Things to
Do:[2]
·
A table overflowing with good Italian food
honoring St. Joseph is a traditional Sicilian custom. The feast of San Giuseppe
began in the Middle Ages when Sicily was suffering from a severe drought and
the desperate people begged St. Joseph for rain. When they received rainy
weather in response, they held a huge "feste" in Saint Joseph's
honor. Even today, Sicilians go to Mass before their St. Joseph's day dinner
and then process to their festive tables, decked out in flowers, breads, and
all sorts of Italian foods. The priest blesses the food, and everyone shouts, "Viva
la tavola di San Giuse!" (which your children will readily do with
great gusto). After the meal is done, everyone present is given something to
take home, in the generous spirit of this day. Try some of our delicious
recipes linked here. We especially recommend the traditional Minestrone.
Italian sausage is always a favorite, as well. And you should have bread of all
kinds — this recipe for Italian
Decorative Breads can provide the traditional shape of your choice (St.
Joseph's staff, his beard, etc). Also a traditional must with children is St.
Joseph's Sfinge, (Cream Puffs). Plan a St. Joseph's potluck for this day
with other Catholic families — invite a parish priest and ask his blessing over
the food before you begin the meal. If you do not have the time or resources to
do this, plan a smaller affair with your own family, complete with prayers to
St. Joseph, a little procession with candles for the older children and your
favorite hymns, and then the father of the family ought to say a special
blessing over the food before you begin.
·
Check out this wonderful site that explains the St. Joseph
Altar more in detail, includes recipes, history, and allows virtual
offerings.
·
For further reading:
1.
Saint
Joseph Altars by Kerri McCaffety (Photographer).
2.
A
Table for Saint Joseph: Celebrating March 19th with Devotions, Authentic
Italian Recipes, and Timeless Traditions by Mary Anne Scanlan Grasso.
3.
The
Saint Joseph's Day Table Cookbook by Mary Ann Giordano.
4.
Read the section of Directory
on Popular Piety and Liturgy on St. Joseph.
5.
Read Pope Leo XIII's encyclical on Devotion
to St. Joseph.
6.
Interested in history? Read this article on the history
of devotions to St. Joseph, Finding St. Joseph, by Sandra Miesel.
·
Pray this prayer and litany
in honor of St. Joseph with your family rosary tonight.
·
Here is a link to several meditations
on St. Joseph — choose the one that is perfect for you and your family!
·
Here are some ideas
for teaching children about St. Joseph.
·
Young girls ought to pray to St. Joseph for
their future spouse.
St Joseph Facts & Quotes[3]
·
Joseph
is noted in the Bible for being a direct descendant of King David in the Old
Testament, which gives him a royal lineage (Matthew 1:1-16, Luke 3:23-38).
·
St.
Joseph actually has two feast days in the Roman Catholic Church. The
March 19 date celebrates him as husband of Mary. He is revered again on
May 1 as a worker. In the Orthodox tradition, Joseph is revered during
the Great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord in September.
·
St
Joseph is the patron saint of the dying and of carpenters.
St Joseph Top Events and Things to
Do[4]
·
Practice
carpentry skills to build something. Jesus is known as the son of a
carpenter, or builder. Saint Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters.
·
Investigate
your lineage. Genealogy can sometimes yield interesting information about
where we came from. Maybe you come from royal lineage, too!
·
Joseph
raised a child that was not his own. Thank a man who has served as a
father for someone else's children.
·
Enjoy
Italian food in St. Joseph's honor. He is one of the most beloved saints
in Italian-American communities.
·
Visit
an Italian Bakery and pick up some delicious St Joseph's bread (Pane di San
Giuseppe). St. Joseph's Bread is typically made with egg and has a
thicker crust. It is often marked or shaped in a cross.
Spring Begins[5]
Spring
traditionally marks the end of winter and
the beginning of a season that signifies longer days and warmer temperatures.
The first day of Spring is also known as the Vernal Equinox. This
marks the day that the Sun's path is directly over the equator. This day
also contains equal amount of daytime and nighttime. This day typically
occurs each year on March 20, and on March 21 on some years.
The First Day of
Spring is also called the Vernal Equinox.
·
The
Vernal Equinox is the day of the year where there are exactly 12 hours of
daylight and 12 hours of dark in the Northern Hemisphere.
·
On
the vernal equinox, the Sun crosses the equator into the Northern Hemisphere.
This has the effect of making the days longer in the Northern Hemisphere
until the Summer Solstice occurs.
·
The
Egyptian Great Sphinx points directly at the Sun on this day.
Vernal Equinox-Spring
Begins Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
a nursery and purchase seeds or plants.
·
Start
your spring cleaning.
·
Plan
your flower beds and garden.
·
Put
away winter clothes and prepare summer clothes.
Aids
in Battle[6]
When tempted and tested
The ordinary activity of
the Enemy is to seek the ruin of souls through various kinds of temptation.
These passages offer counsel about how to turn away from evil so that you can
overcome temptation and pass the tests that God allows for your strengthening.
·
Because
He Himself suffered and has been tempted, He is able to help those who are
tempted. We may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 2: 17–
18; 4: 14– 16
·
My
son, if you come forward to serve the LORD, remain in justice and in fear, and
prepare yourself for temptation. Sir 2: 1
·
[Jesus
prayed:] “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that
you should keep them from the Evil One.” Jn 17: 15 RSVCE
·
Blessed
is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been tried, he will receive
the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no man say
when he is tempted, that he is tempted by God; for God is no tempter to evil,
and He Himself tempts no one. But everyone is tempted by being drawn away and
enticed by his own passion. Then when passion has conceived, it brings forth
sin; but when sin has matured, it begets death. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
do not err. Jas 1: 12– 16
·
The
fear of men lays a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD is safe. Pr 29: 25
·
The
Lord knows how to deliver the God-fearing from temptation. 2 Pt 2: 9
·
Have
no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions
be made known to God. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever honorable, whatever just, whatever
holy, whatever lovable, whatever of good repute, if there be any virtue, if
anything worthy of praise, think upon these things. Phil 4: 6– 9
Daily Devotions
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 5 day 3
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Rosary
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