Rogation Tuesday
27 When
the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew [his] sword and
was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But
Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” 29 He
asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with FEAR, he fell down
before Paul and Silas. 30 Then
he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
In
this work of God’s Mercy, Christ frees the jailer from the jail of fear and
sin.
Freeing of the Jailer of his jail[1]
Paul
was not overwhelmed by circumstances. The earthquake had not numbed him with
fear. He had no abject terror of death. Paul had his wits about him. He heard
the jailer's cry, heard the sword being drawn - perhaps, he saw the shadow of
it cast by the dim lamplight upon the prison wall and spoke out in mercy to
save the man's life from the consequences of sin.
The
penal consequence of sin is death. There are three kinds of death that result
from sin. Sinners are dead to God. There is no real communion between God and
us. He has withdrawn and no longer walks with us in the cool of the day. All
men physically die. Our old bodies will not last forever. Finally, for those
who remain God's enemies at heart there is ultimately the destruction of both
body and soul.
Our
fallen natures continually drag us down. We have little power to withstand the
inclination to sin when it is strong upon us. We scarcely live a day of our
lives without falling short of the standards we set ourselves let along the
standards that God sets. It is very doubtful that the Philippian jailer thought
along these lines exactly - nor do most people who are converted! The jailer
just knew that he needed saving from the way he was. He compared himself with Paul
and Silas and he was disgusted with the life he led. He hadn't the fortitude,
inner joy, peace or consideration for others that Paul exhibited. The jailer feared
death. He had no sort of relationship with God. He had no hope of life beyond
the grave because he had no assurance that God was interested him let alone
loved him. The jailer was lost, and he knew it.
Paul and Silas replied
to the jailer's question as one: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved - you and your household." Paul did not point the jailer
to Jesus' saving work but to Jesus himself. This is because in the first
instance the human heart must submit to Jesus. A sinner has to answer, "I
will," to that command of Paul and Silas. Saving faith involves
submitting, surrendering and yielding to Jesus. The rebel has to shoulder arms
and say to the Savior, "I give in. Please rescue me."
Rogationtide Tuesday[2]
The Lesser Rogation Days
prior to the Ascension were especially important in rural communities dependent
on agricultural bounty. They were also the inspiration for a number of
semi-liturgical imitations, where farmers would take holy water and douse their
fields for protection and blessing. Perhaps this would be a good time to have
one's garden blessed. Another interesting feature of Rogationtide is the
tradition of having parishioners end resentments or conflicts that had been
festering between them. Eoman Duffy's The Stripping of the Altars includes
vivid accounts from pre-Reformation England of some of these reconciliations.[3]
Today
would be a good day to reflect on what we want to harvest this fall; so, like
farmers we must till the soil of our soul reflecting this day on our use of our
TALENTS and look at in what ways we may offer our abilities to Christ to help
build a harvest for His Kingdom.
Human
Work[4]
Saint John Paul II wrote
the Encyclical "Laborem Exercens" in 1981, on the occasion of the
90th anniversary of Leo XIII's Encyclical "Rerum Novarum" on the
question of labor. In it he develops the concept of man's dignity in work,
structuring it in four points: the subordination of work to man; the primacy of
the worker over the whole of instruments and conditioning that historically
constitute the world of labor; the rights of the human person as the
determining factor of all socio-economic, technological and productive
processes, that must be recognized; and some elements that can help all men
identify with Christ through their own work.
Work is one of these
aspects, a perennial and fundamental one, one that is always relevant and
constantly demands renewed attention and decisive witness."
The Church considers it
her task always to call attention to the dignity and rights of those who work,
to condemn situations in which that dignity and those rights are violated, and
to ensure authentic progress by man and society." "Human work is a
key, probably the essential key, to the whole social question, if we try to see
that question really from the point of view of man's good. And if the solution
- or rather the gradual solution - of the social question, which keeps coming
up and becomes ever more complex, must be sought in the direction of 'making
life more human', then the key, namely human work, acquires fundamental and
decisive importance."
Work and Man
John
Paul, "work is a fundamental dimension of man's existence on earth."
This conviction is found in the first pages of Genesis: "Be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it." "Man's dominion over the
earth is achieved in and by means of work. ... The proper subject of work
continues to be man," and the finality of work "is always man
himself." It is a question of the objective and subjective meaning of
work: although both are important, the second takes precedence; "there is
no doubt that human work has an ethical value of its own, which clearly and
directly remains linked to the fact that the one who carries it out is a
person, a conscious and free subject, that is to say a subject that decides
about himself." Although technology fosters an increase in the things
produced by work, sometimes it "can cease to be man's ally and become
almost his enemy, as when the mechanization of work 'supplants' him, taking
away all personal satisfaction and the incentive to creativity and
responsibility, when it deprives many workers of their previous employment, or when, through exalting the machine, it
reduces man to the status of its slave." "in order to achieve
social justice in the various parts of the world, in the various countries, and
in the relationships between them, there is a need for ever new movements of
solidarity of the workers and with the workers."
"Work is a good thing
for man - a good thing for his humanity - because through work man not only
transforms nature, adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves
fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes 'more a human
being'."
Conflict: Labor and Capital in the
Present Phase of History
The Pope observes that
during the period which has passed since the publication of "Rerum
Novarum" (1891), "which is by no means yet over, the issue of work
has of course been posed on the basis of the great conflict that in the age of,
and together with, industrial development emerged between 'capital' and
'labor'." This antagonism "found expression in the ideological
conflict between liberalism, understood as the ideology of capitalism, and
Marxism, understood as the ideology of scientific socialism and communism,
which professes to act as the spokesman for the working class and the
world-wide proletariat." Later, he recalls the principle of "the
priority of labor over capital." The first "is always a primary
efficient cause, while capital, the whole collection of means of production,
remains a mere instrument or instrumental cause." Thus appears the error
of economism, "that of considering human labor solely according to its
economic purpose." John Paul II then refers to the right to private
property, emphasizing that the Church's teaching regarding this principle
"diverges radically from the program of collectivism as proclaimed by
Marxism," and "the program of capitalism practiced by liberalism and
by the political systems inspired by it." "The position of 'rigid'
capitalism continues to remain unacceptable, namely the position that defends
the exclusive right to private ownership of the means of production as an
untouchable 'dogma' of economic life. The principle of respect for work demands
that this right should undergo a constructive revision, both in theory and in
practice." For this reason, regardless of the type of system of
production, it is necessary for each worker to be aware that "he is working
'for himself'."
Rights of Workers
The Holy Father highlights
that the human rights that are derived from work are a part of the fundamental
rights of the person.
·
He
discusses the need to take action against unemployment, which is a true social
calamity and a problem of a moral as well as an economic nature. Starting with
the concept of the "indirect employer," in other words, "all the
agents at the national and international level that are responsible for the
whole orientation of labor policy," he notes that in order to solve the
problem of unemployment, these agents "must make provision for overall
planning." This "cannot mean one-sided centralization by the public
authorities. Instead, what is in question is a just and rational coordination,
within the framework of which the initiative of individuals ... must be
safeguarded."
·
Speaking
of the rights of workers, he recalls the dignity of agricultural work and the
need to offer jobs to disabled people. As for the matter of salaries, he writes
that "the key problem of social ethics in this case is that of just
remuneration for work done."
·
In
addition, "there must be a social re-evaluation of the mother's
role." Specifically, "the whole labor process must be organized and
adapted in such a way as to respect the requirements of the person and his or
her forms of life, above all life in the home, taking into account the
individual's age and sex."
·
It
is fitting that women "should be able to fulfill their tasks in accordance
with their own nature, without being discriminated against and without being
excluded from jobs for which they are capable, but also without lack of respect
for their family aspirations and for their specific role in contributing,
together with men, to the good of society."
·
Besides wages, there are other social benefits
whose objective is "to ensure the life and health of workers and their
families." In this regard, he notes the right to leisure time, which
should include weekly rest and yearly vacations.
·
The
Pope then considers the importance of unions, which he calls "an
indispensable element of social life." "One method used by unions in
pursuing the just rights of their members is the strike or work stoppage. This
method is recognized by Catholic social teaching as legitimate in the proper
conditions and within just limits," but must not be abused.
·
As
for the question of emigration for work reasons, he affirms that man has the
right to leave his country to seek better living conditions in another.
"The most important thing is
that the person working away from his native land, whether as a permanent
emigrant or as a seasonal worker, should not be placed at a disadvantage in
comparison with the other workers in that society in the matter of working
rights."
Elements for a Spirituality of Work
·
Labor
has meaning in God's eyes. Thus, "the knowledge that by means of work man
shares in the work of creation constitutes the most profound motive for
undertaking it in various sectors."
·
Labor
is participation in the work of the Creator and the Redeemer. Jesus Christ
looks upon work with love because he himself was a laborer.
·
This
is a doctrine, and at the same time a program, that is rooted in the
"Gospel of work" proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth. "By enduring
the toil of work in union with Christ crucified for us, man in a way
collaborates with the Son of God for the redemption of humanity. He shows
himself a true disciple of Christ by carrying the cross in his turn every day
in the activity that he is called upon to perform."
10 things happy professionals do
before 10 a.m.[5]
Success often seems like a
visionary goal — a feat in life that’s attempted only after many strides,
plenty of pitfalls and a healthy serving of endurance. However, for those who
consider themselves fulfilled by their career, it’s not only a sense of
accomplishment and an impressive LinkedIn profile that defines their
satisfaction with their work. In fact, their overall desire to work harder and
effectively doesn’t just stem from extra zeros on their paycheck, but rather, it
derives from a place of happiness. As the old rhyme reminds, contentment isn’t
a destination, but a process — and if you’re smart, a priority for both your
professional and personal life. How do you carve in time to, well, improve your
overall mood and outlook?
Here, life coaches and
psychologists explain the joint secrets happy professionals share:
1. They get enough sleep
Even
if college was many moons ago, you’ve likely pulled an all-nighter in the past
year. Or, you’ve been so overworked and double-booked that you spent more time
tossing and turning than resting. For those people who wake up ready – and
elated – to tackle the day ahead, the eight hours that come before the alarm
clock dings are just as important as the minutes that follow it. As licensed
therapist Melody Li
explains, many workers overlook the power of a good night’s sleep in an effort
to push their minds and bodies to the limit. As studies indicate and Li
reminds, not reaping the rewards of shuteye usually results in poor memory,
difficulty problem-solving and unexplained ups and downs. Professionals who
tuck themselves into bed instead of watching Netflix (or their favorite YouTube
videos on repeat)? They wake up in better spirits.
2. They take their time
Sure,
there are some mornings that warrant that tempting snooze button, but to rise
on the right side of the bed, yoga therapist and natural health expert Dr.
Lynn Anderson Ph.D.,
giving yourself time to linger is key. When you feel frazzled or pressed for
time, you’ll not only make more mistakes which can bum-out your confidence
levels, but you don’t allow yourself to ease into the day’s tasks in an
enjoyable manner. “Get up early enough to relax, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee
and organize the day. Rushing and running late leads to stress and stress is
like a fire extinguisher for happiness. It’s a poisonous gas that makes a mess.
Being organized and relaxed creates happiness,” she shares.
3. They make their bed
Seems
simple enough, but how often do you leave your apartment or home in shambles?
It’s easy to forget in the hustle of the morning, but motivational speaker and
workplace expert Amy Cooper Hakim,
Ph.D. says there’s
a sense of glee found when your living area is prime. “A happy professional
builds confidence and self-efficacy by completing a simple chore like making
her bed before heading to the office. This act sets a ‘can do’ mindset into
motion for the day. It’s an easy task to check off the to-do list,” she
shares. “When we accomplish one item on our agenda, we are more driven to
accomplish others. Also, as a double bonus, many find it especially comforting
and gratifying to climb into a made bed at the end of a long day!”
4. They are able to see gratitude
and practice humility
We
all have that Wonder Woman (or man) in our life that seemingly glides through
life, experiencing it all with ease. They’re top of their game at work,
thoughtful and kind to others, brave to their core, and overall, rather funny.
If you dig a little deeper, you’ll notice a common thread of humility in these
happy-go-lucky, positive-thinking individuals. Career coach and shamanic
practitioner John Moore explains that those who
exercise gratitude as part of their daily routine tend to be more joyful, in
life and in work. He adds that research even indicates thankful people have
better relationships and more enduring psychological health.
5. They set daily goals
Yep,
you read that correctly: Happy professionals are masters of setting micro, 24/7
goals that keep them on the right track. As career and branding expert Wendi
Weiner explains,
those who are able to turnaround the best work with the best attitude take the
time to plan ahead, so they aren’t caught in a bind or a last-minute deadline
that slipped off their radar. “These are non-negotiable tasks that must be
completed for that day. The reason for this is that when you actually achieve
what you set out to achieve, that will raise the level of happiness and
personal satisfaction,” she says.
6. They communicate with others
Those
people who are nearly always smiling — and not faking it, but really grinning
their heart out — usually want to spend time with one another. Moore explains
that the pull comes from a part in our brains called the ‘anterior cingulate
cortex’ which measures social status, as well as pain and a high number of
opiate receptors. “Social exclusion registers in the brain much like physical pain.
In studies, one of the greatest predictors of happiness is the breadth of
social networks,” he says.
Even
if you don’t start chatting up a storm with your partner or your morning-hating
roommate, Moore says you’ll start the day off brighter if you, at the very
least, communicate in some way. “Happy professionals focus some of their
morning time growing and nurturing social connections. Check in with friends,
meet someone for coffee, chat up the cute barista — just start talking!” he
says.
7. They keep their calendars open
It
might be difficult to tango around time zones if you have international
clients, but if you can help it, health coach Kenneth Rippetoe recommends keeping your calendar
completely free until after 10 a.m. This gives you time to prepare for your day
and be mindful of the moments you’re giving your energy to others, instead of
always being readily available. “Practice being intentional with your time and
resources. When you are intentional, you make the choices that do align with
your value system and goals for your personal and professional life,” he
explains.
8. They focus on the present and
future, not the past
Ask
anyone who has been able to send away the skeletons in their closet and they’ll
agree that releasing the mistakes of yesteryear was the first step. If you find
yourself dreading each day or feeling anxious about how your career will
exceed, Weiner suggests taking a page from the notebook of joy-focused
professionals who make a habit of living in the moment and preparing for the
future with a solid outlook. “Happy professionals will concentrate their focus
on the present things they are doing and the present goals they want to achieve
as well as the future things they plan to do and/or achieve,” she explains.
“Their energy will concentrate less on regrets, and more on taking chances and
risks to maximize their happiness.”
9. They complete a task that makes
them feel powerful
Perhaps
it was after you ran your very first 5K. Or landed a client that took months to
romance. Or when you finally took the plunge and checked ‘bungee jumping’ off
your bucket list. While you can’t perform one-of-a-kind feats every single day
(sadly), Li stresses the importance of completing something in the A.M. that
set you up to feel powerful throughout the day. Though every person will sing a
different tune, it’s most important that you strategize your day to make time
for this task. “For many, it’s some type of physical activity like running,
swimming, or lifting. For others, it might be solving a tricky puzzle or
crossword. It could be meditating, dancing to energetic music, or even
stretching,” she explains. “Whatever that looks like to you, spend at least 15
minutes doing something that reinforces the strength that you hold within and
carry this sense of power with you into your day.”
10. They visualize their success
Much
like amping up for the future — whether it’s a month, a year or a decade away —
psychologist and relationship expert Anotina Hall says happy careers are much like
flourishing love affairs. To truly find the grace and vulnerability in the
positions you’re in, you have to be courageous enough to imagine your future.
As Hall explains, “Studies have shown that by spending even a few minutes each
morning to visualize your goals coming to fruition with ease increases the
likelihood of successfully accomplishing those goals.
“See
your upcoming meeting in vivid detail, visualizing the desired outcome will
help make it go well and build your confidence!”
Every
day from now to Memorial Day I ask your prayers for each service and all of our
defenders to include police and fire on Memorial Day.
US Marine Corp[6]
Where
the mighty go; God goes with them!
·
At
Iwo Jima, Marine Chaplain Father Charles Suver celebrated Holy Mass shortly
before the raising of the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi by the Marines. Debate
has been inconclusive whether it was the first less known or the second more
well-known raising of the flag that is now immortalized in history. Regardless
of which flag raising it was Father Suver could still hear Japanese voices
in the nearby caves as he said the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass!
·
Fr.
Charles Watters in Vietnam shortly before his death in November, 1967. Chaplain Watters was awarded the Medal of
Honor for bravery
under fire. Once he linked up with the Marines they told him to leave as it was
too dangerous. Father McGonigal refused and ministered aid and Last Rites to
the wounded and dying. He was killed on February 17, 1968 trying to rescue a
wounded Marine. The Marines later dedicated a chapel at Camp Pendleton in his
honor to the service he gave to the Marines at Hue.
Twilight Zone Day[7]
“You are about to enter another dimension, a
dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous
land of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone!”
Beloved by children, teenagers and adults alike, the
cult classic TV show The Twilight Zone has affected entire generations of
people, prompting them to take a closer look at life and various phenomena and
take nothing for granted, thanks to its unique combination of science fiction,
mystery, and thriller/horror themes. Not to mention how many of today’s well-known
actors got their start in it—Burt Reynolds, Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner,
to name but a few. How then could this majorly influential show not have its
own holiday?
The Twilight Zone was created by acclaimed
television producer Rod Sterling in 1959, with the first episode premiering on
October 2nd. At the time of its release, it was vastly different from anything
else on TV, and it struggled a bit to carve out a niche for itself at the very
beginning. In fact, Sterling himself, though respected and adored by many, was
famous for being one of Hollywood’s most controversial characters and was often
call the “angry young man” of Hollywood for his numerous clashes with television
executives and sponsors over issues such as censorship, racism, and war.
However, his show soon gained a large, devoted audience. Terry Turner of the
Chicago Daily News gave it a rave review, saying, “…Twilight Zone is about the
only show on the air that I actually look forward to seeing. It’s the one
series that I will let interfere with other plans”. The Twilight Zone ran for
five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964.
Twilight Zone Day is an annual holiday created to
celebrate this thought-provoking television series, where everything was
strange and surreal, and nothing was ever quite as it seemed to be.
How to celebrate Twilight Zone Day
There are a number of ways to celebrate Twilight
Zone Day, and the one you choose may be connected to how well you know this TV
series. Believe it or not, there are still people out there who have never seen
it! You could watch some episodes from the classic series, perhaps “To Serve
Man”, “It’s a Good Life”, or “The Eye of the Beholder”, episodes that are
widely considered some of the very best in the entire series. If you don’t know
the series and would like to get a taste of what it was like in a nutshell, you
could also watch the 1983 Twilight Zone Movie. If, on the other hand, you know
The Twilight Zone very well, you could get together with some other Twilight
Zone aficionados and play Twilight board or trivia games. Alternately, you
could discuss who you think were the strangest Twilight Zone villains, and what
the true reasons were for them being the way they were. And what would a good
party be without some tasty drinks? Yes, there are Twilight Zone cocktails!
Finally, you can try making Twilight Zone cocktails,
by mixing Bacardi White, Dark and 151 Proof Rum, Triple Sec, pineapple and
orange juices. Sounds pretty scumptious, right? And that’s not its only
benefit—if you have a few Twilight Zone Cocktails, you may well find yourself
transported to a different dimension, too!
Daily
Devotions/Practices
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday
Devotion
·
Pray Day 5 of
the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
·
Tuesday:
Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 12 day 7
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary.
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