ST. JOSE ESCRIVA-GET OFF DRUGS DAY-CANOE DAY
An
undivided heart unites around the will of God. The heart is our headquarters
for His purposes. It is here that humility reigns with focus and clarity, but
pride’s rule divides. Do fewer things well, instead of many things mediocre?[1]
·
An
undivided heart is a student of the Lord.
·
An
undivided heart craves teaching that goes beyond the surface of salvation and
into the depths of dependence on God. The mature understanding of God gets to
the heart of the matter. It is in this place of integrity where you divide your
heart in disobedience, or unite it in obedience.
·
An
undivided heart places you on a path marked by His truth. It is walking in His
ways. Walking is a lifestyle. It is a way of doing things. Obedience to God’s
truth becomes a habit of living life with an undivided heart. Your undivided
heart propels you along His prayerful and proper path.
St.
Josemaria Escriva[2] was born in 1902 at Barbastro
Spain. He was ordained in Saragossa in 1925 and by divine inspiration founded
Opus Dei which opened a new way for the faithful to sanctify themselves in the
midst of the world. He died on June 26, 1975 and was canonized a saint on
October 6, 2002.
Things to Do:
·
Read
a longer biography of St. Josemaria and at Anastpaul
·
Visit
this site to find St. Josemaria Escriva's
writings
·
View
this video on St. Josemaria Escriva at YouTube
·
Visit
Opus Dei's official US website.
Opus Dei[3]
Work, family life, and the
ordinary events of each day are opportunities for drawing close to Christ and
making Him known to others. As the Second Vatican Council taught, every
baptized person is called to follow Christ closely, by living according to the
Gospel and making its teachings known to others. The aim of Opus Dei is to
contribute to that evangelizing mission of the Church, by fostering among
Christians of all social classes a life fully consistent with their faith, in
the middle of the ordinary circumstances of their lives and especially through
the sanctification of their work. The following are some of the main features
of the spirit of Opus Dei:
·
“Divine filiation is the foundation of
the spirit of Opus Dei,” said its founder, Saint Josemaría Escrivá. A Christian
is a child of God by virtue of baptism. Thus, the formation provided by the
Prelature seeks to foster among the Christian faithful a deep awareness of
their being children of God, and helps them act accordingly. It fosters
confidence in divine providence, simplicity in their dialogue with God, a deep
awareness of the dignity of each human being and of the need for fraternity
among all people, a truly Christian love for the world and for all human
realities created by God, and a sense of calm and optimism.
·
Ordinary life. “It is in the midst of the most
material things of the earth that we must
sanctify ourselves, serving God and all mankind,” said Saint Josemaría. The
family, marriage, work – all of our activities – are opportunities for drawing
close to and imitating Jesus, trying to practice charity, patience, humility,
diligence, integrity, cheerfulness, and all the other human and Christian
virtues.
·
Sanctifying work means to work with the spirit of
Christ, to work competently and ethically, with the aim of loving God and
serving others, and thus to sanctify the world from within, making the Gospel
present in all activities whether they be outstanding or humble and hidden. In
the eyes of God what matters is the love that is put into work, not its human
success.
·
Prayer and sacrifice. The formation given by Opus Dei
encourages prayer and sacrifice in order to sustain the effort to sanctify
one’s ordinary occupations. Thus, members strive to incorporate into their life’s
certain practices of Christian piety, such as prayer, daily Mass, sacramental
confession, and reading and meditating on the Gospel. Devotion to our Lady
occupies an important place in their
hearts. Also, in striving to imitate Christ, they try to acquire a spirit of
penance by offering up small sacrifices, particularly those that help them
fulfill their duties faithfully and make life more pleasant for others, such as
renouncing small pleasures, fasting, almsgiving, etc.
·
Unity of life. Saint Josemaría explained that
Christians working in the world should not live “a kind of double life. On the
one hand, an interior life, a life of union with God; and on the other, a
separate and distinct professional, social and family life.” On the contrary:
“There is just one life, made of flesh and spirit. And it is this life which
has to become, in both soul and body, holy and filled with God.”
·
Freedom. The members of Opus Dei are
ordinary citizens who enjoy the same rights and are subject to the same
obligations as any other citizen. In their professional, family, political,
financial or cultural activities, they act with freedom and personal
responsibility, not involving the Church or Opus Dei in their decisions, nor
presenting those decisions as the only Catholic solutions. This implies
respecting the freedom and the opinions of others.
·
Charity. To meet Christ is to find a
treasure that one cannot stop sharing. Christians are witnesses to Jesus and
spread his message of hope among their companions, with their example and their
words. “Side by side with our colleagues, friends and relatives and sharing
their interests, we can help them come closer to Christ,” wrote Saint
Josemaría. The wish to make others know Christ, which is a direct consequence
of charity (that is, love of God above all things and of one’s neighbor as oneself),
cannot be separated from the desire to contribute to finding solutions to the
material needs and social problems of one’s surroundings.
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking[4]
Today serves to draw awareness to the need for action and cooperation in order to achieve a drug-free world. Illicit drugs and their trafficking pose a large health threat to humanity. Drug problems and dependencies put a great deal of pressure on health care systems and constitute a threat to the safety and well-being of humans all around the globe. Long-term drug abuse has been linked to poor general health, contraction of diseases through needle sharing, trouble with the law, poor self-hygiene and alienation from loved ones, psychological illnesses and death from overdose. In December 1987, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was designated by the United Nations. It is celebrated annually on June 26, a symbolic day that commemorates the dismantling of the opium trade in Guangdong. The day also serves as an opportunity for Member Nations to reaffirm their support for UN Conventions that attempt to control the world's drug supply.
Facts & Quotes
·
The
UN estimates that in 2007, the value of the illegal drug trade is 322 billion
dollars per year.
·
Approximately
51 billion dollars is spent on the war on drugs in the US every year.
·
No
one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes,
and professions. – Patrick J. Kennedy, American democratic politician and
former US representative for Rhode Island.
Top Events and Things to Do
·
Watch
a movie on the perils of the war on drugs on society, government and the
citizens involved. Some suggestions are Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Sicario
(2015), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Christiane F (1981) and Blow (2001).
·
Spread
awareness by using the hashtags
#InternationalDayAgainstDrugAbuseandIllicitTrafficking, #saynotodrugs and
#warondrugs on social media.
·
Read
a book on the dangers of drug use and the problems with the war on drugs. Some
suggestions are: Smoke and Mirrors, Chasing the Scream, and Drug Wars.
Canoe
Day[5]
There
is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe, a magic
compounded of distance, adventure, solitude, and peace. Sigurd F. Olson
There
is a special day for just about every hobby nowadays, and canoeing doesn’t miss out on the fun, with its
very own day of aquatic paddling celebration. Canoeing is a fantastic hobby,
and along with being environmentally friendly and relaxing, it is also a great
form of outdoor exercise that’s
suitable for all ages. It is
no surprise that canoeing gets its own day of celebration, with so many fans
around the world. Canoeing is an easy activity to learn, and with some basic
safety gear anyone can hit the water and enjoy this healthy hobby.
The
way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness, and of a freedom almost forgotten.
It is an antidote to insecurity, the open door to waterways of ages past, and a
way of life with profound and abiding satisfaction. Sigurd F. Olson
Despite
the huge popularity of paddling a canoe, Canoe Day began in
2007. Since that time, it has become the highlight of every canoe loving fan
each year, and you can find activities in all regions of the world to enjoy
paddling with new friends. Canoes have been part of cultures all over the
world, from the deep South Pacific to the Pacific Northwest of the United
States. Used for commerce and hunting, fishing and recreation, the role they’ve played in the cultures of the
past and in the world of today cannot be understated. Even better, it’s a great way to get healthy and
stay in shape while getting out in to the wild. Going out to sea in a canoe is
another unique experience, one that has you above the water, but right down on
it where you can enjoy visits from critters like otters and seals.
How to Celebrate
Celebrating
Canoe Day is easy! You get out there and become one with your canoe! Explore
the great wide open and find adventure and freedom in the steady rhythm of your
paddles pushing you along. There are places you can’t get with roads or on foot, only
the river will take you there. Get out there and find what the world has to
offer, and come back with a sense of wonder and profound peace in your soul.
When a
man is part of his canoe, he is part of all that canoes have ever known. Sigurd F. Olson
Daily Devotions
·
Know that you are on a great stage
where all heaven and earth are watching you. What message is our life giving?
·
Saturday
Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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