Friday, September 17, 2021
DAY 34 - MARY, HEALTH OF THE SICK, PRAY FOR US
THIS DAY WE FIGHT
PRAY A ROSARY
- Rosary of the Day: Sorrowful Mysteries
- Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries
Ember Friday
ST. HILDEGARDE-CONSTITUTION DAY
Psalm 49, Verse 6-7
6
Why should I FEAR in evil days, with the iniquity of my assailants surrounding
me, 7
of those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches?
Trust in
Christ our savior and live the virtues of our Lady: humility, generosity,
chastity, patience, temperance and love of fellow man. Do not put your faith in
coin for the bankruptcy of our cultural heart is that we allow the innocent to
be killed in this nation. God cries over the sacrifices of future unborn children
for the dreams of the mother. No amount of future happiness or gain in independence
is worth the life of an innocent. Know that life is greater than liberty and
liberty is greater than wealth.
Beloved: Teach
and urge these things. Whoever teaches something different and does not agree
with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching is
conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid disposition for arguments
and verbal disputes. From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the
truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain. Indeed, religion with
contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we
shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we
shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into
temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge
them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have
pierced themselves with many pains. But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. (Tm.
6:2-12)
If
we truly wish to build back better; we ourselves must grow in holiness and then in turn our families will build holy
communities and holy communities will build a Holy Nation.
Ember
Days[1]
The profound
importance of total conversion.
Before the revision of the
Catholic Church's liturgical calendar in 1969 (coinciding with the adoption of
the Mass of Paul VI), the Church celebrated Ember Days four times each year.
They were tied to the changing of the seasons, but also to the liturgical
cycles of the Church. The spring Ember Days were the Wednesday, Friday,
and Saturday after the First Sunday of Lent; the summer Ember Days
were the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Pentecost; the
fall Ember Days were the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
after the third Sunday in September (not, as is often said, after the
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross); and the winter Ember Days were the
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the Feast of Saint Lucy (December
13).
·
The Roman Origin of Ember Days: It's common to
claim that the dates of important Christian feasts (such as Christmas) were set
to compete with or replace certain pagan festivals, even though the best scholarship
indicates otherwise. In the case of
the Ember Days, however, it's true. As the Catholic Encyclopedia notes: The
Romans were originally given to agriculture, and their native gods belonged to
the same class. At the beginning of the time for seeding and harvesting
religious ceremonies were performed to implore the help of their deities: in
June for a bountiful harvest, in September for a rich vintage, and in December
for the seeding.
·
Keep the Best; Discard the Rest: The Ember Days
are a perfect example of how the Church (in the words of the Catholic
Encyclopedia) "has always tried to sanctify any practices which could be
utilized for a good purpose." The adoption of the Ember Days wasn't an
attempt to displace Roman paganism so much as it was a way to avoid disrupting
the lives of Roman converts to Christianity. The pagan practice, though
directed at false gods, was praiseworthy; all that was necessary was to
transfer the supplications to the true God of Christianity.
·
An Ancient Practice: The adoption of Ember Days
by Christians happened so early that Pope Leo the Great (440-61) considered the
Ember Days (with the exception of the one in the spring) to have been
instituted by the Apostles. By the time of Pope Gelasius II (492-96), the
fourth set of Ember Days had been instituted. Originally celebrated only by the
Church in Rome, they spread throughout the West (but not the East), starting in
the fifth century.
·
The Origin of the Word: The origin of the word
"ember" in "Ember Days" is not obvious, not even to those
who know Latin. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "Ember" is a
corruption (or we might say, a contraction) of the Latin phrase Quatuor Tempora,
which simply means "four times," since the Ember Days are celebrated
four times per year.
·
Optional Today: With the revision of the
liturgical calendar in 1969, the Vatican left the celebration of Ember Days up
to the discretion of each national conference of bishops. They're still
commonly celebrated in Europe, particularly in rural areas. In the United
States, the bishops' conference has decided not to celebrate them, but
individual Catholics can, and many traditional Catholics still do, because it's
a nice way to focus our minds on the changing of the liturgical seasons and the
seasons of the year. The Ember Days that fall during Lent and Advent are
especially useful to remind children of the reasons for those seasons.
·
Marked by Fasting and Abstinence: The Ember Days
are celebrated with fasting (no food between meals) and half-abstinence,
meaning that meat is allowed at one meal per day. (If you observe the
traditional Friday abstinence from meat, then you would observe complete
abstinence on an Ember Friday.) As always, such fasting and abstinence has a
greater purpose. As the Catholic Encyclopedia notes, through these activities,
and through prayer, we use the Ember Days to "thank God for the gifts of
nature, teach men to make use of them in moderation, and assist the
needy."
St. Hildegarde[2]
Called the "Sibyl of the Rhine," Hildegard of Bingen became the most
famous mystic and prophet of her time. Her writings and music are still found
in all major bookstores, and no woman saint is more popular in her native
Germany. When she was eight, she was placed in a convent, where she later
became abbess. She was a biblical exegete, visionary, preacher, composer, and
herbalist, who corresponded with the major royalty and church leaders of her
day, including four popes. Her greatest vision came when she was forty-two,
which is recorded in her famous Scrivias, or Know the Ways of the Lord,
a treatise whose magnificence rivals William Blake's visionary work.
Hildegard's spiritual writings found approval during her lifetime, and her
lectures on the spiritual life drew crowds from all over Europe. She wrote
prolifically, on topics as varied as history and drama, politics and liturgical
poetry. Her monastery joyfully sang the praises she wrote. During the last year
of her life, when she was eighty-one, she entered into a conflict with
ecclesiastical authorities because she allowed a young man who had been
excommunicated to be buried in her abbey cemetery, and her convent was placed
under interdict. It is probably that, for this reason, Hildegard was never
formally canonized, although she is found in all major saints' books and her
cult was approved locally because of so many miracles reported at her tomb.
— Excerpted from Women
Saints, Madonna Sophia Compton
Things to Do:
·
Learn
more about St.
Hildegarde.
·
Visit
Hildegard's
Medieval Garden
·
St.
Hildegard was a composer, visit this page to read more.
·
Read
St.
Hildegard of Bingen: A Visionary for All Time
Constitution Day[3]
Constitution
Day commemorates the adoption of the United States Constitution and celebrates
the citizens of the United States. The Constitution was written because
the existing charter of government, known as the Articles of Confederation, had
resulted in creating a weak and ineffective central government. The
Constitution defines the supreme law of the United States, with each article of
the constitution pertaining to aspects such as the congress, president,
judicial system, interrelationship between the state and federal government and
process of amendments to the Constitution. James Madison, Oliver Ellsworth,
Nathaniel Gorham, Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, Gouverneur
Morris, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington wrote the Constitution.
Constitution Day originally began in 1939 with the suggestion of a holiday
to celebrate American Citizenship. President Harry Truman then declared that
the third Sunday of May become I am American Day. A decade later, 1953,
President Dwight Eisenhower changed the date to coincide with the signing of
the Constitution and renamed it Citizenship Day. Constitution or Citizenship
Day is observed annually on September 17th, the same day as the US Constitution
was signed in 1787.
Constitution Day Top Events and Things to Do
·
To learn more about judicial system, read the
Constitution of the United States. The Constitution
is only a few pages in length and well-organized.
·
Visit the National Museum of American History to
view displays about the heritage of the United States. Displays include those
related to the political, social, cultural, scientific and military history of
the United States, including the Constitution. The museum is located in
Washington D.C.
·
The United States Declaration of Independence
and the United States Constitution were debated and accepted at the floors of
Independence Hall, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visit Independence
National Historical Park in Philadelphia, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
·
Visit the National Constitution Center in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It offers a range of activities for kids and
adults, videos and educational
material about the U.S. Constitution.
·
Watch documentaries relating to the United
States Constitution including Constitution USA with Peter Sagal
(2013), The Constitution Project (The Documentary Group, 2014),
and The United States Constitution (2007).
Fitness Friday
In the
movie “Christmas.” we witnessed the day “Ralphie” pronounced the big F word and
as a result his mother in loving correction immediately inserted a bar of soap
in “Ralphie’s” nasty mouth. Today let us look at our own nasty mouths. Caring
for our teeth may improve your fitness more than we realize.
Clean Mouth-Ralphie![4]
Taking care of your teeth
is important for all ages, but it’s especially important for older adults who
may be at greater risk of oral health problems. Adults 65 and older are at an increased
risk for oral cancer,
gum disease and cavities. Luckily, it’s never too late to start taking better
care of your teeth. With proper care, you can maintain — or even improve — your
oral health as you age. Here are six things that help improve senior oral
hygiene.
·
Cut Out Bad Habits-There are dozens of reasons
to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, and the health of your entire mouth is no
exception. If you’re currently using tobacco products, talk to your doctor
about healthy methods for quitting. And as you likely remember from childhood,
sugary foods like candy and soda can increase your risk for cavities.
Committing to healthy
eating isn’t just good for your heart and waistline — it’s great for
your teeth, too.
·
Increase Your Fluoride Intake-Many
municipalities have fluoride added to their drinking water, but you can also
incorporate a fluoride toothpaste or fluoride rinse into your daily care
routine, too. If necessary, you can even talk to your dentist about regular
fluoride treatments.
·
Be Diligent About Your Teeth Cleaning Routine-It
isn’t enough to simply brush your teeth twice a day, every day. Additionally,
you should floss at least once per day and consider rinsing with an
antibacterial mouthwash. Make sure to replace your toothbrush or brush head
every three months.
·
If You Have Dentures, Clean Them
Daily-Denture-wearers may have a different routine, but good oral hygiene is
still a priority. Follow your dentist’s instructions for keeping your dentures
clean so the rest of your mouth also stays clean and healthy.
·
Keep Your Mouth Hydrated-If you’re prescribed a
medication that causes dry mouth, make sure you’re taking extra steps to keep
your mouth hydrated. Drink lots of water and switch to sugar-free gum, if
you’re a gum chewer. (Bonus: Sugar-free gum is better for your teeth, too!)
·
Go to the Dentist-regular checkups with your primary care
physician, going to the dentist is the single best thing you can do
for your oral health. Not only can your dentist give your teeth a good
cleaning, but they’ll also be able to identify oral health problems before they
progress and give you tips for taking care of your teeth. While the minimum
recommendation is once per year, many older adults prefer to see their dentist
every six months just to make sure everything is going well.
35 Promises of God[5] cont.
“The Lord will fight for
you, and you have only to keep still.” Ex 14:14
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: Individuals
with Mental Illness
·
Rosary
[2]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-09-17
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