DAY 41 - MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS, PRAY FOR US
PRAY A ROSARY
- Rosary of the Day: Sorrowful Mysteries
- Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries
Haggai, Chapter
2, Verse 5
This is the
commitment I made to you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit remains in your
midst; do not FEAR!
Be assured of God’s Presence. Are you feeling tired, overwhelmed, burned out; go to the Lord. Seek him in the tabernacle, where he waits there for you.
Operation-Purity[1]
1. Situation.
Make no mistake we are in a battle for our soul and the
soul of the world.
The Secret[2]
It’s no secret
that porn usage has increased drastically over the years. Things that are
considered mainstream used to be blatantly considered porn. We also know not
only is this a moral problem but studies have shown more porn use correlates
with less grey matter in the reward circuit (dorsal striatum).
Matt Fradd says, “when you are at your best, you must prepare for your
worst” in regard to fighting pornography addiction. We must flee from sexual
immorality as St. Paul says. Leaving a porn addiction behind involves life
changes in several aspects. “The secret of change is to focus all your energy,
not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates. Integrity
Restored has a great website to helping overcome porn. They list 7
steps in recovering from porn addiction.
1. Honest, Self-knowledge and
Commitment
2. Purifying your Life
3. Support and
Accountability
4. Counseling
5. Spiritual Plan
6. Education and
7. Virtue. We encourage you to
visit their website for more information.
The Chase Man or Woman gives to God
true worship by dedicating to God's will their Mind, Heart, Soul and
Strength-This is to Love God above all things. This is the Shema Israel
Modern Men and Women are in a battle with the World, the Flesh and the Devil-We are all Soldiers of Christ.
THE VIRTUES OF A
SOLDIER OF CHRIST[3]
Another way to illustrate the virtues of a genuine man of God is by reference to a good soldier. The relation between a man of God and a soldier will seem either somewhat obvious or a stretch depending upon your larger views of the military and military interventions. If you do not see the connection at this point, I ask you to bear with me briefly, because I think its relevance will soon become apparent.
A good soldier, especially one fit for battle, generally has
the following ten traits, among others:
1.
He is willing to give his life to protect others.
·
Jesus willingly gave his life to save us. He is
the Good Shepherd who made good on his promise to give his life for his sheep
(John 10:11). Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he handed himself over, he
demanded that his disciples be let go (John 18:8).
2.
He is task-oriented, and lets his actions speak for
themselves.
·
From his earliest days, when he announced he was
“about the Father’s business” (Luke 2:49), his whole life was dedicated to
accomplishing that mission. He lived by the same principles he taught, not to
be distracted from his purpose (Luke 10:4), which not even the devil could do
by promising him all the power of the world (Matthew 4:9). He let his actions
also speak more loudly than his words. As he said once when challenged by the
Pharisees, “Even if you do not believe me, believe the works” (John 10:25, 37;
14:10). He backed up each of his discourses with miracles that testified to his
power, the greatest miracle and message of all being what he said from the
pulpits of the Cross and the empty tomb.
3.
He does his duty, even when it is unappreciated.
·
Jesus fulfilled his mission even when one of his
apostles thought he was less valuable than 30 silver pieces, when the rest of
his hand-picked men ran away, when he was hammered to wood by those for whom he
was dying, when he was mocked by four different groups as he agonizingly hung
from the Cross, wondering all the while, “When the Son of man comes, will he
find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8). He was the “grain of wheat” that fell to the
ground and died, knowing that that seed would hit hardened, rocky, weedy soil
in addition to good, but he did it anyway (John 12:24; Luke 8:5ff). Yet, at the
end of it all, he cried out in triumph, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) which
was the equivalent of “mission accomplished.”
4.
He is a man of honor, who is loyal to others and to his
principles.
·
Jesus kept his dignity, even when being tempted
by the devil, tested by the hypocritical Pharisees, beaten by the brutal
guards, and mocked by thieves and passersby. He was loyal to his disciples,
never abandoning them though they abandoned him; to Israelites, despite the
many times they broke God’s covenant; to sinners, no matter what their sin. He
was knightly in his protection and care for women in need and danger, like the
woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well in Samaria, and the woman who washed
his feet with her tears in the house of Simon the Pharisee.
5.
He is rooted in discipline and strength.
·
He called himself the “stronger man” who would
overpower the devil and divide his spoils (Luke 11:22), who could calm even the
winds and the sea (Matthew 8:27), who would repeatedly say to his frightened
followers, “Do not be afraid. It is I!” (Matthew 14:27). His strength was shown
most when out of discipline he did not use it, when tempted in the desert or on
the Cross. His power was always used not for his own benefit but for others, to
teach them the discipline that makes disciples.
6.
He may be tender and compassionate but never soft.
·
He who was “meek and humble of heart,” who cared
compassionately for parents and widows, for the woman caught in adultery, for
the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 11:29; Luke 7:12;
John 8:3; Mark 6:34), was also capable
of driving the money changers from the temple with a whip, calling the
Pharisees “whitewashed sepulchers” and telling forgiven sinners to “go and sin
no more” (John 2:14; Matthew 23:27; John 8:11).
7.
He sees himself as part of a unit, a band of brothers,
greater than himself.
·
Jesus came from heaven to earth to form a family
with the same Father in heaven (Matthew 12:50). To that family, the Church, he
gave his whole mission. To the twelve whom he associated most intimately in
this task, he gave his own power to turn bread and wine into his Body and Blood
and to forgive sins in his name (Luke 22:19-20; Matthew 16:19; John 20:19-23).
To the Church he gave his whole message (Matthew 28:18-20). He said that all
members of the Church were a part of him, as branches on the vine (John 15:5).
8.
He follows the chain of command, without considering it
demeaning.
·
Jesus said simply, “I seek not my own will but
the will of him who sent me,” “I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus
as the Father taught me” and “not my will, but thine, be done” (John 5:30; John
8:28; Luke 22:42).
9.
He is courageous, even and especially when heroism is
required.
·
Courage is doing what ought to be done in spite
of one’s fears, a virtue Jesus showed us time and again, but especially during
his agony and on Good Friday. Despite asking for the cup of suffering to pass
from him, he drank it to the dregs, sweating blood-filled perspiration, being
beaten, scourged and crucified for our sake (Matthew 26:39).
10. He
sees sacrifice as an opportunity to show his character and demonstrate love
·
“Greater love has no man than this,” he said,
“that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) and he evinced that
love in hundreds of little ways and unforgettably through his supreme
sacrifice. The real Christian man will seek to embody these same virtues. They
will help him to become a real soldier of Christ. They will help form him to be
another Christ and train him to love others as Christ loves.
2. Mission: To love God with all your mind, heart, soul
and strength and your neighbor as yourself.
3. Execution:
a. The Chase man or woman should fast once a week on the
day of their choice (suggestion Fridays) giving their total mind, heart, soul
and strength to God. After the completing the 15 hourly prayers you may break
your fast.
b. The Chase man or woman should pray and ask the aid of
God and his angels and saints.
- Upon
waking and during the day make a prayers of Purity
Prayers of
The Angelic Warfare Confraternity[4]
V. In the Name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
The Prayer to St. Thomas for
Purity
Chosen lily of innocence, pure St. Thomas,
who kept chaste the robe of baptism,
and became an angel in the flesh after being girded by two angels,
we (I) implore you to commend us (me) to Jesus, the Spotless Lamb,
and to Mary, the Queen of Virgins.
Gentle protector of our (my) purity, ask them that we (I),
who wear the holy sign of your victory over the flesh,
may also share your purity,
and after imitating you on earth
may at last come to be crowned with you among the angels. Amen.
The Prayer of St. Thomas for
Purity
Dear Jesus,
I know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, I beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of my body and soul.
And if I have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain my chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of my powers,
that I may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering myself on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of my life. Amen.
Opening Prayer of St. Thomas
for Purity
Dear Jesus,
we (I) know that every perfect gift,
and especially that of chastity,
depends on the power of Your providence.
Without You a mere creature can do nothing.
Therefore, we (I) beg You to defend by Your grace
the chastity and purity of our (my) bodies (body) and souls (soul).
And if we (I) have ever sensed or imagined anything
that could stain our (my) chastity and purity,
blot it out, Supreme Lord of our (my) powers,
that we (I) may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service,
offering ourselves (myself) on the most pure altar of Your divinity
all the days of our (my) lives (life). Amen.
Petitions for Chastity with
15 Hail Mary’s: say hourly
1. Dear
Jesus, bless our social and cultural climate. Grant that it may be purified of
everything contrary to chastity, and that we may have the strength to resist
the pressures of prevailing ideologies. “In the world you have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have conquered the world” (Jn. 16:33) “In
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37) Hail Mary…
2.
Dear Jesus, bless our relationships. Grant that they
may be holy, healthy, and honorable at all times. “Having purified your souls
by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one
another earnestly from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22) Hail Mary…
3.
Dear Jesus, bless our modesty in our dress and
movement. Grant that the way we dress and carry ourselves may veil the mystery
of our being, and that we may have the strength to resist the allurements of
fashion and the glamour of sin. “Do not be conformed to this age, but be
transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Rom. 12:2) Hail Mary…
4.
Dear Jesus, bless our five senses. Grant that the
things we see, the music and jokes we hear, the food we eat, what we drink, the
fragrances we smell and the encounters we have through touch may all be pure
and holy. “Seek the things that are above” (Col. 3:1) Hail Mary…
5.
Dear Jesus, bless our sensuality. Grant that our
impulses may not be captivated by base pleasures, but freed by wisdom and
inflamed for what is good. “In your struggle against sin you have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb. 12:4) Hail Mary…
6.
Dear Jesus, bless our imagination, Grant that we may be
preserved from any fantasies that defile us, that all impure images may vanish,
and that we may be protected from all the assaults of demons. “Be renewed in
the spirit of your minds…Put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 4:23, 6:11) Hail Mary…
7.
Dear Jesus, bless our memory. Grant that no memories of
past experiences may disturb us in any way, but that the Lord may touch and
heal us through hope for a better future. “And every one who thus hopes in him
purifies himself as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:1) Hail Mary…
8.
Dear Jesus, bless our estimation. Grant that we may
quickly sense dangers to chastity and instinctively flee from them, that we may
never turn away from higher, more difficult, and more honorable goods for the
sake of sinful self-indulgence. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Mt. 6:19-20) Hail Mary…
9.
Dear Jesus, bless our affectivity. Grant that we may
love chastity and rejoice in it, that all of our emotions may cooperate in its
growth, and that no sadness, discouragement, fear, insecurity, or loneliness
may afflict us unto sexual sin. “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live
temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-12) Hail Mary…
10. Dear
Jesus, bless our intellect. Grant that it may be purged of all false beliefs
and misunderstandings about human sexuality and that the good angels may flood
our intellects with thoughts that are gracious, pure, lovely, honorable, and
true. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is
any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things.” (Phil. 4:8) Hail Mary…
11. Dear
Jesus, bless our will. Grant that it may never be opposed by our sensuality,
that it may never be divided or conflicted in the moment, but may hold fast to
chastity no matter how difficult it may be. “For the Son of God, Jesus
Christ…was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of
God find their Yes in him.” (2 Cor. 1:19-20) Hail Mary…
12. Dear
Jesus, bless our conscience. Grant that it may be swift to judge what is the
chaste thing to do, swifter to execute it, and wholly preserved from the
suggestions of demons. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14) Hail Mary…
13. Dear
Jesus, bless our hearts. Grant that the place where Christ abides in us with
the Father and the Spirit may become the place where we live with the Holy
Trinity in friendship. “Jesus answered him, ‘If a man loves me, he will keep my
word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him.’ ” (Jn. 14:23) Hail Mary…
14. Dear
Jesus, give us the grace of self-surrender. Grant that we may hand over to God
nothing less than our whole lives. “Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit” (Lk. 23:46) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3) Hail Mary…
15. Dear
Jesus, give us Your love. “In this is love, not that we loved God but that He
loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10) “But
God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for
us” (Rom. 5:8) Hail Mary…
Closing Prayer
Heavenly King, Consoler, Spirit of Truth, You who are
everywhere present and fill all things, Treasury of all that is good,
Choirmaster of Life, Come, dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save
our souls O Good One. Amen
V. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
Fitness Friday-Cardio[5]
Recognizing that God, the Father created man on Friday the 6th day
I propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and
renew yourself in strength, mind, soul and heart.
Is interval training more effective than steady-state cardio
training for fat loss?
·
Exercise combined with diet modifications has been shown to
be more effective than either alone for promoting weight loss.
·
Establishing exercise habits during the weight loss phase can help
prevent weight regain and yo-yo dieting down the road. One of the most
common excuses for lack of exercise is a lack of time.
·
These results show that the type of cardio performed for fat loss
(intervals vs. steady-state) probably doesn’t matter as much as the number of
calories burned in the exercise session. Moreover, the overall amount of fat
loss is small.
·
Focus should be placed on how the exercise session impacts other
areas of life, such as appetite, food intake, and leisure-time physical
activity.
·
Focus should also be placed on whether you can see yourself
sticking with your chosen exercise modality for the long-term.
·
Exercise may not be all that for fat loss, but it certainly
impacts fitness and health improvement. As such, all forms of exercise should
be encouraged despite their relatively minimal contribution to fat loss.
·
Strength training is especially important for developing lean body
mass.
·
High-intensity training such as interval endurance training
appears to be more effective at reducing inflammation and increasing insulin
sensitivity than lower-intensity training such as steady-state cardio.
Evidence has shown that exercise has additional benefits on health
that warrant its inclusion in daily life, such as reducing inflammation and
increasing insulin sensitivity. Moreover, high-intensity exercise appears to be
more effective than lower intensity exercise at inducing these beneficial
changes, which might be one reason to prefer interval training over
steady-state even if fat loss would be similar. Ultimately, though,
adherence is key. Thus, enjoyment and personal preferences when it comes to
exercise are what’s most important.
35 Promises
of God[6]
cont.
“But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.”-Acts 1:8
Daily Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: End to
the use of Contraceptives
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[1] http://www.icemanforchrist.org/p/the-way-of-purity.html
[3] http://www.kofc.org/un/en/resources/cis/cis322.pdf
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