ICEMANforChrist: Saturday, September 18, 2021

This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.

Friday, September 17, 2021

Saturday, September 18, 2021

DAY 35 - MARY, REFUGE OF SINNERS, PRAY FOR US

CATCH EXCELLENCE

The desire to enter the fight is a desire to enter into a genuine training in holiness, pursuing the goal of becoming one of God's champions. St. Paul put it this way:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (1 Cor 9:24-27).

St. Paul talks about a strict training and a desire to run in such a way as to win. The famous Green Bay Packer coach, Vince Lombardi, would have heard these words from St. Paul many times in his life, as he went to Mass every day. In fact, he admitted, "I derive my strength from daily Mass and Communion."

As Coach Lombardi describes what it takes to be number one, see if you do not recognize a bit of St. Paul in his words:

"And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat. I don't say these things because I believe in the 'brute' nature of men or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour - his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear - is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

Sadly, far too many people have become conditioned to cower when they hear the words, "strive for perfection." In the coddled culture in which we live, the reflex response is, "I will never be perfect." Yet, Coach Lombardi said, "Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual).

PRAY A ROSARY

Choose either:

Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries
Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries

PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA

THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

Say: The Apostles' Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

The Agony in the Garden - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Scourging at the Pillar - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Crowning with Thorns - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Carrying of the Cross - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Crucifixion - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Say: The Hail Holy Queen.

Spiritual Communion: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request, see below). Hail Mary ...

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request, see below) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.

PETITION: For the Protection of and Provision for the Church, the Family and our Nation. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

All of the daily Novena Prayers and Reflections are found in this book: 54 Day Basic Training in Holiness

All of the daily Novena Prayers and Reflections are also posted at usgraceforce.com

Spanish language Novena prayers and reflections are available at https://rosarycoasttocoast.com/nfon-espanol/.

Those who would like to pray with others via The Telephone Rosary, call 1-951-799-9866 daily at 6 pm Eastern.

"One day through the Rosary and the Scapular, I will save the world." The Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Dominic www.ConfraternityCommunity.com

Ember Saturday

Job, Chapter 5, Verse 21-22

²¹ From the scourge of the tongue you shall be hidden, and you shall not FEAR approaching ruin. ²² At ruin and want you shall laugh; the beasts of the earth, do not FEAR.

A. THE COUNSEL OF ELIPHAZ (4:1-5:27)[1]

1. Introductory remarks (4:1-6)

a. Though he does not wish to weary Job, he cannot refrain from speaking

b. Job has strengthened others in the past, now he needs strengthening

c. Is Job not trusting in his own confidence and integrity?

2. Eliphaz's view: The innocent don't suffer, the wicked do (4:7-11)

a. When have the innocent ever perished?

b. But I have seen the wicked perish by the blast of God, just like the lions

3. In support of his view: Eliphaz appeals to a vision (4:12-21)

a. A terrifying vision, in which he heard a voice

b. A revelation that man cannot be more righteous than God

c. If angels can be charged with error, how much more so men of clay?

d. Note: Eliphaz is appealing to "subjective revelation" 1) His example shows the error of appealing to such to determine truth 2) "Nothing is more essential than testing experience by an objective standard of reality. When God has spoken concerning a matter, that is decisive for all the issues involved. His word must be the court of appeal for all thoughts, impressions, and views." (Newton Wray)

4. Eliphaz warns Job (5:1-7)

a. There is danger in the anger of a foolish man

b. Such a one will see his sons crushed and his harvest depleted

c. Affliction comes because man is born to trouble

5. Eliphaz directs Job (5:8-16)

a. Seek God and commit your cause to Him

b. For God does great things, catching the wise in their own craftiness, saving the needy and giving hope to the poor

6. Job reminded of God's blessings on those who accept His chastening (5:17-26)

a. Happy is the man God corrects; don't despise His chastening

b. God will make him whole, and protect him in times of trouble

c. God will give him peace, many descendants, and long life –

Eliphaz's conclusion: "This we have searched out; it is true. Hear it and know for yourself." (5:27)

Ember Saturday of September-Commemoration of Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles (both of which occur in the Jewish calendar around this time), two important foreshadowing’s of the Christ event.[2] The church reminds us of the profound importance of total conversion.

National Cheeseburger Day[3]

National Cheeseburger Day is a day of appreciation for cheeseburgers. Typically, when cooking a cheeseburger, cheese is added to a hamburger patty a few seconds before the patty is removed from the heat. This allows the cheese to melt onto the burger. According to an obituary published by Time in 1964, Lionel Sternberger created the cheeseburger in 1920s, when he placed cheese on top of a hamburger as an experiment. Sternberger was 16 and worked as a cook in his father's sandwich shop in Pasadena, California. Aside from cheese, other cheeseburger toppings include ketchup and mustard. This tasty national holiday is celebrated each year on September 18th.

National Cheeseburger Day Facts & Quotes

· According to the US Department of Agriculture, the average cheeseburger contains 303 calories and 30 grams of carbohydrates, as well as 41 mg of cholesterol.

· In 2008, Burger King released a men's cologne called Flame. This cologne was marketed as the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat. Sounds like a whiff of purgatory, to me!

· Each year, McDonald's serves more than 5 billion burgers, which translates into a herd of 25 million cows.

· According to archeologists, ancient Egyptian tombs contain murals about cheese making, which date back to 2000BC.

· Life is too short to miss out on the beautiful things in life like a double cheeseburger. - Channing Tatum

National Cheeseburger Day Top Events and Things to Do

· Enjoy a cheeseburger for lunch or dinner. Try it with an exotic cheese. Our favorites: Havarti, blue cheese, smoked gouda and goat cheese.

· To try a twist on the traditional cheeseburger with a veggie, tofu, lamb, bison or chicken patty instead.

· To celebrate National Cheeseburger Day, host a cheeseburger tasting with your family and friends. You can create slider cheeseburgers with an assortment of toppings, including:
- Spicy curry mayo with a mango salsa
- Fried egg and bacon
- Mac & Cheese
- Grilled eggplant and hummus
- Wasabi mayo and avocado
- Guacamole, lettuce and tomato

· Enjoy a free cheeseburger or a cheeseburger upgrade on this national holiday. Some restaurants are offering free cheeseburgers for downloading aps, others free upgrades and others free cheeseburgers for sharing promotional hashtags.

· Watch empowering documentaries about the impact of unhealthy eating on health and well-being:
1) Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (2010)
2) Supersize Me (2004)
3) Food, Inc (2008)

Oktoberfest[4]

Remember no carousing or drunkenness!!!

Oktoberfest is a 16-day folk festival celebrated in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is also the world’s largest Volksfest, which are German events that combine beer festivals with traveling funfairs. Oktoberfest first emerged on October 12, 1910 when King Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Citizens of Munich celebrated the marriage in fields leading to the city gates. These fields were named ‘Theresienwiese’ in honor of the Princess. The wedding celebrations ended on October 17th with horse races and until 1960, horse races were held annually. Eventually, carnivals, amusement rides, food booths, beer tents and parades were all added to the celebrations. Today, Oktoberfest is still held annually at the Theresienwiese fairgrounds in Munich although there are no longer any horse races. Oktoberfest celebrations have also spread globally, becoming synonymous with beer and German culture. This festival usually starts on the third weekend of September and ends on the first weekend of October.

Oktoberfest Facts

· According to tradition, beer tents at the Oktoberfest can only sell beer that has been brewed in Munich. The beer has to adhere to the Bavarian Purity Requirements called Reinheitsgebot.
The six breweries allowed at the Oktoberfest include:
1) Augustiner
2) Hacker Pschorr
3) Hofbräu
4) Löwenbräu
5) Paulaner
6) Spaten

· Since Oktoberfest is still held on the Theresienweise, locals refer to Oktoberfest as Wies'n.

· Beer served at the Oktoberfest is poured in mugs called Maß. A Maß is made of clear glass, so that the consumer can see whether the Maß is full or not. Maß also contains a calibration mark to which beer must be filled and the calibration mark has to amount to 1-liter. If a Maß is not completely filled, or the calibration mark falls below the true 1 liter position, or if there is no calibration mark, then the seller can be prosecuted for committing fraud. Verein gegen betrügerisches Einschenken is a Munich-based organization that monitors whether glasses are being completely filled or not.

· Traditional German clothing for Oktoberfest includes a Sennerhut. Sennerhut is a woollen hat that may have symbols of a person’s hometown, or is embroidered with bright flowers. For a measure of good luck, some people add goat hair on the hat. Men traditionally wear Lederhosen, which are leather breeches, while women wear Dirndl. A dirndl is a dress that consists of a bodice, blouse, skirt and apron.

· In 2015, 5,900,000 visitors attended Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Approximately 7.3 million liters of beer was consumed and the average 1-litre mug of beer cost approximately 10.22 euros ($12).

Oktoberfest Top Events and Things to Do

· Attend the real Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

· Try the only beer that adheres to Bavarian Purity Requirements (Reinheitsgebot), and which is sold at the Oktoberfest, including:
1) Augustiner
2) Hacker Pschorr
3) Hofbräu
4) Löwenbräu
5) Paulaner
6) Spaten

· Try traditional Oktoberfest food:
1) Bavarian Brez’n, a soft pretzel that is served with sausage and mustards
2) Sausages including Bratwurst, Weisswurst, or Currywurst
3) Slow roasted ox
4) Rotisserie chicken
5) Schweinshaxe which is a pickled ham served with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes

· Celebrate Oktoberfest at beer gardens in the United States. Here are some recommendations:
1) Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2) Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids, Michigan
3) Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, California
4) Fremont Brewing Company in Seattle, Washington
5) Draught House Pub & Brewery in Austin, Texas
6) Frankford Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7) Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Brooklyn, New York
8) Cisco Brewers in Nantucket, Massachusetts
9) Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in San Diego, California
10) Der Biergarten in Atlanta, Georgia
11) Rhein Haus in Seattle, Washington
12) Wurstküche in Los Angeles, California

Host an Oktoberfest party. Try different German beers and Oktoberfest dishes including sausages and soft pretzels and even dress up in traditional Oktoberfest clothing called Tracht , including a dirndl for women and a lederhosen for men

35 Promises of God[5] cont.

“Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.”-Proverbs 22:6

Daily Devotions

· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary