Easter Saturday
Saint george-
Jeremiah,
Chapter 41, Verse 18
We fear violent people just as the Jews did in Jeremiah because they
remind us of our frailty and of our eventual death.
God
is stronger than the Devil and his entire posse. God is stronger than all the
communists, atheists, politicians, and propaganda ministers of our age. Our
Lady tells us to not fear them,
but fear God and pray.
The wrath
of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and
wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be
known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever
since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and
divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As
a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord
him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their
reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise,
they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness
of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of
snakes. Therefore, God handed them over
to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of
their bodies. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and
worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
(Rom. 1:18-25)
Saint George[1]
The traditional legends
have offered a historicized narration of George's encounter with a dragon. The
modern legend that follows below is synthesized from early and late
hagiographical sources, omitting the more fantastical episodes. Saint George
likely was born to a Christian noble family in Syria Palaestina, during the
late third century between about 275 AD and 285 AD. He died in Nicomedia in
Asia Minor. His father, Gerontios, was from Cappadocia, an officer in the Roman
army; his mother, Polychronia, was a native of Lydda. They were both Christians
from noble families, so their child was raised with Christian beliefs. They
decided to call him Georgios, meaning "worker of the land" (i.e.,
farmer). At the age of 14, George lost his father; a few years later, George's
mother, Polychronia, died. Eastern accounts give the names of his
parents as Anastasius and Theobaste. George then decided to go to Nicomedia and
present himself to Emperor Diocletian to apply for a career as a soldier.
Diocletian welcomed him with open arms, as he had known his father, Gerontius —
one of his finest soldiers. By his late 20s, George was promoted to the rank of
Military Tribune and stationed as an imperial guard of the Emperor at Nicomedia.
On 24 February AD 303, Diocletian (influenced by Galerius) issued an edict that every
Christian soldier in the army should be arrested and every other soldier should
offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods of the time. However, George objected, and
with the courage of his faith, approached the Emperor and ruler. Diocletian was
upset, not wanting to lose his best tribune and the son of his best official,
Gerontius. But George loudly renounced the Emperor's edict, and in front of his
fellow soldiers and tribunes he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared
his worship of Jesus Christ. Diocletian attempted to convert George, even
offering gifts of land, money, and slaves if he made a sacrifice to the Roman
gods; he made many offers, but George never accepted. Recognizing the futility
of his efforts and insisting on upholding his edict, Diocletian ordered that
George be executed for his refusal. Before the execution, George gave his wealth
to the poor and prepared himself. After various torture sessions, including
laceration on a wheel of swords during which he was resuscitated three times,
George was executed by decapitation before Nicomedia's city wall, on 23 April
303. A witness of his suffering convinced Empress Alexandra and Athanasius, a
pagan priest, to become Christians, as well, so they joined George in
martyrdom.
St. George, soldier-martyr.[2]
Invoked for protection for domestic animals and against herpetic diseases.
Also, patron of soldiers, England, Portugal, Germany, Aragon, Genoa and Venice.
He is pictured striking down a dragon.
St. George is venerated by the Eastern
Church among her "great martyrs" and "standard-bearers." He
belonged to the Roman army; he was arrested and, probably, beheaded under
Diocletian, c. 304. The Latin Church as well as the Greek honors him as patron
of armies. He is the patron of England, since 800. Many legends are attached to
Saint George. The most famous is the one in The Golden Legend. There was
a dragon that lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Not even armies could defeat
this creature, and he terrorized flocks and the people. St. George was passing
through and upon hearing about a princess was about to be eaten, he went to
battle against the serpent, and killed it with one blow with his lance. Then
with his great preaching, George converted the people. He distributed his
reward to the poor, then left the area.
Troops of Saint George[3]
The Troops of Saint George
(TSG) is a fraternal Catholic nonprofit apostolate for priests, men, and young
men looking for a life of adventure coupled with virtue. Initially founded in
2013 by Catholic author and professor Dr. Taylor Marshall,
we have become a collection of troops that do the following:
·
experience
reverent and beautiful Masses on mountaintop vistas
·
pray
the Rosary with other men around fire pits in the freezing cold
·
catch
a Fish Friday meal by fly fishing for trout
·
go
to confession with our priests while kneeling on moss in the woods
·
teach
our sons archery, rock climbing, marksmanship, fishing, survival skills…and
Catholic virtues
·
foster
a love for the priesthood and a reverence for the sacrament of Matrimony
·
support
our local parish, our priests, our bishops, and community by being available
for works of mercy and service
Mission Statement
“The Troops of Saint
George apostolate aims to use the outdoors as our canvas and the sacraments as
our path to light the way for the formation of Holy Catholic men and boys.
Whether called to the vocation of the priesthood, the religious life, or that
of Holy fatherhood, our fathers and sons will take a prayerful pilgrimage
together to fulfill Christ’s desire for them to grow in virtue and in their
Holy Catholic faith as they journey toward heaven.”
Saint George Trinitarian Salute
The Troops of Saint George
salute their officers, the flag, banners of the saints and Our Lady, and
crucifixes with the “Trinitarian Salute” – three fingers of the right hand
(index, middle, ring) out, and with the pinky and thumb joined signifying that
the divine nature of Christ is joined to His human nature: fully God and fully
man as taught at the Catholic Council of Chalcedon in AD 431.
Prayer Customs: ad orientem
The cadets usually carry a
compass with them. Even when they do not, they should be able to find East.
Like the early Christians, the Troops of Saint George pray facing the East in
response to Gospel according to Saint Matthew 24:27:
“For as lightning cometh
out of the east, and appears even into the west: so, shall the coming of the
Son of man be.”
The Church believed that
Christ’s Second Coming would be revealed “from the east to the west.” The rising
sun was an image of the Resurrected Christ.
So, at times of prayer
(for example, at the Angelus at noon), the Captain or one of the boys should
shout “ad orientem” and the men and boys should turn to face East, unless there
is already a suitable image or crucifix erected nearby.
The Role of Proverbs for the Troops
of Saint George
Each man or young man
among the Troops of Saint George must study the biblical book of Proverbs,
since it is the Book of the Bible that instructs men how to become wise and
virtuous. There the man will learn why he should resist sexual impurity,
alcoholism, quarreling, and financial debt – the chief ways by which men lapse.
He will also learn from the Proverbs the riches of knowing God and the blessing
of a godly wife and family.
St. George, although a man of
courage, like our Christ meekly underwent the torture.
Divine Mercy Novena[4]
Ninth Day - Today Bring Me The Souls Who Have
Become Lukewarm.
Most
Compassionate Jesus, you are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the
abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love let
these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be
once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of
Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love; and bestow upon them
the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal
Father turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded
in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the
bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: let them,
too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen
Hike for the Lukewarm[5]
Beatitudes Hike
During this hike you will be praying the Divine Mercy Prayer, Christ asked that we pray for the lukewarm.
"Today bring to Me the Souls of persons who have become lukewarm and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."
Most compassionate Jesus, you are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. Eternal Father turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
During this hike you will meditate on each of the ways you may have been walking away from God; marking each of the points as you hike stopping multiple times to pray. On the return hike, you will meditate using the walking towards God meditations. Remember every journey away from something is a journey toward something—the first meditations are the seven deadly sins with fear added as an eighth; and you will be meditating on the Beatitudes of Christ on the way back in reverse order.
Pray the chaplet first or if you wish after you finish the meditation on the deadly sins. This meditation uses synonyms of fear, pride, envy, anger, avarice, sloth, gluttony and lust. Words are the music of the human heart; different words carry different emotions and meanings. If a certain word strikes your heart-it is the Lord speaking to you.
Walking Away from GOD
(Have I been/Shown?)
1.
FEAR: Terror, Dread, Horror, Fright;
Panic, Alarm, Trepidation, Apprehension.
2.
PRIDE/HUBRIS: Arrogant, Conceit,
Smugness, Self-importance, Satisfaction, Pleasure, Delight.
3.
ENVY: Jealousy, Desire, Resentment,
Spite, Malice, Meanness.
4.
WRATH: Anger, Annoyance, Rage, Fury,
Aggravation, Frustration.
5.
AVARICE: Greed, Materialism,
Covetousness, Acquisitiveness.
6.
SLOTH: Laziness, Idleness, Sluggishness,
Inactivity, Indolence (condition that is slow to develop or be healed and
causes no pain-i.e. fail to resist evil) Apathy.
7.
GLUTTONY: Excess, Exclusivity,
Overindulgence, Intemperance.
8.
LUST: Yearn, Desire, long for, hanker
for, Hunger for, Ache for, Crave.
Walking toward GOD
(Have I failed to be, do or show?)
8. CHASTITY (PURITY OF HEART): Cleanliness, Wholesomeness, Spotlessness, Clarity; Transparency, Knowledge, Honesty, Wisdom. Opposing Deadly Sin: LUST
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. The clean of heart are those who preserve with care the innocence with which they are invested at holy Baptism, or seek to regain it, when lost, by penance; those who keep their hearts and consciences unspotted from all sinful thoughts, particularly from all unchaste thoughts, desires, words, and acts, and who endeavor in all things to have a pure intention directed to God alone. They shall see God, that is, they shall know Him even here upon earth, for as the eye that is to see must be clean, so only souls that are pure and unstained can behold God. But further, our knowledge is like our hearts; the purer the heart the clearer and greater is the knowledge of God. But in the world above they shall see, know, and possess Him as He is. What blessedness! Strive, therefore, to keep your heart clean. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)
7. TEMPERANCE (POOR
IN SPIRIT): Sacrifice, Give Up, Forgo,
Let Go, Surrender, Tithe, Self-Control, Abstention. Opposing Deadly Sin:
GLUTTONY
The poor in spirit are:
·
Those who, like the apostles, readily forsake all earthly things, and
for Christ’s sake become poor.
·
Those who, happening to lose their property by misfortune or injustice,
suffer the loss patiently, in resignation to the will of God.
·
Those who, like Jesus, are content with their poor and humble position,
seek no higher or happier one, and would rather suffer want than enrich
themselves by unlawful acts, by fraud or theft.
·
The rich and noble who set not their hearts upon the riches and
greatness of the world who use their riches and influence to relieve the misery
of the needy and oppressed.
· Finally, the truly humble, who, convinced of their weakness, their helplessness and misery, think lowly of themselves, and regard themselves but as beggars, who are always in need of the grace of God. To all these, therefore, in whose hearts the world has no place, there is assured, as their inheritance, the kingdom of heaven; here the kingdom of grace there the kingdom of glory. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)
6. DILIGENCE (HUNGER
& THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS):
Fairness, Impartiality; Righteousness, Evenhandedness, Fair Dealing,
Persistence, Effort, Ethics, Rectitude. Opposing Deadly Sin: SLOTH
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have their fill. Hunger and thirst denote the most ardent longing after those virtues which constitute Christian perfection, such as humility, meekness, the love of God and of our neighbor, penance. Whoever longs for these virtues as the hungry man does for food and drink and prays to God for them with perseverance and earnestness, shall have his fill; that is, he shall be enriched with them, and one day shall be satisfied with eternal Happiness. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)
5. CHARITY
(MERCIFUL): Compassion; Kindness, Pity,
Bigheartedness, Clemency, Openhandedness, Forgiveness, Liberality,
Understanding, Leniency, Will, Benevolence, Generosity. Opposing Deadly Sin:
AVARICE
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall
obtain mercy. The merciful here spoken of are:
·
Those who willingly forgive the injuries done to them.
· Those who have compassion on their poor neighbors, and, according to their ability, sustain them by alms. These shall obtain mercy; that is, God will forgive them their sins and endow them abundantly with the goods of this world and of the world to come. Thus, God deals with us as we deal with others. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)
4. PATIENCE
(PEACEMAKERS): Relations, Mediation,
Negotiation—Prevents Destruction, I.E. Stem Cell/Abortion, Sufferance. Opposing
Deadly Sin: WRATH
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. By peacemakers we are to understand those who have peace with themselves, that is, a quiet conscience, and who endeavor to maintain peace among others, or to restore it when broken. Such are called the children of God, because they follow God, Who is a God of peace, and Who even gave His only Son to reconcile the world with Him, and to bring down upon earth that peace which the world itself could not give. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)
3. KINDNESS
(MOURNING): Grief, Sorrow; Remembrance,
Respect, Loyalty, Integrity. Opposing Deadly Sin: ENVY
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. By them that mourn we are not to understand such as grieve and lament over a death, a misfortune, a loss of worldly goods, or the like; but those who are grieved that God should be in so many ways offended by themselves and by others that His Church should be so heavily oppressed, and thereby so many souls lost that have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. The only evil really to be grieved for is sin, and the tears shed on account of sin are the only tears that are profitable, for they shall be recompensed with everlasting joy. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)
2. HUMILITY
(MEEK): Modesty, Not Assuming,
Reverence, Altruism. Opposing Deadly Sin: PRIDE/HUBRIS
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. That man is meek who does not murmur against God for sending afflictions upon him, who is not angry at men who do him injury, but who rather suppresses impatience, anger, envy, and revenge, nay, who seeks to recompense the evil done him by his neighbor with good. Such a one is greater than he who takes by storm fortified cities (Prov. xvi. 32); he possesses an unfailing fountain of peace, quiet, and cheerfulness; by his meekness prevails over the most hostile minds, is by such means truly a ruler upon earth, and will one day, for his portion, obtain heaven, the land of the living, there to enjoy eternal peace. (Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896)
1. LOVE &
COURAGE (FAITH-BE NOT AFRAID): Affection,
Adoration, Friendship, Confidence, Courageous, Trust, Valiant, Reliance,
Heroic, Assurance, Bold, Conviction, Daring, Belief, Fearless, Devotion,
Plucky, Loyalty. Opposing Deadly Sin: FEAR
Love Brothers and sisters do not be afraid
to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to
serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of
mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power
open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields
of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what
is in man”. He alone knows it. So often today man does not know what is within
him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the
meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns
into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let
Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.
Divine Mercy Sunday[6]-Tomorrow-Go to
Confession Today
Divine Mercy Sunday is a very special Sunday when
the Divine Floodgates from Heaven are wide-opened and Jesus offers us the total
forgiveness of all sins and punishment to any soul, who goes to Confession and
receives Him in Holy Communion, on that day
Our Lord's Divine Mercy Sunday grants forgiveness of
all sins and punishment on the Feast of Divine Mercy, Mercy Sunday, mercy for
even the most hardened sinners! It is the Sunday of Divine Mercy, the Feast of
Mercy!
Some
people, when they reflect on the goodness of God and the passion of Christ, are
powerfully moved to sighs, tears, prayers, and other devout actions, so that
you might suppose their hearts were seized with a very fervent devotion. But
when they are tested, we find that they are like the passing rains of a hot
summer, which may fall heavily on the earth, but do not penetrate it, and bring
forth only mushrooms. In the same way, these tears and emotions in a corrupt
heart do not penetrate it and are altogether fruitless. For these unhappy
people would not give up a penny of their unjustly acquired wealth or renounce
one of their perverse affections, nor would they endure the slightest suffering
in the service of that Savior over whom they have wept. Their good impulses are
like spiritual mushrooms. Not only are they a false devotion, but too often
they are actually the deep wiles of Satan. While he amuses souls with such
empty consolations, he induces them to
remain satisfied with them instead of seeking true and solid devotion, which
consists in a constant, resolute, prompt, and active will to carry out what we
know to be pleasing to God. ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION TWO I. THE CREEDS
185 Whoever says,
"I believe" says "I pledge myself to what we believe."
Communion in faith needs a common language of faith, normative for all and
uniting all in the same confession of faith.
186 From the
beginning, the apostolic Church expressed and handed on her faith in brief
formulae normative for all. But already very early on, the Church
also wanted to gather the essential elements of her faith into organic and
articulated summaries, intended especially for candidates for Baptism:
This synthesis of faith was
not made to accord with human opinions, but rather what was of the greatest
importance was gathered from all the Scriptures, to present the one teaching of
the faith in its entirety. and just as the mustard seed contains a great number
of branches in a tiny grain, so too this summary of faith encompassed in a few
words the whole knowledge of the true religion contained in the Old and the New
Testaments.
187 Such syntheses are
called "professions of faith" since they summarize the faith that
Christians profess. They are called "creeds" on account of what is
usually their first word in Latin: credo ("I believe"). They are also
called "symbols of faith".
188 The Greek word
symbolon meant half of a broken object, for example, a seal presented as a
token of recognition. the broken parts were placed together to verify the
bearer's identity. the symbol of faith, then, is a sign of recognition and
communion between believers. Symbolon also means a gathering, collection or
summary. A symbol of faith is a summary of the principal truths of the faith
and therefore serves as the first and fundamental point of reference for
catechesis.
189 The first
"profession of faith" is made during Baptism. the symbol of faith is
first and foremost the baptismal creed. Since Baptism is given "in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit",3 The truths of faith professed during
Baptism are articulated in terms of their reference to the three persons of the
Holy Trinity.
190 and so the Creed
is divided into three parts: "the first part speaks of the first divine
Person and the wonderful work of creation; the next speaks of the second divine
Person and the mystery of his redemption of men; the final part speaks of the
third divine Person, the origin and source of our sanctification." These are "the three chapters of our
[baptismal] seal".5
191 "These three
parts are distinct although connected with one another. According to a
comparison often used by the Fathers, we call them articles. Indeed, just as in
our bodily members there are certain articulations which distinguish and
separate them, so too in this profession of faith, the name "articles"
has justly and rightly been given to the truths we must believe particularly
and distinctly." In accordance with an ancient tradition,
already attested to by St. Ambrose, it is also customary to reckon the articles
of the Creed as twelve, thus symbolizing the fullness of the apostolic faith by
the number of the apostles.
192 Through the
centuries many professions or symbols of faith have been articulated in
response to the needs of the different eras: the creeds of the different
apostolic and ancient Churches e.g., the Quicumque, also called the
Athanasian Creed; The professions of faith of certain
Councils, such as Toledo, Lateran, Lyons, Trent; or the symbols of certain popes, e.g.,
the Fides Damasi or the Credo of the People of God of Paul
VI.
193 None of the creeds from the different stages in the
Church's life can be considered superseded or irrelevant. They help us today to
attain and deepen the faith of all times by means of the different summaries
made of it.
Among all the creeds, two
occupy a special place in the Church's life:
194 The Apostles'
Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of
the apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome.
Its great authority arises from this fact: it is "the Creed of the Roman
Church, the See of Peter the first of the apostles, to which he brought the
common faith".
195 The
Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creed draws its great authority from the
fact that it stems from the first two ecumenical Councils (in 325 and 381). It
remains common to all the great Churches of both East and West to this day.
196 Our presentation
of the faith will follow the Apostles' Creed, which constitutes, as it were,
"the oldest Roman catechism". the presentation will be completed
however by constant references to the Nicene Creed, which is often more
explicit and more detailed.
197 As on the day of
our Baptism, when our whole life was entrusted to the "standard of
teaching", let us embrace the Creed of our
life-giving faith. To say the Credo with faith is to enter into communion with
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and also with the whole Church which
transmits the faith to us and in whose midst we believe:
This Creed is the spiritual
seal, our heart's meditation and an ever-present guardian; it is,
unquestionably, the treasure of our soul.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: An end
to the use of contraceptives.
·
Saturday
Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 9 day 7
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Make reparations to the Holy Face
[2]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=886
[3]https://troopsofsaintgeorge.org/about/
[4]https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/holy-week/prayers-for-easter-sunday/nine-day-divine-mercy-novena
[5]http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-havermale/divine-mercy-hikes/paperback/product-23710456.htm
[7] Thigpen, Paul. Manual for Spiritual Warfare. TAN Books.
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