Monday Night at the Movies
Monday
of the Fifth Week of Easter
ST. SIMON STOCK ARMED FORCES Day leadup
Ezekiel,
Chapter 18, Verse 14-17
14 But, in turn, if he (a sinful man) begets a son who sees all the sins his father commits, yet FEARS and does not imitate him— 15a son who does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile a neighbor’s wife; 16who does not oppress anyone, or exact a pledge, or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked; 17who refrains from evildoing, accepts no interest or usury, but keeps my ordinances and walks in my statutes—this one shall not die for the sins of his father. He shall surely live!
It is easy and common for us to blame our character defects on our parents. However, when God adopts a person through the blood and work of the Holy Spirit a new person arises and begins doing works of mercy and justice of His or Her heavenly father.
This is the beauty of discipleship it gives us time to discern our spiritual leadership. To increase your leadership discernment: [1]
· Examine your past successes. What actions
have enabled you success?
· Assess each person based on their particular
situation. Are you stereotyping? Are you treating people as things and not
people? Are you treating others as you wish to be treated?
· Listen to your heart and your head-do the
right thing.
· Learn from wise leaders. Study and
read the lives of other leaders.
St. Simon Stock[2]
Saint Simon Stock was born to a very illustrious family in Kent County, England (c. 1165), of which his father was governor. His mother was devoted to the Virgin Mary, and Simon was not yet one year old when he was heard clearly articulating the Angelic salutation several times. When he was twelve, Simon began to live as a hermit in the hollow of a trunk of an oak, where he got the nickname “stock” or “trunk”. Within this wilderness retreat, his continual prayers ascended to heaven and he spent twenty years in the most complete solitude, feeding his soul with the celestial delights of contemplation.
Having
voluntarily chosen to deprive himself of human conversation, he was favored
with that of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the angels who urged him to persevere
in his life of sacrifice and love. The Queen of Heaven told him that some
hermits from Palestine would soon land in England, adding that he should join
those men whom she considered as her servants.
Indeed, Lord
John Vesoy and Lord Richard Gray of Codnor returned from the Holy Land,
bringing with them several hermits from Mount Carmel. Simon Stock joined them
in 1212 and was elected Vicar General of the Carmelite Order in 1215. He begged
the Virgin Mary by fervent prayers and tears to defend this Order, which was
devoted to her, and she appeared in a dream to Pope Honorius III, so the pope
finally confirmed the Rule of Carmelites in 1226.
Another time
the Mother of God appeared to Simon, surrounded by a dazzling light and
accompanied by a large number of blessed spirits, with the scapular of the
order in her hand. This scapular she gave him with the words:
“Hoc erit tibi et cunctis Carmelitis privilegium, in hoc
habitu moriens salvabitur” –
This shall be
the privilege for you and for all the Carmelites, that anyone wearing this
habit shall be saved.
Through Saint
Simon Stock the devotion of the scapular spread throughout the world, not only
among the people, but also among kings and princes who found themselves very honored
to wear the sign of the servants of the Blessed Virgin. Stock breathed his last
in the city of Bordeaux while visiting monasteries, in the 20th year of his
office as Vicar General. The Church added his last words to the Angelic
salutation: “Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”
Mary’s Promise
to Those Who Wear the Scapular
Our Lady gave St. Simon a scapular
for the Carmelites with the following promise, saying: Receive, My beloved son,
this habit of thy order: this shall be to thee and to all Carmelites a
privilege, that whosoever dies clothed in this shall never suffer eternal fire
…. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of
peace.
Another important aspect of wearing
the Scapular is the Sabbatine Privilege. This concerns a promise made by Our
Lady to Pope John XXII. In a papal letter he issued, he recounted a vision that
he had had. He stated that the Blessed Virgin had said to him in this vision,
concerning those who wear the Brown Scapular: “I, the Mother of Grace, shall
descend on the Saturday after their death and whomsoever I shall find in
Purgatory, I shall free, so that I may lead them to the holy mountain of life
everlasting.”
Conditions and Rituals Attached to The Scapular
According to Church tradition, there
are three conditions necessary to participate in this Privilege and share in
the other spiritual benefits of the Scapular: wear the Brown Scapular, observe
chastity according to your state in life, and pray the Rosary. In addition to
the Sabbatine Privilege, enrollment in the Brown Scapular also makes a person
part of the Carmelite family throughout the world. They therefore share in all
of the prayers and good works of the Carmelite Orders. Participation in the
Carmelite family also, of course, places you in a special relationship with the
Carmelite saints, especially St. Elijah, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the
Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, and, most importantly, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
In order to receive the spiritual
blessings associated with the Scapular, it is necessary to be formally enrolled
in the Brown Scapular by either a priest or a lay person who has been given
this faculty. Once enrolled, the enrollment is for life and need not be
repeated. Anyone, adult or infant, who has not previously been enrolled may be
enrolled in the Brown Scapular.
Value and Meaning of The Scapular
Many popes and saints have strongly
recommended wearing, the Brown Scapular to the Catholic Faithful, including St.
Robert Bellarmine, Pope John XXII, Pope Pius Xl, and Pope Benedict XV. For
example, St. Alphonsus said: “Just as men take pride in having others wear
their livery, so the Most Holy Mary is pleased when Her servants wear Her
Scapular as a mark that they have dedicated themselves to Her service, and are
members of the Family of the Mother of God.”
Pope Pius XII went so far as to say:
“The Scapular is a practice of piety which by its very simplicity is suited to everyone
and has spread widely among the faithful of Christ to their spiritual profit.”
In our own times, Pope Paul VI said: “Let the faithful hold in high esteem the
practices and devotions to the Blessed Virgin … the Rosary and the Scapular of
Carmel” and in another place referred to the Scapular as: “so highly
recommended by our illustrious predecessors.”
Armed Forces Day Build Up
Every day from now to Armed Forces Day I ask your prayers
for each service and all of our defenders to include police and fire.
US Army[3]
As priest-chaplains of the
Archdiocese for the Military Services we invite you to join with us in prayer.
In times of joy and difficulty, in times of fear and doubt, in moments of
distress and in times of peace, a simple prayer that comes from the heart
becomes the place of your encounter with God’s love, mercy and protection.
Prayer for Troops[4]
Let us pray for our brothers and
sisters as they go forth with courage and determination to face the forces of
violence, weapons of destruction and hearts filled with hate.
RESPONSE: THROUGH THE DARKNESS BRING US TO THE LIGHT.
For our President and
Commander-In-Chief, and our political and military leaders that they may
tirelessly seek peaceful settlements to international disputes; we pray to the
Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That the Lord may preserve the
members of our Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force from all harm; we
pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That even in war, we may keep clearly
before us the defense of all human rights, especially the right to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness; we pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That the families, relatives and
friends of our military members may be strengthened in this time of concern and
anxiety; we pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That the Lord may help families with
men and women in the armed forces to cope with daily challenges in the absence
of their loved ones; we pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That our homeland will be preserved
from violence and terrorism; we pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That the nations of the world will
seek to work together in harmony and peace; we pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That the hearts of all men and women
will be moved to pursue true peace and justice; we pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That violence may be overcome by
peace; that weapons of destruction be transformed into tools of justice, and
hate give way to true charity; we pray to the Lord:
Through the Darkness Bring Us to the Light.
That we may be grateful for and
inspired by those veterans who have given their lives for our country and that
we may bravely face the challenges ahead; we pray to the Lord:
Lord God,
Almighty Father, creator of mankind and author of peace, as we are ever mindful
of the cost paid for the liberty we possess, we ask you to bless the members of
our armed forces. Give them courage, hope and strength. May they ever
experience your firm support, gentle love and compassionate healing. Be their
power and protector, leading them from darkness to light. To you be all glory,
honor and praise, now and forever. Amen.
Real Men ask
God what they should do[5]
The special need for more frequent
Communion is on the part of the men and the older boys. No man can afford to
"keep his religion in his wife's name." The man is by nature the head
of the family, and the family usually ends up where he leads. He can't expect
his family to continue to live a very vital Catholic life unless he sets the
example. As an Army captain can't hole-up in some rear line trench and cry out,
"Onward, Christian soldiers!” neither can the husband and father expect
his wife and children to do much in the Church Militant if he is a
non-combatant, "too proud to fight."
An interesting evidence of the power
of example of the adult male in encouraging devout religious practice was had
in England during World War II. In a certain Catholic orphanage, the larger
boys were refusing to obey the Sisters' directives to approach the Communion
rail with folded hands. In the neighborhood of the orphanage was a GI camp
whose soldiers soon became heroes to the orphan lads. One day a crowd of the
GI's came to Mass in the orphanage and went to Communion, of course with hands
devoutly folded as is done in our country. When the orphan boys saw Tex and
Bill and Tom properly approaching the Communion rail, the troubles of the
Sisters with the boys were over. "Example is the school of mankind, and
they will learn in no other way."
Patron Saint of Soldiers
Joan of Arc, canonized 101 years ago[6]
Joan sets us an example of a laywoman
who refuses to be cowed by threats and intimidations from 'authority,' even
legitimate authority abusing its powers. May 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — On May 16, 1920, in a ceremony attended by over 30,000 people
— including over a hundred descendants of her family — Pope Benedict XV
canonized St. Joan of Arc (c. 1412–1431), the Maid of Orléans.
St. Joan of Arc is remarkable in so
many ways. I would like to draw attention to a few aspects of her life and
character that hold pointed lessons for us today.
First, as a young woman,
Joan practiced a deep, humble, and serious piety. The age-old practices of the
Catholic faith were enough to take her to the heights of sanctity and the gift
of herself for her country and her Lord. She listened to the Lord’s voice as He
spoke to her through the saints and through circumstances, and she obeyed His
will unflinchingly. St. Michael the Archangel addressed her as “Jehanne the
Maid, Child of God,” for this is what she was and always remained. Instead of
allowing herself to be distracted by worldly motivations, she followed the path
God set for her, in spite of its difficulty. She is, in other words, the exact
antithesis of churchmen today who would water down the demands of God’s law,
the necessity of self-denial in adhering to it, and the supernatural motives
that should sustain us.
Second, Joan boldly
stepped into a public role at God’s behest, but without losing her femininity.
She did not wage war with the soldiers, but simply led them in formation. She
would not, in principle, kill or wound anyone. There is not the remotest chance
that she would ever condone women fighting in the military and being trained to
kill — the absurdity of actual or potential nurturers of life taking it
voluntarily. In this, she is an example of true Christian womanhood: strong and
courageous, willing to stick her neck out, willing to lead (as she herself was
willing to be led by her Master), but not stupidly trying to be a man. She did
not think equality with maleness as something to be grasped but emptied herself
and became a servant. In this way she provided an example of being true to her
identity and vocation that is resoundingly necessary for both women and men
to heed in a world that has become confused about how many sexes there are and
who belongs to which “division” of the human race. (And it is indeed a division
— but it need not be an opposition or antagonism, in the way that both male chauvinism
and feminism imagine it to be, each feeding off the other. Real difference
makes possible a deeper communion and cooperation than uniformity and
replaceability, even as, in the Church, the priest’s role as mediator is seen
to be essentially different from that of the laity, since he acts on their
behalf in persona Christi capitis, in the person of Christ the Head of
the Church. In a similar way, the husband in a family has the calling to
imitate and represent the headship of Christ. As St. Paul explained so well,
one cannot have a functional organic body if it’s made up only of arms or hands
or eyes or, for that matter, heads. Real difference and distinction, when
embraced in a spirit of servanthood, confer a mutual benefit that far exceeds
what one could obtain independently. Hierarchy and unity are correlative, not
opposed, as democracy falsely assumes.)
Third, Joan is a model of
the virtues of chastity and purity. Feminists like to point out that she donned
a man’s clothing at a time when this was considered immoral. Yet all historians
are agreed that the reason Joan wore a man’s clothing during her public
service, and later in prison, was to protect herself against the danger of rape
from the soldiers and enemies among whom she had to dwell. The ordinary women’s
clothing of the time offered no such defense, and she would not have had the
leisure or the talent to create a new and better fashion de novo. She
complained to the tribunal that an English lord had attempted to violate her in
prison. Like St. Maria Goretti, St. Joan prized the gift of her virginity and
defended it. She knew her worth and her dignity as a woman and a human being.
Fourth, Joan was condemned
by an ecclesiastical kangaroo court presided over by a corrupt bishop, Pierre
Cauchon, with the complicity of corrupt clergy. As everyone knows who has read
Joan’s life, she was falsely charged with heresy and condemned to be burnt at
the stake. The trial was later re-evaluated by the Church and found to be
gravely defective and irregular on numerous counts — indeed, not to mince
words, it was a wicked sham, an excuse for murdering an inconvenient and too
popular figure who could not be readily controlled by those in power. We live
today in a world in which most of episcopacy is corrupt on several levels —
doctrinally, through failing to teach the Catholic Faith in its integrity, if
not positively adhering to modernist views, or morally, due to practicing
sexual abuse, or covering it up, or tolerating its existence, or liturgically,
by refusing to model right worship or to correct impious deviations, or,
indeed, all three at once. Joan sets us an example of a laywoman who refuses to
be cowed by threats and intimidations from “authority,” even legitimate
authority abusing its powers, and who would rather die for a right conscience
than falsely admit to wrongdoing. She ought to be recognized as the patron
saint of those who have been victimized by the Church’s hierarchy.
St. Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orléans,
patroness of France,
pray for us.
Today is Horse Rescue Day[7]
Adopt a (Army) Caisson
Horse
The Caisson Horses of The Old Guard participate in
all Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps Full Honors Funerals performed in
Arlington National Cemetery. These magnificent animals serve with the men of
the Caisson Platoon daily to ensure final honors are given in a dignified,
professional, and respectful manner; and they love their job. Each Caisson
Horse offered for adoption has served on average for over a decade. During the
course of their service, they participate in thousands of funerals for our nation’s
heroes. Because of the long and distinguished service of each and every horse
in our stables, The Old Guard has introduced the Caisson Horse Adoption Program
to ensure each horse is rewarded with a great home following its well-earned
retirement.
The primary goal of the Caisson Horse Adoption
Program is to select a home for a retiring Caisson Horse. The program publishes
Horses ready for retirement to a website, identifies potential adopters, and
selects the best candidate from a pool of applicants seeking to adopt a retired
Caisson Horse. The specifics of the Caisson Horse Adoption Program is governed
by The Old Guard Regimental Policy Letter #13 – Horse Adoption.
Catechism of the
Catholic Church
PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
SECTION TWO I. THE CREEDS
CHAPTER TWO-I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY SON OF GOD
Article 5 "HE
DESCENDED INTO HELL. ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN"
Paragraph 1.
CHRIST DESCENDED INTO HELL
632 The frequent New
Testament affirmations that Jesus was "raised from the dead"
presuppose that the crucified one sojourned in the realm of the dead prior to
his resurrection. This was the first meaning given in the apostolic
preaching to Christ's descent into hell: that Jesus, like all men, experienced
death and in his soul joined the others in the realm of the dead. But he
descended there as Savior, proclaiming the Good News to the spirits imprisoned
there.
633 Scripture calls
the abode of the dead, to which the dead Christ went down, "hell" -
Sheol in Hebrew or Hades in Greek - because those who are there are deprived of
the vision of God. Such is the case for all the dead, whether evil or
righteous, while they await the Redeemer: which does not mean that their lot is
identical, as Jesus shows through the parable of the poor man Lazarus who was
received into "Abraham's bosom": "It is precisely these
holy souls, who awaited their Savior in Abraham's bosom, whom Christ the Lord
delivered when he descended into hell." Jesus did not descend into
hell to deliver the damned, nor to destroy the hell of damnation, but to free
the just who had gone before him.
634 "The gospel
was preached even to the dead." The descent into hell brings the
Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfilment. This is the last phase of
Jesus' messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its
real significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all
times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the
redemption.
635 Christ went down
into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son
of God, and those who hear will live." Jesus, "the Author of
life", by dying destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is,
the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to
lifelong bondage." Henceforth the risen Christ holds "the keys
of Death and Hades", so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."
Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great
stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. the earth trembled and
is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all
who have slept ever since the world began. . . He has gone to search for Adam,
our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live
in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in
his bonds and Eve, captive with him - He who is both their God and the son of
Eve. . . "I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. . . I
order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell.
Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead."
IN BRIEF
636 By the expression
"He descended into hell", the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus
did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil
"who has the power of death" (Heb 2:14).
637 In his human soul
united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the
dead. He opened heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him
Atheist heresy of the Day
Full Flower Moon
Today according to the almanac is a Full Flower Moon; bring flowers to all the women in your life. Christ always brought His mother Lilies of the Valley.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them in
fasting: For the Poor and Suffering
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Litany of the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus
·
Offering
to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Make reparations to the Holy Face
·
Total Consecration to Mary Day 19
·
Drops
of Christ’s Blood
·
Monday: Litany
of Humility
·
Universal
Man Plan
· Nineveh 90-Day 31
·
Rosary
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