First Wednesday Go to Mass
ST.
FLORIAN-STAR WARS DAY
Baruch, Chapter 6, Verse 22
Know, therefore, that
they are not gods; do not FEAR them.
Heed
the words of Saint John Paul the Great in confronting the gods of this age: money,
love,
self,
happiness,
equality
and celebrity.
Evil is
never defeated by evil; once that road is taken, rather than defeating evil, one will instead be defeated by evil.
Peace
is the outcome of a long and demanding battle which is only won when evil is
defeated by good. Flee what is evil and hold fast to what is good. Peace
is a good to be promoted with good: it is a good for individuals, for
families, for nations and for all humanity; yet it is one which needs to be
maintained and fostered by decisions and actions inspired by good. "Repay
no one evil for evil" (Rom 12:17). The one way out of the
vicious circle of requiting evil for evil is "Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:21). At its deepest
level, evil is a tragic rejection of the demands of love. Moral good, on
the other hand, is born of love, shows itself as love and is directed towards
love. All this is particularly evident to Christians, who know that their
membership in the one mystical Body of Christ sets them in a particular
relationship not only with the Lord but also with their brothers and sisters.
The inner logic of Christian love, which in the Gospel is the living source of
moral goodness, leads even to the love of one's enemies: "If your enemy
is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink" (Rom
12:20).[1]
Saint Florian[2] is the patron saint of firefighters, and many things associated with either fire or
water. His feast day is celebrated today.
Saint
Florian was born in
the mid-third century A.D., perhaps around the year 250, somewhere around
current-day Austria. He rose through the Roman army ranks to become a
commander. Besides his duties to the military, he was charged with leading the
firefighting brigade of the day. Florian was a Christian in a time when the
Roman emperors were trying to eliminate Christianity throughout their realm. At
one point he was ordered to offer up a sacrifice to the Roman gods, something
in which he did not believe. Other stories state that he refused to participate
in the ongoing persecution of Christians, in which the army had been ordered to
participate.
In either case, Florian's
beliefs became known. When questioned, he again stated that he was a Christian.
The popular method of disposing of Christians in that day was to burn them to
death, and it was suggested that Florian suffer the same fate. He, however,
stated his intention to "climb to Heaven on the flames"
of the funeral pyre being prepared for him. The soldiers decided at that point
to dispense with him via another route: he was flogged, then flayed, then a
large stone was tied around his neck and he was thrown into the Ennis River to
drown. A faithful lady recovered and buried his body, which was later moved to
the Augustinian Abbey of St. Florian, near current-day Linz, Austria. In 1138
some of St. Florian's relics were given to King Casimir of Poland and
the Bishop of Cracow. Since his relics arrived in Poland, he has been regarded
as the patron saint of that country. Because of his association with fire, St.
Florian is the patron saint of firefighters and chimney sweeps and has been
invoked for protection from both fire and water. A statue of St. Florian
installed at the front of the main firehouse in Vienna, Austria survived a 1945
bombing with barely a scratch.
Please
pray the Stations
of the Cross for our firefighters from 911 and
The Yarnell Hill Firefighters;
which were lost in a wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona, ignited by lightning on
June 28, 2013. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 City of Prescott
firefighters, members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
It was the third deadliest U.S. wildfire since the 1991 East Bay Hills fire,
which killed 25 people; and the 2017 Northern California wildfires, which
killed over 40, the deadliest wildland fire for U.S. firefighters since the
1933 Griffith Park Fire, which killed 29; and the deadliest incident of any
kind for U.S. firefighters since the September 11, 2001, attacks, which killed
343. It is the sixth-deadliest American firefighter disaster overall and the
deadliest wildfire ever in Arizona.
May the Farce Be with You[3]
May 4th has become commonly known as Star Wars Day. And who could be surprised? The words, “May the 4th” seem to beg the rest of the catchphrase be uttered. Regardless of whether you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek, or if are even a sci-fi aficionado at all, the influence of George Lucas’ Star Wars on pop culture is undeniable.
The History of Star Wars Day
Star Wars, an epic space opera written
and directed by George Lucas, premiered in 1977 and became an almost instant
cult classic. Even today, almost 40 years later, Star Wars remains one of the
most financially successful films of all time. The franchise it began remains
the most successful one of all time, earning over 2.5 billion dollars since the
release of the first film. However, the money it’s earned over the years is
hardly the most impressive aspect of Star Wars. As famous film critic Roger
Ebert put it: “Like The Birth of a Nation and Citizen Kane, Star Wars was a
technical watershed that influenced many of the movies that came after.” Star
Wars was a real game-changer, beginning a new era of special effect-packed
motion pictures bursting with excitement, adventure and imagination that
appealed enormously to younger audiences as well as older ones. Many of today’s
most acclaimed film directors, such as Peter Jackson, Ridley Scott, Christopher
Nolan and James Cameron, cite Star Wars as a great influence on their careers.
Star Wars has also had enormous cultural impact on other areas besides
filmmaking, including politics–the Reagan Administration’s Strategic Defense
Program was mockingly nicknamed “Star Wars”. As recently as 2013, President
Barack Obama used the phrase “Jedi mind meld” to describe what some people were
expecting him to do on his opposition to make them accept his ideas. “May the
Fourth be with you” was first used by Margaret Thatcher’s political party to
congratulate her on her election on May 4th, 1979, and the saying quickly
caught on. However, the first celebration of May 4th took place much later, at
the Toronto Underground Cinema in 2001. This first official Star Wars Day’s
festivities included a costume contest and a movie marathon. Fans’ favorite
parodies of the franchise were also enjoyed, as were some of the most popular mashups
and remixes. Since then, Star Wars Day has gained popularity and is celebrated
by Star Wars Fans worldwide.
How to Celebrate Star Wars Day
The way you celebrate Star Wars day
will depend on how well you know this cultural phenomenon. If you are a
longtime fan of the franchise, you might want to get a group of friends
together and attend one of the many Star Wars events organized in different
parts of the world. Such events range from costume contests to museum exhibits
to tours of space centers. And if you’re not feeling up to going out, there’s
no reason why a Star Wars Day party organized by you at home should be any less
fun. Movie marathons with friends, Star Wars trivia games and even Star Wars
themed snacks (Death Star piñata, anyone?) will guarantee this day is full of
fun as well as being very educational. “Vadering” another person has also
become an extremely popular thing to do on this day, and the photos you take of
this are sure to bring a smile to your face for years to come. Because Star
Wars itself is such an enormous topic, the ways of celebrating the day
dedicated to it are virtually endless. So choose one, have fun, and May the 4th
be with you!
First Wednesday[4]
Our Heavenly Father desires all three hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to be honored. And so along with devotion to Jesus on First Fridays, and to Mary on First Saturdays, Our Father longs for us to add devotion to St. Joseph on each First Wednesday of the month.
"The Sacred Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph have been chosen by the Most Holy Trinity to bring peace to the world." It is at God's request that "special love and honor be given to them" to help us "imitate" their love and their lives, as well as "offer reparation" for the sins committed against them and their love.
The St. Joseph First Wednesday devotion is:
1. Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary - remembering St. Joseph's love, his life, his role and his sufferings
2. Receive Holy Communion - in union with the love St. Joseph had for Jesus the first time and each time he held him - his son, his God and Savior - in his arms.
In the approved
apparitions of Our Lady of America, St. Joseph revealed:
· "I am the protector of the Church and
the home, as I was the protector of Christ and his Mother while I lived upon
earth. Jesus and Mary desire that my pure heart, so long hidden and unknown, be
now honored in a special way.
· Let my children honor my most pure heart in a
special manner on the First Wednesday of the month by reciting the Joyful
Mysteries of the Rosary in memory of my life with Jesus and Mary and the love I
bore them, the sorrow I suffered with them.
· Let them receive Holy Communion in union with
the love with which I received the Savior for the first time and each time I
held Him in my arms.
· Those who honor me in this way will be
consoled by my presence at their death, and I myself will conduct them safely into
the presence of Jesus and Mary."
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous, you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
· Devotion to the 7 Joys and Sorrows of St.
Joseph
·
Do the St.
Joseph Universal Man Plan.
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 2 "AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS
ONLY SON, OUR LORD"
II. Christ
436 The word "Christ" comes from the Greek translation of the
Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed". It became the name proper to
Jesus only because he accomplished perfectly the divine mission that
"Christ" signifies. In effect, in Israel those consecrated to God for
a mission that he gave were anointed in his name. This was the case for kings,
for priests and, in rare instances, for prophets. This had to be the case
all the more so for the Messiah whom God would send to inaugurate his kingdom
definitively. It was necessary that the Messiah be anointed by the Spirit
of the Lord at once as king and priest, and also as prophet. Jesus
fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest,
prophet and king.
437 To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah
promised to Israel: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord." From the beginning he was
"the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world",
conceived as "holy" in Mary's virginal womb. God called Joseph
to "take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the
Holy Spirit", so that Jesus, "who is called Christ", should be
born of Joseph's spouse into the messianic lineage of David.
438 Jesus' messianic consecration reveals his divine mission, "for the
name 'Christ' implies 'he who anointed', 'he who was anointed' and 'the very
anointing with which he was anointed'. the one who anointed is the Father, the
one who was anointed is the Son, and he was anointed with the Spirit who is the
anointing.'" His eternal messianic consecration was revealed during
the time of his earthly life at the moment of his baptism by John, when
"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power",
"that he might be revealed to Israel" as its Messiah. His works
and words will manifest him as "the Holy One of God".
439 Many Jews and even certain Gentiles who shared their hope recognized in
Jesus the fundamental attributes of the messianic "Son of David",
promised by God to Israel. Jesus accepted his rightful title of Messiah,
though with some reserve because it was understood by some of his
contemporaries in too human a sense, as essentially political.
440 Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to
be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of Man. He
unveiled the authentic content of his messianic kingship both in the
transcendent identity of the Son of Man "who came down from heaven",
and in his redemptive mission as the suffering Servant: "The Son of Man
came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many." Hence the true meaning of his kingship is revealed only when
he is raised high on the cross. Only after his Resurrection will Peter be
able to proclaim Jesus' messianic kingship to the People of God: "Let all
the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord
and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Today's Fast: An
increase of the faithful
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 11 day 4
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
· Make reparations to the Holy Face
· Total
Consecration to Mary Day 7
· Novena to the
Holy Face Day 8
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