Matthew, Chapter 21,
verse 46:
And although they were attempting to arrest him, they FEARED the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
This verse is referring to John the Baptist, but they, the priests and powerful, also feared the crowds because of Jesus. Fear is a natural reaction and when we fear something we naturally do one of five things. We either: fight, run away, do nothing, compromise or grow. The whole of the bible are stories of people both good and bad making choices. Some of people’s choices were good and some were evil; but it was always the spirit of God that urged men to make choices that caused growth in humankind; to create a Kingdom of God on earth. Both John the Baptist and Jesus were marked by the priests and elders for death because they threatened their power over the people which they feared. Like savage beasts they killed anything that got in their way.
According to John Maxwell[1] leaders lose their right to selfishness and must take the lives of others into account before their own. They must testify to the truth and tell people what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. They must tell people where they have to go to grow the Kingdom and not where they desire to go.
Christ came not only to restore the Israelites but all of mankind into His Kingdom: The Kingdom of God. Leaders in the Kingdom must fear not and lead from principle rather than from reaction.
Let
Freedom Ring-Day 2 “Freedom from Despair” (See Character
is Destiny for opposing virtue: HOPE)
My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, at
a word from you the devil and his minions flee in terror. You are the source of
all truth. You are the source of all strength. By the power of your Cross and
Resurrection, we beseech you, O Lord. To extend your saving arm and to send
your holy angels. To defend us as we do battle with Satan and his demonic
forces. Exorcise, we pray, that which oppresses your Bride, The Church, So that
within ourselves, our families, our parishes, our dioceses, and our nation. We
may turn fully back to you in all fidelity and trust. Lord, we know if you will
it, it will be done. Give us the perseverance for this mission, we pray.
Amen
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception ... pray for us
St. Joseph ... pray for us
St. Michael the Archangel ... pray
for us
(the patron of your parish) ...
pray for us
(your confirmation saint) ... pray
for us
"Freedom from Despair"
by
Fr. Rick Heilman
There is a stirring scene in the
6th chapter of John's Gospel, a chapter referred to as the "Bread of Life
Discourse." Jesus had just told the crowd, " Whoever eats
my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life." The
response by nearly all was, "This
is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Jesus returns
with, "The Spirit gives
life; the flesh counts for nothing." And then, in the
66th verse of chapter 6 of John's Gospel, or rather John 6:66, almost everyone
leaves: "From this time
many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him."
The crowd who abandoned Jesus had
abandoned hope. They despaired. So, what did they do? They "turned
back" to the emptiness of "merely existing" in the flesh. This
emptiness or "desolation" is the place the devil wants us to be. It
is Satan's kingdom.
I believe it is no accident that
the chapter and verse of this act of despair in John's Gospel is 666. We are
given free will. We can choose God or not. In the Book of Revelation, 666 is the number of the beast, or the
number of man. Once separated from God, Satan wants us to believe we are merely
one animal (beast) among many; just part of the herd. So, like animals, we are
left to scramble to fill this void with worldly wants and lusts; works of the
flesh.
Make no mistake about it, the
influencers of our culture (media, Hollywood, TV, universities, public schools,
etc.) are, by and large, godless propagandists who are determined to instill in
us the notion that we are "merely animals." Therefore, women are
objectified, men are just vulgar beasts, pre-born babies are a clump of cells,
and the nuclear family - the bedrock of civilization - is outdated. As the
Satanic bible proclaims: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the
law." Just be animals.
After the crowd abandoned Jesus in
despair, He then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter
answered him, "Master, to
whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
The Apostles were not buying the
lie of the devil. No, we are not just animals, we are precious children of God,
created in His image. Therefore, life in the Spirit is filled with the hope of a joyful
and amazing journey of striving to please God in every way, especially by
striving to become the very best version of ourselves we can possibly be. And,
just as Jesus demonstrated on the cross, we are called to a total selfless love
of neighbor.
The crowd abandoned Him in
despair, but the Apostles stayed with Him in hope. If we want the hope of all
meaning and purpose in life as a child of God, we simply must get near to Him,
because "the Spirit gives
life." We must combat the temptation of allowing our
faith to devolve into merely "punching the clock" by fulfilling
basic obligations. Many avoid an intimate relationship with the Lord because,
like the crowd, they believe, "This
is a hard teaching." In other words, if they "let
God in," He will ask "too much" from us. It's better to keep God
at arm's length, a manageable distance.
It's time to "make it personal." It's
time to "get near" to
Him before the Blessed Sacrament. Spend time Adoring Our Lord. This can be done
by scheduling an hour at a local Adoration Chapel, or you can simply come early
or stay after Mass. Be careful, though, because you may just find yourself
crying out, "My Lord and
my God!" ... and then everything will change. Your life,
filled with hope, will rise to new and exciting heights!
"Those
who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be
faint." - Isaiah 40:31
Prayer of Reparation
My Lord and my God, We have
allowed the temptation of the devil to move our hearts to despair in Your
Presence and Power.
We have kept ourselves distanced from You, so that we may be safe from Your
plan for our lives. We have been too fearful to trust in a personal
relationship that may ask too much from us. In our doubt and despair, we have
allowed the ancient foe to advance. We turn to You Lord, in our emptiness, and
beg Your forgiveness for our despairing lack of trust. We beg for the grace to
draw near to You, even as we watch, as did the Apostles, so many who abandon
You. We know, Lord, if You will it, it will be done. Trusting in You, we offer
our prayer to You who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Exorcism
Lord God of Heaven and Earth, in
your power and goodness, you created all things. You set a path for us to walk
on and a way to an eternal relationship. By the strength of your arm and Word
of your mouth Cast from your Holy Church every fearful deceit of the Devil. Drive
from us manifestations of the demonic that oppress us and beckon us from
faithlessness and fear. Still the lying tongue of the devil and his forces so
that we may act freely and faithfully to your will. Send your holy angels to
cast out all influence that the demonic entities in charge of fear have planted
in your church. Free us, our families, our parish, our diocese, and our country
from all trickery and deceit perpetrated by the Devil and his hellish legions. Trusting
in your goodness Lord, we know if you will it, it will be done in unity with
Your Son and the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever. Amen.
Litany
of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
Lord,
have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ,
hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God,
the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Blood
of Christ, only-begotten Son
of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, etc.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony,
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness,
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,
Blood of Christ, victor over demons,
Blood of Christ, courage of martyrs,
Blood of Christ, strength of confessors,
Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins,
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,
Blood of Christ, pledge of Eternal Life,
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor,
Lamb
of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb
of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb
of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Thou
hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood.
And made us, for our God, a kingdom.
Let
us pray:
Almighty
and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of
the world and willed to be appeased by his blood. Grant, we beg of Thee, that
we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be
safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its
fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION ONE THE SACRAMENTAL ECONOMY
CHAPTER TWO-THE SACRAMENTAL CELEBRATION OF THE PASCHAL
MYSTERY
Article 1
CELEBRATING THE CHURCH'S LITURGY
I. Who Celebrates?
1136
Liturgy is an "action" of the whole Christ (Christus totus). Those
who even now celebrate it without signs are already in the heavenly liturgy,
where celebration is wholly communion and feast
The celebrants of the heavenly
liturgy
1137 The book of Revelation
of St. John, read in the Church's liturgy, first reveals to us, "A throne
stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne": "the Lord God." It
then shows the Lamb, "standing, as though it had been slain": Christ
crucified and risen, the one high priest of the true sanctuary, the same one
"who offers and is offered, who gives and is given." Finally it
presents "the river of the water of life . . . flowing from the throne of
God and of the Lamb," one of most beautiful symbols of the Holy Spirit.
1138
"Recapitulated in Christ," these are the ones who take part in the
service of the praise of God and the fulfillment of his plan: the heavenly
powers, all creation (the four living beings), the servants of the Old and New
Covenants (the twenty-four elders), the new People of God (the one hundred and
forty-four thousand), especially the martyrs "slain for the word of
God," and the all-holy Mother of God (the Woman), the Bride of the Lamb, and
finally "a great multitude which no one could number, from every nation,
from all tribes, and peoples and tongues."
1139 It
is in this eternal liturgy that the Spirit and the Church enable us to
participate whenever we celebrate the mystery of salvation in the sacraments.
The celebrants of the sacramental
liturgy
1140 It is the whole
community, the Body of Christ united with its Head, that celebrates.
"Liturgical services are not private functions but are celebrations of the
Church which is 'the sacrament of unity,' namely, the holy people united and
organized under the authority of the bishops. Therefore, liturgical services
pertain to the whole Body of the Church. They manifest it, and have effects
upon it. But they touch individual members of the Church in different ways,
depending on their orders, their role in the liturgical services, and their
actual participation in them." For this reason, "rites which are
meant to be celebrated in common, with the faithful present and actively
participating, should as far as possible be celebrated in that way rather than
by an individual and quasi-privately."
1141 The
celebrating assembly is the community of the baptized who, "by
regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a
spiritual house and a holy priesthood, that . . . they may offer spiritual
sacrifices." This "common priesthood" is that of Christ the
sole priest, in which all his members participate:
Mother Church earnestly desires
that all the faithful should be led to that full, conscious, and active
participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature
of the liturgy, and to which the Christian people, "a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people," have a right and an
obligation by reason of their Baptism.
1142 But
"the members do not all have the same function." Certain members
are called by God, in and through the Church, to a special service of the
community. These servants are chosen and consecrated by the sacrament of Holy
Orders, by which the Holy Spirit enables them to act in the person of Christ
the head, for the service of all the members of the Church. The ordained
minister is, as it were, an "icon" of Christ the priest. Since it is
in the Eucharist that the sacrament of the Church is made fully visible, it is
in his presiding at the Eucharist that the bishop's ministry is most evident,
as well as, in communion with him, the ministry of priests and deacons.
1143 For
the purpose of assisting the work of the common priesthood of the faithful,
other particular ministries also exist, not consecrated by the sacrament of
Holy Orders; their functions are determined by the bishops, in accord with
liturgical traditions and pastoral needs. "Servers, readers, commentators,
and members of the choir also exercise a genuine liturgical function."
1144 In
the celebration of the sacraments it is thus the whole assembly that is
leitourgos, each according to his function, but in the "unity of the
Spirit" who acts in all. "In liturgical celebrations each person,
minister or layman, who has an office to perform, should carry out all and only
those parts which pertain to his office by the nature of the rite and the norms
of the liturgy."
Fitness
Friday-We will be having a
full buck moon on the 13th so let’s get ready for hunting.
Fitness Friday-Hunting
Workout
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.
Elk
hunting[2]
(or indeed any rough-country hunt where drastic elevation changes are a routine
part of the hunt) requires a different kind of planning and conditioning than
your usual whitetail hunt. The most common problem out-of-state hunters
experience is not being in good enough physical condition to handle constant
up-and-down foot travel at high elevation - especially when carrying a pack.
The result is a physically exhausted hunter who is unable to perform. Hours and
days of precious hunting time are wasted due to need for rest and recovery.
Here’s a twelve-week plan that will prep you for the high country. There are
two main components to physical prep for rough-country hunting: cardiovascular
and muscular. Plan on exercising thirty to forty-five minutes per weekday,
alternating between cardio and muscular workouts. Be sure to stretch and warm
up gradually before workouts and cool off gradually afterwards.
1.
Week One: Start out easy on yourself
to lower risk of hurting joints or tendons.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Go for a brisk 45-minute walk, preferably including up and
down terrain.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Spend 30 minutes climbing up and down the local
bleacher stairs (or a nice steep hill). Take regular short rests.
2.
Week Two: Step it up a little.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Add short stints of jogging to your walk.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: same 30-minute routine, just cut down on rest time.
3.
Week Three: Start getting focused.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Begin pushing yourself, walking less and jogging more.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Same 30-minute routine, add three squats and three
lunges (don’t use weights) alternately during short rest periods.
4.
Week Four: You should be feeling much
stronger by now and hurting less. Remain careful to avoid injury.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Try to jog the majority of your 45 minutes.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Try to spend the entire 30 minutes climbing your
stairs or hillside, alternating between five squats and five lunges every few
minutes. Only rest at the ten- and twenty-minute marks.
5.
Week Five: By now you should be
enjoying your workouts.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Warm up, then alternate two-minute sprints with walking to
catch your breath. 45 minutes.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Wear a pack with 20 pounds of weight in it during your
routine. Rest when needed.
6.
Week Six: You should be feeling like a
bonafide athlete.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Back to jogging but pick up the pace a bit.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Try to get through your routine – hiking with pack and
five crunches/lunges every five minutes – without stopping to rest.
7.
Week Seven: Halfway there!
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Back to sprinting/walking. Push yourself.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Add five pounds to your pack (total 25), same routine.
8.
Week Eight: Second amendment week.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Trade the jogging in for a smooth relaxed 45 min run.
(Faster than jogging, but not a sprint)
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Same routine as week seven but carry your bow or rifle
(empty of course) or object of similar weight/balance).
9.
Week Nine: Hang in there.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: Sprinting and walking. Keep pushing.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Add five pounds – you’re up to 30 pounds plus your
rifle/bow. Stay strong and focused.
10. Week Ten: Home stretch – only three weeks till the hunt.
Mon/Wed/Fri cardio: More smooth relaxed running. Keep it strong.
Tues/Thurs/Sat muscular: Same routine, add another five pounds. You’re up to
thirty-five now, approximately the weight of a three-day bivy pack. Keep up the
squats and lunges, they will prep you for big tough steps when climbing and
crouching while stalking.
Events
·
July
8-10 Taste of Chicago (Grant Park)[3]
This July don’t miss the
world’s largest food festival — yes, the largest! Held annually in mid-July, Taste of Chicago draws dozens of food vendors and
participating restaurants to Chi-Town’s Grant Park. The annual event attracts
upwards of 3 million people each year — and with foodie indulgences like the
famous deep-dish pizza, we know why! This is food to die for!
·
July
8-17 Calgary
Stampede
Our "Neighbor to the
North" marks its birthday this month. Get in on the festivities during the
Calgary Stampede! This 10-day event is Canada’s largest annual rodeo,
and one of its largest festivals to boot. Billed as the "Greatest Outdoor
Show on Earth," the rodeo draws more than 1 million visitors each year.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Protection
of Traditional Marriage
·
Novena
to Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Day 2
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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