Mark, Chapter 9, Verse 31-32
31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is
to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death
he will rise.” 32
But they did not understand the saying, and they were
AFRAID to question him.
Many times, we are afraid to ask a question of the Lord because we do not want to know the answer. We measure success with an earthly yardstick and not a heavenly one. Christ asks us to trust in Him. The heavenly yardstick is this as spoken by Michael the Archangel, “Who is like God?
We are in a battle with the world, the flesh and the Devil. Let us remember that St. Michael, along with our Guardian Angel stand to defend us from perdition. No harm can come to the children of God who place their trust in the Precious Blood. We must not be afraid to ask for Michael’s help and to always call on Mary the Queen of Angels whose children we are through Christ. We must not be afraid to question science, literature, or art in its many forms as these achievements of human works are often pressed into service by the Devil and his cohorts.
God’s yardstick, “Who is like God?” leads us to Love Him and to love our neighbors.
Why is this commandment to love God and our neighbor called the great commandment? Because in these two are contained all the others, so that he who fulfills these fulfills the whole law. For whoever loves God with his whole heart does not murmur against God; does not dishonor His name by cursing and swearing; does not desecrate the Sabbath-day, because he knows that all this is offensive to God. On the contrary, he hopes in God; gives thanks and praise to God; sanctifies the Sundays and holy-days, because he knows this to be pleasing to God; observes the precepts of the Church, because he knows it to be the will of God that he should hear the Church; honors his parents; does no injury to his neighbor; does not commit adultery; does not steal; slanders no one; bears no false witness; pronounces no unjust judgment; is not envious, malicious, unmerciful, but rather practices towards every one the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; and all this because, out of love to God, he loves his neighbor as himself. Thus, love fulfills all the commandments.[1]
Novena of St. Ann[2]
Daily Prayer to Saint Ann
O
glorious St. Ann, you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you and
with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the weight of my
troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present
intention which I recommend to you in your special care.
Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it
before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue
to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me
the grace one day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the
saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen.
Our Father, . . . Hail Mary . . .
O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Ann, help me now and at
the hour of my death. Good St. Ann, intercede for me.
THIRD DAY
Hail, good St. Ann, who first responded to the
needs of Mary, Mother of our Savior and Queen of Angels. Hail to you and to
your husband St. Joachim, who watched over her infancy, presented her to the
Lord in the temple and, according to your promise, consecrated her to the
service of God.
Hail St. Ann, good mother! I rejoice in the
marvels you continually perform, because they encourage all to seek your
intercession.
Good St. Ann, by the great power that God has
given you, show yourself my mother, my consoler, my advocate. Reconcile me to
the God I have so deeply offended. Console me in my trials; strengthen me in my
struggles. Deliver me from danger in my time of need. Help me at the hour of
death and open to me the gates of paradise.
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER
ONE-THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
Article 1 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
I. What is This Sacrament Called?
1214 This sacrament is
called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize
(Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the
"plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into
Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new
creature."
1215 This sacrament is
also called "the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy
Spirit," for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and
the Spirit without which no one "can enter the kingdom of God."
1216 "This bath
is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical]
instruction are enlightened in their understanding
. . .." Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true light
that enlightens every man," the person baptized has been
"enlightened," he becomes a "son of light," indeed, he
becomes "light" himself:
Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift....We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.
Daily
Devotions
·
Unite in the work of the Porters of St. Joseph by joining them
in fasting: Conversion of Sinners
·
Make
reparations to the Holy Face-Tuesday
Devotion
·
Pray Day 1 of
the Novena for our Pope and Bishops
·
Tuesday:
Litany of St. Michael the Archangel
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Let
Freedom Ring Day 13
·
Rosary
[1] Goffine’s Devout Instructions,
1896.
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