FEARING that we would run aground on a rocky coast, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.
Paul
was under arrest and was an inmate on a prison ship bound for Rome, when the
ship he was on, was in danger of being sunk. Yet, God had not abandoned Paul.
His faith saved him and also the crew. Paul in this case really did lead from
behind.
The Law
of Influence: An Inmate Takes Command
(Acts 27:4-44)[1]
1.
Paul
built trust which influences his
jailer, Julius, to allow special privileges, noting his trustworthiness.
2.
He
took the initiative by stepping in
when action was needed.
3.
He
possessed good judgment through his
use of wisdom and experience.
4.
He
spoke with authority and credibility based on earlier actions.
5.
He
showed optimism and confidence by
speaking boldly.
6.
He
gave encouragement to the hopeless
that feared their survival and loss
at sea.
7.
He
was honest and candid about the
problems they faced.
8.
He
did not compromise on absolutes from God-given instructions.
9.
He
stayed focused on objectives not
obstacles.
10. He led by example by modeling the right attitude.
Remember
to build trust first with God and then with others when you are in danger
knowing we are all in the same ship and we are all seasick.
ON KEEPING THE LORDS DAY HOLY[2]
CHAPTER
V
DIES
DIERUM
Sunday:
The Primordial
Feast, Revealing the Meaning of Time
CONCLUSION
87. Dear Brothers and Sisters,
the imminence of the Jubilee invites us to a deeper spiritual and pastoral
commitment. Indeed, this is its true purpose. In the Jubilee year, much will be
done to give it the particular stamp demanded by the ending of the Second
Millennium and the beginning of the Third since the Incarnation of the Word of
God. But this year and this special time will pass, as we look to other
jubilees and other solemn events. As the weekly "solemnity", however,
Sunday will continue to shape the time of the Church's pilgrimage, until that
Sunday which will know no evening.
Therefore, dear Brother Bishops and
Priests, I urge you to work tirelessly with the faithful to ensure that the
value of this sacred day is understood and lived ever more deeply. This will
bear rich fruit in Christian communities, and will not fail to have a positive
influence on civil society as a whole.
In coming to know the Church, which
every Sunday joyfully celebrates the mystery from which she draws her life, may
the men and women of the Third Millennium come to know the Risen Christ. And
constantly renewed by the weekly commemoration of Easter, may Christ's
disciples be ever more credible in proclaiming the Gospel of salvation and ever
more effective in building the civilization of love.
My blessing to you all!
From the Vatican, on 31 May, the
Solemnity of Pentecost, in the year 1998, the twentieth of my Pontificate.
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost[3]
UNITE your voice with the Church in the Introit of the Mass, and pray for assistance against her enemies. “Have regard, O Lord, to Thy covenant, and forsake not, unto the end, the souls of Thy poor: Arise, O Lord, and judge Thy cause, and forget not the voices of them that seek Thee. O God, why hast Thou cut us off unto the end? Why is Thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of Thy pasture”?
Prayer. O
almighty and eternal God, grant to us an increase of faith, hope, and charity;
and that we may deserve to obtain what Thou promisest, make us love what Thou
commandest.
EPISTLE. Gal. iii. 16-22.
Brethren: To Abraham were the promises made, and to
his seed. He saith not: And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one: And to thy
seed, which is Christ. Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed
by God: the law, which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not
annul, to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance be of the law,
it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise. Why then was
the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to
whom He made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one. Was the law then against the
promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give
life, verily justice should have been by the law. But the Scripture hath
concluded all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be
given to them that believe.
Explanation. St. Paul
shows the Galatians that they could not be justified by the Mosaic law, but
only by active faith. The promise, he says, which God gave to Abraham, that all
nations should be saved through faith in one of his seed, pointed to Christ.
Even the Scriptures tell us that, notwithstanding the law and its sacrifices,
the Jews remained sinners; it could not, therefore, by itself, justify man. It
follows, therefore, that salvation was to be gained only through Jesus, Who
delivered men from the Jewish law. Let us, then, by active faith in Him, make
use of this grace for eternity.
GOSPEL. Luke xvii. 11-19
An increase in faith,
hope, and love.
At that time,
as Jesus was going to Jerusalem, He passed through the midst of Samaria in
Galilee. And as he entered into a certain town, there met Him ten men that were
lepers who stood afar oft: and lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, Master,
have mercy on us. Whom when He saw, He said: Go, show yourselves to the
priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. And one of
them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying
God, and he fell on his face, before His feet, giving thanks; and this was a
Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said: Were not ten made clean? and where are
the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this
stranger. And He said to him: Arise, go thy way: for thy faith hath made thee
whole.
What, in a spiritual sense, does leprosy mean? In a spiritual sense leprosy means
sin, especially the sin of impurity. The Jewish law divided leprosy into three
kinds, namely, that of the flesh, that of garments, and that of houses.
·
the
leprosy of the flesh may be likened to the impure, who easily corrupt others;
·
the
leprosy of garments, to luxury of dress and scandalous fashions, by which not
only souls are seduced into sin, but many families and communities are brought
to poverty and plunged into eternal ruin;
·
the
leprosy of houses, to places where wicked and immoral servants are kept; where
immodest dances and plays occur, where licentious acts are committed, where
meetings are allowed and encouraged to the injury of virtue and of our neighbor’s
honor, where assistance or advice is given in wicked undertakings of any sort.
Why did the lepers stand afar off? Because it was thus commanded by
the Jewish law, so that no one might catch contagion from them. From this we
learn that we must as carefully shun scandalous persons, companies, and houses,
as we would the plague. He that toucheth
pitch shall be defiled with it, and he that hath fellowship with the proud
shall put on pride.” (Ecclus. xiii. 1).
Why did Jesus ask for the nine others who also were
made clean? To
show how greatly ingratitude displeases Him. Injuries to Himself He generally
submitted to in silence; but this ingratitude He would not suffer to pass
uncondemned. So great a sin is ingratitude. On this account St. Bernard says, “Ingratitude
is an enemy of the soul that destroys merit, corrupts virtue, and prevents
grace. It is a scorching wind that dries up the fountain of the goodness and
the mercy of God.”
Why does God require us to be grateful? This question St. Chrysostom
answers very beautifully by saying: “God requires gratitude of us only that He
may confer on us new graces.” Then let us not forget to thank Him morning and
evening; before and after meals; as often as you recognize His blessing in your
house, in your children, in your property, your cattle, your fields, your
fruits. St. Augustine says: “We cannot think, speak, or write anything better
or more acceptable than, Thanks be to God!”
Instruction on The
Sacrament of Holy Orders.
“Go, show yourselves to the priests” Luke xvii. 14.
What are Holy Orders? A sacrament in which the priestly
power is conferred on the candidate, together with a special grace to discharge
its sacred functions.
What is the outward sign of this sacrament? The laying on of hands and the
prayer of the bishop, and the presentation of the chalice with bread and wine,
together with the verbal communication of authority to change the bread and
wine into the body and blood of Christ, and to remit and retain sins.
When did Christ institute this sacrament? At the Last Supper, when, after
changing the bread into His true body, and the wine into His true blood, He
said to His apostles, “Do this for a commemoration of Me” (Luke xxii. 19).
Are Holy Orders reckoned a sacrament by the apostles? Yes, for St. Paul admonishes His
disciple Timothy to stir up the grace of God received by the imposition of his
hands. Hereby St. Paul teaches expressly that by the imposition of the hands of
the apostles, or of the bishops, who are their successors, the grace of God is
imparted to priests, in which consists the substance of the sacrament. Pray,
then, for the priests; asking fervently of God, particularly on ember-days, to
give His Church faithful pastors. Jesus Himself commands it, saying, the
harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord
of the harvest that He send laborers into His Harvest” (Luke x. 2).
Catechism
of the Catholic Church
PART TWO: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SECTION TWO-THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER THREE THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION
1533 Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are sacraments of
Christian initiation. They ground the common vocation of all Christ's
disciples, a vocation to holiness and to the mission of evangelizing the world.
They confer the graces needed for the life according to the Spirit during this
life as pilgrims on the march towards the homeland.
1534 Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are
directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to
personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They
confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of
God.
1535 Through these sacraments those already consecrated by
Baptism and Confirmation for the common priesthood of all the faithful can
receive particular consecrations. Those who receive the sacrament of Holy
Orders are consecrated in Christ's name "to feed the Church by the word
and grace of God." On their part, "Christian spouses are
fortified and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and dignity of their
state by a special sacrament."
Week ahead
·
September 5th Labor
Day
·
September 7th MASS First
Wednesday
·
September 8th Nativity
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
·
September 10th Full
Harvest Moon
·
September 11th Fourteen
Sunday after Pentecost
Daily
Devotions
·
30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 21st ROSE: Mary Mother of the Church
o
30
Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger
· Unite
yourself in the work of the Porters of
St. Joseph by joining them in fasting: Today's Fast: True
Masculinity
· Saturday Litany of the Hours Invoking the Aid of Mother Mary
·
Religion
in the Home for Preschool: September
·
Litany of the Most Precious
Blood of Jesus
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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